A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 25

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

Volume 34, Chapter 1: A Battle for Life and Death.

The sand circle suddenly expanded, then tightened abruptly, the immense force causing Ren Xiaoyao and Shinguji Mina to gasp for breath. Her martial arts skills were far inferior to Ren Xiaoyao's; her pretty face flushed red, and she felt a pounding in her chest, as if her heart was about to leap out of her chest. Death was imminent, but she suddenly felt that as long as she could hold Ren Xiaoyao, even death wouldn't be so terrifying.
The tornado spun faster and faster, its gray color gradually turning inky black, finally crashing down and sweeping the two of them into the storm's most intense point.
The high-speed spinning instantly left Ren Xiaoyao's mind blank. Although his martial arts were high, he was ultimately no match for the might of nature. In this situation, he could only give up struggling and tightly embrace Shinguji Mina. He felt Shinguji Mina also tightly embracing him, her body trembling slightly. She had likely never witnessed such desolate power and was utterly terrified.
—They had endured so long, and he assumed his master and the seniors had protected the women and Zhengliang and escaped to safety long ago. But at the crucial moment, the wind suddenly changed, completely disrupting Ren Xiaoyao's entire plan. Ren Xiaoyao sighed inwardly, fearing that if Shinguji Mina lost her footing and fell into the storm, she would be torn to pieces in an instant. He immediately held her even tighter.
The wind grew stronger, and Ren Xiaoyao knew he couldn't hold out for long. He wanted to activate "Heavenly Thunder Without Recklessness" to forcefully break through the hurricane and escape, but the tornado was too huge. If he wasn't careful, he would immediately be in mortal danger.
As he hesitated, Shinguji Mina leaned close to his ear and said with absolute certainty, "Tornadoes in the desert can't last long. At most, it will be over in the time it takes to brew a cup of tea."
Ren Xiaoyao nodded, and slowly released the inner energy of the Free and Unfettered Palm, protecting himself and Shinguji Mina, letting the tornado sweep them both into the sky. The higher they climbed, the stronger the pressure became. At first, it felt as if they were bound by ropes, but later, the ropes tightened into iron hoops, causing them excruciating pain. The wind pressure was so intense that they could barely open their mouths and noses.
In the blink of an eye, they had risen several dozen feet, and Ren Xiaoyao felt his mind was about to be crushed. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, the sky above them appeared to crack open, revealing a sliver of azure sky.
This was truly a cause for celebration. Ren Xiaoyao quickly opened his eyes wide, and the azure sky expanded rapidly, like the arrival of spring, sweeping across the Jade Gate Pass. In an instant, it engulfed the entire sky. The tornado that stretched across the horizon seemed like a venomous snake stabbed in its vital spot, struggling for a few moments before suddenly plummeting down!
The vast wind rose and fell swiftly. The sliver of blue sky that had just begun to appear above them was torn open like a piece of silk, and in a moment, the sky was clear again. As soon as the weather cleared, the massive tornado instantly dissipated like a snow lion facing fire. With a deafening roar, the rapid spinning stopped abruptly, collapsing vertically like a towering building crumbling!
Ren Xiaoyao knew that any hesitation would mean being buried deep in the sand, so he quickly used his Flying Immortal Transformation technique, soaring upwards like a roc spreading its wings. He circled rapidly in the air, making seven consecutive turns, rising higher and higher, instantly breaking free from all constraints. Then, with another turn, he landed gracefully several feet away.
The sand and dust swept up by the tornado amounted to far more than a thousand loads. As it fell, it was as if the heavens and earth were upside down. The vast expanse of yellow sand formed a path dozens of meters long, layer upon layer, instantly piling up a platform over a hundred meters high in the desert. Ren Xiaoyao and Zhen Gongji Mina, witnessing this, were both horrified. They secretly thought that if they had hesitated even slightly, they would have been buried by the sand, and it would have been a miracle if they hadn't been torn apart and pulverized to pieces.
The sky was clear and blue, smooth as if washed clean. The long wind had been blowing for a while, and now the sky was like the most transparent glass, without the slightest flaw. In the center, a bright red sun hung high, illuminating the vast desert, as if the world consisted only of this sun, and nothing else existed.
The wind died down, and there was no other sound in the desolate world, making the surroundings seem even more lonely and desolate. The two of them, standing on the sand, felt as if they were made of stone.
Shinguji Mina, her breasts still slightly exposed, said with lingering fear, "That was close...that was close. If it weren't for you, Xiaoyao, I'd be dead for sure."
Ren Xiaoyao said softly, "Hehe, if you hadn't reminded me, I would have lost my life too."
The two smiled at each other, everything understood without words.
Ren Xiaoyao gazed at Shinguji Mina, her kimono torn and disheveled by the storm, barely concealing her alluring figure. The sight made Ren Xiaoyao's breathing quicken. Her smooth, white skin was delicate and exquisite, her figure slender, her legs long and shapely, giving her a soft, graceful beauty. Her slender waist, slightly rounded hips, and pert breasts created a stunningly beautiful silhouette, her curves exquisite and alluring. She was truly a rare and exquisite beauty.
A surge of emotion welled up within Ren Xiaoyao, and he abruptly pulled Shinguji Mina's slightly cool body into his arms.
Shinguji Mina did not resist, letting him hold her, seemingly intoxicated by the wonderful feeling. Then, her exquisite, curvaceous body trembled, and an alluring blush involuntarily rose quickly across her snow-white face, which was beautiful and elegant, like a fairy.
Shinguji Mina tilted her rosy-cheeked face up, raised her almond eyes, and let them shimmer with a captivating light. Her small, delicate nose twitched slightly, and her two full, crimson lips, like ripe lychees, made one want to take a bite. Her small mouth was slightly open, revealing two rows of white teeth, like jade shells on the seashore. Two round dimples, like small pools of water, rippled with charming autumn waves. The faint fragrance of perfume wafted into Ren Xiaoyao's nostrils, stirring his tense and thirsty heart.
Ren Xiaoyao tightened his left arm, pulling Shinguji Mina forward to meet his kiss. Shinguji Mina let out a soft moan, as if pricked by something, quickly closing her eyes. She blinked, then slowly closed them again, her body trembling slightly, her hands hesitantly wrapping around Ren Xiaoyao's neck.
The moment his lips touched Shinguji Mina's, an indescribable, exquisite sensation filled Ren Xiaoyao's heart. It was the tenderness of a young girl's lips, yet mixed with a seductive charm.
As their lips met, Shinguji Mina shuddered, then gently opened her mouth, allowing Ren Xiaoyao's tongue to enter. Her tender tongue shyly avoided his teasing touch. Ren Xiaoyao sipped the sweet saliva from her mouth, his hand moving from her waist to her full, slightly upturned buttocks, pressing her lower body firmly against him.
Suddenly, Mina Shinguji cried out in alarm, forcefully shoving Ren Xiaoyao away. Her delicate body trembled uncontrollably as she stared in disbelief at what lay behind Ren Xiaoyao, as if she had seen something utterly terrifying.
Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat, and he turned around in astonishment, frozen in shock.
A stone mountain! The stone mountain that had been two miles away earlier was now less than a hundred feet away!
Was it the wind? Had the tornado blown them here?!
No, impossible, absolutely impossible!
He had activated his supreme innate qi, exerting all his strength to stop the tornado's movement. Even if he had swept Mina Shinguji up with him, it was impossible for it to have been blown away by a full two miles in such a short time.
Unless... unless it is...
A soft, pleasant female voice suddenly sounded behind me: "Master Ren has just arrived in Japan and has not yet fully grasped the secrets of ninjutsu, so it is understandable that he shows such an expression. Miss Shinguji is a Jonin of the Hokushin Itto-ryu school, so she should have a deep understanding of the martial arts of various schools. Haven't you heard that the Tochigi Matsumoto school's treasure, the Asahi Fan, combined with its unique Four Purple Mist Formation and the Kamaitachi Technique, can easily create and control a hurricane?"
Ren Xiaoyao turned around again, and what came into view was a charming woman in a kimono, her delicate body leaning against a giant iron fan taller than a person. She was middle-aged but still had a lot of charm. Her hair was styled in double buns, and she wore an exquisite coral headband on her forehead. Her head, neck, hands, waist, and feet were adorned with various ornaments made of gemstones, jade, and shells, which jingled as she flew through the air. However, the glittering jewelry and the peacock-like colorful clothes could not hide the sinister and vicious light shooting from her eyes. Coupled with her long, sharp fingernails that seemed to be curving upwards, she looked like a female zombie who had been resurrected from a coffin with all the burial goods.
Ren Xiaoyao said in a deep voice, "You're Aoki Norika, Aoki Toshishi's older sister?"
The alluring woman chuckled, stretched languidly, and said, "I dare not accept such praise, it is indeed I."
Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat, and he snapped, "Where are they? Where are the others who were with me?"
Aoki Norika tilted her head back, closed her beautiful eyes, revealing an alluring expression of intoxication, and said with her lips slightly parted, "Were they four old men and a few young ladies? I blew them to the other side of the desert, and now they're looking for you everywhere. But they would never dream that you would..." "Bringing the girl from Shinguji to the rocky mountain, she naturally wouldn't find this place."
Ren Xiaoyao sneered, "What do you mean? You went to such lengths to create this rocky mountain, just for..."
Aoki Norika interrupted, "So that you would willingly engage in a death match with Sect Master Aoki, my brother—a death match where life is the ultimate stake. Over the years, far too many masters have succumbed to his absolute defense and surrendered willingly. That's why he wants to fight you properly until one of you dies."
Ren Xiaoyao focused his energy in his eyes, his voice fierce. "What if I don't agree?"
Aoki Norika said coldly, "Then they will be completely lost in the desert, never to emerge again." (

Chapter 2 of Volume 34: On the Verge of Conflict)

Ren Xiaoyao laughed, nonchalantly saying, "Hehe, your Sun Fan is powerful, but it still needs the original wind force of the desert to unleash its earth-shattering power. Without it..." Her figure blurred, leaping out like lightning, she pounced on Aoki Norika with lightning speed.
To prevent Long Feiyun and Nangong Fengyi from suffering, she... Disregarding his usual "rule" of not using harsh methods against women, he wielded the Dongyue Sword Palm in his left hand and the Dragon Claw Technique in his right, both deadly close-combat skills.
Aoki Norika was startled when he revealed the secrets of the Kamaitachi Technique, completely unprepared for Ren Xiaoyao's sudden attack. Caught off guard, she cried out in surprise.
With the two less than ten feet apart, Ren Xiaoyao had already pushed his power to the limit. Suddenly, Aoki Norika took a light step back, and a cloud of yellow sand erupted from where she had stood, crashing down on him.
"Sandstorm Funeral!" "Xiaoyao, quick..." Before the words "dodge!" could be uttered, Ren Xiaoyao was swallowed by the yellow sand. Shinguji Mina's pretty face turned deathly pale, and she almost cried out.
Judging from the scale and power of the sandstorm, the one who attacked was undoubtedly Aoki Toshishi. As the top expert in earth-based ninjutsu in the Japanese martial arts world, known as the "King of the Desert," he was a force to be reckoned with, and when he did, it was always a devastating and deadly move. Ren Xiaoyao, though possessing superb martial arts skills, was caught completely off guard and suddenly attacked; even with his formidable internal energy, his chances of survival were slim.
"If I hadn't acted quickly, you would already be in Ren Xiaoyao's hands. Sister, when will you ever change your careless and underestimating-your-enemies ways?" With a long sigh, the sand rose slowly five feet behind Norika Aoki, and Toshishi Aoki, clad in a blue samurai uniform and wearing a straw hat, finally appeared before Mina Shinguji.
It was a very distinctive face; even amidst a vast army, he would always be easily recognizable.
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 features and sharp eyes. His nose was as straight and powerful as his back, and his thick, dark eyebrows extended to his temples, meeting at the other end on his ears.
Toshishi Aoki was not tall; in fact, he could be described as quite short. Ren Xiaoyao's shoulders didn't even reach his full height, but each part of his body, when viewed separately, gave a rugged impression. However, when combined as a whole, he was athletic and well-proportioned, possessing a nimble, graceful, and flawlessly beautiful physique.
His skin shone with a unique dark hue, making him appear as if he were paved with yellow sand. His narrow, elongated eyes emitted a chillingly cruel glint as he coldly stared at the sand pile that had "buried" Ren Xiaoyao. "I meticulously set up this trap in the desert, having my sister lure you here, all for the sake of a fair fight between us, without any interference. I never expected..." "Never expected what? I never expected that I would suddenly rush forward and catch Aoki Norika off guard." Ren Xiaoyao's gentle, deep, and leisurely voice came from the sand pile.
"Xiaoyao, you're alright!? Are you really alright!?" Shinguji Mina was overjoyed.
"Of course I'm alright. You think you can bury me with a few handfuls of sand? You're underestimating the martial arts of the Central Plains." "With that, Ren Xiaoyao's incomparably handsome figure burst forth from the 'sand,' standing smiling before Aoki Toshiro.
"Good, good indeed, Ren Xiaoyao. No wonder even someone as powerful as Iga Valley was helpless against you." A fleeting look of shock crossed Aoki Toshiro's face as he spoke calmly.
"Hmph, likewise." Ren Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow, his words carrying a double meaning.
"Is Sect Leader Ren blaming me for making things difficult for your friend?" Aoki Toshiro glanced at Aoki Norika, who chuckled and explained, "It was my careless talk that made Sect Leader Ren anxious. The Four Purple Mist Formation and the Weasel Technique are both secret arts of our sect, requiring considerable preparation before they can be used, and they are extremely taxing on spirit and internal energy. Using them once every three to five days is already my limit. Your friend had Musashi use the 'Red Secret Technique - Hundred Man Manipulation Technique' to surround a sand valley three miles away. I believe there will be no danger until you and the Sect Leader have settled your score." "Alright, let's get started. The sooner we settle this, the sooner my friend can leave the valley. "
Ren Xiaoyao smiled smugly, seemingly not taking Aoki Toshishi, whom everyone in the Japanese martial arts world feared, seriously. He wasn't worried about the women's safety; after all, with Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei—four top masters—he believed they could handle even the Thirteen Guardians of the Palace with ease. However, Shinguji Mina's situation was quite delicate. Although she came from a family with a strong martial arts tradition and was highly skilled, she lacked a suitable weapon and was exhausted from the recent hurricane. If other ninjas from the Tochigi Matsumoto school launched a surprise attack while he and Aoki Toshishi were fighting, she might not be able to withstand it. Right now, besides Aoki Toshishi and Aoki Norika, there was no one else around. Only by seizing the time and finishing the fight quickly could he ensure Shinguji Mina's safety.
"No, Xiaoyao, stop fighting!" "Really, stop fighting! At worst... at worst, I'll go with them." Mina Shinguji grabbed Ren Xiaoyao's sleeve, pleading softly, her gentle, heavenly voice filled with a powerful sincerity and endearing charm. She had witnessed the duel between Ryuugen Shinguji and Toshiyuki Aoki, knowing firsthand the latter's formidable absolute defense. While Ren Xiaoyao possessed profound internal strength and exceptional cultivation, he was ultimately inferior to her father. Moreover, that duel was three years ago; times had changed, and she couldn't fathom how powerful Aoki Toshiyuki had become. The only certainty was that even if Ren Xiaoyao insisted on fighting, his chances of victory were zero. "Hahaha—hahaha, do you two really think the sect leader would travel thousands of miles with his disciples for a mere thirty thousand taels of gold?" Norika Aoki couldn't help but chuckle. "While the Tochigi Matsumoto school isn't one of the Seven Great Schools, it's still a prestigious school in Shikoku. Plus, with the unwritten rule among the major schools that 'if you encounter Aoki Toshishi, you don't need to complete the mission and can return directly to your school to report,' they're overflowing with missions. Why would they need to take orders from those scumbags in Igagaya? True, our school did put in a lot of effort to separate you and your friends and lure you here at Ishiyama, but as I said before, the sect leader has no other purpose than to find a truly skilled opponent to fight him, to prove that his years of hard training haven't been in vain, so he can challenge the Shinguji sect leader again in the future—and you, Ren Xiaoyao, are the best choice we've chosen after careful consideration."
"Sister, don't you think you've talked too much today?" Aoki Toshishi's hawk-like eyes flashed with a cold light, revealing unfathomable power.
"If I don't make things clear, with Master Ren so focused on Miss Shinguji's safety, do you think he'll be willing to fight you to his heart's content?" Aoki Norika clapped her hands, and two more figures rose from the desert. They were none other than Nakamori Yoshishi and Iwatani Keisuke, who had previously disguised themselves as corpses. Each held a water pouch and respectfully offered it to Master Ren.
"Master Ren, please!" Aoki Norika smiled slightly. "Drink your fill of water and rest before sparring with the sect leader."
"Water? Hahaha, is there any wine?" With his back straight and shoulders raised, his aura suddenly increased, revealing a terrifying demeanor that no one, including Aoki Toshishi, had ever seen before. He glanced at Aoki Norika with a leisurely smile.
"Yes, of course! Kawatani, bring the sake." Seeing that he showed no fear whatsoever, but rather displayed unparalleled confidence, radiating a powerful and resolute aura, Aoki Toshishi couldn't help but secretly admire him.
Kawatani Hideki leaped out of a cave atop the rocky mountain, arriving before them in the blink of an eye. He untied a large leather bag from his back, quickly approached, and presented it with both hands.
Ren Xiaoyao uncorked the bag, held it high above his head, tilted it slightly, and a stream of sake poured out. He tilted his head back and gulped it down. The bag was full of sake, weighing at least twenty pounds, but Ren Xiaoyao drank it all in one go, without a change in expression, showing no signs of intoxication.
—His expression was bold and his demeanor heroic. Aoki Toshishi felt an even stronger sense of admiration for him, thinking: Such a young master is a rare sight, perhaps never to be seen again. Should I really kill him?
But then Ren Xiaoyao said, "Mina, you and the others should hide on the rocky hill. The fight will be very loud, and it would be troublesome if you got hurt."
"What? You're not going to rest?!" Aoki Norika was greatly surprised. Ren Xiaoyao's tone suggested he intended to fight Aoki Toshiro immediately. Having just escaped a hurricane, he seemed far too arrogant and self-important.
"No, he's very strong. He doesn't need to rest at all." Aoki Toshiro's gaze sharpened like a hawk's, and unexpectedly, a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he spoke slowly, word by word. Clearly, he had sensed the increasingly surging innate supreme qi within Ren Xiaoyao, confirming that the opponent's power had not diminished.
Shinguji Mina, Aoki Norika, Nakamori Yoshishi, Iwatani Keisuke, and Kawatani Hideki dared not be negligent and obediently retreated to the rocky hill. Ren Xiaoyao and Aoki Toshiro each retreated, standing about five zhang apart, the battle about to erupt.

Volume 34, Chapter 3: Who's More Arrogant?

"Sect Leader Aoki, please." Ren Xiaoyao maintained his hands behind his back, his sharp eyes remaining completely unwavering. Surprisingly, he didn't draw his Ice Soul Frost Sword, known for its razor-sharpness and unparalleled sharpness, seemingly intending to face the enemy with his bare hands—Shinguji Mina and the Tochigi Matsumoto clan were all stunned. They couldn't believe that anyone in the world dared to disregard "absolute defense" to such an extent.
Aoki Toshishi smiled calmly, seemingly unconcerned about Ren Xiaoyao's "provocation." Suddenly, he swayed left and right at an astonishing speed, as if creating several avatars, appearing elusive yet real, suddenly appearing about five zhang to Ren Xiaoyao's left. His hands moved with unbelievable dexterity, drawing countless dazzling and graceful shadows.
To Mina Shinguji, however, it was clear that Ren Xiaoyao had used incredibly swift and unpredictable techniques to quickly form hand seals before he could react, unleashing his unique ninjutsu called "Sand Shuriken." She infused her inner energy into the sand, creating countless shuriken-shaped, yet incredibly powerful, tiny blades that rained down on her opponent with overwhelming force. Some targeted vital points, while others, seemingly aimed at empty air, actually sealed off any possible evasive maneuvers. No matter how the opponent retreated, they couldn't avoid the "Sand Shuriken" attack.
Of course, this was in contrast to his previous opponents. Ren Xiaoyao, possessing mastery of the three greatest lightness skills of the Central Plains martial arts world, along with his mastery of the Shadow Clone Technique, had no move he couldn't dodge if he wanted to.
Yet, Ren Xiaoyao stood motionless, showing no intention of dodging.
Was he boasting of his superior lightness skills, intentionally showing off to his opponent?
Or was it a tactical maneuver, hoping to draw out all of his opponent's moves?
No, neither!
Ren Xiaoyao let out a long roar, not dodging but meeting the attack head-on. His body moved forward like a ghost within the narrow space, his hands transforming into a sky full of palm shadows, meeting speed with speed to meet the opponent's all-pervasive sand shuriken.
A series of booming sounds rang out, as dense as a thousand firecrackers exploding on New Year's Eve.
"Boom!" The two grandmaster-level experts finally clashed head-on. The sand particles whipped up by the gusts of wind scattered outwards from the two of them, creating an astonishingly powerful spectacle. While
the "sand shuriken" were indeed sharp and fierce, their power was terrifying. However, upon contact with the palm force of Xiaoyao's Limitless Palm, which incorporated innate supreme qi, it was like ice meeting fire, instantly dissipating into nothingness. Some were even deliberately deflected back by Ren Xiaoyao, colliding with the subsequent "sand shuriken."
Aoki Shunji's expression changed slightly, his palm seal shifting, and he switched to the "Sand Rain" technique.
Suddenly, large swirls of sand shot up from Ren Xiaoyao's front, back, left, and right, soaring into the sky and coalescing above his head to form a sand cloud. An unmistakable stench of blood and killing intent instantly filled an area of several dozen feet in radius.
If one ignored its golden sheen under the sunlight, Ren Xiaoyao would never have imagined that someone could use only internal energy to propel so many grains of sand into the air.
Watching the overwhelming, awe-inspiring, rolling sandstorm rise and fall, Mina Shinguji, observing from afar, felt her heart sink, a chill running through her body.
Previously, Aoki Toshishi excelled at defense rather than offense, often using "absolute defense" to deplete his opponent's strength before launching attacks with various ninjutsu. Therefore, Aoki Toshishi's fighting style was like a taut string, always lacking the domineering presence and style expected of a master of his level.
But the current Aoki Toshishi is a completely different person. He is calm and composed in the face of the enemy, with a relaxed demeanor and graceful, perfect movements. Even after Ren Xiaoyao easily broke through the "Sand Shuriken," he still maintained a completely at ease. The "Sand Rain" he is about to unleash is not only powerful, but its attack method, which seems to block out the sunlight, although it looks exaggerated, is an undeniable fact that it is about to happen.
Aoki Toshishi waved his right hand, and the sand clouds in the sky surged high like a vast, overwhelming storm, as if transforming into a torrential downpour that never occurs in the desert. It brought with it a fierce wind and slammed down on Ren Xiaoyao, just like a torrential rain, without any flaws. The large area of quicksand left the enemy with nowhere to hide.
Dust billowed, and powerful energy roared. Facing this bizarre and overwhelming attack that surged from heaven and earth, Ren Xiaoyao scoffed indifferently. His body spun rapidly, transforming into a thousand-armed Guanyin, conjuring hundreds of illusory palm shadows that enveloped his entire body in light and shadow.
"Boom, boom, boom—" The sounds of clashing forces were incessant. This battle was even more intense than before. In the midst of the sandstorm, Ren Xiaoyao moved like a ghost, darting left and right with lightning speed. His range of movement was severely restricted by Aoki Shunji's relentless attacks, but he managed to hold his ground at about half a zhang, using his fingers, palms, fists, and feet to deal with the dense sandstorm attacking from all directions.
Aoki Shunji displayed his extraordinary prowess, seemingly inexhaustible in his true energy. He unleashed a deadly barrage of sand rain, striking left and right, attacking from above and below with unpredictable and unpredictable movements, almost unbelievable to those who didn't witness it firsthand.
The sand rain relentlessly attacked Ren Xiaoyao from all directions, yet Ren Xiaoyao remained unmoved, using only exquisite and profound techniques to block each strike without showing the slightest sign of defeat. Like a giant reef in the deep sea, he stood firm against the raging tides, leaving Aoki Norika, Nakamori Yoshishi, and the others utterly astonished.
"Sand Rain Needles!" With a cold snort from Aoki Shunji, the torrential sand rain instantly transformed into countless thin, sharp killing weapons!
"They think they can hurt me?" Ren Xiaoyao sneered, his robes suddenly billowing without wind. He let out a long roar, a dragon-like cry that soared to the heavens.
The Vajra Lion's Roar! It was the Vajra Lion's Roar again!
Even though Shinguji Mina and Tochigi Matsumoto's group, watching from the mountaintop, were far away, the roar still shook them to their core. They were so stunned they nearly fell off the cliff, quickly covering their ears and surging their inner energy to maintain their balance.
However, the millions of sand needles closest to Ren Xiaoyao were not so lucky. The moment the roar was uttered, they shattered instantly, posing no further threat.
Aoki Toshishi, preoccupied with defending against the Vajra Lion's Roar, had no time to maintain the "sand cloud," and his powerful, continuous attack abruptly ceased.
"How about it? My defense isn't any worse than yours, is it?" Ren Xiaoyao flicked his sleeve, stopping his howl. "Show me whatever other tricks you have up your sleeve. I'll let you see the 'Absolute Defense' from the Central Plains."
"What! He... he wants to compete with the Sect Master... compete in defense." Nakamori Yoshishi, Iwatani Keisuke, and Kawatani Hideki exchanged bewildered glances, staring at Ren Xiaoyao in disbelief.
"No wonder... no wonder Xiaoyao refused to use his sword. He has such superb skills, yet he hesitated to attack. So that's why..." Shinguji Mina was both surprised and delighted. She was surprised that Ren Xiaoyao, at such a young age, had such courage, daring to challenge the "Absolute Defense," a technique that no one in the entire Japanese martial arts world dared to challenge. She was delighted that Ren Xiaoyao never did anything without being sure of success; if he was willing to speak, he was sure to succeed.
"Boy, you're still young, don't be so arrogant." Aoki Toshiki abandoned his respectful address of "Master Ren," clearly furious. "Otherwise..."
"Otherwise what? You think you can kill me?" Ren Xiaoyao's lips curled into a sneer, his face full of arrogance.
"Hahaha, you want to provoke me into anger, to make me lose the most important composure in a martial arts contest?" Aoki Toshiki suddenly suppressed his anger, a profound smile appearing on his lips. The cunning old man quickly saw through Ren Xiaoyao's true intentions. "However, since you want to see the high level of my sect, then I'll grant your wish." As soon as he finished speaking, his face became incredibly cold, his eyes shining with a powerful, almost tangible confidence. His body was like a towering pine or ancient cypress, giving one the feeling that no matter what storm he encountered, he would still stand firm.
Aoki Toshiji made no move, but a suffocatingly hot gust of air suddenly rushed towards him. Even in the beautiful garden where spring was in full bloom, it still gave one the terrifying feeling of being in a dry, barren desert, let alone... the battleground was actually a desert.
Aoki Toshiji wasn't using an offensive ninjutsu, but rather his most proficient support ninjutsu—the Blazing Sun Technique.
As the name suggests, the Blazing Sun Technique's effect was to make the space around the opponent feel as if it were being exposed to the blazing sun, becoming scorching and boiling, locking them in and trapping them, as if they were in a sea of fire and heat, making it impossible for them to move an inch.
Shinguji Mina secretly felt that things were going badly. Aoki Toshiji had the advantage of timing, location, and manpower. The Blazing Sun Technique was unleashed, and he also had the support of the enemy. The three interacted perfectly, controlling and binding the enemy, working together flawlessly, leaving Ren Xiaoyao unable to escape the aura. Like a spider weaving a web, the prey was trapped inside, waiting to be devoured.
Ren Xiaoyao, possessing the most powerful and fierce internal energy in the world, would certainly not sit idly by and wait for death. He silently circulated his profound skill, and his mind immediately connected with his meridians and acupoints, becoming one with them. Heaven and earth stretched out above his head and below his feet, reaching the infinite distance to the ends of the earth. Qingmu Junzhi 's all-encompassing Fiery Sun Technique could no longer imprison his mind. He felt as if he had been freed from shackles and a prison, a feeling that was incredibly moving.
The scorching heat then dissipated, and Qingmu Junzhi's Fiery Sun Technique had no effect on him.

Volume 34, Chapter 4: You Forced Me.

Looking at the surprised look in the other party's eyes, Ren Xiaoyao laughed and said, "Sect Master's Fiery Sun Technique is indeed powerful. Fortunately, the innate supreme qi I practice also follows the yang path, so it is unaffected." Qingmu Junzhi's eyes immediately narrowed, his pupils contracted, and a crack opened in his previously impenetrable mind.
However, Ren Xiaoyao did not attack based on the influence of his aura, because he knew clearly that his opponent's skills were not limited to this. Although Aoki Shunzhi was several feet away, he could use his keen senses, enhanced by his innate supreme qi, to accurately perceive the slightest movement and reaction of his opponent.
Aoki Shunzhi smiled slightly, and Ren Xiaoyao's feeling immediately changed. He was replaced by a feeling of emptiness, as if there was not a drop of air around him, a dry and stifling sensation that was unbearable.
This terrifying aura was a nightmare-like scene compared to the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra of Hatred. Aoki Shunzhi still stood there, but Ren Xiaoyao could no longer control him. The scorching storm that could melt iron and turn pots into flames rolled in from the other side in the blink of an eye, attacking every inch of Ren Xiaoyao's skin. Even with the protection of his innate supreme qi, which greatly reduced the damage to his body to the point of being negligible, it was constantly weakening Ren Xiaoyao's momentum and fighting spirit. If this continued, he would soon become vulnerable. Ren Xiaoyao abruptly stopped, slowly raising both palms, ready to strike at any moment.
But at that instant, Aoki Shunzhi preemptively attacked, his left hand diagonally across his chest, forming a cross with his right, then spinning like a top, rapidly shifting left and right. The surrounding air currents instantly changed, with gusts of violent tornado-like air rushing towards Ren Xiaoyao from all directions.
In a flash, Ren Xiaoyao was caught in the heart of the storm's attack, unable to maintain his immobility any longer.
Almost simultaneously, Aoki Shunzhi charged forward with lightning speed, his arms outstretched, unleashing a burst of energy that whipped up a cloud of yellow sand, aiming directly at Ren Xiaoyao's head and face.
Ren Xiaoyao remained calm, suddenly bracing himself on one foot, spinning rapidly like a top, and miraculously dispersing the sand that was about to engulf him with a powerful palm strike.
However, Aoki Toshishi's techniques were not limited to this. His hand seals subtly changed, and the sand he stirred up ceased its attack as if it were alive, no longer accumulating in the air. By the time Ren Xiaoyao realized something was wrong and stopped to investigate, an immeasurable number of sand grains gathered from all directions, under Aoki Toshishi's "remote control," surged towards him—the Flowing Sand Waterfall, another unique technique of the Tochigi Matsumoto school.
Water is inherently soft, but once it becomes a waterfall, it possesses immense power, capable of shattering mountains and destroying rocks, even seizing the power of nature.
Although sand grains are fine, their inherent hardness is astonishing, let alone forming a sand waterfall!
Ren Xiaoyao hesitated for only a moment before the surging, splashing sand waterfall blocked all directions he could escape to in the east, west, south, and north. The distribution of its energy was constantly and subtly changing, making it impossible to defend against or block. Ren Xiaoyao's first thought was to do everything possible to dodge it, hoping to avoid it altogether.
The sandfall hadn't completely closed yet. With his Flying Immortal Transformation technique, honed to the point of eight leaps and eight bounds, it wouldn't be difficult for
him to ride the momentum and escape through the few remaining gaps overhead. However, Ren Xiaoyao didn't do that. His intuition told him that Aoki Toshishi's skills were far more than that. Even if he was confident he could escape from the quicksand waterfall, how would he deal with the relentless attacks? While
his cultivation was profound, his understanding and mastery of ninjutsu were still inferior to that of a genin. Although he had been cramming under Shinguji Mina and Kurosaki Masayoshi these past few days, the former's knowledge was limited, only proficient in fire-based ninjutsu, while the latter knew nothing of martial arts, being purely theoretical. This meant that when facing a master of Aoki Toshishi's caliber, he could only watch helplessly as the opponent attacked, unable to grasp the changes in his moves. Therefore, he preferred to withstand the powerful onslaught of the quicksand waterfall head-on. These thoughts flashed through Ren Xiaoyao's mind in a flash. He quickly changed his body, moving back and forth between the approaching sandfall, hoping to find a position with the least force.
Mina Shinguji and the others, observing from a high vantage point, were fully aware of Ren Xiaoyao's actions. On the surface, the two appeared evenly matched, but Ren Xiaoyao knew in his heart that he was being led by the nose by Toshiyuki Aoki. Every change he made so far was a response to his opponent's new moves, leaving him in a completely passive and disadvantageous position.
This was certainly due to his relentless defense, but it was also the first time he had faced such a situation since mastering the Innate Supreme Qi.
Even through the thick, solid sand wall, Aoki Toshishi could still sense Ren Xiaoyao's rapid movements. "Great Sandfall!" he roared, unleashing a more powerful attack.
The sandfall accelerated instantly, and by the time Ren Xiaoyao tried to react, time was running out.
In an instant, his eardrums were filled with the deafening shriek of the shifting sandfall, like a sudden, fierce sandstorm on a long journey through the desert, howling and roaring in all directions. At first, it was short and powerful, stimulating his eardrums, then the relentless, sharp, and dense sand and gravel attacked without warning.
Ren Xiaoyao felt his vision blur under the onslaught of the shriek, the world seemed to spin, and the endless sandfall engulfed him like a raging storm. Even more terrifying was that the overwhelming amount of yellow sand rapidly contracted around the center, narrowing to a single point, generating an explosive force that was almost expansive.
Ren Xiaoyao dared not hesitate for a moment. He took a deep breath, his left hand wielding the Dragon's Regret and his right hand the Return of Ten Thousand Buddhas, unleashing two ultimate techniques simultaneously: the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms and the Vajra Palm. He combined nearly all of his innate supreme qi and blasted it straight at the quicksand waterfall less than ten feet away from his body.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The sounds of clashing qi were incessant, accompanied by muffled thunderous explosions that sent chills down one's spine, forming a vortex that rippled outwards from Ren Xiaoyao's center.
The sandfall crumbled under the powerful and fierce palm strikes, while Ren Xiaoyao simultaneously endured intense pain as if his internal organs were being turned inside out. With each strike, he had to directly withstand the powerful force of the sandfall's recoil. First, his palms burned like fire, then his true energy was violently scattered throughout his meridians like a headless fly. Fortunately, although all his meridians were severed, his innate supreme qi could circulate without obstruction. Coupled with his mastery of the Xiaoyao Wuji Palm technique of using force against force and transforming force into force, he managed to maintain a continuous offensive posture while ensuring that he was not seriously damaged.
"Ninja Art - Sand Burial!" Aoki Toshishi sneered slightly. The sandfall instantly changed under his control, converging from four streams into one, pouring down from mid-air and bombarding Ren Xiaoyao.
Even disregarding the internal energy contained within Aoki Toshishi's sandstorm, the sheer weight of the sand was already beyond Ren Xiaoyao's ability to withstand. With each palm strike, Ren Xiaoyao was forced to take a step back. Finally, unable to sustain the momentum, his vision went black, and he was flung backward like a kite with a broken string. Upon landing, he couldn't stop himself, staggering and falling back several steps before finally regaining his footing. His internal organs were churning, his liver and intestines felt like they were about to burst, and only after spitting out a mouthful of blood did the pressure ease.
This single attack felt like a devastating blow to Ren Xiaoyao, his arms immediately going numb from the shoulders down. Ren Xiaoyao knew he was in trouble; at his current rate of decline, he had no chance, and was utterly powerless, to stop his opponent's relentless pursuit. Fortunately, his feet were unharmed. Quick-witted, Ren Xiaoyao reversed the internal energy recoiled from the sandstorm, using the eighth level of the Flying Immortal Transformation Technique, 'Soaring Upwards,' leaping several dozen feet into the air. With each ascent, his internal energy circulated, automatically healing his arm injuries. When his feet touched solid ground, his palms regained feeling, though still throbbed with pain.
Ren Xiaoyao performed three somersaults, landing back where he had been standing, his expression grave as he stared at Aoki Toshishi.
"What? You couldn't withstand even one of the three great ninjutsu techniques of the Tochigi Matsumoto school?" Aoki Toshishi's voice was icy cold. "Draw your sword, or you'll surely die."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ren Xiaoyao was once again enveloped in the dry, hot, lifeless aura of the Blazing Sun Technique. All he could see was Aoki Toshishi, his towering, imposing figure like a demon god. This terrifying opponent was like a towering mountain that stood firm in a storm; no one could defeat him, no one could restrain him.
Ren Xiaoyao knew perfectly well that he was at a disadvantage in terms of momentum, and his arrogance and underestimation of his opponent had allowed them to exploit his weakness, leading to his defeat. If he couldn't reverse this situation, when Aoki Shunji launched another attack, the situation would be irreversible—attack, only a sword strike could change the current predicament.
"Fine, you forced me to this." Ren Xiaoyao drew his sword with a "whoosh," pointing it at Aoki Shunji. The killing intent in the world seemed to be instantly absorbed into the Ice Soul Frost Sword, its blade emitting a hissing sound as it pierced the air. Heaven and earth seemed to merge; the desert was no longer the desert it once was, but filled with a chilling aura.
The Ice Soul Frost Sword sliced through the void, its blue light dazzling and captivating, instantly dimming the blazing sun in the sky. This feeling was extremely strange and eerie, inexplicable and indescribable.
Ren Xiaoyao's tiger-like eyes burned as he fixed his gaze on his opponent. An immense and unparalleled aura naturally emanated from him, enveloping his adversary. Even those unfamiliar with the matter knew that his next move would be an unstoppable, terrifyingly powerful attack.
Chapter Five: The Shield of the Guardian Crane .
What followed could only be described as "fast," happening at a speed barely perceptible to the naked eye. The moment Aoki Toshishi "sensed" Ren Xiaoyao gathering his true power, the Ice Soul Frost Sword had already roared out, transforming into a lightning-fast rainbow that streaked across seven or eight zhang of void, slashing towards him. All the surrounding air currents and life force seemed to be sucked clean by Ren Xiaoyao's earth-shattering sword strike, leaving behind a scene of utter desolation, death, and a chilling atmosphere. There was no way to stop his attack except through direct confrontation.
Even with Aoki Toshishi's skill and insight, he still misjudged the situation. He hadn't expected Ren Xiaoyao to recover so quickly after taking a hit, nor had he anticipated his incredible agility. What was even more troubling was that Ren Xiaoyao's seemingly simple sword thrust had conjured a massive wall of energy, like a mountain collapsing towards him. Most threatening of all was the powerful, round energy beam shot from the blade, striking his chest with lightning speed.
Aoki Toshishi, being a master, showed no fear in the face of Ren Xiaoyao's earth-shattering, awe-inspiring moves. He suddenly straightened his spine, his robes fluttering even without wind, his beard and eyebrows bristling, his appearance becoming fierce and imposing, no less so than Ren Xiaoyao's godlike presence. He threw a punch, and a cloud of yellow sand rose from the ground about ten feet in front of him, quickly coalescing into a sphere. In mid-air, it underwent a series of mysterious and indescribable transformations, yet it struck the sharp edge of the Ice Soul Frost Sword with unmistakable force. "Boom!" The force surged and churned, shattering the sand sphere instantly. Ren Xiaoyao was also jolted back as if electrocuted.
"What's this move called?" Ren Xiaoyao asked coldly.
"Earth Release: Quicksand Bullet!" Before Aoki Shunzhi could finish speaking, the yellow sand beneath Ren Xiaoyao's feet suddenly softened, and then countless quicksand bullets rose up from a radius of five zhang around him with a "whoosh," "whoosh," "whoosh," one after another... no, it should be said that one wave after another was launched at him.
Of course, Ren Xiaoyao would not sit idly by and wait to be killed. He let the quicksand bullets hit him, his sleeves fluttered, and he suddenly turned to the side, easily leaping away from the quicksand beneath his feet with the Flying Immortal Transformation technique. Then, he turned around, his footwork changed abruptly, and he used the One Reed Crossing the River technique, dodging the quicksand bullets with ghostly speed as he moved back and forth, rapidly closing the distance between himself and Aoki Shunzhi.
Aoki Toshishi only knew ninjutsu, not martial arts. To allow Ren Xiaoyao to get close, he could only rely on his signature move, the "Absolute Defense"—the Shukaku Shield.
Aoki Toshishi's toes swayed slightly, and he moved gracefully backward, trying to prolong the time it took for Ren Xiaoyao's attack to reach him. He had trained diligently for three years, believing he could defeat Ren Xiaoyao with offensive ninjutsu alone. Furthermore, for the sake of convenience, he hadn't brought the "Soul-Controlling Gourd" with him, requiring ninjutsu to summon it from the buried ground.
Unfortunately, Ren Xiaoyao's speed was too fast; almost in the blink of an eye, he was already upon his opponent.
—That's the kind of person he was; even if his opponent showed the slightest lapse in concentration, once he seized the opportunity, he could instantly turn a disadvantage into an advantage, and an advantage into victory.
Aoki Toshishi cried out in alarm. He had clearly underestimated his opponent's absolute authority in light-footed movement. His hand seals were only halfway complete; he couldn't use the Shukaku Shield, nor could he suddenly stop and switch to another ninjutsu to block Ren Xiaoyao's lightning-fast movements.
If he were familiar with Chinese, the ancient saying "One wrong move, and the whole game is lost" would surely come to mind.
The distance closed, and Aoki Toshishi's heart suddenly turned icy cold; he was on the verge of despair.
However, just as the Ice Soul Frost Sword was about to seize this golden opportunity to pierce his chest, Ren Xiaoyao froze, his sword pointing diagonally at Aoki Toshishi. It was unclear whether he was attacking or defending, but the onlookers felt that this move was both offensive and defensive, mysterious and unfathomable.
"You...why did you stop!" Aoki Toshishi was taken aback.
"Hahaha, I told you, I'd personally break the 'Absolute Defense.' If I kill you now, wouldn't I regret it for the rest of my life?" Ren Xiaoyao laughed loudly, his face full of arrogance.
"Fine, fine, if you want to see it, I'll grant your wish!" Aoki Toshishi had dominated the martial arts world for decades, and he was the only one who had ever shown mercy and spared lives. When had he ever received such kindness from his opponents? Even though he knew Ren Xiaoyao was deliberately trying to provoke him, he was still furious. He pressed his thumbs together and interlaced his index and middle fingers, and shouted, "Soul-
Controlling Gourd, rise!" The sand pile in front of him suddenly began to roll like boiling water, with sand bubbles constantly rising. Then the sand pile split open, and a gourd, more than half a person tall and made entirely of sand, slowly rose and landed on Aoki Toshishi's right.
"Ninja Art: Sand Guardian, Activate!" With a soft "pop," the gourd stopper flew out, and sand filled with the scent of blood and refined by him flowed out. At the same time, fine sand particles strangely floated up from beneath Aoki Toshishi's feet! These sand particles seemed to have their own consciousness, gently swirling around his body, slowly rotating and flying...
The noisy "rustling" sound could be clearly heard even by Shinguji Mina and the others watching the battle from the far-off rocky mountain.
"Since you let me have my way, I won't hide it from you. The sand inside the Soul-Controlling Relic is mixed with more than a dozen kinds of hard minerals, including meteorites that fell from the sky. Its hardness surpasses even the
hardest refined steel. It's indestructible for defense, and equally unbreakable for offense!" As soon as he finished speaking, a dry, howling wind began to blow, whipping up large swaths of sand like a sandstorm. The surroundings turned a hazy yellow, and the world became chaotic. Countless grains
of sand lashed at Ren Xiaoyao, stinging his cheeks. Behind Ren Xiaoyao, pairs of sand "hands" silently appeared, reaching down to his ankles.
"What?! He's actually launching a counterattack instead of defending!" Ren Xiaoyao felt a sense of foreboding, but it was too late. His feet were instantly entangled by the "Quicksand Hand," and he couldn't break free no matter how hard he tried. He looked up in horror and saw Aoki Toshishi's eyes gleaming with an evil light through the sand. His gaze was icy cold and cruel, devoid of any human emotion, and
Ren Xiaoyao felt a chill run down his spine. Aoki Toshishi revealed a cruel smile, his right hand forming a knife with his fingers. He pointed forward rapidly, creating a sand blade out of thin air. Silently, without any force or wind, it stabbed towards Ren Xiaoyao's chest. If it struck him, any protective inner energy would be useless, and the sand blade would surely shatter his chest and bones, crushing his heart.
Faced with the crisis, Ren Xiaoyao calmed down and entered a state of perfect stillness, instantly taking in all the surrounding circumstances. This was not a fluke; among the four martial arts masters, Ren Xiaoyao was the most experienced and had sparred with the most experts. Whether facing the five assassins in the final battle, confronting Hentian, exchanging blows with Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan, or even encountering the dozen or so sect leaders and ninjas along the way, he benefited greatly each time, significantly improving his ability to analyze opponents. Coupled with the assistance of his innate supreme qi, his perception of the outside world had already surpassed countless predecessors and elders, directly approaching the highest realm that Dugu Yu had first reached and named "Heaven and Man in Harmony."
He immediately concluded that the swirling sandstorm around him was merely a supplementary attack technique, posing little real threat to his body. The quicksand hands binding his feet, making it difficult for him to move, didn't possess much true power; their cyclical, constantly flowing nature simply dispersed the force generated by his legs, making them difficult to break free. The sand blades rushing towards him were just a decoy used by his opponent to distract him; the truly powerful attack was yet to come.
"Clang!" The Ice Soul Frost Sword emitted a soul-stirring, dragon-like roar, a clear sound like a curse from the eighteenth level of hell, or celestial music from beyond the nine heavens. The sword's blade gleamed with a magnificent blue light, its brilliance even outshining the sun hidden by the yellow sand.
The sand blades, carrying a powerful force, were about to reach him but were stopped by the sword's energy, their momentum immediately slowing down, posing no further threat.
The Ice Soul Frost Sword drew lines of unparalleled beauty, imbued with the profound principles of heaven and earth. At a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, it bypassed the sand blade. The swirling yellow sand in the air, like iron drawn to a magnet, was attracted, transforming into a torrent that rushed towards the tip of the Ice Soul Frost Sword. In an instant, it condensed into a ball of smoke, the sword tip transforming into a point of azure light, like an undying starlight amidst swirling clouds, rushing like a shooting star towards the space between Aoki Junji's eyes.
This starlight possessed a captivating, soul-snatching magic; if his Dao heart showed even the slightest weakness, it would suppress his soul, allowing it to take hold—beautiful to the extreme, terrifying to the extreme. The swordsmanship had indeed reached the pinnacle of mastery.
Against the unparalleled decisive swordsmanship, who would prevail?
Aoki Junji let out a long roar, leaping into the air, his feet resting on a cloud of sand, actively welcoming Ren Xiaoyao.
When the two were about two zhang apart, he suddenly plummeted from mid-air, and at the last second, when he was only an inch off the ground, he threw a punch.
He knew nothing about martial arts, so this punch naturally had little power, but it gathered together a large amount of sand and gravel that had been blown up by the wind, instantly forming a powerful shield-like barrier.
The Shield of Shukaku!? The legendary Shield of Shukaku!?
Chapter Six: Another Failure
"Boom..." Centered on Aoki Toshishi, all that could be seen was the flying sand and the muffled sound of clashing energy. After a moment, the sand and dust dissipated, and something both expected and unexpected happened.
—The sand shield in front of Aoki Toshiro indeed blocked Ren Xiaoyao's attack. The thick layer of sand left not even a mark, easily neutralizing the lightning-fast, seemingly tearing through the void with its power. Protected by the sand, Aoki Toshiro was, of course, unharmed…
"Stars Fill the Sky!" "The Flame Passes On!" "Mirror Flower, Water Moon!" Ren Xiaoyao was slightly startled, unleashing three of his ultimate moves in quick succession: the Meteor Thirteen Styles, the Blazing Sky-Piercing Sword, and the Snow Reflecting the Mortal World Sword. He launched a relentless, all-encompassing attack on Aoki Toshiro, using every trick in the book to unleash a devastating offensive that left his opponent breathless.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The sounds of clashing energy rang out continuously, sand and dust scattering everywhere, yet the sand shield suspended in mid-air remained completely undamaged!
"May we be birds flying wing to wing in the heavens!" Ren Xiaoyao's previous carefree demeanor vanished, his eyes gleaming. The Ice Soul Frost Sword transformed into a blue light, emitting a hissing sound as it pierced straight into the core of the sand shield. The icy gusts of wind condensed from the blade were like a torrent breaking through layers of obstacles, creating a breach and sending the yellow sand tumbling to both sides.
"Clang—" The Ice Soul Frost Sword didn't feel the slightest bit of blood cutting through the opponent's flesh; it remained as swift as a dragonfly cutting through a stone pillar, unable to budge it in the slightest.
"Good, indeed, there's some skill involved." Ren Xiaoyao was slightly out of breath, knowing that a direct attack wouldn't break through the opponent's defenses. Suddenly, he swayed rapidly to the left and right, creating several illusory figures that were difficult to distinguish from reality, as if he had created thousands of clones. Even if Shinguji Ryuugen used his Shadow Clone Technique, it wouldn't be much different.
Bathed in the dazzling sunlight, Ren Xiaoyao soared into the air, every part of the Ice Soul Frost Sword transforming into a tool for defeating and neutralizing his enemy. Using the hilt, the blade, and in any unimaginable way, he unleashed a relentless, relentless, and mercury-like close-quarters attack on Aoki Junzhi.
However, the sand particles within the Soul-Controlling Reef seemed to possess a life of their own, constantly swirling around Aoki Junzhi. Their orbits formed a thin layer of sand around him, and wherever Ren Xiaoyao attacked, his sword strikes were immediately halted upon contact with this layer. The remaining sand then quickly gathered, forming a sand shield that made it difficult for him to advance even an inch.
Aoki Toshishi crossed his arms, seemingly relaxed, but cold sweat kept dripping from his forehead. Ren Xiaoyao's innate supreme qi was too strong. Every time it clashed with the sand, it was like a pebble, causing the true energy in his body to splash up continuously. Knowing that if this continued, even if the sand shield was intact, his internal organs would be crushed by Ren Xiaoyao first, he immediately calmed his mind, raised his hands to form a seal, and used his newly mastered ultimate move - Hidden Shadow Sand Strike!
Although Aoki Toshishi is a recognized master in the Japanese martial arts world, possessing incredibly powerful killing techniques such as Sand Shower, Quicksand Bullet, Sand Needle, Quicksand Waterfall, and Sand Burial, these ninjutsu are all ranged attacks. Once an opponent gets close, he can only rely on absolute defense to wear down the enemy's energy, making it difficult to launch an effective counterattack. This is why he was relentlessly "roasted" by Shinguji Ryuuki until he conceded defeat.
For three years, he diligently studied and developed a completely original ninjutsu based on his years of combat experience—Hidden Shadow Sand Thrust! The principle is the same as "Absolute Defense," using internal energy and hand seals to manipulate specially refined sand from the Mitama House. Its function is to summon countless sand stones to form a sharp blade, allowing him to turn the tables in close combat and launch a fierce attack on his opponent.
The space within a few feet around Ren Xiaoyao was instantly filled with yellow sand, turning the desert into a deathly still expanse. Waves of heat rolled in, accompanied by countless tiny yet sharp sand blades, crashing down on him like a tidal wave.
Faced with Aoki Shunzhi's terrifying, earth-shattering attack, Ren Xiaoyao let out a clear cry. His Ice Soul Frost Sword erupted with a dazzling display of light and shadow, flickering and shifting like flames. Suddenly, its sharpness intensified, transforming into a beam of light that burned and moved at breakneck speed, losing its physical form. In that moment of indistinguishable reality, it abruptly detached from his body, its sword energy hissing, carrying an astonishingly cold and suffocating force that felt like entering an ice cellar, heading straight for Aoki Shunzhi.
Two figures flashed and leaped under the moonlight, locked in a fierce battle. Both unleashed a barrage of unexpected moves, responding to each other's attacks with lightning speed, their movements fluid and unhindered, each attack and defense flowing effortlessly. The intensity and suspense of their fight were tempered with a sense of graceful freedom, a spectacle beyond the power of words to describe.
The clash of swords was incessant. Even though Aoki Toshishi used all the sand within the Misatoku hut for both offense and defense, large swaths of sand were still whipped into the sky within a radius of several dozen feet, creating a sandstorm that seemed to rise straight into the night.
The spectators, all Jonin level, were dazzled by the spectacle and struggled to keep up. Just as they held their breath, unable to keep track of how many times the two had exchanged internal energy, Ren Xiaoyao suddenly let out a long laugh. He drew his Ice Soul Frost Sword from the sand and stones, raising it straight to the sky above his head. He then gripped the sword with both hands and unleashed a lightning-fast downward strike, like a shooting star or a hundred flowers blooming. The countless points of cold light instantly converged into one, creating a vast and powerful force, capable of seizing the very essence of heaven and earth, causing ghosts to weep and gods to groan—a power equivalent to the universe itself.
Despite having witnessed countless battles and possessing absolute confidence in their defenses, Aoki Norika, Nakamori Yoshishi, Iwatani Keisuke, and Kawatani Hideki still secretly sweated—Ren Xiaoyao's move was too fast, too fierce, too powerful, and embodied his resolute determination to disregard life and death, a warrior's final act.
"Boom!" A bolt of lightning, seemingly capable of tearing apart the void, appeared before Aoki Shunji, shattering the sand shield! Mina Shinguji almost closed her eyes, unable to bear the horrific sight of Aoki Toshishi being cleaved in two. With Ren Xiaoyao's exceptional swordsmanship and cultivation, once he broke through Aoki Toshishi's defenses, even with his immense power, he would be unable to withstand this attack under such circumstances.
Victory was assured! Although the innate supreme qi attached to the sword tip had been completely dispelled by the sand shield, the blade's razor-sharp edge was far beyond what flesh and blood could withstand.
"Clang!" The Ice Soul Frost Sword struck Aoki Shunzhi with unerring accuracy. Surprisingly, there was no bloody sensation as if the sword had cut through his flesh, nor the expected heart-wrenching screams of pain. Instead, it rang out with a crisp sound, like striking metal. Just as the sword's edge struck his brow, something completely unbelievable happened without warning—a small crack appeared on Aoki Shunzhi's bronze-colored forehead, but not a drop of blood flowed out. Then the crack began to widen, gradually extending and expanding until it covered his entire cheek. Then, piece by piece, layer by layer, it began to crumble and peel away, revealing another smooth and shiny layer of skin underneath.
"This... what kind of skill is this!?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat. He flew backward, widening the distance between them to about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), and asked breathlessly.
"The Sand Armor is formed by attaching extremely dense sand to the body over a long period, creating a close-fitting protective armor. This is the last barrier of my body, and the first part of my absolute defense."
"What, the first part!?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat.
"Yes, what you broke was only the barrier formed by the Sand Guardian, not the Shukaku Shield that everyone in the martial world fears. However... you will soon see it for yourself." As Aoki Shunzhi finished speaking, the yellow sand beneath his feet immediately surged like the sea, then slowly rose, mixing with the sand shield fragments that Ren Xiaoyao had just shattered but were still floating in mid-air, forming a flawless sphere that completely enveloped Aoki Shunzhi from head to toe, leaving only a small space above his head and chest for observing his opponent and forming hand seals to cast spells.
"Now it's my turn to attack, Sandstorm Funeral!" The sandstorm descended once more, obscuring Ren Xiaoyao's head in an arc from the "absolute defense" of the surrounding sand. Aoki Toshishi, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent, plunged his hands into the ground. The sand around Ren Xiaoyao began to tremble violently, a vast sea of sand surging like a tidal wave, a massive sand tide crashing towards him.
The immense sand suddenly transformed into a colossal wave, its sheer power terrifying.
Cold sweat dripped from Shinguji Mina's forehead. She couldn't believe that even her ultimate moves had failed, her confidence had been shattered like never before, and she knew that Ren Xiaoyao was currently using all his strength to withstand the relentless, wave after wave of attacks.
The answer was immediately clear.
Ren Xiaoyao leaped into the air, transforming into a feather. Despite being tossed about by the fierce sandstorm, every roll, every spin, even his aerial maneuvering seemed preordained. He skillfully avoided the "waves" with the slightest margin, moving freely through the raging sandstorm—a feat so miraculous it was unbelievable, yet undeniable.
Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao burst from the sandstorm like an arrow, reaching Aoki Shunzhi in the blink of an eye.
The Shukaku Shield reacted immediately; the openings on his face and chest were quickly filled with sand.
With a "plop," the Ice Soul Frost Sword, though striking Aoki Shunzhi, failed to penetrate his defense. The blade slid outwards, and Ren Xiaoyao's rapid attack failed once more.
Chapter Seven: Victory or Defeat?
Ren Xiaoyao groaned, stumbling back several feet before stopping, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
"What, is this all you've got?" Aoki Toshishi's slightly arrogant voice came through the Shukaku Shield.
Ren Xiaoyao remained silent, silently pondering his next move. Although he was learned in many ways, he had already exhausted his ultimate techniques. To break through the Shukaku Shield, whose defenses were so strong that it was almost impenetrable, he needed to reach the pinnacle of both speed and power. The fifteenth move of the Lingxiao Sword Art, "Wishing to be a pair of lovebirds in the sky," emphasized power, while the sixteenth move, "Having seen the ocean, other waters are nothing," was known for its speed. He had not yet mastered the seventeenth move, "Without the wings of a colorful phoenix," which combined both, and the eighteenth move, "A thousand years of elegance discussed in laughter," was even more obvious.
It seemed that the Lingxiao Sword Art was unusable. He had to temporarily choose a move from the other martial arts he had seen and use all his remaining strength for a final gamble.
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly roared to the sky, causing the surrounding sand and gravel to surge. He slowly raised the Ice Soul Frost Sword, immediately creating an aura of invincibility and dominance.
"Clang clang clang clang..." Ren Xiaoyao unleashed his innate supreme qi without reservation, channeling all his power into the tip of his sword. Countless magnificent and chaotic blue rays erupted, like arcs of electricity coursing through his sword-wielding arm, gradually coalescing into a clearly discernible blue-purple sphere. His eyes gleamed with confidence, a confident smile playing on his lips, his hair fluttering in the breeze. The sounds made the hearts of all the spectators tremble with the crackling noise.
The sword, like a bolt of lightning, shot out with perfect precision, astonishing speed, and unstoppable momentum, raising clouds of dust wherever it went, leaving behind dazzling, rumbling thunderous sounds.
Aoki Shunji stood motionless, his eyes squinting as he peered out from the slightest opening of the Shukaku Shield, his gaze fixed on the overwhelming, dazzling blue light bursting towards him like a spectacular fireworks display.
The beautiful points of light emanating from the Ice Soul Frost Sword were a seductive trick, like a femme fatale concealing a deadly attack beneath a beautiful exterior.
The points of light reached within five feet of Aoki Shunji, then suddenly contracted, shrinking the blue-purple sphere of light it had coalesced into a small cluster of points of light, a technique so masterful it was hard to believe one's eyes. What Aoki Shunji saw was no longer a sword, but a peerless divine weapon beyond description.
Ren Xiaoyao was no longer Ren Xiaoyao, but a colossal dragon soaring through the sky, controlling the clouds, with a powerful aura like a chilling, bone-chilling, wall-like, blade-like icy torrent surging towards its opponent.
The Holy Dragon Severs the Nine Heavens!? Yes, it was the final move of the Nine Dragon Techniques, the Sacred Dragon Severing the Nine Heavens!
Sword and shield clashed, the thunderous roar echoing across the sky, gradually fading into the horizon until it was barely audible, leaving the surrounding area utterly silent.
In the flash of lightning and thunder, the Ice Soul Frost Sword was completely submerged in Qingmu Junzhi's "absolute defense." Although Ren Xiaoyao's handsome face was scratched by the protruding sand spikes, the flowing blood couldn't conceal his excitement and exhilaration.
"I...I won!" He felt the sword tip touching not the hard sand armor, but human skin—the absolute defense had been pierced; he was the final victor. A
smile played on Ren Xiaoyao's lips as his innate supreme qi penetrated the sword, its vast blue light unable to be concealed even by the thick sand wall, strands of true energy carrying sand fragments flying out. The outcome was decided! No, just as Ren Xiaoyao thought he had won, he suddenly felt the Ice Soul Frost Sword being wrapped by something, followed by a tearing pain in his arm.
Startled, he quickly pulled his right hand away, only to find a hideous, eerie, earthen-yellow sand claw appearing before him with the pull. He struggled to free himself from the sand claw's grasp, and looking down, he saw blood gushing from his wrist, the wound covered in a thin layer of sand, as if the opponent had simply cut it open.
The sand hole left by Ren Xiaoyao's withdrawal emitted a chilling, menacing black light. In his horrified gaze, the sand sphere gradually collapsed, revealing a human shape. Finally, he saw Aoki Junzhi, his eyes filled with unparalleled ruthlessness. Although the sand on his left arm had been peeled away, the sharp blade of the Ice Soul Frost Sword had only left a faint white mark on his arm, not even breaking through his skin.
"Sand—Binding—Coffin!" Aoki Junzhi's cold, ruthless voice, as always, slowly rang out!
The "absolute defense" of sand around him instantly swirled towards Ren Xiaoyao! He didn't have time to think about why this wave of sand was so much faster than the previous ones, and somewhat abruptly swung his sword.
Incredibly, this wave of sand, which didn't seem very thick, didn't shatter and dissipate like the previous sandstorms as the Ice Soul Frost Sword's blade swept across. Instead, it spread upwards along his arms, firmly enveloping him.
Ren Xiaoyao hesitated only slightly before his entire body was trapped in his opponent's ninjutsu, unable to move.
"Sand's Lament!" Aoki Toshishi raised his right hand and clenched it tightly. The sand enveloping Ren Xiaoyao immediately sensed this and pressed down on him from all directions.
"Ah—ah—" Even with his body of bronze and iron, Ren Xiaoyao was still flesh and blood. Forced to squeeze by the specially refined, incredibly hard sand, he felt dizzy, as if every pore on his body was being cut by knives. His limbs and bones ached terribly, and a sweet taste rose in his throat. He then coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Die!" Qingmu Junzhi coldly snorted. Ren Xiaoyao was tossed into the air like a puppet completely out of his control, his bones creaking and cracking before crashing heavily onto the sand. His meridians felt like they were on fire, and his internal organs felt like they were being turned inside out. With the slightest movement, he coughed up a large mouthful of blood, nearly fainting.
"Xiaoyao!" Mina Shinguji exclaimed, about to leap down from the rocky mountain, but Norika Aoki stopped her. "It's no use. Once you're hit by Junzhi's Sandstorm, all your meridians will be torn apart by the sand and stones. You'll be crippled even if you don't die." Her voice was very loud, as if she were issuing a death ultimatum to Ren Xiaoyao.
"What a pity, what a pity, all my meridians were already broken." Ren Xiaoyao used his sword to brace himself against the ground, forcing himself to stand up, his eyes burning brightly like flames, without the slightest fear or retreat.
"Is that so? Very well, then I'll break all your bones." Junzhi Aoki was slightly startled, his hands suddenly plunging into the ground, roaring loudly, "Sandstorm—Great Burial!" The ground in front of him, within a radius of several dozen feet, trembled violently, and a huge sea of sand surged into the sky, like a tidal wave, stirring up countless huge waves that swept madly towards Ren Xiaoyao, the vast momentum terrifying.
Ren Xiaoyao, severely injured by the "Sandstorm's Lament," relied solely on his inexhaustible innate Qi to maintain the function of his muscles. How could he dare to directly withstand the impact of the "Sandstorm Burial"? He quickly shifted his focus, retreating several steps, then leaped up from the spot. He first used the Shadow Clone Technique to create several illusory and unpredictable phantoms to distract his opponents, then lightly pushed off with his toes, shooting into the scorching sun high in the sky with two "whoosh" sounds.
Five zhang, ten zhang, fifteen zhang... Ren Xiaoyao's figure rose higher and higher, leaping and bounding like a celestial being ascending to heaven, completely escaping the sandstorm's attack range. While everyone watched in stunned silence, he let out a long laugh, switching from defense to offense, and then, from his high vantage point, swiftly appeared before Aoki Toshiyuki.
Unexpectedly, he sheathed his sword, swung his arm with a fierce force, and thrust his right palm forward. A spiraling ball of energy shot out from his palm, moving with lightning speed, instantly traversing a distance of several dozen feet, aimed directly at Aoki Shunzhi's face.
This was a further enhancement of his innate supreme qi, transforming from a single beam into a ball, smaller than a fist, more highly concentrated, and more difficult to resist. Combined with the palm force of the Heavenly Thunder Without Regret, it was like a raging torrent collapsing through the clouds, its majestic momentum as vast and boundless as ten thousand miles of mountains.
In Aoki Shunzhi's eyes, this palm seemed to have become enormous, as if it could seize everything in the desert into its palm. Compared to it, the power of the Sandstorm Burial was like a river compared to the ocean, utterly incomparable, rejected by this immeasurable and powerful palm force, completely unable to intercept or block it.
"Boom—" The Shukaku Shield was struck squarely, and Aoki Toshishi, along with the entire sand sphere, was sent flying backward like a leaf in the wind. The outer layer of sand seemed to ignite with a pale blue outline, like a lone boat on a vast ocean.
This inexhaustible palm force struck the ground and lifted the sand sphere into the air, the surging and turbulent true energy beneath it resembling a thousand troops, a sea of flags and drums, filled with a deafening roar of battle...
Suddenly, the sand sphere crashed down with a loud "boom," kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Shh...shh..." After a brief silence, the sand sphere began to collapse. First, starting from the top, layers of yellow sand slid down, then the entire sphere trembled, large chunks of sand gradually falling outward. Ren Xiaoyao panted heavily, his eyes fixed on the front—whether Aoki Toshishi was alive or dead, whether this battle was won or lost, was about to be revealed.
Chapter Eight: Unconscious
Face—Unharmed; Hands and Feet—Unharmed; Body—Unharmed; Aoki Toshishi, whose Shukaku Shield had been dispelled, was completely unharmed from head to toe!
Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled violently, staring blankly ahead in disbelief.
"It's useless. No matter how you attack, you can't break my absolute defense." Aoki Toshishi's voice was still as cold as snow, but it was easy to tell that the repeated sandstorm-like funeral attacks had exhausted him considerably.
"I don't believe it. There is no martial art in the world that is without flaws." Ren Xiaoyao panted heavily, his expression resolute.
"First, Shukaku Shield is not a martial art, it's a ninjutsu; second, Shukaku Shield is not without flaws, and it's a flaw known to everyone in the Japanese martial arts world, but no one in the world except the head of Shinguji Temple can break it."
He was referring, of course, to Shinguji Ryuugen's use of the Ryujin Jakka technique to unleash a raging flame with his internal energy, forcibly raising the temperature of the Shukaku Shield and forcing him to concede defeat. It wasn't that Ren Xiaoyao didn't understand the proper methods; it was simply that the Ice Soul Frost Sword was extremely cold, and the innate supreme qi followed a yang path. Even if his internal strength was no less than Shinguji Ryuugen's, he couldn't simply mimic the technique to create similar sword flames or ice clusters to dissolve the Shukaku Shield's defensive effectiveness through external conduction, thus defeating his opponent.
"No, Headmaster Shinguji only defeated you; he didn't truly break through the Shukaku Shield." Ren Xiaoyao wiped the blood from his lips, a strange light flashing in his eyes. "I believe there will be a way to make your absolute defense vanish into nothingness."
"Is that so? Since you're so confident, why not try it yourself?" As soon as Aoki Toshishi finished speaking, a large cloud of sand rose again, forming an indestructible sand sphere that firmly enveloped him.
Ren Xiaoyao, being astute as he was, could easily see that Aoki Toshishi, having unleashed several powerful attacks and been fully focused on maintaining the shape of the Shukaku Shield, was nearly exhausted. He could only concentrate on defense and was unlikely to launch any effective counterattacks. In other words, Ren Xiaoyao could focus entirely on offense, completely disregarding the ever-present sandstorm.
Even so, he had no confidence whatsoever in overcoming his predicament.
The absolute defense was too powerful, almost impenetrable, far exceeding his expectations.
Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, calming himself. He needed to stay composed; brute force alone would not defeat his opponent.
"Every martial art has a weakness!" Dugu Yu's endless lament atop Zhurong Peak echoed in Ren Xiaoyao's ears. Yes, if he looked carefully, he would surely find other weaknesses in the Shukaku Shield.
As it turned out, a direct attack was ineffective. No matter how fast, fierce, or powerful the attacks, they were futile against the dual protection of the Shukaku Shield and the Sand Armor.
Usually, when Ren Xiaoyao couldn't win a direct confrontation, he would employ a strategy of using softness to overcome hardness. The problem was, this wasn't a direct clash, but a one-sided assault. Even though his skill in using leverage and neutralizing force was unparalleled, it was completely ineffective against Aoki Toshishi's defensive strategy.
What to do?! What to do?! Was there really no other way
? No! No! His innate supreme qi was the greatest martial art in the world, and with his exceptional intelligence, what move couldn't he counter?
But the reality was staring him in the face; he had already used all the techniques he knew, and continuing would only be a waste of energy.
Should he just give up? No, the words "retreat in the face of difficulty" were not in Ren Xiaoyao's dictionary.
To be stronger against the weak and even stronger against the strong—this was the martial arts principle he adhered to throughout his life.
An idea struck Ren Xiaoyao!
"Ha!" A powerful shout, seemingly from beyond the heavens or a thunderclap from a clear sky, resonated deeply. Even those watching from afar, like Mina Shinguji, felt their ears ring and their minds reel.
Ren Xiaoyao abruptly stopped, an incomparably powerful aura circulating around him, causing his robes to flutter wildly. He took a deep breath, his left hand swiftly drawing over a dozen circles in front of his chest. Each circle was filled with immense, innate, supreme qi, varying in size and angle, strange and unpredictable to the extreme. Instantly, the qi "ringed" in the air, scattering countless grains of sand. Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Ren Xiaoyao revealed a confident smile. His left hand, as if having accomplished its purpose, retreated behind his back, while his right hand, forming a knife-like shape with his fingers, darted along a mysterious path, swiftly passing through the core of each of the dozen or so qi rings he had just drawn. The power he used was so wondrous it was unbelievable. Such an unexpected move was beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Over a thousand deadly energy rings were "hung" on Ren Xiaoyao's wrist, rumbling like thunder, their sound shaking the entire desert. The power surpassed even the previous palm strike from mid-air, by more than a factor of two.
Ren Xiaoyao let out a long roar, leaping forward, his right palm slamming down from above with overwhelming force, like a storm crashing down, forcing the surrounding sand to swirl. With a muffled rumble, the attack completely sealed off the area around Shouhe's shield. The palm strike was perfectly natural, yet contained a profound and boundless power.
His target was Aoki Toshishi's chest—his strongest and weakest point.
Everyone knew that while their absolute defense was more than capable of withstanding Ren Xiaoyao's palm strikes, they also knew that in this extremely drained state, they might not be able to cope with the subsequent onslaught of more than a dozen deadly energy rings. Therefore, their strongest point immediately became their greatest weakness.
In a flash, Ren Xiaoyao struck Shouhe's shield with a sound like a boulder colliding, deep and heavy. His right palm suddenly slashed out, followed by his left palm, the power of both palms erupting in succession. His true energy surged, multiplying in power, showcasing the full extent of his life's skills, displaying overwhelming dominance!
"Boom! Boom!" The sounds of clashing energy rang out incessantly. Ren Xiaoyao's palm strike first forced Aoki Shunji, who was encased in the sand sphere, back three steps. Then, each ring of energy caused the Shukaku Shield to tremble violently. However...
after all the rings of energy dissipated, the Shukaku Shield, which was expected to shatter into pieces, did not show even the slightest crack—not even a hole the size of a thumb.
How could this be!? Such a powerful attack left not a trace!
Just as everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, thinking that Ren Xiaoyao's display was all show, seemingly powerful but actually weak and useless, the Shukaku Shield suddenly began to vibrate violently, its shape constantly changing, sometimes concave and sometimes convex, as if a fierce clash of energy was taking place inside. Finally, with a loud "boom," the entire sand sphere exploded violently, and the dust it kicked up instantly turned the surroundings into a hazy yellow.
The battle was over, and eager to know the outcome, Mina Shinguji, Norika Aoki, and the others leaped down from the rocky hill and rushed towards the sand dune where the two had fought.
Before they even got close, the sandstorm had already subsided, and they could vaguely see Ren Xiaoyao and Toshiyuki standing facing each other, frozen in place, as if under a spell.
Upon closer inspection, the scene before them was astonishing.
Ren Xiaoyao's hair was disheveled, his clothes were torn and covered in sand, and his hands were covered in wounds, blood gushing from his fingertips.
Aoki Toshishi was slightly better off, but his entire Sand Armor had been shattered, leaving not a single fragment. A slight palm print sank into his chest, and his face alternated between pale and flushed, displaying a complex expression of horror, astonishment, and utter shock. "You…how…how…"
Because of his injuries, Ren Xiaoyao's answer was soft and gentle, yet it felt like knives piercing Aoki Toshishi's heart. "I admit that the Shukaku Shield combined with the Sand Armor forms an impenetrable double defense. Even if I trained for another ten or twenty years, I would find it difficult to completely break through. But every martial art has its weaknesses, even absolute defense is no exception. When I pierced the Shukaku Shield before, the first four inches of sand consumed sixty percent of my strength, while the next six inches only consumed forty percent. Clearly, apart from maintaining the shape of the Sand Armor, most of your internal energy was concentrated on the outside of the Shukaku Shield. In other words, if…" "I was able to break through the Shukaku Shield from within, which would surely produce unexpected and tremendous effects. So I used my palm force to infuse both hot and cold true energy into the sand wall, causing it to collide and explode violently. Sure enough, it was done in one fell swoop, even breaking through the sand armor."
Aoki Toshishi looked astonished and muttered, "Good, good, indeed a good method. At such a young age, you can break through... break through my absolute defense. As long as you are willing to stay in Fusang... in a few years... haha... haha... Shinguji Ryuugen can enjoy his old age in peace and no longer have to worry about these complicated and trivial matters of the martial world."
Ren Xiaoyao sincerely praised, "In terms of defense alone, the Sect Master's Shukaku Shield is indeed the best in the world. Although there are still ways to break it, but... I'm not exaggerating, looking at Fusang and even the entire Central Plains today, only one person can infuse true energy into the Shukaku Shield and cause an explosion to destroy it."
Aoki Toshishi looked at Ren Xiaoyao's bloodied right hand and nodded with some emotion: "You...aren't you afraid of being severely injured by my Shukaku Shield when you attack!?"
Ren Xiaoyao smiled casually, his eyes flashing with lightning. "Afraid, of course I'm afraid. But opening a channel in the Shukaku Shield that's difficult to see with the naked eye to input true energy is no easy task. Besides, some of it will be offset by your internal energy. The limit is that it can destroy the absolute defense. My hand wasn't injured by the Shukaku Shield or the explosion, but by the backlash from the convergence of the energy rings." At this point, his body trembled, and his tone became intermittent. "Of course, even if...even if I know that doing this...will be...life-threatening, I will still try without hesitation...without hesitation, because I...I said that no matter what...I will rely on my own...my own strength...to break through the absolute defense!" As soon as he finished speaking, the severe damage caused by "Sand's Lament" suddenly erupted. His body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground like a mountain collapsing and a jade pillar falling, losing consciousness.
Chapter Nine: A Scheme of Deception.
When Ren Xiaoyao awoke, he found himself lying in a carriage, his head resting on the supple, jade-like legs of Shinguji Mina; his wrist pressed against Su Hanbi's soft, white hand; and the delicate, fragrant scents of Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Lin Yuxiu, and others watching him anxiously with concerned expressions.
What a picturesque scene of beauties embracing their lover.
This "treatment" after his serious injuries and fainting spell was a fitting reward for his valiant fight against Aoki Toshishi.
Seeing Ren Xiaoyao wake up, the women immediately surrounded him, bombarding him with questions like, "Xiaoyao, are you feeling better?" "How are you feeling? Is your internal energy circulation sluggish?" "You fainted while we were fighting, Sister Meina was so worried!" "You idiot, you only woke up now, everyone was afraid something had happened to you."
The carriage was already crowded, and their commotion made Ren Xiaoyao flustered, unsure of who to answer first. It was only when the driver, Long Feiyun, poked her head in and interrupted the women's incessant questioning that he said, "Didn't Hanbi say that Xiaoyao just fainted from exhaustion? He's perfectly fine." "Don't worry about it."
Lin Yuxiu's pretty face flushed red as she clutched her clothes and said, "Didn't you say...didn't you say that Big Brother was beaten to the point of vomiting blood by the Qingmu Sect Master, and even given sand..."
Su Hanbi chuckled and said sweetly, "Xiaoyao's physique is far superior to ordinary people, plus his innate supreme qi has an astonishing recovery speed. As long as he doesn't lose an arm or a leg, he can recover more than halfway after a good night's sleep."
Ren Xiaoyao interjected, "By the way, weren't you trapped in the desert, and...I..."
Zhen Gongji Mina said softly, "That day, after you broke through the absolute defense, you fainted due to your serious injuries. The Qingmu Sect kept the promise they made to you before." "I brought the sisters and several seniors to the rocky hill, intending for Aoki Norika to escort us out of the desert." As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with a rare, coquettish expression, and she chuckled, "Who knew that Senior Yi had been so restless these past few days? Although he couldn't escape when trapped in the sand dunes, he managed to retrieve most of Yoshikawa Musashi's hundred puppets. That guy was furious and refused to let us leave. Mr. Deng, seeing that he was acting under orders and had no ill intentions, spent several days repairing the puppets for him. And the seniors were all vying to spar with Sect Master Aoki; otherwise, we would have already reached Nara and would be at Hueco Mundo right now." "Enjoying tea."
Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed in surprise, "This...so you mean I've been unconscious for several days?"
Shinguji Mina's beautiful eyes sparkled, giving him an approving look. "Of course," she said, "'Sand's Lament' is the most powerful technique among earth-type ninjutsu. Even a slight glancing blow from it would severely injure an ordinary person, if not kill them. You took a full-force attack from Sect Master Aoki, and you suffered plenty of Sand Burial, Sand Waterfall, and Sand Binding Coffin techniques. If it weren't for Sister Hanbi's divine medical skills repeatedly assuring us that you were alright, I...I was worried...worried that your injuries were too severe and you wouldn't wake up." Her words were tinged with sorrow, her concern overflowing.
Ren Xiaoyao was deeply moved and chuckled, "Haha, I'm destined to be a ladies' man. If I don't marry enough wives, even the King of Hell won't dare take me."
Shui Furong glared at him, annoyed, and said lightly, "Hmph, you're getting a good deal and still acting innocent. You really don't know what's good for you. If it weren't for Sect Master Qingmu
showing mercy this time, you'd be looking for a wife in the netherworld." Lin Yuxiu said sweetly, "You can't say that. Big Brother broke the Shield of the Crane Guardian all by himself, and Sect Master Qingmu was completely convinced of his defeat, which is why he voluntarily stopped. Besides, he's the leader of a sect, so naturally he has to keep his word. How could he not keep his promise to ensure that Big Brother and we leave the desert safely?"
Shui Furong tightened her face and stomped her foot lightly, saying, "Xiuxiu, don't you understand? A man can't get old..." "If you spoil him, he'll only get worse. Even if that idiot did nothing wrong, we..."
Lin Yuxiu blinked her beautiful eyes, staring at Shui Furong, and said innocently, "Senior Yi said that the Shield of the Crane is almost perfect. Even with his and Senior Fu's combined attacks, they couldn't defeat it. Only Big Brother could handle it with ease. You don't even praise him, why did you drag me into it?"
The girls were amused by her "serious" tone and laughed. Lin Yuxiu was puzzled and tugged at Ren Xiaoyao's sleeve, asking, "Big Brother, why..."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled without answering, grabbed Lin Yuxiu's slender waist, picked her up, and leaned down to kiss her lips with a loud "pop."
He saw her head bowed slightly, her cheeks flushed, her shy and delicate demeanor captivating any man's heart.
Before she could recover, Ren Xiaoyao sealed her cherry lips again, parting Lin Yuxiu's pearly white teeth and plunging his tongue deep into her moist, fragrant mouth, giving her a passionate kiss in front of all the women.
The women blushed at the sight.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily, then embraced Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, and Su Hanbi one by one, kissing each of them. Finally, he came to Shui Furong, deliberately putting on a stern face and saying, "Furong, do you want some?"
Shui Furong, after all, adored him, and after a short pause, she couldn't resist any longer. With a soft moan, she threw herself into his arms, her slight anger dissolving in the deep kiss.
Shinguji Mina closed her eyes, not daring to look any longer. Although she and Ren Xiaoyao were mutually attracted, they had only ever hugged and cuddled, never engaging in any intimate acts. As a qualified ninja, she was not allowed to know anything about matters between men and women before marriage. Ren Xiaoyao was kissing and cuddling with other women, and as a virgin, she dared not look any further.
Just then, someone pushed her away from behind. Caught off guard, Shinguji Mina fell into Ren Xiaoyao's arms with a "plop." At the same time, she heard Lin Yuxiu's giggling laughter: "Big brother, there's also Sister Mina." Shinguji Mina was so startled that she was at a loss for what to do. Her eyes, which had just opened, closed quickly as if pricked by something. Then she blinked and slowly closed them again. Her body trembled slightly, her nostrils flared, and her cherry lips parted slightly, making her extremely alluring. The faint, orchid-like fragrance of a virgin wafted into Ren Xiaoyao's nostrils, stirring the passion in his heart.
Ren Xiaoyao, realizing time was of the essence, smiled slightly, wrapped his left arm around Shinguji Mina's slender waist, and gently kissed her as she leaned forward.
Shinguji Mina let out a soft, melodious moan, her hands hesitantly embracing Ren Xiaoyao's neck.
When he kissed her lips, an indescribable, exquisite sensation deeply resonated within him. Her lips possessed the tenderness of a young girl's cherry blossoms, yet also carried a seductive allure. Her small, shyly evasive tongue, moist and soft, was incredibly alluring.
Shinguji Mina instinctively bit her lip, trying to prevent Ren Xiaoyao from succeeding, but she couldn't resist his masterful flirting. Soon, he forced open her shyly closed teeth, revealing her delicate, sweet tongue, which he eagerly sucked and licked.
Ren Xiaoyao and Mina Shinguji were locked in a passionate kiss, their lips meeting and entwining. He involuntarily wrapped his arms around her, pressing her high, firm breasts against his chest, their soft, small peaks rubbing against each other, seemingly radiating a warm fragrance.
Just then, the carriage suddenly stopped. Caught off guard, they stumbled and nearly fell out.
"Feiyun, what's going on?" Ren Xiaoyao asked in a deep voice, still holding the warm, soft woman in his arms.
"Ahead... there's murderous intent!" Long Feiyun's voice was unusually grave.
"Yes, it does seem rather strange," Meng Fei, riding beside the carriage, chimed in.
Ren Xiaoyao didn't dare to delay, quickly releasing Zhen Gongji Mina and jumping off the carriage.
In the distance, a dark pine forest blocked their path, lush and verdant, blocking out the sun, its dense layers like splashed ink. Although there were no sounds of battle, there was still an indescribable eeriness about it.
“This Obsidian Forest was one of the main battlefields of the Third Shinobi World War fifty years ago. Thousands of elite ninjas from various sects perished here. Later, it became the territory of our sect's squad, mainly used for assassination training. Because so many people died in the forest, it's inevitable that it feels a bit strange.” Mina Shinguji walked to Ren Xiaoyao's side and explained, “However… since Father ordered the Thirteenth Squad to return to defend Hueco Mundo, I think our sect's ninjas who were training here should have already withdrawn, so…”
“So Iga Valley or other sects that are enemies of us are very likely to have set up an ambush here, waiting for us to walk into their trap.” Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice.
“Yes, the Obsidian Forest has a treacherous terrain and is full of traps, making it the most suitable place for an ambush.” Mina Shinguji frowned and suggested, “It's getting dark, let's find a safe place to rest for the night, and then we can…”
“No, we'll cross the Obsidian Forest tonight.” Ren Xiaoyao said decisively.
“What!?” Everyone was shocked.
"Don't worry, with my keen senses and the superb martial arts of my predecessors, I'm no match for anyone in a night battle. Besides..." Ren Xiaoyao revealed a confident smile, "The art of war says, 'Strike unexpectedly, attack where the enemy is unprepared.' The enemy knows we won't dare enter the forest at night, so we'll go in now and see what tricks they can pull."

Volume 34, Chapter 5: The Shield of the Guardian Crane.

What happened next could only be described as "fast." It occurred at a speed barely perceptible to the naked eye. Just as Aoki Toshishi "senses" Ren Xiaoyao gathering his true power, the Ice Soul Frost Sword roared out, transforming into a lightning-fast rainbow, slicing through seven or eight zhang of void, slashing towards him. All the surrounding air currents and life force seemed to be sucked clean by Ren Xiaoyao's earth-shattering sword strike, leaving behind a scene of utter desolation, death, and a terrifying atmosphere. There was no other way to stop his attack except through direct confrontation.
Even with Aoki Toshishi's skill and insight, he still misjudged the situation. He hadn't expected Ren Xiaoyao to recover so quickly after taking a hit, nor had he anticipated his incredible agility. What was even more troubling was that Ren Xiaoyao's seemingly simple sword thrust had conjured a massive wall of energy, like a mountain collapsing towards him. Most threatening of all was the powerful, round energy beam shot from the blade, striking his chest with lightning speed.
Aoki Toshishi, being a master, showed no fear in the face of Ren Xiaoyao's earth-shattering, awe-inspiring moves. He suddenly straightened his spine, his robes fluttering even without wind, his beard and eyebrows bristling, his appearance becoming fierce and imposing, no less so than Ren Xiaoyao's godlike presence. He threw a punch, and a cloud of yellow sand rose from the ground about ten feet in front of him, quickly coalescing into a sphere. In mid-air, it underwent a series of mysterious and indescribable transformations, yet it struck the sharp edge of the Ice Soul Frost Sword with unmistakable force. "Boom!" The force surged and churned, shattering the sand sphere instantly. Ren Xiaoyao was also jolted back as if electrocuted.
"What's this move called?" Ren Xiaoyao asked coldly.
"Earth Release: Quicksand Bullet!" Before Aoki Shunzhi could finish speaking, the yellow sand beneath Ren Xiaoyao's feet suddenly softened, and then countless quicksand bullets rose up from a radius of five zhang around him with a "whoosh," "whoosh," "whoosh," one after another... no, it should be said that one wave after another was launched at him.
Of course, Ren Xiaoyao would not sit idly by and wait to be killed. He let the quicksand bullets hit him, his sleeves fluttered, and he suddenly turned to the side, easily leaping away from the quicksand beneath his feet with the Flying Immortal Transformation technique. Then, he turned around, his footwork changed abruptly, and he used the One Reed Crossing the River technique, dodging the quicksand bullets with ghostly speed as he moved back and forth, rapidly closing the distance between himself and Aoki Shunzhi.
Aoki Toshishi only knew ninjutsu, not martial arts. To allow Ren Xiaoyao to get close, he could only rely on his signature move, the "Absolute Defense"—the Shukaku Shield.
Aoki Toshishi's toes swayed slightly, and he moved gracefully backward, trying to prolong the time it took for Ren Xiaoyao's attack to reach him. He had trained diligently for three years, believing he could defeat Ren Xiaoyao with offensive ninjutsu alone. Furthermore, for the sake of convenience, he hadn't brought the "Soul-Controlling Gourd" with him, requiring ninjutsu to summon it from the buried ground.
Unfortunately, Ren Xiaoyao's speed was too fast; almost in the blink of an eye, he was already upon his opponent.
—That's the kind of person he was; even if his opponent showed the slightest lapse in concentration, once he seized the opportunity, he could instantly turn a disadvantage into an advantage, and an advantage into victory.
Aoki Toshishi cried out in alarm. He had clearly underestimated his opponent's absolute authority in light-footed movement. His hand seals were only halfway complete; he couldn't use the Shukaku Shield, nor could he suddenly stop and switch to another ninjutsu to block Ren Xiaoyao's lightning-fast movements.
If he were familiar with Chinese, the ancient saying "One wrong move, and the whole game is lost" would surely come to mind.
The distance closed, and Aoki Toshishi's heart suddenly turned icy cold; he was on the verge of despair.
However, just as the Ice Soul Frost Sword was about to seize this golden opportunity to pierce his chest, Ren Xiaoyao froze, his sword pointing diagonally at Aoki Toshishi. It was unclear whether he was attacking or defending, but the onlookers felt that this move was both offensive and defensive, mysterious and unfathomable.
"You…why did you stop!" Aoki Toshishi was stunned.
"Hahaha, I told you I would personally break through the 'Absolute Defense.' If I kill you now, wouldn't I regret it for the rest of my life?" Ren Xiaoyao laughed loudly, his face full of arrogance.
"Fine, fine, if you want to see it, I'll grant your wish!" Qingmu Junzhi had dominated the martial arts world for decades, and he was the only one who had ever shown mercy and spared a life. When had he ever received a favor from his opponent? Even though he knew that Ren Xiaoyao was deliberately trying to provoke him, he was still furious. He pressed his thumbs together and interlaced his index and middle fingers, and shouted, "Soul-Controlling Gourd, rise!"
The sand pile in front of him suddenly began to roll like boiling water, with sand bubbles constantly rising. Then the sand pile split open, and a gourd, more than half a person tall and made entirely of sand, slowly rose and landed on Qingmu Junzhi's right.
"Ninja Art: Sand Guardian, Activate!" With a soft "pop," the gourd stopper flew out, and sand filled with the scent of blood and refined by him flowed out. At the same time, fine sand particles strangely floated up from beneath Aoki Toshishi's feet! These sand particles seemed to have their own consciousness, gently swirling around his body, slowly rotating and flying...
The noisy "rustling" sound could be clearly heard even by Shinguji Mina and the others watching the battle from the far-off rocky mountain.
"Since you let me have my way, I won't hide it from you. The sand inside the Soul-Controlling Relic is mixed with more than a dozen kinds of hard minerals, including meteorites that fell from the sky. Its hardness surpasses even the
hardest refined steel. It's indestructible for defense, and equally unbreakable for offense!" As soon as he finished speaking, a dry, howling wind began to blow, whipping up large swaths of sand like a sandstorm. The surroundings turned a hazy yellow, and the world became chaotic. Countless grains
of sand lashed at Ren Xiaoyao, stinging his cheeks. Behind Ren Xiaoyao, pairs of sand "hands" silently appeared, reaching down to his ankles.
"What!? He actually launched a counterattack instead of defending!" Ren Xiaoyao felt a sense of alarm, but it was too late. His feet were instantly entangled by the "Quicksand Hand," and he could not break free no matter how many times he tried to pull away. He looked up in horror and saw Aoki Toshishi's evil light shining brightly through the sand. His cold and cruel gaze was terrifying and devoid of any normal human emotions, which made him shudder.
Aoki Toshishi revealed a cruel smile, his right hand forming a knife with his fingers, and he pointed forward rapidly, creating a sand blade out of thin air. It silently and without any force or wind whistling as it stabbed towards his chest. If it hit him, any protective true energy would be ineffective, and the sand blade would definitely shatter his chest and bones, crushing his heart to pieces.
Faced with the crisis, Ren Xiaoyao calmed down and entered a state of perfect stillness, instantly taking in all the surrounding circumstances. This was not a fluke; among the four martial arts masters, Ren Xiaoyao was the most experienced and had sparred with the most experts. Whether facing the five assassins in the final battle, confronting Hentian, exchanging blows with Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan, or even encountering the dozen or so sect leaders and ninjas along the way, he benefited greatly each time, significantly improving his ability to analyze opponents. Coupled with the assistance of his innate supreme qi, his perception of the outside world had already surpassed countless predecessors and elders, directly approaching the highest realm that Dugu Yu had first reached and named "Heaven and Man in Harmony."
He immediately concluded that the swirling sandstorm around him was merely a supplementary attack technique, posing little real threat to his body. The quicksand hands binding his feet, making it difficult for him to move, didn't possess much true power; their cyclical, constantly flowing nature simply dispersed the force generated by his legs, making them difficult to break free. The sand blades rushing towards him were just a decoy used by his opponent to distract him; the truly powerful attack was yet to come.
"Clang!" The Ice Soul Frost Sword emitted a soul-stirring, dragon-like roar, a clear sound like a curse from the eighteenth level of hell, or celestial music from beyond the nine heavens. The sword's blade gleamed with a magnificent blue light, its brilliance even outshining the sun hidden by the yellow sand.
The sand blades, carrying a powerful force, were about to reach him but were stopped by the sword's energy, their momentum immediately slowing down, posing no further threat.
The Ice Soul Frost Sword drew lines of unparalleled beauty, imbued with the profound principles of heaven and earth. At a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, it bypassed the sand blade. The swirling yellow sand in the air, like iron drawn to a magnet, was attracted, transforming into a torrent that rushed towards the tip of the Ice Soul Frost Sword. In an instant, it condensed into a ball of smoke, the sword tip transforming into a point of azure light, like an undying starlight amidst swirling clouds, rushing like a shooting star towards the space between Aoki Junji's eyes.
This starlight possessed a captivating, soul-snatching magic; if his Dao heart showed even the slightest weakness, it would suppress his soul, allowing it to take hold—beautiful to the extreme, terrifying to the extreme. The swordsmanship had indeed reached the pinnacle of mastery.
Against the unparalleled decisive swordsmanship, who would prevail?
Aoki Junji let out a long roar, leaping into the air, his feet resting on a cloud of sand, actively welcoming Ren Xiaoyao.
When the two were about two zhang apart, he suddenly plummeted from mid-air, and at the last second, when he was only an inch off the ground, he threw a punch.
He knew nothing about martial arts, so this punch naturally had little power, but it gathered together a large amount of sand and gravel that had been blown up by the wind, instantly forming a powerful shield-like barrier.
The Shukaku Shield!? The legendary Shukaku Shield!?

Volume 34, Chapter 6: Another Failure

"Boom..." Centered on Aoki Toshishi, all that could be seen was the flying sand and the muffled sound of clashing energy. After a moment, the sand and dust dissipated, and something both expected and unexpected happened.
—The sand shield in front of Aoki Toshiro indeed blocked Ren Xiaoyao's attack. The thick layer of sand left not even a mark, easily neutralizing the lightning-fast, seemingly tearing through the void with its power. Protected by the sand, Aoki Toshiro was, of course, unharmed…
"Stars Fill the Sky!" "The Flame Passes On!" "Mirror Flower, Water Moon!" Ren Xiaoyao was slightly startled, unleashing three of his ultimate moves in quick succession: the Meteor Thirteen Styles, the Blazing Sky-Piercing Sword, and the Snow Reflecting the Mortal World Sword. He launched a relentless, all-encompassing attack on Aoki Toshiro, using every trick in the book to unleash a devastating offensive that left his opponent breathless.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The sounds of clashing energy rang out continuously, sand and dust scattering everywhere, yet the sand shield suspended in mid-air remained completely undamaged!
"May we be birds flying wing to wing in the heavens!" Ren Xiaoyao's previous carefree demeanor vanished, his eyes gleaming. The Ice Soul Frost Sword transformed into a blue light, emitting a hissing sound as it pierced straight into the core of the sand shield. The icy gusts of wind condensed from the blade were like a torrent breaking through layers of obstacles, creating a breach and sending the yellow sand tumbling to both sides.
"Clang—" The Ice Soul Frost Sword didn't feel the slightest bit of blood cutting through the opponent's flesh; it remained as swift as a dragonfly cutting through a stone pillar, unable to budge it in the slightest.
"Good, indeed, there's some skill involved." Ren Xiaoyao was slightly out of breath, knowing that a direct attack wouldn't break through the opponent's defenses. Suddenly, he swayed rapidly to the left and right, creating several illusory figures that were difficult to distinguish from reality, as if he had created thousands of clones. Even if Shinguji Ryuugen used his Shadow Clone Technique, it wouldn't be much different.
Bathed in the dazzling sunlight, Ren Xiaoyao soared into the air, every part of the Ice Soul Frost Sword transforming into a tool for defeating and neutralizing his enemy. Using the hilt, the blade, and in any unimaginable way, he unleashed a relentless, relentless, and mercury-like close-quarters attack on Aoki Junzhi.
However, the sand particles within the Soul-Controlling Reef seemed to possess a life of their own, constantly swirling around Aoki Junzhi. Their orbits formed a thin layer of sand around him, and wherever Ren Xiaoyao attacked, his sword strikes were immediately halted upon contact with this layer. The remaining sand then quickly gathered, forming a sand shield that made it difficult for him to advance even an inch.
Aoki Toshishi stood with his arms crossed, seemingly relaxed, but cold sweat dripped from his forehead. Ren Xiaoyao's innate supreme qi was too strong. Each clash with the sand was like a pebble, causing ripples of true energy within Aoki's body. Knowing that if this continued, even if the sand shield remained intact, his internal organs would be crushed by Ren Xiaoyao's power, he immediately focused his mind, raised his hands to form a hand seal, and unleashed his newly mastered ultimate move—Shadow Sand Strike!
Although Aoki Toshishi was a recognized master-level expert in the Japanese martial arts world, and his Sand Shower, Flowing Sand Bullet, Sand Rain Needle, Flowing Sand Waterfall, and Sand Burial were all incredibly powerful killing moves, these ninjutsu were all ranged attacks. Once the opponent got close, he could only rely on absolute defense to wear down the enemy's energy, making it difficult to launch an effective counterattack. That's why he was relentlessly "roasted" into surrender by Shinguji Ryuuki.
For three years, he diligently studied and, drawing upon his extensive experience in battle, developed a ninjutsu entirely of his own—Shadow Strike Sand! Its principle is the same as "Absolute Defense"—using internal energy and hand seals to manipulate specially refined sand from the Soul-Controlling Pavilion. Its function is to unleash countless sharp blades formed from the convergence of sand, allowing him to turn the tables in close combat and launch a fierce attack on his opponent.
The space within a few feet around Ren Xiaoyao was instantly filled with yellow sand, turning the desert into a deathly still expanse. Waves of heat rolled in, accompanied by countless tiny yet sharp sand blades, crashing down upon him like a tidal wave.
Faced with Aoki Toshishi's earth-shattering, awe-inspiring offensive, Ren Xiaoyao let out a clear whistle. His Ice Soul Frost Sword erupted with a dazzling display of light and shadow, flickering and shifting like flames. Suddenly, its sharpness intensified, transforming into a beam of light that burned and moved at breakneck speed, losing its physical form. In that moment of indistinguishable reality, it abruptly departed from his body, its sword energy hissing, carrying an astonishingly cold and suffocating force that sent chills down one's spine, heading straight for Aoki Toshishi.
Two figures leaped and darted under the moonlight, locked in a fierce battle. Both unleashed a barrage of unexpected moves, responding to each other's attacks with lightning speed, without the slightest hesitation. Their attacks and defenses were completely unrestrained; the intense and fierce combat also contained a touch of carefree elegance, a spectacle too brilliant for any words to describe.
The clash of swords was incessant. Even though Aoki Toshishi used all the sand in the Misato-no-kura (Hall of Souls) for both offense and defense, large swaths of sand were still whipped into the sky within a radius of several dozen feet, creating a sandstorm as the two fought.
The onlookers, all Jonin-level, were dazzled by the spectacle and struggled to keep up. Just as they held their breath, unable to keep track of how many times the two had exchanged internal energy, Ren Xiaoyao suddenly let out a long laugh. He drew his Ice Soul Frost Sword from the sand and stones, pointing it straight to the sky above his head. He then gripped the sword with both hands and slashed down with lightning speed, like a shooting star or a hundred flowers blooming. The glints of cold light instantly converged into one, creating a vast and powerful force, capable of seizing the creation of heaven and earth, causing ghosts to weep and gods to groan—a power equivalent to the universe itself.
Despite having witnessed countless battles and possessing absolute confidence in their defenses, Norika Aoki, Yoshishi Nakamori, Keisuke Iwatani, and Hideki Kawatani still secretly sweated – Ren Xiaoyao's move was too fast, too fierce, too powerful, and it embodied his resolute determination to disregard life and death, a warrior's final act.
"Boom!" A bolt of lightning, seemingly capable of tearing through the void, appeared before Toshiro Aoki, shattering the sand shield! Mina Shinguji almost closed her eyes, unable to bear the horrific sight of Toshiro Aoki being cleaved in two. Given Ren Xiaoyao's superb swordsmanship and cultivation, once he broke through Toshiro Aoki's defenses, even with his immense power, he would be unable to withstand this attack under such circumstances. Victory was
assured! Although the innate supreme qi attached to the sword tip had been completely dispelled by the sand shield, the blade's razor-sharp edge was something no flesh and blood could withstand.
"Clang!" The Ice Soul Frost Sword struck Aoki Shunzhi with unerring accuracy. Surprisingly, there was no bloody sensation as if the sword had cut through his flesh, nor the expected heart-wrenching screams of pain. Instead, it rang out with a crisp sound, like striking metal. Just as the sword's edge struck his brow, something completely unbelievable happened without warning—a small crack appeared on Aoki Shunzhi's bronze-colored forehead, but not a drop of blood flowed out. Then the crack began to widen, gradually extending and expanding until it covered his entire cheek. Then, piece by piece, layer by layer, it began to crumble and peel away, revealing another smooth and shiny layer of skin underneath.
"This... what kind of skill is this!?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat. He flew backward, widening the distance between them to about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), and asked breathlessly.
"The Sand Armor is formed by attaching extremely dense sand to the body over a long period, creating a close-fitting protective armor. This is the last barrier of my body, and the first part of my absolute defense."
"What, the first part!?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat.
"Yes, what you broke was only the barrier formed by the Sand Guardian, not the Shukaku Shield that everyone in the martial world fears. However... you will soon see it for yourself." As Aoki Shunzhi finished speaking, the yellow sand beneath his feet immediately surged like the sea, then slowly rose, mixing with the sand shield fragments that Ren Xiaoyao had just shattered but were still floating in mid-air, forming a flawless sphere that completely enveloped Aoki Shunzhi from head to toe, leaving only a small space above his head and chest for observing his opponent and forming hand seals to cast spells.
"Now it's my turn to attack, Sandstorm Funeral!" The sandstorm descended once more, obscuring Ren Xiaoyao's head in an arc from the "absolute defense" of the surrounding sand. Aoki Toshishi, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent, plunged his hands into the ground. The sand around Ren Xiaoyao began to tremble violently, a vast sea of sand surging like a tidal wave, a massive sand tide crashing towards him.
The immense sand suddenly transformed into a colossal wave, its sheer power terrifying.
Cold sweat dripped from Shinguji Mina's forehead. She couldn't believe that even her ultimate moves had failed, her confidence had been shattered like never before, and she knew that Ren Xiaoyao was currently using all his strength to withstand the relentless, wave after wave of attacks.
The answer was immediately clear.
Ren Xiaoyao leaped into the air, transforming into a feather. Despite being tossed about by the fierce sandstorm, every roll, every spin, even his aerial maneuvering seemed preordained. He skillfully avoided the "waves" with the slightest margin, moving freely through the raging sandstorm—a feat so miraculous it was unbelievable, yet undeniable.
Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao burst from the sandstorm like an arrow, reaching Aoki Junzhi in the blink of an eye.
The Shukaku Shield reacted immediately; the gaps in his face and chest were quickly filled by sand.
With a "plop," the Ice Soul Frost Sword, though striking Aoki Junzhi, failed to penetrate his defense. The blade slid outwards, and Ren Xiaoyao's rapid attack failed once more. (

Chapter 7 of Volume 34: Victory or Defeat)

Ren Xiaoyao groaned, stumbling back several feet before stopping, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
"What, is this all you've got?" Aoki Toshishi's slightly arrogant voice came through the Shukaku Shield.
Ren Xiaoyao remained silent, silently pondering his next move. Although he was learned in many ways, he had already exhausted his ultimate techniques. To break through the Shukaku Shield, whose defenses were so strong that it was almost impenetrable, he needed to reach the pinnacle of both speed and power. The fifteenth move of the Lingxiao Sword Art, "Wishing to be a pair of lovebirds in the sky," emphasized power, while the sixteenth move, "Having seen the ocean, other waters are nothing," was known for its speed. He had not yet mastered the seventeenth move, "Without the wings of a colorful phoenix," which combined both, and the eighteenth move, "A thousand years of elegance discussed in laughter," was even more obvious.
It seemed that the Lingxiao Sword Art was unusable. He had to temporarily choose a move from the other martial arts he had seen and use all his remaining strength for a final gamble.
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly roared to the sky, causing the surrounding sand and gravel to surge. He slowly raised the Ice Soul Frost Sword, immediately creating an aura of invincibility and dominance.
"Clang clang clang clang..." Ren Xiaoyao unleashed his innate supreme qi without reservation, channeling all his power into the tip of his sword. Countless magnificent and chaotic blue rays erupted, like arcs of electricity coursing through his sword-wielding arm, gradually coalescing into a clearly discernible blue-purple sphere. His eyes gleamed with confidence, a confident smile playing on his lips, his hair fluttering in the breeze. The sound made the hearts of all the spectators tremble with the crackling noise.
The sword, like a bolt of lightning, shot out with perfect precision, astonishing speed, and unstoppable momentum, raising clouds of dust and leaving behind dazzling, rumbling thunder.
Aoki Shunji stood motionless, squinting through the sliver of air between the Shukaku Shield and the surrounding sky, his eyes fixed on the overwhelming blue light that burst forth towards him like a blazing firework.
The beautiful points of light emanating from the Ice Soul Frost Sword were a seductive trick, like a femme fatale concealing a deadly attack beneath a beautiful exterior. The
points of light attacked within five feet of Aoki Shunzhi, then suddenly contracted, shrinking the blue-purple sphere of light it had formed into a small ball of light, barely the diameter of a single point of light. The skill was so miraculous that it was hard to believe one's eyes. What Aoki Shunzhi saw was no longer a sword, but a peerless divine weapon beyond any description.
Ren Xiaoyao was no longer Ren Xiaoyao, but a colossal dragon soaring through the sky, controlling the clouds, with a powerful aura like a chilling, bone-chilling, wall-like, blade-like icy torrent surging towards its opponent.
Holy Dragon Severing the Nine Heavens!? Yes, it was the final move of the Nine Dragon Control Techniques, Holy Dragon Severing the Nine Heavens!
Sword and shield clashed, the thunderous roar echoing across the sky, gradually fading into the horizon until it was barely audible, leaving the surrounding area in complete silence.
In the flash of lightning and thunder, the Ice Soul Frost Sword was completely submerged in Qingmu Junzhi's "absolute defense." Although Ren Xiaoyao's handsome face was scratched by the protruding sand spikes, the flowing blood couldn't conceal his excitement and exhilaration.
"I...I won!" He felt that the tip of the sword hadn't touched the hard sand armor, but rather human skin—the absolute defense had been breached; he was the final victor. A smile
played on Ren Xiaoyao's lips as his innate supreme qi pierced through the sword, its vast blue light unable to be concealed even by the thick sand wall, wisps of true energy carrying sand fragments flying out. Was the outcome decided? No, just as Ren Xiaoyao thought he had won, he suddenly felt the Ice Soul Frost Sword being enveloped by something, followed by a tearing pain in his arm.
In shock, he hurriedly pulled his right hand away, only to find a hideous, eerie, earthen-yellow sand claw appearing before him with the pull. He struggled to free his hand from the sand claw's grasp, and looking down, he saw blood gushing from his wrist, the wound covered with a thin layer of sand, as if the other party had simply cut it open.
The sand hole left behind by Ren Xiaoyao's withdrawal emitted a sinister, menacing light. In his horrified gaze, the sand sphere gradually collapsed, revealing a human shape. Finally, he saw Qingmu Junzhi with an incomparably fierce gaze. Although the sand on his left arm had been peeled away, the sharp blade of the Ice Soul Frost Sword had only left a faint white mark on his arm, not even managing to cut through his skin.
"Sand—Binding—Coffin!" Aoki Toshishi's cold and ruthless voice, as deep as ever, slowly rang out!
The sand surrounding him, an "absolute defense," immediately swirled towards Ren Xiaoyao! The latter didn't have time to think about why this wave of sand was so much faster than the previous ones,
and somewhat abruptly swung his sword. Incredibly, this wave of sand, which didn't seem very thick, didn't shatter and dissipate like the previous sandstorms as the Ice Soul Frost Sword's blade swept across. Instead, it spread upwards along his arms, firmly enveloping him.
Ren Xiaoyao hesitated only slightly before his entire body was trapped in his opponent's ninjutsu, unable to move.
"Sand's Lament!" Aoki Toshishi raised his right hand and clenched it tightly. The sand enveloping Ren Xiaoyao immediately sensed this and pressed down on him from all directions.
"Ah—ah—" Even with his body of bronze and iron, Ren Xiaoyao was still flesh and blood. Forced to squeeze by the specially refined, incredibly hard sand, he felt dizzy, as if every pore on his body was being cut by knives. His limbs and bones ached terribly, and a sweet taste rose in his throat. He then coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Die!" Qingmu Junzhi coldly snorted. Ren Xiaoyao was tossed into the air like a puppet completely out of his control, his bones creaking and cracking before crashing heavily onto the sand. His meridians felt like they were on fire, and his internal organs felt like they were being turned inside out. With the slightest movement, he coughed up a large mouthful of blood, nearly fainting.
"Xiaoyao!" Mina Shinguji exclaimed, about to leap down from the rocky mountain, but Norika Aoki stopped her. "It's no use. Once you're hit by Junzhi's Sandstorm, all your meridians will be torn apart by the sand and stones. You'll be crippled even if you don't die." Her voice was very loud, as if she were issuing a death ultimatum to Ren Xiaoyao.
"What a pity, what a pity, all my meridians were already broken." Ren Xiaoyao used his sword to brace himself against the ground, forcing himself to stand up, his eyes burning brightly like flames, without the slightest fear or retreat.
"Is that so? Very well, then I'll break all your bones." Junzhi Aoki was slightly startled, his hands suddenly plunging into the ground, roaring loudly, "Sandstorm—Great Burial!" The ground in front of him, within a radius of several dozen feet, trembled violently, and a huge sea of sand surged into the sky, like a tidal wave, stirring up countless huge waves that swept madly towards Ren Xiaoyao, the vast momentum terrifying.
Ren Xiaoyao, severely injured by the "Sandstorm's Lament," relied solely on his inexhaustible innate Qi to maintain the function of his muscles. How could he dare to directly withstand the impact of the "Sandstorm Burial"? He quickly shifted his focus, retreating several steps, then leaped up from the spot. He first used the Shadow Clone Technique to create several illusory and unpredictable phantoms to distract his opponents, then lightly pushed off with his toes, shooting into the scorching sun high in the sky with two "whoosh" sounds.
Five zhang, ten zhang, fifteen zhang... Ren Xiaoyao's figure rose higher and higher, leaping and bounding like a celestial being ascending to heaven, completely escaping the sandstorm's attack range. While everyone watched in stunned silence, he let out a long laugh, switching from defense to offense, and then, from his high vantage point, swiftly appeared before Aoki Toshiyuki.
Unexpectedly, he sheathed his sword, swung his arm with a fierce force, and thrust his right palm forward. A spiraling ball of energy shot out from his palm, moving with lightning speed, instantly traversing a distance of several dozen feet, aimed directly at Aoki Shunzhi's face.
This was a further enhancement of his innate supreme qi, transforming from a single beam into a ball, smaller than a fist, more highly concentrated, and more difficult to resist. Combined with the palm force of the Heavenly Thunder Without Regret, it was like a raging torrent collapsing through the clouds, its majestic momentum as vast and boundless as ten thousand miles of mountains.
In Aoki Shunzhi's eyes, this palm seemed to have become enormous, as if it could seize everything in the desert into its palm. Compared to it, the power of the Sandstorm Burial was like a river compared to the ocean, utterly incomparable, rejected by this immeasurable and powerful palm force, completely unable to intercept or block it.
"Boom—" The Shukaku Shield was struck squarely, and Aoki Toshishi, along with the entire sand sphere, was sent flying backward like a leaf in the wind. The outer layer of sand seemed to ignite with a pale blue outline, like a lone boat on a vast ocean.
This inexhaustible palm force struck the ground and lifted the sand sphere into the air, the surging and turbulent true energy beneath it resembling a thousand troops, a sea of flags and drums, filled with a deafening roar of battle...
Suddenly, the sand sphere crashed down with a loud "boom," kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Shh...shh..." After a brief silence, the sand sphere began to collapse. First, starting from the top, layers of yellow sand slid down, then the entire sphere trembled, large chunks of sand gradually falling outward. Ren Xiaoyao panted heavily, his eyes fixed on the front—whether Aoki Toshishi was alive or dead, whether this battle was won or lost, was about to be revealed.

Volume 34, Chapter 8: Unconscious

Face—Unharmed; Hands and Feet—Unharmed; Body—Unharmed; Aoki Toshishi, whose Shukaku Shield had been dispelled, was completely unharmed from head to toe!
Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled violently, staring blankly ahead in disbelief.
"It's useless. No matter how you attack, you can't break my absolute defense." Aoki Toshishi's voice was still as cold as snow, but it was easy to tell that the repeated attacks, similar to the Sandstorm Funeral, had exhausted him considerably.
"I don't believe it. There is no martial art in the world that is without flaws." Ren Xiaoyao panted heavily, his expression resolute.
"First, the Shukaku Shield is not martial arts, but ninjutsu; second, the Shukaku Shield is not without flaws, and these flaws are well-known throughout the Japanese martial arts world, yet no one in the world except the head of the Shinguji sect can break it."
He was referring, of course, to Shinguji Ryuugen's use of the Ryujin Jakka technique, where he used his internal energy to unleash a raging flame, forcibly raising the temperature of the Shukaku Shield and forcing him to concede defeat. It wasn't that Ren Xiaoyao didn't know how to use the proper methods, but rather that the Ice Soul Frost Sword was extremely cold in nature, and the innate supreme qi followed a yang path. Even if his internal energy was no less than Shinguji Ryuugen's, it would be difficult for him to simply imitate it, creating similar sword flames or ice clusters to dissolve the Shukaku Shield's defensive effectiveness through external conduction, and thus defeat his opponent.
"No, Master Shinguji only defeated you; he didn't truly break through Shukaku's Shield." Ren Xiaoyao wiped the blood from his lips, a strange light flashing in his eyes. "I believe there's a way to make your absolute defense vanish into nothingness."
"Is that so? Since you're so confident, why not try it yourself?" As soon as Aoki Toshishi finished speaking, a large cloud of sand rose again, forming an indestructible sand sphere that firmly enveloped him.
Ren Xiaoyao was astute as he was; how could he not see that Aoki Toshishi, having unleashed several powerful attacks and had to maintain the shape of Shukaku's Shield with all his might, was already nearly exhausted. He could only focus on defense and could hardly launch any effective counterattacks. In other words, he could concentrate entirely on offense, without worrying about the sandstorm that might attack at any moment.
Even so, he still had no confidence whatsoever in resolving his current predicament.
—The absolute defense was too powerful, so powerful that it was almost impenetrable, so powerful that it completely exceeded his imagination.
Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, calming himself down. He needed to stay composed; brute force alone was absolutely insufficient to defeat his opponent.
"Every martial art has a weakness!" Dugu Yu's endless lament atop Zhurong Peak echoed in Ren Xiaoyao's ears. Yes, if he looked carefully, he would surely discover other weaknesses in the Shouhe Shield.
As it turned out, a direct assault was ineffective. No matter how fast, fierce, or powerful the moves, they were futile against the double protection of the Shouhe Shield and the Sand Armor.
Usually, when a direct confrontation proved unsuccessful, Ren Xiaoyao would employ a strategy of using softness to overcome hardness. The problem was that this wasn't a direct clash, but a single offensive attack. Even though his ability to redirect force and neutralize it was unparalleled, it was completely useless against Aoki Toshishi's defensive strategy.
What to do!? What to do!? Was there really no other way?
No! No! The innate supreme qi is the number one divine skill in the world. Coupled with his exceptionally intelligent mind, what move in the world cannot be broken?
But the reality was staring him in the face. He had already used every trick in the book he knew, and continuing would only be a waste of energy.
Should he just give up? No, the words "retreat in the face of difficulty" were not in Ren Xiaoyao's dictionary.
To be stronger against the weak and even stronger against the strong—this was the martial arts principle he had upheld throughout his life.
Suddenly, an idea struck Ren Xiaoyao.
"Hoo!" He roared, as if from beyond the heavens, like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Aoki Toshishi was immediately affected, and even those watching from afar, like Shinguji Mina, felt their ears ring and their minds reel.
Ren Xiaoyao abruptly stopped, a powerful and unparalleled surge of true energy coursing through his body, causing his robes and sleeves to flutter wildly. He took a deep breath, and with his left hand, he swiftly drew more than a dozen circles in front of his chest. Each circle was filled with incomparably profound innate and supreme qi, varying in size and angle, strange and bizarre to the extreme. Instantly, the qi "ringed" in the air, scattering countless grains of sand. Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Ren Xiaoyao revealed a confident smile. He withdrew his left hand behind his back as if having accomplished his task, and then his right hand formed a knife shape with his fingers, darting along a mysterious path like a serpent through the core of each of the dozen or so qi rings he had just drawn. The power he used was so wondrous that it was hard to believe. Such an unexpected move was beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Over a thousand deadly energy rings were "hung" on Ren Xiaoyao's wrist, rumbling like thunder, their sound shaking the entire desert. The power surpassed even the previous palm strike from mid-air, by more than a factor of two.
Ren Xiaoyao let out a long roar, leaping forward, his right palm slamming down from above with overwhelming force, like a storm crashing down, forcing the surrounding sand to swirl. With a muffled rumble, the attack completely sealed off the area around Shouhe's shield. The palm strike was perfectly natural, yet contained a profound and boundless power.
His target was Aoki Toshishi's chest—his strongest and weakest point.
Everyone knew that while their absolute defense was more than capable of withstanding Ren Xiaoyao's palm strikes, they also knew that in this extremely drained state, they might not be able to cope with the subsequent onslaught of more than a dozen deadly energy rings. Therefore, their strongest point immediately became their greatest weakness.
In a flash, Ren Xiaoyao struck Shouhe's shield with a sound like a boulder colliding, deep and heavy. His right palm suddenly slashed out, followed by his left palm, the power of both palms erupting in succession. His true energy surged, multiplying in power, showcasing the full extent of his life's skills, displaying overwhelming dominance!
"Boom! Boom!" The sounds of clashing energy rang out incessantly. Ren Xiaoyao's palm strike first forced Aoki Shunji, who was encased in the sand sphere, back three steps. Then, each ring of energy caused the Shukaku Shield to tremble violently. However...
after all the rings of energy dissipated, the Shukaku Shield, which was expected to shatter into pieces, did not show even the slightest crack—not even a hole the size of a thumb.
How could this be!? Such a powerful attack left not a trace!
Just as everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, thinking that Ren Xiaoyao's display was all show, seemingly powerful but actually weak and useless, the Shukaku Shield suddenly began to vibrate violently, its shape constantly changing, sometimes concave and sometimes convex, as if a fierce clash of energy was taking place inside. Finally, with a loud "boom," the entire sand sphere exploded violently, and the dust it kicked up instantly turned the surroundings into a hazy yellow.
The battle was over, and eager to know the outcome, Mina Shinguji, Norika Aoki, and the others leaped down from the rocky hill and rushed towards the sand dune where the two had fought.
Before they even got close, the sandstorm had already subsided, and they could vaguely see Ren Xiaoyao and Toshiyuki standing facing each other, frozen in place, as if under a spell.
Upon closer inspection, the scene before them was astonishing.
Ren Xiaoyao's hair was disheveled, his clothes were torn and covered in sand, and his hands were covered in wounds, blood gushing from his fingertips.
Aoki Toshishi was slightly better off, but his entire Sand Armor had been shattered, leaving not a single fragment. A slight palm print sank into his chest, and his face alternated between pale and flushed, displaying a complex expression of horror, astonishment, and utter shock. "You...how...how..."
Ren Xiaoyao's reply was soft and gentle due to his injuries, yet it felt like knives piercing Aoki Toshishi's heart. "I admit that the Shukaku Shield combined with the Sand Armor forms an impenetrable double defense. Even if I trained for another ten or twenty years, I wouldn't be able to completely break it. But every martial art has its weaknesses, even absolute defense is no exception. When I pierced the Shukaku Shield before, the first four inches of sand consumed me..." "Sixty percent of your power, and the next six inches only used forty percent. Clearly, aside from maintaining the shape of the sand armor, most of your internal energy was concentrated on the outside of the Shukaku Shield. In other words, if I could break through from the inside of the Shukaku Shield, it would have an unexpectedly huge effect. So I used my palm to infuse the sand wall with both hot and cold true energy, causing them to collide and explode violently. Sure enough, it was done in one fell swoop, even breaking the sand armor."
Aoki Toshishi's face showed astonishment, muttering, "Good, good, indeed a good method. At such a young age, you can break through...break through my absolute defense. As long as you stay in Fusang...in a few more years...haha...haha...he Shinguji Ryuuken can rest easy." "Enjoying your later years, you no longer need to concern yourself with the complicated affairs of the martial world."
Ren Xiaoyao sincerely praised, "In terms of defense alone, the Sect Master's Shukaku Shield is indeed the best in the world. Although there are still ways to break it, but... I'm not boasting, but looking at Japan and even the entire Central Plains, only one person can infuse true energy into the Shukaku Shield and cause an explosion, destroying it."
Aoki Junzhi looked at Ren Xiaoyao's bloodied right hand and nodded with some emotion: "You...aren't you afraid of being severely injured by my Shukaku Shield when you attack!?"
Ren Xiaoyao smiled casually, his eyes flashing with lightning, "Afraid, of course I'm afraid, but I'll open a channel in the Shukaku Shield that's difficult to see with the naked eye to input true energy and..." "It's no easy task, especially since your internal energy will partially neutralize it. The maximum it can actually destroy is already the limit. This injury wasn't caused by the Shukaku Shield or the explosion, but by the backlash from the convergence of the energy rings." He trembled, his voice becoming halting. "Of course, even... even if I knew that doing this... would be... life-threatening, I would still try without hesitation... without hesitation, because I... I said, no matter what... I would rely on myself... my own strength... to break through the absolute defense!" As soon as he finished speaking, the severe damage caused by "Sand's Lament" erupted, his body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground like a mountain collapsing, unconscious. When Ren Xiaoyao

awoke from his stupor in Chapter Nine of Volume Thirty-Four

, he found himself lying in a carriage, his head resting on the supple, jade-like legs of Shinguji Mina; his wrist pressed against Su Hanbi's soft, white hand; and the delicate, fragrant scents of Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Lin Yuxiu, and others watching him anxiously with expressions of concern lingering around his nose.
What a splendid scene of beauties embracing their lover!
This "treatment" after his serious injuries and fainting spell was a fitting reward for his valiant fight against Aoki Toshishi.
Seeing Ren Xiaoyao wake up, the women immediately surrounded him, chattering away about things like, "Xiaoyao, are you feeling better?" "How are you feeling? Is your internal energy circulation slow?" "You fainted while we were fighting, Sister Meina was so worried!" "You idiot, you only woke up now, we were really afraid something would happen to you."
The carriage was already crowded, and their "commotion" made Ren Xiaoyao feel flustered, unsure of who to answer first. It was only when the driver, Long Feiyun, leaned in that he interrupted the conversation. The women continued their incessant questioning: "Didn't Hanbi say that Xiaoyao just fainted from exhaustion and is perfectly fine? You all shouldn't worry so much."
Lin Yuxiu's pretty face flushed red as she clutched the hem of her clothes and said, "Didn't you say... didn't you say that Big Brother was beaten to the point of vomiting blood by the Qingmu Sect Master and even given sand..."
Su Hanbi chuckled and said sweetly, "Xiaoyao's physique is far superior to that of ordinary people, and with his innate supreme qi, his recovery speed is astonishing. As long as he doesn't lose an arm or a leg, he'll be mostly recovered after a good night's sleep."
Ren Xiaoyao interjected, "By the way, weren't you all trapped in the desert? And... me..."
Shinguji Mina said softly, "That day, after you broke through the absolute defense, you collapsed from your injuries. Aoki Sō, keeping his promise to you, brought all the sisters and several seniors to Shishan, intending for Aoki Norika to escort us out of the desert." As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with a rare, coquettish expression, and she chuckled, "Who knew that Senior Yi had been so restless these past few days? Although he couldn't escape when trapped in the sand dunes, he managed to retrieve most of Yoshikawa Musashi's hundred puppets. That guy was furious and refused to let us leave. Mr. Deng, considering he was acting under orders and had no ill intentions, spent several days helping him retrieve the puppets..." "It's all fixed now. The seniors were all vying to spar with Sect Master Aoki, otherwise we would have been in Nara long ago, enjoying tea at Hueco Mundo right now."
Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed in surprise, "This...so you mean I was unconscious for several days?"
Shinguji Mina's beautiful eyes sparkled, giving him an approving look. "Of course. 'Sand's Lament' is the most powerful technique among earth-style ninjutsu. Even a slight glancing blow from it would be fatal or severely injured. You took a full-force hit from Sect Master Aoki, experiencing Sand Burial, Sand Waterfall, Sand Binding Coffin, and so on. If it weren't for Sister Hanbi's divine medical skills repeatedly assuring us that you were alright, I...I was worried...worried that your injuries were too severe and you wouldn't wake up." Her words were tinged with sorrow, her concern overflowing.
Ren Xiaoyao was deeply moved and chuckled, "Haha, I'm destined to be a ladies' man. If I don't marry enough wives, even the King of Hell won't dare take me."
Shui Furong glared at him, annoyed, and said lightly, "Hmph, you're getting a good deal and still acting innocent. You really don't know what's good for you. If it weren't for Sect Master Qingmu
showing mercy this time, you'd be looking for a wife in the netherworld." Lin Yuxiu said sweetly, "You can't say that. Big Brother broke the Shield of the Crane Guardian all by himself, and Sect Master Qingmu was completely convinced of his defeat, which is why he voluntarily stopped. Besides, he's the leader of a sect, so naturally he has to keep his word. How could he not keep his promise to ensure that Big Brother and we leave the desert safely?"
Shui Furong tightened her face and stomped her foot lightly, saying, "Xiuxiu, don't you understand? A man can't get old..." "If you spoil him, he'll only get worse. Even if that idiot did nothing wrong, we..."
Lin Yuxiu blinked her beautiful eyes, staring at Shui Furong, and said innocently, "Senior Yi said that the Shield of the Crane is almost perfect. Even with his and Senior Fu's combined attacks, they couldn't defeat it. Only Big Brother could handle it with ease. You don't even praise him, why did you drag me into it?"
The girls were amused by her "serious" tone and laughed. Lin Yuxiu was puzzled and tugged at Ren Xiaoyao's sleeve, asking, "Big Brother, why..."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled without answering, grabbed Lin Yuxiu's slender waist, picked her up, and leaned down to kiss her lips with a loud "pop."
He saw her head bowed slightly, her cheeks flushed, her shy and delicate demeanor captivating any man's heart.
Before she could recover, Ren Xiaoyao sealed her cherry lips again, parting Lin Yuxiu's pearly white teeth and plunging his tongue deep into her moist, fragrant mouth, giving her a passionate kiss in front of all the women.
The women blushed at the sight.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily, then embraced Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, and Su Hanbi one by one, kissing each of them. Finally, he came to Shui Furong, deliberately putting on a stern face and saying, "Furong, do you want some?"
Shui Furong, after all, adored him, and after a short pause, she couldn't resist any longer. With a soft moan, she threw herself into his arms, her slight anger dissolving in the deep kiss.
Shinguji Mina closed her eyes, not daring to look any longer. Although she and Ren Xiaoyao were mutually attracted, they had only ever hugged and cuddled, never engaging in any intimate acts. As a qualified ninja, she was not allowed to know anything about matters between men and women before marriage. Ren Xiaoyao was kissing and cuddling with other women, and as a virgin, she dared not look any further.
Just then, someone pushed her away from behind. Caught off guard, Shinguji Mina fell into Ren Xiaoyao's arms with a "plop." At the same time, she heard Lin Yuxiu's giggling laughter: "Big brother, there's also Sister Mina." Shinguji Mina was so startled that she was at a loss for what to do. Her eyes, which had just opened, closed quickly as if pricked by something. Then she blinked and slowly closed them again. Her body trembled slightly, her nostrils flared, and her cherry lips parted slightly, making her extremely alluring. The faint, orchid-like fragrance of a virgin wafted into Ren Xiaoyao's nostrils, stirring the passion in his heart.
Ren Xiaoyao, realizing time was of the essence, smiled slightly, wrapped his left arm around Shinguji Mina's slender waist, and gently kissed her as she leaned forward.
Shinguji Mina let out a soft, melodious moan, her hands hesitantly embracing Ren Xiaoyao's neck.
When he kissed her lips, an indescribable, exquisite sensation deeply resonated within him. Her lips possessed the tenderness of a young girl's cherry blossoms, yet also carried a seductive allure. Her small, shyly evasive tongue, moist and soft, was incredibly alluring.
Shinguji Mina instinctively bit her lip, trying to prevent Ren Xiaoyao from succeeding, but she couldn't resist his masterful flirting. Soon, he forced open her shyly closed teeth, revealing her delicate, sweet tongue, which he eagerly sucked and licked.
Ren Xiaoyao and Mina Shinguji were locked in a passionate kiss, their lips meeting and entwining. He involuntarily wrapped his arms around her, pressing her high, firm breasts against his chest, their soft, small peaks rubbing against each other, seemingly radiating a warm fragrance.
Just then, the carriage suddenly stopped. Caught off guard, they stumbled and nearly fell.
"Feiyun, what's going on?" Ren Xiaoyao asked in a low voice, still holding the warm, soft woman in his arms.
"Ahead... there's murderous intent!" Long Feiyun's voice was unusually grave.
"Yes, it does seem rather strange," Meng Fei, riding beside the carriage, chimed in.
Ren Xiaoyao didn't dare delay, quickly releasing Mina Shinguji and jumping off the carriage.
In the distance, a dense forest of black pine trees blocked their path, lush and verdant, blocking out the sun, layer upon layer like splashed ink. Although there were no sounds of battle, there was still an indescribable eeriness about it.
“This Obsidian Forest was one of the main battlefields of the Third Shinobi World War fifty years ago. Thousands of elite ninjas from various sects perished here. Later, it became the territory of our sect's squad, mainly used for assassination training. Because so many people died in the forest, it's inevitable that it feels a bit strange.” Mina Shinguji walked to Ren Xiaoyao's side and explained, “However… since Father ordered the Thirteenth Squad to return to defend Hueco Mundo, I think our sect's ninjas who were training here should have already withdrawn, so…”
“So Iga Valley or other sects that are enemies of us are very likely to have set up an ambush here, waiting for us to walk into their trap.” Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice.
“Yes, the Obsidian Forest has a treacherous terrain and is full of traps, making it the most suitable place for an ambush.” Mina Shinguji frowned and suggested, “It's getting dark, let's find a safe place to rest for the night, and then we can…”
“No, we'll cross the Obsidian Forest tonight.” Ren Xiaoyao said decisively.
“What!?” Everyone was shocked.
"Don't worry, with my keen senses and the superb martial arts of my seniors, I'm no match for anyone in a night battle. Besides..." Ren Xiaoyao revealed a confident smile, "The art of war says, 'Strike unexpectedly, attack where the enemy is unprepared.' The enemy knows we won't dare enter the forest at night, so we'll go in now and see what tricks they can pull."

Volume 34, Chapter 10: Sniping in the Misty Forest

. Twilight and thick fog, a chilling wind.
The trees in the mountains seemed to have turned into ghostly shadows, watching the group and emitting sinister laughs.
"Big brother, I'm scared!" Lin Yuxiu, the most timid of them all, trembled and clung to Ren Xiaoyao's arm.
"It's alright, with your big brother here, no one can bully you." Ren Xiaoyao gently stroked her slightly trembling back, softly comforting her. "Besides, Xiuxiu, your martial arts are not weak; you can easily handle three or four Chunin."
"That's right, that's right! Sixth Sister's Hengshan Seven Absolute Swordsmanship is a true inheritance from Senior Dugu; even my sister and I couldn't withstand it." Nangong Fengzi giggled. She was an optimist and never knew fear.
Suddenly, Long Feiyun shouted, "Look! What's that!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw countless dark shadows moving back and forth in the dense black pine forest ahead. At first glance, they looked like wild beasts, but their movements resembled rapidly approaching enemies.
"Who goes there? State your name!" Yi Tianhan spurred his horse forward and shouted sharply.
"Woof—woof—howl—" What came from the forest was not human, but the howls of wild dogs and jackals.
"This is outrageous!" Yi Tianhan, who had roamed the martial world for decades, had never suffered such humiliation. Enraged, he
roared and charged forward on horseback. "Old ghost Yi, wait!" Fu Longyuan, fearing for his safety, hurriedly gave chase.
With their martial arts skills and experience, they were certain that unless they encountered "two" Shinguji Ryuugen, the unfortunate ones would be the ones to suffer. The others, unconcerned, guarded the carriage carrying Kurosaki Masayoshi and continued their leisurely journey.
The expected sounds of fighting did not arise; instead, Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan stared in astonishment.
There was no one in the forest—or rather, no living people—only dozens of cold corpses.
The gruesome deaths and the horrific scene shocked even the two old men, accustomed to bloodshed.
All the dead had either been pierced by traps falling from the sky or rising from the ground, their intestines torn apart, or were mangled by shurikens and kunai. Some of them had broken bones and dislocated joints, barely recognizable as human; some had their skulls shattered, blood and brain matter mixed together, flowing red and white all over the ground; some had their limbs forcibly removed, their feet still beside them, but their hands nowhere to be seen; and others…
—many of the dead were hung upside down or fixed to trees, not falling themselves, and with the rustling of the leaves, they looked like moving figures from a distance. As for the wild dogs and jackals, they were attracted by the smell of blood.
Most of the corpses had faces that were almost distorted, as if they had seen something extremely horrific before they died.
Lin Yuxiu was the first to be unable to bear it and vomited. The other women also felt disgusted, and except for Shinguji Mina and Long Feiyun, they all turned their heads away, unwilling to look anymore.
“Who…who are these people?” Ren Xiaoyao murmured, his scalp tingling.
“It was ninja from the Ninko-ryu, Matsuda-ryu, and Kirigakure Jigen-ryu schools. Judging from the situation at the scene, it seems the Kirigakure Jigen-ryu were ambushed by the Ninko-ryu and Matsuda-ryu while advancing here, resulting in heavy casualties in the ensuing battle.” Shinguji Mina frowned and said slowly, “Didn’t you say that Headmaster Kora would send disciples to secretly assist us? It seems their plan has been exposed, and they were eliminated before we even got there.”
“No, there are several rows of footprints here, and they’re quite messy. I think someone must have fought their way out.” Ren Xiaoyao’s expression grew even more solemn. He knew the power of the Kirigakure Jigen-ryu school—they dominated Qiyue Valley, boasting nearly a thousand disciples, even surpassing the Shinto Munen-ryu and Oniwaban schools, which were ranked last among the Seven Great Schools. Since Kora Miyuki was determined to help, she must have sent elite ninjas, but unexpectedly, they were ambushed here, suffering heavy casualties.
It seemed the enemy not only had many skilled and powerful fighters, but also ninjas adept at ambushes, assassinations, and setting traps.
"Xiaoyao, there's a survivor!" Su Hanbi called out urgently.
It was a tall, thin man dressed in the Mist Shadow Manifestation style, half his cheek covered in blood, his arm limp at his side, clearly broken. His nose was rising and falling slightly, and his chest was still beating weakly, as if it could stop at any moment. Ren Xiaoyao quickly asked, "Were you ambushed? What about the others?"
The tall, thin man opened his eyes, his pupils at least twice their normal size, still filled with terror. He was panting and struggling, seemingly trying to stand up, but he couldn't even move a finger. He had no strength left in his body.
Yi Tianhan shouted, "Speak! Can you still speak?"
The man's Adam's apple bobbed, and finally, a sound escaped from his cracked lips, but it was no longer a human voice; it was an almost silent scream, a desperate scream: "Miss...run, run! They are evil spirits, hundreds and thousands of evil spirits...kill...kill!"
Ren Xiaoyao's forehead began to sweat, and he pressed, "What evil spirits? Explain yourself clearly."
The man stared blankly ahead, hissing, "Don't...don't hurt Miss, evil spirits..."
He suddenly jumped out of Ren Xiaoyao's arms and rushed forward, but after only two steps, he collapsed to the ground, never to move again.
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Ren Xiaoyao murmured, "How...how could this be? A dignified ninja uttering words like 'ghost' and 'demon'."
"He's under the influence of genjutsu...no, to be precise, it's a powerful eye technique." Shinguji Mina's bright eyes shone as she analyzed, "Genjutsu is a type of ninjutsu, primarily used to confuse the opponent's five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Eye techniques, especially those targeting vision, are the most difficult to counter." "
So this person must have seen some kind of illusion, hence his terrified expression...Oh no, the 'Miss' he mentioned must be Kora Anna—Hanbi. How long has he been injured?" Ren Xiaoyao was suddenly startled.
"About half an hour."
"Half an hour...that should be enough time." Ren Xiaoyao flicked his sleeve, leaped into the air, and plunged into the depths of the dense forest.
"Xiaoyao, where are you going?"
"To save Kora Anna. Her mother has treated me well; I can't just stand by and watch her die." Ren Xiaoyao's voice drifted back. "There might be an ambush ahead. You all stay put and don't wander around."
××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××××
Ren Xiaoyao moved like lightning, swiftly advancing through the dark pine forest in the twilight. He had already channeled his inner energy, pushing his senses to their limit; no subtle sound within a radius of several dozen feet could escape his ears.
To be honest, his current condition wasn't at its best. Aoki Toshishi's several heavy blows had all injured his internal organs. Although his strong physique and superb recovery ability had already healed most of the injuries, it would be a lie to say that they didn't affect his martial arts skills at all.
Ren Xiaoyao's right arm, calf, and lower abdomen, where he had suffered the most severe injuries, still throbbed with pain. His right wrist, in particular, where he had pierced the Shukaku Shield, was not only numb and tingling but also burning with a searing pain.
Fortunately, masters of Aoki Toshishi's caliber were rare in the Japanese martial arts world; otherwise, encountering even one or two more would have been unbearable.
Following the traces of battle left on the ground and trees, Ren Xiaoyao encountered few traps or hidden weapons. However, judging from the corpses on both sides of the road and the various activated traps, the battle must have been extremely fierce.
A wave of guilt washed over Ren Xiaoyao. The ambush that should have been faced by them had instead been borne by the well-meaning Kirigakure Shigenryu. If he couldn't protect Kora Anna's safety, even if he safely returned Shinguji Mina to Hueco Mundo, he would never be able to face the spirits of those who had bravely sacrificed themselves.
Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao stopped. He saw a corpse hanging from a tree ahead—a gruesome corpse—Hikaru Sabei, a Special Jonin of the Hidden Mist Style.
Yes, it was the same Hachiki Sabei who had ambushed Ren Xiaoyao at Suigetsu Peak. Had he not relied on the Shadow Clone Technique he had "stole" from Shinguji Mina, he would have been killed on the spot.
The Black Pine Forest, with its damp climate, was the perfect place to use the Hidden Mist Technique, yet here he had been ambushed.
Just how powerful was his opponent?!
Examining the corpse's wounds might yield some clues, and Ren Xiaoyao was about to step forward when a thought suddenly struck him: in the martial world, there were many instances of people disguising themselves as corpses to ambush their opponents. Could it be…?
He hesitated for a moment, but decided to go and check anyway. After all, with his unparalleled skill in disguise and extraordinary insight, few disguises could fool him.
Sure enough, it was a real corpse, and it was indeed Kiki Sabei.
Time was of the essence, and Ren Xiaoyao didn't want the body left to rot in the wilderness, so he at least tried to remove the remains from the tree.
Corpses wouldn't ambush people.
But the moment his fingertips touched the corpse, he understood a principle: corpses could ambush people.
The instant he touched the corpse, he heard a soft click of a mechanism being activated, a clang.
It was a very faint sound, almost inaudible, but it signified death.
Because at that moment, at least fifty-seven hidden weapons were launched at Ren Xiaoyao from the corpse and its surroundings.
A dense swarm of hidden weapons, whistling sharply, instantly hurtled towards Ren Xiaoyao's face.
Ren Xiaoyao retreated.
He retreated quickly, for he had been prepared.
He could see, of course, that the corpse had been tied to a tree, and he couldn't understand why a corpse would be tied to a tree for no reason.
He couldn't understand, so he was cautious.
That's why he was able to retreat in time.
No words could describe how fast Ren Xiaoyao retreated.
One could only say that he retreated much faster than most of the hidden weapons.
With this retreat, many hidden weapons missed their mark.
However, many still managed to reach his face.
These hidden weapons gleamed with a ghostly blue light under the moonlight, clearly all coated with deadly poison.
Not many were needed; one was enough to kill.
The hidden weapons came too fast, and Ren Xiaoyao knew he couldn't dodge them all, so he flicked his finger.
With a flick of his finger, one hidden weapon flew back, collided with another, and then both fell together.
Then Ren Xiaoyao threw another one.
This might seem slow, but a different way of putting it is quite different.
In the blink of an eye, Ren Xiaoyao had already deflected nineteen hidden weapons, and thirty-eight had fallen. By the time you blinked a second time, all the hidden weapons had vanished.
All the hidden weapons had fallen, but Ren Xiaoyao's movements didn't stop, because he saw a faint black shadow in the moonlight, swiftly moving in the opposite direction.
This was the person who had murdered Kishimoto Sabei and used his body as a trap to assassinate Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao was initially retreating rapidly, but suddenly he leaped dozens of feet into the air, and when he landed, his direction had completely reversed. With a roar, he quickly gave chase.
Ren Xiaoyao's lightness skill was unparalleled—this was a fact—no, it should be an undeniable truth.
Therefore, the distance between him and the black shadow was rapidly closing.
The faint black shadow gradually took on the shape of a person, then became clearer and clearer; Ren Xiaoyao could even see the knot of the black veil tied behind the person's head.
Just then, the man suddenly raised his hand, tearing off his black robe. With a flick of his wrist, the robe billowed down, covering Ren Xiaoyao's head.
Ren Xiaoyao, rushing forward, saw the black robe approaching and, without thinking, struck out with his palm. With a
few hissing sounds, the black robe shattered from the force of the impact, scattering into fragments that flew in all directions
like butterflies—black butterflies, butterflies from hell, symbols of death.
This was because the man had immediately thrown several flying knives after unleashing the black robe.
Ren Xiaoyao's palm had torn through his robe, and he immediately spotted the knives.
The knives were fast, and he was rushing forward just as fast.
The collision of their speeds made them even faster. So fast, it was unimaginable, even impossible to avoid.
Ren Xiaoyao had absolutely no chance to dodge, not even a chance to raise his hand to brush them away.
He was practically doomed, if not for the sudden fall backward.
Ren Xiaoyao, who was moving at full speed, suddenly fell backward, his back scraping the ground, yet his body continued to move forward.
The throwing knife grazed his face.
By the time he straightened up and stood up, the dark figure had vanished.

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/11715.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=11715&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - Chapter 23

Next Page : A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 26

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 25

comment Open a new window to view comments