[Wuxia] The Soul of a Great Hero (Complete) - 18

[Chapter 20] A Glimpse of Brilliance Shakes the Demons

Cai
Weiwei glanced quickly, and Master Yuanqing closed his eyes again, leaping out. She saw the gray-robed Daoist nun in grave danger, surrounded by two tall, thin old men wearing knee-length yellow robes and silver dragon belts. Duanmu Shiliang retreated to the edge of the forest, panting heavily. She shouted in a delicate voice, "Shameless!" With a swift movement, her palm struck towards Linghu Qi's forehead.
In a battle between experts, one must be aware of all directions. The Linghu brothers had already seen a beautiful, ethereal girl emerge from the cave. But even she was startled by her lightning-fast lightness of foot. Linghu Qi countered with a palm strike, and the two palms met. Cai Weiwei's body faltered, while Linghu Qi took a step back, extremely alarmed. He stared intently at Cai Weiwei and suddenly said in a stern voice, "Second Brother."
Linghu You slashed twice with his palms, forcing the gray-robed nun back, and turned around to ask, "What is it?"
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, the gray-robed nun, with her proud personality, could not tolerate it. She cursed inwardly, "Old ghost, you're asking for death."
Jade Hook suddenly unleashed the ultimate move of the "Azure Cloud Hook Technique," "A Touch of Crimson." A flash of green light appeared, and it was already in front of Linghu You's chest. Her right hand, holding a whisk, swiftly stabbed at Linghu You's "Left Gate" acupoint. These two moves were strange and fierce. Although Linghu You's skill was higher than his opponent's, he was caught off guard and made a mess of things. Fortunately, he possessed unparalleled skill accumulated over sixty years. In the midst of the crisis, he channeled his inner energy and leaped back. With a hiss, though unharmed, his clothes were torn in the front.
The gray-robed nun withdrew her hook and stood upright, smugly saying, "Old ghost, do you know how powerful you are now?"
The Linghu brothers, unparalleled villains, could not tolerate this. Enraged, they laughed and said repeatedly, "Good, good." With a sinister laugh, they raised their right arm, and with a series of chopping sounds, it suddenly grew half a foot longer, stepping towards the gray-robed nun.
The gray-robed nun thought to herself, "The Tongbei Demonic Palm." Vigilant, she held her jade hook at an angle, remaining silent.
Suddenly, Linghu Qi said in a deep voice, "Second brother, the right person is here.
No matter how important the matter is, put it aside for now." The Linghu brothers were known for their ruthless nature. Once they had decided to take revenge, how could they give up halfway? Strangely, after hearing this, Linghu You suddenly stopped his practice and returned to Linghu Qi's side. He also looked at Cai Weiwei and said, "Eldest brother, is this girl surnamed Cai?" The gray-robed nun secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that her skills were inferior to the Linghu brothers, so she dared not provoke them easily.
Cai Weiwei suddenly used "secret sound transmission" to say to the gray-robed nun, "Senior, please guard the cave, okay?"
Although the gray-robed nun's killing intent had greatly diminished, she was still suspicious of her. She hesitated for a moment and also used sound transmission to say, "Aren't you afraid that I will harm the people in the cave?"
Cai Weiwei said, "I know that you are Sister Ruan's teacher. Can't you do this for Sister Ruan's sake?" The gray-robed nun thought to herself, "If she guesses this, it will be difficult to make a move." She remained silent. Cai Weiwei transmitted her voice again, "Senior, my father-in-law is expelling the viper poison from Brother Long, Hua Yunlong. Please help him."
Hearing her pleading words, the gray-robed nun slowly walked towards the cave entrance, but coldly asked, "Who is your father-in-law? How long will it take?"
Knowing she had already agreed, Cai Weiwei's anxious heart eased slightly, and she said, "My father-in-law is a monk, his Dharma name is Shangyuan Xiaqing." She paused, then said, "It will probably take another two hours."
The gray-robed nun had never heard of Yuanqing. Despite the title "Master," judging from Cai Weiwei's skill, she must be an unparalleled expert. Retreating to the cave entrance, he heard Cai Weiwei ask, "Senior, may I ask for your Dharma name?"
The gray-robed nun paused, then coldly replied, "This humble Daoist has no Dharma name, merely 'Wild Fox Zen.'" She paused again, then added, "Focus on your fight and speak less. These two old thieves are Dongguo Shou's junior brother; their few 'ghostly talismans' are not to be underestimated." As they spoke, the Linghu brothers suddenly began communicating using a secret telepathic technique.
In an instant, under the bright moonlight, the wind rustled through the bamboo, creating a harmonious sound. Seeing this, no one would believe that several life-or-death battles had already taken place, and that an even more intense and tragic war was about to erupt. Suddenly, Linghu Qi asked Duanmu Shiliang, "Duanmu Shiliang, do you know anything about this girl's background?"
Duanmu Shiliang, who was healing his injuries, replied, "This girl suddenly appeared in the last ten days, and no one knows her background. In the past..."
The second brother, Linghu You, interrupted, "Nonsense." Duanmu Shiliang had long harbored resentment for their earlier mockery, but he had kept it to himself, knowing his own strength was inferior. Hearing this, his hatred intensified, and he thought to himself, "Old ghost Linghu, let's see how long you can be so arrogant. Once I destroy the Hua family, the Xingxiu Sect will never exist again."
The eldest brother, Linghu Qi, asked, "Who is hiding in the cave?"
Duanmu Shiliang gave a dry laugh. He said, "We'll have to ask that girl." Suddenly, a thought struck him, and he thought, "Judging from how desperately that girl is protecting the cave, it's probably because that brat Hua Yunlong's poison has flared up, and he's lying in the cave waiting to die... Let me scare that old ghost Linghu." He then changed his mind, saying, "Perhaps it's that girl's elder, practicing her skills in the cave. Hehe, even if you two have unparalleled skills, I'm afraid you'll have a hard time dealing with her."
Cai Weiwei, unaware that he was just making things up, felt a jolt in her heart and thought, "Could it be that Duanmu Shiliang already knows?"
Linghu Qi looked strangely at the cave entrance. Although the cave was shallow, it was covered with deep green bamboo, and the gray-robed Daoist nun blocked the entrance. Moreover, it was dark inside but bright outside. Even with his superb skills, he couldn't see the situation inside the cave. He murmured for a moment, then channeled his inner energy into the cave, asking, "Who is this master in the cave...?"
Cai Weiwei had originally planned to stall for time, hoping the Linghu brothers wouldn't make a move, so she could remain silent and observe. But now, Linghu Qi's voice, booming like a bell, was deafening. Fearing she might disturb Hua Yunlong, she could no longer remain silent and coldly interrupted, "There's no one in the cave. Stop your wailing." With a flick of her wrist, she slapped Linghu Qi's waist.
Linghu Qi chuckled strangely, saying, "What an arrogant girl!" He had been at a disadvantage in their earlier exchange and felt deeply resentful. He countered with a move called "Lone Goose Leaving the Flock." The Linghu brothers always fought side-by-side; as soon as Linghu Qi attacked, Linghu You joined in with a palm strike.
These two were far more skilled than Cai Weiwei had ever encountered before. Even she found their combined strength incredibly challenging, wondering, "Huyan Gong seems to be of the same generation as these two, so why is their skill so vastly different?"
The Linghu brothers, seeing her young age and the uncanny depth of her moves, were astonished by the unbelievable power displayed in her delicate palm strikes. They exclaimed, "Has this girl eaten some kind of elixir? How did she acquire such power?"
The three fought with lightning speed, exceeding a hundred moves in a short time. Initially, they restrained their strength, retreating after a brief contact. Gradually, their anger flared, erupting from their bodies in a powerful surge, whipping up dust and flowers from the ground with astonishing force. The gray-robed Daoist nun grew increasingly discouraged, thinking, "This woman is stunningly beautiful and possesses unparalleled skill. Forget it, forget it." She sighed, then suddenly saw more than ten figures rushing towards her from the distant foothills. Knowing they were reinforcements from the Xuanming Sect, her heart tightened.
The dozen or so figures moved with lightning speed, instantly landing in the arena. The leader, a man with a long beard and narrow eyes, was none other than Meng Weiqian, the Heavenly Mystery Altar Master of the Xuanming Sect. The others were four Qiu Huas dressed in navy blue brocade outfits, and eight old men in black. Upon entering the arena, Meng Weiqian first saw Cai Weiwei and the Linghu brothers locked in fierce combat, the air thick with the whistling of sand and stones, like a raging storm, a cataclysmic event. He was deeply moved.
Suddenly, he heard Duanmu Shiliang call out, "Brother Meng."
Meng Weiqian turned to look and saw blood at the corner of his mouth, his left arm hanging limply, only one acupuncture pen remaining—a truly wretched sight. He blurted out, "Brother Duanmu is…" but stopped abruptly. He glanced at Cai Weiwei, understood immediately, and strode over.
Duanmu Shiliang gave a wry smile. As Meng Weiqian led his men closer, he whispered, "Where is the Master now?"
Qiu Hua, the eldest, spoke first, "My master is currently preparing for the grand opening ceremony and is staying at the main altar."
Meng Weiqian frowned, "What caused this conflict?"
Duanmu Shiliang glanced at the gray-robed Daoist nun at the cave entrance, about ten feet away, and said, "I was passing by when I saw the little girl fighting Cheng Shumei..."
Meng Weiqian had been so focused on the fight that it had stirred up dust and created a great commotion. The gray-robed Daoist nun, backlit by the moonlight, hadn't noticed. Now, following Duanmu Shiliang's gaze, she caught a glimpse of her and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh! She's entered the Central Plains too!"
Duanmu Shiliang gritted his teeth, "She's lost face! From now on, if we meet again, kill her with all your might!"
Meng Weiqian's expression changed, but being extremely shrewd and composed, he quickly regained his composure and asked Duanmu Shiliang, "Cheng Shumei is guarding the cave entrance. What's going on inside?"
Duanmu Shiliang replied, "I'm not entirely sure either." After a moment's thought, he said, "Perhaps that brat Hua Yunlong is inside."
Mentioning Hua Yunlong ignited the anger of the Qiu Hua gang. Qiu Hua's fifth brother said, "I request permission to enter and investigate."
Duanmu Shiliang shook his head, "No, Cheng Shumei's skill is far superior to yours."
Meng Weiqian glanced around the area and whispered, "Let Brother Linghu fight that girl fiercely, ideally to the point of mutual destruction. Although the three sects claim to be allies, they still maintain their own strength. How can such heretical sects cooperate sincerely?"
At this moment, Brother Linghu unleashed the Xingxiu Sea sect's "Centrifugal Body Seizure Technique" combined with "You Shu Finger Force," their finger and palm strikes like a tidal wave. Cai Weiwei moved with the agility of a swallow, dodging Linghu You's finger strike and striking Linghu Qi with a palm. Linghu You stealthily approached, throwing a punch at Cai Weiwei's undergarments. His palms and fingers flew, unleashing eight moves in quick succession. Startled, Cai Weiwei was forced to retreat five or six steps. Linghu Qi also launched a full-force attack, and instantly, Cai Weiwei was at a disadvantage. An unprecedented killing intent flashed in her beautiful eyes, her jade-like face hardened, her brows furrowed,
and her palm techniques suddenly changed, unleashing over ten rapid attacks. These ten-odd moves were all "Four Symbols Transformation Palms," each one condensing twelve parts of her power, like a raging sea, like Mount Tai pressing down, possessing unparalleled might, yet also like ever-changing winds and clouds, unpredictable and mysterious. The Linghu brothers' expressions changed drastically. They flashed forward, standing side-by-side, all four palms striking simultaneously, desperately trying to hold on, but still unable to withstand the onslaught, retreating repeatedly. In these ten-odd moves, the two had already retreated eight or nine steps, and had faced danger three times, almost losing their lives, utterly disheveled.
Everyone was deeply shocked. The Linghu brothers each possessed sixty years of internal energy; together, no one in the world, except Hua Tianhong, could withstand them. Yet now, Cai Weiwei had forced them into such a sorry state—how could they not be astonished? As the situation shifted among the three, the bamboo rustled, and the Xuanming Cult members arrived one after another, numbering no less than sixty or seventy. They stood facing the cave entrance, nestled among the trees, and figures could still be seen rushing uphill from the foot of the mountain.
Among them were seven or eight members of the Demonic Cult wearing knee-length apricot-yellow robes, approaching the arena, intending to intervene. However, such a battle between top-tier experts was beyond their capabilities, and they could only watch helplessly from the sidelines. Startled, Duanmu Shiliang and Meng Weiqian's brows furrowed with murderous intent. They were prepared to abandon their scheming and join forces with the Demonic Sect. Exchanging a glance, Duanmu Shiliang said, "Brother Meng, I am seriously injured. Tonight, you will be in full command. That girl must not be allowed to live."
Meng Weiqian replied, "Brother, you are presumptuous." Glancing around, he added, "Our sect's experts are all here. Even if that girl possesses extraordinary abilities, she will have no choice but to accept her fate. Besides, she still intends to guard the cave." With a wave of his hand, the Xuanming Sect members, all well-trained, quickly formed a semi-circle around the cave, each drawing their weapons. Under the cold, slanting moonlight, their blades gleamed, their killing intent like clouds.
The cave was clinging to a cliff face; this effectively blocked their escape route. Still not entirely at ease, Meng Weiqian summoned more than ten sect members, whispered a few words to them, and they obeyed, finding a way to circle around to the mountain peak. The gray-robed Daoist nun, Cheng Shumei, was completely focused on the fierce battle between Cai Weiwei and the Linghu brothers. A glance to the side sent a chill down her spine; she thought, "Perhaps I'll be buried here tonight, alas." Though eccentric by nature, she possessed a chivalrous heart. Even knowing the perilous situation, the thought of breaking through alone never crossed her mind. She sighed inwardly, her heart filled with worry, yet she remained focused on the arena.
The Linghu brothers, after decades of diligent training, possessed incredibly refined skills. In a perilous situation, they withstood Cai Weiwei's onslaught of attacks, a storm of lightning and thunder. Cai Weiwei unleashed her "Four Symbols Transformation Palm"—eight consecutive moves, six times in a row—yet failed to harm a single person. Cheng Shumei secretly admired their skill, thinking, "These two are already so powerful. Dongguo Shou, being both the senior brother and the sect leader, must be incredibly skilled. I'm afraid Brother Long will have a hard time competing with him."
Suddenly, she heard the eldest brother, Linghu Qi, shout sharply, "Duanmu Shiliang!" He unleashed a powerful palm strike.
Duanmu Shiliang sneered inwardly, thinking, "Old ghost Linghu, you've finally gotten your comeuppance, huh." He was about to ignore it, but his mind raced, and he called out, "What is it?"
Linghu Qi, seething with anger, forced himself to suppress it, and with a series of slashes, blocked Cai Weiwei's "Hard and Soft Interplay" move, saying, "Why aren't you attacking the cave..." He only got halfway through his sentence before suddenly stopping. It turned out that Cai Weiwei, in her haste, had unleashed the most powerful move of the "Four Symbols Transformation Palm," "All Things Return to Earth," leaving her no time to speak.
But Duanmu Shiliang and Meng Weiqian understood his intention and immediately became alert, realizing that working together to defeat the enemy was paramount and they couldn't act rashly. The two whispered a few words, and Meng Weiqian suddenly shouted, "Eight Elders of the Altar, follow me to attack the cave!" As soon as he finished speaking, he strode away, intending to bypass the fighting arena. Eight black-clad elders, their expressions indifferent, followed behind him.
Cai Weiwei glanced around, already alert, and said sharply, "You surnamed Meng, you're courting death." She was about to turn and stop him when Linghu Qi laughed wildly, "Girl, this battle isn't over yet." He thrust his right index and middle fingers diagonally, and with a "whoosh," a gust of wind struck Cai Weiwei's "Phoenix Tail" acupoint.
The Linghu brothers were highly skilled; with their vast combat experience, Cai Weiwei couldn't easily retreat. Cai Weiwei turned and struck back with a palm, but Linghu You had already pounced. Helpless, they resumed their fierce battle. Meng Weiqian seized the opportunity to bypass the three and head straight for the cave entrance. Cheng Shumei tilted her jade hook and said sternly, "Meng Weiqian, stop."
Meng Weiqian stopped three zhang from the cave entrance, clasped his hands, and said, "Miss Cheng is intelligent and insightful, and should be able to see the situation clearly. This old man asks you to watch the battle from the side." Cheng Shumei
glanced at the sky and saw that the waning moon was about to disappear, and dawn was approaching. She felt relieved and thought that if she could delay a little longer, she would be free from worries. She said coldly, "I heard that your sect has allied with the Demonic Sect?"
Meng Weiqian was as cunning as the sea. Seeing her look at the sky and her face light up with joy, he thought, "Could it be that there is indeed a master in the cave, practicing his skills diligently?" He felt that he could not delay any longer. He stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "That is indeed the case. If you wish to hear the details, please step aside, and this old man will tell you." As he spoke, he waved his hand, and four old men in black walked towards the cave entrance.
Cheng Shumei raised her jade hook and coldly said, "Halt."
The four black-clad elders did not stop. The one in the middle, with a gaunt face, said, "Miss Cheng, you're a free spirit, why get involved in this mess?"
Cheng Shumei thought to herself, "Strike first, or suffer the consequences. Anyway, we've already crossed the line." Gritting her teeth, she no longer hesitated. With a flick of her whisk, her jade hook unleashed a move called "Rain Beating Pear Blossoms," striking all four men.
The gaunt-faced elder said, "Miss Cheng, are you determined to go your own way?" He countered with a move called "Divine Dragon Disarming." The two black-clad elders to his right raised their palms simultaneously, unleashing a torrent of energy. The stern-faced elder on his left, however, shifted his stance, dodging the attack and sneaking towards the cave entrance from a blind spot. Clearly, the four men were well-coordinated in their attack and defense, intending to use three to restrain Cheng Shumei while one would seize the opportunity to enter the cave.
Who was Cheng Shumei? How could she allow them to succeed? With a cold laugh, she said, "You're courting death." Her move remained unchanged; she reversed the handle of her whisk and aimed it at the "Seven Kan" acupoint of the stern-faced old man. The stern-faced old man's heart trembled, and he
hastily struck back with a palm, his figure darting backward. In the blink of an eye, Cheng Shumei had already unleashed more than ten moves. The four black-clad old men rushed towards the cave entrance several times, only to be blocked each time. Feeling slightly embarrassed, their true anger stirred. They had initially thought that they could seize Cheng Shumei before entering the cave, but they immediately changed their minds, abandoning their plans to enter the cave and attacking Cheng Shumei with all their might. In an instant, palm winds swept across the scene, deafeningly loud, flashing with emerald light, as graceful as serpents. A fierce battle unfolded at the cave entrance under the dim light of the setting moon.
In a one-on-one fight, any one of the four black-clad old men would find it difficult to withstand a hundred moves from Cheng Shumei, but when the four of them joined forces, Cheng Shumei was no match for them. However, with her back against the cave entrance, she had no worries about her rear. With each hook and flick, her defense was impenetrable. It was impossible for the four old men to injure her within a hundred or so moves. Meng Weiqian frowned upon seeing this, but the cave entrance was narrow. Once the five men started fighting, they formed a dense, imposing circle, and they had already surrounded the cave. Even if he wanted to send someone else, he couldn't intervene.
Turning his gaze, he saw that the battle between Cai Weiwei and the Linghu brothers was gradually moving towards the cave entrance, less than five zhang away. The wind from their palm strikes was blowing in all directions, making their clothes flutter loudly. It turned out that Cai Weiwei was worried about Hua Yunlong and Master Yuanqing inside the cave and wanted to provide support nearby. The Linghu brothers also had the idea of taking advantage of the situation to launch a sneak attack. Although their purposes differed, they shared the same thought, so they moved step by step towards the cave entrance.
Meng Weiqian was perfectly aware of their intentions, thinking to himself, "Girl, if you dare come any closer, I'll catch you off guard." He gave a signal to the four black-clad elders beside him, ordering them to prepare for battle. He secretly gathered his strength, setting aside the fight between Cheng Shumei and the other four hundred black-clad elders at the cave entrance.
Just as they were each making their own plans, the sky suddenly darkened. It was the eve of dawn, the moon had already set, and the sun was about to rise. Although both sides in the battle were highly skilled, their eyesight was momentarily impaired. Suddenly, Cheng Shumei let out a cold snort, flicked her sleeve, and more than ten poisoned gold needles, already concealed in a hook, were silently launched.
Suddenly, two of the black-clad elders simultaneously shook their palms, creating a whistling wind, attempting to deflect the needles with their palm force. However, the needles were small, and Cheng Shumei's shots were cunning; one felt a numbness in his left leg, the other in his right shoulder—each had been struck by a needle. The black-clad elder on the far right retreated swiftly, but was still a step too slow, and was struck in the left chest by a needle.
This stern-faced elder, one of the Eight Guardians of the Altar, possessed exceptional skill and keen eyesight. Had he not assumed that Cheng Shumei's flick and hook had exhausted all her strength, leaving her no time to unleash her hidden weapon, he would have been caught off guard by her sudden attack, using the flick and hook's light as cover. The other black-clad elders felt only numbness at the needle sites, clearly indicating a potent poison. Those struck in the legs and shoulders hastily retreated two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), pressing several fingers to close the blood vessels near the needle sites to prevent the poison from reaching their hearts. While this temporarily relieved them, it made them unable to move.
The black-clad elder with a needle in his left leg, however, laughed fiercely, saying, "You lowly wench, I'll fight you to the death!" Ignoring the poisoned needle, he lunged forward.
Seeing his gritted teeth, Cheng Shumei felt a chill run down her spine, but coldly retorted, "You think you're worthy?" With two swift movements, her whisk struck the black-clad elder's chest, attempting to force him back.
Unexpectedly, the elder, determined to fight to the death, ignored the whisk aimed at his chest, roared, and unleashed a powerful double palm strike. Cheng Shumei was surprised to see this was a mutually destructive move, and quickly sidestepped. Enraged, she swung her whisk, blocking the palm strike from the unaffected, stern-faced elder. She then slashed diagonally with her jade hook, intending to kill the elder instantly. Suddenly, she saw the elder stagger, nearly falling, his face contorted in pain, halfway through his attack. Her mind shifted instantly, and she swiftly struck his "Jianjing" acupoint with her index finger. The old man in black, already poisoned, was only managing to hold on due to his profound skill. Unable to dodge, he immediately fell to the ground, his middle finger pointing to the ground.
From the moment Cheng Shumei fired her hidden weapon to the old man's fall, only a breath had passed. Meng Weiqian hadn't expected the situation to change so quickly. Filled with anger and frustration, he suddenly shouted in a deep voice, "Guardian Zhao, please step back." The stern-faced old man feigned an attack and retreated.
Suddenly, Linghu Qi said, "Girl, dare you take one of my palms?"
Cai Weiwei scoffed, "If you don't value your life, then come at me." Linghu Qi roared and struck out with a palm strike.
Cai Weiwei thought to herself, "I'll use all my strength, at least enough to inflict some internal injuries on you..." Her delicate hand trembled slightly, and a powerful aura, heavy as a mountain, surged forth. She was calculating, believing that if she injured Linghu Qi, then Linghu You alone would be no match for her, and tonight's battle would surely turn the tide.
Unlike the Linghu brothers, who were shrewd and experienced, they wouldn't let her gain an advantage. Knowing their skills were slightly inferior, they still insisted on a direct confrontation. Linghu Qi laughed loudly, leaping back and using Cai Weiwei's palm strike to his advantage, he swiftly reached the cave entrance. He had estimated his position to be only five or six zhang from the entrance. Cheng Shumei, emboldened by her victory, had become slightly less vigilant. The old man in black crouched low, rushing towards the center of the cave entrance. If she stood in the center, she would inevitably step on him. Therefore, she shifted her body slightly to the side, guarding the edge of the cave.
Cheng Shumei was terrified and swung her jade hook down. Linghu Qi, having already planned his move, used the "Crane's Cry in the Azure Sky" technique, forcefully pulling Cheng Shumei three steps to the side, then with a flick of his left hand, he parted the vines. Cheng Shumei knew she was no match for Linghu Qi, but if he were to break in, both a reclusive master and a peerless genius would be doomed. Especially with Hua Yunlong dead, Ruan Hongyu would likely die of a broken heart as well. At that point, she would have no choice but to commit suicide to atone for her sins. A
desperate resolve arose within her. She struck Linghu Qi's back with her whisk, the jade hook "Moonlight Slanting West," aimed straight at his crown. Her attack was wide open; if Linghu Qi were to strike back with all his might, she would be doomed, but he too would lose his life. Linghu Qi didn't even have time to glance at her carefully before he felt a gust of wind behind his head. Even a peerless demon like him could discern Cheng Shumei's moves from the sound of the wind, so he dared not underestimate her. With no other choice, he abandoned his attempt to enter the cave, spun around, and unleashed a horizontal and a downward palm strike, breaking her attack. He snarled, "You stinking nun, are you tired of living?"
Cheng Shumei replied indifferently, "I wonder who's tired of living." Her words were nonchalant, yet she fought with reckless abandon, each move ruthless and vicious, displaying an attitude of "I have no enemy, no self."
Although Linghu Qi's skill was superior to hers, he was forced to stand still by her fighting style, unable even to leap into the cave. Cai Weiwei, lacking experience, failed to anticipate Linghu Qi's move. Seeing him rush to the cave entrance, she panicked and, ignoring Linghu You beside her, stamped her foot and pounced forward. Linghu You wouldn't allow her to get away so easily. He struck her undergarments with a palm strike from afar, laughing, "Girl, you think you can just leave like that? Not so easy."
Cai Weiwei felt an extremely sharp gust of wind surge from behind her. She thought, "If I turn around to receive the blow, I'll definitely be entangled again. Wouldn't that give Linghu Qi the opportunity to enter the cave?" Gritting her teeth, she gathered all her strength into her back, intending to take the blow head-on and stop Linghu Qi from entering the cave in time. But then she heard Cai Weiwei let out a muffled groan, and her delicate body accelerated and leaped away.
Linghu You hadn't expected her to dare to take a blow head-on with her bare flesh and blood. He felt a pang of regret, thinking to himself, "If I had used my full strength in this blow, this girl would have been seriously injured, if not killed."
Suddenly, he heard Meng Weiqian shout, "Attack!" He and the four black-clad elders shouted in unison, and all their palms were thrust towards Cai Weiwei.
Although Cai Weiwei was filled with anger and anxiety, Meng Weiqian and the others were all highly skilled. Their combined attack was incredibly powerful, with a surging and fierce wind that sent sand and stones flying. Although she had taken a blow from Linghu You, and the force of the blow had dissipated much of the impact, her blood was still churning and her throat felt sweet. She could hardly withstand the attack.
In a flash, her beautiful eyes caught sight of Cheng Shumei bravely blocking the attack. Her heart eased, and she focused her inner energy into her dantian. Her body moved as swiftly as a meteor, and in an instant, she landed on the ground. The force of Meng Weiqian and the others' palm strikes, accompanied by a whistling wind, swept past her head, the remaining force causing her robes to flutter. Cai Weiwei landed on her lotus feet, unable to retaliate, and first silently circulated her inner energy to suppress her churning blood.
Linghu You was overjoyed. With a palm strike, he pressed forward, laughing loudly, "Girl, I'll fight you one-on-one! Take another of my palms!" Cai Weiwei, her blood still surging, dared not meet the blow
head-on. She twisted her slender waist, shifting three feet to the side, her wrist lightly extending, and pointed a finger at her opponent's "Xiaohai" acupoint. Suddenly, Meng Weiqian shouted, "Miss Cai, may this old man join in?" He seemed to be asking Cai Weiwei's permission, but instead joined the fight, launching an attack on her.
Cai Weiwei heard a sharp gust of wind approach, her body spinning rapidly. Using the momentum, she pressed her left hand towards Meng Weiqian's ribs, coldly saying, "I won't agree, okay?"
Meng Weiqian laughed heartily, saying, "Miss is right." He swung his palm, striking out swiftly.
Cai Weiwei was secretly annoyed and said sternly, "Linghu You, is this what you call a one-on-one fight?"
Seeing that she was still attacking and defending despite her injuries, and showed no signs of defeat, Linghu You thought to himself, "This girl has such high skill. Even now, I might not be able to kill her." With a sinister smile, he said, "I cannot interfere with Master Meng's actions."
Cai Weiwei's anger rose, and she thought to herself, "There's no point in reasoning with these heretics." With a cold snort, she used the "Dual Use Without Position" move, her right palm drawing a faint arc before suddenly reaching Linghu You's waist.
Duanmu Shiliang watched the battle from afar, paying particular attention to the move that led to his defeat at the hands of Cai Weiwei. He thought to himself, "This move is elusive and illusory, truly wondrous. If the Hua family swordsmanship is the best swordsmanship in the world, then this girl surnamed Cai's palm technique can probably also be considered one of the best palm techniques in the world." He racked his brains, but apart from dodging, he had no other way to counter it. If there was any other way, it would be to use his superior skill to counter Cai Weiwei's attack. Looking up, he indeed saw Linghu You swiftly dodge to the side.
Although Meng Weiqian's skill was slightly inferior to the Linghu brothers', and his coordination was not as seamless as theirs, Cai Weiwei was already slightly injured and preoccupied with the battle between Cheng Shumei and Linghu Qi. Therefore, while she did not lose, she also struggled to gain the upper hand. The two opponents were easily matched, but the situation was far from stable. If Cai Weiwei risked aggravating her internal injuries, she could eventually break the combined forces of Linghu You and Meng Weiqian. The battle between Cheng Shumei and Linghu Qi, however, was extremely dangerous and unpredictable, with the constant threat of death.
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At this moment, dawn broke, the sun rose, and a red sun only half-exposed above the mountaintop. A thin mist slowly rose from the valley, spreading out, much like the current state of the martial arts world. However, the brilliant sunlight would eventually dispel the mist. This seemed to symbolize the age-old ironclad law that good will never prevail over evil. However, those present, the fighters so focused and absorbed, and the onlookers so mesmerized, failed to notice that the long night had ended and the morning glow had faded.
Suddenly, the stern-faced old man in black spoke: "Cheng Shumei, you are ungrateful! You have injured many of my Xuanming Sect members. From now on, you are mortal enemies. Don't blame me for being rude." He stepped forward, his fingers like halberds, aiming directly at Cheng Shumei's "Lingtai" acupoint.
Cheng Shumei had been guarding the cave entrance, but now Linghu Qi blocked her way. She turned her back to attack, desperately trying to prevent Linghu Qi from entering the cave. She knew this risked being attacked from both sides, but the situation was dire, leaving her no choice but to resort to this tactic. At this moment, under the attack of the old man surnamed Zhao, she was powerless to resist. She thought to herself, "If I dodge, won't Linghu Qi take the opportunity to enter the cave?"
With a determined heart, she resolved to fight to the death. She slightly shifted her body, barely dodging the "Lingtai" acupoint, and with a lightning-fast jade hook aimed at Linghu Qi's chest and abdomen, she didn't even glance at him before sweeping back with her whisk. These two attacks would be mutually destructive; Cheng Shumei would not only receive an upper finger strike to her back but also a palm strike to her ribs—a certain death. However, she underestimated Linghu Qi. She heard Linghu Qi laugh loudly, suddenly withdraw his palm, and with a powerful kick, leaped into the cave through the vines.
The old man surnamed Zhao, dressed in black, cursed inwardly, "You stinking nun, I won't fight you to the death!" He spun around, turning his finger into a palm, and struck Cheng Shumei's right shoulder.
Suddenly, Meng Weiqian shouted sharply, "Zhao Hutan, get out of the way!" Before his voice even faded, Cai Weiwei had already moved like an arrow, appearing behind the old man surnamed Zhao. Without a sound,
she swiftly struck the old man's back with her slender hand. Seeing that Linghu Qi had already entered the cave, her heart was filled with anxiety and anger that words could not describe. Her killing intent surged suddenly and she could not suppress it, so her attack was particularly vicious. Cai Weiwei had been blocked by the enemy three times and was unable to come to the rescue. This time, she had made up her mind in advance. With a flick of her shoulder, she leaped in the opposite direction and shot towards the cave entrance. Sure enough, Linghu You and the remaining four black-clad old men were unable to stop her.
By the time Meng Weiqian's voice reached them, Cai Weiwei's palm had already struck. How could the old man surnamed Zhao dodge? With a muffled groan, the old man surnamed Zhao's body was sent flying several feet away, rolling twice on the ground, and then lying motionless. At the same time, a faint, yet chilling sound suddenly emanated from the cave. Though faint, it felt like needles pricking the ears, extremely unpleasant. Cai Weiwei and the others recognized it as the sound of sword winds whistling through the air, and were momentarily startled. Suddenly,
they heard the voice of their leader, Linghu Qi, say, "Hua family brat..." His voice sounded very urgent, and a flash of yellow light appeared as he abruptly disappeared through the vines.
Although Cai Weiwei and Cheng Shumei were at the edge of the cave, they were too stunned to act in time, and Cheng Shumei couldn't help but secretly lament, "What a pity!" They saw that Linghu Qi's face was ashen, and a piece of his elbow-length sleeve had been torn off, making him look extremely disheveled. Everyone who saw this knew that he had suffered a loss, and the members of the Demonic Sect and the Xuanming Sect all felt a chill run down their spines. A hearty laugh echoed from inside the cave. As the green vines swayed, Hua Yunlong emerged, his robes flowing loosely, an ancient sword in hand. His handsome and dignified appearance was quite different from Linghu Qi's.
Cai Weiwei was both surprised and delighted, and said, "Brother Long, you're completely healed?"
Hua Yunlong glanced at her, his gaze filled with tender affection and gratitude, but he sheathed his sword, clasped his hands in a salute to Cheng Shumei, and said, "Senior's righteous assistance is greatly appreciated, this junior..."
Cheng Shumei flicked her whisk and said, "Enough with the idle talk, do you know my identity?"
Hua Yunlong glanced at the gleaming jade hook in her hand and said solemnly, "This junior dares to guess that you are Miss Ruan's master, is that true?"
Cheng Shumei said coldly, "You're quite clever, do you know why I've come to find you?"
Hua Yunlong saw the resentment in her expression and assumed it was because Ruan Hongyu and he had consummated their marriage, hence her aggressive attitude and intention to interrogate him. Suddenly, Linghu Qi snarled, "You brat from the Hua family, do you dare fight this old man?"
Hua Yunlong clasped his hands in front of his chest and said solemnly, "Regarding Hongyu's matter, could you please allow me to settle this matter first, and then I will listen to your teachings?"
Cheng Shumei heard him address Ruan Hongyu by her name and thought to herself, "He is not heartless towards Yu'er; things seem a bit easier to handle." Without saying anything more, she took a step back.
Hua Yunlong turned to Linghu Qi and said, "Very well, you haven't yet tasted enough of the Hua family's swordsmanship, so why should I be stingy?" With a swift movement of his right arm, the four-foot-long tortoise-shell ancient sword returned to his hand.
Suddenly, Cai Weiwei called out urgently, "Brother Long."
Hua Yunlong turned his gaze and saw the anxiety in Cai Weiwei's beautiful eyes. He knew she was afraid he was no match for Linghu Qi. He laughed heartily and said, "Sister Wei, don't worry. Watch me defeat the old demon Xingxiu Hai with my sword." He then secretly transmitted his voice, saying, "You guard the cave entrance carefully. The old man has exhausted a lot of his true energy and is recuperating."
Cai Weiwei's heart skipped a beat. She wanted to rush in to investigate, but then she stopped herself, thinking, "The people from the Xuanming Sect and the Demonic Sect probably think that only Brother Long is in the cave. If I go in, wouldn't that arouse suspicion?"
Thinking of this, her beautiful eyes darted around and she saw the Linghu brothers standing side by side two zhang away. A few steps behind them were Meng Weiqian and four old men in black. Ten zhang away, Duanmu Shiliang and four Qiu Hua, leading sixty or seventy Xuanming Sect members and more than ten members of the Demonic Sect, tightly surrounded Hua Yunlong. A hundred or so eyes were fixed on him, none looking towards the cave entrance. Suddenly, the four Qiu Hua exchanged glances and stepped forward. Duanmu Shiliang frowned but did not stop them.
Then, Linghu Qi sneered, "Good lad, I was careless for a moment, and you took advantage of me in the cave. Now you're so arrogant!"
Hua Yunlong laughed loudly and suddenly kicked the black-clad old man, whose fate was unknown and who lay prone at the cave entrance, in the ribs, saying, "Master Meng, catch!" The black-clad old man, weighing over a hundred jin, shot towards Meng Weiqian like an arrow.
Meng Weiqian secretly channeled his inner strength, catching the kick with his right arm, but found it lacked power. He knew Hua Yunlong's kick was incredibly powerful; otherwise, the old man in black would likely have broken two or three ribs. A chill ran down his spine; he thought, "This kid's skill seems to have improved greatly; he's a real threat."
Checking the injury, he saw the old man's face was covered in black aura, his breath faint. Fortunately, his skill was profound, and he still had a bit of true energy protecting his heart. Meng Weiqian's face turned ashen. He glared hatefully at Cheng Shumei but remained silent. He pressed several acupoints on the old man's chest, including "Yu Fu" and "Shen Feng," and handed them to the old man beside him, saying, "Delay for a moment while we await the antidote." The old man in black responded and took the medicine. With
one Xuanming Sect expert dead and three injured, coupled with Cheng Shumei's sarcastic remarks, Meng Weiqian was filled with extreme hatred. However, his composure was extremely deep, and he didn't show it. Hua Yunlong strode forward, stopping within ten feet of the Linghu brothers. His gaze swept over them, and he said, "Brothers, are you going to attack together?"
Meng Weiqian cursed inwardly, "This brat is courting death." He laughed loudly, "Hua Yunlong, the Linghu brothers' skill is unparalleled; how could you possibly compare? Such arrogance! Is this the Hua family's reputation for being kind and honest?"
His words were clearly inflammatory, and the Linghu brothers understood, but they had no time to respond. The eldest brother, Linghu Qi, suddenly used a technique of transmitting his voice secretly, saying, "Second brother, be careful that girl surnamed Cai doesn't interfere. I won't be satisfied until I kill this Hua family brat."
The second brother, Linghu You, also used a technique of transmitting his voice, saying, "Eldest brother, who else is in the cave?" His gaze shifted, glancing at the cave entrance, which was covered in vines.
Linghu Qi pondered for a moment, then said, "I just entered the cave when that Hua family brat attacked with his sword. I didn't have time to look closely. There seems to be someone at the bottom of the cave. We needn't worry about them. Besides Hua Tianhong, who else is there to fear?"
Seeing that they were all talking but no sound came out, Hua Yunlong glanced at the cave entrance and couldn't help but laugh out loud, saying, "There is a peerless master in the cave, but this master wouldn't deign to lay a finger on you brothers, so you can rest assured."
Qiu Hua, the eldest brother, had long harbored resentment towards Hua Yunlong's composed and leisurely demeanor. Hearing his words, he sneered, "What kind of master is he? I'm rather skeptical." He drew his ancient sword and strode confidently towards the cave entrance.
Hua Yunlong's face darkened, and he stepped in front of Qiu Hua, saying, "Young Master Qiu, this place is teeming with masters; I'm afraid you have no right to act so arrogantly." Qiu Hua, enraged, suddenly let out a sharp cry and slashed with his sword.
Hua Yunlong smiled slightly, raised his sword to parry the attack, and said, "You alone are no match for me. Why don't you call all your fellow disciples up?"
His parry was casual, but Qiu Hua's eldest brother felt a pain in his hand, knowing he was no match for Hua Yunlong. Hearing this, he was delighted and shouted, "Third brother
, all of you come at me!" The three Qiu Hua brothers, already eager to try, responded in unison, drew their swords, and stepped forward. Meng Weiqian opened his mouth to speak, but then stopped. Suddenly, Linghu You coldly said, "This is a matter between my brothers. How dare an ignorant child interfere?" With a flick of his right arm, he was about to throw the four men away.
The eldest brother, Linghu Qi, was ruthless by nature. He thought to himself, "This Hua family brat's skill seems inconsistent with the rumors. Junior Brother Wang said he was poisoned by a viper, so why does he look normal?" He decided to investigate further. He said, "Second brother, calm down. Let's see how skilled this young man from the Hua family is, and whether he's even worthy of fighting us." As he spoke, the four Qiu Hua brothers surrounded Hua Yunlong. The
eldest Qiu Hua brother brandished his sword and thrust it towards Hua Yunlong's chest, shouting, "Hua, prepare to die!"
Hua Yunlong casually blocked the attack with his sword, laughing loudly, "My life isn't so easily taken."
The fifth Qiu Hua brother slashed at the enemy's back with his sword, shouting, "See how easy it is!"
Hua Yunlong nimbly turned and dodged, saying, "You guys are still a bit lacking." As
soon as the eldest and fifth Qiu Hua brothers made their move, the third and sixth brothers also brandished their swords and attacked. These four Qiu Hua brothers were exceptionally skilled. Their combined attack, advances, retreats, and dodges were all methodical, showing that they were well-trained in their daily work. Their swords flashed, and their power was extraordinary. Hua Yunlong, despite being wielded by four ancient swords, maintained his smile, his movements swift and unpredictable, appearing effortless and graceful.
Meng Weiqian frowned, thinking to himself, "These lads, though arrogant, are actually quite skilled in martial arts. Even I couldn't handle them so easily when they joined forces. The Hua family brats..." He was startled at this thought.
Cai Weiwei, however, was overjoyed, thinking to herself, "Brother Long's skill has improved so quickly! What method did Father-in-law use to cultivate him?" She pondered for a long time, but couldn't think of any other method besides taking the "Jade Pool Pill," and she didn't bother to think about it. The higher Hua Yunlong's skill level, the better. Her beautiful eyes focused intently on Hua Yunlong's flowing robes and swift movements.
Suddenly
, a bright, melodious voice, as clear as a silver bell, rang out, "Brother, could you please step aside?" Aside from the five who were fighting, the others involuntarily turned to look at the source of the voice.
They saw, seemingly out of nowhere, a group of stunningly beautiful young women had appeared outside the encirclement of the Xuanming Sect and the Demonic Sect. Some wore pale yellow, others crimson, their beauty dazzling like spring flowers under the morning sun, captivating all who beheld them. Leading them was a girl in purple, with alluring eyes, peach-blossom cheeks, and lips like jade, her beauty breathtaking and alluring. It was she who had spoken those words. The Xuanming Sect members who had initially reached out to stop them were momentarily stunned by the purple-clad girl's seductive glance. For some reason, their hearts blurred, and they all stepped back, making way. A delicate fragrance filled the air, and their flowing robes swayed as the group of beautiful young women gracefully entered.
After walking for most of the way, a member of the Xuanming Cult suddenly regained his senses, shouted, and struck a girl in yellow with a palm. The girl in yellow dodged to the side, chuckled, and said, "Brother, you're so stingy, you won't even let me pass." With a flick of her pale yellow handkerchief, the Xuanming Cult member grunted and slumped to the ground. Seeing this, the other Xuanming Cult members roared angrily, ready to attack.
Suddenly, Duanmu Shiliang said sternly, "Invite them in."
The purple-clad girl at the head of the group glanced at Duanmu Shiliang with her beautiful eyes and said coquettishly, "Senior Duanmu, you truly live up to your reputation as the head of the Xuanming Sect's main altar. Your magnanimity and methods are extraordinary."
Duanmu Shiliang, on guard, said coldly, "My magnanimity is not great, but my methods are ruthless. Be careful, young lady."
The purple-clad girl at the head of the group chuckled and said, "Oh, Master Duanmu, your words are so harsh. You scared this humble girl half to death. I almost turned around and ran away."
Duanmu Shiliang said coldly, "It's too late to leave now." "Girl, please calm down." He paused, then asked, "Which sect are you from? What's your name? Tell me quickly, lest you make a mistake."
The girl in purple rolled her eyes, then suddenly covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "I don't belong to any sect or faction. As for my name..." She drawled, then chuckled again, saying, "I do have two. I wonder which one Grand Master Duanmu Shiliang wants to know?"
Duanmu Shiliang thought to himself, "These women are acting strangely. Hmph, I doubt a few little girls like them can cause any trouble." He gave a cold snort and said nothing more.
At this moment, the group of girls had already entered the arena, and the Xuanming Cult members quickly surrounded the gap again. The girl in purple acted as if she hadn't seen them, and walked gracefully to a spot two zhang away from Meng Weiqian and his companions, where she stopped. Meng Weiqian dared not underestimate them, and remained vigilant, coldly saying, "Girls, are you friends or enemies? Explain quickly, lest I offend one of my own and have something to say."
The purple-clad girl smiled sweetly and said, "We wouldn't dare deceive you. We women are not worthy to associate with the Yunhua family."
Meng Weiqian thought to himself, "That's true. There are no such alluring people in the righteous path." He couldn't help but ask, "Then are you all friends of our sect?"
The purple-clad girl chuckled and said, "However, we disdain associating with ghosts."
Meng Weiqian was enraged and said: "You brats." She swung her hand, about to strike, but then stopped, thinking to herself, "These girls are nothing to worry about. It's our sect, so familiar with the martial world, that they were unaware of this faction. Judging by the Cai family, there are probably quite a few waiting to strike."
Cai Weiwei noticed three girls among the group, whom she had seen at the "Yixing Tower." They smiled slightly at her but didn't greet her. Knowing this group of "Qiannu Sect" members must have ulterior motives, she pretended not to recognize them and whispered in Cheng Shumei's ear, "Senior, they are from the 'Qiannu Sect,' friends, not enemies."
Cheng Shumei glanced at the group of girls and said indifferently, "These girls seem to be alluring to the bone, not of the proper order. How can they be friends?"
Cai Weiwei exclaimed urgently, "What does it matter? Their leader is a woman of deep feelings and strong character!" "She was naturally beautiful, and her words carried a touch of naive charm. Although Cheng Shumei harbored prejudice against her, her innocence dispelled any lingering resentment. She smiled gently and said, 'Child, you're too naive. Even a good teacher can have wicked students, and even the most affectionate person, if unable to use their emotions wisely, can…' She suddenly sighed and stopped speaking.
Cai Weiwei's starry eyes widened, and she said, 'Is being affectionate and sincere a bad thing?'
Cheng Shumei thought to herself, 'This child is innocent and carefree; I shouldn't influence her pure and kind heart.' She smiled slightly and said, 'I didn't say it was bad.' She paused slightly, seeing that Cai Weiwei still wanted to ask further, and continued, 'You see, your brother Long clearly has plenty of strength; why doesn't he deal with these four lads?'
Cai Weiwei's starry eyes indeed turned to Hua Yunlong, and she casually said, 'Who knows?'"
The girl in purple, her beautiful eyes sweeping over Cai Weiwei from head to toe, murmured to herself, "Truly a celestial flower from a fairy garden, incomparable to me, a withered flower in the drenched water." Her seductive air vanished in her voice, replaced by tears welling in her eyes, a hint of self-deprecation in her tone. A
girl in green beside her sighed inwardly and whispered, "Elder sister, you…"
The girl in purple suddenly said sternly, "Second junior sister, no need to say more. I have my own plans." The girl in green paused, then fell silent.
The girl in purple sighed softly, her sorrowful expression vanishing as she regained her previous alluring demeanor, calling out in a melodious voice, "Young Master Hua..."
Hua Yunlong, fighting off four ancient swords with effortless ease, had already recognized the girl in purple as Jia Yan, Fang Ziyu's chief disciple. Hearing her call, he laughed heartily and said, "Greetings, Miss Jia." With a flick of his tortoise-shell sword, a metallic clang rang out, deflecting the swords of Qiu Hua's third and sixth brothers. He added, "Miss Jia, isn't this way of addressing you too formal? Remember how we addressed each other when we first met?"
Jia Yan chuckled softly, then suddenly called out, "Brother Qi."
Hua Yunlong responded, "Sister Yan." He paused, then said, "You already know my name isn't Bai Qi, so why do you still call me that?" His casual conversation was anything but a display of fighting prowess. The four Qiu Huas were furious, yet helpless.
Jia Yan giggled and said, "As a souvenir."
Meng Weiqian thought to himself, "These two are a seasoned womanizer and a wanton harlot. Heh heh, they've probably been having an affair for a while now. But given the Hua family's status in the martial arts world, how could they allow such a woman to come to their door? In the end, love turns to hatred. Haha, I'll have a good show to watch."
Cheng Shumei had a very bad impression of Jia Yan and the others. Seeing this, she frowned and cursed inwardly, "You scoundrel, always flirting with women." She turned to Cai Weiwei and said, "Girl, aren't you going to do something about that scoundrel?"
Cai Weiwei was taken aback and said, "Who?" Then she suddenly realized and said, "You mean my Brother Long? Brother Long is..." "It's none of my business. What Brother Long likes, I like too. Let him do whatever he wants. I know Brother Long is smart and won't be wrong."
Cheng Shumei thought to herself, "Silly girl." But she felt even more affection for Cai Weiwei's pure and virtuous nature. Thinking of her own disciple, a thought struck her, and she asked, "If my disciple were with you, would you be happy?"
Cai Weiwei replied cheerfully, "Senior means Sister Ruan? That would be wonderful."
Cheng Shumei was secretly pleased to hear this, but then thought to herself, "People's hearts are fickle. Who knows what she will do in the future? Yu'er can't compete with her. Humph, she's bound to suffer." For a moment, she was torn between love and joy for her only beloved disciple.
Suddenly, Linghu You said impatiently, "Those four brats from the Xuanming Sect are out of tricks now. Quickly retreat to avoid making a fool of yourselves."
The four Qiu Hua were filled with shame and resentment. The eldest Qiu Hua roared, "Third brother, fifth brother, sixth brother, no need to hold back anymore." His body twisted, and his swordsmanship changed suddenly. A cold light flashed, sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right, like a dragon soaring and a snake winding and turning, its direction unknown. Its profound and unpredictable nature moved all the onlookers. Cai Weiwei and Cheng Shumei were even more shocked.
Hua Yunlong pondered, "This sword technique is profound and ruthless, quite unorthodox. Their skill is relatively weak, so they can't harm me. But if I encounter the Xuanming Sect Master, it will be dangerous." His mind raced, and he immediately decided to study the origins and development of this sword technique to have a better understanding of it, lest he be caught off guard in the future. His smile vanished, and he focused entirely on his sword, no longer paying attention to anything else.
The sound of sword wind whistling was deafening, especially under the morning sun, where hundreds of sword lights flashed with a cold glint, dazzling to the eye. Both sides were calm and focused, their expressions serious. The awe-inspiring sounds of weapons clashing were actually less frequent; each touch was fleeting, concealing a deeper killing intent. The sheer power and intimidation were truly rare in the martial world.
After watching for a while, the onlookers saw that Hua Yunlong was calm and collected, while the four Qiu Huas were showing signs of impatience. The outcome was obvious. Although the Linghu brothers were arrogant, their martial arts skills and knowledge were indeed superb. After observing for a while, Linghu You transmitted his voice, saying, "I previously doubted how that kid could become the leader of a sect, but now that I see his disciple is also quite skilled, it's no surprise."
Linghu Qi coldly said, "You underestimate that kid too much. If he didn't have some skills, how could Second Senior Brother have tolerated him until now?"
Linghu You gritted his teeth and said, "That kid is ungrateful. I can't stand the thought of him."
Linghu Qi sneered, "You have to endure it even if you can't. Destroy the Hua family, humph, do you think the Xuanming Sect can still exist?" Linghu
You glanced at Hua Yunlong and said, "This kid's martial arts are so high, and his progress is so fast, even I am shocked. We can't let him live." He didn't use the Qi Refining Technique to say these words; his voice was neither too loud nor too soft. There were no weaklings present, and almost everyone heard it. Others could hear it, but Cai Weiwei's heart trembled. She focused her mind and prepared to provide support at any moment.
Although Hua Yunlong was engaged in combat, he heard every word and thought to himself, "Hmph, what wouldn't these heretics do..." A thought flashed through his mind, and he decided to end the fight quickly. He coldly shouted, "If you four don't back down, don't blame me for making things difficult for you!"
Qiu Hua, the eldest, drew his ancient sword and sneered, "Hua, words are useless."
Hua Yunlong laughed and said, "That's right, please look at my sword." His swordsmanship changed, unleashing a series of attacks. The sheer power of his stance was overwhelming, with a force that seemed to swallow mountains and rivers. The sword wind howled, and the energy surged, truly a display of overwhelming power, a majestic and awe-inspiring aura, completely different from the strange and ruthless swordsmanship of Qiu Hua. Those watching couldn't help but secretly admire him, and even the Linghu brothers couldn't help but abandon their initial contempt.
Amidst the flashing swords, Hua Yunlong said in a deep voice, "Four young masters of Qiu, grip your swords tightly!" A series of deafening clangs of metal clashing rang out, and four streaks of white light shot into the sky, flying in all directions.
Two streaks struck the cliff face and crashed down; one flew to Meng Weiqian's head, where he leaped and caught it; the remaining sword flew over Linghu You's head, and with a casual flick of his wrist, it shot like an arrow into the bamboo forest more than ten feet away. Instantly, three Xuanming Cult members, seeing where the sword had fallen, rushed into the forest. Hua Yunlong held his sword across his chest, chuckling softly. The four Qiu brothers, empty-handed, were dumbfounded, their chests heaving, filled with shock, anger, and shame.
Fearing they might lose their temper, Meng Weiqian called out, "Gentlemen, please step back! Why waste this trivial contest with the Hua family brat?"
Although the four Qiu Huas were unruly and arrogant, they knew they were no match for Hua Yunlong. Seeing an opportunity to back down, they did so. The eldest Qiu Hua, unwilling to accept defeat, said fiercely, "Hua, remember this: I'll spare your life for now."
Hua Yunlong smiled and said, "That truly proves your saying, 'All talk and no action.'" He paused slightly, then added dismissively, "However, I understand the feelings of the defeated, so there's no need to dwell on it." The eldest Qiu Hua, filled with indignation, gave a heavy snort and remained silent.
Suddenly, Jia Yan giggled and said, "Brother Qi is truly kind-hearted, even showing such consideration to his enemies." Upon hearing this, the group of girls burst into laughter, their sweet chatter greatly easing the tense atmosphere.
The four Qiu Hua brothers felt increasingly embarrassed. The third Qiu Hua, with the most volatile temper, recognized Jia Yan, which stirred up past memories and fueled his anger. He strode towards Jia Yan and sneered, "You whore from 'Yi Xin Yuan,' you've come all the way here to sell your slutty act? Are you looking for death?"
Jia Yan raised an eyebrow and said, "Even if I were to sell myself, I wouldn't sell myself to Young Master Qiu. Why are you acting so fierce, Young Master Qiu?"
The third Qiu Hua sneered and said, "Alright! So you don't want your brothel anymore?"
Jia Yan giggled and said, "'Yi Xin Yuan' has been waiting for you, Young Master, but you'd better be careful. It won't be as easy as last time." Hua Yunlong noticed this and thought to himself, "
Last time, Qiu Hua's third and fifth brothers went to 'Yixin Courtyard.' I wonder what happened. Judging from Jia Yan's tone, they clearly suffered a loss. Hmm, she openly opposes the Xuanming Sect. Could it be that the 'Qiannu Sect' is preparing to launch a full-scale attack?"
Just then, Qiu Hua's third brother shouted fiercely, "Third Grandfather will kill you, you stinking bitch!" He suddenly struck out with a palm.
Jia Yan was startled and said, "Does Third Young Master think that weak women are easy to bully?" She waved her jade palm and stepped forward to meet the attack.
When Meng Weiqian saw Jia Yan strike out, several girls behind him suddenly also extended their right palms, pressing down on the undergarments of the girl in front of them. He secretly thought something was wrong and hurriedly shouted, "Third Young Master, retreat quickly!" He then pushed forward with both palms together.
The three Qiu Hua beside him, seeing this, flashed their eyes and simultaneously thrust out a palm, four palm forces obliquely blocking Jia Yan's palm strike. The group attacked one after another, their momentum incredibly fast. With a loud thud, Meng Weiqian and the three Qiu Hua were all sent staggering backward. Jia Yan, along with seven or eight girls behind her, also staggered back two steps. The third Qiu Hua, however, was thrown backward, flying straight back, blood splattering from his face.
The arena cleared. All four of them were severely injured internally, their blood churning. Silently circulating their inner energy, the four black-clad elders stepped forward, one grabbing the third Qiu Hua by the right arm. The third Qiu Hua's face was ashen, unconscious, while Jia Yan and the others only felt slightly unwell.
Although Jia Yan's palm strike was powerful, the experts present could tell that she had used the technique of transferring power between seven or eight young girls, combining the strength of several people into one. Therefore, its immense power was not surprising, though they were astonished. This technique of transferring power between bodies is something every martial arts master can do, but for Jia Yan and her group to use it so skillfully and naturally, they must have mastered a unique method. In terms of pure martial arts skill, Jia Yan was at most comparable to Qiu Huazhi, far inferior to Meng Weiqian. Experts with sharp eyes could see that this outcome was completely unexpected by the experts present.
Duanmu Shiliang thought to himself, "Even Old Meng, who prides himself on his flawless strategies, has his moments of blunder. It's especially unfair that he was defeated by a few women of unknown origin. The Xuanming Sect should have won this battle, but they suffered a defeat instead. The loss of their experts is bad enough, but their morale has been shattered..." His thoughts shifted, his face turned icy, and he whispered a few words to the side before walking towards the group from the "Qiannu Sect
," followed by two elderly men in blue robes. Although Jia Yan saw that he was injured, she dared not be careless. Her eyes darted around, and she turned to whisper a few words to the side. Suddenly, the group of girls shifted their positions, forming a circle around Jia Yan, their hands clasped together, their backs to the outside. A riot of red and purple, they were like a cluster of flowers, breathtakingly beautiful. Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "This formation of hers is yet another way to repel enemies."
The Linghu brothers had initially disregarded Jia Yan and the others, but upon seeing this, their curiosity was piqued. Linghu You shouted, "Girls, what are you up to?"
Jia Yan laughed, "These are just some self-defense tricks we created due to our weak skills. I'm afraid I can't tell you."
Linghu You snorted arrogantly, "With one palm strike from this old man, I'll make sure your formation collapses and you all perish."
Jia Yan raised her eyebrows and said, "Why not give it a try?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "The power you unleash through your body-borrowing technique is powerful but not refined. Linghu Laoguai's skills are at a transcendent level; how can he possibly defeat him? Provoking him again and again is just courting death."
Suddenly, Linghu You flew into a rage, and Jie Jie laughed strangely, "I want to see what you can do besides your bewitching magic and body-borrowing technique!" As he spoke, he stepped towards Jia Yan and the others.
Although Hua Yunlong knew that the people of the Qiannv Sect possessed more than just this skill, the difference in their abilities was too great. He couldn't rest easy, thinking to himself, "If anyone from the Qiannv Sect makes a mistake, I'll have failed Aunt Gu." With that thought, he glanced at Cai Weiwei, then looked at Linghu You and said, "I wonder if this young man from the back of Yunzhong Mountain is worthy to learn from the master Xingxiu Hai?"
Cai Weiwei, seeing his expression, knew he wanted her to shield the Qiannv Sect from a powerful enemy. She immediately stopped, leaping down to stand before Linghu You, saying, "Linghu, we haven't finished fighting yet, so don't cause trouble for others."
Linghu You, deeply wary of her, stopped, thinking, "If the boss wants to deal with that Hua family brat, I'm afraid I'll have a hard time on my own." Just then, he heard his boss, Linghu Qi, say, "Although it's a little short, it'll do." He raised his right arm and stepped forward.
Hua Yunlong smiled slightly and said, "Please." He brandished his iron sword, sealing the entrance.
※
...
If Linghu Qi loses, there's nothing to say. But if Hua Yunlong fails, everyone knows the Xingxiu Sea sect is ruthless, more vicious than a venomous snake or a ferocious beast. Moreover, they have a deep-seated grudge against the Hua family, and their lives are in danger. If Hua Yunlong is defeated by Linghu Qi, Hua Tianhong will seek revenge for his son, and the Demonic Sect will not give up easily, causing a bloodbath in the martial world. Therefore, this fight is truly the most earth-shattering event in the martial world since the Nine Bends Treasure Hunt.
Linghu You coldly snorted, turning to look at the two. He knew Cai Weiwei would never attack someone from behind, and as for Jia Yan and the others, he didn't care about them at all. Cai Weiwei had no time to pay attention to Linghu You, watching intently with trepidation. Duanmu Shiliang, who had originally intended to challenge Jia Yan, was now at a loss, turning his gaze to Hua Yunlong and Linghu Qi.
He saw Hua Yunlong, with a serene and dignified bearing, standing tall with his sword, like a mountain, inspiring an aura of unwavering resolve. Linghu Qi, a sinister grin on his face, walked step by step toward Hua Yunlong. The distance between them was only about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), which should have been negligible, yet he was still two zhang away, moving as slowly as a snail. The more slow he moved, the more perilous the situation became. His attack would be earth-shattering, potentially deciding life or death in a single move. Both sides held their breath, watching closely, ready to respond.
In truth, Linghu Qi had no guarantee of victory. To be defeated by a junior would be a disgrace to the martial world, and killing Hua Yunlong would mean missing the opportune moment. He didn't want a formal break with the Hua family, but he was caught in a dilemma and had no choice but to grit his teeth and persevere. Just as the tension was about to escalate, a voice like a muffled thunderclap called out, "Brother Linghu, stop!" Those watching turned to see two figures, like wisps of smoke and phantoms, descending from the foothills at incredible speed.
Linghu Qi suddenly stopped and said, "Since our leader has arrived, this battle must be postponed for now."
Hua Yunlong, upon hearing that Dongguo Shou had arrived, was alarmed but calmly replied, "As you wish." He looked closely and saw two white-bearded old men in yellow robes. Their movements were incredibly fast, and in the time it took to exchange two sentences, they had already entered the arena. The Xuanming Sect members made way for them, while the Demonic Sect disciples bowed to greet them.
The first one was an old man with a flowing silver beard and a ruddy complexion. He wore a purple-gold dragon around his waist. The dragon was about nine feet long, with a head and tail as large as a wine cup, and a body only as thick as a little finger. The carving was incredibly lifelike, with dense scales and distinct claws. Moreover, each scale was movable, making it extremely ingenious. It was the legendary attire of the Demonic Sect leader.
Another elderly man in a yellow robe, like the Linghu brothers and Huyan Gong, wore a silver dragon robe. His arms were long, reaching past his knees, his face was covered in sores, and his eyes were half-open, giving him a ghostly appearance. His yellow robe was particularly tattered, covered in mud, as if he had just crawled out of the ground. The two entered the arena. The Linghu brothers stepped forward to speak, but Dongguo Shou waved his hand, saying, "My two brothers, please wait." The Linghu brothers bowed and went behind Dongguo Shou and the ghostly old man.
Hua Yunlong observed coldly, knowing that the ghostly old man was of higher status than the Linghu brothers, and his skill was probably second only to Dongguo Shou. Duanmu Shiliang said, "Greetings, Master Dongguo! Please forgive my injury; I am unable to pay my respects."
Dongguo Shou flicked his silver beard and laughed heartily, "Brother Duanmu, no need for such formalities."
Meng Weiqian, who had been meditating to regulate his inner energy, suddenly opened his eyes, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "It has been a long time since I paid my respects to the Master. Please forgive any shortcomings in my hospitality." Dongguo
Shou returned the gesture, saying, "Brother Meng, it has been a long time." His eyes gleamed as he glanced at everyone, pausing only on Cai Weiwei before finally settling on Hua Yunlong.
Instantly, all eyes turned to Hua Yunlong, eager to see how he would deal with this peerless demon. Because of Hua Tianhong's supreme status in the martial arts world, Hua family disciples are implicitly regarded as leaders no matter the occasion. Of course, the strict family precepts and rules of the Hua family have cultivated Hua family members to be magnanimous and fair in their dealings. Coupled with their high martial arts skills, this is why they can be so respected. Otherwise, which of the martial arts figures is not an unruly and arrogant person?
Hua Yunlong had already sheathed his sword and was calm and composed. He cupped his hands and said, "Hua Yunlong from Shanxi greets Master Dongguo."
Dong Guo Shou did not return the greeting. His two piercing eyes swept over Hua Yunlong, and he suddenly said coldly, "Young Master Hua, please dispense with all formalities. I imagine you are well aware of your father's past bullying of the Xingxiu Sect by relying on his superior martial arts." His voice grew colder and colder, with a hint of killing intent. His tone was hostile, and Cai Weiwei quietly moved closer to Hua Yunlong.
Meng Weiqian thought to himself, "This formidable enemy is difficult to deal with. Letting you go first isn't a bad idea." With a wave of his hand, he led his men to retreat to Dong Guo Shou's left rear, leaving the injured Qiu Hua Laosan and the black-clad elder to his disciples. Cheng Shumei saw that the enemy had retreated to within six or seven zhang of the cave entrance, and were all focused on Hua Yunlong. Seeing no point in guarding them, she flicked her whisk and moved to Hua Yunlong's side. The
ten girls from the "Qiannu Sect" remained in their original positions, positioned between the two sides, each with a charming smile, standing gracefully to the side, like spectators watching the spectacle. The two sides, which should have been clearly divided, were somewhat confused by their disturbance, but Dong Guo Shou seemed oblivious. The Xuanming Sect and the Demonic Sect together numbered nearly ninety, while Hua Yunlong's side only had three people. The disparity in strength was truly like that between Chu and Han.
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "This Dongguo Shou is unworthy of being the leader of a sect. He actually turned black into white. Back then, it was clearly the Xingxiu Sea Demon Sect that tried to swindle all the heroes of the world and seize the treasure for themselves, and was punished by my father. But he said that my father bullied them by relying on his martial arts." He quickly regained his composure and said, "The truth of what happened back then is clear to all the heroes of the world..."
Linghu You snorted coldly and interrupted, "Heroes of the world? The Divine Flag Gang, Tian Yizi, and Wu Xuanzi are underworld figures. The rest are your Hua family's cronies. Are they heroes of the world?"
Hua Yunlong seemed not to hear him and continued, "I was born late. I haven't witnessed the events, so I dare not make any judgments." He paused, clasped his hands in a salute, and said loudly, "Today's matter, whether to fight or make peace, I humbly request the guidance of Sect Leader Dongguo. Although I haven't learned from the younger generation, my martial arts..." "My skills are superficial, and I overestimate my abilities. I am willing to take full responsibility. As for the rest, the sect leader, a grandmaster of his generation, would not deign to make things difficult for them."
These words were neither arrogant nor humble, full of spirit yet without pride, showing a strong sense of responsibility. His talent came from learning, and his abilities from cultivation. He was completely unaware of this. Dongguo Shou thought to himself, "Good lad, you've got it."
Linghu Qi coldly asked, "You have quite the airs. Are you worthy?"
Dongguo Shou waved his hand, about to speak, when he suddenly heard Jia Yan giggle, "Sect Leader Dongguo is a peerless master. How can he lay a hand on a junior like him? Young Master Hua, aren't you being arrogant?"
Hua Yunlong frowned, thinking to himself, "Although you mean well, who is Dongguo Shou? Aren't you just asking for trouble?" He saw Dongguo Shou glance at Jia Yan indifferently, then turn to Hua Yunlong, seemingly disdainful.
Jia Yan, however, felt his gaze was like lightning. Although she was fearless and invincible, she couldn't help but feel a chill. But then Dongguo Shou said, "This young lady practices the 'Charming Maiden Heart Sutra.' I heard that during the treasure hunt, the 'Charming Maiden Heart Sutra' was taken by Gu Luanyin. Could you be a disciple of Gu Luanyin?"
Hua Yunlong secretly admired his sharp eyes and smiled faintly, saying, "The sect leader is looking for someone from the Hua family. Why should others ask?"
Dongguo Shou chuckled coldly and said, "As expected of a member of the Hua family, so heroic and forthright. I admire you greatly." Suddenly, his expression relaxed, and he said, "Young Master Hua, forgive my presumption, but although your father's skill is unparalleled, he is still a junior. That young lady is right. Even if I disregard my status, I shouldn't have attacked you." Suddenly,
Jia Yan giggled and said, "My surname is Jia, and my given name is Yan. Who is younger?"
Linghu You angrily said, "Shut up, you little brat..."
Dongguo Shou laughed and said, "Fourth Junior Brother, no need to say more." With a flick of his silver beard, he addressed Jia Yan, "I would like to inquire about the names of these ladies."
Jia Yan giggled and said, "That's more like the demeanor of a grandmaster, like that overwhelming momentum just now..." She stopped abruptly with a giggle. The Xingxiu Sect members, hearing the sarcasm in his words, glared angrily.
Dongguo Shou, however, remained unperturbed and smiled, "Please speak, ladies."
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "Her calm and composed demeanor suggests she is confident."
In a flash, he heard Jia Yan's silvery voice, full of allure, recite the names of the dozen or so girls. All of them shared the surname Jia, and all their names contained the radical for "woman." Dongguo Shou couldn't help but think, "She mentioned having two names at the time, so Jia Yan's name is clearly a lie." He laughed heartily and said, "The ladies' surname is Jia, so their names are probably also fake." Jia Yan smiled and said, "
In this vast world, everything is false, especially in our line of work, where everything is fake."
Cai Weiwei suddenly asked, "Sister Yan, what line of work do you do? Why are you so fake?"
Jia Yan glanced at Hua Yunlong with a charming look and smiled, "I dare not say that, your brother Long will definitely be angry."
Cai Weiwei pursed her cherry lips and looked at Hua Yunlong. Hua Yunlong indeed did not want her to know these things, and smiled, "Don't listen to her. Your sister Yan is just playing around in the world, everything is a mix of truth and falsehood." Looking at Dongguo Shou, he said calmly, "Since Master Dongguo is unwilling to make a move against a junior, what can be done?"
Dongguo Shou stroked his beard and smiled, "Even I, this old man, am quite hesitant."
Hua Yunlong shifted his gaze to the ghostly old man behind him and said, "Should the expert behind the Master make the move?" The eerie old man had stood silently beside Dongguo Shou since entering the arena. He clearly heard Hua Yunlong's words, yet didn't even blink. Upon hearing this
, Dongguo Shou suddenly burst into laughter, only stopping after a long while. Hua Yunlong remained unmoved, waiting for him to finish laughing, before asking, "What has made Master Dongguo laugh so?"
Dongguo Shou stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "Even I wouldn't dare lay a hand on you. This is my senior brother, Master Shentu, whose martial arts surpass mine a hundredfold. How could I possibly lay a hand on a junior like you?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "While he may be exaggerating, if Master Shentu's martial arts were no better than his, Dongguo Shou wouldn't have said such a thing. " Looking at Shen Tu, she saw that he remained half-dead, and knew that the more he acted this way, the more unpredictable he became.
Cai Weiwei was also secretly alarmed, but she didn't want Dong Guo Shou to act like an old man. She curled her cherry lips and said, "I've already experienced the three of the sect leader's fellow disciples, and they don't seem to be anything special."
The Linghu brothers were furious. Linghu You, who was hot-tempered by nature, shouted, "You brat..."
Cai Weiwei interrupted, "Is this how a senior master speaks?"
Dong Guo Shou chuckled and said, "Fourth junior brother really needs to temper his temper." Then he smiled at Cai Weiwei and said, "Miss is..." Suddenly,
Jia Yan interrupted in a sweet voice, "This young lady has an extraordinary background. Putting aside everything else, in terms of martial arts, I'm afraid even the sect leader can't be sure of victory..."
Dong Guo Shou carefully examined Cai Weiwei from head to toe and said, "My old eyes are still sharp. How could I not see the young lady's skill?"
Jia Yan laughed, "As for looks, some are like fairies from the Moon Palace or jade maidens from the Jade Pool, a world apart from us mortal women." She smiled, then suddenly stopped, having spoken for so long without even mentioning Cai Weiwei's name. Cai
Weiwei smiled and said, "I'm very ugly, you sisters are the beautiful ones."
Suddenly, Linghu Qi stepped forward and whispered to Dongguo Shou about Cai Weiwei and what had just happened. Dongguo Shou's expression changed slightly. He looked at Cai Weiwei and said, "If my guess is correct, Miss Cai is probably a descendant of the Martial Saint." Dongguo Shou didn't get a reply for a long time, then chuckled and said, "What a charming little girl."
Hua Yunlong raised his eyebrows, about to answer, when Jia Yan giggled and said, "How could the sect leader forget to ask about this fairy maiden?" As she spoke, she pointed a slender finger at Cheng Shumei.
Dongguo Shou glanced at Cheng Shumei and said calmly, "A master from beyond the Great Wall, I already know her." Cheng Shumei gave a cold snort and remained silent.
Hua Yunlong, preoccupied, hurriedly said, "Since both the sect leader and your senior brother disdain to act, shall we leave it at that?"
Dong Guo Shou smiled slightly and said, "Today, the Xuanming Sect and our sect came with all our might, yet it ended in a dismal failure. Young Master Hua, please explain, what will people say if word gets out?"
Hua Yunlong thought to himself, "His words are contradictory; what is his true intention?" His mind raced, and he couldn't help but smile coldly, saying, "I don't understand the Master's meaning."
Dongguo Shou chuckled deeply, saying, "Young Master Hua truly doesn't know?"
Hua Yunlong also said in a deep voice, "Please enlighten me."
Dongguo Shou suddenly became leisurely, stroking his silver beard, and smiled, "Young Master Hua is not unaware; perhaps it's because your father, the Great Hero Hua, is so humble that you've overlooked the Hua family's status in the martial arts world. Your father's martial arts are unfathomable, and now, with the addition of the Martial Saint's direct descendant..."
He stroked his beard with a smile, and Hua Yunlong... He sensed the murderous intent in the man's words and thought to himself, "So the Cai family is on our side, which is why he's so desperate to strike first. It seems the Demonic Sect's gathering of experts in Jiangnan is indeed to deal with the Cai family first."
He suddenly realized the perilous situation. Since Dong Guo Shou was already intent on killing, even if the three of them were to take on the entire Qiannv Sect, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock. He might as well die himself, but Cai Weiwei, Cheng Shumei, Jia Yan, and those dozen or so girls would be a burden to him. Especially Master Yuan Qing, whose skills were unparalleled. If he wasn't forced to transfer his power to poison, what was there to fear? Even if the Hua family had extraordinary abilities, they were too far away to help in the face of the immediate crisis. His mind raced, and he blurted out, "Is the leader really going to fight the Hua family?"
Dongguo Shou's gaze suddenly turned cold, and he said, "It's only a matter of time." Hua Yunlong saw that things had come to this point and there was no way to delay any longer. He sighed inwardly, ready to challenge Dongguo Shou and try to hold him back by fighting him one match at a time, which would at least buy him some more time.
Suddenly, a clear and ancient voice came from the cave: "Amitabha Buddha."
This Buddhist chant was quite strange. Everyone present felt that the voice did not enter their ears but arose in their hearts, and they felt a sense of peace in their hearts. The Xuanming Sect members and Xingxiu Sect disciples' sword-wielding hands involuntarily lowered slowly. Those with slightly weaker skills lost their grip, and clanging sounds rang out. Dongguo Shou's senior brother, Shentu Zhu, suddenly changed from his half-dead appearance. His narrow eyes opened wide, and a bright light shot out, like the golden rays of the sun, making people afraid to look directly at him.
Hua Yunlong, Cai Weiwei, and Cheng Shumei, who were standing opposite him, were even more shocked, realizing that this person's skill was indeed far superior to Dongguo Shou's. Dongguo Shou raised his eyebrows slightly and said, "What a superb 'Heart-Knocking Bell' skill! Who is this master? Dongguo Shou pays
his respects." The voice of Master Yuanqing came from inside the cave, slowly saying, "I dare not accept this. This old monk Yuanqing pays his respects to Master Dongguo." As soon as the voice fell, the green vines at the cave entrance moved without wind, and a thin, wrinkled old monk in gray robes suddenly emerged.
※
... A lotus throne, floating three feet in the air, drifted slowly towards them.
Hua Yunlong suddenly realized this and took three steps to the side. Master Yuanqing, however, floated to within three zhang of Dongguo Shou, uttered a Buddhist chant, and slowly descended. His appearance was solemn and dignified, his divine bearing serene, almost making one suspect that a true Buddha had descended to earth. Dongguo Shou already knew of Master Yuanqing, but he had not expected Master Yuanqing's skill to be so profound. He was a powerful and ruthless man. After a moment of stunned silence, he grinned maliciously and said, "'Lotus Throne Crossing' and 'Heart-Piercing Techniques'—two unparalleled divine skills. Dongguo Shou has truly broadened his horizons." His gaze shifted, and he gave a slight nod to Master Shentu.
Master Shentu suddenly stepped forward, silently extending his right arm, fingers spread wide, and from a distance of over two zhang, made a feinting grab at Master Yuanqing. His grab was completely silent, like child's play. Master Yuanqing's face hardened, and he clasped his hands together in front of his chest, slightly opening and closing them, but apart from a few experts, no one else noticed this subtle movement. As everyone was still wondering, they saw the robes of those standing around Master Yuanqing and Master Shentu fluttering outwards, then suddenly pulling back inwards, realizing the two had exchanged a blow. Master Yuanqing leaned back, then stood upright like a mountain. Master Shentu's gaze changed, and he leaned forward, taking half a step.
Hua Yunlong was greatly excited, thinking, "Judging from this, it's clear that Old Monster Shentu has lost."
Although Master Shentu had lost, he showed no excitement, turning around and coldly saying, "Go." Dong Guo Shou was taken aback, then suddenly realized, "The old monk's skill is extremely high, why bother fighting him head-on? "
He quickly changed his mind and decided to retreat. He bowed respectfully and said, "For the sake of the master, let's settle this here today. I hope to see your divine skills again someday." Dong Guo Shou paused, stroked his silver beard, and said, "In my humble opinion, the martial world is rife with killings and bloodshed. The Hua family has long dominated the martial world, and our fellow practitioners have suffered this oppression for a long time. We have reached our limit. Countless masters and extraordinary individuals from all corners of the world have joined forces to annihilate the Hua family. Their defeat is imminent, and this calamity is unavoidable. A master like you, a recluse, should be enjoying a life of leisure and tranquility." The implication was that the Cai family should withdraw from the martial arts world.
Hua Yunlong, concerned for Cai Yuanhao's safety, remained silent despite hearing his blatant lies. Master Yuanqing, unmoved, listened quietly until he finished speaking, then calmly said, "I am deeply grateful for the Master's kindness, but as the Buddha said, 'If I don't go to hell, who will?' Even though the martial world is in turmoil,
how can I, an old monk, resist the will to live in the mountains? Eliminating evil and protecting the righteous is everyone's responsibility." Dongguo Shou thought to himself, "This old monk is extremely stubborn; we mustn't be too hasty. Fortunately, both sides' words are ambiguous, and neither has gone to extremes." He bowed and said, "Since that's the case, there's nothing more to say. I'll take my leave."
Master Yuanqing clasped his hands in farewell. Duanmu Shiliang and Meng Weiqian, though unwilling, were awestruck by Master Yuanqing's unparalleled skill and had no choice but to back down. Meng Weiqian shouted, "Let's go!" and led the Xuanming Cult members away.

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