At Tongmen Pass, two lieutenants exchanged glances. Wei Shaqing and Xin Yinma, both possessing far greater insight than ordinary soldiers, were deeply shaken by the Crown Prince’s method of killing. Few were the tales of first-class martial experts resisting hundreds of cavalry, and such feats were considered extraordinary precisely because hidden among the cavalry were often martial experts like Wei and Xin. The traditional measurement of martial prowess by the number of armors pierced was actually inaccurate, for armor was inanimate, while the men wearing it were living martial artists with their own internal energies.
Wei Shaqing stole a glance at Xu Yanbing, the Crown Prince’s retainer from Beiliang, who held an iron spear without a tassel. At some point, Xu had advanced his horse a few steps forward, gazing down the post road, the spear tip faintly glowing with a few strands of pale purple energy. Meanwhile, the other deputy general, Han Laoshan, remained at their side. Somewhat surprised, he tugged his reins and rode up beside Xu Yanbing, asking softly, “What’s happening?”
Han Laoshan, a disciple of the spear immortal Wang Xiu, clearly saw what had transpired on the post road but was puzzled by how the Crown Prince had managed it. A martial artist with the Diamond Body, first-class cultivation, charged straight at the Crown Prince, who endured a punch and used it as an opportunity to let red serpents crawl over the man’s entire body, like snow melting on a blazing furnace. The Diamond Stage was called “Indestructible Diamond” precisely because the internal energy and physical form were seamlessly integrated. The Crown Prince’s sleeves were filled with countless red ropes shaped like serpents, instantly blocking the martial artist’s pores. The man, in a frenzied state, not only tried to break free from the serpents with brute force but also attempted to crush them, causing his already formidable internal energy to surge like firewood added to a furnace. With his pores blocked, the ropes’ resilience exceeded imagination, making the furnace unstable and unable to contain the boiling water. When the martial artist, focused only on delivering over a hundred punches that failed to kill the enemy before him, finally regained some clarity, he realized his energy and body had been forcibly separated. By then, it was too late to stop. Before dying, the martial artist displayed some courage that impressed Han Laoshan, delivering two final punches—one to the Crown Prince’s chest and one to his lower dantian. Even Han Laoshan admitted he could not match the Crown Prince’s composure. It was the martial artist’s overconfidence that led to his demise, but the Crown Prince’s red ropes and the two techniques that absorbed the punches were the real keys. To onlookers, the martial artist seemed no match for the Crown Prince, but Han Laoshan understood the true danger involved.
Xu Yanbing kept his eyes fixed on the fan-wielding young noble, saying calmly, “Laoshan, you may not know, but when Li Chungan taught the Crown Prince the Two Sleeves of Green Snakes, it wasn’t just theoretical. He actually struck the Crown Prince hundreds of times with the technique, forcing him to grasp its essence through life-and-death experiences. The Crown Prince once told me that besides learning swordsmanship, he also wanted to refine the Great Huangting cultivation passed down by the Wudang sect leader. In his words, using the Two Sleeves of Green Snakes to strike himself wasn’t like using another’s stone to polish jade, but rather using another’s jade to polish stone—an act of waste. Later, when the Heaven-Approaching expert Liu Haoshi uprooted the last seedling of the Crown Prince’s Great Huangting Golden Lotus, the pond where the golden lotus had grown remained intact, along with its roots. The Crown Prince said that no matter how hard he cultivated, his internal energy alone could no longer revive the roots. Only after losing the Great Huangting did he realize that the true gift from the late sect leader Wang Chonglou wasn’t the Heaven-Approaching-level cultivation, but the unassuming pond itself—a lotus pond where the beauty of lotus flowers on the water’s surface was secondary to the pond that made it possible. Thus, on this journey, he resorted to the old method of using external forces to stir the pond’s murky waters. For this reason, the Crown Prince endured many beatings from me along the way. Somehow, he learned of the martial artist’s feud with Han Daosi and deliberately mimicked Han’s wrist techniques to provoke him into attacking with all his might. The more ferocious the martial artist’s assault, the more beneficial it was for the Crown Prince. As for how the Crown Prince mastered Han Daosi’s skinning technique, even I do not know.”
Han Laoshan mused, “Though it benefits his cultivation, being struck repeatedly, especially by a Diamond Stage expert in his final moments, must be no small pain.”
Xu Yanbing smiled, “To the Crown Prince, it’s long been routine. He calls it ‘daily fare.’ Besides, no matter how painful, it’s better than the ‘casual’ Two Sleeves of Green Snakes Li Chungan once threw his way.”
Wei Shaqing cautiously asked, “General Xu, was the martial artist truly a first-class expert?”
Xu Yanbing nodded, his expression serene, “Are there not many experts who have died by the Crown Prince’s hand?”
Wei Shaqing swallowed hard and dared not speak another word.
Han Laoshan asked, “Then does the Crown Prince intend to fight that self-proclaimed refined young man again?”
Xu Yanbing shook his head slowly, “Among the four first-class stages, only the Diamond Stage is suitable for physical training. Going higher may lead to diminishing returns. That young man has already reached the Finger-Sky Stage. Laoshan, you are also in the Finger-Sky Stage, so you should understand that the martial world’s Finger-Sky Stage differs greatly from the Daoist True Man’s first-class stage. In terms of lethality, even at the same stage, it’s like comparing a capital official with a local governor—the latter holds far more actual power. A fourth-rank official in the capital from a minor department could never match the authority of a local governor. Among the four stages, Finger-Sky is neither high nor low, but it has the most secret techniques, diverse and varied. Unless one is a Land Immortal or Heaven-Approaching expert, no one can claim certainty when facing an unfamiliar Finger-Sky expert. Even if the Crown Prince wanted to test that person today, I, Xu Yanbing, would intervene. Xu Fengnian of the martial world may take risks, but the Crown Prince of Beiliang cannot.”
Han Laoshan chuckled, “Well, otherwise, if that fellow were killed in one breath by the Crown Prince, there would be nothing left for these lieutenants. We can’t let them come here to face the cold wind.”
On the post road, the young noble, having sheathed his folding fan and tied his river-crossing saber, gently pulled his reins, dodging a blood-soaked human skin. Unmoved by Yue Zhang’s sudden death, he smiled, “Han Shengxuan could use Finger-Sky to kill Heaven-Approaching, so it’s no surprise that a second-class expert kills a first-class one.”
Seeing Xu Fengnian’s expressionless face and lack of interest in conversation, he amused himself with self-talk, “That’s not surprising, but your mastery of Han Daosi’s skinning technique is quite unexpected. I wonder if you also understand the latter two stages—bone-stripping and tendon-removal.”
He rotated his wrist, causing the white-sheathed river-crossing saber, tethered by a long rope, to spin. He then looked down at the Beiliang Crown Prince, who had come alone.
Zhao Gou had a secret dossier specifically compiled on the Crown Prince, slightly thinner than Cao Changqing’s in the Heavenly Archive. He had casually flipped through it and gained much knowledge. The Han Daosi, officially declared dead from illness in the palace, had actually been killed by this young man with a flying sword outside Shenwu City. Logically, Xu Fengnian, having been severely weakened by Liu Haoshi, should find it difficult to kill a Diamond Stage expert like Yue Zhang, though not impossible. The crux lay in how Xu Fengnian had acquired Han Daosi’s extraordinary Finger-Sky secret techniques. He did not believe anyone else could be as fortunate as himself to accidentally grasp the “Mirror Reflection” technique of Finger-Sky, which allowed him not only to memorize but also extract the essence. The female sword bearer of the Wu Clan Sword Tomb, who carried the Suwang Sword named Cu Hua, could steal even the most obscure sword techniques, but her ability was limited to imitation, inferior to his “welcoming all comers” approach. If Xu Fengnian shared his rare talent, he would truly lose sleep over it. After all, an ancient saying goes, “One mountain cannot hold two tigers,” even if the mountain is the entire martial world. The martial world is vast, but his heart is small, unable to tolerate any potential rival who might stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
He had clearly seen Xu Fengnian kill Yue Zhang. First came a technique similar to Deng Tai’a’s flying sword piercing acupoints, followed by Han Daosi’s skinning technique. Both were the most refined killing methods in the world. Yue Zhang fought chaotically, relying on his Diamond Stage physique to deliver a fatal blow, but such a simple feat was not easily achieved. Jiang Fuding was not surprised, knowing Yue Zhang had just entered the first-class stage when he was terrified by Han Daosi, making him timid ever since, never daring to fight another first-class expert. Thus, in the martial world, recklessness is bad, but overvaluing one’s cultivation and fearing death equally hinders progress.
Jiang Fuding raised his wrist, pinching the red rope tethering the saber. The “River Crossing” continued spinning as he leaned forward, gazing at Xu Fengnian. “Atop the mountain is a formidable expert. I certainly can’t defeat him, and even if I tried to escape, survival is uncertain. However, you and I are of similar age. As for our backgrounds, you, Xu Fengnian, are a prince of noble lineage, while I am no less distinguished. The lords of Zhulu Mountain are also self-proclaimed kings of their own domains. Yet in terms of seniority, they must still address me as ‘Senior Master.’ Thus, in the martial world of men like Yue Zhang, none have a more intriguing background than mine. What do you say? Dare you fight me? Don’t worry, even if I can kill you, I won’t. I still wish to live and witness the grand desert landscapes of Beiman from the Beiliang border. Xu Fengnian, Beiliang is your domain. Whether to fight is up to you. If you dare, I shall accompany you. If I win, this ‘River Crossing’ saber is yours. If you dare not and choose to hide like a turtle, I shall immediately turn and leave.”
Xu Fengnian smiled, “I dare, but no matter how formidable you are, you’re merely on par with the Fifth He, far inferior to Han Daosi. However, daring and wanting are two different matters. You may run, and I shall grant you one incense stick’s worth of time. Then Deputy Han Laoshan of Lanzhou will bring troops to eliminate the bandits. Oh, by the way, the official documents appointing you as the Golden Thread Weaving Official from the court will soon arrive at Qingliang Mountain Mansion and the Governor’s Office. I shall pretend not to have seen them. Let me clarify beforehand: during your escape, injuring people is acceptable, but if you kill even one soldier, I shall demand one of your arms in return. Should you manage to rout any cavalry unit, I shall record it as a favor.”
Jiang Fuding, unfazed by the casually discarded safeguard, straightened in his saddle, smiling, “I heard you accompanied Li Chungan on a journey along the Guangling River. Yet, you didn’t learn his sword techniques, though you did adopt his lowly demeanor.”
Xu Fengnian reached out, retrieving Yue Zhang’s skin, intending to hang it along with the corpse on the easternmost city wall of Lanzhou, warning those ambitious outsiders who sought to stir trouble in Beiliang. Outside Shenwu City, Xu Fengnian had gathered not only a few remnants of Han Daosi’s “Red Serpents” but also some hidden secrets from the head of the Diamond Stage expert Yue Zhang, who had been tasked with monitoring Zhulu Mountain.
Xu Fengnian emotionlessly lifted the human skin, and Jiang Fuding suddenly tightened his wrist, gripping the never-before-seen “River Crossing” saber.
As Jiang Fuding made this deadly move, Xu Yanbing atop the mountain also raised his iron spear.
Ultimately, Jiang Fuding burst into laughter, the intense killing intent dissipating instantly. “Xu Fengnian, stop pretending. Since Yue Zhang hit you hard, go ahead and spit blood if you must. Don’t stubbornly cling to your pride.”
Xu Fengnian smiled, “Only half an incense stick remains.”
Jiang Fuding chuckled, “That’s not right. There should still be most of an incense stick left.”
Xu Fengnian said flatly, “My incense stick differs from yours.”
Jiang Fuding sighed, releasing the red rope and letting the white-sheathed famous saber drop. He gazed deeply at this man for a moment before silently turning his horse around. He believed he could defeat Xu Fengnian, but even if he did, he would die at the hands of the expert atop the mountain. It wasn’t worth it. His life was far more valuable than that of the Beiliang Crown Prince.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind, “Leave the saber. You’re not worthy of it anyway.”
The black-furred young nobleman, with his back to Xu Fengnian, seemed to hesitate whether to draw his saber.
In the end, Jiang Fuding did not turn around. With a flick of his wrist, he snapped the red rope, grabbed the “River Crossing” saber, and threw it behind him.
Xu Fengnian’s pupils constricted, but his body remained motionless.
A spear from the mountaintop soared through the sky, striking the seemingly slowly descending river-crossing saber.
In an inch, thunder roared.
A massive trench exploded along the post road.
The treacherous river-crossing saber was neutralized by the spear, landing precisely atop Xu Fengnian. He reached out, catching the white-sheathed saber and wrapping Yue Zhang’s skin around its scabbard. When the dust settled, the steed remained, but its rider was gone.
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