At the level of Meng Qi and Qing Yu, the initial clash focuses on mental pressure and spiritual presence. If one’s spirit is suppressed by the opponent, leaving a seed of weakness, or if one’s mind develops a flaw, one’s full capabilities often fall below sixty to seventy percent. When the difference between the two is merely a hair’s breadth, defeat is practically predestined. After all, everyone has their secret techniques; once an opening is seized, all means are unleashed. In a fierce assault, the opponent might not even get a chance to use his ultimate move!
Furthermore, given the vastness of the world and the countless extraordinary techniques, if one’s mental defenses are significantly flawed, techniques like “Severing Purity,” “Falling into the Mortal World,” or even “Heaven-Shattering Earth-Piercing Method” could teach the opponent a harsh lesson.
Of course, if one cultivates demonic techniques, the stronger one’s negative emotions, the more powerful one’s combat abilities might become.
On the long street, civilians who had sensed the martial pressure without understanding its source instinctively retreated to the sides, peeking out curiously at the two confronting figures.
One wore ancient robes and a traditional headdress, standing like a descending celestial deity—majestic, noble, and vast, evoking a near-worshipful reverence. He seemed to coexist with heaven and earth, yet towered above them. The other, clad in black and wearing a sash, carried a long saber at his waist. Graceful and composed, he stood upright and sharp, like a saber drawn from its sheath. However, his presence was shifting, like a dragon returning to the sea or a tiger entering the mountains, gradually harmonizing with the surroundings, giving an impression of flawless perfection.
The long street paved with bluish stones stretched nearly twenty zhang wide and extended for a hundred zhang. The autumn wind blew gently, stirring up a sense of desolation, with only the fading glow of the setting sun.
Experts… Even the most clueless person would instinctively think so.
Inside a tavern on the left side of the street, the young master of the Changchuan Escort Agency, Yi Song, was hosting “Soaring Cloud Dragon” Fang Bai, to celebrate their newfound camaraderie after an initial misunderstanding. They were engaged in lively conversation when suddenly, the usual bustling noise of the street vanished into an eerie silence.
Puzzled, they turned their heads toward the street and saw Meng Qi and Qing Yu facing off.
“Someone’s fighting?” Yi Song was all too familiar with such situations.
Due to the distance, Fang Bai couldn’t fully grasp the two men’s auras but sensed both were formidable: “They mustn’t be ordinary experts. Hmm…”
He suddenly let out a soft exclamation, recognizing Meng Qi: “The man in black was the one observing the fight at noon—he was with Qi Zhengyan of the Huanhua Sword Sect.”
“It’s him? He wields a saber, not a sword, so he’s not from the Huanhua Sword Sect,” Yi Song realized. “From the fight at noon, his insight was impressive, so his martial arts must be too. I wonder who the young Daoist opposite him is?”
“Judging from his attire, he’s likely a disciple of the Xuantian Sect,” Fang Bai mused. “This will surely be a fierce battle between two titans.”
Their guesses and discussions were completely lost on Meng Qi, whose focus was absolute, his mind and spirit locked solely on Qing Yu.
Qing Yu’s aura surged outward, towering like a mountain, noble like a peak, pressing the surrounding air into tremors, as if heaven and earth were bowing to a sovereign. His energy radiated outward, blocking all attempts at observation, leaving Meng Qi’s spiritual perception blurred, unable to detect the flow of Qing Yu’s energy or his physical reactions.
Meng Qi had encountered such situations many times before, whether against Jiang Hengchuan or Wang Siyuan. Since he was stronger than Qing Yu, his mind remained calm and undisturbed. He still extended his spiritual awareness, linking with the surrounding environment through various techniques. His posture merged with the street itself, as if any attack would provoke the wrath of heaven and earth, flipping the street and making resistance impossible.
Qing Yu did not allow Meng Qi’s momentum to rise further. Suddenly, he reached for his saber, and the hilt shimmered with starlight, like the passage of time itself.
The saber gleamed, rippling like water, as “Ages” illuminated past and present.
Drawn by the energy, Meng Qi’s right hand almost simultaneously grasped his saber hilt, moving so fast it left only afterimages.
Clang! As “Heaven’s Sorrow” was drawn, Qing Yu had already slashed, the saber light first manifesting as a single point, then rapidly expanding into countless variations. The saber light surged, covering the sky, rushing toward Meng Qi.
Meng Qi’s vision was filled with saber light; he felt saber qi from every direction, as if a single spark had ignited a prairie fire.
The saber light burned like flames, devouring everything.
Meng Qi suddenly understood—this was likely one of the core principles of the “Imperial Flame Sweeping Heaven and Earth.” Although Qing Yu hadn’t unleashed an external-scape move, he showed no sign of underestimating Meng Qi.
In battles between Insight-level experts, unless there’s a clear disparity in strength requiring external-scape or dharma-body techniques to force an opening and retreat, it’s rare for either side to immediately unleash such moves. After all, if both possess similar techniques, the opponent will likely counter, rendering the move useless and wasting energy, leaving one vulnerable later.
Generally, they would engage in a prolonged contest using techniques they’ve mastered—saber, sword, palm, etc.—each trying to gain the upper hand step by step. Only when one truly exploits a weakness and secures an advantage would they unleash their full power, either pressing the attack or turning the tide.
In expert duels, once a killing move is unleashed, the outcome is usually decided.
Qing Yu’s “Imperial Flame Sweeping Heaven and Earth” surged forward like spreading fire. What seemed like weak points might instantly be replaced by follow-up variations, making it hard to exploit even if a gap was spotted.
Complex yet flourishing!
Meng Qi’s thoughts flashed like lightning, but only one idea dominated:
Use saber techniques to tell Qing Yu a story!
A bolt of lightning illuminated the dim evening, his saber forming a perfect circle, like the emptiness of heaven, embracing all things.
Purple lightning crackled through the air, its domineering and formidable presence concealing an air of nobility.
Clang! Clang! Clang! The sound of sabers clashing echoed continuously, all flames and variations swallowed by “Emptiness”!
Though they had started nearly six zhang apart, once they engaged, they became a whirlwind of motion. To onlookers, it felt natural and inevitable.
“This…” Fang Bai and Yi Song both stood up abruptly, rushing to the window, astonished yet serious. The previous strikes had shattered their expectations—this was no longer the level of ordinary Insight experts. Their saber techniques were refined, embodying profound principles, rivaling even the strongest from the Human Rankings!
Each considered whether, in their place, they would have to unleash their ultimate techniques to survive such strikes.
“Could that flamboyant young man actually be this strong?” Fang Bai found it hard to believe.
Clang! Clang! Amid the saber clashes, Meng Qi’s blade rebounded, shooting forward like lightning, slicing through the thinning “flames” toward Qing Yu’s right arm.
The saber shimmered with purple brilliance, its silver-white glow dimmed.
Qing Yu’s “Ages” swiftly blocked “Heaven’s Sorrow,” ringing out once more.
At that moment, Qing Yu’s saber force suddenly surged, like an erupting fire, initially a mere spark, then engulfing everything in an instant.
This was another core principle of “Imperial Flame Sweeping Heaven and Earth.”
The opening Meng Qi seized had been deliberately exposed by Qing Yu!
Blazing saber light rushed forward, leaving Meng Qi seemingly helpless but to retreat.
Suddenly, Qing Yu noticed “Heaven’s Sorrow” had vanished—not disappeared, but accelerated mid-strike, moving faster than imaginable, aiming to counterattack with equal speed!
Had he fallen into a trap?
Qing Yu realized that if neither changed tactics, he would be struck first. How much power would remain afterward was uncertain. Moreover, Meng Qi’s Iron Bell Body made trading injuries his specialty. Fighting injury for injury was unwise.
Thinking swiftly, Qing Yu stepped forward, like treading clouds and riding winds, instantly increasing the distance between them. His saber, originally targeting Meng Qi, now slashed toward “Heaven’s Sorrow.”
The young Daoist was indeed formidable. If not for secretly employing the Eight-Nine Metamorphic Art and holding back, intentionally falling into the trap, he might have been pushed into a disadvantage after this strike…
Meng Qi advanced rapidly, his saber flashing like lightning, heavy as thunder, unyielding as divine punishment, wave after wave of saber force surging forward, purple light dancing with unstoppable might.
Yet Qing Yu did not yield, meeting him head-on. At times, his saber grew silent, exuding a deadly chill; at others, flames surged, dancing with divine wrath; and at times, saber light blazed, shattering the mundane world.
Though neither used external-scape techniques, they fought with all their might, displaying the pinnacle of saber mastery. The continuous clangs resonated like a unique rhythm, stirring the blood of the spectators.
Fang Bai held his breath, realizing that if he were in either fighter’s place, he’d already have been defeated, even using his “Five Dragon Claw” technique would be futile. Yi Song didn’t even dare to imagine himself in their place.
At the height of the clash, Qing Yu suddenly slashed with a casual, seemingly effortless motion.
Yet in the air, the heat from previous “Imperial Flame Sweeping Heaven and Earth” strikes suddenly ignited, truly burning. The sky filled with flames—burning the bluish stones, the stalls on both sides, and Meng Qi’s very soul.
Desire fire, emotion fire, wrath fire—all inner fires ignited at once, causing Meng Qi’s face to flush and his heart to tremble.
This was the true “Imperial Flame Sweeping Heaven and Earth”—an external-scape level technique!
Yet Qing Yu had unleashed it so casually?
No, he had been using it all along! From the very first strike, he had been heating the air, subtly igniting inner fires. After so many moves, the momentum had built to a climax, needing only a single saber light to ignite everything!
Qing Yu was telling me a “story” through his saber techniques!
Looking at Qing Yu—his high nose, thin lips, and hidden arrogance, fully focused with his robe billowing—Meng Qi suddenly felt a surge of exhilaration, like a true rival had finally appeared.
This kind of opponent was truly exciting!
Such an opponent was rare indeed!
In his mind, Gu Xiaosang’s white veil half-fell, revealing her smooth skin; Jiang Zhi smiled gently, her eyes brimming with affection; Ruan Yushu swallowed a dried dragon fish, her pink tongue licking her lips; memories of returning from Yumen Pass flooded back—facing the reprimand of the Discipline Hall’s leader, hearing his master plead, and his young apprentice taking the blame. Anger surged in his heart; he had felt guilty toward Gu Changqing ever since, for dragging him into trouble due to his inexperience back then… Desire fire, emotion fire, wrath fire, guilt fire—all dark emotions roared, unstoppable, spreading toward his heart lake.
Before him, saber light and flames engulfed the sky, as if the world itself were breaking apart.
Looking at the blazing sky and burning street, Fang Bai felt as if witnessing a god or demon.
This strike seemed unstoppable.
This strike was indeed hard to defend against.
If one tried to resist now, it would already be too late!
Yet Meng Qi was also telling Qing Yu a “story”!
He activated the “A-nan Breaking Precepts Saber” technique, barely suppressing his inner fire, and roared, “Break!”
His saber slashed, and the lingering purple lightning in the void suddenly converged.
Boom!
Layer upon layer, like thunderclaps in clear skies.
From the beginning, Meng Qi had secretly used the Purple Lightning Force, channeling it through “Heaven’s Sorrow” to mix with the air currents, lingering for a while. That’s why the saber’s light wasn’t silver-white but purple—a lengthy “story” indeed!
His other purpose was to conceal “Thunder Shaking the Nine Heavens.” Without activating “Heaven’s Sorrow,” it was easily recognizable. Therefore, he had secretly laid down lightning energy in advance, triggering it at the decisive moment, making it appear completely different in form.
Boom!
The purple lightning coalesced into a dragon-like shape, crackling with unstoppable force, cleaving through the “flame net”!
In Qing Yu’s eyes, all he saw was brilliant purple.
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