A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 30

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Volume 38, Chapter 4: Long Xuan's Demise

"Pfft!" Blood splattered, covering Aizen Sousuke's head and face. But when he looked closely, he saw not Shinguji Mina, but Shinguji Ryuugen standing in front of her. Although severely injured, his eyesight and senses remained. Aizen Sousuke sensed this immediately as soon as he gathered his strength, and with a burst of power, he took the fatal blow for his daughter.
"You...you took the blow for her, you...you're courting death!?" Aizen Sousuke collapsed to the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief and utter horror.
"Yes, I'm courting death, because I'm his father!" Shinguji Ryuugen coughed up blood again and collapsed into his daughter's arms.
"Thud—" Aizen Sousuke's head lolled to one side, and he died instantly.
"Ryuugen!" "Sect Leader!" Hua Shijun, Ren Xiaoyao...everyone who could move rushed over.
Ren Xiaoyao immediately saw that Shinguji Ryuugen was on the verge of death, his life hanging by a thread. Suppressing his tears, he knelt beside him, grasped his hands, and channeled his supreme innate energy, hoping to prolong his life by even a moment.
"Mina..." Shinguji Ryuugen's eyelids trembled, and he finally opened his eyes. Seeing his unharmed daughter, his body trembled slightly, a faint smile appearing on his lips. He said in a hoarse voice, "You...you're not hurt, are you?"
"No...sob..." Shinguji Mina's voice choked, and she burst into tears. Those around her also silently wept.
Su Hanbi and Unohana Retsu squeezed over, taking Shinguji Ryuugen's pulse. After a moment, their expressions darkened, and they shook their heads in silence—if he hadn't blocked Aizen Sousuke's palm strike, he could have saved his life with his decades of cultivation. Now, however, his martial prowess was destroyed, and he was attacked from within and without; even a Great Luo Golden Immortal would be helpless.
"Don't cry, Mina, you're a ninja, you can't cry." Shinguji Ryuugen, perhaps influenced by his innate supreme qi, had a glint in his eyes and a flush on his face. After comforting his daughter, he grasped Hanashi-kun's soft hands tightly and said apologetically, "Shi-kun, I'm sorry, I... I won't have the chance to go back to the Central Plains with you."
"No, I won't go back. I want to stay here forever, to stay with you forever." Hanashi-kun sobbed, tears streaming down his face. Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan beside him were heartbroken. They had hated Shinguji Ryuugen for thirty years, only realizing half an hour ago that it was a misunderstanding. Before they could even apologize, they were about to be separated forever.
“Ren…Master Ren…” Shinguji Ryuu's gaze fell on Ren Xiaoyao. “No, perhaps I should…should call you my son-in-law. In this battle, the Hokushin Ittō-ryū has exposed…exposed too many shortcomings. Someone is needed to…to improve and complete it. Shijun is a woman, Yamamoto is old, and Toshiro is inexperienced. I beg…I beg you to lead the Hokushin Ittō-ryū under my leadership until everything is settled before returning to the Central Plains, okay?”
“I…no, I am a Song person, how can I…”
“Don’t refuse, it’s you! Only you can preserve the Hokushin Ittō-ryū’s current status, only you can maintain peace in the ninjutsu world.” Shinguji Ryuu's voice suddenly rose. “Captains, vice-captains, and members of the Thirteen Guardian Divisions, did you hear that? The next…the next sect leader of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū is Ren Xiaoyao!”
“We heard you!” Thousands of Hokushin Ittō-ryū disciples knelt down in unison.
"Rest assured, Sect Master, Xiaoyao... Xiaoyao will do everything in his power to live up to your trust." Ren Xiaoyao knew he was experiencing a final burst of energy, his heart aching, his whole body convulsing, barely managing to hold back his sobs.
"Your Highness..." Shinguji Ryuugen, as if using the last of his strength, looked at the weeping Third Prince, Wei Guang, and revealed a final smile, softly saying, "Promise your uncle that after you ascend the throne, you will be a benevolent emperor who loves his people like his own children, and you will not let the people of Japan suffer any injustice."
"Yes, yes!" The Third Prince nodded repeatedly.
"Life is fifty years, compared to the eternity of heaven and earth, it is like a dream, like an illusion; those who are born once, how can they not perish?" Shinguji Ryuugen smiled as he looked towards the sky, the song ended, and with a "gurgle," he breathed his last.
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
The rising sun illuminated the earth.
Ren Xiaoyao, dressed in a brocade robe underneath a kimono, stood atop the highest building in Hueco Mundo—the Tenshukaku—gazing into the distance and overlooking the earth. Hueco Mundo
was a landscape of towering peaks and rugged ridges, as if carved by an axe. The layered rocks were lush with verdant green, and the winding mountain paths were flanked by maple forests of varying heights and densities, their red leaves shimmering and displaying a myriad of charms. The crimson leaves, like rosy clouds and brocade, contrasted beautifully with the cypress trees, creating a vibrant and colorful spectacle that compelled one to marvel at the wonders of nature.
Footsteps sounded as the two ascended the stairs.
Leading the way was a man, dressed in a moon-white Hanfu. He was petite and delicate, his thick, jet-black hair held back only by a white jade hairpin. He appeared to be no more than eighteen or nineteen years old, with a face like jade, eyes like flowing springs, and a high, straight nose like white jade. His slightly upturned lips always seemed to carry a half-smile, inadvertently revealing a captivating allure. His skin was translucent and delicate, even more translucent than a pebble. A man of such beauty could surely bewitch countless young women.
Slightly behind him was a woman, dressed in black robes and trousers, her slender waist cinched.
Her robes swayed gracefully, her long, glossy black hair parted in two strands and cascading down to her shapely hips. Her face was as smooth as peeled egg white, her skin as white as snow, her eyes as black as lacquer. She was exquisitely beautiful, like a sculpture of snow and jade, utterly pure and delicate.
The saying goes that a woman should be beautiful, dressed in mourning clothes, but unexpectedly, her all-black attire gave her an unforgettable and stunning beauty. The loose kimono couldn't conceal the undulating curves of her waist and hips, her figure exquisitely graceful.
"Xiuxiu, why did you have to imitate your sister Yun by dressing as a man?"
"Eh, big brother, how did you know without even looking..." Looking at Ren Xiaoyao with his back to her, Lin Yuxiu couldn't hide her surprise. Although she and Ren Xiaoyao had already consummated their marriage, Lin Yuxiu still addressed him as "big brother" as she had when they first met. Ren Xiaoyao loved her timid, delicate, yet expectant and affectionate demeanor when they were in bed, without any affectation. He was happy to hear this address.
"Hehe, you forgot I have a sixth sense." Ren Xiaoyao turned around casually.
"You're kidding me! No matter how sharp your 'intuition' is, you can't tell what Xiuxiu is wearing, right? You must have seen me and Sister Mina walking to the castle tower." Lin Yuxiu wrinkled her cute little nose and said coquettishly.
"I rely not only on 'intuition,' but also on hearing," Ren Xiaoyao explained with a smile. "Just from the sound of footsteps, I knew it was you and Mina coming. And as soon as you reached the top floor, you stepped into the true energy shield I set up. Every move you made was clearly imprinted in my mind. The sounds of men in Hanfu, women in Hanfu, men in kimonos, and women in kimonos swaying as they walk are all different. My sixth sense, 'intuition,' detects these subtle details that ordinary people would never notice. In battle, if the opponent moves quickly, sight may not be reliable, and if you deliberately create some noise, hearing will be useless. Only the sixth sense, 'intuition,' is completely unaffected by external factors and can always play its immense role in detecting, knowing, and investigating the enemy."
"Oh, so big brother's martial arts have improved again," Lin Yuxiu nodded, seemingly understanding.
"That's not necessarily true. With the Sect Master's cultivation..." Shinguji Mina began, but then noticed Ren Xiaoyao's ambiguous gaze fixed on her. Two blushes instantly rose to her cheeks. Different girls possess different charms, like a hundred flowers blooming, each with its own unique beauty and fragrance. While Shinguji Mina wasn't the most stunning or uniquely beautiful of Ren Xiaoyao's many wives, her distinctive exotic charm was something no one could imitate. Even just sitting there gracefully brought a completely different visual experience.
"There are only the three of us here, no need to call him 'Sect Master.'"
"With Xiaoyao's current cultivation..." Shinguji Mina playfully glanced at him, her eyes filled with shy affection, and softly corrected herself, "In this world, probably no one's movements can outpace his eyes, and no illusionary sound can confuse his judgment. Therefore, in terms of martial arts, 'intuition' doesn't offer much help in improving cultivation."
"Ah, then big brother is still cultivating all day long, isn't that like a blind man lighting a lamp—a complete waste of time?" Thinking that these days Ren Xiaoyao has been either dealing with the mistakes of Beichen Ittō-ryū or practicing that so-called "intuition," and has rarely come to her room for lovemaking at night, Lin Yuxiu couldn't help but pout her little mouth, a thousand times, ten thousand times unwilling.
"A fair and square contest is naturally of limited use, but..." Mina Shinguji deliberately kept Lin Yuxiu in suspense, waiting for her to look at her with longing eyes before smiling sweetly, "But the illusion techniques used by our ninjas and the ultimate moves of many evil masters from the Central Plains and the surrounding countries are all based on confusing the five senses and disrupting sight and hearing. If Xiaoyao trains his 'intuition' well, he will be completely immune to these martial arts from now on. Now that the gathering of the seven major sects is about to begin, of course we should spend our time on it without hesitation and strive to master it completely before the competition."
"By the way, there are only five days left until the conference. Have the leaders of the six major sects arrived in Nara yet?"
"Not yet, but quite a few disciples from other sects have arrived. The number is five times that of usual at this time, and it is increasing by more than a hundred people every day. If this trend continues, I estimate that the number of people flocking to Hueco Mundo on the day of the conference will not be less than the number at Father's birthday celebration." Speaking of "Father," Mina Shinguji's eyes reddened.
On that day, Shinguji Ryuugen entrusted the Hokushin Ittō-ryū style to Ren Xiaoyao before passing away, without even having a chance to say a single word to his daughter. Thus ended another legend in the Japanese martial arts world. Needless to say, the disciples of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū style, all those who had received kindness from Shinguji Ryuugen, the high-ranking officials who admired his noble character, and of course, Crown Prince Yukō, were all filled with grief and weeping. The vast Zongjin Square was instantly filled with the sound of weeping.
With Prince Kirito deposed and Aizen Sousuke dead, the immediate problem of dealing with their henchmen became a pressing issue that had to be resolved on the spot. The Hokushin Itto-ryu sect leader, Aizen Sousuke, was dead. He insisted on eliminating all the remaining loyal followers and henchmen of Prince Kirito, including the leaders of the Iga Valley, Koga Valley, Haguro, Hokuriku, and Kanto factions, as well as various heretical sects, except for seven skilled fighters personally pardoned by Prince Yuuki. Ren Xiaoyao, however, overruled
the objections and insisted on punishing only the four main culprits: Fujiwara no Michitaka, Kubo no Kousuke, Ichimaru no Gin, Tosen no Kaname, and Yoshihiro no Motoyuki. This incident was far too far-reaching; if truly investigated, half of the ninjutsu sects might face annihilation. Even the Hokushin Itto-ryu sect was unaware of how many confidants and spies Aizen Sousuke had planted within it.
In the past, the Absolute Killer Sect sent someone impersonating Long Yinxiao to order a thorough investigation into the "treason" of the sect members, causing fear and insecurity throughout the Heavenly Extreme Sect. If Long Yinxiao hadn't been rescued, all charges against the sect elders dropped, and the morale and confidence of the members not restored, the Heavenly Extreme Sect would likely be destroyed, and Xunfeng City would have already fallen into the hands of the Liao people.
This serves as a warning. Although Crown Prince Litonghu has been deposed, many hidden dangers still exist within the royal family. The Ninjutsu community, as the largest force supporting Crown Prince Weiguang, desperately needs stability and unity.
Bad people cannot be completely eradicated, but people's hearts can be won over.
Crown Prince Weiguang is absolutely clever. As soon as Ren Xiaoyao spoke, he immediately responded, using his status as crown prince to order all factions not to use today's events as an excuse to seek revenge against each other, with severe punishment for those who violated this order. He didn't explicitly say he would let these people go, but his meaning was crystal clear—if they were all wiped out today, how would they seek revenge later?
When the Emperor is unable to govern, the Crown Prince takes over – this has been the rule in Japan for centuries. Despite his young age, Crown Prince Yuiko is already the de facto ruler of the country. The Hokushin Ittō-ryū is his direct subordinate force; Shinguji Ryūken even lost his life to ensure his ascension. No one dares disobey his will, and the various schools siding with the Hokushin Ittō-ryū are even less likely to be foolish enough to challenge the "Imperial Decree."
Most importantly, Crown Prince Yuiko didn't explicitly say "forgive the anti-Hokushin Ittō-ryū alliance," making Ren Xiaoyao the greatest benefactor.
The five or six thousand people present all believed that Ren Xiaoyao's righteous assistance was the reason for their survival (if Ren Xiaoyao hadn't captured Kirito and defeated Aizen Sōsuke, all the supporters of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū would have been wiped out; if Ren Xiaoyao hadn't spoken up, all the members of the "Hokushin Ittō-ryū alliance" would have died), and they were all deeply grateful to him.
Ren Xiaoyao was merciful. Instead of executing Fujiwara no Michitaka, Kubo Kosuke, and Ichimaru Gin on the spot, he forced them to commit seppuku to preserve their ultimate honor as ninjas and samurai.
Ren Xiaoyao was also ruthless. Yoshihiro Tomoyuki, a cunning old fox, tried to flee after his failure. Ren Xiaoyao pursued him relentlessly, unleashing the "Body Without the Wings of a Phoenix," the lightning crackling from his Ice Soul Frost Sword not only cleaved the wicked old devil in two but also sliced off a piece of the glazed dome of the Yasutsuna Palace. Witnessing
this, all the masters of the entire sect were horrified. Who could still believe that the Hokushin Itto-ryu, having suffered such a calamity, lacked the power to command the seven major sects, the ninja world, and the Japanese martial arts world?
Two days later, at Shinguji Ryuugen's funeral, Ren Xiaoyao officially took over as the leader of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū sect. He didn't carry out any so-called purges or major reforms; he simply reassigned the captains of the various squads. The vacancies left by Aizen Sōsuke, Ichimaru Gin, and Tōsen Kaname were directly filled by the vice-captains. In addition, he promoted a large number of promising young people and distributed them to various important positions—he could easily command the 100,000 members of the Tenjō Sect, let alone several thousand ninjas.
With internal stability achieved, the most important thing was the struggle for the leadership of the seven major sects two months later.
In order not to disappoint the dying trust of Shinguji Ryuugen, Ren Xiaoyao spent most of his time practicing martial arts, apart from handling sect affairs. He not only had to master the use of "intuition" and become proficient in the "Body Without Colorful Phoenix Wings" move, but he also discovered many of his own shortcomings and deficiencies in his competitions with many masters such as Muto Ran and Tong Hu. He had to improve them one by one before the competition. This not only consumed a lot of time and energy, but he also had to carefully control the number of times he could be intimate with his many wives, so as not to indulge in too much sex and affect his cultivation.
"So what if there are a lot of people? The Hueco Mundo Palace is big enough anyway," Ren Xiaoyao said with a shrug. "This time, we don't need to send the Thirteenth Division down the mountain to guard the area. Even if more come, we can handle them."
"That's right. I heard from Yoruichi that in the past, only a few closely related schools would attend the gatherings of the Seven Great Schools. This time, they've all come in droves, they must want to admire Big Brother's prowess in the arena," Lin Yuxiu said with a sweet smile, her fair and delicate face radiating joy and happiness, and of course, her deep affection for Ren Xiaoyao.
"The Kirigakure Shigenryu and Tochigi Matsumoto-ryu contributed greatly to quelling Prince Li's rebellion," Shinguji Mina suggested softly. "If you become the head of the sect, wouldn't it be... wouldn't it be worth considering including them in the Seven Great Schools?"
"Well..." Ren Xiaoyao pondered for a moment, smiling but not answering.
“Look, Anna and Toshiro are inseparable. If it weren’t for the fact that Father’s mourning period hasn’t ended, they would have started talking about marriage long ago. Joining the Seven Great Sects has always been her mother’s and Kirigakure Shigenryu’s wish, and this time they’ve been supporting us wholeheartedly…” Seeing that Ren Xiaoyao still didn’t nod, Shinguji Mina continued to persuade him, “Although Tochigi Matsumoto-ryu doesn’t have many disciples, the cultivation of the Aoki Sect Master is well-known, plus he saved your life…”
“Stop hiding, come up!” Ren Xiaoyao suddenly interrupted.
Shinguji Mina and Lin Yuxiu turned around in surprise, but they couldn’t see anyone.
"Alright, Toshiro on the left of the fourth-floor entrance, Anna by the escalator on the third floor, both of you, show yourselves! Aren't you satisfied after all this time?"
Footsteps sounded, and Toshiro Hitsugaya, his face flushed, sheepishly walked up to the top floor, pleading with a bitter expression, "Sect Master, I...it's not Anna's fault, it's...it was me who forced her to come."
"Where's Anna?" Ren Xiaoyao asked gently, without showing any annoyance.
Before he finished speaking, two "click" sounds came from the third floor, probably the sound of a window opening, followed by a black shadow leaping out and disappearing into the nearby woods.
"Don't run away, Anna, big brother won't punish you, come back quickly!" Lin Yuxiu called out sweetly. Ren Xiaoyao was busy, and Toshiro Hitsugaya was busy too. The two innocent little girls played together, ate together, and slept together, having long since become inseparable best friends.
"Run? Anna's lover is with me, how could she bear to run away?" Ren Xiaoyao chuckled. "She just used the Shadow Technique to create a fake body to fool us, then sneaked up to the top floor to eavesdrop, so she'd know how I'm going to punish Toshiro, right, the one with her ear pressed against the door?"
"You... how do you even know this... even this!?" A surprised voice, like a silver bottle shattering, rang out from behind the curtain. Then the curtain was lifted, and Anna Kora, her face full of astonishment, appeared before everyone.
She wasn't wearing a kimono, but rather a tight-fitting bodysuit, the kind she wore for missions. It cinched her narrow, yet voluptuous waist, creating a captivatingly slender curve. Her breasts, just beginning to develop, seemed almost within reach. Her figure was light and graceful, her skin as white as snow. The bright morning light illuminated her fair hands, making them appear translucent and slightly rosy, as alluring as fresh apricots. Her lips were even more translucent, like freshly peeled lychee flesh, only a faint rosy hue, making one want to devour them whole. No wonder she had captured the heart of Hitsugaya Toshiro.
She stepped out from the rooftop, intending to make a face at Lin Yuxiu, but upon seeing Ren Xiaoyao, her bright eyes widened, her playful expression vanishing instantly, and she looked ready to turn and run away.
“Of course it’s my sixth sense. I laid down a net of energy on the entire fifth floor with my true power, and I knew as soon as you stepped in. Besides, your ‘Shadow Technique’ isn’t up to par. Even Mina could see through it at a glance, let alone me.” Ren Xiaoyao’s words were gentle and pleasant, without the slightest hint of annoyance. “Toshiro’s escape techniques are quite remarkable. I didn’t know he was hiding on the fourth floor. It was only when Mina mentioned that the Kirigakure Shigenryu was joining the Seven Great Sects that your breathing suddenly became heavier. He was afraid you would be discovered, so he secretly reminded you with a telepathic technique, but in the end, he also exposed his whereabouts.”
“Alright, alright, everyone knows you’re skilled in martial arts, no need to brag anymore.” Kora Anna pouted, her expression of both joy and anger particularly captivating. “Tell me, are you willing to include our Kirigakure Shigenryu into the Seven Great Sects?”
“Anna, how can you talk to the sect leader like this…” Hitsugaya Toshiro wanted to scold Kora Anna, but when she glanced at him, he was immediately frightened and swallowed his words.
Ren Xiaoyao and Shinguji Mina exchanged a smile. It's said that men are most easily bullied by their fiancées before marriage, and today's encounter proved it true. What a renowned young ninja master, what the youngest squad leader of the Thirteen Guardian Divisions, what a woman-averse blockhead—he still bursts into laughter at the slightest glare from his sweetheart.
"Hey, stop laughing! I'm asking you a question! Answer me!" Kora Anna lightly stamped her small foot, feigning anger.
"Fine, then I'll tell you plainly, neither the Kirigakure Shigenryu nor the Tochigi Matsumoto-ryu will join the Seven Great Sects."
“You… fine… fine…” Kagura Anna stood there, her hands trembling slightly in her sleeves, causing them to flutter. The pure gold floral pattern on her wrists shimmered with the movement of her hands, and her eyes quickly welled up with tears. She stared at Ren Xiaoyao for a long time, then suddenly nodded and smiled bitterly, “Fine, fine, so you, Ren Xiaoyao, are such an ungrateful, shameless scoundrel! My mother led the entire sect to support you with all her might, and you won’t even grant this small request!”
She trembled as she reached out a hand, pulled a stack of papers from her sleeve, and slowly held them out to Ren Xiaoyao. Her fingers spread, and the stack of papers slipped sadly from her hand. “Do you know what this is? This is from the Obsidian Forest… ” "A list of our elite ninja who died in battle! To ensure your safe return to Nara with Sister Shinguji, Mother sent Uncle Sabei with a large group of disciples to secretly protect you. However, we were ambushed by the Ninko-ryu and Matsuda-ryu, and of the seventy-eight, only I survived! Before returning to Kisame Valley, she left me this list, asking me to ask Toshiro to find their remains and give them a proper burial, but..."
Anna Kora became increasingly heartbroken, two streams of tears falling down her smooth, alabaster cheeks, staining the ink on the paper: "But I searched for a month with the disciples of the Tenth Division, and found nothing. They were either trapped in traps and their bodies were never found, or... or they were carried off by wolves..."
"Anna, I'm sorry..." Mina Shinguji's voice choked.
"Waaah... Waaah... Big brother, please... waaah... incorporate the Kirigakure Shigenryu into... into the Seven Great Sects." Lin Yuxiu couldn't help but cry, crying bitterly, filling the entire castle tower with an atmosphere of grief.
"Not only the Kirigakure-ryu and Tochigi-Matsumoto-ryu... but also the Hiten-Mitsuken-ryu, Kamiya-Kashinshin-ryu, Jikishin-Kage-ryu, Kyōshin-Akechi-ryu, Shindō-Munen-ryu, and Oniwaban—all of them will be removed from the Seven Great Sects." Ren Xiaoyao flicked his sleeves, his tiger-like eyes flashing with unfathomable light.
Shinguji Mina and Hitsugaya Toshirō were both dumbfounded. Sect Master... what was the Sect Master doing? Was he going to monopolize the Seven Great Sects and seize all power, or...
what he said next shocked them even more.
"Of course, there's also our Hokushin Ittō-ryu."
"What? We're withdrawing too!" Shinguji Mina and Hitsugaya Toshirō exclaimed in unison.
"Yes, if I win the competition in five days, the title of the Seven Great Sects will disappear forever." Ren Xiaoyao's voice wasn't loud, but its impact was immense.
"You... you want to disband the Seven Great Sects!" Shinguji Mina finally understood Ren Xiaoyao's meaning.
“That’s right.”
“Sect Master, you absolutely mustn’t.” Hitsugaya Toshi bent his knees and knelt down with a thud. “The Seven Great Sects Alliance is the culmination of Lord Taiko’s (Kishimoto Masashi’s) life’s work. For decades, it has maintained the stability of the Japanese martial arts world. Sect Master Shinguji has also spent most of his life on it. How can it be disbanded just like that?”
"Yes, Xiaoyao, your father's dying wish was for you to preserve the current status of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, but... but not to disband it..."
Ren Xiaoyao interrupted with a smile, "Let me ask you, what was the original intention behind the formation of the Seven Great Sects Alliance?"
Shinguji Mina immediately replied, "Forty years ago, the Third Shinobi World War broke out in Japan. For eight or nine years, ninjas from various sects fought each other, resulting in countless deaths and the destruction of countless lives. It wasn't until the elder of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, the reclusive Kishimoto-sama of Inabayama Castle, was invited to become the sect leader, and with his unparalleled ninjutsu and martial arts that shook the world, he subdued countless sects, thus quelling this bloody turmoil."
Hitsugaya Toshi added, "Kishmoto-sama felt..." Knowing the unique responsibilities and survival methods of ninjas, and understanding that conflicts between different schools due to missions, and the inevitable escalation of these conflicts into battle, the Seven Great Schools Alliance was formed after careful consideration. This alliance aimed to deter those who sought to escalate trouble and create chaos. From then on, whenever any incident occurred in the martial arts world, the Seven Great Schools Alliance would always find a way to resolve it. Not only the various ninja schools, but also the people of Kanto, Hokuriku, and Kinai, and the monks of temples like Honinji, Chōzenji, and Negoroji dared not disobey. Therefore, although the head of Shinguji Temple was only the nominal leader of the Seven Great Schools, he was the de facto ruler of the Japanese martial arts world.
“Well said. Back then, Taiko Taijin established the Seven Great Sects Alliance precisely to maintain peace in the ninjutsu world. Now, I'm disbanding the Seven Great Sects Alliance for the same reason.” Ren Xiaoyao turned to look at the sky, his tiger eyes flashing with a powerful and unfathomable light. “Yes, thirty years ago… no, five years ago, or even two years ago, the combined strength of the Seven Great Sects was indeed unparalleled. But now? If it weren't for Prince Kiriko being instigated by Aizen Sousuke to secretly drug us, we would probably have lost to the ‘Anti-Hokushin Ittō-ryū’ alliance.”
“Both groups of rebels have been brought to justice. What is there to worry about?” Kora Anna muttered.
"Five or ten years might be fine, but what about twenty, thirty, or forty years from now? Who can guarantee there won't be a second Prince Kirito, or a second Aizen Sousuke!" Ren Xiaoyao's voice suddenly rose, his tone resounding and imposing. "Before his death, Master Shinguji entrusted the Hokushin Ittō-ryū to me, asking me to maintain peace and stability in the ninja world. With this heavy responsibility on my shoulders, I have to make arrangements early to prevent any potential turmoil in the Japanese martial arts world."
"Then... then the Seven Great Sects Alliance has disbanded, what will they rely on..." Shinguji Mina asked blankly.
"With an organization even stronger and more complete than the Seven Great Sects Alliance!"
Lin Yuxiu, her pigtails twirling, asked sweetly, "Big brother, you wouldn't... you wouldn't want to integrate all the schools of ninjutsu into one like the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance..."
"That's right, the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance!" Ren Xiaoyao clapped his hands and laughed, saying naturally, "Since the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, the martial arts world has been in turmoil and endless fighting. Even after Emperor Taizu donned the yellow robe, usurped the throne from the Zhou Dynasty, and established a unified empire, the Central Plains martial arts world was still divided into numerous factions and plagued by internal strife, a situation remarkably similar to that of Japan today. About twenty-three years ago, the Asura Sect, in alliance with Juesha, invaded the Central Plains, winning every battle and sweeping all before them. At the critical moment, Senior Dugu stepped forward, uniting Shaolin, the Beggars' Sect, the Tianji Sect, the Four Great Families, the Five Great Sword Sects, the Tang Clan of Sichuan, and the Green Forest Alliance of thirteen provinces to form the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance." Together, they fought against a powerful enemy and finally achieved a decisive victory in the Battle of Wuyun Mountain. Although Senior Dugu retired from the martial world after that, the influence of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance still spread far and wide. For twenty years, there was no major turmoil in the martial world. Even the long-planned rebellion of the four elders of the Tang Clan was perfectly quelled in just three days with the intervention of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. Last year, the Asura Cult resurfaced and became restless. The Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance quickly assembled and held a Heroes' Assembly at Shaolin Temple to elect a new leader. The Asura Cult fled upon hearing the news and immediately retreated to Liaodong, never daring to cause trouble again. "
It sounds like... it sounds like as long as we unite all the schools of ninjutsu like the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance to form a powerful and binding organization, we can bring lasting peace to Japan?" Hitsugaya Toshiro seemed to have realized something and asked impatiently.
"I can't say for sure, but at least the Fourth Shinobi World War won't happen in our lifetimes."
"Really? That...that's wonderful!" Thinking of her father's grand ambition about to be realized, Mina Shinguji beamed, her jewel-like eyes sparkling.
"Hey, everyone, don't listen to his nonsense. As long as we ninjas are scrambling to do missions just to survive, we can't achieve true unity." Even though Ren Xiaoyao had become the leader of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū sect, Anna Kora was still as disrespectful as ever, speaking without any sense of propriety.
"Yes, the tasks entrusted to them by the daimyo and wealthy merchants each year are limited. It's simply impossible for ninja sects in the same region to live in harmony."
"Why is it impossible?" Ren Xiaoyao smiled nonchalantly and countered, "In our Central Plains, apart from the Shaolin Temple being self-sufficient, and the Beggars' Sect, the Heavenly Pole Sect, and the Four Great Families each having their own businesses, the other large and small gangs and sects have conflicting ways of survival. Whether before or after the establishment of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, they often quarrel over this. The former is mostly resolved by force, inevitably resulting in a fierce battle, while the latter is mediated by the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, achieving a satisfactory result for both sides without bloodshed."
Seeing the expressions on everyone's faces, Ren Xiaoyao paused and continued, "I admit that many situations in the ninja world are different from those in the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, and the methods for handling disputes cannot be completely copied, but... as the saying goes, 'Man proposes, God disposes.' As long as we think and act with our hearts, we will definitely be able to solve all difficulties."
"From what you're saying, it seems you've already come up with a way that satisfies both sides." Mina Shinguji asked, noticing Ren Xiaoyao's confident smile as he spoke.
"It might not be a perfect solution, but it's certainly a method worth considering." Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with a strange light as he slowly said, "Let's take the Song Dynasty as an example. The Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance has three major powers: Shaolin, Beggars' Sect, and Tianji Sect. Then there are the Four Great Families and the Five Great Sword Sects, basically encompassing all regions of the Central Plains. In addition, there are the Green Forest Alliance, which is spread throughout the Three Mountains and Five Peaks and thirteen provinces across the country; the Tang Clan of Sichuan, which dominates the southwest; and organizations such as the Taihang Heroes and the Northern and Southern Escort Agency Association. No matter where a dispute occurs, they can be found to resolve it in time. If they cannot resolve it, or if any party is not satisfied with the result, then the matter is passed up to a more qualified organization to resolve the dispute. If they cannot resolve it, then it is passed up again until it is put to the Heroes' Assembly for discussion among the heroes. By analogy, we can also select some of the stronger and more credible sects and have them lead the formation of certain organizations to supervise and handle minor disputes between sects nearby."
"Doesn't that mean separating the Shikoku, Kyushu, Hokkaido, Kanto, and Kansai regions, turning hundreds of sects into six?" Anna Kora blinked her beautiful eyes, retorting, "That way, minor disputes can be resolved, but what if conflicts arise between regions? Wouldn't that immediately escalate into a major war?"
"Not at all," Ren Xiaoyao waved his hand and laughed, "Do you know that the five great sword sects are located in Hengshan, Taishan, Songshan, Huashan, and Huangshan, some thousands of miles apart? The four great families are located in Zhejiang, Henan, Hubei, and Jiangsu, their influence intertwined. How can they be opposed? How can they fight?"
"The sect leader's intention is not to divide them by resistance, then..."
"Ninjutsu is divided into five major systems: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, with four branches: ice, wind, lightning, and mist, as well as taijutsu and genjutsu. We might as well categorize them according to the types of ninjutsu each school excels in. If a metal or wood-based school causes trouble, it can be handled through negotiation between the metal and wood schools; if a water or fire-based school causes trouble, it can be handled through negotiation between the water and fire schools. This way, we can balance the power of various organizations, quickly handle various emergencies, and prevent any one force from becoming too powerful." Ren Xiaoyao's words were perfectly reasonable and insightful. "It sounds like he spoke in one breath without a break, but it was actually the result of much deliberation," he said. "As for the composition of the various factions, that's easy. First, we'll choose the one with the highest martial arts skills to take charge. Then, the strongest factions within each faction will be in charge of Shikoku, Kyushu, Hokkaido, Kanto, Kansai, and other regions... Look, the leader of the Earth faction is Sect Master Aoki, and the
leader of the Mist faction is Sect Master Kora, known as the Tsuchikage and the Hidden Mist Village respectively. As for me..." He pointed to himself, smiling slightly with a hint of mockery, "Then I'll be the Hokage." "No, the title 'Hokage' perfectly encapsulates the great achievements the Sect Master has made for the ninjutsu world." Hitsugaya Toshiro showed an expression of admiration and solemnly paid his respects, "You should inherit the title that Lord Kishimoto earned for 'martial arts, courage, benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and trustworthiness,' and rule the ninjutsu world... no, the Japanese martial arts world, under the title 'Taiko'!"
"Taiko, huh... Heh, we'll have to wait until I win the tournament before we can discuss that."
"With the sect leader's martial arts skills, even if he fights against the leaders of the six major sects in six consecutive battles, his chances of winning should be about fifty-fifty." In front of outsiders, Shinguji Mina still had to be polite and address her lover as "sect leader." "Miwaba-ban is good at using poison, and Shinto Munen-ryu is good at using hidden weapons. The sect leader has the Cangmang Taxue Armor and the Pidu Tianzhu Blade, which are impervious to bullets and poisons, so he is already invincible. Kyōshin Akechi-ryu is good at internal strength, but it is no match for the supernatural power of the innate supreme qi. Jōshin Kage-ryu is best at lightness skills, but it would probably have to admit defeat on the spot against the sect leader's elusive and ghostly movements. Only Kamiya Kashin-ryu and Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu are not easy to deal with."
“Yes, Minami, the head of the Kamiya Kashin-ryu school, hails from Satsuma in Kyushu. His ancestors were all renowned warriors. He is a master of taijutsu, his fist and palm techniques are unparalleled in Japan, and he has never lost a hand-to-hand combat match. In the ninjutsu world, he is known as the ‘Peerless Warrior of the West.’ His ultimate technique, the ‘Eight Gates,’ is incredibly powerful, and even the head of Shinguji dared not presume to challenge his might.” Hitsugaya Toshiro added, “As for Kato Taka, the head of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu school, he is no exception. He is Kishimoto-sama’s direct disciple and has perfectly inherited all the martial arts of this ‘Saint of Ninjutsu.’ He also possesses the Kusanagi Sword, one of the Three Sacred Treasures. He is the only opponent in the Japanese martial arts world that Shinguji fears.”
“If it were just a simple one-on-one duel, I believe the head of the school would not lose. But after four matches, there are these two immediately following, with no time for rest and recovery. The odds of winning will be greatly reduced.” Shinguji Mina said with some worry, “Especially the battle against the head of the Kato school, I’m afraid… I’m afraid you will lose.”
"How does his martial arts compare to the captains?"
"Not as good, far inferior."
"Oh, and what about Kenpachi? I mean, a field battle, not a formal duel."
"There's no comparison." "
Then... how many moves could they exchange?"
"I... I don't know." "
What do you mean? You can tell even if you haven't fought him."
"It's not that we can't tell, it's... Kenpachi simply doesn't dare to fight him."
"What!?" Ren Xiaoyao was stunned, showing a rare look of astonishment. Seeing the crowd exchange bewildered glances, he suddenly burst into laughter. "Good, good, good! I wouldn't be interested in a match like this. Just watch the competition in five days! I, Ren Xiaoyao, will not lose, never!" (

Chapter 5 of Volume 38

, "Huff... Huff...") Also in Zongjin Square, under the gaze of thousands of eyes, Ren Xiaoyao stood with his hands behind his back, composed and at ease. Meanwhile, a thin man in blue ninja attire, five zhang away, was kneeling on the ground, panting heavily.
"You... what... what kind of lightness skill did you use? Why... why are you so fast, so... cough cough, I used the Void Refining Technique and... I couldn't even touch the hem of your clothes." The thin man was none other than Ishida Akira, the leader of the Straight Heart Shadow Stream. He had competed with Ren Xiaoyao, who had won three consecutive matches, in lightness skill. Upon comparison, he realized that whether leaping across flat ground, bounding high and low, or dodging and shifting, he was far inferior to Ren Xiaoyao.
As the leader of a sect, he was unwilling to admit defeat easily. He relentlessly chased Ren Xiaoyao for nearly half an hour, exhausting himself with sweat and almost completely drained, yet he hadn't even managed to touch Ren Xiaoyao once. He felt that his decades of arduous martial arts training, his attempt to seize the position of sect leader, had all turned out to be a mere illusion, and he was instantly filled with despair.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily and recited with a carefree and natural air: "When the Peng bird migrates to the Southern Ocean, it stirs up the water for three thousand miles, soars up on the whirlwind for ninety thousand miles, and departs after resting for six months..."
"Xiao... Xiaoyao You!?" Ishida Akira was completely bewildered and blurted out the question.
What Ren Xiaoyao was reciting was the most representative chapter of Zhuangzi's book, "Zhuangzi," full of unique imagination and romantic color, expressing the idea that one should not be bound by material things, but only by forgetting oneself and forgetting everything can one reach the highest state of spiritual enlightenment, "selflessness."
Since Jianzhen's eastward journey to Japan, the entire nation has admired the culture of the Han and Tang dynasties for over three hundred years. All high-ranking officials and noble families have studied Chinese classics, and Ishida Akira naturally read this book as well.
"Yes, my light-body technique is called 'Free and Easy Wandering'." Ren Xiaoyao stood tall and imposing, possessing an aura of a supreme hero. This was not only due to his unique appearance and temperament, but also his unwavering, mountain-like posture, his sharp, lightning-like gaze, and the powerful confidence it conveyed.
"Free and Easy Wandering... good, good, good. The martial arts of the Central Plains are indeed wondrous; my Japanese nation is far inferior." Ishida Akira smiled bitterly. He considered his light-body technique to be unparalleled in the ninja world, even Shinguji Ryuken had to bow down to him. Today, he realized that there are always higher levels and more skilled individuals, and his heart was filled with mixed emotions, utterly ashamed.
"Sect Leader Ishida, you are mistaken. My 'Free and Easy Wandering' is a combination of the strengths of the three great lightness skills of the Central Plains, supplemented by the Hokushin Itto-ryu's unique Ninja Shadow Clone Technique. None of the four can be missing. How could it hinder the reputation of your country's martial arts world? If I had not had the fortuitous opportunity to glimpse the essence of ninjutsu, how could I have combined their strengths and weaknesses into one?" Ren Xiaoyao bent down to help Ishida Akira up, and said earnestly, "Sect Leader's lightness skills are superb. I admire them greatly. I believe that none of the footwork techniques I have practiced can guarantee victory." "The reason we had a slight advantage just now was because we learned from the strengths of many schools and combined the essence of various lightness skills. The sect leader did not lose to me, but was defeated by the martial arts of the world."
Ishida Akira was indignant. He originally wanted to resign as sect leader and live in seclusion, never practicing lightness skills again. But after hearing Ren Xiaoyao's words, he felt that Ren Xiaoyao's words and actions were very protective of their sect. If it weren't for this, the reputation of Zhixin Yingliu for more than a hundred years, and even the face of the Japanese martial arts world, would have been completely destroyed in his hands, and he would definitely have become a great sinner in the ninjutsu world. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel very grateful to him. His eyes were filled with tears, and he bowed and said, "Sect Leader Ren is so generous and benevolent.
I am deeply grateful and admire him. The entire Zhixin Yingliu is willing to obey your orders." Ren Xiaoyao hurriedly said, "I dare not, I dare not. I am young and inexperienced. I was lucky to win. I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to ask the sect leader for guidance." These words came from the bottom of his heart and were equally sincere.
Seeing this, Kato Taka, seated at the eastern end of the platform, felt extremely embarrassed. After Shinguji Ryuugen's death, he had become the most qualified elder in the ninja world to contend for the position of leader of the Seven Great Sects. Especially after hearing that Shinguji Ryuugen had left a will for Ren Xiaoyao to succeed him as sect leader, his determination to seize the position was further strengthened—how could the supreme ruler of the ninja world, the actual ruler of the Japanese martial arts world, be a Song person! He glanced sideways at Nan Jiaye and gave him a signal.
Nan Jiaye nodded, stood up, and strode to the center of the square.
He was not tall, but he had thick eyebrows and large eyes, and his whole person was like cast iron; no matter how many people were around, he could always be recognized at a glance. This was not only because of the large, menacing blue dragon tattooed on his forehead, about half the size of a palm, but also because of his unique and unconventional appearance, his captivatingly melancholic eyes, his lean face radiating confidence, his calm and composed demeanor, and his skin glowing with a unique bronze hue, the result of long-term exposure to the sun, a testament to the arduous training he underwent.
Ren Xiaoyao, seeing his composed demeanor and imposing presence, felt a sense of goodwill from the start, and cupped his hands, saying, "I have long admired the title of 'Peerless in the West,' and it is truly an honor to meet you today."
Nan Jia also laughed heartily, "Very well said. Sect Leader Ren fought against Prince Tong Hu, single-handedly breaking through seventeen forbidden techniques. This old man would like to experience it firsthand."
The two stood facing each other, and Nan Jia also clasped his hands together, then slowly separated them, his solemn expression containing surging hidden power, which was the starting stance of the "Takigake Secret Technique," "The Flow of the Four Seas."
Ren Xiaoyao remained calm and composed, his footwork light and agile, swaying like a willow in the wind, his steps unpredictable, making it impossible for his opponent to anticipate his movements.
Nan Jia also shouted, "Draw your sword! I'll let you make the first move!"
Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback: "Draw my sword!?"
Nan Jia was also surprised: "What, isn't swordsmanship your forte?"
"Hahaha—" Ren Xiaoyao laughed loudly, "My skills are diverse, I know a little about both fist and foot techniques and weapon fighting, but I can't say I'm proficient in any of them. However..." He paused intentionally, raising his voice, "Since we're vying for the position of the Seven Great Sect Leader, we should use the strengths of each school to defeat our opponents. Only in this way can we win the hearts and minds of the ninja world. Sect Leader Nan Jia's fist and palm techniques have shaken Japan, so I will naturally respond with my bare hands."
Nan Jia was also taken aback, his expression changed drastically, and his eyes revealed a look of pity for Ren Xiaoyao's ignorance. He shouted, "Boy, you're still young. You should know some manners in your dealings with others. Don't be too arrogant. Take this!" He raised both palms with his ten fingers, striking and splitting them at the same time. A sharp "crack" followed, and he took the initiative, instantly unleashing a barrage of palm shadows. Each palm had the power to shatter stone and break monuments, striking all around Ren Xiaoyao.
Seeing the lightning-fast attack, Ren Xiaoyao was startled and dodged the attack with a slight sway. Nan Jia also missed with both palms. As his arms crossed, he suddenly took another step forward and struck out with both hands, aiming for Ren Xiaoyao's cheeks. The force was so strong that it sounded like a raging tide.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed loudly, "Well done!" He flicked his sleeve, leaned back slightly, and kept his left hand still, first ensuring that his body was as stable as Xunfeng City. He then made a fist with his right hand, gathering his supreme innate energy in his palm, and swept it out with a "whoosh" to meet Nan Jia's attack. It looked powerful and fierce, but in reality, the energy was stored and not released. Before the actual contact, the opponent could not detect his strength at all.
Nan Jia immediately became suspicious: "Qi Guang (Mori Qi Guang, the vice sect leader of the Kamiya Kashin-ryu school) told me that this kid's kung fu is swift, vigorous, and unparalleled in its power. Why isn't he launching a preemptive attack?" However, confident in his superb palm technique, having rarely met an opponent in Japan, he quickly dismissed these doubts and, with a roar, attacked Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao waited until the attack was upon him before unleashing his innate supreme qi like a torrent, striking out from his hand to meet the opponent's invincible palm wind.
He used a technique similar to Buddhist hand seals, releasing a highly condensed energy from his body, as if throwing a sphere of true energy at the enemy from a distance, avoiding direct contact. Master Xiaochen had used this technique against Yi Tianhan in the past, causing Yi Tianhan great harm and leaving him resentful to this day. Before the duel, Ren Xiaoyao had consulted Yi Tianhan several times, and having heard him mention this technique, he went back and pondered it, actually managing to grasp this seemingly Buddhist hand seal. Nan Jia also showed surprise, her palms, which were about to strike Ren Xiaoyao's cheek, suddenly reversed, coming together in the middle, emitting a burst of energy that deflated the highly condensed true energy.
Seeing this, Ren Xiaoyao felt a chill run down his spine. He had never imagined that someone could so easily dissolve his innate supreme qi, forcing him to retreat instead of advance. He quickly moved sideways.
Nan Jia didn't press her advantage, but stared at him with gleaming eyes and asked, "What kind of kung fu is this?"
Ren Xiaoyao remained calm and leisurely replied, "The Buddha said: It cannot be spoken, it cannot be spoken." He chanted a verse as his body moved about, his steps swift and agile. When he was close, his right hand shot out, thumb and little finger on either side, the remaining three fingers together, the palm shape peculiar, yet the speed was astonishing, like a bird gliding through the clouds, without the slightest hesitation.
Nan Jia laughed loudly, "'Beast Mimicry Ninja Art' Wind-Piercing Style! Very good, very good, then watch my 'Double Snakes Killing Each Other'." His palm strikes suddenly became twice as fast, mimicking the hissing and tearing movements of two venomous snakes. Wherever his hands passed, there was a hissing and low hum, like the rapidly moving heads of snakes, making it impossible to defend against.
Seeing his agile movements, Ren Xiaoyao was just in time. He braced himself slightly with his feet, and his body rose into the air like a wisp of smoke, leaping between Ren Xiaoyao's arms. His five fingers pressed together into a knife-like shape, and the "Eastern Peak Sword Palm" struck down with lightning speed. The move followed the move perfectly, without any flaws, incredibly fast and exquisite, extremely fluid.
Nan Jia also met the attack without hesitation. His sleeves billowed, and a powerful internal force, like a surging ocean wave, rushed out. In one move, he turned the tables, forcing Ren Xiaoyao's attack. His left palm unleashed three consecutive strikes, while his right palm slashed diagonally. The combination of strength and gentleness was like towering mountains and a vast ocean, with two forces attacking the opponent simultaneously.
Ren Xiaoyao needed to conserve his strength to fight Jia Tengying, unwilling to engage in a direct confrontation. He moved nimbly, dodging and weaving through the center of the plaza, his palms moving freely. His right palm was graceful and fluid, while his left palm was powerful and controlled at will. He alternated his techniques, using ingenious methods to find openings for counterattacks.
The two fought for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, constantly exchanging blows from a distance, never actually exchanging fists or palms. Nan Jia had only used less than half of her full power, growing increasingly resentful. She coldly shouted, "Sect Leader Ren, impressive lightness skill! But we're competing in fists and feet!" She threw out her right fist, her palm empty, striking out with the "Rock Collapse" stance.
Seeing the fierce palm strike, like a thousand-pound boulder pressing down on him, Ren Xiaoyao was not alarmed but delighted. He suddenly straightened his back, his robes fluttering even without wind, his eyebrows bristling, his posture becoming fierce and unstoppable. He slashed his right foot to the left, turned half his body to the side, his left hand twitching and striking, while his right arm suddenly extended forward half a foot, like a thunderbolt, striking first despite being behind, rushing into the center of Nan Jia's dense, rain-like attacks. His loosely clenched right fist suddenly released force, his five fingers abruptly opening, the deep internal energy accumulated and sublimated in his palm
erupting fiercely, from stillness to movement, without any warning, truly like a flash of thunder, shaking heaven and earth. This move, "Spring Thunder Among a Hundred Flowers," originated from the Heaven-Defying Divine Palm, with a vast momentum and boundless power. It struck suddenly at the flaw in the opponent's fist technique, attacking perfectly.
"Boom!" Fist and palm collided, the energy flowing and rolling.
The two recoiled simultaneously as if electrocuted. Ren Xiaoyao's movements were exquisite, naturally dissipating the force he received. Seeing that Nan Jiaye had retreated a step less than him and remained composed, Ren Xiaoyao was inwardly shocked: "Such fierce fist techniques, such profound internal strength! To withstand a blow from my supreme innate qi, yet remain unfazed. 'Peerless in the West' truly lives up to its name."
Nan Jiaye was equally astonished. His "Rock Collapse" strike had used eighty percent of his power, yet Ren Xiaoyao had taken it head-on without even flinching, demonstrating his formidable martial arts skills.
Time seemed to stand still as the two masters stood facing each other. The surrounding spectators appeared like lifeless sculptures, but discerning observers could see that both Ren Xiaoyao and Nan Jiaye had a general understanding of each other's true strength. Neither would easily make a move until they had a better way to defeat the other—the idea of striking first was for private duels in the martial world; in a contest between masters, it was often a matter of striking first to gain the upper hand, and then using other methods to defeat the opponent.
Only top masters like Kato Taka, Hanashi-kun, and Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, along with Long Feiyun and Shinguji Mina, who were familiar with Ren Xiaoyao's martial arts, could see that while the two appeared to be making no move, they were actually unleashing their full power, sending it towards their opponent from afar. The slightest carelessness would result in instant death. Just as the two women held their breath, unable to figure out how many times the two were exchanging internal energy, Nan Jiaye suddenly let out a long laugh. He circled his left palm and thrust out his right hand with two fingers, the force of which shot like an arrow, aiming for Ren Xiaoyao's eyes.
This move came suddenly and without warning. What was most deadly was that Nan Jiaye adopted a close-range attack stance, making the opponent think that the move would take some time to execute before suddenly unleashing this finger strike. It was truly impossible to defend against. The two women turned their backs, unable to bear watching any longer, because Nan Jiaye's calculations were too ingenious. The timing and direction were perfectly controlled. Even with his extraordinary abilities, Ren Xiaoyao would find it difficult to withstand the opponent's finger force under such circumstances.
If you can't block it, you can dodge it!
Just as the finger force was about a foot away from Ren Xiaoyao's face, something unbelievable happened without warning. Ren Xiaoyao was blown away like a feather by the whirlwind caused by the finger force, narrowly avoiding the injury to his eye socket. It was so miraculous that people couldn't believe it, but it was indeed true. As he soared through the air, Ren Xiaoyao calmly smiled and said, "Sect Master, there's no need to hold back. Bring on any ultimate moves you have." Although Nan Jia's efforts were in vain, he showed no signs of discouragement or impatience. Suddenly, his body underwent a subtle and mysterious change that could not be described in words. It was as if his sleeves were raised, his energy surged, and he suddenly sprinted at full speed, shooting straight towards Ren Xiaoyao, who was two zhang away, like an arrow. He shouted sharply, "Try my 'Fierce Dragon Breaks Tiger'!"
In the past ten years, he had rarely had the opportunity to fight someone, and even less the opportunity to fight beyond ten moves. This was because the power of the Kamiya Kashin-ryu was ranked third among the seven major sects, and he himself was invincible throughout the Nine Provinces. Even if someone came to him for help, he only needed to say a word, without having to take action. On this day, he encountered the extraordinary Ren Xiaoyao, and was naturally delighted. He held nothing back and used all the profound physical techniques of the Kamiya Kashin-ryu.
Ren Xiaoyao was equally engrossed in the fight, launching a full-scale offensive. His palms moved with incredible speed and power, each strike more ferocious than the last, their thunderous force seemingly endless.
A series of explosive sounds filled the air, the clashing of palms like thunder and lightning, breathtaking and awe-inspiring.
Both unleashed their ultimate techniques, their palm strikes exceptionally fierce, creating a whirlwind of energy that billowed their sleeves. They clashed head-on, their blows seemingly evenly matched.
Ren Xiaoyao thought to himself, "There's another fierce battle to come; I don't have time for this." His palm technique suddenly changed, adopting the "Free and Unfettered Palm," his central defenses wide open, concealing a deep, hidden power, concentrated yet not unleashed. His intention was to lure his opponent deeper, while simultaneously dissipating the power of his opponent's fists and palms, as he slowly retreated step by step.
Nan Jia noticed his sudden shift to a defensive stance and became suspicious. He thought to himself, "What's this kid up to? His internal strength is clearly superior to mine, so why doesn't he dare to fight me head-on? Ah, that's it. Even if he beats me, he still has to deal with Sect Master Kato, so he has to conserve his strength. Hmph, normally I wouldn't bother taking advantage of you, but now it's to protect the reputation of the Japanese martial arts world. Even if it means being branded as bullying the weak, I can't let the position of sect leader fall into someone else's hands."
With that thought, he not only didn't slow down his attack but instead intensified his palm strikes.
Ren Xiaoyao was secretly delighted. He adopted a steady and unwavering stance. His true energy flowed like water through the thousands of meridians and acupoints in his body, converging into a torrent. With the continuous flow of his palms, he subtly guided the opponent's palm force, causing him to gradually retreat. Even with the powerful 'Fierce Dragon Breaks Tiger' secret technique of the Divine Valley Vitality Style, he could not escape the dense aura generated by Xiaoyao's Limitless Palm. Every move lost its accuracy, and it was even more difficult to concentrate his power. Hitting empty space was like hitting rotten cotton, and most of the power was dissipated.
Nan Jia then realized he had been tricked and was utterly shocked: "What kind of technique did he use? My ruthless palm strikes, powerful enough to shatter mountains and rocks, couldn't even reach me. It seems I have to launch a new attack and use a different move." Unfortunately, Ren Xiaoyao's palms moved back and forth like a whirlpool capsizing a boat. He wanted to withdraw his palms and retreat, but he lacked the strength. Every step Ren Xiaoyao took back forced him to unleash his power, leaving him unable to control himself.
The "Fierce Dragon Breaks the Tiger," renowned for its unparalleled ferocity, failed to achieve its intended effect. Everyone present was deeply astonished. Many masters from various sects who hadn't attended the birthday celebration finally believed that Ren Xiaoyao had single-handedly defeated the two culprits, Prince Tong Hu and Aizen Sōsuke, thus preserving the Hokushin Ittō-ryū school.
Ren Xiaoyao unleashed his innate supreme qi to the fullest, pushing the Xiaoyao Wuji Palm to its limit. The power of "Fierce Dragon Breaks Tiger" was trapped within the palm strike, rendering it useless. He thought to himself, "Sect Leader Nan Jia is not only highly skilled but also shrewd. By now, he should know to admit defeat without me even having to say it."
Nan Jia was indeed secretly suffering, but he still forced himself to hold on. Ren Xiaoyao simply channeled the Nine Revolutions Return to Origin energy into his palm technique. His hands moved like floating sand in the desert, unpredictable and full of hidden attacks. All the palm strikes from his opponent were absorbed by him. He could neither attack nor defend, and every now and then, his opponent would circle and pull back, turning the moves against him, making him look increasingly disheveled.
Nan Jia was also in dire straits, yet helpless. He could only muster all his inner energy, hoping to strike at Ren Xiaoyao's unpredictable palm techniques in one fell swoop. However, Ren Xiaoyao's ability to use force against force and neutralize force was beyond perfection. He deftly received the force with both hands, deflecting it all, and then easily resisted the remaining force with his profound inner strength. Although Nan Jia's palm power was strong, he was now at a loss, and his inner strength was being depleted bit by bit.
At the critical moment, Ren Xiaoyao suddenly roared and unleashed both palms, gathering all his strength to meet Nan Jia's palms. He unleashed a burst of energy, attempting to shake Nan Jia off the platform.
With a "bang," Nan Jia's foot landed on the wooden plank at the edge of the arena.
Ren Xiaoyao gave him no chance to catch his breath, instantly changing his Xiaoyao Wuji Palm to the Heaven-Defying Divine Palm. His inner strength, like a sandstorm, swallowed up the opponent's counterattack.
Nan Jia also lost the initiative, his breath suffocated by the pressure, his arms unable to straighten, his internal energy unable to counterattack, his meridians in chaos, his internal organs burning, and he was about to fall out of the arena in the blink of an eye.
Fortunately, he was a veteran of many battles and experienced, and by crouching down, he "drilled" through the powerful palm force that stirred up the wind, barely avoiding defeat. "How is it? Sect Leader Nan Jia, shall we continue to fight?" Looking at his opponent, whose face was flushed and who was panting heavily, Ren Xiaoyao smiled leisurely and asked.
"Fight! Why wouldn't we fight!" Nan Jia also revealed a confident smile on his lips.
Lin Yuxiu was more and more confused, pouting her rosy lips and muttering to herself, "You've already lost, why fight anymore? Big brother is giving you face by saving his ultimate move, otherwise..."
"Sect Leader Nan Jia hasn't used his ultimate move yet either," Zhen Gongji Mina interrupted.
"Sister, you mean 'Eight Gates Formation'?"
"Yes, the first of the three forbidden techniques of the Kamiya Kashin-ryu school—Eight Gates Formation!"
"Eight Gates Formation? It sounds like Zhuge Liang's formation." Long Feiyun said with a smile.
"No, it's not a formation, but a unique ninjutsu that increases internal energy tenfold in a short time." Shinguji Mina gazed at the arena and slowly explained, "The Kamiya Kashin-ryu's method of cultivating internal energy is unique, emphasizing instantaneous explosive power. Each Kamiya Kashin-ryu disciple has eight key points in their meridian system, from the top of their head downwards: the Opening Gate, the Resting Gate, the Life Gate, the Injury Gate, the Closing Gate, the View Gate, the Shock Gate, and the Death Gate, collectively known as the 'Eight Gates.' These eight gates restrict the flow of internal energy. Once the restriction is lifted and a gate is opened, one gains power far exceeding their own strength. In other words, it breaks through the limitations of the human body and unleashes all of one's potential."
"Hmm, that sounds amazing."
"Of course! With all eight gates open, internal energy increases tenfold instantly. Even an ordinary ninja can leap to become a top-tier master."
"No way! There's such a powerful ninjutsu in the world? Then… then what's the point of practicing anything else? Just learn the Eight Gates!" Lin Yuxiu said foolishly.
"The Eight Gates is a technique that forcibly releases the body's natural shackles, allowing excess energy to be unleashed. If the user cannot bear the heavy burden of that power, it will immediately backfire. No matter how strong the user becomes, they cannot withstand the prolonged, unrestrained burst of internal energy. Therefore, the Eight Gates has been a forbidden technique since its inception, and even Jonin cannot easily learn it."
"Five years ago, the former vice-leader of the Kamiya Kashin-ryu, Kusaka Yu, opened four gates—Open, Rest, Life, and Injury—in a duel. As a result, before the fight was over, he was crippled. His muscles and meridians were all damaged, and he still can't get out of bed." Yoruichi Shihouin joined in, saying in a deep voice, "Although the Nanga sect leader is renowned for his martial arts, he only opened six gates once, five years ago, when he was competing with the sect leader for the position of sect leader. After that, he rested for a full six months. In my opinion, this is not his last battle. I estimate that he will stop after opening five gates if he cannot defeat the sect leader."
"Open the first gate, open!" Nan Jia roared, his tiger-like eyes flashing with a sharp light as he fixed his gaze on Ren Xiaoyao.
"Please, I await the Sect Master's ultimate move." Ren Xiaoyao stood proudly with his hands behind his back.
"Open the second gate, the Gate of Rest!" His clothes fluttered without wind.
"Open the third gate, the Gate of Life!" His sleeves suddenly
tore. "Open the fourth gate, the Gate of Injury!" The veins on his arms bulged.
Feeling the powerful aura invading his body, Ren Xiaoyao's expression changed drastically. He was no longer calm and composed as before. His hands involuntarily reached out to his chest, secretly channeling his true energy to resist the aura.
"Open the fifth gate, the Gate of Blockage!" His cheeks swelled and twitched uncontrollably, his face contorted in a terrifying grimace.
"The fight is about to begin!" Everyone had this thought in their minds at the same time, their eyes glued to the arena, afraid of missing any exciting battle.
Nan Jia didn't move either, but instead shouted the next sentence, "Open the sixth gate, the Gate of View!"
"Rip—" His clothes tore apart inch by inch, revealing his muscular limbs.
"No way, are you really going to fight to the death?!" Yoruichi Shihouin and Mina Shinguji exchanged bewildered glances.
"The Seventh Gate, the Gate of Shock, open!" The shout caused a stir throughout the arena.
"Nan Jia, what are you doing?" Kato Taka jumped to his feet, his face filled with panic.
"I will protect the honor of the ninja world and the Japanese martial arts world with my life!" Nan Jia's voice was extremely hoarse, yet it deeply resonated with everyone present.
"Sect Master Nan Jia, think this through! Your body can't withstand such an overload." Unohana Retsu couldn't sit still any longer and said in a deep voice, "It's not too late to stop now, but if you wait any longer, even a Great Luo Golden Immortal can't save you!"
"I've thought it through! Today, if I don't succeed in this duel, I'll die trying!" Nan Jia's sword-like eyebrows shot up, his beard and hair stood on end, and his body radiated a captivating, eerie dark red, causing the entire arena to tremble. He uttered what was likely the last six words of his life, "The Eighth Gate, the Gate of Death, open!"
"Crack!" "Crack!" With several crisp sounds, the wooden planks within a two-zhang radius of Nan Jia's standing area began to shatter one after another. The scattered wood chips were swallowed up by his surging true energy before they even hit the ground, leaving no trace. Even Ren Xiaoyao's clothes were torn open by the force, with countless large tears about an inch long.
The power of opening all eight gates simultaneously was too great; even the innate supreme qi couldn't withstand it!

Volume 38, Chapter 6: A Battle to the Death

"All eight gates open! This... this is a fight to the death!" Yoruichi Shihouin's lips trembled, as if she had seen the most terrifying thing in the world. "
Five moves. The outcome will be decided within five moves. Either the sect leader will be defeated, or the Nanjia sect leader will die from exhaustion." Toshiro Hitsugaya's eyes were lowered, seemingly without any confidence in Ren Xiaoyao's victory.
Nan Jia also activated the Eight Gates at the cost of his life, his body in an absolutely overloaded state. After five moves, he would be finished without Ren Xiaoyao even needing
to lift a finger. Before he finished speaking, the two on the platform had already exchanged blows.
"Boom!" The opponent's palm force broke through the barrier of the supreme innate qi like a torrent after a rainstorm, rushing into Ren Xiaoyao's body. The latter felt as if his entire body had been struck by lightning, and he coughed up blood.
"Ninja Art? Front Lotus." Nan Jia knew that once the Eight Gates were opened, he would be crippled even if he didn't die. There was no such thing as accumulating power or holding back. He used ruthless moves that would kill both himself and his opponent.
"Whoosh!" The four palms collided for the second time. Ren Xiaoyao coughed up blood again, the scorching torrent that seemed to melt his meridians instantly filling his entire body.
Ren Xiaoyao staggered back, only managing to stand still on the side of the platform.
Although there was no clash of swords and spears, the onlookers felt as if a massive battle had raged, leaving rivers of blood, fields strewn with corpses, and the sun and moon obscured.
"Ninja Art: Reverse Lotus." Nan Jia gave Ren Xiaoyao no chance to catch his breath, moving with lightning speed, quickly advancing and unleashing three palm strikes in an instant, targeting his opponent's ribs and face. A murderous aura swept over him, the force filling the air. The
palm strikes didn't even reach his body; the scorching, ruthless, and refined true energy had already rushed towards him, enveloping him like a net, its ferocity far exceeding expectations. The damage caused by such scorching and destructive energy penetrating his body was unimaginable.
Ren Xiaoyao shifted sideways, attempting to dodge with his light-footed skill, but the scorching energy that had been pressing down on him vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling aura that enveloped him tightly, relentlessly eroding and dissolving his true energy and will. It was like being suddenly transported from a scorching, arid desert to an icy, snowy environment; the sudden shifts between heat and cold, the momentary sense of emptiness, made him feel unbearably uncomfortable.
"Is this the true power of the Eight Gates Formation!?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat. He had never encountered such a technique before, nor had he even considered it. It was clear that this forbidden art had allowed Nan Jiaye's skill to reach an astonishing level capable of turning the tide of battle in a short period of time. Although the Innate Supreme Qi was hailed as the number one divine skill in the world, it probably only possessed such divine power after simultaneously opening all nine acupoints. However, Ren Xiaoyao already knew that this contest was likely to end badly.
Three palm strikes were launched in quick succession, the strangest being that the first strike was slow, while the second was fast. When they reached Ren Xiaoyao's three vital points, they landed on him precisely at the same time, without any discrepancy in timing. This ability to control the speed of the energy flow required not only immense internal strength but also countless hours of arduous practice to achieve perfect precision.
Ren Xiaoyao, caught in the crossfire, cried out in agony. It wasn't that he couldn't dodge because he had already created the "Free and Easy Wandering" technique; rather, his sixth sense keenly perceived that Nan Jiaye's palm strikes were merely a feint. If he were forced to leave his position, he would likely be caught off guard by Nan Jiaye's fourth attack before he could even regain his footing. With Nan Jiaye's dual forces of hot and cold energy binding him, he would have no way to dodge. And a direct confrontation—with the lessons of the past two times before, he wouldn't be so reckless.
In this critical moment, Ren Xiaoyao made an incredibly bold decision:
to take the full force of the three palm strikes!
How? How to block them?
The palm strike, launched from a distance, naturally weakens in power. Whether countered by sheer force or neutralized by sheer power, it's not difficult to deal with. The problem is that once both hands are restrained, even if Nan Jia doesn't fall for the trap, she'll immediately collapse. Changing tactics to defend herself will be too late, and a single-handed attack offers no guarantee of complete protection.
Ren Xiaoyao, filled with regret, unexpectedly closed his eyes at this critical juncture.
Countless martial arts techniques flashed through his mind in the blink of an eye—the Free and Unfettered Palm, the Heaven-Defying Palm, the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, the Great Vajra Palm, the Dragon Claw Hand, the Eastern Peak Sword Palm… a multitude of techniques merged into one, his hands forming a series of hand seals from ninjutsu: "Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, Hai." His sixth sense, "intuition," was fully activated, his spirit expanding infinitely in a state of emptiness and detachment, perfectly grasping the speed, direction, and angle of the palm strike.
The three palm strikes arrived simultaneously, creating a subtle shift. Just as they were about to strike his shoulders and nose, Ren Xiaoyao lowered his hands, offering no resistance whatsoever.
The members of the Beichen Yidao School were utterly horrified. Had their sect leader lost his mind? How could he be so foolish as to take the palm strikes head-on without blocking or parrying?
As they exchanged bewildered glances, their hearts pounding with fear, Ren Xiaoyao's body suddenly leaned back, his shoulders trembling rapidly, yet his feet remained firmly planted on the ground, unmoved.
He first felt a burning sensation on his cheeks, and hurriedly channeled his energy to resist. The palm strikes clashed with the innate supreme qi emanating from between his brows, producing a slight "crackling" sound. The energy flattened, then glided smoothly along the line from his nose to the corner of his eye, narrowly avoiding blindness.
"Bang! Bang!" Ren Xiaoyao skillfully deflected most of the other two palm strikes with a deft movement of his shoulder, but some scorching force still managed to penetrate his meridians. Fortunately, all the acupoints in his body had disappeared, and the true energy generated from his seven major acupoints flowed freely without obstruction. It had already converged here with the opening of the hand seals, ready to meet Nan Jiaye's palm strike head-on, dissolving it completely before it could invade his internal organs.
Kato Taka, Ishida Akira, and Miyamoto Mamoru (head of the Kagami-no-Michi-ryu school) were dumbfounded. With their martial arts skills, they might be able to deflect a single palm strike, and that would require relying on palm or fist techniques performed before it reached their bodies. To block it with their faces was truly inconceivable.
To withstand the lotus force head-on was an astonishing and inconceivable feat of cultivation.
No wonder Shinguji Ryuugen passed the position of head of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school to him!
Nan Jiaye's shock was beyond words. Before the duel, he had meticulously planned for every possible scenario, including being forced to use the Eight Gates Formation. He had even carefully considered which five moves to use after opening the eight gates, confident that he could completely anticipate his opponent's every move under the pressure of the palm strikes. The purpose of his third move was not to injure the enemy, but to keep him busy and prepare for the fourth, deadly move.
However, Ren Xiaoyao had seen through all his plans in the blink of an eye and forcibly withstood the three palm strikes with an unbelievably mysterious technique.
"There's no other way. It seems my worthless life is destined to end here." Nan Jiaye gave a desolate and helpless smile and slowly raised his hand. He had originally planned to end the battle within four moves, leaving one move for finishing off the opponent, so that he would at most be crippled but not die on the spot. But given the current situation, he could hardly defeat Ren Xiaoyao without using the fifth move!
Nan Jiaye raised both hands and quickly formed hand seals in the sequence of "Zi-Wu-Shen-Wu-Mao". Then, his right arm naturally drooped, and his left palm supported his wrist. He channeled his inner energy, gathering countless vortexes of varying sizes and angles. Instantly, the energy "circled" the sky, strange and eerie to the extreme.
"This...this is..." Kora Anna's eyes widened in disbelief.
"The secret technique of the Kamiya Kashin-ryu school, a forbidden technique second only to the Eight Gates - Chidori!" Shinguji Mina's cherry lips began to tremble as she spoke, "Gathering a large amount of true energy in the palm, creating a materialized..."
Before she could finish speaking, the sound of "crackling" echoed from the arena, like a thousand birds singing in unison. In an instant, it seemed to pierce the sky. Chaotic arcs of electricity surged on Nan Jiaye's arm, gradually gathering into a clearly discernible blue-purple lightning ball. His hair also danced with it, his eyes were bloodshot with killing intent, and a strange ferocity appeared on his lips.
In an instant, the hearts of all the spectators pounded and pounded with the cacophony of crackling sounds.
Ren Xiaoyao's mind entered a state of perfect stillness, his six senses fully activated, his eyes fixed intently on his opponent's movements, not daring to miss a single detail.
In a flash, Nan Jia also let out a cry, leaping forward and thrusting out, sending countless pieces of wood flying in his wake, leaving behind a chilling, rumbling thunderous sound. Such a bizarre move was something Ren Xiaoyao had never dreamed of. Over a thousand destructive vortexes were all "held" at Nan Jia's wrist, rushing towards his chest—his strongest and weakest point. Ren Xiaoyao had gradually grasped the power of the Eight Gates Formation, and combined with his sixth sense that allowed him to perceive all of Nan Jia's movements, he was confident he could withstand the palm strikes. However, he knew perfectly well that he couldn't handle the initial onslaught of over a dozen destructive vortexes, so his strongest point immediately became his greatest vulnerability.
Of course, he wouldn't just sit and wait to die. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, then separated them, and quickly brought them together again. When his palms were about half a foot apart, he released a wisp of energy from each of his palms, which, like his opponent's, formed a spiral balloon. This balloon met the hissing birds. Although the number of birds was less, the intensity of the energy was even greater. "Boom! Boom!" The sounds of explosions were incessant. Before the vortexes collided, Nan Jia launched an incredible attack with his left hand, piercing the two protective balloons of Ren Xiaoyao with his fingertips. Each subsequent ring of energy forced Ren Xiaoyao back a step, his mind reeling as if struck by lightning. A vast and unparalleled surge of vital energy erupted like a torrent, causing his blood and qi to churn and his internal organs to feel as if they were being torn apart. When he reached the last ring of energy, their palms clashed. Ren Xiaoyao, already at his limit, was struck as if by a massive iron hammer, instantly thrown back. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, his entire arm from the shoulder down went numb, and his head felt like it was about to explode. The unbearable, violent sensation was beyond description.
Nan Jia didn't pause for a moment, unleashing his fifth move—the Heart-Slaying Technique.
He spun like a top, darting left and right, causing the surrounding air currents to shift instantly. A series of violent gusts of wind, like those of a tornado, assaulted Ren Xiaoyao from all directions. Ren Xiaoyao found himself trapped in the heart of this storm, completely immobilized. His arms were still numb and sore, making even basic defense difficult.
Nan Jia also formed a knife with her right hand, silently and without any force or wind, thrusting it towards Ren Xiaoyao's chest. The Tanzhong acupoint in the chest is a vulnerable point; if struck, even if it didn't pierce the chest, the heart meridian would rupture from the impact. With the infinitely enhanced power of the Eight Gates Formation, any protective qi would be ineffective; the hand strike would surely shatter his bones and heart, leaving no chance for even a god to save him.
Two feet, one foot… five inches, four inches…
Zhen Gongji Mina, Long Feiyun, Su Hanbi, and the other women dared not watch any longer. Lin Yuxiu even burst into tears.
Could it be that the dashing and invincible swordsman, who once roamed the world with unparalleled prowess, was about to perish in this duel?
Half an inch—Nan Jiaye's fingertips were only half an inch from Ren Xiaoyao's chest, the chilling force instantly destroying all of his upper garments.
But Nan Jiaye's hand could not move forward an inch; that mere half inch became a distance he could never cross again.
Why couldn't he move?!
Because Ren Xiaoyao had his wrist pulse gripped, precisely and accurately.
This was the pivot point for the flow of internal energy, but being controlled by someone else meant that no matter how strong his martial arts were, he couldn't exert any force.
Wasn't Ren Xiaoyao's arm numb? Wasn't
he trapped in the core of the "storm"? Yes, his arm was numb, unable to make a move; yes, he was trapped in the core of the "storm," unable to move an inch, but he still had a life-saving technique—the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force!
He had exchanged two blows with Nan Jiaye earlier, not out of arrogance, but to gauge the true power of the Eight Gates Formation. Then, without dodging or evading, he endured three palm strikes, using his "intuition" to thoroughly grasp Nan Jiaye's habitual movements and power application. In this life-or-death moment, he gritted his teeth, forced his hand up, and used the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force to forcibly "borrow" power from Nan Jiaye, allowing his Dragon Claw Hand to seize his pulse point.
It was over, everything was over…
Nan Jiaye's body trembled violently, his face ashen. In his heart, there was no bitterness, resentment, or grief, only the quiet after all hope had been shattered. In his clear and lucid mind, he faced an abyss of defeat. His grand plan to prevent Ren Xiaoyao from becoming the leader of the seven major sects and to maintain the orthodoxy of the martial world had vanished. All that remained was the impending crushing defeat and death.
Just as he was feeling utterly hopeless and devoid of any will to live, the power generated by the Eight Gates Formation surged back into his already collapsing body, beginning a full-blown backlash. His mind was struck as if by lightning, and a raging fire seemed to ignite within him, burning every meridian and impacting every acupoint. The pain was indescribable.
Nan Jia knew he was experiencing a death process a hundred times more painful than the demonic possession during internal energy cultivation or the "burning of scriptures" practiced by Taoists in the Central Plains. Not only was he enduring the extreme agony of his heart and meridians being shattered, but because the meridians in his brain were also affected, he would experience the terrifying sensation of instantly transforming from a sane person into a madman before his death. The devastation to his mind and body was beyond description.
Just then, a force lifted him from his standing position like a puppet on strings, followed by the whistling sound of powerful energy piercing the air—Ren Xiaoyao's "Heavenly Thunder Without Regret" struck him heavily in the back.
Wu Wang (无妄) signifies that strength originates from the outside, yet resides within. It moves with vigor,
its strength is central and responsive, bringing great prosperity through righteousness—this is the mandate of Heaven. If it is not righteous, misfortune will ensue; it is unfavorable to go anywhere. Where does Wu Wang go? Heaven's mandate does not protect it; is it truly going to fail?
Nan Jia, well-versed in the I Ching, involuntarily conjured the fragmented commentary on the "Wu Wang" hexagram. The
"Wu Wang" hexagram, composed of Qian (乾) above Zhen (震), represents the highest realm of the Heaven-Defying Palm technique, the highest realm that Yi Tianhan had only glimpsed after thirty years of dedicated practice.
Ren Xiaoyao had long mastered the "Heavenly Thunder Wu Wang" technique, but he had never truly grasped the clear mind of "Wu Wang," until today, having experienced the power of the Eight Gates Formation, he finally had an epiphany and stepped into this realm.
Nan Jia, knowing he was doomed, felt not anger but joy upon seeing Ren Xiaoyao deliver a heavy blow.
An instant death was better than suffering excruciating pain before dying.
"Boom!" The explosive force of the frenzied backlash, like a raging flood hitting a breach, was deflected towards Ren Xiaoyao's palms. Ren Xiaoyao's palms, however, channeled the powerful energy, like a thousand rivers flowing into his furnace-like meridians.
Ren Xiaoyao's palm strike didn't kill him; instead, it drew away most of the raging, surging backlash energy within him!
As the palm force entered, the deepest part of Nan Jiaye's dantian suddenly felt intensely hot. All the acupoints in his body naturally pulsated, yet there was no sign of meridian disorder or demonic possession. His entire body was in a state of harmonious balance, his true energy flowing continuously, as if in the primordial chaos of water and fire at the beginning of creation.
Only now did Nan Jiaye realize that Ren Xiaoyao was helping him, helping him resolve the lingering effects of the Eight Gates Formation. The first step was to disperse the chaotic true energy within his body, allowing the opened eight gates to close again.
He could no longer control his body, and could only let the Yin and Yang energies roam freely. His left side became hot, while his right side became extremely cold. Then, two streams of true energy, one hot and one cold, surged upwards from the Yongquan acupoints on the soles of his feet. The cold energy from the left Yongquan acupoint rushed straight up the Du meridian of his spine, past the coccyx, and through the Niwan acupoint. The hot energy from his right foot went in the opposite direction, ascending up the Ren meridian, past the Zuqiao acupoint between his eyebrows, through the Niwan acupoint, and down the Du
meridian. When they met at the Dantian, they immediately merged into one in a spiraling motion, flowing continuously in opposite directions within the meridians. Wherever the supreme innate Qi went, the seven gates of rest, life, injury, blockage, scenery, shock, and death closed one by one. All the obstructions and blockages in the meridians were broken through. His whole body transformed into specks of primordial essence, rising upwards and gathering at the top of his head. He could no longer feel his body, yet he clearly understood everything without missing a single detail.
Aside from the portion that was diverted by Ren Xiaoyao and neutralized during its operation, the rest of the backlash from the Eight Gates Formation was forced to the top of Ren Xiaoyao's head by his innate supreme qi, which was boosted by his primordial essence. This was the location of the first gate, "Open," and also the most important gate in the Eight Gates Formation. If this last gate could not be closed, all the previous efforts would be in vain. Not only would Nan Jia die, but even Ren Xiaoyao, who risked his life to save him, would not escape disaster.
Ren Xiaoyao hadn't expected that even after being channeled and neutralized, the backlash from the Eight Gates Formation was still a thousand times more vicious than a flood or a ferocious beast. His innate supreme qi could control its flow and movement, but it couldn't completely eliminate it. Especially now, with all the remaining power concentrated on his head, it was completely beyond Ren Xiaoyao's control. Even the strongest innate supreme qi was powerless against such a situation.
Just then, Ren Xiaoyao lightly
touched the ground with his toes and leaped into the air. The backlash from the Eight Gates Formation was suddenly unleashed, erupting within Nan Jiaye's body like volcanic lava, causing his veins to bulge, his muscles to swell, and the sweat from his pores to evaporate instantly.
The entire audience was horrified. Even those unfamiliar with martial arts could see that within five strikes, Nan Jiaye would explode, shattered to pieces.
Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao roared from mid-air, raising both hands high like a roc spreading its wings, fingers outstretched, then swiftly bringing them together, striking Nan Jiaye's forehead with overwhelming force.
"Ren Xiaoyao, what are you doing!?" The members of the Kamiya Kashin-ryu school, assuming he was enraged by the Eight Gates technique and wanted to kill Nan Jiaye for revenge, began shouting and cursing. Several Jonin, led by Mori Hikaru, drew their katana and were about to rush forward—killing Nan Jiaye in front of thousands of people from various schools was a grave disrespect to the Kamiya Kashin-ryu school; even if Nan Jiaye was doomed, they couldn't allow Ren Xiaoyao to do it.
"Don't move! Don't move! Sect Master Ren is healing the Sect Leader!!!" Kato Taka suddenly shouted, shaking the entire area. Among countless experts, only he saw through Ren Xiaoyao's true intention.
"Boom—" The arena collapsed, kicking up clouds of dust. Then, golden light flashed wildly, and Ren Xiaoyao and Nan Jia were simultaneously blasted away, landing several feet away. The former was deathly pale, but a smile still lingered on his lips. The latter's forehead was purple, his appearance was gruesome, and blood seeped from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, but thankfully, he survived.
"Sect Master!" Sen Qiguang and the others rushed over, hurriedly helping Nan Jia up. Seeing that although he was pale and swollen, his breathing was steady, they knew his life was not in danger and breathed a sigh of relief.
Ren Xiaoyao, supporting himself with one hand, stood up slightly, panting, and said, "Sect Leader Nan Jia, the Eight Gates within your body have closed again, and the backlash has been completely eliminated. As long as you refrain from recklessly using your true energy for the next six months, and with the aid of medicine to regulate your yin and yang, gradually resolving the lingering harm of the Eight Gates Formation, you will surely be fully recovered by next year."
Nan Jia also slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with gratitude, almost shedding tears, and said, "I cannot thank you enough for your great kindness. Sect Leader Ren's righteousness is boundless, and I am truly convinced." Thanks to Ren Xiaoyao's timely rescue, he was now like spring returning to the earth after a harsh winter, with dried-up rivers flowing back to life and withered grass and trees regaining their vitality.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed, "It was nothing, Sect Master,
please don't worry about it." Despite their lighthearted words, they had both narrowly escaped death. If Ren Xiaoyao hadn't experienced several instances of uncontrolled internal energy while practicing his Innate Supreme Qi, and hadn't boldly struck his crown chakra to release the pent-up energy with the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin technique, they would likely have lost their lives.
Sen Qiguang gestured for his disciples to help Nan Jiaye, and led the several Jonin who had been about to attack to bow respectfully to Ren Xiaoyao, saying, "We are ignorant and blind, and failed to recognize Sect Master Ren's good intentions. Please forgive our rudeness and offense." He was straightforward and readily admitted his mistakes, never making excuses.
Ren Xiaoyao hurriedly helped everyone up, while simultaneously giving a signal to Shinguji Mina. She paused for a moment, then shook her head vigorously. Su Hanbi, her brows furrowed, also subtly waved her hand.
Kato Taka looked at Nan Jiaye, then at Ren Xiaoyao, and pondered for a moment before suddenly saying, "Sect Leader Ren, the sun is setting, dusk is approaching. Let's postpone our match until tomorrow." He saw that Ren Xiaoyao, who clearly had victory in his grasp, had been seriously injured while healing his opponent, and greatly admired this act of righteousness. Moreover, given his status as a grandmaster, how could he take such a great advantage for nothing? Therefore, he said this to give Ren Xiaoyao time to recuperate.
Ren Xiaoyao sighed inwardly. He had signaled to Shinguji Mina to arrange for people to rebuild the arena, but she refused. Even Su Hanbi, who always obeyed him, didn't support him. Now, even Kato Taka didn't want to compete anymore. Did they all think he couldn't even persevere?
"Hahaha, I appreciate the sovereign's kind offer." Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily, his spirits soaring. "Captain Yamamoto, lead the First Division to clear the surrounding area; Captain Shihōin, lead the Second Division to rebuild the arena; the Third, Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, and Eleventh Divisions, prepare food for each school; the remaining divisions, light more torches and arrange for night battles!" (

Chapter 7 of Volume 38: The Birth of a Saint) He was

imposing and elegant, his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth possessing a robust quality as if sculpted from granite. His bright eyes shone with confidence, revealing both his youthful frivolity and carefree nature, and an air of arrogant pride and conceit.
Standing on the high-erected arena, the lines of his chest bulged, supporting his tight-fitting black suit. His face and physique complemented each other perfectly, exuding an unparalleled kingly aura.
If one hadn't witnessed it firsthand, who could have imagined that Ren Xiaoyao, who was covered in blood and disheveled after being struck by the Eight Gates Formation half an hour ago, would have instantly regained his handsome appearance in the short time it took them to eat
a meal? Only a few captains of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū knew the inside story: the reason their sect leader was standing here unscathed was due to three factors: firstly, the powerful regenerative abilities of his innate supreme internal energy; secondly, Su Hanbi and Unohana Retsu's superb medical skills in healing him in a short time; and thirdly, Long Feiyun's disguise technique concealing the wounds on his cheeks caused by true energy. Otherwise, who in the world could withstand several powerful impacts from the Eight Gates Formation without being
seriously injured? "Sect Leader Ren, have you thought it through? Shall we really fight now?" Kato Taka took three steps forward, closing the distance between himself and Ren Xiaoyao to two zhang. The imposing aura of his steps, coupled with his majestic physique and sharp eyes, naturally exuded an irresistible presence, befitting a grandmaster second only to Shinguji Ryūken.
"Of course." Ren Xiaoyao's lips still held a faint smile, his thoughts remaining unfathomable.
"Good!" Kato Taka suddenly stopped and laughed loudly, causing the entire Zongjin Square to tremble.
Ren Xiaoyao immediately sensed danger. This move of using sound to bewitch the enemy was a tactic he often used after learning the "Vajra Lion's Roar," intended to disrupt the opponent's mind and gain the upper hand. However, he hadn't expected Kato Taka to know it as well, and even to preemptively influence his judgment with a laugh imbued with internal energy, thus gaining the upper hand through sound.
"Clang!" The Ice Soul Frost Sword was drawn, pointing forward, its incomparably sharp sword energy pressing forward to meet the attack.
Unexpectedly, Kato Taka remained unaffected, his gaze fixed on his sword. He commented, "A subtle, ethereal light, a chilling aura—truly a fine sword. I wonder how it compares to my Kusanagi sword?"
"We'll find out after we've compared them."
"That's right, we'll find out after we've compared them." Kato Taka's hand, drawing his sword, moved slowly and steadily, maintaining a consistent speed in every inch. Even disregarding the senses, judging by "intuition," his speed was perfectly uniform—an impossible feat.
Every movement is composed of countless interconnected actions, with slight variations in speed and intensity between them. Maintaining a consistent speed is already extremely difficult, yet each movement of Kato Taka's reaching back was like a repetition of the previous one, a miracle in itself.
His sword-drawing motion seemed to merge with heaven and earth, and with the deeper essence hidden behind them, imbued with the essence of constant change within a myriad of forms. There was not a single gap or flaw to be found, making one feel that the very first strike following this initial stance would be a world-shaking, awe-inspiring, and endless killing move. His swordsmanship had reached a level beyond the comprehension of even the gods and spirits; it was likely that only Dugu Yu in the entire world had glimpsed this realm.
Just as the sword-drawing motion reached its midpoint, Kato Taka suddenly accelerated, gripping the hilt with an astonishing speed barely perceptible to the naked eye.
In that instant, Ren Xiaoyao had already discarded his scabbard, and the Ice Soul Frost Sword transformed into a long rainbow, striking first. "Clang!" The Kusanagi Sword was drawn simultaneously.
"Boom—" A thunderclap suddenly flashed across the moonlit, star-sparse night sky, but even the light of heaven and earth could not diminish the sharpness of the Kusanagi Sword's unsheathed edge. Munechika Square was no longer the Munechika Square of before, but the stage for the duel between two masters!
The Kusanagi Sword sliced through the void, and the life force and death energy of heaven and earth concentrated at its blade. The stars and moon in the sky immediately dimmed, and everywhere was filled with a chilling, murderous aura.
All the spectators could no longer see Kato Taka's figure; their eyes were only on the gleaming Kusanagi Sword cutting through the air, meeting a single blue light not far away.
They heard no sound of force cutting through the air, and their keen senses failed to detect the sword energy that should have scattered and splashed. Everything seemed as if it had never happened, or had already passed. However, Ren Xiaoyao, caught in the middle of the situation, clearly grasped the overwhelming sharpness of the Kusanagi sword. He had no choice but to fight head-on.
"Clang!" The two invisible and silent sword energies and blades clashed before they even touched, followed by a resounding clang after the unadorned clash.
Both men retreated simultaneously, standing with their swords horizontally. This first round of combat was clearly a draw.
"Our skills are evenly matched. If we were to truly determine a winner, it might not be over until tomorrow morning." Kato Taka's eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he fixed intently on his opponent. He slowly said, "How about we set a limit of ten moves? After ten moves, whoever is at a disadvantage will willingly concede defeat." "Very well, that's exactly what I was thinking." As soon as he finished speaking, Ren Xiaoyao moved as if by magic to a point about ten feet behind Kato Taka, his Ice Soul Frost Sword striking straight at the top of his head.
Kato Taka didn't even turn his head, instead unleashing a backhand slash—the Dragon's Nest Flash, one of the four great secrets of the Flying Heaven Sword Style.
In an instant, the arena was filled with dazzling light, yet there was no sound of sword energy whistling through the air, nor did it generate any force. However, Ren Xiaoyao felt that all his attack routes had been blocked, leaving him no choice but to exchange another blow with his opponent.
"Boom!" Ren Xiaoyao's powerful body trembled as she spun backward like a windmill, deflecting her opponent's unstoppable force. Kato Taka's figure blurred as she pursued her relentlessly, her sword flashing like the wind, thus beginning a fierce battle.
Ren Xiaoyao used every trick in the book, pushing her Free and Easy Wanderer's movement techniques to their limits, determined to keep Kato Taka guessing her attack's location and momentum.
Kato Taka couldn't match her in lightness skill, but her moves were incredibly sophisticated. Although she used the same moves throughout, they seemed like birds soaring and fish swooping, leaving no trace. After a long struggle, he still couldn't decipher her secrets. Several times, he clearly regained the initiative, only to relinquish it again in the blink of an eye.
Both sides unleashed a barrage of unexpected moves, attack against attack, speed against speed, a spectacle so captivating that words could hardly describe it.
Even the thirteen guards of the palace found it extremely difficult to keep up with their captain; the rest of the group, needless to say, only vaguely saw two figures moving swiftly and nimbly, their golden and blue lights intertwined, making it impossible to discern their techniques. After two clear "clangs," the two returned to their positions, facing each other at a distance, as if they had never exchanged blows.
Ren Xiaoyao, sword held horizontally to his chest, exclaimed with admiration, "Impressive! Impressive! Sect Master Kato used the intent of a single sword strike against more than a hundred of my slashes and thrusts. Even if I shamelessly tried to cheat and claim I had defeated you by more than ten moves, it wouldn't have worked!"
"Likewise, Sect Master Ren's moves haven't changed either." Kato Sō laughed, stroking his beard. "What he holds is clearly a sword, yet he can use it as a spear, a staff, a knife, and even acupressure pincers, a pair of halberds, a judge's pen, and other strange weapons. Although the moves haven't changed, the power has grown stronger with each battle. Could it be that he has fulfilled the Daoist principles of 'non-action transforms into action, action returns to non-action, and then action becomes non-action, and non-action becomes action'? At such a young age, his swordsmanship has reached its pinnacle. Even Shinguji Ryūken was not as good as him back then—watch out, I'm about to make my fourth move!"
Kato Sō pulled up the hem of his outer robe with his left hand behind his back, covering his right hand that was holding the sword, making it impossible to tell which hand he would use to wield the sword. Even more astonishing was that before he even made a move, a whirlwind of wind had already swept outwards from where he stood, stinging the cheeks of those standing two or three zhang away.
"This...could it be...could it be..." The expressions of the captains, including Yoruichi Shihouin, changed drastically.
"Dragon Hammer Flash!" Kato Mune roared, leaping into the air, gripping his sword hilt tightly. Lightning flashed as he slashed downwards, golden light swirling around his body, making it impossible to pinpoint the next move of Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi.
The hearts of Shinguji Mina, Yoruichi Shihouin, and all the disciples of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū were in their throats.
Dragon Hammer Flash, a combination attack, the first move of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū Triple Strike, known as the "Peerless Thousand-Man Slayer," launched from above, followed by the second move, Dragon Soaring Flash, and the third move, Dragon Hammer Soaring Flash, which combined the power of the two moves. In the past thirty years of the Japanese martial arts world, only Shinguji Ryūken had ever unscathed from it!
In other words, everyone who had seen it was dead.
Would Ren Xiaoyao become another victim? The
moment Dragon Hammer Flash appeared, Ren Xiaoyao froze, standing there blankly, looking up at the sky.
He had fought countless battles since his debut, yet he had never seen such a move before.
For martial artists, swords, spears, halberds, axes, hooks, forks, or various unusual weapons were merely tools to aid in combat. Their superiority or inferiority lay in the user's skill and mastery of the weapon.
But the Katotaka and the Kusanagi Sword before him left him completely bewildered: was the person the master and the weapon the servant, or vice versa?
The master-servant boundary between Katotaka and the Kusanagi Sword had blurred, replaced by an interactive relationship. The Kusanagi Sword seemed to have become a living being with its own will and thoughts, both obeying and dominating Katotaka, somewhat resembling "man and sword as one," but even more profound and unpredictable.
Logically, such a thing should be impossible, an illusion created by some kind of magic. But Ren Xiaoyao was completely immune to illusions; everything he saw was an undeniable fact, demonstrating just how high a level Katotaka had reached.
Kato Taka and Kusanagi Sword formed an inseparable whole, their figures, spheres, and sword shadows intertwining in a flawless and powerful formation, leaving no openings or weaknesses. Even Ren Xiaoyao, with his sixth sense, couldn't decipher it in time. The sword moved with unpredictable, shifting movements, sometimes left, sometimes right, sometimes coming and going swiftly, closing in on him.
Ren Xiaoyao's mind raced, but he couldn't find a single move from his dozen or so exquisite sword techniques to counter Kato Taka's unpredictable Dragon Hammer Flash. If he didn't create a new move to block it, he wouldn't last more than three moves before the sword's momentum collapsed completely.
Ren Xiaoyao focused his mind, activating his intuition to its fullest extent, entering a state of crystal-clear, all-encompassing inner peace. For a moment, he forgot about friend and foe. Blue light burst from his hand, and the Ice Soul Frost Sword drew a series of more than ten circles, encircling the tip of the Kusanagi Sword. Simultaneously, with the Ice Soul Frost Sword as its core, his true energy condensed and expanded, forming an ever-strengthening aura.
This move, intended for defense, also possesses offensive characteristics. The opponent's "Dragon Hammer Flash" attacks from a high position, its momentum undeniably powerful, but its defensive capabilities are weak. By temporarily "trapping" the blade with a sword technique infused with the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin energy, and seizing this brief moment to counterattack, the opponent is essentially digging their own grave.
Kato Taka's sharp eyes flashed with surprise. He suddenly roared, his body moving with his sword, shifting from the sword circle's coverage just before the blades clashed, attacking Ren Xiaoyao's back.
Ren Xiaoyao had already set up his aura, waiting for him. Kato Taka plunged into it. Although unharmed, the Kusanagi Sword, due to the absorption of internal energy, began to tremble involuntarily. The once inseparable unity finally showed an inappropriate flaw, the sword becoming separate from the sword, the sword from the man, no longer a perfect whole.
"Clang, clang, clang—" The sounds of swords clashing were incessant.
On the surface, Kato Taka appeared as a ghostly figure without substance, launching a deadly attack from any angle or position, relentlessly and relentlessly assaulting Ren Xiaoyao. However, no matter how his moves changed, the circle Ren Xiaoyao drew always ended up at the tip of the Kusanagi Sword. No matter how powerful the Dragon Hammer Flash was, it was instantly extinguished upon contact with the blue light of the Ice Soul Frost Sword. "
What kind of martial art is this?!"
Ren Xiaoyao didn't answer. It wasn't that he didn't want to answer or disdained to answer; it was that he simply couldn't answer. Could he tell his opponent that it was a combination of the stance of the Soaring Cloud Sword Technique, the intent of the Free and Unfettered Palm, the power of the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force… and a dozen other martial arts techniques hastily put together to develop a move specifically to counter the Dragon Hammer Flash?
Unable to gain the upper hand after a prolonged assault, Kato Taka abruptly changed his swordsmanship, unleashing his second move, Dragon Soaring Flash. With his left scabbard and right sword, they intertwined to form a web of gleaming light, the chilling sword light crisscrossing and striking relentlessly. The attack was fierce, rising from the lower body to the chest and abdomen, each move ruthless and deadly, yet it still couldn't break through Ren Xiaoyao's defensive formation, repeatedly failing to achieve its goal.
In the blink of an eye, Dragon Soaring Flash had already wasted dozens of strikes. Kato Taka roared again, "Dragon Hammer Soaring Flash!" His shout chilled the hearts of the less skilled spectators. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the Kusanagi Sword suddenly manifested as countless golden points of light, which he swung fiercely towards Ren Xiaoyao, the sword energy whistling and shooting out with a whoosh!
Ren Xiaoyao thought to himself, "Your skill is not as deep as mine, and you don't understand the method of dissipating force with the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force. How can you break my moves?" He slightly raised his wrist, intending to use the tip of his sword to neutralize the force of the sword. Unexpectedly, just as the blue light flowed, Kato Taka suddenly took a step forward, pouring in a surge of internal energy, and the sword tip continued to press forward.
Ren Xiaoyao was secretly alarmed. He swung his sword back, once again dissipating the internal energy attached to the Kusanagi Sword. However, at the same time, a new surge of internal energy rushed in. This move, "Dragon Hammer Soaring Flash," seemed endless, determined to pierce him.
Ren Xiaoyao's expression changed drastically. He dodged to the side and said in a deep voice, "How did you know..." Before he could finish speaking, Kato Taka's sword momentum suddenly changed, pursuing him. The tip of his sword trembled eerily, still using the "Dragon Hammer Soaring Flash," clearly determined not to give up until it pierced Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao cried out in alarm, desperately trying to defend himself with his sword. He pushed his innate supreme qi to its limit, deflecting the force of the Kusanagi sword more and more frequently. However, Kato Taka continuously replenished his internal energy, timing his attacks perfectly. No matter how Ren Xiaoyao countered, he couldn't find a moment when Kato's sword was weak and exposed to strike back.
Seeing that his opponent's attacks were relentless and showed no signs of weakening, Ren Xiaoyao knew he couldn't win by skill alone and had to fight head-on. He leaped into the air, raising the Ice Soul Frost Sword high above his head, and swung it down with both hands. The extremely powerful true energy surged and rolled on the sword's edge, creating a terrifying effect.
"Boom!" The energy surged and rolled, and the two were jolted back as if electrocuted.
Ren Xiaoyao's whole body trembled violently. The Ice Soul Frost Sword felt as if it had been pecked by a bird, without any impact pressure, but his chest felt as if it had been hit by a heavy hammer. His meridians felt like they were about to burst, his blood and qi churned in his chest, and he saw stars. "
Well done, Kato Taka! His internal strength is indeed profound. "
Just as he was marveling at this, Kato Taka snorted coldly from afar, brandishing his sword and charging forward. His speed and agility were no less than before.
"Impossible!?" Ren Xiaoyao was shocked. Kato Taka's internal strength was roughly equivalent to his own. He had been knocked senseless, yet the other party seemed completely unharmed and immediately retaliated. Could it be that he wasn't injured in the previous exchange?
He had no time to think further. He spun around, unleashing a series of attacks with his Ice Soul Frost Sword, first ensuring his own safety.
This was Kato Taka's seventh move, "One Inch to the Rib," which, as the name suggests, attacked the area one inch below the ribs. At first glance, it didn't seem particularly unusual, but its slowness was illogical.
Through intuition and judgment, Ren Xiaoyao clearly sensed that this move embodied speed within slowness, a profound skill appearing clumsy. Though seemingly without change, it contained a myriad of variations, as boundless as the universe—Kato Taka, unable to surpass him in speed and internal strength, resorted to using techniques to win, his adaptability truly admirable.
Ren Xiaoyao's mind raced, and he had already devised a countermeasure. "
Your slowness is to seize the extreme of time, encompassing all changes within it, while I choose speed!
Yes, speed! No complicated moves, no elaborate variations, all I need is speed, the ultimate speed."
Ren Xiaoyao channeled his inner energy, gathering it to its peak just before striking, meeting Kato Taka's seamless, unrestrained sword strike with a "once you've seen the ocean, other waters are nothing" attitude.
The watching experts had long forgotten the terrifying consequences of a shoulder-to-shoulder clash, completely mesmerized by the spectacle.
Ren Xiaoyao's fighting style, seemingly reckless, was actually a miraculous technique of remote control. On the surface, it appeared to pose no threat to Kato Taka, and in reality, it couldn't affect or alter Kato Taka's unstoppable, overwhelming sword momentum. However, with the unleashing of "Once you've seen the ocean, other waters are nothing," his pure, divinely refined innate qi had already struck the enemy's blade from afar, weaving an invisible yet tangible net of energy, like a silkworm spinning silk. This cocoon of true qi accumulated to its peak at the moment of direct confrontation with the enemy's blade, resisting Kato Taka's sure-kill sword strike.
Both sides exerted all their strength, employing ingenious strategies; the subtle changes within were easily missed even by those with poor eyesight.
The weapons clashed, yet there was not a sound. The two masters remained motionless, as if time had suddenly stopped.
Kato Taka's face turned pale, then instantly returned to normal. Ren Xiaoyao's incomparably handsome face flashed red light for a moment, then vanished, his expression unchanged, a smile playing on his lips, as if he had never fought his opponent.
Anyone with eyes could see that the previous clash had left both injured, but their superior skill allowed them to suppress their injuries.
Kato Taka drew his sword and retreated swiftly, employing his unique "Empty Cicada Technique" in his movements. Even though Ren Xiaoyao wanted to pursue, he couldn't pinpoint Kato Taka's next location, and could only concentrate his power on the tip of his sword, protecting his chest, ready to face the upcoming eighth move. "Clang!" Unexpectedly, Kato Taka sheathed his sword, seemingly not intending to fight again, but in reality, he unleashed an immense and unparalleled aura, enveloping his opponent. Even those who weren't experts knew that when the Kusanagi Sword was drawn again, it would be an invincible, earth-shattering, terrifying attack.
"Sister Yoruichi, Sister Yoruichi, do you think Big Brother can win?" Lin Yuxiu tugged at Yoruichi's sleeve, asking cautiously.
"This..." Yoruichi hesitated, unsure how to answer. Kato Taka sheathed his sword, intending to use his ultimate technique, Heavenly Dragon Flash. Whether Ren Xiaoyao could withstand it was uncertain.
"Yes, he definitely can!" Long Feiyun's clear, cold voice suddenly rang out.
"Sister Long—" Lin Yuxiu turned around timidly, her delicate face full of concern and worry.
"Don't worry, Yuxiu, your Big Brother won't lose." Long Feiyun gazed intently at the high platform, her words filled with endless expectation.
"Clang!" The Kusanagi Sword was suddenly drawn. Everything happened at a speed too fast for the naked eye to see, which can only be described as "fast." The moment Ren Xiaoyao "senses" Kato Taka drawing his sword, the Kusanagi Sword was already unsheathed, transforming into a long rainbow illuminating the dark night sky, slicing through two zhang of empty space at indescribable speed, heading straight for him.
A sword-drawing technique of superhuman speed, a perfect skill that was impossible to defend against or evade! To deal with such a strike, there was still only one option: a direct confrontation.
Kato Taka wanted to meet force with force, and even someone as skilled as Ren Xiaoyao couldn't avoid it. Ren Xiaoyao knew that this seventh move was the beginning of the eighth and ninth moves that would follow. Kato Taka was attacking with all his might without reservation, giving him no chance to breathe; the outcome could be decided at any moment.
Ren Xiaoyao closed his eyes, relying purely on intuition to judge his opponent's movements. He simultaneously opened the seven major acupoints in his body, maintaining a calm and untroubled mind. He poured his innate supreme qi into his chest, and the Ice Soul Frost Sword drew more than a dozen flawless circular trajectories in front of him, creating vortexes of true qi that remained condensed and undispersed.
Kato Taka was slightly taken aback, thinking Ren Xiaoyao was about to use that trick of neutralizing force again. He sneered inwardly, his sword energy shooting straight out, rapidly closing the distance with Ren Xiaoyao. His energy completely locked onto and enveloped his opponent. Just as Ren Xiaoyao attempted to neutralize the force of his sword, the Heavenly Soaring Dragon Flash unleashed its full power.
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly took a small step back, then charged forward again. His Ice Soul Frost Sword, as if divinely aided, strung together more than ten rings, unleashing an irresistible innate supreme energy from its tip.
"Crack!" A bolt of lightning, seemingly capable of tearing through the void, appeared before them.
Then, the two swords clashed, emitting a strange sword light and a piercing sound that dazzled everyone on both sides. No one, including Ren Xiaoyao and Kato Taka, knew what had happened, let alone what would happen next, because there had never been such a terrifying sword strike in the history of martial arts—two world-shaking ultimate techniques erupting fiercely.
Ren Xiaoyao and Kato Taka both opened their mouths and spat out blood, then staggered backward.
Ren Xiaoyao nimbly spun around and returned to his original position, while Kato Taka used the momentum to leap into the air.
"Want to fight again?"
"Of course! The outcome is not yet decided." Kato Taka soared to a height of three zhang, his Kusanagi sword rising from his palms, pointing straight at the night sky above his head. He gripped the hilt tightly and slashed down with lightning speed.
"No...no-sword takedown, he...he...he's mastered No-sword Takedown!!!" The leaders of the five major sects and the senior Jonin of their sects were in an uproar.
No-sword takedown was created by Kishimoto Masashi, the saint of ninjutsu. During the Ninja World War thirty years ago, none of the sect leaders or elite Jonin could withstand a single move from it, hence the name "No-sword Takedown." This did not mean that it could be blocked with a sword or spear, but rather that most ninjas and samurai in Japan used swords. The intimidating power of the three words "No-sword Takedown" was far greater than "No-blade Takedown," "No-sword Takedown," or "No-spear Takedown."
There's a long-standing rumor in the ninja world that if Kato Taka were to master the "No-Sword Technique," the position of sect leader wouldn't have been "occupied" by Shinguji Ryuken for twenty-five years, demonstrating the immense power of this technique.
Ren Xiaoyao stood frozen in place, looking up, completely unfazed by the sword energy.
Kato Taka shouted "Good!" and suddenly began spinning like a top. This movement didn't accelerate him; instead, it slowed his descent, drawing the surrounding air towards Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao leaped into the air, skillfully reaching the same height as Kato Taka.
The Kusanagi Sword ripped through the void, instantly transforming into countless sword beams. The sword's cry changed from a muffled thunderclap to a sharp, piercing sound, following an unpredictable, elusive arc in the air as it struck him.
The sword's edge relentlessly approached, flashing a golden light that seemed to fill the heavens and earth, its power astonishingly immense.
Ren Xiaoyao finally understood the power of "No-Knife Draw." Kato Taka used his movement to infuse his true energy into his weapon. When the true energy reached its peak, he launched an attack. The Kusanagi Sword was no longer just a weapon, but a strike from Kato Taka's entire being, leaving him no way to dodge and only able to retaliate with all his might.
Just by watching his movements with the weapon, one could deduce how incredibly powerful the Kusanagi Sword would become in his hands. This divine weapon, a symbol of martial prowess, was no longer an inanimate object, but seemed to come alive, filled with an unfathomable mystery.
In the blink of an eye, the Kusanagi Sword had arrived like lightning!
Ren Xiaoyao flicked his sleeve and retreated swiftly. The Ice Soul Frost Sword drew circles of sword energy, and highly condensed innate supreme qi shot out from its peak, forming one after another "balloon" of pure true energy, extremely hard, fierce, and powerful, rapidly spinning, to meet Kato Taka's incomparably powerful attack.
"Boom!" A muffled thunderous explosion rang out as the Kusanagi Sword slammed into the first balloon launched by Ren Xiaoyao's sword.
A gust of wind howled, scattering the energy in all directions. The balloon burst open, shaking the entire platform.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Explosions rang out in succession. Muto Tori broke through seven balloons in quick succession, seemingly unstoppable. However, Ren Xiaoyao knew that the energy Kato Taka had gathered with the Kusanagi Sword had been completely eroded and dissolved by the energy he had gathered from his seven acupoints, losing its initial invincible momentum.
Muto Tori was broken! The unstoppable Muto Tori had been broken by Ren Xiaoyao!
A look of horror flashed across Kato Taka's eyes.
There was still one move left.
Ren Xiaoyao roared, his tongue like thunder, and began his final counterattack, thrusting the Ice Soul Frost Sword straight at his chest. Like a bolt of lightning, with the most precise angle, astonishing speed, and an all-or-nothing, domineering momentum, they charged towards their opponent.
The two divine weapons clashed, frozen in mid-air, the astonishing energy emanating from the point of impact sending scattered wood chips flying to both sides—a terrifying sight.
"Boom!" A deafening roar shook the entire arena. Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled violently, and he staggered backward, coughing up blood before regaining his footing. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to his knees.
Kato Taka grunted, his Kusanagi sword flying into the air. His staggering steps felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, finally stopping at the edge of the platform, his hair disheveled, his face ashen.
The entire arena was silent; no one knew who had won.
"I lost—clang!" A mournful tone, a hoarse voice, followed by the crisp sound of the Kusanagi sword hitting the ground—this was the perfect commentary on the outcome of the great battle.
Cheers erupted, and the entire Xu Ye Palace was in an uproar.
Ren Xiaoyao had single-handedly defeated the six sect leaders, and the Beichen Yidao-ryu had secured its position as the leader of the seven major sects!
Just as the captains of the 13th Guardian Division rushed towards the arena to help Ren Xiaoyao back, a powerful and vigorous voice suddenly rang out from the sky: "Useless! A bunch of useless trash! Not a single one of the six major sects could defeat a mere twenty-something-year-old boy from the Central Plains! You have utterly disgraced the Japanese martial arts world!"
The voice wasn't loud, but it was extremely authoritative, like a thunderclap, instantly silencing the shouts of thousands of people. Those with slightly weaker skills were all shaken so badly that their internal organs trembled and their knees and legs went weak, unable to utter a single word.
"Who goes there!?" Kenpachi Zaraki shouted sharply.
"Old people, seeing your generation decline with each passing year, there is no greater sorrow than a broken heart!" As the reply was given, the eyes of the thirteen captains and the leaders of various sects simultaneously swept across the entire arena, yet none could pinpoint the source of the voice—the reply initially came from the east, but in an instant it resounded from the west, a distance of a hundred feet. It seemed as if one person finished speaking, and a second followed, but the voice belonged to the same person, and it flowed continuously from east to west. The speed of this person's movements and the depth of their inner strength in their shouts were astonishing. Even more remarkable was that thousands of eyes across the arena were wide open, searching everywhere, yet they couldn't even see or discern the speaker's shadow. Even Ren Xiaoyao probably wouldn't have been able to do this.
"Which esteemed master has graced our humble sect with their presence? Please show yourself," Yamamoto Genryusai Shige said loudly. Ren Xiaoyao was severely injured and unable to respond with a long roar, so he, the most senior member of the Hokushin Itto-ryu, had to take charge of the situation.
"Sigh, you couldn't even see through a mere 'Pseudo-Dark Incarnation'? Have you been practicing all those detection-type ninjutsu like Mind's Eye, Falling Shadow, Elephant Reversal, and Earthly Sand World Technique for nothing?" With a long sigh, a white figure swept onto the arena. None of the experts from the seven major sects surrounding him noticed when he had slipped through the crowd.
"You… ah! How… how is it you?" Ren Xiaoyao was suddenly startled, staring dumbfounded at the newcomer. It was none other than the old man selling stew he had encountered in Nara Castle on the day of the attack.
But that wasn't all; what happened next almost made him fall straight off the platform.
Kato Taka, enduring the pain, stood up shakily, stared at the old man for a long time, then suddenly bent his knees and knelt down, shouting a thunderous cry: "Master!"
Master!?
Ren Xiaoyao's mind was about to explode. He never dreamed that the old man selling stewed dishes was actually Kishimoto Masashi, Kato Taka's mentor, a legendary figure in the ninja world, a god-like figure who embodied the titles of "Saint of Ninjutsu," "Founder and First Head of the Seven Great Schools of Fusang," and "Martial Arts Taiko"!

Volume 38, Chapter 8: The Swallow Returns Secret Sword.

"Taiko-sama!" someone shouted, and all six thousand people in the audience knelt down in unison.
Their prostration wasn't just out of reverence for Kishimoto Masashi's title of "Saint of Ninjutsu" or the so-called "Taiko's grace," but more so out of respect and reverence for this elderly man who quelled the Ninja World War, established the foundation of the Seven Great Schools, and brought thirty years of peace and stability to the Fusang martial world.
All the movements were perfectly synchronized, as if rehearsed beforehand. This was something impossible, yet it had truly happened.
Ren Xiaoyao has roamed the martial arts world extensively, but he has only ever had a similar experience when he accompanied Dugu Yu to Shaolin Temple to participate in the martial arts conference and received the worship of the heroes of the martial arts world at the mountain gate. Other events, such as Liu Yuxu becoming the leader of the martial arts alliance, Ren Xiaoyao taking over as the leader of the Tianji Sect, and the leader of the Beichen Yidao School, are incomparable.
"Kneel? What's the use of kneeling? You've disgraced the ninjutsu world!" Kishimoto Masashi's gaze swept across the faces of the five sect leaders, finally settling on Kato Taka in front of him. He coldly said, "The six sect leaders, even when they joined forces, couldn't defeat a mere youth in a tag-team battle—Shiho Soichiro, do you even have a grasp of the Oniwaban's 'Dance of the Early Night'? Sugita Tomokazu, where have you forgotten the secret technique of the Shinto Munen-ryu's 'Shooting Flowers in All Directions'? Miyamoto Mamoru, the Kagami Shinmei-ryu..."
Despite their usual haughty demeanor, the five sect leaders were now completely submissive after his scathing rebuke, not daring to utter a single word. If
the sect leaders didn't move, which disciple dared to move? If the seven sects didn't move, who among the other sects dared to move? Thousands of people knelt there, enduring Kishimoto Masashi's rebuke.
Kato Taka felt rather embarrassed and awkwardly said, "Master..."
Kishimoto Masashi didn't turn his head and coldly said, "Speak, what is the secret technique of the Secret Sword? The ultimate technique of the One-Sword Technique?"
"The ultimate technique... the ultimate technique is to divide a sword into three parts: the power of heaven and earth, the skill of earth and earth, and the position of man and woman. When using it, one stands between heaven and earth, merging the energy of heaven, earth and man..."
"Alright, in your last move, did you achieve any of these points?" Kishimoto Masashi interrupted. "No...no."
"Good to know. If you had done even a little bit, you wouldn't have lost so miserably and so badly!" Kishimoto Masashi's white beard fluttered, looking at Ren Xiaoyao with a look of utter disappointment. He pointed at Ren Xiaoyao and said, "He fought five rounds and was even injured by the Eight Gates Formation. In the end, he not only knocked your weapon away but also showed mercy by not finishing you off with a single blow. You're such a waste...I guess you're smart enough to admit defeat. Otherwise, I would really regret taking you as my disciple." Kato Taka was fifty-four years old, with a thick layer of white hair at his temples, but Kishimoto Masashi still called him "little thing."
"Your disciple is useless, please punish me, Master."
"Punish you, punish you my foot! Ever since I handed over the position of sect leader to that brat Long Xuan and passed it on to you, I haven't cared about the affairs of the ninja world..." Kishimoto Masashi realized he was slapping himself halfway through his sentence, and hurriedly changed his words, saying with exaggerated gestures and expressions, "Today you are all too shameful and useless, you have disgraced the entire Japanese martial arts world, so I couldn't help but come out, actually..."
"Senior, you have always been in charge of the affairs of the ninja world, haven't you?" Ren Xiaoyao suddenly interjected, "I have always been puzzled about how I escaped from the five Jonin when I was ambushed by the Hiyoki-ryu and Ryugang-ryu and was seriously injured. Now it seems that it was Senior who came to my rescue and dealt with them for me; in addition, the top master who secretly sent me a message on the birthday of the Shinguji sect leader should also be the one who was poisoned in the Six-Eyed Well, right?" Ren Xiaoyao was so wise and intelligent that once Kishimoto Masashi revealed his identity, many of his long-standing questions were immediately resolved.
"It's just a note, nothing to worry about." Unlike the solemn and serious Dugu Yu, Kishimoto Masashi's personality was somewhat childlike, and he refused to admit that he still cared about the ninja world. "Your martial arts are quite good, kid. You won all six matches beautifully. No wonder Shinguji Ryuugen passed the position of sect leader to you."
Speaking of Shinguji Ryuugen, his expression darkened, and he sighed repeatedly, "Alas, what a pity. The successor that the old man carefully selected is gone, and the candidates are all disappointing. I had such high hopes for you back then... Alas, I don't know if I will ever find someone like you in this lifetime..." "
Isn't big brother the best candidate for the leader of the seven major sects?" Lin Yuxiu said sweetly from below the stage. Although she was the youngest and loved to cry, she was usually spoiled by Dugu Yu and dared to say and do anything. She was always impulsive and outspoken.
"Yes, I admit he's a really good person." Kishimoto Masashi's old face showed a rare look of delight as he praised Ren Xiaoyao, "When you were attacked in the castle town and your life was hanging by a thread, you didn't just run away but came to my rescue, even though you were a complete stranger. You truly deserve the title of 'righteous and chivalrous,' so I returned the favor by dealing with the five brats who came after you and escorting you back to the castle town. On your birthday, you defeated Kiriko and killed Aizen, intimidating all the evil masters present and saving the Hokushin Ittō-ryū and the six major sects. Your wisdom and martial prowess are truly unparalleled in this world. In addition, your analysis of the martial arts situation and the causes of the turmoil in the castle tower, as well as your proposed strategies such as dividing the world into eleven factions and resolving incidents layer by layer, were all excellent. What I admire even more is that you are not greedy for fame and fortune and do not seek power..."
"You...how did you know what I said?!" Ren Xiaoyao was utterly astonished. If it were that he was seriously injured during the attack and focused entirely on guarding against pursuers, it would be understandable that he hadn't realized the old man selling stew was a top-tier expert. But when he discussed his plans with Mina Shinguji and Toshiro Hitsugaya at the castle tower, not only had his internal injuries fully healed, but he had also become adept at using his intuition. Yet, he still hadn't noticed Kishimoto Masashi eavesdropping. His martial arts were truly almost supernatural; the title "Saint of Ninjutsu" was well-deserved.
"Japanese ninjutsu is incredibly profound. There's much you don't know, and much that these brats haven't mastered, or haven't yet grasped the essence of. There's a lot more to it than that," Kishimoto Masashi sneered, impatiently waving his hand. Only then did the kneeling crowd dare to rise, obediently returning to their original positions, not daring to utter a sound.
"Master, according to the rules you personally established, any outsider who wishes to become the head of the sect must consecutively defeat the leaders of the seven sects." Kato Taka, being Kishimoto Masashi's direct disciple, had to speak up at this time. "Young Master Ren has already won six consecutive matches for the Hokushin Itto-ryu school, so he should..." "
According to? According to your head!" Kishimoto Masashi roared. "I set that rule so that with Ryuu Xuan in charge, unless Amaterasu Omikami reincarnated, no one could defeat you, him, and the other five brats. Who would have thought... who would have thought that with Ryuu Xuan gone, things would turn out like this? Do you think you deserve to die?"
"Deserve to die..." the six sect leaders answered in unison.
"Then go die!" Kishimoto Masashi's hair and beard danced wildly, clearly furious.
"Lord Kishimoto, may I say something?" Hanashi-kun stood up gracefully and said loudly.
"Oh, Mrs. Shinguji, speak your mind." Kishimoto Masashi glanced at her and said indifferently.
"During the pre-Qin period, Xu Fu led three thousand boys and girls across the sea in search of immortality, settling in Saga, thus beginning the existence of Fusang. The two countries are separated only by a narrow strip of water, looking at each other across the sea, so what difference is there between them? Furthermore, the origin of Japanese ninjutsu stemmed from martial arts introduced to Fusang during the Tang Dynasty. Through the improvement and transformation by generations of sages, it incorporated elements of lightness skills, hidden weapons, pharmacology, and disguise techniques, eventually reaching its pinnacle. Although its origins were embellished to the point of being almost mythical by its predecessors, its essence still shares the same origin and lineage as the Central Plains martial arts used by its founder. You, sir, are well-versed in classical texts and have read extensively, surely you know the saying, 'We are all born of the same root, why are we so eager to harm each other?'"
"Hmph, same root? This kid is Han Chinese, no matter how nicely he puts it, he is not of my kind."
"If you insist on dwelling on this issue, then it's easy to resolve." Hua Shijun smiled gently, pointing her slender hand to Shinguji Mina, and raised her voice, "As everyone knows, before her death, her late husband not only decreed that the position of leader of the Hokushin Itto-ryu sect be inherited by Young Master Ren, but also entrusted Mina's lifelong happiness to him..."
"Mother..." Mina Shinguji blushed, shyly lowering her head. The heroine who commanded the Secret Service and served as the captain of the Sixth Division instantly transformed into a coy little girl.
"Even if he married Shinguji Ryuugen's daughter, making him half-Japanese, I still cannot tolerate Central Plains martial arts surpassing our Japanese ninjutsu, unless..." He turned around like a whirlwind, looking at Ren Xiaoyao with a stern and profound gaze, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. A haughty smile appeared on his lips as he coldly said, "Unless you have a way to convince me that your martial arts are indeed superior."
"Ah, another fight?" Lin Yuxiu pouted impatiently, her face full of worry.
"What a joke! What kind of person am I? Why would I take advantage of this brat?" Kishimoto Masashi stomped his foot, his childish temper flaring up again. "One move! I'll only use one move. If you can find a way to break it within half an hour, whether you want to become the sect leader or divide the ninjutsu world into eleven departments, I won't interfere anymore."
"Break one move in half an hour? Hahaha, is this a joke?" Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan exchanged a smile. With Ren Xiaoyao's current cultivation, let alone half an hour, just one glance would probably be enough to break all the ninjutsu in the world.
"You two are also experts. Why don't you try it together and see if you can break it or not?" Kishimoto Masashi waved his hand, and the Kusanagi Sword, which had fallen into the distance, emitted a soft "hum" and flew back into his hand as if divinely aided.
"What a fine sword! One of the Three Sacred Treasures, the legendary sword used by Amaterasu to slay demons." Kishimoto Masashi flicked the blade with his fingertip, producing a sound like a dragon's roar from the abyss. Everyone watched with bated breath, expecting him to make his move. Suddenly, a look of dismay appeared on his face, and he lightly tapped the ground with his left foot.
"Crack!" A wooden plank at the end of the arena suddenly leaped up, spinning as it flew towards him.
"Unfortunately, I didn't intend to use you." Before he finished speaking, a magnificent golden light suddenly appeared around Kishimoto Masashi. The shadowy sword of Kusanagi flickered, like clouds swirling around a beautiful mountain peak, the whistling wind pressing in on the surroundings. His inner strength emanated from it, displaying impressive skill, but it neither aimed at Ren Xiaoyao nor unleashed its sword stance. Instead, it slashed and thrust at the wooden plank.
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, wondering what his intention was.
A moment later, the golden light dissipated, and what Kishimoto Masashi held in his hand was not the Kusanagi Sword, but a wooden sword three feet eight inches long, while the Kusanagi Sword returned to Kato Taka's waist.
Only then did everyone realize that he was going to use a wooden sword to unleash his ultimate technique.
"Senior... Senior, isn't your wooden sword a bit too long?" Ren Xiaoyao asked, utterly bewildered. An ordinary sword is about two feet long, and even the slightly longer Ice Soul Frost Sword is only about two feet three inches. Kishimoto Masashi's sword was more than half that length. It might be fine to look at, but if one were to actually use swordsmanship, it would be an unavoidable
hindrance. Kishimoto Masashi didn't answer, standing gracefully in place, the newly carved wooden sword in his hand, casually hanging at his side, without any stance or indication of an attack.
Ren Xiaoyao dared not be careless, activating all six senses and focusing intently on his opponent.
Standing before him was the "Saint of Ninjutsu," and heaven knew what earth-shattering, awe-inspiring killing move he might unleash. All he could do now was seize every move before his attack, not letting any opportunity to counter it slip by.
Kishimoto Masashi stood there, nonchalantly a few feet in front of Ren Xiaoyao, his expression relaxed, yet the surroundings seemed like layers of mountains, offering no opening to strike.
"No flaw!? This… how is this possible?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat. Having awakened his sixth sense, his judgment was unparalleled in the world, yet Kishimoto Masashi's simple posture, relying solely on that three-foot-eight-inch wooden sword, truly protected his entire body. Though he made no movement, his defense was watertight, flawless.
"No, no, Senior Dugu said, 'All martial arts under heaven reside in the mind; every move has a flaw.' Even if Senior Kishimoto's martial arts have reached the realm of gods and demons, it's impossible for him to use a move without any flaws." Ren Xiaoyao's heart suddenly raced, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.
If he's this bad just posing, what would he be like if he actually attacked?!
"What's that flying in the sky?" Kishimoto Masashi suddenly asked, revealing a subtle flaw in his flawless defense that only Ren Xiaoyao could spot.
“So that’s how it is. He can only maintain a perfect defensive stance when he’s still. Once he moves, he has a move, and with a move, there’s a weakness.” Ren Xiaoyao understood and said in a deep voice, “It’s swallows, the great swallows returning north.”
“How many?”
“Thirty-seven. They seem to have fallen behind, otherwise they wouldn’t still be flying in the sky so late.”
“Which one is flying the highest and fastest?”
“The lead swallow.”
…
The entire place was silent, quietly listening to Ren Xiaoyao and Kishimoto Masashi discussing the flock of great swallows that they couldn’t see but that were real.
“Senior, are you planning to slay the swallows with your sword?”
“That’s right, this is the move I want you to break.” Kishimoto Masashi slowly closed his eyes and suddenly took half a step forward.
His hand holding the sword didn’t move, but he moved. Ren Xiaoyao immediately lost control of the wooden sword, hurriedly gathered his mind, and fully activated his innate supreme qi. He brought his intuition to its limit, seeing the sharp light condensed from the sword blades in front of him as nothing. He knew when to stop but his spirit wanted to move, and he once again reflected all the movements around him in his mind.
Kishimoto Masashi laughed, suppressed his aura, and tossed the wooden sword aside.
The force field formed by the sword energy vanished instantly, and everything returned to normal.
"What, Senior changed his mind?" Everyone present, including Ren Xiaoyao, was astonished.
Kishimoto Masashi remained silent, his face as calm as still water, so serene it chilled the heart.
"This move is called 'Swallow Return.' Think about how to counter it slowly." His words were barely audible when two dark shadows suddenly fell from the sky, landing with a "thud" in front of Ren Xiaoyao.
The Great Swallow, cleaved in two by the sword energy.
A profound silence fell over the entire hall; no one could utter a sound.
Fast, too fast, unbelievably fast!
Countless masters, including Kato Taka, Hanashi-kun, Fu Longyuan, Yi Tianhan, and Nan Jiaye, couldn't even see when Kishimoto Masashi attacked or when he withdrew his move.
Even Ren Xiaoyao, with his intuitive abilities, only realized then that Kishimoto Masashi had deliberately taken a half-step forward, using his profound internal energy to disrupt the aura formed by the innate supreme qi, confusing his opponent's judgment. In the instant Ren Xiaoyao was focused on regaining control of his surroundings and unleashing his true power, completely ignoring his opponent's every move, he used "Swallow Return."
Swallows are renowned for their speed in flight, yet "Swallow Return" could accurately and decisively cut them down in the blink of an eye—such swordsmanship was truly divine!
Even Ren Xiaoyao might not be able to counter such a move within half an hour.
Moreover, Kishimoto Masashi had used his superior cultivation and seasoned experience to deceive Ren Xiaoyao's intuition, preventing him from discerning the activation and deactivation of "Swallow Return" even with his sixth sense.
A chill suddenly seeped into Ren Xiaoyao's back, reaching his hair.
It was over, utterly over. Half an hour, half a day, half a month, half a year—it would all be in vain
. He hadn't even seen the move; how could he possibly counter it?
Even if he possessed extraordinary abilities, he couldn't possibly return to the exact moment "Swallow Return" was unleashed.
Kishimoto Masashi was invincible, while he was destined to lose.
Ren Xiaoyao's breathing quickened, and he painfully closed his eyes, hoping to recall every detail, even the simple act of Kishimoto Masashi raising his hand or the instant he drew his sword.
Seconds passed, and the vast Munechika Square remained completely silent except for the crackling of the torches.
Yes, nothing at all.
All eyes and attention were fixed on Ren Xiaoyao, eager to see how he would break Kishimoto Masashi's seemingly divine "Swallow Return."
However…
the "Saint of Ninjutsu" was indeed the "Saint of Ninjutsu," controlling everything flawlessly, leaving Ren Xiaoyao no chance to think.
In other words, breaking "Swallow Return" was simply impossible!
"Bang—" Ren Xiaoyao staggered back two steps, crashing into a wooden pillar in the corner of the platform. Veins bulged on his forehead as he gasped for breath, his robust body trembling.
"It's over, it's over, the position of sect leader is sealed." Yi Tianhan slapped his thigh and shook his head repeatedly. His martial arts skills were second only to Kato Taka present, yet he hadn't even caught a glimpse of "Swallow Return." Seeing Ren Xiaoyao's expression, he knew he was in no better shape and couldn't help but sigh deeply.
Hua Shijun, Fu Longyuan, Deng Lei, Meng Fei, Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Shihouin Yoruichi, and others all shook their heads.
No one had any hope for Ren Xiaoyao anymore, not even the five sect leaders who had previously admired him to the point of prostration.
In their hearts, Kishimoto Masashi's status was equivalent to a god.
A god is invincible and unbeatable.
Thousands of eyes were fixed on this scene, and thousands of hearts were pounding at the most critical moment.
The fate of the Japanese martial arts world and the future of the ninjutsu world would be decided in an instant.
"It seems that the outcome will be decided in less than half an hour." Kishimoto Masashi smiled, a smile like a child.
"Whether it is or not, we'll see after you've seen it, Lord Taiko." In his calm voice, the troubles and trembling that had been entangled in Ren Xiaoyao vanished, and his tiger eyes shone with a sharp, hawk-like light.

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