Maoling was the last dock to the west of Jiangzhou. With travelers coming from the north and south, and merchants converging from east and west, it was a strategically important location by the great river. Hence, the Great River Gang had a branch here, while the Wang Clan had stationed an Elder of External Affairs and many martial experts. Like two dragons crossing the river, they suppressed the local bullies, forcing them to submit. After all, both the Great River Gang and the Wang Clan had their roots in Jiangdong, so they weren’t exactly outsiders.
Moreover, Maoling was the seat of a prefectural government and close to Zhongzhou. It had elite bounty hunters with silver plaques and cyan silk insignias, as well as ferocious “Tiger and Leopard” enforcers. The Six Gates’ influence here was not to be underestimated.
During the day, songs echoed through the streets, and the youth walked hand in hand in the stable and prosperous city. Maoling, strategically located at key land and water routes, was a famous city for extravagant spending. Its top-tier gambling house, the “Heavenly Pavilion,” and its ten-mile-long riverside lined with colorful boats made visitors forget to return home until their last coin was spent.
However, if one were to speak of the most renowned locations in Maoling, those spots still paled in comparison. The Wang Family’s Suyuan, the Great River Gang’s Crescent Lake, and the Hero Hall were places known to every man, woman, and child in Maoling.
Dressed in martial attire, carrying a saber and sword on his back, Meng Qi wore a hero’s headscarf. His sharp brows and bright eyes attracted many glances on the street, and even a few young women secretly cast flirtatious looks his way, waving their silk handkerchiefs.
While Qiu Fei, the “Chasing Wind Staff” expert, entered the Huazhou Guild Hall, Meng Qi didn’t follow. Instead, he headed straight for the Hero Hall. If he was going to establish himself here in Maoling as Kuang Dao Su Meng, boldly stepping into its turbulent undercurrents, then he must do so openly and proudly—announcing to everyone, I have arrived!
He must fully assume the posture of a Human List expert!
The Hero Hall was five stories high, with a black and red color scheme that exuded both solemnity and fiery passion. Crowds bustled below, as countless martial heroes queued up outside.
The guards at the entrance were several young martial artists, men and women alike, all at the level of Opened Orifices. They worked in shifts—one standing guard while four rested.
The current guard was a young man wielding a long saber. Around twenty years old, with cultivation in four orifices and backed by the Hero Hall, he wore a slightly arrogant smile as he loudly declared, “Defend ten strikes from me, and you may enter.”
No one in the crowd showed anger, for this was simply the Hero Hall’s rule.
Beside the grand entrance behind him, two vertical plaques stood on either side:
“Northern and Southern talents, you are but heroes in vain if you stop at the door.”
“Eastern and Western heroes, only those who enter this hall are true valiant souls.”
Martial heroes who believed themselves worthy queued up at the entrance. Meng Qi eagerly joined the crowd, watching the spectacle with great interest.
A man in his twenties stepped forward, sword in hand, and bowed: “Please.”
The gate guard said nothing, raising his golden-ringed broadsword. With a heavy wind, he slashed downward—his technique simple, yet overpowering with its blunt force.
“His sword technique is not bad,” Meng Qi remarked.
A few people behind him looked at him strangely. What was there to praise? If he weren’t skilled and his blade technique excellent, how could he have been sent by the Hero Hall’s leader to guard the gate and select worthy heroes?
Faced with this powerful strike, the swordsman blocked sideways with his blade. *Clang!* He stepped back, his right hand trembling slightly, seemingly unable to withstand the force.
The gate guard smiled, stepped forward, and swung his saber again—still broad and forceful, unrefined yet overwhelming in its might.
The swordsman dared not block directly again. He sidestepped, his sword darting like a viper from its den, dodging the blade’s edge and aiming for the armpit.
Suddenly, the saber changed to a horizontal sweep. The rushing wind stung the swordsman’s face painfully.
If he continued his attack, he would likely be cut in half before even reaching his target. Forced to hastily withdraw his sword to block.
*Clang!*
The clash rang clearly. The swordsman’s blade flew from his hand and clattered to the ground.
His face turned pale. He never imagined his sword techniques, honed over years, would prove so feeble. For a moment, he stared blankly at the sword lying on the ground.
“Good. He fully displayed his own strengths,” Meng Qi praised again.
*You don’t say?* The few behind him exchanged glances again, guessing he must be a martial artist from afar, drawn here by the Hero Hall’s reputation.
Several challengers followed, but none lasted ten exchanges. The gate guard’s smile widened. He had agreed to guard the entrance precisely to refine his saber techniques and savor the joy of victory. Indeed, the martial world teemed with talents and heroes—but far more common and mediocre martial artists outnumbered them ten or even twentyfold.
Suddenly, the gate guard’s eyes lit up. He spotted a young man—heroic and masculine—who carried a saber and sword like Kuang Dao Su Meng. Dressed in black martial attire and wearing a hero’s headscarf, the young man might not have known the first thing about martial arts, but his appearance alone was impressive.
“Defend ten strikes from me, and you may enter,” the guard repeated the rule without wasting words.
Meng Qi said nothing either. He removed the *Tianzhi Shang* saber from its scabbard and smiled, waiting.
The gate guard struck again with the same heavy overhead slash. The nine rings jingled, producing a crisp and pleasant sound.
He continued to rely on his strength to overwhelm.
Meng Qi responded with a simple slash, but without drawing the blade from its sheath.
He’s actually matching me in brute force? The guard was slightly taken aback. Since the opponent was so cooperative, he naturally welcomed the challenge, pouring all his strength into the strike.
*Pfft!*
The saber struck the scabbard with a dull sound.
Why is it so heavy? The guard felt as if the blade before him was abnormally heavy—like a mountain pressing down, heavier than the 92-jin water-polished monk’s staff he had faced before. Combined with Meng Qi’s force, the guard’s palm stung, his wrist numbed, and his saber was smashed straight to the ground.
*Clang!* The saber clattered to the ground. The guard was momentarily stunned. He had always prided himself on his natural strength, yet he had just lost in sheer power.
Meng Qi twirled *Tianzhi Shang*, returned it to his side, and smiled: “You’ve been gracious. May I enter now?”
Only then did the waiting crowd snap out of their shock, murmuring among themselves:
“A master has arrived.”
“He actually overpowered brute force with brute force. Is he born with divine strength?”
“I wonder how many floors he can ascend.”
As they spoke, some eyed Meng Qi while others looked toward the staircases leading to the upper floors, where a martial artist stood at each level’s entrance.
“Indeed, honored guest, please proceed,” the gate guard said. He had faced many experts before and had suffered defeats, so he quickly adjusted his mindset and gestured Meng Qi inside.
Meng Qi strode through the entrance with his saber still in its scabbard, unhurried yet confident.
The first floor of the Hero Hall was vast, with many square tables, though most were empty and the atmosphere not particularly lively. Yet every person drinking or dining there had sharp eyes and vibrant energy—clearly no ordinary martial artists.
Meng Qi didn’t stop. He headed straight for the stairs, ascending to the second floor. This drew the crowd’s attention, both inside and outside, as they all looked up, anticipating a fierce confrontation and speculating on how many floors he would ultimately conquer.
The second-floor entrance was guarded by a swordsman. With his spiritual awareness and true energy scanning opponents, his cultivation level—six orifices—was no secret to Meng Qi. However, his flow of true energy was far from perfect.
“Defend ten strikes from me, and you may enter,” the swordsman said coldly, repeating the same rule.
Meng Qi swung his saber again, still in its scabbard, using the momentum to push forward. In a single step, he slashed downward at the swordsman guarding the entrance.
The surrounding air currents suddenly surged, all drawn into the saber’s path. The swordsman felt as if the blade enveloped the heavens and earth, indestructible and unavoidable—leaving him no choice but to block directly.
He raised his sword with a bit of finesse, attempting to deflect the force.
*Pfft!*
The dull sound echoed. The swordsman felt the opponent’s saber force was highly concentrated, clinging tightly to the blade itself. There was no way to redirect it. When it erupted, he felt as if his right arm no longer belonged to him—numb and powerless.
*Clang!* The sword fell to the floor. Meng Qi nodded slightly, said “You’ve been gracious,” and walked past him, heading to the third floor.
“So fast!”
“He still used just one strike!”
“So fierce, so domineering!”
Exclamations rose from below as everyone watched Meng Qi disappear up the stairs to the second floor, their gazes now shifting to the third-floor entrance.
“How many floors will he ascend?”
“Could it be he defeats the third-floor guardian with just one strike as well?”
“No way. The third floor today is guarded by ‘Flowing River Spear’ Gao Donglou. He has all seven orifices opened, completed a minor cycle of Internal Heaven, and studied spear techniques under a renowned master for ten years. He’s no ordinary opponent. No way he can be defeated with just one strike!”
Gao Donglou was a dashing young man, carrying a long spear on his back. He bore a striking resemblance to Zhao Zilong of Changban Slope, the very image Meng Qi had long aspired to emulate.
“Please,” Gao Donglou said, showing no sign of underestimating Meng Qi. He struck first.
The spear moved like a dragon, its tip flickering with pear-blossom-like patterns. Beautiful to behold, yet concealing deadly intent, it lured opponents into a trap.
Meng Qi seemed completely unaware. He simply slashed downward again with the same powerful strike, drawing in all surrounding air. The sky seemed to shrink, the earth to compress. The saber’s momentum was fierce and domineering, even more terrifying than before—like a divine punishment, shaking body and soul.
*Perfect!* Gao Donglou thought to himself. Meng Qi had fallen right into the feint he had set.
The pear blossoms vanished, the spear shadows converged into one. The spear seemed to shift several inches out of nowhere, dodging Meng Qi’s saber and thrusting toward him.
*An inch longer means greater dominance.* Before Meng Qi’s saber could strike him, his spear would pierce Meng Qi’s body!
But at that very moment, Meng Qi moved with the saber’s momentum, closing the distance as if space itself had shrunk. He slightly shifted his body, narrowly evading the spearhead.
Had it been a moment earlier, Gao Donglou could have swung his spear sideways to deflect Meng Qi. A moment later, and he would have had no way to avoid. Meng Qi’s timing was perfect!
The saber descended toward his head. Gao Donglou stepped back to evade. As he prepared to counterattack, he saw Meng Qi sheath his saber, using the opening created by his retreat to calmly step onto the stairs leading to the fourth floor. He moved with such ease, as if his previous strike had merely been a greeting.
*This strength, this demeanor…* Gao Donglou exhaled, planting his spear into the ground.
“He really did it with just one strike!”
“He must be an expert from the Human List!”
“He carries a saber and sword on his back. Could he be Kuang Dao Su Meng?”
“It’s possible!”
“It’s said that seeing is better than hearing. I thought Kuang Dao was a brute with raw strength, but he’s actually a true master of great bearing!”
Meng Qi listened with a sidelong ear, almost moved to tears. It wasn’t easy to earn such praise.
“He’ll have no trouble with the fourth floor, but the guardian at the fifth-floor entrance is ‘Lightning Sword’ Xiao Zhenhai, once ranked 26th on the Human List. He only dropped off a few years ago due to age. Now, he’s likely nearing the threshold of Quasi-External Scenery cultivation.”
“Just two days ago, ‘Five Directions Emperor Blade’ defeated ‘Lightning Sword’ in ten moves and ascended to the fifth floor. His strength, ranked within the top twenty of the Human List, far surpasses others!”
“Five Directions Emperor Blade” Qing Yu, a direct disciple of Xuantian Sect, had cultivated seven orifices and mastered the *Celestial Emperor Jade Records*. He had roamed the martial world for about the same time as Meng Qi, yet already ranked 16th on the Human List, a strong contender for the top ten.
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