At the landing of the fourth floor stood an old man with a unique appearance. His hair was gray, and his arms were far longer than those of an average person, reaching down to his knees like an ape’s. His hands were bony and sharply defined, as if sculpted.
Meng Qi sensed true energy radiating from his body, forming a protective barrier around him—a clear sign of a master who had fully opened all nine orifices. However, the strength and thickness of his protective barrier varied greatly, and his energy flow had many flaws. His power was clearly concentrated in his hands, making his strengths and weaknesses immediately apparent. He was clearly inferior to Xiao Yue by half a step, likely having opened the nine orifices merely through years of cultivation.
“If you can drive me back, you may proceed upstairs,” said the old man succinctly, without changing his attitude despite Meng Qi’s steady progress through the floors.
Meng Qi still did not draw the Tianzhi Shang blade from its sheath. Instead, he extended the scabbard forward slightly and said, “Please.”
The old man’s fists struck from strange angles. His joints moved with uncanny flexibility. The punches appeared rigid and forceful, but part of his true energy was retracted, gathering at his shoulders and back, as if he could unexpectedly change his attack pattern at any moment.
Yet all of this was clearly reflected in Meng Qi’s mind, offering him no secrets. He extended his long blade, attacking while defending, and slashed diagonally toward the old man’s chest with the speed of thunder.
This slash was carefully angled and precisely timed—an unavoidable strike no matter how the old man secretly gathered and shifted his energy. The blade’s momentum was unified, its force restrained, making it impossible to distinguish hardness from softness, as if it contained both Yin and Yang.
The old man had no choice but to pull back his fists and strike the blade directly. His true energy enveloped his fists, capable of shattering metal and stone without fear.
A dull sound erupted. The old man struck the blade’s edge, and his forceful energy burst outward. Yet it felt as if he struck into emptiness, like a stone sinking into the sea.
Softness neutralized hardness, and Yin transformed into Yang. Suddenly, the long blade unleashed a surge of powerful inner energy, combining with the old man’s own fist force. In a posture of unstoppable strength, it surged toward the old man.
Under the combined effect of the Shengsi Yin Method and the Yin-Yang Sanhe Slash, and under the terrifying weight of the Tianzhi Shang blade, the old man’s protective barrier was shattered. He felt as though pushed by a giant hand and staggered backward, step by step, until he reached the edge of the wall. With each step, his feet smashed through the floorboards.
Meng Qi did not pursue. He held the blade upright, nodded respectfully, and said, “You were gracious in defeat.”
Without waiting for a reply, he continued forward, stepping onto the stairs leading to the fifth floor.
“He actually used only one slash again!”
Exclamations arose one after another. Although those in the main hall could no longer see the battle, the spectators and those waiting in line outside could clearly witness the fight at the stairway thanks to the Hero Tower’s special design—provided they had exceptional eyesight.
“Four battles in a row, all ending with a single slash—even against a nine-orifice master. It’s truly terrifying…”
To them, it was simply inconceivable. Defeating an opponent with a single slash was something one only heard in storytellers’ tales. Who would have imagined encountering such a feat in reality?
“All offense, no defense—pure brute force. No wonder he’s called the ‘Crazy Blade’!”
Similar praises kept coming, making Meng Qi’s lips twitch involuntarily. Being a swordsman, he really hated being described like this!
At the same time, people naturally compared him to another recent master who had also passed through the Hero Tower:
“What about the ‘Five Emperors Blade’ from a few days ago? How many moves did he use?”
“Three…”
“Could it be that ‘Crazy Blade’ is stronger than him?”
“Not necessarily. It might just be a difference in styles. Qingyu Daoist’s blade technique is grand and majestic, overwhelming with a noble and solemn aura like that of the Five Emperors. On the other hand, Su Meng’s blade is ferociously powerful, famous for its aggressive and brute-force style, excelling in seizing the initiative and engaging in direct confrontation. Different outcomes are normal,” someone objectively commented.
“Objective my foot!” Meng Qi almost wanted to bang his head against the floor. They were both blade users, so why was the other one described as noble and majestic while he was just brute force?
As his thoughts turned, Meng Qi rounded the corner and saw the man guarding the entrance to the fifth floor.
The man looked young, probably in his early thirties. His aura was restrained, and his expression was cold. Standing there, he was like a long sword in its sheath—sharpness hidden but not lost, waiting silently until the moment of action to reveal his power.
Instinctively, Meng Qi straightened his back. The moment he laid eyes on Xiao Zhenhai, the “Lightning Sword,” he felt a pressure on his aura. This was a contest of spiritual pressure and a clash of wills. No wonder he was once a master on the Human Roster.
Half of Meng Qi’s spirit extended into the blade, while the other half radiated outward. Using the techniques of the Bi Tian Ji Di Method, he subtly altered the surrounding perception, seemingly merging seamlessly with the environment. He harmonized with the curve of the stairs, the number of steps, and the autumn wind blowing past, becoming inseparable from the surroundings—except for the one intruder, Xiao Zhenhai.
The murmurs below abruptly ceased. Earlier, Meng Qi had defeated his opponents in a single move, and from their perspective, they couldn’t distinguish the nuances of each move. They only knew that “Crazy Blade” Su Meng was powerful, capable of driving back a nine-orifice master with a single slash. As for how strong he was or to what extent, they couldn’t say—only to marvel at it.
Now, Meng Qi gave them the most direct impression—his aura was shocking, his presence profound. Every movement carried a certain rhythm, as if he were about to merge with heaven and earth itself.
This was a true expert, a worthy master! This thought arose in everyone’s heart.
However, this was merely an aura that Meng Qi had forcibly created using spiritual projection and the Bi Tian Ji Di Method. It was far from the real state of unity between heaven and man. This was not something that could be bridged by talent or potential alone. One must fully open the nine orifices, reach the peak of inner cultivation, and gradually resonate with the external world by adjusting one’s inner realm before one could truly feel and express this unity.
Before opening the nine orifices, Meng Qi was limited by his current cultivation level. He could only deepen the imitation and add a touch of the power inherent in that state.
Seeing Meng Qi like this, Xiao Zhenhai finally showed emotion. He had a feeling that if he drew his sword now, he would face the rejection of the heavens themselves, as if opposing the entire environment. His sword intent wavered, and the sharpness he had hidden gradually faded.
Step by step, Meng Qi ascended the stairs, drawing closer to Xiao Zhenhai. In Xiao’s eyes, the figure of “Crazy Blade” Su Meng grew taller, approaching from afar and filling his vision.
No, he couldn’t wait any longer… Xiao Zhenhai was no mere name. Deep down, he realized that if he hesitated any longer, he wouldn’t even have the chance to draw his sword. The pressure from the “Crazy Blade” alone could crush him.
This was no joke. In a duel between masters, the flow of spiritual pressure was crucial. If he allowed the “Crazy Blade” to build his aura to its peak while his own sword intent was suppressed, even if he did strike, he wouldn’t be able to unleash half his power, ending up like the others downstairs.
Once a master on the Human Roster, Xiao Zhenhai had his own pride. With a sharp cry, he activated his inner realm, strengthening his sword intent. His sword energy surged, and his fighting spirit rapidly rose.
Riding this momentum, he forced himself to strike.
This sword slash was like a sudden bolt of lightning from the sky. So fast that those below only saw a flash of light, unable to even locate the sword itself. Even Meng Qi’s enhanced vision, augmented by the Jiuyuan Xuangong, could barely track its shadow.
The sound followed only after the sword had already passed, creating an illusion that the slash had arrived before its sound.
Xiao Zhenhai’s nickname, “Lightning Sword,” perfectly described the speed of his blade. He had spent his life honing fast sword techniques, without elaborate forms or external techniques. He relied solely on speed to establish himself in the martial world and rise to the Human Roster.
In past duels, when both parties struck simultaneously, his sword would already be at his opponent’s throat while the opponent’s blade had barely lifted. This was a testament to the “Lightning Sword” moniker!
How fast! The crowd outside the Hero Tower couldn’t even voice their thoughts, only able to marvel internally.
In speed, the sword outpaced even sound itself—not just a metaphor. Even if Xiao Zhenhai hadn’t quite reached that level yet, once he unified his inner and outer realms and became an external master, it was only a matter of time.
The blade suddenly flared with light, like a silver-white bolt of lightning, equally fast and indistinct. Splitting the sea and cleaving the land in an instant!
How fast the blade was! The crowd thought again. “Crazy Blade” truly lived up to his reputation as a master who had mastered multiple blade techniques. His mastery of speed was no less than anyone else’s!
Clang!
The clash of blade and sword rang out, clear and resonant, echoing far like a temple bell.
This was the first time Meng Qi had drawn his blade since entering the Hero Tower, barely managing to block Xiao Zhenhai’s lightning-fast sword.
A layer of cold sweat broke out on his back. He had nearly failed just now—an unusual mistake for him!
Xiao Zhenhai had not yet reached the level of concealing the flow of true energy and muscle reactions, nor did he possess any supreme martial arts that could make his energy or muscles move in strange, rapid, or deceptive ways. Meng Qi had already predicted his attack through spiritual perception, energy sensing, and the principles of the Dugu Jiujian. There were no secrets in his movements.
Yet Meng Qi hadn’t expected Xiao Zhenhai’s sword to be this fast—almost too fast for him to react. Compared to “speed,” even though Meng Qi had mastered the essence of blade techniques, his practice time was still insufficient. He was slightly slower than Xiao Zhenhai by a hair, and being the second to strike, he barely managed to block in time.
Indeed, every famous master had their own unique strengths!
Using the rebound force of his sword, Xiao Zhenhai prepared to strike again, one slash faster than the last, not giving the “Crazy Blade” a moment to breathe. But the moment his wrist moved, he saw Su Meng’s uniquely shaped long blade slashing diagonally toward him. If he followed through with his planned strike, it would be like offering his wrist to the blade.
Even with his protective barrier, Xiao Zhenhai dared not test Meng Qi’s sharp blade. He altered his energy flow, flicked his wrist, and aimed to stab downward.
But Meng Qi’s blade seemed to anticipate this. Mid-slash, the blade suddenly changed direction and came down again, still targeting Xiao Zhenhai’s wrist.
Xiao Zhenhai’s expression shifted slightly. He changed his move again, but one after another, he couldn’t complete a single strike. His opponent always acted second but struck first, forcing him to change his technique before he could even begin.
Meng Qi’s mind was like a mirror, reflecting Xiao Zhenhai’s energy flow and muscle reactions. Drawing from the unchanging principles of sword techniques hidden within the Dugu Jiujian, he used the blade to counter the sword, always striking after but always attacking first.
You may be a blade that cuts faster than sound, but I may not match your speed. Still, I can ensure you never get to strike!
The martial artists watching from below were left speechless, their mouths agape. When had the “Lightning Sword” ever been pushed to a point where he couldn’t even complete a single strike?
Perhaps only the “Calculating All Under Heaven” had achieved that!
Could the “Crazy Blade” Su Meng really do it too? It was simply unbelievable!
After seven consecutive strikes, Xiao Zhenhai could no longer change his tactics and had no choice but to sidestep the blade, watching helplessly as “Crazy Blade” Su Meng strode past and ascended the stairs.
He still had a secret killing move he had devised himself, but in the end, he restrained the urge to use it. If he had a secret move, surely Su Meng did too. His famous Anan Breaking Precepts Blade Method was a peak technique of the blade path. Unless he could strike from behind, he had no chance of victory.
Sheathing his sword, Xiao Zhenhai’s expression turned somber. For a swordsman famed for his speed to be overwhelmed to the point of not even being able to strike was no small humiliation. Disappointment, frustration, and pain filled his heart.
As Meng Qi neared the fifth floor, he glanced back at Xiao Zhenhai below and sighed softly, shaking his head: “A pity.”
If Xiao Zhenhai had possessed a supreme martial art that matched his swordsmanship speed, he wouldn’t have been so easily deciphered. Unfortunately, he was merely a wandering cultivator with scarce opportunities. Otherwise, he wouldn’t still be struggling to break through the Mystical Barrier of Life and Death even now. Perhaps this was the primary reason the master of the Hero Tower had recruited him.
“Xiao Zhenhai was indeed a pity,” someone upstairs added.
It was a young Daoist with high eyebrows and thin lips. He appeared gentle but carried an air of quiet arrogance. Before him lay a blade—not long, but not short either. Its sheath was deep purple, adorned with “stars.”
To Meng Qi’s perception, the Daoist radiated a majestic and righteous aura, as if dwelling high in the heavens. His energy flowed like mist and smoke, difficult to detect.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage