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

Volume 31, Chapter 12, "The Dark King's Record,"

states that Ren Xiaoyao knew he couldn't be distracted by two things at once. He had to block the iron umbrella's attack while dodging the barrage of needles like rain. Suddenly, he sidestepped, his body turning sharply, his footwork changing abruptly, attempting to bypass Sakata Gintoki in the narrow space beside him. This "Universe Shift" was an extremely skillful movement technique. Ren Xiaoyao's feet moved like flying clouds, his figure fluid. In a flash, he seemed to be able to reach Sakata Gintoki. If Sakata Gintoki used the needles like rain to follow, he would suddenly turn around in front of him, letting him taste the needles himself. If the needles didn't reach him, he would use close combat techniques to seize the other iron umbrella. Unexpectedly,
Sakata Gintoki's left palm swept across the air, and the iron umbrella thrust out from the center, swift as a meteor, towards Ren Xiaoyao. Forceful winds burst forth from both sides of his body, like a roc spreading its wings, completely blocking Ren Xiaoyao's path. Ren Xiaoyao only needed to turn five feet more to bypass Sakata Gintoki's internal energy, but doing so would be like running into a net formed by a thousand needles of rain. Helpless, he could only step back and leap several feet away.
Sakata Gintoki laughed loudly, pressing his advantage relentlessly. His iron umbrella suddenly closed, chasing after Ren Xiaoyao.
The umbrella spun, its rotation gradually increasing in speed. Halfway through its thrust, it transformed into a swirling vortex of energy, enveloping Ren Xiaoyao from afar. The most terrifying aspect was that Sakata Gintoki's umbrella did not strike in a straight line, but rather appeared straight yet was actually curved, following an arc trajectory that seemed to align with the numbers of the universe in the void, aiming at Ren Xiaoyao. Because he had to use the Ice Soul Frost Sword to block the thousand needles of rain, using only his left hand to deflect the attack was a hundred times more difficult than a direct strike.
Not only that, Sakata Gintoki's internal energy was also formidable. Although he hadn't yet figured out the exact method, it was definitely a legitimate and orthodox martial art, not some evil or unorthodox technique. Moreover, he had already reached the level of a grandmaster, his internal energy fluctuating between cold and warm, profound and subtle; fast yet slow, seemingly slow but actually swift, his energy flowing freely, varying in intensity, making it impossible to defend against. Each of his attacks, combined with the "Thousand Needles of Rain" technique, sealed off all of Ren Xiaoyao's counterattacks, leaving him with superb skills but unable to utilize them. Ren Xiaoyao fought with both difficulty and frustration, and the situation completely turned in Sakata Gintoki's favor.
The women watched with growing alarm. With Ren Xiaoyao's current martial arts skills, he could at least rank among the top five in the Central Plains, yet he was gradually losing ground under the suppression of the "Thousand Needles of Rain" technique. Although Ren Xiaoyao had never heard of or seen anything like this before coming here, and had suffered some hidden losses, the fact that he could only parry and not retaliate was far beyond everyone's expectations. As the fight progressed, all of Sakata Gintoki's moves seemed to be improvised, as if they were unrestrained and unpredictable. His true energy seemed boundless and limitless. His moves were noticeably slower than before, but his internal energy kept accumulating. Almost as soon as the umbrella handle was swung, the force of the wind reached Ren Xiaoyao's body. The most amazing thing was that the energy gradually converged and concentrated from the beginning, like an invisible but substantial, powerful and incomparably strong iron pillar that pierced through Ren Xiaoyao's chest with the iron umbrella.
Ren Xiaoyao dodged, evaded, and retreated again. His lightness skill was superb; even with his constant dodging, it appeared he was still entangled in a fierce battle with Sakata Gintoki. At this moment, he exerted all his strength in his footwork, sometimes leaning left, sometimes stumbling right, sometimes swift and rapid, sometimes clumsy and slow. But whether his steps were as fast as the wind or as graceful as lotus leaves, he always managed to dodge precisely to blind spots that Sakata Gintoki couldn't reach. Even though Sakata Gintoki wielded his iron umbrella with unpredictable opening and closing, like a thousand needles raining down, penetrating every crevice, he was always just a hair's breadth short of catching up with Ren Xiaoyao, unable to even force him into a direct confrontation.
The Shitong Aoki-ryu group was all dazzled by the spectacle. After all, Flying Immortal Transformation, Crossing the River on a Reed, and Illusory Shadow of the Void were all unparalleled martial arts, let alone the fact that he used them in turn, each one with unparalleled skill. Conversely, the women all frowned, secretly worried. Nangong Fengyi said with concern, "Sakata Gintoki's fighting style is too unpredictable. Xiaoyao has almost no chance to fight back. Although his innate supreme qi is inexhaustible, if this continues... if Xiaoyao becomes even slightly careless, it will inevitably lead to irreversible consequences."
Long Feiyun sighed softly, "Alas, if I had known this would happen, I would have given him the Mangcang Taxue Armor..."
Shinguji Mina interrupted, "It's useless. Like a thousand needles in the rain, it's all-pervasive. The Mangcang Taxue Armor can protect the upper body, but it can't protect the limbs, let alone the vital organs like the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth."
Watching Ren Xiaoyao hurriedly dodge and frantically scramble, Lin Yuxiu became even more nervous and stamped her foot, "Oh dear, why doesn't Big Brother use the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force to reflect that damned Thousand Needles in the Rain back and turn Sakata Gintoki into a beehive? Instead..." "Don't try to dodge, let him show off his power here."
Meng Fei said with a bitter smile, "The silver needles have hidden wind tunnels and are made with special techniques. Even the Regretful Dragon technique ca
n't do anything to them, let alone the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin technique." Nangong Fengzi was so anxious that she almost cried, "Is there no other way but to sit and wait for death?"
Deng Lei slowly uttered three words: "Yes, hidden weapons!"
Su Hanbi asked in surprise, "Hidden weapons!?"
Deng Lei revealed a knowing look and said in a deep voice, "That's right. Don't be fooled by the Thousand Needles of Rain forcing Xiaoyao to defend himself. In fact, it's all due to his skillful manipulation. In terms of strength alone, it's not only inferior to the Heavenly Immortal Sword Rain of Meng Family Fortress in Henan, but even Tang Yunhe's Heavenly Net and Nine Palaces Flying Star are far superior. As long as we find a way to get rid of him, Sakata Gintoki will become a tiger without claws, at the mercy of others."
Nangong Fengyi shook her head slightly and said solemnly, "The Central Plains martial arts world has 'Western Tang'..." The phrase "Dong Meng" refers to two major families specializing in hidden weapons: the Meng Family Fortress in Henan and the Tang Clan in Sichuan (Note: Sichuan is not part of the Central Plains, but since the main territory of the Song Dynasty was in the Central Plains, all martial arts sects that considered the Song Dynasty as the orthodox dynasty were under the jurisdiction of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance). The Tang Clan's hidden weapons emphasize speed, ruthlessness, poison, and viciousness, while the Meng Family Fortress is known for its unpredictability, variability, strangeness, and ingenuity. However, the Meng family of Henan was wiped out more than twenty years ago by the Shura Sect and Juesha, and the Tang Clan's hidden weapons are never passed on to outsiders. How can Xiaoyao counter the Thousand Needles of Rain and Dew and deal with Sakata Gintoki?"
Long Feiyun said softly, "Sister, have you forgotten Fengzi's Cultivation Secrets?"
Nangong Fengzi interrupted, "Cultivation Secrets!? It clearly records the art of traps and mechanisms, and has nothing to do with hidden weapons."
Long Feiyun explained, "The author of the Cultivation Secrets, Meng Lei, was recognized by the martial arts world as the number one hidden weapon master more than twenty years ago." A master of weaponry, known as "Thousand-Handed Gentleman." When the Asura Cult launched a massive invasion of the Central Plains, Meng Family Fortress, located in Henan, was the first to bear the brunt. Meng Lei knew that his clan alone could not withstand the attack, and fearing the loss of the fortress's secret techniques, he compiled all his knowledge into the Heavenly Secrets Manual: the first volume, the Dark King's Manual, records various hidden weapon techniques and secrets; the second volume deals with mechanisms and traps. See, it's the cultivation manual in my sister's hands. "
Nangong Fengzi murmured, "Could it be that the Dark King's Manual is also in Brother Xiaoyao's hands?"
Long Feiyun slowly nodded, while Shui Furong pressed, "That fool is incredibly intelligent, how could he not have thought of this? Why hasn't he made a move yet? Does he possess the Dark King's Manual but haven't studied it, or... or perhaps he doesn't understand hidden weapons at all?" Thinking of the countless hardships she had endured following Ren Xiaoyao, and how she had never seen him use even half a copper coin dart or a needle, her anxiety grew, and she almost wept.
Meng Fei interjected, "No, Xiaoyao memorized the Dark King's Manual perfectly when he was ten, so he never used it because he already had the Xiaoyao Wuji Palm and Flying Immortal Transformation Feathers, which were enough for self-defense. Later, he learned the Lingxiao Sword Technique, so there was even less need to use them. Therefore, Xiaoyao never carried any hidden weapons, so naturally he couldn't rely on them to deal with Sakata Gintoki."
Deng Lei sighed, "Alas, the place where they fought was a hill, far from the forest. Even if Xiaoyao had mastered the 'Plucking Karma Flying Flowers, Instantly Killing' technique, he was still helpless at this moment." "Damn it."
Nangong Fengzi gasped, exclaiming, "That...that's still no way out."
Yi Tianhan's eyes brightened, and he confidently declared, "No, I firmly believe that Xiaoyao will find a way to resolve this predicament. Just wait and see." When it came to experience in martial arts, Yi Tianhan was undoubtedly the best among the four masters. Normally, his words would be considered gospel, but the current situation was far too tense. Even with his impulsive assurance, the women were all sweating bullets, secretly worried for Ren Xiaoyao.
The only one who smiled was Long Feiyun.
Ren Xiaoyao leaped into the air, dodging Sakata Gintoki's vicious attack. He then used his "Soaring Clouds" technique to soar upwards, hovering several dozen feet in the air. His previously solemn demeanor vanished, replaced by a relaxed and carefree air. He raised his voice and said, "Sakata Gintoki, I'll ask you one last time, shall we continue our duel?"
Sakata Gintoki, who held a significant advantage, was unwilling to back down. He coldly replied, "Unless you obediently hand over Shinguji Mina, don't even think about me bothering you."
Ren Xiaoyao focused his energy in his eyes, looked up to the sky, and roared, "If that's the case, then don't blame me for being ruthless." As he spoke, his left hand gracefully and leisurely brushed his temples with a cool touch, causing his clothes to billow and flutter wildly.

Volume 31, Chapter 13: Profound and Extensive, Chapter 13:

Lin Yuxiu jumped up excitedly, shouting, "Sisters, look! Brother Xiaoyao has a solution!"
Nangong Fengzi chimed in, "Yes, yes, Sakata Gintoki is doomed." Actually, even without their shouts, anyone could tell from Ren Xiaoyao's confident, handsome face and arrogant tone that after nearly half an hour of being humiliated by Sakata Gintoki's powerful suppression, he had figured out the key to breaking the Thousand Needles Rain technique.
Unaware of the situation, Sakata Gintoki, seeing Ren Xiaoyao's figure move like a roc spreading its wings and descending from the sky,
didn't hesitate to use the Thousand Needles Rain technique to meet him head-on. "Swish, swish, swish!" The countless silver needles struck Ren Xiaoyao—no, it should be said that Ren Xiaoyao's shadow struck him—covering his body and face. In this life-or-death moment, he actually used the Shadow Clone Technique, successfully deceiving Sakata Gintoki's killing move.
But the renowned Thousand Needles of Rain, famous throughout Japan, was not so easily countered. Sakata Gintoki sneered, and from the handle of his right umbrella shot out another thousand silver needles, raining down on Ren Xiaoyao.
In the brief interval between the two needle attacks, Ren Xiaoyao had already landed back on the ground from the sky, still with that same carefree and elegant demeanor. Suddenly, he raised his foot and stomped hard on the ground, causing the soil beneath his foot to bulge, kicking up countless bits of mud and sand that met the Thousand Needles of Rain without fail.
Sakata Gintoki scoffed, "Hahaha, you think you can stop my ultimate move by kicking up a few clumps of yellow earth? Dream on!" With that, he channeled his inner energy to accelerate the silver needles, determined to decide the outcome in one move.
Indeed, the soil on the hillside could not stop the Thousand Needles of Rain, fine as cow's hair and swift as thunder, but the soil, imbued with innate supreme qi by Ren Xiaoyao, was unbreakable and indestructible.
A thousand silver needles, gleaming with a cold, sharp light, struck the soil without missing a single one, yet none could penetrate it and reach within a foot of Ren Xiaoyao. Not only was Sakata Gintoki dumbfounded and stood frozen in place, but even Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, and others were deeply moved. Deng Lei exclaimed, "Wonderful! Others use leaves and flowers to fly, but Xiaoyao uses earth to turn it into sand, using the soil all over the mountains as hidden weapons. It's as easy to break through as a thousand needles in the rain, truly like a gazelle hanging its horns, leaving no trace. It's unfathomable. No wonder he's a disciple trained by Brother Meng!"
Even now, Sakata Gintoki still refused to give in. He flipped over and grabbed another iron umbrella, intending to use both weapons and fight to the death. Suddenly, he felt a chill on his neck. He had been blocked by the Ice Soul Frost Sword. At the same time, he heard Ren Xiaoyao's voice in his ear: "Mr. Sakata, you are a smart man. I believe you know without me saying that the current situation is beyond human control. I think you should take the initiative to admit defeat to avoid humiliating yourself." With a
"clang," the double halberds in Sakata Gintoki's hands suddenly fell to the ground. He shuddered and turned around. He looked as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant. His face was drained of color, his eyes were dull and vacant, tears were visible at the corners of his eyes, and his teeth were clenched around his lips, his expression anxious and pained. In that instant, Ren Xiaoyao froze, as if struck by lightning, standing there stunned. The Sakata Gintoki of today was nothing like the arrogant, invincible ninja of moments before; he was clearly a man nearing the end of his life, teetering on the edge of despair.
"Pfft!" Sakata Gintoki collapsed to his knees, burying his face in his hands, his whole body convulsing, tears streaming down his face. Was he crying because of his crushing defeat, his lifelong reputation ruined? No, he was crying because he couldn't beat Ren Xiaoyao, couldn't get the 20,000 taels of hidden money; he was crying because the financially troubled Shitsu Aoki-ryu had been destroyed by his own hand.
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly felt a deep sense of guilt. He had given his all to protect Shinguji Mina, yet he had single-handedly destroyed the last hope of the Shitsu Aoki-ryu. If the opponent were a truly wicked villain, such an approach would be perfectly justifiable. However, the opponent acted with integrity and, despite having a significant numerical advantage, still chose to fight him one-on-one. Now, Sakata Gintoki has suffered a crushing defeat, and the Shitsu Aoki-ryu is in a state of panic, beset by internal and external troubles, destined for decline and eventual demise. How could Ren Xiaoyao , a man of unwavering benevolence and righteousness, bear to see this
? Looking back at the Shitsu Aoki-ryu disciples, each one was emaciated and pale, yet their arms were muscular and taut, gripping their katanas tightly. It was clear they persevered in their training under extremely difficult conditions, determined to strengthen the Shitsu Aoki-ryu. Ren Xiaoyao was deeply shocked, undergoing a fierce internal struggle. Could he simply stand by and watch the Shitsu Aoki-ryu perish, and dozens of disciples lose the goal they had strived for their entire lives?
Ren Xiaoyao was bewildered. Even with his usual shrewdness, he felt utterly lost. If he were in the Central Plains, he would have unhesitatingly offered silver to help Shitong Qingmu Liu resolve the crisis and used his extensive network to secure more missions for them. However, this was Japan. Not only were the hundreds of thousands of taels of silver notes held by the Nangong sisters useless, but he was also all alone. Even if he wanted to help, he was powerless to do so.
Suddenly, a smile unexpectedly appeared on Ren Xiaoyao's lips. His eyes sharpened like a hawk's, and with a swift, lightning-fast movement, he struck Sakata Gintoki squarely in the abdomen. Sakata Gintoki immediately stiffened, unable to move. Then, with a slight sway of his toes, he shifted his stance and lunged at Nakai Kazuya, who was watching from afar.
Sakata Mitsushi and Sakata Masahiro exchanged glances, each brandishing their swords and rushing forward to block their path. Ren Xiaoyao, however, used his Flying Immortal Transformation technique to easily evade the two men, reaching Nakai Kazuya at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow. He placed one palm on Nakai's chest and the other on his back, trapping Nakai's body flat between his hands. The points of his ten fingers were all vital acupoints.
He used a move from the Free and Unfettered Palm technique called "Pushing Open the Window to Gaze at the Moon," combined with the superb movement technique of "Seizing the Illusion." Even though Nakai Kazuya's martial arts skills were not weak, he was still subdued by Ren Xiaoyao's control of his vital acupoints in a short time. Nakai was timid to begin with, and he was so frightened that his face turned pale, his whole body trembled, and he couldn't speak.
Sakata Mitsushiro pointed his halberd and shouted, "Ren Xiaoyao, what are you trying to do by holding our sect leader hostage!"
Ren Xiaoyao coldly replied, "Hmph, you are all incredibly audacious to provoke me, the sect leader! I demand that Nakai Kazuya kneel and kowtow three times and apologize to me in person."
Upon hearing this, Sakata Mitsushiro and Sakata Masahiro's expressions changed drastically. Even if Nakai Kazuya had a thousand faults, he was still the sect leader of the Shitong Aoki-ryu school and the nominal leader of the seven Sakata brothers. If he were to kneel before Ren Xiaoyao in broad daylight, what a disgrace it would be! If word got out, it would be unbearable.
Everyone else shared the same thought, and dozens of eyes turned to look at Nakai Kazuya.
Fear filled Nakai Kazuya's eyes as he trembled, thinking, "If he were to unleash his inner force now, my heart meridian would be severed instantly, and I would die on the spot." He bent his knees slightly, about to kneel and beg for mercy, but Ren Xiaoyao coldly said, "Nakai Hisashi, one of the Five Ninja of Osaka, was a renowned hero in Kansai, a man of such prowess and skill. Yet his son is such a coward. No wonder the Shitong Aoki-ryu is in this state."
Hearing Ren Xiaoyao mention his father, Nakai Kazuya felt a pang of guilt, but then, from who knows where, he straightened his back and declared loudly, "I will not kneel! Even if you kill me, I will not kneel!"
The members of the Shitong Aoki-ryu, who had previously looked down on Nakai Kazuya, now saw him change his usual cowardly nature and, even under the threat of a powerful enemy, not betray his sect's reputation. They all felt a sense of respect for him. Sakata Masahiro waved his hand, and with a few whistles, the disciples scattered, each drawing their weapons, and surrounded Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed nonchalantly, "What, you've decided to save him?"
Sakata Masahiro angrily retorted, "Release the sect leader immediately, or we'll make you regret it."
Ren Xiaoyao laughed loudly, saying, "You want to make me look bad? Hahaha, you think you can win by sheer numbers? Let me tell you, in my eyes, even if you outnumber me tenfold, what difference does it make?" As he spoke, he released his grip, abandoning Zhongjing Hezai, and in a flash, he was right next to Sakata Masahiro, raising his palm to strike.
Sakata Masahiro hadn't expected Ren Xiaoyao to move so fast. He hurriedly swung his sword forward, but missed. He heard a muffled groan, and a fellow disciple fell beside him. It turned out that the attack was feigned, but Ren Xiaoyao had actually used an extremely skillful movement technique to switch positions in mid-air, striking a Chunin on his left side in the waist. The man didn't even have time to groan before he collapsed.
Ren Xiaoyao arrogantly declared, "Today, I'll show you the profound depth and breadth of Central Plains martial arts." As soon as she finished speaking, she leaped forward, her figure darting around the mound. Her palms moved like butterflies flitting among flowers, unleashing a barrage of strikes. The disciples of the Shitong Qingmu School each unleashed their most powerful attacks, yet not a single one could even touch her clothes. In fact, over a dozen were struck in pressure points and knocked to the ground. Ren Xiaoyao's palms contained innate, supreme internal energy, the force penetrating deep into their lungs. Those struck, regardless of their martial arts skill, cried out in pain, their piercing screams echoing throughout the room, chilling and terrifying to the bone.

Volume 31, Chapter 14, "A Spectacular Showdown

," Ren Xiaoyao said as he fought, "Well, Nakai Kazuya, do you submit or not? Will you kneel or not?" The Shitong
Aoki-ryu disciples who had been hit cried out incessantly, as if to echo his words. Sakata Mitsushi and Sakata Masahiro tried their best to relieve their
pressure points, but to no avail. It seemed that only Ren Xiaoyao could undo the damage.
Nakai Kazuya took a deep breath and said with a forced smile, "Our sect's martial arts, when practiced to their highest level, are certainly no less than those of Master Ren. It's
just that my skills are still lacking. Those with exceptional talent, such as Senior Brother Sakata, will surely achieve limitless success in the future."
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily and said coldly, "Excellent, excellent. This master will take his leave now. We'll undo their pressure points when your sect's martial arts are beyond
measure." With that, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.
Nakai Kazuya thought to himself that his disciples were screaming so pitifully, clearly suffering terribly, and
might not be able to hold on for even a short while. If Ren Xiaoyao left, they would probably die from the pain. He cautiously and tremblingly said,
"Master Ren, please have mercy and rescue my fellow disciples first."
Ren Xiaoyao said indifferently, "If you want me to rescue them, that's not difficult. Just kneel and kowtow to me as we agreed before. After you've finished kowtowing
, I will personally relieve their pain."
Nakai Kazuya thought, "I sent my disciples to kidnap Shinguji Mina, and everyone in the martial world knows that the operation
has failed . It's already shameful enough. If I agree to this, how can the Shitong Aoki School still stand in the martial world?
Wouldn't my father's life's work be destroyed in my hands?"
Seeing that he hesitated and did not answer, Ren Xiaoyao's tiger eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he said in a deep voice, " " How about this, let's have a spar .
If Sect Leader Zhongjing can withstand fifty moves, I'll agree to help. However... if you're killed on the spot, you can only
blame your own lack of skill. Don't blame this sect leader for being ruthless."
Upon hearing the word "death," Zhongjing Kazuya trembled, involuntarily revealing a look of fear. Everyone who saw this
sighed deeply. It should be known that Zhongjing Kazuya was inherently timid, and even more so, he was extremely averse to the word "death." Let alone risking his life to
fight Ren Xiaoyao, even the casualties of his disciples during missions, when returning to Osaka to report, would
terrify him.
Ren Xiaoyao narrowed his eyes to slits, radiating an extremely intimidating light. He stared intently at Nakai Kazuya for a long while, then slowly
said as if drawing a conclusion: "People say that the Japanese martial arts world is full of heroes, but I think that's utterly arrogant. From Tottori to here, I
've fought more than a dozen battles, big and small, and apart from Uchiha Mariko, everyone else I've encountered is trash!"
Heaped insults upon them, everyone felt ashamed and indignant, yet they couldn't find any words to refute him.
Several older ninjas who had experienced the heyday of the Shitong Aoki-ryu under Nakai Hisashi's rule even shed tears. Sobbing uncontrollably, Nakai
Kazuya saw this and his father's dying words involuntarily surfaced in his mind—"Kazuya, I know that because of what happened
when you were a child , your personality has become very timid, but I still pass the position of sect leader to you because I know
that you are the best in martial arts, the most talented, and the strongest in leadership among my sons. As long as you can overcome that
fear , and with the strong support of the Sakata Seven Brothers, even if you can't make the Shitong Aoki-ryu great, maintaining its current scale will be
more than enough.
" No, I can't be weak anymore. I must find myself again. I must fulfill my father's last wish!
Thinking of this, Nakai Kazuya's breathing became slightly rapid, his eyes gleaming brightly, and he
stared fiercely at Kou Zhong. His breathing gradually returned to normal, slow, long, and thin. He slowly said, "Alright, I'll fight you!"
After saying that , he drew his sword from his waist with a "whoosh," took a few steps back, and pointed it at Ren Xiaoyao.
The ninjas were all surprised, delighted, and worried as they saw him transform into a different person, becoming dignified and imposing. They were surprised that
their weak-willed leader had suddenly become so strong; delighted that their wounded brothers had hope of alleviating their pain; and worried because Ren
Xiaoyao martial arts were so superb that Zhongjing Hezai might not be able to withstand fifty moves.
Ren Xiaoyao drew his Ice Soul Frost Sword, which had caused countless masters to perish, unleashing a powerful sword aura as he pressed towards Zhongjing Hezai
, coldly saying, "Be careful, sir! Xiaoyao will go all out and show no mercy!"
Zhongjing Hezai slightly raised his hand, holding his sword horizontally in front of his chest, generating an incomparably sharp sword aura to counter Ren Xiaoyao.
In that instant, Ren Xiaoyao charged forward like lightning, his sword transforming into a long rainbow as he launched his attack.
At the same time, Zhongjing Hezai also swung his sword and rushed forward.
Two invisible and silent sword energies clashed before their blades even touched, followed by a deafening roar from
the clash .
Ren Xiaoyao stood motionless, his upper body swaying slightly, while
Zhongjing Kazuya swiftly retreated, regaining his footing after a few steps and standing with his sword held horizontally. His expression remained calm and composed,
a smile playing on his lips, his body steady and strong, his internal strength quite formidable, not far inferior to Ren Xiaoyao's.
The onlookers were all deeply moved, their faces showing disbelief. Who would have thought that the timid and cowardly Zhongjing
Kazuya possessed such skill?
What surprised them even more was what followed. With a long roar, Zhongjing Kazuya, scabbard in left hand and sword in right, launched a whirlwind
attack on Ren Xiaoyao. Each spin he made created a vortex filled with killing intent, the scabbard and sword weaving together a sharp
, lightning-fast , and both offensive and defensive net. A powerful surge of energy, centered on Nakai Kazuya, swept
out like a raging sandstorm in the desert, unleashing tremendous force as the two closed the distance.
All spectators felt as if Nakai Kazuya had become the terrifying core of a storm,
tearing apart and slicing apart anything that dared to obstruct him, displaying a ferocious power capable of destroying mountains and breaking through prisons. Most formidable was the subtle variation in the speed of each of his rotations
, making it impossible to predict the precise timing of his attacks.
Even the disciples of Shi Tong Qingmu Liu were seeing their sect leader use both sword and scabbard in such a strange way for the first
time Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi and the other women were even more shocked, their hearts pounding, fearing that Ren Xiaoyao might
be taken advantage of by Zhongjing Hezai if he was not careful.
Shui Furong murmured, "What...what kind of sword technique did he use? Its power is so incredible."
Shinguji Mina interjected, "This is Nakai Hisashi's self-created Rasengan, which, along with the Thousand Needles of Rain, is known as
one of the two great techniques of the Shitong Aoki-ryu school."
Ren Xiaoyao's lips curled into a smug smile. Suddenly, he flicked his sleeve and shifted to the left. Just as everyone
thought he was about to dodge, his sword trembled, transforming into three points of light that shot towards Nakai Kazuya in a triangular formation. Simultaneously, he used a strange stepping technique,
shifting his form and instantly appearing behind Nakai Kazuya. His attack, which had shifted from his left side to a rear attack, became swift as a ghost, seemingly
real yet illusory, showcasing the profound mystery of illusion.
The Ice Soul Frost Sword shot into Nakai Kazuya's sword net with unparalleled speed,
the two blades clashing at a speed barely visible to the naked eye. With a "ding," the two spun apart simultaneously. When the distance between them reached about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), they stopped spinning abruptly
and stood firmly, facing each other directly. Ren Xiaoyao's innate supreme qi was not yet fully developed; he
was still . His fierce battle with Sakata Gintoki had already exhausted much of his energy, and it would be
difficult for him to concentrate fully on fighting Nakai Kazuya. He had managed to repel him the first time, but the second time, he could only manage a draw.
Ren Xiaoyao smiled leisurely and said, "It seems that Sect Leader Nakai doesn't want to last fifty moves under Xiaoyao's sword, but rather wants to fight
to the death, to both of them be severely injured."
Nakai Kazuya coldly replied, "Hmph, once I make my move, I will take that 20,000 taels of hidden money." Their eyes clashed,
seemingly oblivious to the discussions around them, or as if no one was watching at all; each had only their opponent in their eyes. Below the hillside, Yi
Tianhan was already watching with fervent excitement, wishing he could replace Ren Xiaoyao.
Where could one find such a frenzied opponent, fighting to the death on the spot?
Zhongjing Kazuya casually tossed aside his scabbard, letting it fall to the ground, then pounced forward, his samurai sword following a swirling
arc as it slashed towards Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao dared not be careless; his Ice Soul Frost Sword drew a complete circle, creating a flash of light as it
slashed . The scabbard struck the ground with a clang, and simultaneously, Ren Xiaoyao swept the weapon cleanly, its speed unimaginable.
The swords clashed three times, both men's bodies trembling violently.
Zhongjing Kazuya roared, his swordsmanship shifting dramatically. A swirling, sand-like wave of blades crashed down upon Ren Xiaoyao. The sounds of clashing swords echoed incessantly. Ren Xiaoyao
desperately tried to dodge, but Nakai Kazuya's katana
swarmed him like a relentless, relentless storm of attacks. Both were fighting with all their might, their battles often resulting in decisive victories and even life-or-death
situations. The onlookers watched, their breaths catching in their throats.
Ren Xiaoyao felt as if he were amidst a raging torrent of blades, the waves crashing endlessly. The crisis he faced was
even greater than the previous relentless barrage of attacks, no wonder Kurosaki Masayoshi had warned him to be wary of Nakai Kazuya. He
had no choice but to channel his innate, supreme inner energy into his sword, attacking with fire and striking with force. He still wielded the Lingxiao Sword Technique,
but its momentum was completely different from before. On the surface, it appeared light and ethereal, yet each strike carried the weight of a thousand pounds, outwardly weak but inwardly strong
. His swordsmanship was unpredictable and ever-changing, like a celestial horse galloping through the sky, each move ingeniously crafted, leaving no trace. No matter how fiercely his opponent unleashed his
swift techniques, they could not shake him in the slightest.
The crowd watched, forgetting even to cheer.
"Clang!" Ren Xiaoyao struck the blade, then flicked upwards, aiming for his opponent's jaw.
Zhong Jinghezai, fearing he would be taken advantage of, quickly dodged to the side, and the two returned to a stalemate.
The Shitong Qingmu School members erupted in thunderous cheers, especially the older members, who shouted even louder, for
they saw the shadow of his father, Zhong Jingshou, in Zhong Jinghezai.
Zhong Jinghezai said coldly, "Ren Xiaoyao, prepare to die! Today I will show you the power of our school's ultimate technique!" With that,
his eyes shone brightly, he sheathed his saber, and his robes billowed. The aura was overwhelmingly fierce. Most strangely, the surrounding air seemed to
have stopped flowing, as silent and still as a vast desert without a breath of wind, and the air even became scorching hot.
Ren Xiaoyao's heart tightened, and he displayed an unusually solemn expression, fully on guard.
Zhongjing Kazuya's voice boomed like thunder, and the samurai sword he had sheathed behind him magically appeared in front of him. With extremely
profound and strange techniques, his body moved with the sword, drawing a swirling, wave-like trajectory in the air. The sharp edge swiftly
attacked Ren Xiaoyao's throat, a vital point that would be difficult for anyone to withstand.
Ren Xiaoyao's brows furrowed deeply. Although the opponent's attack was a single strike, it consisted of more than ten continuous waves, each wave
, its timing, and the angle of attack perfectly controlled, sending out swirling sword energy that converged into a sharp
sword aura capable of splitting walls, attacking him wave after wave from different angles, swift as a cold whistle and with boundless power. The reason he was able to withstand the prolonged and exhausting battle
against Nakai Kazuya was entirely due to his technique of deflecting and borrowing energy. Now, his opponent's attack was clearly aimed at this "strength,"
leaving him with no way to deflect or borrow energy. His biggest headache was that Nakai Kazuya had already locked onto him with his energy while preparing to strike
. If he used his previous method of dodging first and then attacking, he might avoid one strike, but not the second, and would inevitably
be defeated by the opponent's momentum.
Therefore, he could only exert all his strength for a final desperate gamble!
Ren Xiaoyao shouted, leaping into the air. His Ice Soul Frost Sword transformed into countless points of light, shooting
straight seemingly impenetrable energy transformed into countless tiny, needle-like energy points,
relentlessly attacking with ever-changing sword techniques, possessing the power to shake mountains and earth.
The sword and saber clashed like two bolts of lightning.
The samurai sword snapped in two.
The Shitong Aoki-ryu members all cried out in shock.

Volume Thirty-Two: A Series of Difficulties and the Help of a Nobleman, Chapter One: Well-Intentioned Efforts,

Chapter Forty-Seven: Forty-seven moves. Zhongjing Kazuya had only withstood forty-seven moves from Ren Xiaoyao's sword.
He, who had initially held the advantage, was utterly vulnerable before the all-out effort of Ren Xiaoyao.
Zhongjing Kazuya's knees buckled,
and he suddenly knelt. He didn't kneel because of cowardice or fear; he knelt because he had failed his father's dying wish and neglected his duties as sect leader.
The hearts of everyone sank. Zhongjing Kazuya's defeat meant that Ren Xiaoyao would not intervene to rescue the disciple he had injured; Zhongjing Kazuya's defeat meant that their all-out, desperate gamble had failed completely; Zhongjing Kazuya's defeat meant that the Shitong Aoki-ryu, to which they had sworn to serve, would disappear from the Japanese martial arts world forever.
A somber atmosphere enveloped the entire arena. Dozens of Shitong Aoki-ryu disciples stood there, dejected and stunned. Sakata Mitsushi and Sakata Masahiro beat their chests and sighed deeply. Sakata Gintoki, though unable to move, had tears welling in his eyes. Even those who had been attacked—Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, Lin Yuxiu, and others—felt utterly miserable. Su Hanbi's beautiful eyes revealed a hint of sorrow and helplessness as she murmured, "Why...why did this happen? They did nothing wrong. They only blocked our path to survive. From beginning to end, they fought us one-on-one, never intending to overwhelm us with numbers. Why didn't Xiaoyao show mercy and let Nakai Kazuya last three more moves? Did he really intend to crush Shitong Aoki-ryu in one fell swoop, letting them..." "Will we never be able to turn things around?"
Yi Tianhan focused his eyes and said coldly, "It's necessary, of course it's necessary. It's not just one or two schools that are eyeing Mina, but dozens of schools. If we don't make an example of them and show the Japanese martial arts world our true strength, it will only make people see us clearly and bring more unnecessary trouble. So don't blame Xiaoyao, blame Shitong Aoki-ryu for being the first powerful opponent to come knocking on our door. We can't protect Mina if we don't defeat them!"
Sakata Mitsushi and Sakata Masahiro turned around, their cheeks full of tears. Ren Xiaoyao thought they were going to beg for mercy, but to his surprise, with two "swish" sounds, Sakata Mitsushi and Sakata Masahiro drew their weapons at the same time. Seeing this, the others also surrounded him, dozens of gleaming samurai swords pointing at his vital points.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed nonchalantly, "What, still trying to put up a stubborn resistance?"
Sakata Mitsushi said fiercely, "If we can't capture Shinguji Mina alive, the Shitong Aoki-ryu will surely perish. We'll fight to the death, even if it costs us our lives."
Everyone echoed in unison, their fighting spirit soaring, showing no signs of cowardice or fear.
Ren Xiaoyao secretly sighed, "What a fine Bushido spirit! Knowing that fighting me is likely to end badly, they still fight without fear of death. If every soldier and civilian of the Great Song had this will, what would we fear from the barbarians of Liao, Xia, Tubo, Dali, and Goryeo?"
Nakai Kazuya slowly stood up, suddenly looked up, and shouted sharply, "All of you, stand back!" He rarely spoke in such a tone, and everyone was startled, turning to look at him.
Nakai Kazuya threw the broken blade to the ground, staring intently at Ren Xiaoyao, gritting his teeth as he said, "Your opponent is me. Don't let this affect our disciples!"
The crowd cried out in unison, "Sect Leader..."
Nakai Kazuya straightened his back, his demeanor instantly becoming fierce and intimidating. The timidity and fear he had shown when they first met vanished, replaced by a gleam in his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "Everyone, I was useless before, failing your hopes and causing the Shitsu Aoki-ryu to decline to this state. But today, I will take full responsibility for this. Believe it or not, the Nakai Kazuya of today is no longer the cowardly and timid sect leader of the past, but a ninja determined to fight to the death, willing to risk his life to uphold the dignity of the Shitsu Aoki-ryu!"
Everyone, including Sakata Gintoki, Sakata Mitsushi, and Sakata Masahiro, was deeply moved. Their sect leader had finally overcome his fear and awakened completely. The Nakai Kazuya they had been hoping for—the one with courage, responsibility, and the courage to take on challenges—had returned! However, it was all too late. Nakai Kazuya was not facing an ordinary person, but Ren Xiaoyao, who single-handedly faced the four masters of Iga Valley and could break through the thousand needles of rain with a mere kick of mud...
Sakata Mitsushi's eyes welled up with tears, and he choked out, "Sect Leader, we won't leave!"
Everyone responded in unison, "Yes, even if we die, we'll die together."
"Hahaha—hahaha—" Seeing this scene, Ren Xiaoyao unexpectedly burst into laughter.
Sakata Masahiro snapped, "What are you laughing at!"
Ren Xiaoyao sheathed his sword, his brows furrowed, exuding a heroic and unrestrained air. He said casually, "Sect Leader Zhongjing has overcome his inner demons and won everyone's heartfelt admiration and support. Isn't that something to congratulate him on?"
Sakata Mitsushi's face hardened, and he said, completely bewildered, "You... what do you mean?"
Ren Xiaoyao appeared calm and composed, smiling slightly. "From listening to Mr. Sakata's conversation with Sect Leader Zhongjing, I vaguely guessed that your sect is facing financial difficulties and is unable to make ends meet, which is why you were forced to rob Mina. Now that the Thousand Needles of Rain and Dew have been countered, the failure of the operation is almost inevitable. We are all from the same martial arts lineage, how can I, Xiaoyao, stand by and watch your sect decline? I am far from the Central Plains and cannot come up with 20,000 taels of gold, so I can only try to help Sect Leader Zhongjing." "Regain yourself."
Sakata Masahiro exclaimed, "What you did just now was... was all for us."
Ren Xiaoyao nodded happily, his face full of sighs, "Sect Leader Zhongjing suffered from a mental illness. Without drastic measures, it could not be cured. Xiaoyao had no choice but to play the villain, using your sect's reputation and the lives of your disciples as leverage to force Sect Leader Zhongjing to take action, gradually restoring his confidence. Heaven rewards those who persevere. Xiaoyao's hard work has finally brought about this happy situation for everyone—I used a skillful approach when I acted, and the brothers' suffering should have subsided by now. However, I was quite offensive in my words earlier, and I also accidentally broke Sect Leader Zhongjing's weapon. I hope you will forgive me." After speaking, he turned around gracefully, pointed his finger in the air, and Sakata Gintoki's pressure points were immediately released.
Nakai Kazuya and the Sakata brothers were taken aback for a moment, then walked up to Ren Xiaoyao, knelt down in unison, and said with great gratitude, "We cannot thank you enough. Please accept our bow, Master Ren."
Ren Xiaoyao hurriedly said, "No, no, please rise quickly."
Nakai Kazuya raised his head and said sincerely, "As a qualified ninja, the first thing to do is to distinguish between gratitude and resentment. From today onwards, Master Ren is my reborn parent, my second father and mother. If there is ever any need for the Shitong Aoki-ryu, we will brave wind and rain, go through fire and water without hesitation." His words were righteous and awe-inspiring, and his tone was generous and impassioned, completely different from his cowardly appearance half an hour ago, making one admire Ren Xiaoyao's wit.
Ren Xiaoyao helped Nakai Kazuya up, his eyes gleaming with anticipation and longing. He said loudly, "Brothers, although you have lost 20,000 taels of gold, the confidence of Sect Leader Nakai is something that 200,000 taels cannot buy back. I believe that with his wise leadership, the Shitong Aoki-ryu will one day regain its former glory and dominate Osaka!" (

Volume 32, Chapter 2: Traveling with Beauties)

Watching Nakai Kazuya, Sakata Gintoki, Sakata Mitsushi, and the others depart, Meng Fei walked to Ren Xiaoyao's side and sighed: "Good lad, I never expected you to have
such a skill, winning over Shitong Qingmuliu's heart."
Yi Tianhan chuckled, "At first, I thought you were going to subdue them with force, but who knew it was all an act from beginning to end, hahaha, as expected of a sect
leader, your actions are becoming more and more unpredictable."
Shui Furong frowned and interjected, "I don't understand, after that fool broke through the Thousand Needles of Rain, his fighting spirit was at its peak. If he had gone all out
and pressed his advantage , he could have easily defeated Nakai Kazuya, Sakata Mitsushi,..." " Why bother with all that talking and going through all that trouble when we could just pick up Sakata Masahiro and the others?" Nangong Fengzi
blinked her large, clear eyes, puzzled. "Senior Yi said that if we were to go all out and completely destroy the Shitong Qingmu School,
it would serve as a warning to others, deterring those schools that might be after Mina-nee. But now, because of what you've done, everyone thinks we're easy
to bully , and we'll be in big trouble later."
Ren Xiaoyao shook his head, quite moved. "No, you don't understand. The method of killing the chicken to warn the monkey..." This might work in the Central Plains martial arts world, but this is Japan. Each
school is guided by the spirit of Bushido; coercion by force will not only be ineffective but will also provoke their ferocity. Only by
winning them over with virtue and employing both kindness and severity can their conscience be awakened, their hostility gradually dissolved, and the danger we face minimized. As for those stubborn
villains determined to abduct Mina, they will be severely punished without mercy. I said I would single-handedly defeat these delusional and overconfident fools!
Since Shitong Qingmuliu's retreat, several days had passed peacefully, allowing the group to relax and slow their pace. They traveled at their own pace, enjoying the scenery and
exotic customs along the way.
Traveling with beautiful women was a pleasant experience, especially with seven women accompanying them, each one stunningly beautiful and captivating. There was no scheming or jealousy; they served each other
sincerely . Moreover, Ren Xiaoyao was highly skilled and daring, completely disregarding any potential dangers. They were carefree and enjoying the
enchanting scenery.
On this day, the group arrived at a place called Yajimichi Town, a renowned land of plenty, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, crisscrossing canals,
abundant , and a pleasant climate, reminiscent of a small town in southern China.
Ren Xiaoyao hired several carriages, carrying the women along the river. The banks were lined with maple trees, their leaves turning red in the height of autumn, creating a rich tapestry
of hues—a truly beautiful sight. The river was lush with aquatic plants, casting a dark blue reflection on the water, further enhancing the contrast between the red mountains and green waters.
Bathed in the soft morning sunlight, watching the cascading water and hearing its gentle murmur, they felt a sense of exhilaration. However
, after traveling for less than half an hour, the river suddenly dried up, the beautiful flowing water vanishing. Ren Xiaoyao was greatly surprised; autumn weather
was usually pleasant , and it was impossible for the river to dry up under the scorching sun. Being cautious, he suspected something was amiss and pulled aside a farmer to inquire about the situation.
The farmer said, "Young master, you may not know this, but a drought has struck a neighboring county, causing immense suffering to the people. Half a month ago, the imperial court issued an edict ordering this town to build a dike
to block the river and divert the water for disaster relief."
Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed in surprise, "Build a dike to block the river?! That must be a huge project!"
The farmer chuckled and said, "Yes, over a thousand of us have been working tirelessly, and we only finished building the dike five days ago. Luckily, we didn't delay too much, otherwise the people of the neighboring county would have
been in dire straits."
Ren Xiaoyao casually asked a few more questions, and when he returned to the carriage and told the women, they were all astonished. Long Feiyun frowned and said, "Changing the river course is no small matter.
It involves many factors such as manpower and finances. Even in our dynasty, we wouldn't dare to implement it lightly. Didn't Headmaster Kamiya say that the Emperor is seriously ill and unable to manage affairs,
and that Prince Kiriko, who has taken over the government, is extravagant and dissolute? How can he be so wise to make such a decision?"
Shinguji Mina interjected, "Sister, you don't know this. Japan is different from China. All major matters of state must be discussed by the ministers before they can be implemented. Even the Emperor cannot make decisions unilaterally. Even
if Prince Kiriko is incompetent, his impact on the people's livelihood in various regions will be limited. Currently, the Grand Councilor Fujiwara no
Michitaka is in charge of government affairs. Although his character is not commendable, he is good at using people. Hayata Castle, who succeeded Kurosaki Hideyasu as Minister of the Left, and Aoki Yoshio as Minister of the Right are both
wise and capable men. Apart from... apart from being a little timid, they are all good in other aspects. That's why
the decree to build dikes and block the river was issued in time." "
Kurosaki Masayoshi interjected, "Actually, most of the court officials are good at heart, but they are forced to submit to Fujiwara no Michitaka's military coercion.
As long as Uncle Shinguji unites the seven major factions to eliminate the chief villain Fujiwara no Michitaka and the Iga Valley clique, and supports the third prince, Koremitsu, to ascend the throne, he will surely be supported by the court officials."
Ren Xiaoyao's mind stirred slightly, and he suddenly remembered a handwritten document he had seen in Xunfeng City. It was Long Yinxiao's brief analysis of the situation of the surrounding countries.
It pointed out that Song and Liao were sworn enemies with no chance of resolving the conflict, and a large-scale decisive battle would inevitably break out within ten years; Western Xia occupied the Hetao region, and Tibet dominated
the southwest, also eyeing the Central Plains; Dali was located in a corner and had no ambition, so it could be considered a friendly country; what needed attention was the newly rising Goryeo in the north. From
a land perspective, the two countries were separated by the Liao Dynasty and had no land borders, so there was no serious conflict. However, if they attacked by land and water, they could directly take Shandong, so
they had to be on guard. For years, the imperial court's policy had been to appease Tibet and win over Dali, while using force to counter the Liao and Western Xia dynasties, without considering how to deal with
Goryeo . Although the Song Dynasty was powerful, its borders stretched for thousands of miles, and deploying defenses everywhere
would be insufficient. When the Liao and Xia allied forces invaded before, Emperor Zhenzong not only mobilized the entire nation's army, but also mobilized the 100,000-strong Tianji Army and even the navy secretly trained on Taihu Lake to ensure the safety of the borders. If such an event were to occur again in the future, and the entire Song
army to be mobilized to the Western Regions and the northern frontier, how could they possibly resist if Goryeo took the opportunity to launch a naval invasion? This trip to Japan was originally intended to resolve the thirty-year-old feud between Yi
Tianhan , Fu Longyuan, and Zhen Gongji Longxuan, but now it seems there are deep misunderstandings. If he could find a way to reconcile the two sides, seize the opportunity
to gain a foothold in the Japanese martial arts world, and then help the Beichen Yidaoliu to eliminate Fujiwara no Michitaka and the Iga Valley clique, and support the Third Prince Wei Guang to ascend the throne, he could use
his status and the merit of supporting the emperor to establish an alliance with Japan. With the support of Goryeo, he could prevent Goryeo from making any rash moves.
In this way, he could persuade Fu Longyuan and Yi Tianhan to return to the Central Plains, marry the beautiful Zhen Gongji Mina, and eliminate a major threat to the court.
It would win-win-win situation.
Ren Xiaoyao became more and more excited as he thought about it, and he even laughed out loud.
Seeing him suddenly burst into laughter for no apparent reason, the women exchanged bewildered glances. Shui Furong playfully shoved Ren Xiaoyao, scolding, "You idiot,
what ..."
"Boom—Boom—Boom!" Before she could finish speaking, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from afar, like thunder piercing the sky, causing
the women to gasp in shock.
"What's going on?!" Ren Xiaoyao flung open the carriage curtain, peering into the distance. Seeing nothing unusual, he was secretly puzzled. "What was that?
It's terrifying!" Lin Yuxiu, the most timid of them all, covered her ears, nearly crying.
"It sounds like an explosion, and quite a large one at that," Meng Fei mused.
"No, even if top masters were fighting, the clash of their internal energies couldn't create such a deafening roar," Deng Lei declared decisively.
"It sounds...it sounds like the sound of rising tide," Fu Longyuan murmured.
"This is land, where would seawater come from?" Long Feiyun shook her head, denying it.
"It's not seawater, it's river water! It's the sound of river water cascading down from a great height!" Yi Tianhan's eyes gleamed, and he exclaimed in shock, "Someone
destroyed the dam and wants to drown us!"
"No... that's impossible." Nangong Fengzi was horrified, her face pale, and she stammered.
"Nothing is impossible. I've lived in seclusion on Yanxia Island for twenty years. Do you think I can't even distinguish the sound of water?" Yi Tianhan said, jumping off the carriage and shouting
, "Get out of here quickly, or we'll all be doomed.
" "Senior Yi, there are cliffs on both sides, only one path in the middle. There's really nowhere to go." Ren Xiaoyao quickly looked around and saw the cliffs
on both sides facing each other, with towering peaks. He estimated that only he and his master could climb up, and that the others would inevitably be swept away when the flood came. He was very
anxious.
"There's a hillside where we came from. Let's go there to take shelter." "Yi Tianhan made a decisive decision.
The group abandoned the carriage and, using their lightness skills, arrived in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
The 'hill' Yi Tianhan had mentioned was about ten zhang high and about fifty paces from the riverbank. As soon as they reached the top, Lin Yuxiu pointed to the opposite bank and said in a trembling voice:"
"Big brother, quick, look!"
Ren Xiaoyao turned around and saw a white line appear where the water met the sky in the east. It quickly moved towards them, gradually lengthening and thickening. In a moment, it became a
surging wave, like thousands of white warhorses galloping forward in unison, rushing in with a thunderous roar, as if mountains
were collapsing and the earth was trembling. When it encountered huge rocks along the way, it stirred up waves of three to five zhang (approximately 10-15 meters). At its maximum, the tidal range was as high as more than ten zhang (approximately 33-60 meters).
This powerful force was like a meteor shower from the heavens, instantly destroying everything in its path and surging forward. The water splashed all over everyone as it flowed over
the hillside , making Nangong Fengzi tremble with fear. Her lips trembled several times before she could
barely manage to speak: "This water... this water is like the Qiantang River at high tide, surging and roaring, like... like
a ferocious beast , so terrifying. Fortunately, Senior Yi discovered it in time, otherwise..." At this point, she shrank into Ren Xiaoyao's arms in fear, unable to utter another word.
Ren Xiaoyao remained silent for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "The farmer just told me that because the construction period was too short, the temporarily dug river channel was very narrow and could not accommodate
a large amount water. So they built a cofferdam next to the dam to store excess water. Now that the dam has been destroyed, the water that has been stored for a long time
has surged out all at once, naturally creating a tremendous force."
Nangong Fengyi sighed with lingering fear, "Fortunately, we survived the first wave. Even if the current is strong afterward, it will be difficult to reach the top of the slope. Once
the water stored in the cofferdam has all flowed out and the waves have calmed down a bit, I will have Xiaoyao swim out and find a small boat to ferry us back and forth."
Ren Xiaoyao looked up ahead, exhaled a long breath, and slowly said... "No, the other side is definitely not just going to flood people. I think within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a large number of ninjas
will definitely take advantage of the situation to launch a surprise attack."
Su Hanbi tentatively asked, "You mean the other side wants to deal with us on the water?"
Ren Xiaoyao nodded slightly, revealing a chilling killing intent, and said fiercely, "It's one thing to rob Mina, but why destroy the dam?
In doing so , how many fertile fields and houses in Yajimatsuri Town will be destroyed, how many lands in neighboring counties will be left barren due to lack of water, and how many innocent people will die at
the hands of these beasts who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals." He had a compassionate heart, and the people were his first thought.
Nangong Fengyi had been by Ren Xiaoyao's side for nearly two years and had never seen him so angry. She gently comforted him, "Xiaoyao, they were just trying to
survive ..."
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes blazed with a mixture of anger and rage as he roared, "Survival? To survive, they'd destroy the dike? To survive, they'd
disregard human life ? Senior Yi, Senior Fu, Mr. Deng, Master, please protect Meina. Today, I'm going to unleash a massacre and make these heartless beasts
pay for their crimes in blood!"

(Chapter 33: Interactive Absorption)

Before long, seven small warships sailed down the river, gradually approaching the mound.
Dozens of figures stood indistinctly on the deck, all dressed in identical black and yellow robes and carrying long-handled samurai swords. Mina Shinguji glanced at them and immediately
paled , stammering, "It's...it's the Akutagawa School from Kyushu! They've lived at sea for a long time, are masters of water-based ninjutsu, and every move they make is
the bane of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū."
Ren Xiaoyao coldly replied, "Is that so? Hmph, I'd like to see what they can use to counter me."
Masayoshi Kurosaki interjected, "Big brother, don't be careless! The Akutagawa School's leader, Araki Ryōhiko, is the number one expert on Kyushu. His water skills are probably even
better than Uncle Long Xuan's. The five Jonin in the school..." "Jing Xianhao, Cangyan Kazutetsu, Hiraike Taro, Arakawa Hiromasa, and Fujishima Kosuke are all
highly skilled , known as the 'Five Water Ninjas,' and their
influence in the Japanese martial arts world is immense—wait a minute, the Akutagawa School is renowned throughout Kyushu. Although their methods are despicable, their skills are truly remarkable. Officials
and merchants in Kyushu flock to them whenever they have a mission, so they are never short of money. Why would they travel thousands of miles to intercept
us ?"
Shui Furong coldly said, "Greed knows no bounds; even silver is never enough."
Kurosaki Masaaki shook his head and said, "With the martial arts skills of my elder brother and all the seniors, kidnapping Sister Mina... " "This mission should be classified as Super-Rank A. According to
the rules , the price for sending a Jonin to carry out this mission is three thousand taels of gold. Araki Ryohiko himself is asking for eight thousand taels, which
is more than the hidden offer from Iga Valley. There's no reason for them to send everyone out." He stared intently ahead, and only when the warship approached did he realize, "That's right,
Araki The five Mizunin are staying in Kyushu and didn't come with him. This isn't a bad deal... Hmm, in that case
, it shouldn't be too difficult for Big Brother to handle it alone."
Ren Xiaoyao said calmly, "Is that so? Without them, wouldn't it be..." "To challenge Araki Ryohiko alone is pointless, utterly pointless." He was originally a fearless and
reckless young man; otherwise, he wouldn't have provoked the four great families over a minor conflict with Situ Shangming when he first started out. Now, having mastered the Innate
Supreme Qi , his cultivation has increased several times over. Whether it was "instantly killing" Qiu Feng on Chiwei Island, easily escaping the encirclement of the four masters in Iga Valley, or
easily breaking through the sand with his kick and the thousand needles of rain, all of these have boosted his confidence. Of course, he didn't take Araki Ryohiko seriously. But this time, he was indeed too arrogant and
too careless, and almost lost his life in the subsequent battle.
As the warship drew closer, Ren Xiaoyao drew his Ice Soul Frost Sword with a "whoosh" and laughed, "Well done! You've even sent me a ship, along with
dozens of well-equipped ninjas. Is this the Akutagawa school bullying the weak with numbers, or is Araki Ryohiko overestimating himself and sending his men to their deaths?" Thinking of the old farmer who had so
kindly answered his questions and the hardworking people along the way, who would surely perish in the raging flood, he was filled with rage and
resolved to kill the Akutagawa school, which acted recklessly and disregarded human life.
Long Feiyun, perceptive and attentive, feared that her lover's pride might cause trouble, and said softly, "Xiaoyao, with your current strength, you are certainly
unmatched , but fighting in the water is not your forte. In my opinion, it would be better to..."
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled and interrupted, "Have you forgotten that I can cross the river on a reed?"
Long Feiyun's face showed anxiety, her beautiful eyes overflowing with heartfelt concern and tension. She sighed softly and said, "Oh dear, do you think I don't know your situation?
The only martial arts you can truly master and use skillfully are the Xiaoyao Wuji Palm and the Lingxiao Sword Technique." "As for the Flying Immortal Transformation technique, the Illusionary Shadow Technique I taught you, the Heaven-
Defying Divine Palm taught by Senior Yi, and the Blazing Sky-Supporting Sword and Snow Reflecting the Mortal World Sword you learned from Feng Yi and Feng Zi, although you know the mental techniques and incantations, you've never seriously studied them.
Other techniques like the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, the Vajra Lion's Roar, the Thirteen Forms of Meteor, and Crossing the River on a Reed, were all forcibly created by you using your photographic memory and extraordinary
martial arts talent, forced by your innate supreme qi. While their power is certainly not inferior to what they were before, their essence... but their essence..." She became more and more anxious as she spoke, pulling at Ren Xiao...
With a flick of his sleeve, he expressed his sincere emotions without reservation, stamping his foot and saying, "Bodhidharma crossing the river on a reed is ultimately a myth recorded in Buddhist scriptures. Even if you can
fully comprehend it, it's still difficult in this vast expanse of water..."
Ren Xiaoyao was moved to tears, his eyes reddening. He reached out and pressed his hand on Long Feiyun's soft, boneless shoulder, smiling happily, "There's something you don't know yet. After
the Battle I officially took over as the leader of the Tianji Sect. All the major sects in the Central Plains martial arts world sent congratulatory gifts, mostly sending their young disciples. Only Shaolin Temple
received a personal visit from Master Xiaochen."
Long Feiyun stared at him with her beautiful eyes, surprised, "I was in charge of receiving them?" "Master Xiaochen..."
Ren Xiaoyao said directly, "On the surface, Master Xiaochen brought a string of Buddhist beads personally consecrated by Abbot Xiaoming, but secretly
he gave me the secret manual of crossing the river on a reed. Master Xiaochen said that in the hundreds of years since the founding of Shaolin Temple, very few monks have been able to master crossing the river on a reed, and in the last fifty years, only he has achieved this
. Now, the Asura Sect has risen again, and the Annihilation Sect has been rekindled. The Central Plains martial arts world is in a turbulent period, and the Liao, Western Xia, and Tubo countries are
eyeing . As the leader of the Tianji Sect, I must maintain the stability of the martial arts world and ensure the peace of the country. The burden on my shoulders is truly heavy. Abbot Xiaoming knows my master..." "Inheriting the 'Silver Wing
Iron Palm,' my lightness skill is superb. Therefore, I discussed with Master Xiaochen the possibility of gifting him the secret manual of 'Crossing the River on a Reed.' Firstly, I hope he will carry forward this unique skill and uphold the honor of Shaolin.
Secondly, it will help me improve my martial arts, allowing me to move freely and effortlessly in any battle or skirmish."
Yi Tianhan's eyes gleamed, and he chuckled, "I knew it!
That old codger Xiaochen didn't hold back at all, telling you all the secrets and tricks."
Ren Xiaoyao turned around gracefully, looking at the approaching Akutagawa Clan, and said calmly, "I have always loved lightness skills, and I learned..." After mastering the Flying Immortal Transformation, the Illusionary Shadow
Technique , and the River Crossing on a Reed, I often pondered whether I could extract the essence and discard the dross, fusing the three techniques into a unified and unparalleled movement technique. However, I always
felt I lacked a powerful medium, until I witnessed Mina's Shadow Clone Technique at the Tottori Sand Dunes. "These past few days, I've shamelessly sought her instruction, not out of greed
, but because I wanted to use the Shadow Clone Technique to absorb the lightness of Flying Immortal Transformation, the ingenuity of Illusionary Shadow Technique, and the swiftness of River Crossing on a Reed. Although my time with it has been
short and the results are not yet significant, it's more than enough to deal with the Akutagawa Clan in water combat
." With that, he leaped away.
He first used the "Crossing the River on a Reed" technique to leap more than three zhang forward, then used the eighth level of "Flying Immortal Transformation" to soar straight up into the air, pointing his Ice Soul Frost Sword forward and
shouting , "Why aren't you all resting peacefully on Kyushu Island? What are you doing here?"
As the distance between them closed, Araki Ryohiko showed no weakness, drawing his katana from his waist, glaring fiercely at Ren Xiaoyao, and loudly proclaiming, "Hand over Shinguji Mina,
or you will all perish here!"
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes blazed with murderous intent, and he roared, "It is you who should perish here!" He then used the "Phantom Shadow" technique to instantly appear
behind , his longsword flashing down.
Araki Ryohiko casually inserted his katana into the deck, chanting the nine-character mantra "Lin, Bing, Dou, Zhe, Jie, Zhen, Lie, Zai, Qian,"
his palms overlapping and rapidly changing, forming several different shapes—a prelude to unleashing a ninjutsu.
Ren Xiaoyao, confident in his profound internal strength and superb lightness skills, paid no heed to Araki Ryohiko's ninjutsu. He crossed his feet, skillfully employing the
leaping to accelerate his movement, closing in on his opponent with lightning speed. Seeing Araki Ryohiko so close, Ren Xiaoyao gathered his inner strength, ready to deliver a
fatal blow, but unexpectedly, a jet of water as thick as a millstone suddenly shot up from beneath him, heading straight for his chest.
The water, though clearly splashing, was like an iron pillar, powerful and irresistible. Ren Xiaoyao's heart skipped a beat, and he hastily dodged. But no matter
where , another column of water rushed towards him. This continued one after another, forcing him to dodge, evade, and avoid again. Just as he was about to complete his eight leaps and bounds, Ren Xiaoyao cried out
in alarm. He was about to use his protective inner strength to withstand the attack when he saw Araki Ryohiko sigh softly, raise his katana, and attack like lightning.
His unique ninjutsu, "Water Dragon Bullet," could only fire seven shots in a row. Since it hadn't injured Ren Xiaoyao, he had to stop for now. Otherwise, he would have to re-form the hand
seals to use it again, and he wouldn't have time to control the timing.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!" In the blink of an eye, the two exchanged several blows.
Instantly, the light of the blades and the aura of the swords enveloped an area of three zhang in radius. The onlookers instinctively tried to retreat as far away as possible from this breathtaking battlefield. While Araki
Ryohiko's internal strength was inferior to Ren Xiaoyao's, each of his attacks unleashed sharp, blade-like water shards at unexpected locations around Ren Xiaoyao, forcing him
to divert attention to defend. Even Araki Ryohiko's katana was protected by a thin yet resilient water film, blocking the sharp edge of the Ice Soul Frost Sword. Despite possessing
unparalleled divine weapons, Ren Xiaoyao felt as if he were wielding an ordinary iron sword, rendering them utterly ineffective in intimidating his stubborn enemy.
Ren Xiaoyao astutely assessed that a direct confrontation would likely be disadvantageous. He retracted his sword strikes, focusing on a narrow space. With his uncanny
footwork , he moved like a ghost amidst Araki Ryohiko's sweeping, turbulent sword shadows, waiting to block and parry. Suddenly, he
somersaulted in mid-air, landing on the nearest warship. He swept the Ice Soul Frost Sword in an arc, sending several ninjas flying and tumbling away with a thud. The Akutagawa clan members, all bloodthirsty
and ruthless, were not afraid at all; instead, their ferocity was ignited. They leaped from the wooden boat and charged forward without regard for their own safety. Ren Xiaoyao snorted coldly,
conjuring hundreds of sword shadows in his hands. He moved with ghostly grace amidst the ninjas' fierce attacks, his swords flashing, leaving someone struck and falling into the water. He still possessed
some mercy. Although he claimed to be ruthless, he truly only wanted to deal with the ringleaders. He disdained and couldn't bear to kill
the mere lackeys who obeyed his orders. He merely grazed their vital points with the tip of his sword, temporarily incapacitating them, without intending to exterminate them.
Just as he was getting into the swing of things, he suddenly heard Mina Shinguji's voice: "Xiaoyao, be careful! It's a water wall!" He turned around sharply and saw Araki
Ryohiko forming hand seals, conjuring a wall of water that was crashing down on him like the Qiantang River tidal wave, threatening to engulf and
devour .

(Chapter 4: Trapped in a Dilemma -

Japanese Ninjutsu, So Bizarre)
Ren Xiaoyao then understood why Mina Shinguji turned pale when talking about water-based ninjutsu. Unless one possessed the unparalleled internal energy of Shinguji Ryuugen, any fire-based ninjutsu would pale in comparison to this wall of water. Even someone completely unaffected by the elemental counters, protected by innate supreme qi and the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force, wouldn't dare to directly confront the water wall's impact under such circumstances.
At the critical moment, Ren Xiaoyao flashed forward, snatched back to the nearest small boat, and barely dodged the water barrier. The momentum of the water barrier did not weaken at all, and with a "boom", it blasted the protruding mountain rocks in front of him into dust.
The two resumed their standoff. Ren Xiaoyao's tiger-like eyes fixed intently on Araki Ryohiko, unleashing a chilling sword aura that swept across them from a distance of several feet. He coldly said, "Good! A fine water array barrier. It seems I underestimated you. Just wait, this time I won't be careless. I'll let you know the consequences of disregarding human life and poisoning the people."
Araki Ryohiko frowned, a fleeting look of hesitation crossing his face before he calmly said, "Is that so? I'd like to see just how capable the master is who broke through the Thousand Needles like rain and made Shitong Aoki-ryu retreat."
Ren Xiaoyao subtly channeled his true energy, causing his warship to move forward slightly, reducing the distance between him and Araki Ryohiko to two feet. His flowing robes and sleeves, combined with his imposing physique and piercing gaze, naturally exuded an irresistible kingly aura.
Araki Ryohiko suddenly stopped, threw his head back, and laughed loudly, causing the entire waterway to tremble.
Ren Xiaoyao, knowing Araki Ryohiko's superior ninjutsu, dared not be negligent in the slightest. He took a deep breath, focused his mind, and banished all distracting thoughts, focusing intently on his opponent. Araki Ryohiko
roared, drew his saber, raised it high above his head, and slashed down fiercely, striking empty space in front of him.
The women watching from the hilltop, seeing Araki Ryohiko take the initiative, although most did not understand the purpose of his seemingly harmless strike from a distance, which appeared to pose no threat to Ren Xiaoyao who was still two zhang away, felt the imposing aura of unstoppable force, as if he could rule the world. They all secretly worried for Ren Xiaoyao.
The Akutagawa Clan cheered loudly, seemingly trying to create immense psychological pressure on Ren Xiaoyao.
This has always
been the way of the Japanese martial arts world; martial prowess is always a symbol of status and position. When Araki Ryohiko suddenly became incredibly imposing, even abandoning the process of forming hand seals to perform ninjutsu, Ren Xiaoyao immediately became wary. He knew that the other party was not just a figurehead, but a master of ninjutsu and swordsmanship, possessing exceptional martial arts skills, and capable of killing him on the spot with the slightest carelessness.
Araki Ryohiko's ability to effortlessly reach his peak state was already comparable to masters like Nangong Bubai and Lin Feifan. Moreover, his slashing strike generated a surge of true energy that rippled outwards. When this energy wave struck Ren Xiaoyao, it interacted with his own innate supreme qi, creating a subtle resonance. Ren Xiaoyao could then use this wondrous resonance to naturally wield his sword. Such skill was something he, in his past self, would have found difficult to match even with his bare hands and feet and all his strength. But
Ren Xiaoyao was a different story.
With a roar, he moved with lightning speed, dodging Araki Ryohiko's longsword before them, instead of meeting the attack head-on, and positioned himself about ten feet to Araki's left.
No one understood why he, who was determined to wreak havoc, would adopt this strategy. Only experts like Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei understood that he wasn't confident of defeating Araki Ryohiko in a direct confrontation in a short time.
He had to rely on hit-and-run tactics to deplete his opponent's true energy and find an opening. Of course, his evasion was profound, and no one else in the world could execute it so skillfully, precisely dodging to the weakest point of his opponent's sword strike. He then unleashed a sharp sword aura, piercing straight towards the core of the ripples in the air, preventing his opponent from discerning his true strength and forcing him to unleash his sword strike, thus gaining the upper hand.
The sword aura hissed, and when it met Araki Ryohiko's powerful sword force, it instantly generated a sharp whooshing sound, transforming into a raging torrent of sword shadows, like a tidal wave crashing down on him.
Araki Ryohiko shouted, "Excellent swordsmanship!" and leaped off the small boat, retreating sharply.
Ren Xiaoyao darted forward, relentlessly pursuing him.
Araki Ryouko gripped his longsword, his hands swiftly forming hand seals. With a whoosh, a wall of water suddenly rose behind him, pressing down on the charging Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao seemed to have anticipated his opponent's move; his figure swayed slightly, and in an instant, he retreated several feet. As the water wall missed its target, he let out a long roar and rushed back. He had long since discarded his earlier carelessness and was as calm as a still, deep pool. His handsome face was as still as water. His Ice Soul Frost Sword circled and swept around, creating three dazzling sword flowers in front of him, reflecting the colors of a carousel. Just as people were becoming dazzled by the illusion, one of the sword flowers suddenly transformed into a golden ray and shot towards Araki Ryouko like lightning.
His advances and retreats were as natural as the tides, possessing an innate charm that evoked an indescribable, wondrous feeling. The women watched with wide eyes, understanding his skill, realizing that even on the "river surface" where human strength was insufficient, footwork could produce such wondrous effects.
Meng Fei, meanwhile, stroked his beard and smiled with a sense of satisfaction. Such effortless and unrestrained movement across the water was something even he might not have been able to accomplish. Ren Xiaoyao's claim of integrating the three great lightness skills was indeed true. The student had surpassed the master; Xiaoyao's achievements were a testament to the virtues of his elder brother and sister-in-law in the afterlife.
"Ding!" Under the horrified gaze of the Akutagawa clan, the Ice Soul Frost Sword accurately struck Araki Ryohiko's katana, the force so sharp it seemed to howl. Araki Ryohiko, caught off guard, immediately changed his attack, but Ren Xiaoyao also changed his stance, slashing the enemy's sword that was now sweeping towards his abdomen, producing a crisp clash.
The energy exploded, the figures split in a flash, and then they were locked in combat again. Ren Xiaoyao maintained his nonchalant demeanor, but inwardly he was quite shocked. Araki Ryohiko's swordsmanship far exceeded his expectations. Even if he spared no effort, using the ultimate move from the Thirteen Forms of Meteor, the swift and fierce "Starry Sky," his opponent could still lock him down first. Of course,
he could change his moves on the fly, but without Araki Ryohiko's chance to form hand seals and cast spells, and with attacks from water formations and water dragon bullets, the only way to avoid being threatened was to attack head-on, directly confronting his opponent's sword.
Ren Xiaoyao simultaneously grasped the strange true energy of his opponent and its distribution. On the surface, Araki Ryohiko was attacking with all his might, but in reality, he was still holding back, unleashing his full power upon contact. Multiple layers of sword energy attacked him, each wave stronger and more ferocious than the last, each wave more unpredictable and sharp. In addition, he could wield the sword with one hand at any time, using the other to form hand seals and cast spells. In the Central Plains martial arts world, there were probably no more than ten people who could block his sword without being injured.
"Whoosh—Clang!" The Ice Soul Frost Sword suddenly accelerated, its sword cry filling an area of several dozen feet. The energy surged and impacted the sword, striking the blade directly.
Araki Ryohiko trembled and moved sideways, sweeping his sword at Ren Xiaoyao. Everyone could see that his weapon was trembling in the air, clearly accumulating extremely powerful internal energy. However, no one noticed that his hand quietly freed itself, retracting behind his back, and quickly changing its movement.
Ren Xiaoyao channeled his energy into his feet, his figure towering in mid-air, unleashing a
flurry of sword shadows as he charged straight at Araki Ryohiko. "Clang! Clang! Clang!" The sounds of clashing swords rang out like pearls falling onto a jade plate. In the blink of an eye, within the confined space, Ren Xiaoyao's Ice Soul Frost Sword collided with Araki Ryohiko's katana three times, the energy surging and swirling, creating a fierce and brutal battle.
Araki Ryohiko sheathed his sword and retreated swiftly to his original position, a look of astonishment on his face as he stared at Ren Xiaoyao in disbelief.
Ren Xiaoyao's shock was no less than his opponent's. His innate supreme qi, which had been invincible since he mastered it, was utterly ineffective against Araki Ryohiko's unique water barrier. Therefore, although he appeared to have a slight advantage due to his agility, the outcome of the fight remained uncertain.
The onlookers fell silent, awaiting the unfolding events. No one knew what would happen next; both Ren Xiaoyao and Araki Ryohiko exuded an air of profound mystery.
Suddenly, Araki Ryohiko roared with laughter, a deafening sound echoing through the air as his katana sliced through the void, launching an attack.
Ren Xiaoyao sneered, his hand instinctively responding, quickening his pace, his entire movement driven by his hand, aiming for the tip of Araki Ryohiko's katana.
The distance between them closed to about ten feet when a wall of water suddenly rose up in front of Ren Xiaoyao. Surprised, Ren Xiaoyao resorted to his old trick, spinning to try and flank him from the left. However, Araki Ryohiko had anticipated this move, and two water jets shot out with a "whoosh," flanking him from both sides, blocking all his escape routes.
Ren Xiaoyao, remarkably composed in this perilous situation, crossed his feet and leaped backward in the nick of time, instantly dodging Araki Ryohiko's meticulously planned killing move.
Before he could even feel relieved, the previously calm river behind him suddenly burst open, and several figures leaped out, their true energy radiating from their hands, gathering into water balls that slammed into his head, back, and lower back—vital points.
They were none other than the "Five Water Ninjas"—Kasai Kenhiro, Aoyama Kazutetsu, Hiraike Taro, Arakawa Hiromasa, and Fujishima Kosuke—whom Kurosaki Masayoshi mistakenly believed to have remained in Kyushu and not participated in this operation!

Volume Thirty-Two: A Series of Difficulties and the Help of a Nobleman, Chapter Five: A Mistake,

Underestimating the Enemy, Absolutely Underestimating the Enemy! Carelessness, absolute carelessness!
From the very beginning, Ren Xiaoyao hadn't taken the Akutagawa school seriously. Even when facing numerous dangers while fighting Araki Ryohiko, he stubbornly believed it was because he was unfamiliar with the opponent's endless water-based ninjutsu. He didn't raise his guard at all, and he couldn't imagine that the five water ninjas that Kurosaki Masayoshi had assumed were left behind in Kyushu would suddenly appear at this crucial moment.
His eyesight and intuition were undeniably strong, but he used them all to deal with Araki Ryohiko. He had seen the opponent quietly forming hand seals and secretly using ninjutsu. He had originally planned to use this opportunity to catch the enemy off guard, but unexpectedly, a sudden change occurred, and he ended up in the trap that the Akutagawa school had already set up.
Long Feiyun once jokingly said: Zhuge Liang's strategies were almost demonic, while Ren Xiaoyao's military prowess was almost divine. Although it was a joke, there was some truth to it. Zhuge Liang was only twenty-seven when he first entered the military, while Ren Xiaoyao had been there for eight years. In just six years, Zhuge Liang helped Liu Bei recover the two Sichuan regions and establish the Shu Kingdom, while Ren Xiaoyao became the leader of the Tianji Sect two years later. In the Battle of Xunfeng City, he forced the Liao army's war god Yelü Xiezhen to his death. From then on, the "Champion Marquis" was renowned, and barbarians from all directions fled at the mere mention of his name. But seemingly demonic, he was not truly demonic; seemingly divine, he was not truly divine. Zhuge Liang's six expeditions to Qishan were still fruitless, and Ren Xiaoyao, too, had times when one wrong move led to total defeat. At this moment, facing Araki Hirohiko and the five Mizunin attacking from all sides, he possessed countless strategies and techniques, yet he couldn't defend against everything. Could his techniques, like the Free and Unfettered Palm and the Soaring Sky Sword Art, be used to easily deal with the five highly skilled Jonin behind him while he was fully engaged in dealing with Araki Hirohiko and caught off guard by this sudden attack?
In the midst of this chaos, Ren Xiaoyao had no choice but to grit his teeth and forcefully retract his sword, which was aimed at Araki Hirohiko. He then drew up a blue light that swirled around him to block the samurai sword that was swinging at him. At the same time, he used the last of his strength to unleash the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force to protect his vital points.
To be honest, he wasn't very confident he could escape unscathed. When Meng Fei taught him martial arts, he had clearly explained that when using the Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force, if one's internal strength was superior to the user's, one could deflect the opponent's attacks, causing them to backfire. If one's internal strength was slightly inferior, one could only redirect the opponent's force elsewhere. If the difference was too great, one would not only fail to defeat the enemy but also suffer harm. The high regard for the innate supreme qi held by Emperors Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi, along with the contemporary master Dugu Yu, was not without reason. Even with only a minor mastery, he had already made Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan admit their inferiority. The problem was that he was now outnumbered, facing six experts alone. Not to mention that Araki Ryohiko's strength was comparable to his own, the combined strength of Kasai Kensuke, Aoyama Kazutetsu, Hiraike Taro, Arakawa Hiromasa, and Fujishima Kosuke, if they possessed the same level of skill as Shinguji Mina, would be more than enough to overwhelm him. Therefore, he didn't expect to reverse the tide or turn defeat into victory; he only hoped to survive the current crisis, even if it meant suffering minor injuries or bleeding. In any case, he couldn't let his master and seniors think he was outmatched and thus intervene—regardless of the outcome, he couldn't afford to lose face in front of his many beautiful wives.
The women, never expecting Ren Xiaoyao to be so valiant, all paled and gasped in shock, unable to bear watching any longer.
With a deafening boom, Araki Ryohiko suddenly accelerated, his katana striking straight at Ren Xiaoyao's chest, forcing Ren Xiaoyao to engage him in a direct clash. Ren Xiaoyao, preoccupied with dealing with the "Five Water Ninjas" behind him, had only 20% of his internal energy remaining in his Ice Soul Frost Sword. He was no match for Araki Ryohiko's full-force attack, and was instantly thrown back as if electrocuted, colliding squarely with the five water spheres hurled at him by Kasai Kengo, Aogan Kazutetsu, Hiraike Taro, Arakawa Hiromasa, and Fujishima Kosuke.
Contrary to expectations, the expected clash of energies and violent splashes did not occur. The water spheres, upon contact with Ren Xiaoyao's body, instantly dispersed to both sides, covering his entire back in the blink of an eye. The Nine Revolutions Returning to Origin Force could rebound, deflect, and block, but it was utterly ineffective against the opponent's soft force. He could only let the water sphere engulf his shoulders and chest, then completely envelop him. Almost simultaneously, Araki Ryohiko sheathed his sword, formed hand seals, and a large torrent of river water surged forth, swelling under the combined efforts of the six, until it formed a huge water sphere about nine feet in diameter.
Nangong Fengzi stared in disbelief, exclaiming, "What... what is this?!"
Shinguji Mina said in a deep voice, "It's the Akutagawa School's unique secret technique—the Nairo Water Prison. It uses internal force to condense water into a sphere, trapping the opponent inside and completely incapacitating them."
As she spoke, three warships arrived, and Araki Ryohiko, Kasai Kenhiro, Aoyama Kazutetsu, Hiraike Taro, Arakawa Hiromasa, Fujishima Kosuke, and others simultaneously landed on the deck, while Ren Xiaoyao and the water sphere enveloping him hovered on the water between the three ships. They were exerting all their internal energy to maintain the shape of the water sphere, ensuring that Ren Xiaoyao could not break free.
Shinguji Mina gasped, her mind in turmoil, "Damn it! The Naro Water Prison can only be used by one person, but Araki Ryohiko has gathered the power of all five Water Ninja to use it. It seems they're determined to trap Xiaoyao to death."
Lin Yuxiu pursed her lips and cautiously asked, "Big brother's internal energy is profound, can't he break free?"
Long Feiyun smiled bitterly, "That's right, the Innate Supreme Qi is indeed incredibly powerful, but Xiaoyao has only reached a minor level of mastery. Even if he were trapped in the water prison, restricting his internal energy flow, he wouldn't be able to defeat the six top experts on land... Furong, how long can Xiaoyao usually hold his breath underwater?"
Shui Furong thought for a moment and said, "About two hours... " "Chen, he's only in good condition..."
Long Feiyun said in a deep voice, "In that case... now that he's been fighting for so long and is exhausted, he can probably only hold out for an hour or two."
Kurosaki Masayoshi interjected, "No, at most a quarter of an hour. The purpose of ordinary people using the Nairo Water Prison is to trap the enemy, but Araki Ryohiko has a secret technique that he developed himself, which can greatly shorten the opponent's breath-holding time, choking them to death in the water prison. Look!"
Everyone looked in the direction he was pointing, and sure enough, they saw Kasai Kenhiro, Aoyama Kazutetsu, Hiraike Taro, Arakawa Hiromasa, and Fujishima Kosuke all sticking out their palms to block the water ball, but Araki Ryohiko was still forming hand seals, with purple energy swirling in his palms, slowly pouring it into the ball, constantly urging it towards Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao, inside the water sphere, wore a solemn expression. His usually effortless Ice Soul Frost technique felt incredibly heavy, impossible to move even an inch. He felt as if his opponent had laid a net of energy around him, binding him like a fish caught in a trap, unable to escape no matter how much he struggled. He was like a lone boat in a raging sea, struggling to survive against the ever-growing waves, desperately trying to avoid capsizing.
He knew this was the painful price of underestimating his opponent. He had been too proud and complacent, believing that defeating Araki Ryohiko was a simple matter, completely oblivious to the dangers lurking around him. Otherwise, with a slight enhancement of his spiritual senses, he would have noticed Kasai Kengo, Aoyama Kazutetsu, and the others who had lurked beneath the water.
Now, Araki Ryohiko is using some kind of ninjutsu to gradually deplete the air in his chest. He, who could have survived two hours underwater, is now unsure if he can even last a quarter of an hour. If it weren't for his innate superior qi resisting the internal energy attacks of the five Water Ninja, he would have already perished from the combined internal and external attacks.
No, this can't go on; he must find a way to break out!
Water's gentle nature is precisely the nemesis of his powerful internal energy. Coupled with his opponent's unique techniques, a direct assault is completely useless. The only way is to feign weakness, secretly accumulating power while simultaneously lowering his opponent's guard, waiting for the opportune moment to launch a sudden attack, using Araki Ryohiko's own methods against him.
Having made up his mind, Ren Xiaoyao secretly withdrew most of his innate supreme qi, leaving less than 30%. He deliberately feigned exhaustion in front of his enemies, oblivious to the situation around him, focusing solely on preserving the last vestiges of clarity in his mind as he desperately resisted the relentless advance of the five Water Ninja.
The women watching from afar, unaware of the hidden motives, were terrified. Lin Yuxiu burst into tears, sobbing, "What should we do? Big brother... big brother is about to give up!"
Shui Furong exclaimed urgently, "Yes, look! I've never seen Xiaoyao look like this before!"
Even Yi Tianhan, thinking Ren Xiaoyao was on the verge of collapse, rolled up his sleeves and rushed out, only to be grabbed by Meng Fei and Fu Longyuan at the same time.
Yi Tianhan's face remained unchanged as he anxiously asked, "Fu boy, Brother Meng, what are you doing?!"
Meng Fei replied calmly, "That's what I should be asking you."
Yi Tianhan stamped his foot, "Oh dear, Xiaoyao is in imminent danger. If we don't save him..."
Fu Longyuan chuckled, "Sigh, you just can't shake this impatience. Think about it carefully, if you didn't consider the issue of holding your breath, how long could you last in the Nailuo Water Prison?"
Without a second thought, Yi Tianhan casually replied, "Then I'd have to wait until the five of them exhaust my internal energy. No matter how I look at it, it'll take at least an hour..."
Fu Longyuan smiled slightly. He interrupted, "Xiaoyao's internal strength is still above ours. Even if he hasn't reached an inexhaustible level, he's still stronger than us. Think about it, it wasn't the Four Asura Envoys and Ximen Wulei who trapped Xiaoyao. Could they have forced him to show signs of exhaustion in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea?"
Yi Tianhan suddenly realized, "You mean Xiaoyao deliberately feigned weakness to make Araki Ryohiko and the others lower their guard?"
Fu Longyuan said in a deep voice, "I don't know what Xiaoyao is planning, but I'm sure that a mere Nailuo Water Prison can't possibly trap him."
Meng Fei and Deng Lei also nodded slowly.
Logically speaking, the consensus of the three masters shouldn't be wrong, but this time, they and Ren Xiaoyao, who was caught in the situation, were all wrong, very wrong, so wrong that it almost cost the latter his life.

Volume Thirty-Two: A Series of Difficulties and the Help of a Nobleman, Chapter Six: A Blessing in Disguise.

Time ticked by, and Ren Xiaoyao, having only progressed a short distance in his internal energy cultivation, felt a blockage in his chest and abdomen, with qi and blood stagnating in his acupoints. He knew this was due to Araki Ryohiko's wicked methods. Without further ado, he silently circulated his profound internal energy, supplemented by the "Cloud Rainbow Heart Method" personally taught to him by Meng Fei. A surge of true qi rose from his dantian, flowing from the "Shangqu" acupoint through the "Shiguan," "Yindu," "Tonggu," "Youmen," "Bulang," "Shenfeng," and "Lingxu" acupoints of the kidney meridian. All the blockages and obstructions in his meridians were broken through, and the soreness and numbness disappeared. This time, he learned from his mistake and became cautious, fearing that Araki Ryohiko would discover he was holding back, and dared not activate his innate supreme qi again.
But he never dreamed that Araki Ryohiko would suddenly attack at this moment!
The purple aura gathered in his palm vanished instantly, replaced by two highly condensed, extremely cold true energies. At the very moment he was focused on expelling the blockage in his chest and abdomen, his defenses at their lowest point, these energies swiftly pierced through the water sphere and entered his meridians, instantly invading his entire body. Caught completely off guard, Ren Xiaoyao had no time to even muster his innate supreme qi to protect himself, let alone circulate his qi for a counterattack. His meridians felt instantly frozen solid.
A cold smile played on Araki Ryuhiko's lips, his eyes flashing with boundless killing intent, his gaze cold and devoid of emotion, reminding him of Hentian.
Almost simultaneously, the innate supreme qi he had accumulated within his body surged forth from his dantian like a wild horse. The two streams of true qi instantly transformed his entire meridian system into a battleground, one he could not control even if he wanted to. The two forces clashed and struggled relentlessly, the pain unbearable even for a tough man like Ren Xiaoyao. It was like a thousand sharp knives, forged from ice and snow, cutting into his meridians and internal organs; like being in a furnace, enduring the scorching steam and burning flames. Had he not been submerged in water, unable to open his mouth, he would have screamed in agony. Yet, he trembled violently, suffering the agony of "ice and fire torture."
All his senses failed him; he could neither see nor hear. It was as if he had been thrown into a void of nothingness, unaware of his location or what was happening. He was accompanied by waves of increasingly intense injury and pain. In the deepest abyss of this tragic state, a sliver of warmth suddenly arose. Though the pain remained unbearable, his mind gradually cleared. He faintly felt the warmth originating from the center of his heart, gradually spreading throughout his meridians.
It was like a person on the verge of freezing to death in a frozen world suddenly receiving a spark of fire, the flames growing stronger and warmer. Having narrowly escaped death, Ren Xiaoyao had no time to ponder the cause of this strange situation. He only tried to forget the excruciating pain, clinging to the last vestige of warmth in his heart.
At this moment, Ren Xiaoyao realized that the extreme of yin gives rise to yang, and the extreme of yang gives rise to yang. In the clash of two extremely yin and cold energies, things reach their extreme and then reverse, giving rise to warm yang energy. In addition, he had first practiced the "Cloud Rainbow Heart Method" personally taught by his master, following the path of overcoming strength with softness, and later learned the supreme innate qi, pursuing power and ferocity. He already possessed the prerequisites for the transformation from extreme cold to warmth, and more importantly, the fundamental principles of yin and yang mutual support.
The relationship between primordial essence and primordial qi is like that of a source and a stream. No matter how long and wide the stream is, if the source is scarce, it will remain a dry stream and will never become the Yellow River or the Yangtze River. Ordinary people's qi cultivation is like opening up the source and expanding the stream, progressing very slowly. Therefore, it takes forty or fifty years to connect the Ren and Du meridians and reach the level of a supreme master.
For Ren Xiaoyao, the innate supreme qi could flow freely within his broken meridians, akin to possessing several Yellow Rivers and Yangtze Rivers simultaneously… no, it should be described as a vast ocean with endless potential. All he needed to do was to open up its source. Ren Xiaoyao was twenty-one years old this year. While his skill was outstanding among his peers, it was still far behind that of true masters. Later, Su Hanbi gave him the Blood Essence Pill, adding thirty years of internal energy, which allowed him to cultivate the innate supreme qi to a minor level. However, external power is ultimately external, far less freely usable than one's own internal energy. Therefore, even in a one-on-one fight, he was no match for Yi Tianhan. He was already struggling to cope with the hidden force attacking from different directions by the five Water Ninjas simultaneously. Coupled with strategic misjudgments, this allowed Araki Ryouko to take advantage of the situation.
Even Ren Xiaoyao himself couldn't have imagined that this incomparably cold and yin true energy would stimulate another source of surging internal energy within his body. The newly generated supreme innate qi rapidly accumulated, initially as faint as a wisp of silk, but in an instant it converged into a stream, transforming from a small spring or brook into a mighty river, surging and surging within his body, opening up another system of qi channels, releasing his deeply hidden potential, vibrating and pulsating between his meridians, giving him the joy of being reborn. The two major innate acupoints on the soles of his feet simultaneously opened wide, allowing the innate qi that filled the universe to flow directly in, then gradually transforming into primordial qi, which became increasingly surging as the true qi circulated and circulated.
Before his true energy had circulated for ten cycles, Ren Xiaoyao felt as if struck by lightning. A vast and unparalleled torrent of primordial essence surged forth like a raging flood, overflowing his meridians and rampaging through his body like a wild horse. His blood churned, and his internal organs felt as if they were being torn apart. Soon, he was on the verge of collapse, blood seeping from his eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and even his skin. Had it not been for the modified meridians' immense capacity, he would have been bloated to death. But what tormented him most was his brain; his entire head felt like it was about to explode. The unbearable, violent, and excruciating pain was beyond description.
Superior internal energy cultivation emphasizes mental focus; deliberate practice easily leads to inferior levels and even demonic possession.
The innate supreme qi manual did not teach any method of control. Previously, he had used his internal energy to fight enemies purely out of natural instinct. Now, his true qi was scattered and surging, and could no longer be controlled. Under the combined effect of the innate energy that penetrated from the top of his head to his feet, his primordial essence transformed into primordial qi at an astonishing speed. It surged through his body, which was increasingly unable to withstand such torment, spreading throughout his body like hundreds of scorching pillars of fire. His whole body was filled with a mixture of cold and heat. Compared to that feeling, the pain he had just experienced was extremely minor.
Araki Ryoko, unaware of the changes, unleashed a powerful strike with both palms, channeling his chilling energy towards Ren Xiaoyao. The burning Yang fire within him surged forth like a raging flood meeting Araki Ryoko's palms.
The force of their palms and their inner energy collided through the water sphere, causing Araki Ryoko to shudder violently. He cried out in surprise and stumbled backward, but his palms channeled a torrent of cold inner energy into Ren Xiaoyao's blazing meridians.
Ren Xiaoyao instantly felt a lightness in his body and mind; the indescribable sensation was beyond words.
Kasai Kengo, Aoyama Kazutetsu, Hiraike Taro, Arakawa Hiromasa, and Fujishima Kosuke were all astonished. Ren Xiaoyao's inner energy had surged several times over, forcing them to exert almost all their strength to maintain the shape of the water prison. They hadn't expected him to so easily repel Araki Ryoko; the depth of his inner strength was truly astonishing.
The five of them were of one mind, and without prior arrangement, they exerted all their strength to trap Ren Xiaoyao inside.
Araki Ryouko, realizing the gravity of the situation, also struggled to his feet and joined in.
The six Jonin, working together, firmly confined their true energy within the water sphere. The surging true energy could not escape, but could only press down on Ren Xiaoyao himself. It was as if dozens of experts were simultaneously massaging and squeezing hundreds of acupoints throughout his body. Ren Xiaoyao was powerless to resist, but his innate supreme qi naturally reacted, helping him resist the external attack. The force of the attack gradually intensified, and so did the counterattack power within his body. The initial two sources, along with the newly opened one, were insufficient, so he opened two more, three more…
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"
When the total reached seven points, Ren Xiaoyao's body felt like it was undergoing a series of explosions. It started at his coccyx, then his back, chest, and then an irresistible wave of exhaustion washed over him. His mind was struck as if by lightning, almost causing him to faint. Even the Jade Pillow Gate at the back of his head exploded… Instantly, the internal cold and heat dissipated, and the top of his head felt like a connection to a source of celestial nectar. The cool yet invigorating, sweet and fragrant true energy flowed like countless rivers through his head, cheeks, and throat, cascading down the major and minor meridians and flowing towards the lower abdomen, specifically the dantian. Meanwhile,
the Yongquan points on the soles of his feet became hot, the warm yet not irritating heat rising upwards along the leg meridians to the dantian.
As the cold and warm energies merged and flowed in the dantian, Ren Xiaoyao's spirit immediately soared and expanded, no longer bound by the physical body's meridians, possessing a lifespan comparable to the universe. He felt as if he were living and dying alongside the stars, expanding from the finite to the infinite. The exhilarating feeling was beyond words.
This profound sensation vanished in an instant, and Ren Xiaoyao returned from the heavens to the mortal realm, once again feeling the existence and limitations of his physical body. His true energy flowed harmoniously throughout his body, an indescribable comfort and enjoyment.
Ren Xiaoyao felt an indescribable ecstasy. In that instant, water and fire within his body harmonized, dragon and tiger merged, and his cultivation of innate supreme qi reached a new level. At the same time, he clearly understood that the surging true energy within him was no longer the same as before, but a completely new kind of true energy—a strange innate true energy he had never dreamed of, supremely refined and pure, beyond description. Now he possessed seven sources of internal energy. Although the strength of his internal force had only increased by less than 30%, it was almost inexhaustible. The reason for this was entirely due to the triggering of Araki Ryouko's icy true energy, the internal force of the five water ninja, and the restraining effect of the Nairo Water Prison they controlled. Such an opportunity has been rare since ancient times—even for Feng Renqiu, who created the Innate Supreme Qi, no one has ever had such a fortuitous encounter since.
The highest realm of the Innate Supreme Qi is "Dragon Soaring Through the Nine Heavens," where "nine" does not refer to nine sources, but rather to the fact that "nine" is the ultimate number, signifying infinity; the next highest is "Eight Turns of the Paths," which refers to eight sources; and then there is the "Seven Souls of the Thoroughfare" that he has now cultivated, although it is not as earth-shattering, awe-inspiring, or earth-shattering as "Dragon Soaring Through the Nine Heavens." However, its unpredictable and irresistible power instantly surpassed that of the two masters, Xiao Chen and Liu Yuxu, and directly threatened Dugu Yu.
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes widened suddenly, his hair and beard bristled, and a torrent of new, supreme innate energy erupted from his dantian, instantly flowing through his meridians and surging outwards in a highly concentrated manner, crashing in all directions!

Volume Thirty-Two: Repeated Tribulations and the Help of Noble People, Chapter Seven: Mastery of Divine Skill –

The Ending is Without Suspense!
Ren Xiaoyao's fully unleashed supreme innate energy caused the Nai Luo Water Prison... The scattered and surging true energy within the water sphere was all reversed, unleashing a devastating force that could shatter the heavens
and the earth. The terrifying energy surged and collided, instantly shattering the water sphere into pieces. With a loud "bang," Kasai Kensuke, Aoiwa Kazutetsu, Hiraike Taro, Arakawa Hiromasa, and Fujishima Kosuke were all blasted out, crashing several meters away. Each of them coughed up blood, severely injured in an instant. Several quick-witted members of the Akutagawa school rushed to their aid, but they couldn't withstand the force of their fall and all plummeted to the ground with a "thud." He plunged into the water.
The women, needless to say, were stunned, as were Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei.
A ghost?! A god?! Is this power unleashed by human effort?!
Waves splashed everywhere, sending water droplets flying, soaking everyone from head to toe, the resounding clang of the impact echoing endlessly. Ren Xiaoyao, holding the Ice Soul Frost Sword upside down in his right hand and gripping Araki Ryouko's collar with his left, displayed an arrogant air of having his opponent in his grasp, coldly saying, "You think you can defeat me with just your Akutagawa style? Dream on!" "
Araki Ryoko, despite possessing unparalleled martial arts skills, was first stunned by Ren Xiaoyao's Thunderous Explosion Internal Force, then gripped by his iron-like hands, leaving him utterly powerless to retaliate. After a long while, his gaze gradually focused, and he regained consciousness. He exhaled with difficulty, his voice hoarse and weak as he said, 'You... what... what kind of move did you use? Even... even if it were Shinguji... Shinguji Ryuuken, it would be impossible... impossible for him to break out of the Nairo Water Prison, let alone... let alone injure us like this.'" Little did he know that it was precisely because of the restrictive nature of the Nairo Water Prison that the innate supreme qi was constantly gathering within the sphere. This not only helped Ren Xiaoyao open the source of his inner energy, but also multiplied the accumulated true qi several times over. Not to mention that he, Araki Ryohiko, couldn't withstand it, even if all the leaders of the seven major sects of Japan were present, they wouldn't be able to withstand the force of the water sphere's explosion.
The innate supreme qi is different from ordinary internal energy cultivation. The first level, "interaction of qi," is a method for masters to discern the enemy's initiative in battle; the second level is to teach... The secret to circulating true qi through broken meridians; true improvement in internal strength begins from the third level. Even the two great masters, Situ Ning and Zhao Kuangyin, couldn't master the first level despite their lifelong efforts, so they certainly wouldn't know that from the third level onwards, the power of innate supreme qi rivals that of top-tier martial arts masters. Ren Xiaoyao, by chance, glimpsed this secret and, after consuming the Blood Essence Pill, gained thirty years of internal strength. Although he only opened two sources, he already surpassed senior masters like Yi Tianhan and Fu Longyuan. This time, his internal energy, triggered by the icy true qi of Araki Ryouko, was fully activated, yet finding no outlet, it all flowed back into himself. While opening the sources of qi within Ren Xiaoyao's body, it repeatedly accumulated, eventually opening all seven sources simultaneously, making his power rival that of Dugu Yu, almost reaching an inexhaustible level. At this time, in the entire Japanese martial arts world, only Shinguji Ryuugen and the head of the Kamiya Kashin-ryu school, Minami, could rival him in internal strength cultivation. "Excellent"—of course, that refers to a situation where both sides are equal. Like this time, Ren Xiaoyao, "borrowing" the infinite internal energy from the Nairo Water Prison, would be far superior even if all seven of them—Dugu Yu, Guiming Shenjun, Hentian, Zhao Guangyi, Long Yinxiao, Xiaochen, and Liu Yuxu—combined their strength.
Ren Xiaoyao waved his hand, the Ice Soul Frost Sword whistling through the wind, its sound lingering. His tiger-like eyes glared fiercely at Araki Ryohiko, and he said coldly, "Give me your life! Today I will use your blood to avenge the innocent people of Yajima Town and the neighboring prefecture!" With that, he gripped the Ice Soul Frost Sword tightly and slashed at Araki Ryohiko's throat. He stopped abruptly halfway up, then threw Araki Ryohiko onto the deck, saying fiercely, "Although your methods are despicable and your actions vicious, out of respect for the Japanese martial arts world, I will preserve your dignity as a samurai. Commit seppuku. I don't want to say anything more."
Araki Ryohiko looked up at the sky, his eyes filled with indescribable sorrow, and sighed, "Very well, very well. I, Araki Ryohiko, have roamed Kyushu Island for ages, rarely encountering a worthy opponent, yet today I have been defeated by a mere brat like you. I should die to atone for the sins of the Akutagawa school of sages." As he spoke, he drew his katana from its sheath, which he had returned to during the hand seals, and slowly turned the blade .
Seeing this, Kasai Kengo, Aoyama, and Tetsuya, who had just climbed out of the water, were all utterly horrified. However, they knew that Araki Ryohiko was a man of his word; once he made up his mind, he would not change it. They could only sigh and lament, cursing themselves for their incompetence. Even with the five of them and their sect leader combined , they couldn't defeat Ren Xiaoyao.
At this moment, an old voice rang out from afar: "Stop! Sect Leader Araki, stop!"
A small boat appeared, coming against the current, and standing on the deck was none other than the old farmer who had answered Ren Xiaoyao's question earlier.
Ren Xiaoyao was naturally startled, and Araki Ryohiko was also taken aback, involuntarily lowering his katana.
As the small boat drew closer, the farmer, panting heavily, said, "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding. Master Ren, you've misunderstood Master Araki, he... he's not..."
Ren Xiaoyao said impatiently, "Misunderstanding!? The facts are right before our eyes, and you still call it a misunderstanding!?"
The farmer stammered, "No... this... this... Oh dear, Master Araki, why don't you explain?"
Araki Ryohiko smiled bitterly, "We've already lost, what's the point of explaining? "
The farmer stamped his foot, "Explain, of course I have to explain! If you don't explain, how will Master Ren know the reason why Akutagawa destroyed the dam? If you don't explain, how will Master Ren know..."
Araki Ryohiko said, "Enough! Losing is losing, what's there to say?"
The farmer said resolutely, "No, if I had to say something, Master Ren, to tell you the truth, the dam was built half a month ago. These past few days, I've been to the neighboring county..." The farmland and crops already have sufficient water reserves, and there is no need to rely on river water for irrigation. The day before yesterday, heavy rains fell in the surrounding counties, causing the river to swell and the dikes to overflow. If the dikes are not dismantled immediately to divert the floodwaters, there is a risk of flooding. This area is low-lying and crisscrossed by waterways, making it the perfect place for the floodwaters to flow. The Araki Sect Leader and the county officials agreed that the Akutagawa School would be responsible for dismantling the dikes, on the condition that the government ensure no people pass through this road for two days and that all related information be blocked, keeping it from you who are coming from the southwest.”
Ren Xiaoyao murmured, “So, destroying the dikes not only didn't harm the people, but actually helped them.”
The farmer solemnly replied, “That’s right. If the garrison soldiers and farmhands were to handle this, it would take at least three to five days. The Akutagawa School ninjas are highly skilled; they can finish the job in two days.” Ren
Xiaoyao added, “Then, taking advantage of… ” "The dam is breached, the river overflows, turning this place into a vast expanse of water, so that I can unleash the Akutagawa School's unique ninjutsu and settle things with you!"
The farmer nodded hastily, "That's right. At normal prices, mobilizing the Akutagawa School for such a massive project would cost at least tens of thousands of taels of silver. Master Araki didn't take a single penny precisely because it created an opportunity for a fair fight with you. Otherwise, our county's finances are tight, and we couldn't afford to hire them."
Ren Xiaoyao frowned, "That's strange. What you told me earlier was clearly not like this."
The farmer said solemnly, "That was because Master Araki specifically had me wait for you there, to tell you about the dam construction. He was afraid that if you knew, you wouldn't be willing to fight with all your might, so he hinted to me that there was a real price involved, a fake one, to make you mistakenly believe that he was poisoning the people and harming living beings, thereby igniting your fighting spirit. Even when you passed by the small hill not far away..." "The dam destruction and flood discharge were all planned in advance. Furthermore, Sect Leader Araki knew I was a poor swimmer and, fearing I might encounter danger, specifically dispatched the Five Water Ninja to rescue me. Only after ensuring my safety did they return to help."
Ren Xiaoyao's mind stirred slightly, thinking, "Could it be that they came at the last minute, not intending to ambush me?"
The farmer continued, "Sect Leader Araki is a sect leader; since he lost the competition, he naturally couldn't explain too much. Therefore, I will explain the whole story to Ren Xiaoyao."
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly understood, walked to Araki Lu Yan, and respectfully bowed, saying, "I was unaware of the circumstances and mistakenly injured your brother. If my words have offended you, I hope Sect Leader Araki will forgive me." He was always upright and honest; if his actions were inappropriate, he immediately apologized, never putting on airs like a champion.
Araki Ryuhiko returned the greeting with a slight bow, his old face flushed, and said, "Master Ren, what are you saying? It was my overreaching that caused this huge misunderstanding. If anyone should apologize, it should be me apologizing to you... Master Ren's inner strength is profound, and his martial arts are superb. The entire Akutagawa School is in awe and full of admiration."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly and said happily, "Not at all, not at all. If it weren't for Master Araki and the five members of your sect's Nairo Water Prison, how could Xiaoyao's inner strength have improved so rapidly in a single day?"
The farmer stroked his beard and laughed, "Hahaha, since the misunderstanding has been cleared up, why don't we go to my house to talk in detail? It's better than this back and forth, just exchanging polite words."

Volume Thirty-Two: A Series of Difficulties and the Help of Nobles, Chapter Eight: An Unexpected Twist .

How good was Ren Xiaoyao's judgment?
Of course, it was top-notch. He never misjudged people.
But this time, he was wrong, terribly wrong.
From the moment he met the old farmer, Ren Xiaoyao had assumed this white-haired elder, who clearly knew nothing of martial arts, was simply a farmer. The farmer's so-called "home" was situated on a small hill north of the city, a vast and imposing structure. At a glance, houses were scattered among the trees, creating a magnificent scene—far from the typical farmhouse he had imagined.
Seeing Ren Xiaoyao's puzzled expression, the old farmer chuckled and revealed his identity. He was none other than Inoue Takehiko, the Grand Councilor who had resigned from his post and left the capital three years prior.
The Grand Councilor was a high-ranking official in Japan, second only to the Grand Minister of State and the Left and Right Ministers. As the Emperor's close attendant, he was responsible for reporting political affairs to the Emperor and issuing imperial edicts. He could also assume the duties of the Left and Right Ministers in their absence and concurrently served as a high-ranking official, responsible for matters such as major festivals and ceremonies—truly a position of great power and influence.
Taking advantage of the moment they entered, Ren Xiaoyao pulled Kurosaki Masayoshi aside for a detailed inquiry, only to learn that Inoue Takehiko was a capable minister, renowned for his outspoken and sometimes outspoken criticism, even the Emperor treated him with some respect. Five years ago, he had already sensed the conspiracy between Kirito and Fujiwara no Michitaka and secretly informed Emperor Ichijo. However, the news leaked, leading to his execution.
Forced to resign and leave the capital, Inoue Takehiko, with his extensive network of connections and many friends in the martial arts world, was unable to force Fujiwara no Michitaka to comply and had to let the matter drop.
Upon entering the main hall, Inoue Takehiko instructed his servants to fetch a physician. Ren Xiaoyao readily agreed, saying, "This is a trivial matter; how could I trouble you, Mr. Inoue? My wife is skilled in medicine and can easily treat the injured."
In fact, even without his instruction, the understanding Su Hanbi had already begun preparing herbal remedies. The Akutagawa school also had many medical ninjas, and within half an hour, everything was in place. Fortunately, Ren Xiaoyao was cautious and didn't go all out at first. The Akutagawa clan members, who were wounded by swords, were only temporarily incapacitated and their vital organs were not injured. Although Araki Ryohiko and the five water ninja were bombarded by the innate supreme qi, most of their true energy was dissipated by the water sphere before it came into contact with them. In addition, Araki Ryohiko's skill was profound. Although the five water ninja were shaken away, the momentum was dissipated by the river water, so their injuries were not serious. With the spiritual medicine prepared by Su Hanbi, they would recover completely after a few days of rest.
After dinner, Inoue Takehiko led Ren Xiaoyao and Araki Ryohiko to the study for a detailed discussion.
Ren Xiaoyao knew Araki Ryohiko's straightforward nature and asked bluntly, "The Akutagawa School dominates Kyushu, with abundant resources and numerous disciples. Why..."
Araki Ryohiko interrupted with a smile, "Hehe, I didn't come for Miss Shinguji. I just heard that a young master appeared in the Central Plains, single-handedly facing the Five Beauties of Iga Valley, and even boasting that he would challenge all the major martial arts sects in Japan. Coincidentally, Brother Inoue invited me to come south, so I simply brought the elites of my sect with me."
Ren Xiaoyao was completely bewildered and exclaimed in astonishment, "'Single-handedly facing the Five Beauties of Iga Valley'? 'And boasting that he would challenge all the major martial arts sects in Japan'? This... this is not from anywhere. How did this rumor come about?"
Araki Ryohiko chuckled, "Not only that, but someone also said the head of the Shinguji sect used his daughter to win you over, wanting you to subdue various sects and infinitely expand the power of the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, ultimately unifying the Japanese martial arts world. Now, it's not just those small sects that came for the hidden flower who are planning to cause you trouble; every ninjutsu school not included in the Seven Great Schools wants to fight you. We're ahead of the curve; there are dozens more waiting behind us."
Inoue Takehiko stamped his foot, "Oh dear, Brother Araki, I'm not trying to criticize you, but you're a sect leader and have been in the martial arts world for so many years. How could you fall for Igagaya's divisive scheme... Sigh, if I had known this, I wouldn't have helped you make arrangements. I've been on tenterhooks, afraid someone might die."
Araki Ryohiko laughed heartily, saying leisurely, "You can't say that. If I hadn't risked my life to fight Ren Xiaoyao, how could you have considered him a chivalrous person and led us..." "And we've come here to discuss a grand plan."
Ren Xiaoyao paused, then said, "A grand plan?"
Inoue Takehiko solemnly replied, "Yes, the grand plan to overthrow Kiriko and install the Third Prince, Koremitsu, on the throne."
Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed, "You...you..."
Araki Ryohiko sighed, cupped his hands, and said, "To be honest, I was originally a palace guard. Fifteen years ago, I witnessed Fujiwara no Michitaka committing adultery with a palace maid. I failed to expose him in time and was instead framed by him, accused of stealing palace treasures. I almost faced the death penalty. Fortunately..." "With the help of Empress Shumei, the mother of Crown Prince Kiriko, and Lord Inoue, I was able to change my name and escape Kyoto, which led to my current position as the head of the Akutagawa School, Araki Ryohiko. Later, Empress Shumei fell ill and passed away, and I resolved to repay this past favor to her only son—the Third Prince, Koremitsu."
He paused, then continued, "Several months ago, when the devastating news of Lord Kurosaki's death and the Third Prince's disappearance reached Kyushu, I was heartbroken and devastated. At that time, I thought of using all the resources of the Akutagawa School..." " The Kyoto clan rushed to the capital, fighting to the death with Igagaya. It was only after Lord Inoue wrote to me that the time was not yet ripe, and I was advised to bide my time."
Inoue Takehiko continued, "Although I have been out of office for many years, I still have many disciples and old friends in the capital. A few days ago, they sent word that the Third Prince might secretly go to Nara under the protection of several retainers to join the Hokushin Ittō-ryū. Igagaya has dispatched all its best warriors to pursue him along the way. Seeing the urgency of the situation, I quickly wrote to Brother Araki to bring his men to discuss countermeasures. Unexpectedly, we became acquainted through this conflict and formed a friendship with Master Ren."
Araki Ryōhiko's expression was solemn. He took out a letter from his sleeve, placed it flat on the table, and slowly said, "No, not just possibly, he definitely went to Hueco Mundo. Just before I came in, I received a secret letter from the ANBU sent to Nara. You see, this is the original text of the head of Shinguji. He announced in public at the bi-monthly sect meeting that the Hokushin Ittō-ryū had joined..." "When the battle begins, all disciples on missions in various locations must immediately abandon their duties and return to Nara to guard Hueco Mundo. No one is allowed to leave without permission. Special mention is made of the Shinguji girl; she went out without a mission, a serious violation of the rules. Therefore, no disciples will be sent to rescue her, nor will her father or sect leader be held responsible for any other schools' actions. In other words, whoever kidnaps or kills the Shinguji girl will not be held accountable—clearly, the Third Prince has safely arrived in Nara; otherwise, the Shinguji sect leader wouldn't have broken his promise and recalled his disciples, let alone disregarded the life of his own daughter."
Ren Xiaoyao had already learned from Kora Miyuki that the Hokushin Itto-ryu was unlikely to send reinforcements, but he still held a sliver of hope. Now, with confirmation and the news that all ninjutsu schools not included in the Seven Great Schools would come knocking, even with his high skill and daring, he couldn't help but feel a little worried.
At first, he arrogantly thought that Japan was a small island, and even if there were experts, their numbers were limited and they would not pose any threat to him. However, along the way, apart from the Iga Valley group he faced in the naval battle and the little-known small schools he encountered before, such as the Kyushu-ryu, Hidetoshi-ryu, and Asuka-ryu, every single one of them was a first-class expert. Whether it was Kora Miyuki and Kiki Sabei who asked for his help, or Sakata Gintoki, Nakai Kazuya, Araki Ryohiko, and the five Mizunin who later turned enemies into friends, they were all first-class experts. Although he won every time, every victory was extremely difficult. If the other schools that followed abandoned their individual battles and instead joined forces to attack him, it would be difficult to ensure Shinguji Mina's absolute safety when surrounded by powerful enemies. But if he made the slightest mistake, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
Araki Ryohiko, seeing through Ren Xiaoyao's thoughts, sighed, "Since the head of Shinguji has declared he will no longer care about his daughter's life or death, Igagaya can openly issue a Class A mission, brazenly summoning experts from all sides to kidnap Shinguji Mina. I know Kubo Kosuke's character all too well; he's a despicable scoundrel who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. As long as he can capture Shinguji Mina to coerce the Hokushin Ittō-ryū, Igagaya will use every means at its disposal, including threats, bribes, and intimidation, to leverage the power of various experts. Just imagine, a mere 20,000 taels of gold can attract hundreds or even thousands of desperate criminals..." Among them are the once-powerful Shitong Aoki-ryu and other powerful schools of martial arts, whose strength is still considerable. Furthermore, relying on rumors, they are instigating various schools to come to them, not for the sake of money. Adding to this, the words of the Shinguji sect leader suggest that eliminating the seven major schools would likely lead to the entire Japanese martial arts world turning against you. If Master Ren insists on traveling to Nara by land, he will face endless and relentless attacks. Therefore… if I may be so bold, I suggest Master Ren change his route to land and water to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
Ren Xiaoyao asked in astonishment, “Land and water?!”
Araki Ryohiko proudly replied, “That’s right, not that I… ” "Boasting, in naval warfare, no one under heaven dares to rival the Akutagawa School. If we escort her along the way, we guarantee everything will be safe. What does Master Ren think?"

Ren

Xiaoyao stammered, "This...this is too much trouble for your esteemed sect."
Araki Ryohiko said solemnly, "Master Ren, you flatter me. The head of Shinguji Temple, to strengthen the defenses of Hueco Mundo and protect the Third Prince, would rather sacrifice his daughter than send anyone to rescue her. I, Araki Ryohiko, will personally lead my disciples to escort Miss Shinguji back to Nara, firstly to repay the great kindness of Empress Shuming to me in the past..." Secondly, it was to make our stance clear to the Japanese martial arts world: in this struggle for the crown prince, the Akutagawa School only follows the Hokushin Itto School, and we hope that Master Ren will grant our request.
Ren Xiaoyao composed himself and pondered deeply. Back in Qiyue Valley, Kora Miyuki had offered to assist with the escort, but he had resolutely refused that time because he was considering that the sects he would be facing were either inferior or already in decline, and that his own side had many experts, so there was no need to rely on the strength of outsiders; furthermore, he had just mastered his divine skill and was full of ambition, wanting to conquer the Japanese martial arts world single-handedly, without even needing the help of Yi Tianhan or Fu Longyuan, let alone anyone else.
But times have changed. Whether provoked by Iga Valley or driven by their own pursuit of martial arts, various schools have come knocking, effectively making them enemies of most of the Japanese martial arts world. He, along with Yi Tianhan, Fu Longyuan, Meng Fei, and Deng Lei, possess superior martial arts skills and are naturally unafraid. However, the women's situation is precarious. If a major melee were to erupt, not only would the weaker Nangong Fengyi, Nangong Fengzi, and Su Hanbi be vulnerable, but even Shinguji Mina and Long Feiyun would likely suffer.
Ren Xiaoyao can uphold his principles, undaunted by the potential for open or hidden attacks, but not his women. For love and affection, he can only abandon his initial intentions.
Araki Ryohiko added, "The journey to Nara will take about eighteen or nineteen days by land and ten days by sea, but after disembarking, there will still be three or four days' journey, so it will be much faster."
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled, "In that case, I thank Master Araki for his kindness."
Araki Ryohiko patted his chest and assured him, "Master Ren, rest assured, the Akutagawa School will do everything in its power to safely escort Miss Shinguji back to Hueco Mundo."
Inoue Takehiko suddenly said, "No, you can't escort her. You can only escort them to Saga Prefecture at most. Once they reach land, you must leave immediately, either by coming to Yamatsuri Town to find me, or by returning directly to Kyushu."
Araki Ryohiko asked in surprise, "Why!?"
Inoue Takehiko's eyes gleamed with an unusual light as he said in a deep voice, "Let me ask you, given the strength of the Hokushin Itto-ryu, the number of skilled Gotei 13, and the strict defenses of Hueco Mundo, even if we were to launch a direct assault, the combined forces of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, Kamiya Kashin-ryu, Jikishin Ei-ryu, Kyōshin Akechi-ryu, Shindō Munen-ryu, and the six Oniwaban factions would be unable to breach it, let alone a mere Iga Valley. Why then did the Shinguji sect leader insist on recalling all his disciples who were on missions elsewhere, and even refuse to send anyone to rescue his own daughter, instead choosing to strengthen the defenses of Hueco Mundo with all his might?"
Araki Ryōhiko replied, "The assassins of Iga Valley are everywhere, and they habitually use coercion, bribery, and intimidation to plant many spies and accomplices within the various factions. Presumably..." "They've already infiltrated the Hokushin Itto-ryu school. The Shinguji sect leader's approach is to prevent problems before they arise, increasing manpower in all areas to ensure mutual oversight and prevent anyone from acting rashly."
Inoue Takehiko stroked his beard and smiled, "Well said. Think about it again. The seven major sects are united and share the same fate. Even if the Akutagawa school openly expresses its support, it won't affect the overall situation. Fujiwara no Michitaka doesn't know you're the same person as Miyazaki Yuyasu from back then, so he's bound to be unprepared. If the Akutagawa school maintains a neutral stance, further easing Iga Valley's vigilance, it can act as a surprise force at crucial moments, turning the tide of the battle."
Ren Xiaoyao and Araki Ryohiko both nodded, agreeing with Inoue Takehiko's assessment.
Inoue Takehiko paused, then continued, “Starting from Yamatsuri Town, proceed east along the Kohaku River. When you reach Saga Prefecture, the waterway turns north. If you simply escort Master Ren and his party there, and then spread the word that he spared your life during the fight, and you were so grateful that you escorted them, I guarantee Fujiwara no Michitaka won’t suspect your true identity.”
Araki Ryohiko hesitated, “That’s true, but the journey from Saga Prefecture to Nara, though not long, is treacherous with steep mountains and dense forests, making it easy to be ambushed. If something goes wrong, wouldn’t all our efforts be in vain?”
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily, saying arrogantly, “It’s only a three or four-day journey. If I can’t even protect Mina in that time, what am I doing in Japan? I might as well just tuck my tail between my legs and go back to the Central Plains.” Inoue Takehiko was moved,
saying, “Good, you truly are a young hero with lofty ambitions. I wish you every success.” That night,
Ren
Xiaoyao was meditating and regulating his breathing in his room when a figure in a snow-white mink coat gracefully entered. The mink tail encircled her neck, her waist was slender, and her jet-black hair was coiled into small, round swirls, lying flat against her temples. Her thick, flowing hair cascaded down her back, so smooth and shiny it was almost like a mirror, making her hair appear even blacker and her clothes even whiter. Half of her pink neck peeked out from the mink tail, so translucent that the blue veins were faintly visible. Her face was elegant and her bearing graceful. As soon as she entered the room, she brought with her a faint fragrance of herbs. Although it was faint, it never disappeared, as if her slightly translucent skin was right next to her nose, changing to a different part every moment, making one never tire of smelling it. Who else could it be but Su Hanbi?
Ren Xiaoyao's appetite was whetted, and he clicked his tongue in admiration, "What a fine mink coat! Light, warm, thick, and soft—it has all four qualities. Even wrapped up in it, Hanbi, you still look as slender as an ordinary woman. Without asking, you must be extremely delicate. If, like your beautiful neck, it doesn't appear stiff and thin, but rather has a plump and tender feel, then you are truly a rare gem among women." Ren Xiaoyao spoke while laughing, his face full of intoxication, as if he was imagining how intoxicating it would be to hold her body.
Su Hanbi's cheeks flushed, and she glanced at him sideways, scolding him slightly, "Alright, alright, what time is it? You're still making a fuss. They called you here to talk about serious business."
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled, "Serious business?! Autumn isn't even over yet, and you've already changed into a fur coat. Luckily it's nighttime, the weather is cool; if it were daytime, you'd be sweating buckets."
Su Hanbi giggled, took a few steps back to sit in the chair opposite him, rested her elbows on the armrests, propped her chin on her hand, and said with a smile, "Don't you understand? Mr. Inoue said Nara is in the north, waiting..." When we arrived, it was just the beginning of winter, and since the Palace of the Void is built on a snowy mountain, it was better to buy clothes beforehand than to be unprepared.”
Ren Xiaoyao suddenly realized, “I was wondering why you guys came back so late for dinner. You went to the market, didn’t you? That’s not right. Even in the Song Dynasty, you would have to go to big cities like Hangzhou or Bianjing to buy such fine fur coats. Although Yajimachi is known as a land of fish and rice, it’s still a small town. How could…”
Su Hanbi stared at him intently for a moment, then lowered her head, revealing a large section of her delicate, lotus-root-like neck, smooth and supple. As usual, a warm, sweet rose scent wafted from her. She said softly, "The fur coat was a gift from Mr. Inoue. His grandson, Shigekichi, suffered from congenital lung damage. Many famous doctors were consulted, but none could cure him. I spent a long time finding the cause and prescribing the right medicine. I estimate he'll recover in half a month. To express his gratitude, Mr. Inoue gifted me the fur coat that the Empress once bestowed upon him."
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled, his demeanor dashing and handsome. He said, "Hehe, the old gentleman has found the right person. There's no illness in this world that Hanbi can't cure."
Su Hanbi With her delicate, cherry-red lips, she said in a slightly helpless tone, "Who said there isn't one? There's a disease I've been researching for a long time, but I can't even figure it out."
Ren Xiaoyao asked in surprise, "What disease is so troublesome that it has stumped our goddess doctor?"
Su Hanbi shrugged slightly, smiling with a teasing expression that made one's teeth itch with anger, "That goes without saying, it's your womanizing problem, of course."
Ren Xiaoyao feigned anger, "Fine, you dare to make fun of me, I'll teach you a lesson." With that, he spread his arms and pounced on Su Hanbi like a wolf catching a lamb.
Su Hanbi cried out and ran away, her pearl-embroidered satin skirt billowing open, revealing a pair of slender, beautiful legs wrapped in snow-white silk trousers, knees and shins straight, indescribably beautiful.
Ren Xiaoyao chased after him, and the two fought around the hall for a long time. Su Hanbi "escaped" into the inner room, intending to throw something at him, but found the corridor empty. She was so angry that she sat down on the flower railing, took off her soft boots, and threw them at his head.
Ren Xiaoyao deliberately didn't dodge, taking the blows head-on. Su Hanbi pouted and glanced at him
sideways, giggling, "Oh, have you been driven mad by Nailuo Water Prison? Why aren't you dodging?" Ren Xiaoyao smiled without answering, sitting down next to her on the edge of the bed. Su Hanbi quickly moved away. After several repetitions, Ren Xiaoyao simply sat cross-legged on the floor, casually picking up her snow-white pearl-embroidered boots, bringing them to his nose and sniffing them intensely, praising repeatedly, "Mmm, so fragrant, so fragrant. After all, Hanbi wore them. Compared to..."
Unexpectedly, Su Hanbi reached out her slender hand and pinched his ear, opening her beautiful, clear eyes like autumn water, and gently scolded, "Hmph, you're talking nonsense again. I'm not falling for your act." Taking advantage of the situation,
Ren Xiaoyao grabbed her small, soft hand and pulled her into his arms. Su Hanbi gently struggled, and Ren Xiaoyao used the opportunity to return to the edge of the bed, pulling Su Hanbi into his embrace and lifting her bare right foot.
Her jade-like toes, white and smooth as if peeled from a scallion, shone with a delicate rosy hue, the dust highlighting the tenderness of her fair skin. Her slender ankles and beautiful little feet resembled miniature jade artifacts, delicate and translucent, their rosy luster almost translucent. Though her feet were smaller than his palm, they didn't appear short or plump; their proportions were long and elegant, making them irresistible.
Ren Xiaoyao, unable to bring himself to put on the soft boots, caressed her rounded ankles, slipping his hands inside her soft silk skirt, moving upwards along her slender calves, gently touching the sensitive back of her knees. His other hand lightly rested on her snow-white, smooth, and slender waist, feeling only her snow-white skin, crystal clear, exquisitely sculpted, smooth and delicate, as beautiful and silky as satin.
Su Hanbi trembled all over, tilting her head back and moaning softly. Her beautiful, delicate cheeks flushed crimson, and her body felt waves of indescribable weakness wash over her. She slumped down, limp and powerless. "Mmm," she let out a short, shy sigh, tightly gripping Ren Xiaoyao's mischievous hand, and murmured, "Xiaoyao, don't... don't do this. I have important business... no, Sister Long and the others are... still waiting for me." (

Chapter 10, Midnight Spring Passion, Volume 32: A Series of Misfortunes and the Help of a Nobleman) Ren Xiaoyao's

desire grew even stronger. He chuckled and said, "Waiting for you? What are they waiting for? They're waiting for me, aren't they? Tonight I'll satisfy you first, then go to Fei Yun's. I guarantee she won't mind."
Su Hanbi made a face, her beautiful eyes darting around, a mischievous smile with an indescribable allure: "What, only thinking about me and Sister Long, ignoring your Mina?"
Ren Xiaoyao's face flushed red, and he said with a wry smile, "Mina and I haven't... we haven't done that yet, Hanbi, be good..."
Su Hanbi showed a slightly annoyed, girlish expression, and said lightly, "Old habits die hard. We sisters all know what kind of person you are. I'd rather believe that Abbot Xiaoming isn't a monk than believe you haven't touched her." As she said the last sentence, she smiled sweetly, unusually without any wariness, as radiant as a blooming flower.
Ren Xiaoyao's handsome face turned slightly red, and he said awkwardly, "It's not that I don't want to, it's just... Mina insists on... only after marriage... Oh dear, being a ninja is all about these things." As he spoke, his hands didn't stop, cupping Su Hanbi's firm, plump buttocks, lifting her delicate body, her slender legs encircling his waist.
Su Hanbi's cheeks flushed crimson. A slightly embarrassed look crossed her face as she glared at him, a look that was both reproachful and charming. Her delicate brows furrowed slightly as she said, "Hmph, so you bully me because Meina won't submit to you, huh?"
Ren Xiaoyao nibbled on Su Hanbi's ear and said, "Hehe, what can I do? You're my wife." His hands roamed freely, making Su Hanbi moan softly. Her snow-white mink coat was long forgotten; only her thin top clung to her shapely figure, her face flushed with desire. Her allure made Ren Xiaoyao's breath quicken, yet his peripheral vision remained fixed on Su Hanbi's full breasts. Her smooth, white skin was exquisitely delicate, her figure slender, and her long, shapely legs exuded a soft, graceful beauty. Her slender waist, paired with her slightly rounded hips and pert breasts, created a stunningly curvaceous figure—a rare and exquisite beauty.
Ren Xiaoyao leaned down and kissed Su Hanbi's soft, red lips, which were panting and moaning wildly. He attempted to force his way in, but Su Hanbi hesitated, instinctively biting her lip shyly. Ultimately, she succumbed to Ren Xiaoyao's teasing advances, shyly parting her teeth and letting out a soft, sweet kiss.
Ren Xiaoyao's tongue passionately enveloped the shy, coy, and alluring girl's tongue. He found her mouth fragrant, her tongue smooth and sweet, and couldn't help but take Su Hanbi's soft, small, tender, and sweet tongue into his mouth, unleashing a lewd and wild kiss... Su Hanbi's cherry-like mouth was sealed, and she let out soft moans, a mixture of protest and pleasure.
"Ah ah..." Due to her rapid breathing, Su Hanbi tried desperately to pull her mouth away, her body twisting violently, and a sound like sobbing came from deep in her throat. This was because Ren Xiaoyao's large hand had reached inside Su Hanbi's underwear and was kneading her full, perky breasts.
Finally, Ren Xiaoyao's lips reluctantly withdrew, and Su Hanbi gasped for breath like a fish out of water, her delicate breasts trembling. She gripped Ren Xiaoyao's shoulders tightly, her phoenix eyes, brimming with desire, opening weakly. Her long, slender waist and beautiful legs tensed as if in spasms, her supple, elastic muscles twitching incessantly.
Ren Xiaoyao's hand moved from her chest to her side, then to Su Hanbi's slender waist; then slid down from her waist. Using his skillful fingers, he traced her curves from her lower abdomen down to the base of her thighs, his hands roaming over her round, pert buttocks and firm, soft thighs. He played with the protruding area with his middle finger from below, seemingly caressing it without any artifice, then pinched and rubbed the most sensitive spot with his thumb. An electric current had spread from that deepest point throughout her body, and her warm, secluded valley was already soaking wet.
With a flick of his little finger, Ren Xiaoyao untied Su Hanbi's undergarment, revealing her fair, jade-like, swan-like, and dove-like body.
Su Hanbi's body lacked the fiery passion that drove men mad, yet possessed an indescribable, endearing fragility—a charm unique to a pure young girl, moving and indescribable.
Her pretty face was breathtakingly beautiful, her cheeks flushed like roses, still glistening with pearly beads of sweat. Long eyelashes covered her eyelids, and from her delicate nose and cherry lips came soft, panting breaths… Combined with her figure and posture, she exuded a primal allure. Her eyes spoke volumes, her breaths spoke volumes, her hands, her chest, her legs… every inch of her body spoke volumes.
Any man who wasn't blind would be completely captivated by her.
Ren Xiaoyao, though a hero, was still a man, and a man who wasn't blind.
Ren Xiaoyao grabbed Su Hanbi's slender hand and pulled her into his arms. Su Hanbi let out a soft "Eek!" as he held her close.
Ren Xiaoyao caressed every inch of her smooth, fair skin. Held in his arms, Su Hanbi was lost in his overwhelming love, her breathing quickening: "Mmm, uh... ahh..."
Each of Su Hanbi's passionate moans was like honey poured over Ren Xiaoyao's heart, sweeter than honey itself. This intense sense of conquest ignited his desire. The more he listened, the more excited Ren Xiaoyao became, his lower body surging with heat, ready to erupt. His hands roamed freely over Su Hanbi's body, kissing her shoulders and neck repeatedly, refusing to kiss her lips, thus eliciting those beautiful cries. Su Hanbi clung tightly to Ren Xiaoyao, stroking his strong back, her legs unconsciously rubbing against each other, causing her to overflow with desire.
Ren Xiaoyao stared intently at Su Hanbi's slowly swaying, snow-white buttocks, and couldn't resist lifting them up. He opened his mouth and covered her private parts between her legs, beginning a series of sucking sounds. Su Hanbi was struck dumb, her jade arms wrapped around Ren Xiaoyao's neck, her starry eyes half-open, gazing at him with love, her cheeks flushed, and she softly whispered, "Please...don't...it's so itchy...don't stop...mmm..." Before she could finish, Ren Xiaoyao slowly lay down, and the two lay face to face on the bed, intertwined, their sweat instantly soaking the sheets.
Ren Xiaoyao and Su Hanbi's skin rubbed against each other, their limbs intertwined at the head of the bed, becoming one, naked and making love.
Ren Xiaoyao and Su Hanbi's first time making love was in the place where he was imprisoned, where he dared not cry out, dared not scream. That couldn't compare to the ultimate pleasure of now, in this luxurious room on a soft couch, completely letting go and indulging in the ultimate enjoyment of lovemaking.
Deep affection filled the room. After an unknown period of intense struggle, Ren Xiaoyao's thrusts changed from rapid and fierce to heavy and forceful, no longer a tempestuous storm, but each strike penetrated deep into Su Hanbi's delicate body, reaching the tender flesh to its core, causing her to tremble and moan softly, unable to conceal the pleasure within.
Ren Xiaoyao helped Su Hanbi sit up, spreading her legs across his waist, holding her slender, almost broken
waist tightly, and thrusting her towards him repeatedly, so that he could penetrate her body again and again.
Su Hanbi's face was full of shame, desperately suppressing her comfortable moans, but her constantly writhing body could not hide her excitement, and a torrent of fluid flowed down her legs.
Su Hanbi excitedly embraced her lover, calling out incoherently, "Ah—uh—Xiaoyao, again—again, uh!", the pleasure rapidly increasing. Beads of sweat seeped from her skin, some landing on Ren Xiaoyao, some becoming ornaments in her hair, some flowing down her chest and flying away from her trembling breasts.
Ren Xiaoyao didn't pay much attention, but under Su Hanbi's passionate response, his attacks became even more intense.
Su Hanbi's soft, smooth, and winding lower body sucked and squeezed, gentle yet powerful, making Ren Xiaoyao unable to help but arch his back and bounce, unable to control himself. It felt as if an extremely thin hair was being rapidly pulled from his scrotum, endlessly, painfully yet beautifully, the end of the hair connected to all his semen, about to gush out in the blink of an eye!
Ren Xiaoyao desperately held back several times, continuing his movements, rubbing their skin until it was burning hot, trying to push Su Hanbi to an even higher peak. But the more he endured, the more Su Hanbi's body craved, and the more difficult it became for him to control himself. The sounds of "slap slap slap" were incessant, the collision of their bodies becoming more and more intense, and the surging pleasure swept over the two of them like a whirlpool.
Su Hanbi suddenly groaned, her plump waist straightening, her teeth clenched, her snowy buttocks convulsing violently, her beautiful eyes rolling back as if she almost fainted. Her slightly open mouth trembled, but she couldn't utter a sound, only gasping for breath. After a moment, she regained her senses, feeling her lower body full, hot and hard, as if pierced by a red-hot iron. Even though it had reached her core, the sensation of deep penetration showed no sign of abating.
Su Hanbi hadn't expected Ren Xiaoyao to last so long this time. Her body trembled violently, her mouth uttering soft moans, her whole body limp, so comfortable she was about to faint, barely able to lift her head. Suddenly, she felt an urge to urinate, her teeth aching from the pleasure, her whole body trembling, and she knew she was about to lose control again.
Ren Xiaoyao also felt a passionate response within her. He swallowed several mouthfuls of saliva, breathing heavily, but he couldn't stop his urge to ejaculate, knowing it was inevitable. Seeing Su Hanbi's cheeks flushed like peach blossoms, her delicate lips pale, her body covered in fragrant sweat, her breath weak and intermittent, unable to moan, he couldn't bear to hurt her. He bit her delicate earlobe and whispered, "Hanbi... I... I'm coming..."
Su Hanbi hugged him tightly, hurriedly crying out, "No... Xiaoyao... wait... just a little longer, ha... ah... ha... I still..." "Want...just one more time...ha, ah!"
Suddenly, footsteps approached. It was Long Feiyun, who had been waiting for Su Hanbi for a long time. She pushed open the door and went straight into the inner room. She was startled to see Ren Xiaoyao and Su Hanbi doing the deed. She stopped in her tracks and exclaimed, "Hanbi, you two..."
Ren Xiaoyao and Su Hanbi were both startled when they heard Long Feiyun's voice. Ren Xiaoyao was so excited that he could no longer control himself. His lower body trembled violently, and hot semen gushed out, instantly filling her entire flower path.
Su Hanbi felt a wave of heat wash over her. Ignoring Long Feiyun's sudden arrival, she arched her slender waist and couldn't help but cry out, "Ahhh...uh, uh..." She was extremely wanton, yet also incredibly ashamed.

Volume Thirty-Two: A Series of Misfortunes and the Help of a Nobleman, Chapter Eleven: The End of the Lovemaking.

Su Hanbi, embracing Ren Xiaoyao, screamed and cried out. She was being penetrated so deeply she could barely breathe. Suddenly, she threw her head back, a cool, wet liquid flowing from between her legs. Her boneless body slumped down, her two soft, bouncy breasts colliding with the man's chest. She fell backward, her arms bound with red ropes, a large clump of her black hair spilling out of the bed, her snow-white chest and armpits forming an alluring curve. Her chin tilted back, and she fell silent
, convulsing and fainting. Ren Xiaoyao, having only won briefly, thrust his engorged penis forward, releasing even more of his essence. The half-convulsed beauty, scalded by the hot, thick semen, awoke with a cry of "Ah!" The interrupted pleasure immediately took over her body. Her wide-spread legs convulsed, and a gush of fluid, mixed with fine foam, overflowed from their point of union.
After her primordial energy was released, Su Hanbi's body suddenly lost its support, collapsing limply towards Ren Xiaoyao. Her blushing face was buried in the crook of his neck, and her breath turned into soft, weak moans.
Ren Xiaoyao, in the prime of his life and possessing the most powerful and unparalleled innate qi in the world, was also somewhat exhausted after such a surging and intense release. He lay down on the edge of the bed, both of them panting heavily, partly due to being frightened by Long Feiyun.
Long Feiyun had just witnessed their lovemaking and was stunned, speechless for a long time.
Su Hanbi regained her senses slightly, turned her head with a flushed face, and whispered, "Sister Long... Sister Long, weren't you in the lobby? How... how did you get here?"
Long Feiyun's expression froze slightly, then even her ears turned red. She pursed her lips and said, "I waited for a long time but didn't see you, so... I'm sorry, I came back at the wrong time."
Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly, reached out to wipe the sweat from Su Hanbi's chest and armpits, enjoying the smooth skin and alluring curves. He then looked at Long Feiyun and said awkwardly, "No, no, I was just startled."
Long Feiyun covered her mouth and giggled, leisurely: "Really? How long have you been with Hanbi? It's not like it's just the beginning, is it? Don't let yourself be so scared that you lose your composure, that would be terrible."
Ren Xiaoyao rolled his eyes at her and teased, "If you really lose your composure, it won't do you any good either." His strong male authority slowly withdrew from her flower path, causing Su Hanbi to tremble.
Su Hanbi's breathing quickened, her full breasts heaving. After a long while, she opened her thick eyelashes, her eyes watery, and glanced languidly at Ren Xiaoyao. A smile played on her lips, but her soft voice sounded like a sob: "It's all your fault! I even forgot the proper etiquette, and Sister Long laughed at me."
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled, reaching out to pull Long Feiyun, saying happily, "How about I let you see Feiyun's embarrassing moment?"
Long Feiyun stepped aside, playfully scolding, "Alright, stop fooling around. I have important business with you."
The two dressed and followed Long Feiyun into the outer hall. Su Hanbi was still very embarrassed, her face flushed, but Ren Xiaoyao acted as if nothing had happened, casually asking, "What could be so important that you need to come so late at night?" "Tell me."
Long Feiyun glared at him, her resentful eyes seeming to say, "No matter what it is, it's much more important than you and Hanbi fooling around here." Seeing Ren Xiaoyao's handsome face turn red with embarrassment, she said, "Liu Zongyu sent word that nearly three hundred ninjas from seven schools—Yuhei-ryu, Kaji-ryu, Uesugi-ryu, Kishu-ryu, Negoro-ryu, Naga-ryu, and Shinnan-ryu—have arrived in Yasaki-cho. According to reliable sources, they seem to have reached some kind of agreement, and they are very likely to launch a night attack tonight." Liu Zongyu was the deputy leader of the Wenzhou branch of the Tianji Sect, meticulous and reliable. He led all the Tianji Sect members who had accompanied them, as well as the interpreter hired by Fu Longyuan.
Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback and asked in surprise, "That's not right. I clearly instructed Liu Zongyu not to concern himself with our affairs and to take his men to Nara first. How come... he still has time to gather information on the way?"
Long Feiyun shrugged her fragrant shoulders, her posture and expression captivating. She rolled her eyes at him and said with her delicate, pouting lips, "Liu Zongyu is already over forty, yet he still holds the position of deputy leader. This time, he's finally getting to work with the sect leader, so of course he's putting in his best effort. Ever since we left Tottori, he hasn't gone far, constantly inquiring about the movements of the enemy, Iga Valley. He's sent back messages several times. It's just that you've been flirting with Mina all day and haven't noticed."
Ren Xiaoyao scratched his head sheepishly and looked around . Speaking of other things, she said shyly, "Well, this message came back in a good time. We're staying at Mr. Inoue's house and need the Akutagawa school to escort us to Saga Prefecture, which is already enough trouble for them. If we were to attract the Haguro school, Kaji school, Uesugi school, or the like, we would really be letting them down."
Long Feiyun sat up, her pretty face regaining its usual calm and composed expression, with a chilling calmness, and said softly, "Hmph, it's a wonder you know all this. Hurry up and think of a way to deal with them. If they find this place, things will be troublesome. Remember to promote Vice Chief Liu when we get back, don't let him..."
Before she could finish speaking, footsteps sounded again, and it was Nangong Fengyi who arrived.
Ren Xiaoyao thought to himself, "What a day! Three of them have come looking for me in one go." But then he heard Nangong Fengyi say, "Xiaoyao, something bad has happened!" The usually calm and composed woman looked anxious, her beautiful eyes showing a tense and uneasy expression. Ren Xiaoyao, Long Feiyun, and Su Hanbi exchanged glances, secretly alarmed.
Long Feiyun asked cautiously, "Fengyi, what happened?"
Nangong Fengyi gasped, "A large group of ninja from other factions suddenly appeared outside the manor. Sect Leader Araki insisted on leading his troops to fight them, and Xiuxiu and I couldn't stop him."
Su Hanbi's body trembled slightly, her eyes showing a trembling expression, and she exclaimed, "What! Leading his troops to fight them?! He and the five water ninjas are all injured, how can they handle it?"
Long Feiyun pressed, "This... when did this happen?"
Nangong Fengyi replied, "Half an hour ago... you had just left then, I... I thought you knew, so I rushed over to inform Xiaoyao, but I didn't expect to wait so long."
Ren Xiaoyao slammed his hand on the table, stamping his foot and saying, "Alas, it's my fault, my fault for being lustful... Feiyun, go and inform Senior Yi, Senior Fu, Mr. Deng, and my master, and ask them to protect Meina, Zhengliang, and Old Master Jingshang. Hanbi and Fengyi, you two take Fengzi, Xiuxiu, and Furong and stay in the manor. No matter what happens, don't go out." He walked to the bedside, grabbed the Ice Soul Frost Sword, and rushed out.
Long Feiyun asked in surprise, "Xiaoyao, what are you doing?"
Ren Xiaoyao said decisively, "I'll take responsibility for the trouble I caused, and I'll take charge of the mess I made!" His figure swayed slightly, and he instantly passed through the window, quickly disappearing into the night. Ren Xiaoyao unleashed his
"
One Reed Crossing the River" technique, moving forward at full speed. Suddenly, a whooshing sound filled the air as two steel darts were hurled at him from behind. A shout followed: "Who goes there? Halt!"
The members of the Akutagawa school had all witnessed his lightness skill; even if they couldn't see the person clearly, they wouldn't fail to recognize them. Therefore, Ren Xiaoyao immediately deduced that the opponent was from one of the seven schools, including the Haguro-ryu, Kaji-ryu, and Uesugi-ryu. Without pausing, he flicked his wrist, sending the steel darts flying back. A scream of pain rang out, followed by a whoosh as someone collapsed to the ground.
Ren Xiaoyao turned around, startled, and saw a black-clad ninja lying on the ground, two steel darts embedded firmly in his chest, seemingly lifeless. Ren Xiaoyao was stunned. His earlier flick of the wrist was merely intended to deflect the incoming steel dart, preventing it from striking him. He hadn't expected such a seemingly effortless flick to generate such unexpectedly powerful force, almost beyond his control. It seemed he still couldn't fully control the newly opened sources of internal energy within his body.
Normally, cultivating the Innate Supreme Qi takes about five years to open one source. Even if one started practicing at fifteen, it would still take until sixty to achieve mastery. Ren Xiaoyao's ability to surpass Yi Tianhan with only two sources was entirely due to one of them containing thirty years' worth of internal energy from the Blood Rong Pill. He opened five other sources using the power of the Nai Luo Water Prison, without suddenly increasing his internal energy; he simply distributed that thirty years' worth of internal energy evenly. Therefore, the intensity of his internal energy increased only slightly, while its endurance under maximum load was greatly enhanced, making it even more difficult to control.
A series of muffled groans came from afar. Ren Xiaoyao had no time to pause, and used his full speed to reach a clearing in the woods in no time. It was a circular platform about forty or fifty feet in circumference, and it was surrounded by a dark mass of people. There were fewer people on the west side, and eight or nine out of ten of them were covered in blood, some sitting and some lying down. They were the Akutagawa school. There were several times more people on the east side, divided into seven groups. It seemed that the seven schools mentioned by Liu Zongyu—the Haguro school, the Kaji school, the Uesugi school, the Kishu school, the Negoro school, the Naga school, and the Shinnan school—had all arrived, and they were implicitly surrounding the Akutagawa school.
Ren Xiaoyao glanced over and saw that the five water ninjas were all in the center, each covered in blood, and they looked like they were having difficulty moving. Two people were fighting in the center of the platform, and everyone was focused on watching the battle. No one noticed his arrival.

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

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