Chapter Seven of the Heavenly Tribulation of the Sun: The Dao Saint's Wisdom is Extinct, Useless Yearning

page views:1 Publication date:2023-02-26 08:14:27

On the steps of the altar, Jie Zhen's face darkened. He thought, "Oh no, it really is him!" Dao

Tiansheng was Fa Tianxing's junior brother and the uncle of the fat Dao Chuyang. He was a top disciple of the "Tian" generation of the General Lu clan. His martial arts skills were unmatched across generations of the Dao, Fa, and Jing families, even surpassing those of the general "Ten Thousand Horizontal Grinding" Fa Tianxing. To this day, whispers still circulate in Jiuyi Mountain: if Dao Tiansheng, "One Yang Returns," had inherited the position of sect leader back then, there would probably be a seventh name added to the Six Great Masters List today.

Perhaps because of this, Fa Tianxing seemed very wary of this junior brother. After taking over the position, he found a reason to expel him from the mountain. The Dao clan lost this pillar of strength, and Dao Chuyang had to succeed as the family head. After marrying his second daughter to Dao Chuyang, Fa Tianxing, being both his teacher and the Taiyue, rightfully brought the Dao clan under his control, consolidating the Fa clan's power.

Logically, Dao Tiansheng harbored resentment towards General Lu and Fa Tianxing, and there was absolutely no reason for him to try to seize the pearl for them. However, things are unpredictable. With the Southern Border Dao Saint's "One Yang Returns" technique, which was worthy of being ranked among the Six Great Masters, if he truly wanted to show off his skills, I'm afraid no one in the arena today would be his match. Sure enough, Fa Taochun's eyes suddenly lit up. She cupped her hands to Jie Jun, sweeping away her dejected demeanor, and said arrogantly, "Second Young Master, our representative has arrived! You decide what to do." Jie Jun snorted coldly, secretly keeping a watchful eye on him.

But then they heard Dao Tiansheng laughing loudly outside, "Second girl, stop talking nonsense! When did your uncle agree to come down to the arena? General Lu's martial arts are as vast as mountains and seas, and he could not finish cultivating them even in several lifetimes. What does our sect leader want the Yin Female Pearl for? The remnants of the Demonic Sect sent this pearl to make the righteous path kill each other, wiping them all out in one fell swoop. But you are all ignorant, daring to talk about seizing the pearl! If our senior brother were here in person, I would slap you across the face!"

Everyone's hearts tightened, and their faces turned ugly.

Jie Zhao leaned close to Yue Yingying's ear: "This man speaks so bluntly, no wonder he couldn't stay in Jiuyi Mountain." Yue Yingying sighed softly: "Yes! He's very insightful, but he's offended everyone here! How can the world tolerate someone like that?"

Fa Taochun was anxious: "Uncle! Today we're not talking about the Yin Female Pearl, it's only about the reputation of our sect."

Dao Tiansheng's laughter drifted into the hall, but he still hadn't appeared. "If you care about the reputation of our sect, you'd better shut your mouth. Chuyang! Now that you've come down from Jiuyi Mountain, you and your wife are the representatives of Jiangjunlu. If your wife's words and actions are wrong, you, as her husband, can't escape responsibility either."

Dao Chuyang was sweating profusely, lowering his head and not daring to speak.

Among the people in the hall, the abbot of Dongxuan Temple, Daoist Yiqing, was the closest to General Lu. Hearing that Daotianzhen seemed to be abandoning him, he quickly picked up his cup, stood up, and stopped facing the empty hall outside. He called out, "Brother Daotian, it's been many years! I've missed you terribly. It just so happens that the four great families and fellow Daoists from Zhongjing are gathered here. Why don't you come in and have a drink? Even if you don't care about the juniors' martial arts competition, don't forget to see your old friends. Come! I'll drink first as a sign of respect." He drank the cup in one gulp, picked up the pot and poured another cup. He secretly gathered strength in his palm, and with a "whoosh," the cup and the wine flew out of the hall, leaving a very long arc, without spilling a drop.

Yi Qing Daoist had been in the capital for many years. Although Dongxuan Temple was doing quite well, its reputation in Zhongjing (the capital) could never surpass that of Huangting Temple. Not to mention figures like Huangting Patriarch of Tiancheng Mountain and the acting headmaster Xuanhe Zhenren, even the abbot of the Zhongjing branch, Yuan Chang, was far more renowned in martial arts than Yi Qing.

When he displayed his skill, "Like a leaf drifting in the wind," everyone present was slightly taken aback: "Well done, Yi Qing! Such skill!" They couldn't help but abandon their initial contempt and look at him with new respect. The wine cup flew out of the hall, growing fainter and smaller against the backdrop of the blue sky and white clouds, disappearing from sight in an instant. For a long time, there was no sound of the porcelain cup hitting the ground. No matter how skillful Yi Qing's strength was, he couldn't have thrown the wine cup into the heavens. It must have been caught by Daotian Sheng in the shadows, who showed no intention of revealing himself.

Yi Qingku stood there for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly a few times, cupping his hands and saying, "Brother Tiansheng, if you don't wish to see me, please drink. I won't force you."

Jie Zhao whispered to the other side, "Third Brother, it seems that Dao Tiansheng has no intention of seizing the pearl!"

Jie Zhen shook his head and quietly replied, "Hiding and not showing yourself is not good. Since you're here, you should be open about it." After pondering for a while, he raised his cup and stood up, "Father, I have always admired the reputation of the 'Southern Frontier Dao Saint,' and presumptuously wish to offer my respects to the Dao..." "A cup to Senior Saint."

Jie Zhen glanced at him with his phoenix eyes, immediately understanding Jie Zhen's intention. He waved for him to sit down, raised his cup, and said loudly, "Brother Tian Sheng, we haven't seen each other since the Battle of Xiangshan. In the blink of an eye, eighteen years have passed. I haven't had a chance to thank you for your life-risking help back then. Time flies, and old friends have passed away. Would you like to drink this cup with me?" With a slight flick of his sleeve, the wine cup flew out of the hall. At first glance, it seemed to be no different from the one thrown by Yi Qing, but the distance was more than twice that of the cup, clearly showing the difference in their abilities.

In the past, when the four great families besieged Xiangshan, Wei Yunshan summoned the six great killers of the Demonic Sect to deal with Xuanhuang Yuwen Xiaoxiao. Xuanhuang fought against six opponents and still managed to hold his own, but he had no time to attend to other matters. Fa Tianxing led the best fighters of the four families in a fierce battle against the Five Extreme Protectors of Miwu Palace. As for Sheng Huayan, the master of Jiejian Tiandu, known as "Qianzai Yuqing," he was thwarted by the schemes of Lanxiuxuan, a strategist from Miwu Palace known as "Xiangfeng Yandang." The two engaged in a battle of wits and strength, and Sheng Huayan ultimately failed to reach the battlefield in time.

At that time, the four great families and Miwu Palace were evenly matched, with victory hanging by a thread.

Jie Zhen originally planned a one-on-one duel with Weiyun Mountain, but suddenly received an urgent report that Weiyun Mountain had invited another master of the demonic sect to assist him. This person's skill was immeasurable; if Daotian hadn't stepped forward and intercepted him halfway, the entire battle might have been reversed. Like fleeting clouds, old friends have scattered; can old ties rekindle the reclusive Daoist saint?

A wine cup spills from the eaves, then vanishes again in an instant.

A clear, resonant laugh echoed from outside the hall: "Master Jie, you flatter me. That day, I fought that man to a standstill, neither of us gaining the upper hand in martial arts. But his resilience was greater than mine. If you hadn't arrived in time, I wouldn't be alive to drink this cup of wine today." He spoke calmly, ultimately not revealing himself.

It turned out that when Jie Zhen arrived at the site of their battle, seeing both sides severely wounded, he intended to take the opportunity to eliminate the demonic sect expert. However, Dao Tiansheng, unwilling to exploit the situation, asked Jie Zhen to let him go. It is said that later, Fa Tianxing expelled Dao Tiansheng from Mount Jiuyi on charges of "associating with demonic sects and evil spirits."

Seeing that neither old friendship nor gratitude for saving her life could sway her, Fa Taochun steeled her heart, pushed aside her husband's support, and drew her long sword with a clang. She laughed bitterly, "So be it! Taochun's skills are lacking; today I'll die here." She tore half a jade pendant from her neck and held it high: "This pendant is a keepsake from my mother. Please, Uncle, do me a favor for her sake.

After Taochun dies, please take this pendant back to the mountain and return it to my mother." She brandished her sword, ready to fight the bandits.

"Wait!"

Two objects flew into the hall with a whoosh, knocking Fa Taochun's long sword to the ground. Their momentum continued, spinning like tops onto the tea table before slowly coming to a stop. They were the two porcelain cups that Yiqing and Jiezhen had thrown. A long sigh came from outside the eaves, as if filled with boundless sorrow:

"So be it! I wanted to escape the mortal world, but alas, the mortal world is etched in my heart. Where can I escape to?"

With a sigh, a tall figure tumbled down from the eaves, his hair disheveled and his robe open, revealing his slender, fair chest. He had a long beard, a face like jade, and a faint red mark on his forehead, like a sword scar. He could not tell his age at all. He was none other than the once mighty Daoist Saint of the Southern Frontier, Dao Tiansheng, the "One Yang Returns"!

Dao Tiansheng waved a green willow branch, took off his wooden clogs at the steps, and walked in barefoot. Although his clogs and robes were old, and he was disheveled and barefoot, he still appeared spotless.

Zen Master Deyue, Daoist Yiqing, Chief Escort Fang, Miao Hantian, and others all rose to their feet. Daotian's demeanor was languid, yet he possessed a vast and ethereal quality that made everyone feel inferior, and no one could find an opportunity to speak. They nodded in acknowledgment and let him walk past, and no one at the table dared to stop him.

Jie Zhao also stood up, somewhat dumbfounded: "Isn't he the 'Springtime' senior uncle? How... how come he looks so young?" Yue Yingying whispered, "When one's internal energy cultivation reaches his level, supernatural powers naturally manifest, and it's possible to reverse aging. My master's age is indistinguishable; she's very beautiful."

Jie Zhao laughed, "Then you should learn from your master. I'm so lucky!" Yue Yingying blushed and retorted, "What's it to you?" Her coquettishness couldn't hide her shy joy; suddenly, her smile froze, as if she remembered something, her expression gradually darkened, and she couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly, remaining silent.

"What's wrong? Can't you take a joke?" Jie Zhao teased her.

"You...you shouldn't talk nonsense to me." Yingying's pretty face was stern, her eyes staring straight ahead, her body and voice deliberately stiff. "My master and your father are enemies. In the future...if anything happens in the future, maybe I'll be the one avenging my master, or you'll be the one seeking justice for your father. We...it's better if we don't get too close."

"No, I'd rather be closer to you." He was usually frivolous, and these words were meant as a casual joke, but once they came out, they triggered his thoughts. After thinking for a moment, he said seriously, "It's alright. If that day ever comes, I'll give my life for you.

Besides, since the past is bitter and the future is bitter, if we're not happy now, what a waste of life it is!"

Yue Yingying's whole body trembled, her jade hands gripping her skirt knees tightly, clearly her heart was pounding, but she still didn't turn her head. Before Jie Zhao could speak, a white shadow flashed, and Dao Tiansheng, the "Dao Saint" who had been the center of attention in the hall, stopped in front of him. With a "Huh," he stared at the void above Jie Zhao's head and suddenly reached out to press on Jie Zhao's wrist.

The move was swift and gentle. Before anyone in the hall could even gasp, Dao Tiansheng had already released Jie Zhao, nodding repeatedly: "A remarkable child, a remarkable encounter, truly rare!" He then saw Yue Yingying's fair hand already on the hilt of her sword, her slender and beautiful body poised to strike. Her willow-leaf eyebrows held a hint of power, her skirt swayed, and her sword intent even preceded her and her blade. Dao Tiansheng, surprised yet slightly approving, smiled and said,

"The word 'love' is as swift as a knife!"

Yue Yingying's face flushed red with anger, but she felt an indescribable mix of emotions. It was as if some secret had been exposed, or as if she had met her only kindred spirit. Finally, in this world, there was a place, a moment, where she could confide her innermost thoughts. Her full, firm breasts heaved, and the red pocket beneath her robe surged with waves, just like the tides of her thoughts.

Jie Zhao's heart skipped a beat: "Could it be... that she intends to use her knife to save me?" He turned his head to look at her, but Yingying deliberately looked away. Her face was still flushed, and a thin layer of sweat glistened on her snow-white breasts, sliding down her tender skin, making her skin appear even more radiant and dazzlingly white.

He was utterly captivated by the beautiful woman before him, a warm feeling welling up inside him. Suddenly, a profound sense of intimacy arose within him. He gently took her hand holding the knife and whispered, "Let's sit." Yue Yingying remained silent, but a blush, like a budding flower in the spring breeze, suddenly bloomed on her face. She allowed him to hold her small hand, and they sat down side by side.

◇ ◇ ◇

Dao Tiansheng walked to the enormous "Yu Gong Ding" (a type of ancient Chinese cauldron), straightened his robes, and bowed deeply to the ground: "Master Jie, it's been so long! Your official rank has truly risen higher and higher."

Jie Zhen had already risen from his seat to wait. He was about to descend the steps, but upon hearing this, he felt embarrassed and immediately abandoned the idea. He took the new cup presented by a servant and raised it: "Eighteen years have passed since our last meeting. Brother Dao, your charm remains undiminished, as it was in your prime. I, however, am now old and ailing. Come! The peach blossoms and spring breeze, the rivers and lakes and night rain—all are contained in this cup. I, Jie, will drink first as a sign of respect." He rolled up his sleeves slightly and drank it all in one gulp.

A servant respectfully presented a golden cup on a lacquered tray to Dao Tiansheng. Dao Tiansheng stroked the tray but did not accept it, seemingly deep in thought. Jie Zhao muttered to himself, "It's just a cup of wine, is he afraid it's poisoned? This Dao Tiansheng seems carefree, but he's just pretending." Yue Yingying said softly, "If he drinks the wine your father offers, he can't fight with your second brother. Your father is putting him down!"

Jie Zhao immediately realized that everyone's eyes were focused on Dao Tiansheng's hand, especially on Fa Taochun and his wife, whose eyes were practically bloodshot. Dao Tiansheng hesitated for a moment, then suddenly smiled and casually accepted the cup. Fa Taochun couldn't hide her disappointment and almost screamed, while Jie Zhen and Jie Zhen breathed a sigh of relief and unconsciously smiled.

Just as Jie Zhen was about to step down, Dao Tiansheng suddenly raised his hand and said, "Wait!" Ignoring the surprised looks of the crowd, he casually lifted the dragon-shaped lid of the "Yu Gong Ding," and a strong aroma of wine immediately filled the hall. The cauldron was already more than half full of fine wine. He lightly leaped onto the cauldron's belly, landing on one of its four twisted dragon handles. Barefoot on the cauldron, he was more than half a head taller than Jie Zhen, Yao Wuyi, and the others on the steps, looking down at them with an air

of both elegance and arrogance. Jie Zhen's face tightened as he looked at the rough-robed, wild man on the cauldron. He suddenly remembered how this man had also come to help him in the Lin Yang Dao years ago, even though they had no deep acquaintance and had only met a few times at banquets. Back then, Jie Zhen was younger and more sharp-edged, his imposing presence unmatched by anyone in the world… But how come Dao Tiansheng hadn't changed at all over the years? How could such agonizing years not diminish his spiritedness and elegance, nor dull his arrogance and haughtiness?

Dao Tiansheng bent down, scooped up a handful of wine, tilted his head back, and drank it down, soaking his clothes.

"Master Jie, I have always admired you greatly. Throughout history, there have been countless great heroes, but those who kill far outnumber those who save. Eighteen years ago, you showed leniency, saving many unnecessary sacrifices. In my opinion, this is your most remarkable achievement." He took a few more sips, wiped his hands, and said, "This cup is one I wanted to drink with you eighteen years ago, but we didn't. Let's drink it today."

Eighteen years ago, after the defeat at Xiangshan Miwu Palace, Jie Zhen finally secured his position as the leader of the Central Plains Righteous Path Alliance. These eighteen years can be said to be the most prosperous and glorious period for the name "Shenxiao Leiyin." Dao Tiansheng only respected the past and not the present, his criticisms outweighing his praises, leaving everyone dumbfounded. Jie Zhen, with his square, purplish-brown face, showed no emotion. He clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and smiled faintly, "Very well said. Brother Dao is a reclusive master; it is an honor for our humble abode to have you grace us with your presence today."

Dao Tiansheng waved his hand and turned to Chang Zaifeng beside him.

"Are you a disciple of Master Sheng?"

"Chang Zaifeng, a disciple of Tiandu, greets Senior Dao Sheng." Chang Zaifeng placed his hands on his forehead and bowed deeply to the ground.

"Master Sheng is a wise man of our time, his wisdom shining brightly. If he could abstain from greed, he would not be taken advantage of by petty villains." Dao Tiansheng picked up a cup of wine and drank it, as if no one else was around. "I fear I have offended you today and cannot personally go to Tiandu to apologize. You may drink this cup of apology wine on behalf of your master." As he spoke, he dipped a willow branch into the cauldron, the wine dripping, and suddenly threw it out, landing lightly beside Chang Zaifeng's table.

Chang Zaifeng wasn't angry. He respectfully said, "I will certainly take your words and the wine back to Tiandu and report to my master." He carefully wrapped the willow branch in a handkerchief and put it into his bag.

Everyone thought, "It is said that among the 'Seven Talents of Tiandu,' Fu Guangfeng, known as 'Thousand Miles Straight Drive,' has the best martial arts, and Du Lingfeng, known as 'Azure Spring Waves,' has the highest wisdom. They are undoubtedly the ones who will inherit Sheng Huayan's position as the head of the sect. This Chang Zaifeng is so timid and mediocre; no wonder he has no reputation." Dao Tiansheng looked him up and down a few times and smiled lazily, "Master Sheng's mind is astounding. Famous masters usually choose disciples based on wisdom and courage, but he chose someone with a broad mind."

"This disciple is ashamed," Chang Zaifeng said, bowing his head in

return without changing his expression. Dao Tiansheng then turned his gaze to the Nine Nether Cold Court's camp.

“I have some knowledge of the art of judging character. If the Xuan Emperor were to receive your assistance, not only would his great undertaking be accomplished, but he could also be guided onto the right path. It is a pity that your phoenix-like beauty cannot remain in the desolate forest forever. Yuwen Xiaoxiao is unfortunate, and the righteous path of Zhongzhou is unfortunate!” He shook his head repeatedly at Wen Qiongyu, picked up a cup of wine and drank it: “This cup of wine is a lament for Zhongzhou and the Yuwen clan!” He laughed heartily, but there was a hint of sobbing in his laughter.

Shang Jiuqing and the other members of the Hanting tribe were furious. Wen Qiongyu covered her mouth and smiled, shaking her head as well, saying, “Senior Daosheng, this ‘using a borrowed knife to kill’ tactic is not good. The Xuan Emperor reigns over the Northern Region and has a vast mind. If he were to harbor resentment towards Qiongyu because of your words, how could he command thousands of soldiers and countless heroes? Senior, you have lofty aspirations and are respected by the people of the martial world. For whom are you harboring selfish motives and wanting to kill Qiongyu?”

This time, Dao Tiansheng was slightly taken aback, his madness abruptly ceasing. He remained silent for a moment before muttering to himself, "My selfishness... do I still have selfishness? If I do, for whom?" Fearing her uncle was determined to abandon her, Fa Taochun, ignoring her husband's attempts to stop her, screamed, "Uncle, don't listen to that lowly woman's nonsense! Please, Uncle, get me the pearl!" She clutched the jade pendant tightly, her pale cheeks flushed crimson, her nails digging almost into her palms.

Dao Tiansheng closed his eyes and sighed, "Since I have made a promise, I will never break it. Today, I will retrieve the Yin-Yang Pearl for you!" Suddenly, he opened his eyes, stretched out his long arm, and swiftly snatched the jade pendant away: "After obtaining the pearl, my promise to your mother is fulfilled. I am no longer burdened and can be my own master. Let the Yin-Yang Pearl, like this half of the pendant, vanish into thin air!"

He opened his palm, and the jade in his hand had already turned to dust!

Fa Taochun was stunned, and the others secretly groaned. Given Dao Tiansheng's skill, even if Jie Jun was one of the top young masters among the four families, he probably wouldn't last ten moves against the "Southern Frontier Dao Saint." The Yin-Pin Pearl, once in Dao Tiansheng's hands, would only be shattered.

Dao Tiansheng threw the wine cup back onto the steps, leaving a few drops. He slapped the belly of the cauldron, the echoing sound of the wine being muffled and heavy, like the roar of

a river. "I'm sorry, Master Jie." He stood with his feet shoulder-width apart, one hand behind his back, and turned to face Jie Jun:

"Second Young Master Jie, if you can last three moves against me, I will consider it a loss. Please!"

Jie Jun was extremely solemn, his thick, fiery red eyebrows furrowed, and he glanced back at his father; Jie Zhen shook his head slightly, expressionless. The opponent was a master of the Six Absolutes level. Even if Jie Zhen, Sheng Huayan, or even Xuanhuang Yuwen Xiaoxiao came personally, they wouldn't be confident of victory. Whether it was Jie Jun or Jie Zhen who faced him, it didn't really matter.

Three moves. They just needed to survive three moves, everyone thought.

Jie Jun took a deep breath, channeling all his inner energy. He lifted the massive sword "Dragon-Locking Needle," weighing 120 jin (approximately 60 kg), with one hand. The dark tip of the sword slowly rose above his head. With a twist of his waist, his burly body spun, and he slashed down! The towering giant, combined with the pillar-like "Dragon-Locking Needle," delivered a strike with the force of a thousand jin! The wind pressure generated by the sword howled, whipping up a cloud of broken bricks. Everyone felt a sudden darkness before their eyes, as countless grains of sand and dust rained down on their faces. They raised their sleeves to shield their breath; their breathing suddenly became labored, as if the sword had sucked all the air away. Even if they desperately tried to inhale, they couldn't suck in anything.

—Speed is power!

No one had expected that such a heavy sword could be wielded so quickly.

"General Lu's" martial arts require mastering the Lu technique to a high degree, which puts him at a significant disadvantage in terms of timing. Facing the Southern Frontier Dao Saint, who had been famous for nearly thirty years, Jie Jun abandoned all techniques and tricks, relying purely on brute force to win. With a deafening roar, the sound waves shook the entire hall, causing everyone to cover their ears and stagger. The blunt, heavy "Dragon-Locking Needle" struck the "Yu Gong Cauldron" heavily

. Dao Tiansheng held the cauldron with one hand, and the bronze cauldron didn't even shake. However, the shockwave traveled from the sword tip to the hilt, reflecting back along the protruding spine of the sword!

Jie Jun's eyes widened and his teeth gritted. He gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, lowered his waist, and mounted his horse to resist. Suddenly, he spun around, and he and his sword were sent flying, staggering back seven or eight steps. The Dragon-Locking Needle "crack!" plunged into the ground, and a crack that stretched for three zhang (approximately 10 meters) wide burst open, shattering the blue bricks as if plowed by an iron rake.

Jie Jun's face turned purple, and he suddenly vomited blood. The tiger's mouth on his hands burst open, and he barely managed to stay upright, leaning against the Dragon-Locking Needle, his body trembling slightly. While everyone stared in disbelief, they then noticed the steam rising from the Yu Gong Cauldron. It turned out that Jie Jun's sword strike, imbued with his full inner strength, clashed with Dao Tiansheng's powerful internal energy within the cauldron, causing the cold wine to instantly boil and transform into a misty vapor, filling the hall with its sweet aroma.

Jie Zhao initially thought Dao Tiansheng had used some clever technique to deflect Jie Jun's immense force, but Yingying shook her head, frowning and pondering, "If it were a matter of using the opponent's force against them, the wine in the cauldron wouldn't have turned into vapor. Your second brother retreated so far, yet he couldn't dissipate the recoil, but he seems completely unaffected? Could it be due to General Lu's miraculous Lu technique again?"

Fa Taochun and Dao Chuyang were probably even more astonished than the others.

Within the General's Sect lies a profound martial art called the "Eastern Emperor Taishan Lord's Martial Arts." Once mastered, it grants immunity to backlash and doubles one's strength against the enemy, making it incredibly powerful. However, it is extremely difficult to learn. It requires a foundation in the sect's supple techniques, the "Flying God Technique," and the force-dissipating technique, the "Earthly Wandering Immortal," along with over fifteen years of cultivating the superior internal energy of "Qian Yuan Gang" to wield this martial art. Otherwise, even if one invokes the Martial God, the body cannot withstand the force, and even the strongest mental suggestion will be useless.

Currently, on Mount Jiuyi, only General Fa Tianxing can wield the "Taishan Lord's Martial Arts."

"But even Father couldn't summon the Martial God in such a short time. Unless…" Fa Taochun shook his head blankly: "Impossible, absolutely impossible. That's just a record in Taoist texts; no one can master it."

"That must be it," Dao Chuyang murmured, his voice trembling with excitement.

"It's...it's the 'Lu Shen Mirror'! Uncle...he's mastered the 'Lu Shen Mirror'!"

General Lu belongs to the Lu sect of Taoism, which combines hand seals and incantations with martial arts to deeply influence himself through mental suggestion, concentrating his will and unleashing his potential—a practice known as "Invoking the Lu Shen." The most crucial aspect is this suggestion process, which must be free from external interference and completed in the shortest possible time. Just like when Dao Chuyang fought Shang Jiuqing, he was at a disadvantage until he finished reciting the "Demon-Subduing Steps and Star-Shattering Lu Shen," but once he invoked the Lu Shen, the battle suddenly turned around. If he could quickly switch Lu Shen based on the enemy's weaknesses, General Lu's martial arts would combine the most precise attacks with the most effective defense, making him virtually flawless.

According to ancient records, there is a secret method called the "Lu Shen Mirror" that can make this dream come true. It is said that those who master the "Mirror of the Divine Mirror" can manifest desired talismanic patterns on their palms simply by looking at them, and enter a state of divine possession upon tapping their foreheads. Furthermore, by summoning divine techniques such as the "Summoning the Divine Mirror" and the "Pointing the Ghost Divine Mirror," they can control the minds of others with a single touch… To realize this dream of "acting at will," until a hundred years ago when the 32nd generation leader of the General Divine Mirror, "Wu Wu Qian Kun," declared this claim absurd in the North Sea, the sect still maintained the rule that "whoever masters the 'Mirror of the Divine Mirror' will take over the sect." Sure enough,

Dao Tiansheng lightly tapped his forehead, and for a moment, a wisp of red light seemed to leak from between his fingers, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Jie Jun gripped his sword tightly, secretly gathering his inner energy and circulating it throughout his body, then slowly assumed a fighting stance.

Dao Tiansheng smiled calmly: "It's hard to win by force. I'm just teaching you this principle."

Jie Jun said in a deep voice: "This junior is grateful for your teaching. Senior, please be careful!" He thrust out his sword with ease, as if the huge Dragon-Locking Needle was weightless in his hands. In the blink of an eye, it was transformed into a vicious black light with a howling wind. His sword moves were wide and sweeping, but each strike only used six or seven tenths of his strength, leaving room for maneuver. He was able to launch more than thirty consecutive attacks in one go, with crisp clanging sounds ringing out in the air. Dao Tiansheng casually moved the single-sided cauldron handle around, each sword strike blocked by the enormous Yu Gong Cauldron. He could still speak:

"This is not the Blazing Sun Sword Technique! This is... the Yunyang Jie Clan's 'Eight Formations for Pacifying the Rong'?" Jie

Jun's entire body circulated true qi, and he dared not speak. He swung his sword to form a formation. The giant sword, over nine feet long, danced out, with the Heaven, Earth, Wind, and Cloud formations guarding the center, and the Dragon Soaring, Bird Flying, Tiger Wings, and Snake Coiling formations supporting the attack. The rules were strict and the variations were endless. Combined with his red hair and golden armor, he was simply a heavenly general descended to earth.

Dao Tiansheng revealed an expression of admiration and laughed, "Indeed, a descendant of a general. With a massive army pressing in, it would be disrespectful to avoid them! Watch as I muster my troops for battle!" He glared at his palm, which glowed with crimson light, and pressed it against his forehead, shouting, "Hey! Nine Mights Summoning Dragon's Embrace!"

His robes billowed as he grabbed the legs of the Yu Gong Cauldron and met the sweeping Dragon-Locking Needles with a thunderous roar. It was as if two heavily armored armies were clashing, with "Nine Mights Summoning Dragon's Embrace" against "Eight Formations for Pacifying the Barbarians," soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals; amidst the sounds of battle, the two armies clashed, countless warhorses and spears collided into one!

The two, their hair disheveled, clashed passionately, the clash of sword and cauldron like thunder, shaking everyone inside. Sand and stones flew through the hall, turning the blue bricks into battlefield dust, swirling in the howling wind. After an unknown amount of time, Dao Tiansheng swung his cauldron, sending Jie Jun staggering backward, his back slamming heavily against a pillar. Dust billowed from the pillar's top, as if it were about to collapse.

Jie Jun tried to rise, but suddenly his legs gave way, and he collapsed beside the pillar, unable to stand despite several attempts, his face and head covered in dust. Blood trickled from his lips, his fiery red eyebrows seeming to burn, yet unable to conceal the pain and resentment in his eyes.

—The battle… was over.

Dao Tiansheng set down the giant cauldron, released Lu Shen, and waved his sleeves to disperse the white dust.

"Three moves have passed, I've lost!" Though his appearance was disheveled, his smile remained carefree. Everyone was astonished, but he waved his hand and turned to walk out of the hall. "Master Jie, if the Yin Female Pearl cannot be destroyed, I hope you will act with the same magnanimity you showed when you destroyed Fragrant Mountain."

Fa Taochun almost fainted, crying out, "Uncle! My pearl, my pearl..." She took two steps, her legs gave way, but her husband caught her in time. Dao Chuyang looked at her with heartache and comforted her softly, "Uncle always keeps his word. If he wins, the pearl will be lost!" Fa Taochun's face turned ashen. She pushed him away, gritted her teeth, and leaned on the edge of the table to return to her seat without saying a word.

As the dust settled, Jie Ying huddled in Jie Zhen's arms on the steps. Yao Wuyi, however, was now being protected by Qu Fengzhao, the commander of the Golden Guards, known as the "Ghost Hand of Splitting Light." Even so, his dusty appearance was still quite disheveled, prompting him to scream repeatedly in anger: "Rebellion! Rebellion! Are they trying to demolish the noble mansion and kill the imperial envoy?! Guards! Seize that madman!" More than two hundred Golden Guards outside the hall responded loudly, but Dao Tiansheng was nowhere to be seen. He was merely putting on a show.

Yao Wuyi glared fiercely at Qu Fengzhao: "You've raised a fine piece of trash!"

Qu Fengzhao bowed and said, "Your Excellency is a pillar of the nation, and cannot be allowed to fail. I, Fengzhao, am of limited ability and cannot attend to anything else. Please punish me, Your Excellency." Yao Wuyi was quite pleased to hear this, his expression softening. He lightly slapped the back of Qu Fengzhao's hand and smiled slyly: "You do know what's important. I'll let it go this time! But Dao Tiansheng cannot be let off so easily. Tell the imperial guards to keep an eye on him. If he catches him, my family will reward him handsomely." He saw Dao Tiansheng, handsome and dashing, and for some reason felt an inexplicable sense of disgust. He even became annoyed with General Lu. He glanced at the Fa Taochun couple below the steps, cleared his throat, and said with a sinister smile:

"In the first round of the sword contest for the pearl, General Lu lost! This Yin Yin Pearl, your family can forget about it!"

◇ ◇ Jie

Jun's servants helped him to his seat. Dozens of strong young servants filed into the hall, removing all the broken blue bricks and replacing them with sandalwood planks of the same size and thickness. New, dark brown felt was then laid on top, transforming the once chaotic battlefield into an elegant and magnificent hall. Maids brought fragrant water and handkerchiefs for everyone to wash their faces, and then served tea and snacks. Jie Zhen

rose to greet everyone and offer them food. Miao Hantian, the great hero of Jingzhao, raised a cup to toast him: "Master Jie, a tiger cub from a military family, truly admirable! Who else but Zhao Ri Manor can safeguard such a treasure as the Yin-Pin Pearl?" Jie Zhen repeatedly declined, but a rare, relaxed smile appeared on his face as he shared a cup with Miao Hantian. Everyone present, except for the three great families and more experienced figures like Zen Master Deyue, raised their cups in congratulations, clearly indicating that the Yin-Pin Pearl was already in the Jie family's grasp.

Jie Jun did not leave his seat, and the Dragon-Locking Needle remained beside him, lying flat on the ground. Jie Zhen ordered someone to fetch a medicinal pill for him to take. The pill was the color of molten amber, with a hazy halo. It was the "Preservation and Renewal Pill," the treasure of Jiuyi Mountain, which Fa Taochun had brought yesterday. Jie Zhao looked at it with some emotion and said to Yue Yingying in a low voice, "I don't have a good impression of General Lu's people, but taking their pills at this time is really too ostentatious."

Yue Yingying nodded, "I also think it's not good." After a moment, she said, "Your second brother only used up his strength, he doesn't seem to be seriously injured. It seems that Senior Dao Sheng was merciful and didn't need such a miraculous pill."

Jie Zhao smiled and said, "But Jie Jun really fought well. If he didn't hate me so much that he wanted to kill me, after watching that battle, I would really admire him." Yue Yingying glanced at him, her eyes filled with complicated emotions, but not with the sorrow she had shown before. Jie Zhao felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze. Just as he was about to tease her, Wu Liu, the gatekeeper, walked in from the side hall. Wu Liu quickly approached him and whispered, "Fourth Master! There's a man surnamed Zheng outside with a maid. He says he was sent by Fourth Master."

Jie Zhao remembered what happened at the Tonghua Courtyard yesterday and instructed, "Take her to the front yard to wait. I'll be back in a bit."

Wu Liu obeyed and left. Yue Yingying looked at him coldly. Jie Zhao flattered her, "I'll be right back, it won't be long."

Yue Yingying snorted, "I don't care about your own shameful affairs! Who cares if you live or die?" She turned her head away angrily, twisting her waist and sitting sideways, her full breasts heaving.

Jie Zhao chuckled inwardly, "That silly girl's jealous." A sweet sense of satisfaction washed over him. Taking advantage of the lively atmosphere in the hall, he quietly slipped out and hurried to the front yard. There, he saw the Zheng family farmhand from the Tonghua courtyard waiting with a young woman of about sixteen or seventeen. The girl had snow-white skin, her hair styled in two neat black double buns, and her features were fairly pretty, but far less beautiful than the "Zheng Ping'er" in the bathhouse. Of course, they couldn't be the same person.

As soon as Zheng saw him, he rushed forward with a fawning smile, "Fourth Master!" He turned and pulled the girl, "Why don't you call out to him?"

The girl timidly called out "Fourth Master," her voice clear and sweet, truly a natural singer's voice.

Jie Zhao waved his hand, "I don't have much time, so forget about all that. Miss Zheng, let me ask you: you and your father have always sung at the Tea House across from Tianxiang Tower, haven't you?" The girl nodded, "Yes." Her eyes reddened, but she held back her tears.

Jie Zhao noticed the mourning clothes still tied around her arm, assuming Old Man Zheng was truly dead.

"How long has it been since you sang at the Tea House?"

"More...more than half a year."

So the imposter "Zheng Ping'er" had been active in the capital for at least six months, otherwise she wouldn't know about the Zheng father and daughter's past performances at the Tea House. Jie Zhao asked her a few more questions, such as where she lived and what relatives she had, growing increasingly frustrated: "I'm wasting my time! She...knows absolutely nothing!" He ordered one hundred taels of silver to be given to the two of them and sent them away casually.

He sat alone in the flower hall, pouring himself tea. Suddenly, he heard light footsteps behind him. Thinking it was some impetuous maid from the courtyard, he waved his hand impatiently, "Get out! I want some peace and quiet. Tell everyone I haven't seen you." The person didn't move. Jie Zhao turned around and saw a delicate, pretty figure standing by the door. Her fair skin was even more delicate than the pale white vest with silver trim. Her long, slightly wavy hair was gathered to one side of her chest, and her small, silver-trimmed boots lightly kicked the red threshold. It was Jie Ying .

"Why are you here, little sister?" Jie Zhao suddenly realized that he hadn't noticed her all morning and felt guilty.

"Who...who bullied you? You look so pale. Come, tell your brother, and I'll get revenge for you."

Jie Ying was backlit, and the shadows accentuated her flawless, captivating curves. Her expression was unclear, but her large eyes shone brightly, her light brown pupils resembling both cat's eyes and amber.

“You…” she said slowly, “You’ve fallen for that Yue Yingying, haven’t you?”

Jie Zhao felt a chill run down his spine and shook his head without hesitation—this was an instinctive reaction honed from years of navigating the world of pleasure. Admitting it meant certain death, while improvisation was the only way to escape and turn defeat into victory. He should have continued to feign innocence and said bluntly, “How could I fall for that kind of woman? In my heart, there’s only my dear little sister…”

But for some reason, he suddenly didn’t want to say that.

Jie Zhao shook his head stiffly, resignedly looking back at his sister. The large hall was silent, so quiet that it seemed only his violently pounding heartbeat could be heard. Sister… Jie Ying’s heartbeat? Why, why can’t I hear it?

“You… do you want to marry her? Brother?”

“No… how could I? What nonsense are you talking about?” Jie Zhao forced a smile, his cheeks twitching uncontrollably:

“I’ve never thought about such a thing. Yue… Miss Yue and I are friends. She saved my life, she…”

“I’m going to tell Father about us.”

“Wh… what?!” The color drained from Jie Zhao’s face with a “whoosh,” and the porcelain cup in his hand crashed to the ground, shattering into a circle of flying powder.

"I'm going to tell Father about us. I can't stand you being with other women." Jie Ying said quietly,

"If Father won't let us be together, I'll die in front of him. What do you say, brother?"

◇ ◇ ◇

In the hall, Jie Zhen had already drunk three rounds with the guests. The martial artists from Zhongjing were still not satisfied and kept urging him to continue. The tense atmosphere of the "sword-fighting contest" had vanished, as if they had skipped the arena battle and arrived at the celebration banquet at Zhaori Manor in the blink of an eye. Fa Taochun and his wife had livid faces, and Shang Jiuqing and a group of Hanting Iron Guards also looked unfriendly. Wen Qiongyu, on the other hand, sat with a smile, not caring at all. Chang Zaifeng was even more relaxed and chatted with Zen Master Deyue, Chief Escort Fang, and others for a while, and was persuaded to drink a few cups of wine.

Yao Wuyi was left standing on the steps, and Jie Ying, who had been sitting beside him, had disappeared again. Impatiently tapping the armrest, he suddenly shrieked, "Master Jie! Is it time for a drinking contest? If your second young master can't fight anymore, replace him with someone who can!"

Everyone was startled by this and silently put down their cups and returned to their seats. Jie Zhen apologized repeatedly, and Yao Wuyi smiled coldly with narrowed eyes, responding with a few perfunctory words.

Jie Jun had rested for more than half an hour, and with the miraculous effect of the "Preservation and Strengthening Pill" to consolidate his foundation, his internal energy had long since returned to normal. Riding on the momentum of his first victory, this time he didn't even remove his cloak and sword, but instead strode into the arena, carrying the giant sword Locking Dragon Needle in one hand. Chang Zaifeng stood up, took a short stick about four feet long from his bag, the ends of which were wrapped with soft leather, and the whole stick was shiny and smooth, like a type of wood such as sandalwood or ironwood.

The staff was unremarkable; it was simply a cloth bag used by Chang Zaifeng to store his clothes and books, tied to the staff, making it look no different from a carrying pole. No one would have guessed it was his personal weapon. He held the staff to the ground with both hands, the staff only reaching his chest, and bowed, saying, "Brother Jie, please."

Jie Jun, however, lowered his stance and sneered, "Brother Chang... do you really look down on my skills?"

Chang Zaifeng was taken aback.

"Brother Jie, what makes you say such a thing?"

"My 'Dragon-Locking Needle' is a divine weapon of the world; even mortal iron cannot withstand it!" He raised his thick, fiery eyebrows, which contrasted sharply with his glossy, bronze skin, and even his suppressed anger seemed to be boiling over: "Brother Chang, you fight me with a wooden stick, what about me, Brother Jie, and the Dragon-Locking Needle! Isn't this an insult to me!"

Chang Zaifeng shook his head and said, "Brother Jie, you flatter me. Since I became a disciple of the Tiandu Sect, I have received my master's teachings and have never dared to slack off day or night. I have spent twenty-two years honing my skills on this stick; this ebony stick, made of sunken wood, contains all the pride of my martial arts.

As the ancients said, 'The brocade of the rich is not enough to show off wealth, but the cotton of the poor is enough to pass down through generations.'" "How could I possibly insult Brother Jie with this staff?"

Jie Jun, upon hearing this, stiffened, his red eyebrows lowered, and he clasped his hands in a solemn manner, saying, "It was my rudeness. Brother Chang, please!"

Chang Zaifeng returned the clasped hands, "Please." His right hand formed a stance resembling both a sword and a short spear, the tip of the staff lightly touching the ground as a sign of respect.

"Jiejian Tiandu" was an anomaly among the martial arts scholars, renowned for their use of long weapons in addition to their wisdom and strategy. The master of Tiandu, Sheng Huayan, possessed the reputation of "unparalleled wisdom," so his martial arts style was relatively unknown. However, among the "Seven Masters of Tiandu," Fu Guangfeng's Pingyi Spear, Du Lingfeng's Qingsi Staff, and Wu Xunfeng's Fangshou Tianbai were all renowned long weapons in Zhongchen Prefecture and should not be underestimated. Chang Zaifeng brandished his short staff; though unassuming in appearance, it was nonetheless a genuine product of Jiejian Tiandu.

Jie Jun, fully alert, swung the Dragon-Locking Needle at the waist; its overwhelming momentum, sweeping across the battlefield, was tempered by a strange, unpredictable agility, like a leaping bird—the "Bird Soaring" move from the Yunyang Jie Clan's "Eight Formations for Pacifying the Barbarians"! The onlookers, seeing his domineering block, which then completely sealed off Chang Zaifeng's upper, middle, and lower defenses, combining power and agility, couldn't help but cheer loudly. Miao Hantian clapped vigorously, "Good! What a brilliant Eight Formations for Pacifying the Barbarians..." Before he could finish, he suddenly froze. Chang

Zaifeng's staff lashed out horizontally, "Crack!" striking the Dragon-Locking Needle precisely at its spine. The enormous blade, like a wounded beast, veered to the side; Chang Zaifeng thrust forward, striking Jie Jun with a resounding thud, causing him to stumble back several steps, his copper-inlaid shoulder cape shattering.

The entire hall was stunned. Jie Jun, both shocked and enraged, roared and swung his sword again.

Chang Zaifeng remained calm and composed. Again, before the sword could strike, he deflected it with his staff, this time hitting Jie Jun's left hip, tearing open his copper-buttoned armor skirt. Jie Jun roared in pain, refusing to retreat, turning and slashing with his sword, only to be struck in the right ribs again… In the blink of an eye, they exchanged more than ten blows. Jie Jun's sword strikes never reached their full potential, while Chang Zaifeng's attacks never missed. The giant's greatsword was trapped within the four-foot-long staff shadow, his body bruised and cracked, growing weaker with each blow, gradually shrinking into a ball, utterly helpless.

The father and son, Jie Zhen and Jie Zhen, watching from the sidelines, exchanged a glance, both stunned. Everyone could see that Jie Jun had already lost, but the crowd was too shocked to shout the news. Fang Dongqi, the chief镖头 (bodyguard) of Huanyu镖局 (Huanyu Escort Agency), murmured, "What... what kind of staff technique is this? Could it be a new and unparalleled move created by Master Sheng?" Sheng Huayan rarely fought with others, and his disciples who traveled the martial arts world each had their own creations. The martial arts style of Jiejian Tiandu was as difficult for people in the martial arts world to understand as the wisdom and strategy they studied.

Zen Master Deyue, however, was a master of the Buddhist Mad Demon Staff, possessing extensive knowledge of various long weapons in Zhongchen Prefecture. He shook his head and sighed, "No, the method used by Benefactor Chang is the 'Six Fundamentals' of the Heavenly Capital Sword-Unlocking Technique. Filial piety is the foundation of righteousness, sorrow is the foundation of propriety, courage is the foundation of war, agriculture is the foundation of governance, offspring is the foundation of the state, and strength is the foundation of wealth. These are the 'Six Fundamentals.' I once discussed Heavenly Capital martial arts with Master Sheng, using this technique as the foundation for entry. Only those who have mastered it can advance to the realms of the 'Five Emperors Technique,' 'Four Symbols Technique,' and 'Three Ultimate Technique.' Today, witnessing Benefactor Chang's methods, I realize that Master Sheng's attainments are far beyond my comprehension." The crowd fell silent, their voices rising in alarm against the backdrop of Chang Zaifeng's brutal blows and Jie Jun's gritting teeth and low growls.

Jie Zhen's face was ashen. Sheng Huayan had long anticipated an inevitable battle, deliberately sending the relatively unknown Chang Zaifeng. Not only did Zhaori Manor lose the pearl, but they also benefited someone else entirely. Rumors spread throughout the martial world that "the second generation of the Jie family lost to the seventh son of Tiandu," and Jie Jian Tiandu's reputation would overshadow Zhaori Manor's, resulting in a resounding victory for both their reputation and their own.

Jie Zhen glanced at his father, immediately understanding the gravity of the situation.

(Things had come to this point; this battle could not be lost!)

He saw that the Jie army was mostly parrying and rarely attacking, and Chang Zaifeng showed a hint of reluctance, seemingly about to call a truce. If Chang Zaifeng dictated the terms, given the obvious advantage, the Jie army would have no choice but to concede. Without hesitation, Jie Zhen drew his sword and leaped into the fray, shouting, "Brother Chang, forgive me!" His sword thrust forward, aiming straight for Chang Zaifeng's back!

This was a sneak attack, but it had the unexpected effect of relieving the siege of Wei by attacking Zhao. Chang Zaifeng was slightly startled, but remained calm. He swung his short staff back to meet the attack, his moves as sharp as swords and whips. In the blink of an eye, he had exchanged more than ten blows with Jie Zhen, gradually forcing him to retreat. However, he was forced to abandon Jie Jun. Jie Zhen's swordsmanship might not have truly surpassed his second brother Jie Jun's, but having observed their fight, Chang Zaifeng's feet remained stationary, his movements minimal, while Jie Jun's swordplay was wide and sweeping. It was as if he himself had placed his weaknesses on the tip of his staff. Suddenly, he realized: "He... is using the 'Mirror Shot' technique!"

In martial arts, there is a skill called "listening to the opponent's energy." "Listening" refers to sensing and perceiving, not just hearing. Being able to sense the opponent's killing intent and force makes it easier to find weaknesses in their attack, like placing a mirror in front of the enemy, hence the name "mirror-like technique." For listening to the opponent's energy to be effective in actual combat, one must possess very solid fundamental skills. Chang Zaifeng, who used the "Six Essential Techniques" of the Tiandu beginner's staff technique to defeat Jie Jun to the point of only being able to parry, clearly possessed this skill.

Therefore, Jie Zhen successively changed Tiancheng Mountain's "Lieque Sword Technique," "Liangyi Wind and Thunder Sword," and "Shanhuan Lingshuo" sword techniques, interspersed with a few moves of his family's "Lieyang Sword Technique" and "Pingrong Eight Formations Sword." The atmosphere of the battle suddenly changed from the previous violent and intense fighting to an extremely calm dismantling and probing. Chang Zaifeng's counterattacks were clearly restrained, constantly exploring and adapting to Jie Zhen's varied moves, before slowly regaining the advantage.

Suddenly, with a loud "boom," the Dragon-Locking Needle cleaved through the air, forcefully separating the two. Jie Jun turned around and roared,

"Third brother, step back! This fight is mine!" Jie Zhen sneered angrily, drawing his sword back and saying in a low voice,

"Second brother! I won't fight you. If we don't join forces, the name 'Sunrise Manor' will be utterly destroyed today. How can we face Father then!" Jie Jun's face was ashen, and he remained silent.

As they spoke, Chang Zaifeng wielded his staff, its four-foot length combined with his arm, increasing his attack range to seven feet. Neither of the two young masters of the Jie family could escape his grasp; Jie Jun's nine-foot Dragon-Locking Needle was rendered ineffective, and Jie Zhen was also affected, immediately retreating step by step. Jie Zhen, having taken two hard blows, reluctantly retreated half a step, gripping his sword to his cheek, and whispered, "Second brother! 'Double Sunshine'!"

Jie Jun, utterly routed, closed his eyes in despair: "That's it! What else is there for me to hold on to?" Suddenly, he opened his eyes and roared, "Take this! 'Double Sunshine'!" He discarded the Dragon-Locking Needle, and with a clang, drew his sword from his waist, gripping it to his cheek as well. The two brothers stepped forward simultaneously, sword tips pointing straight ahead, the force of their energy causing the two swords to vibrate and tremble, heat waves surging, and the gleaming blades faintly emitting a red light!

Chang Zaifeng's face was flushed red by the sword light, and he unconsciously revealed a solemn expression. His ebony short staff spun and dodged, initially avoiding the sword's edge, and he retreated somewhat awkwardly. Yao Wuyi, who had initially found the second duel utterly boring—Chang Zaifeng's unassuming appearance and Jie Jun's constant beatings—finally brightened up, his interest piqued. He pulled Jie Zhen aside and asked, "Old Jie! When did you acquire such a two-person sword formation in your residence? You never show it to anyone?"

Jie Zhen remained noncommittal, simply bowing and saying, "My skills are rudimentary;

please excuse my amateurish attempt, sir." Seeing the red light flashing across the arena as the Jie brothers, Jie Zhen and Jie Jun, joined forces, unexpectedly forcing Chang Zaifeng to retreat, the crowd felt their spirits lifted. Fang Dongqi whispered to Zen Master Deyue, "Master, what is the name of this combined sword technique from Zhaori Manor?" Zen Master Deyue chanted a Buddhist prayer and shook his head, "This old monk has never heard of it either. Zhaori Manor has a century-old foundation, managed by generations; it's possible they possess other secret techniques."

Aside from the three Jie family members, only one person in the entire audience noticed something amiss.

"This isn't some two-person sword formation... they're using the 'Blazing Sun Sword Technique'!" Yue Yingying frowned, thinking, "Strange! Why do Jie Zhen and Jie Jun need to combine their strength to unleash a complete Blazing Sun Sword Technique?"

◇ ◇ ◇

Jie Zhao stared in disbelief.

Although Jie Ying was spoiled, she was never a weak or neurotic girl; having both lost their mothers and grown up alone in the empty courtyard for so long, he even felt that Jie Ying was stronger than him, always knowing what she wanted, always determined to get it, and willing to bear the price for obtaining it. The process of having an affair with his sister was not only supreme pleasure, but also a sense of security: Jie Ying generously allowed him to seek out women, changing from one woman to another, learning more techniques to please the female body; and her curiosity, fervor, and high interest in sex belonged entirely to him. Now, Jie Zhao suddenly understood—it turned out, all she wanted was his heart.

He sat blankly at the table, his whole body cold. He should have reached out and pulled her back, stopping her from pushing them both into the abyss of destruction; perhaps he could have made her a promise, or simply stripped her of her clothes, pinned her to the table, and thrust into her hard, making her remember that intoxicating, unforgettable physical pleasure, turning her back into a docile, obedient little lamb…

Jie Ying quietly watched him. She watched his forehead beaded with sweat, his face ashen, and after a long time, she suddenly smiled.

“I was lying to you.”

Jie Zhao was startled, but saw her smile sweetly.

“I said I was going to tell Father, to commit suicide in front of him…” Jie Ying blinked, her hazy eyes seeming to shimmer with mist: “That was a lie.”

Jie Zhao suddenly felt a sense of physical collapse, as if all the blood in his body had gushed out from somewhere, like ejaculation. He was about to stand up when his hand, already unceremoniously reaching for his sister's soft, large breasts, was met with a giggle from Jie Ying. She deftly dodged, backing away slowly with her hands behind her back, her pretty face still shrouded in shadow, seemingly blending into it.

"Brother, you're so useless," Jie Ying giggled. Jie Zhao could almost picture her alluring, provocative smile in the shadows, yet her amber, cat-like eyes held no laughter, only a gleaming light.

"You really are useless,"

Jie Zhao, still drenched in cold sweat, suddenly became angry and embarrassed, blurting out, "How...how am I useless?"

He reached out and grabbed her slender wrist. Jie Ying gently shook him off, giggling as she fled the hall. "Whether it's against your conscience or not, you should say: 'How could I possibly like that kind of woman? In my heart, there's only my dear little sister.'" "Otherwise, you should have tricked me into some secluded courtyard..." She pretended to pinch her delicate, fair neck, and smiled sinisterly:

"...kill me to silence me."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Jie Zhao frowned, beckoning her hand repeatedly:

"Come here! Let your brother feel if you're delirious with fever, little sister?"

Jie Ying giggled, her arms wrapped around her slender waist, leaning back and forth, wiping her eyes as if she were laughing through tears.

Jie Zhao stood up, walked to the door, and suddenly felt that the incomparably beautiful girl in the courtyard was very distant, like a stranger, and he didn't know what to do with her. Jie Ying slowly stopped laughing, took a deep breath, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and unconsciously brought out her soft, full breasts, the collar of her vest bulging, as if filled with thick cheese, or like two smooth, juicy pears; against her slender shoulders and small waist, her curves were even more alluring.

“If you were any more useful, I would go to find Father. If you were any more useful…”

Jie Ying gave him a deep look, then turned and left. As he stepped out of the courtyard gate, he vaguely heard her say,

“I would be willing to die for you.”

◇ ◇ ◇

When Jie Zhao returned to the hall, the duel between Jie Zhen, Jie Jun, and Chang Zaifeng had already ended.

He dared not look at his father—or sister—on the steps, hurriedly returned to his seat, and asked in a low voice, “What happened?

Why did even my third brother go down to fight?” After calling several times, Yue Yingying finally came to her senses, frowning and saying softly, “You’re only back now? The show’s over! What’s there to see?”

Jie Zhao wanted to ask who won and who lost, but seeing Jie Jun and Jie Zhen sitting cross-legged, breathing heavily, looking exhausted and sweating profusely, while Chang Zaifeng sat perfectly still in his seat, and everyone’s expressions towards him were completely different from before—except for Wen Qiongyu, who was still smiling and talking as usual, everyone else treated him differently—the result of the duel was self-evident.

"My two older brothers joined forces... and they actually lost to him?" Jie Zhao's jaw almost dropped.

“We were supposed to win.” Yue Yingying recounted how Chang Zaifeng had utterly defeated the Jie army and how the Jie brothers had joined forces to suppress them. “…Who knew that your two brothers, halfway through the fight, suddenly couldn’t catch their breath, as if their inner energy had been exhausted, and that’s how they were defeated. They haven’t recovered yet. What, is your family’s ‘Blazing Sun Sword Technique’ so energy-consuming? The ‘Great Sun Divine Skill’ is known for its fierce and continuous power, and is called ‘as bright as the sun,’ so how could it be so ineffective?”

Jie Zhao shrugged and smiled. “I don’t know about that. I’ve only practiced the basics of the Blazing Sun Sword Technique, and my father won’t teach me anything more advanced. As for the Great Sun Divine Skill… hehe, I haven’t even touched the edges. I’m completely clueless about it.”

Yue Yingying was amused by him and covered her mouth to chuckle, then glared at him with her almond-shaped eyes: “You’re so glib!” She couldn’t help but laugh.

Jie Zhao, still unsettled, forced a dry laugh. Yue Yingying suddenly sighed and said softly, "You said your father values your third brother the most and treats your second brother like an outsider from your hometown. I don't think that's necessarily true. Look! Your father takes care of your second brother's health just as much as he does your third brother." She gently raised her delicate chin, and Jie Zhao looked over. He saw servants bringing pills for the two of them to take. It was the "Preservation and Renewal Pill" from Mount Jiuyi. There were three pills in the medicine cup. Jie Zhen only took one and fed it to his mouth with water. The rest were eaten by Jie Jun.

“How can you give three pills to two sons?”

“Maybe he’s taller and bigger, so he needs more.” Jie Zhao shook his head. “My third brother is humble and polite. Maybe my father specially prepared two pills for him, but that greedy dog Jie Jun ate them.”

A murmur rippled through the hall. Jie Zhen cleared his throat, stood up, and the room suddenly fell silent.

“Now, this is the final match.” His expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger, as if the two sons who had just been defeated were not his proud ones. “Nephew Chang, if you’ve rested well, let’s begin!” Chang Zaifeng stood up and said, “This junior is ready to teach you at any time. Everything is up to the Master.” His expression was humble and composed, neither arrogant nor humble, showing no trace of the pride or arrogance of a victor.

Jie Zhen nodded.

"Miss Wen, will your side be represented by the Lord of Shang Fortress, or will you personally come?"

Wen Qiongyu rose gracefully, and the Han Ting assassins surrounding her made way. A fresh, sweet scent of herbs wafted out with each step, making everyone feel a sense of relief and stirring their imaginations. A beautiful woman in a sable coat, her black hair plastered to her forehead and her thick bun reaching the ground, stepped forward, giving a light, graceful curtsy. Her voice was clear and melodious: "Our Lord of Shang Fortress has suffered internal injuries and is unfit to fight. As for me..." Her beautiful eyes swept around, and she smiled charmingly:

"...I know absolutely nothing of martial arts, so naturally I cannot fight."

The entire audience was in an uproar. Jie Zhen and his son Jie Zhen exchanged a glance, both looking doubtful. Jie Zhen's

mind stirred slightly, and he stroked his beard, glancing at her: "Miss Wen... do you intend to have someone else fight in your place?"

Wen Qiongyu smiled faintly, possessing a natural, unintentional beauty that was breathtaking.

"That's exactly it."

This was strange. When she initially proposed that "anyone present from the four families, except for Lord Jie, can fight," Jie Zhen hadn't anticipated that anyone would be foolish enough to ask the opposing side for help. Now it seemed Wen Qiongyu had planned this all along. The question was: who exactly was she going to choose to fight for Jiuyou Hanting? Dao Chuyang and his wife, and the Jie brothers, wouldn't be a match for Chang Zaifeng; even if they could, who would be willing to fight for Jiuyou Hanting?

"I've already chosen a substitute," Wen Qiongyu said, her beautiful eyes sweeping over the crowd. Her gentle, shrewd gaze caused everyone present to flutter and lose their composure. This almost murderous gaze finally stopped at an unexpected place. Wen Qiongyu smiled, a hint of mischievousness in her eyes, like a little girl who had just pulled off a prank:

"Would you be willing to fight for me, Fourth Young Master Jie?"

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Chapter Seven of the Heavenly Tribulation of the Sun: The Dao Saint's Wisdom is Extinct, Useless Yearning

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