Flames spread like a net, binding the azure dragon. The blade’s light was fine and dense, “scorching” every inch.
Purple lightning streaked across the sky, serpents twisting wildly in turmoil. The blade force was ferocious and relentless, overwhelmingly powerful, striving to rend the fiery net asunder.
“Break!”
Meng Qi’s muscles bulged, his clothes stretched tight, dark gold light swirling around him, already exerting his utmost strength.
“Break!”
The thunderous shout echoed far and wide, reaching Fang Bai and Yi Song’s ears. Before their eyes, flames rained down like a storm, burning from all directions toward Meng Qi as the blade flashed. The bluestone turned charred black, stalls along the roadside began emitting smoke, presenting a scene of impending disaster.
Yet within the blazing crimson flames, with the long blade’s high-speed slashes, streaks of purple lightning converged, layer upon layer of pressure building, forming into a dragon. The air currents collapsed inward toward it, dragging the flames along.
Radiant purple, dazzling red, the twin blades clashed like fireworks blooming gloriously, illuminating the evening, igniting the dusk.
Without relying on magical weapons, not due to special techniques, from the start they had connected with the external world, yet without reaching the realm of communion between Heaven and Man, the combatants displayed a scene akin to divine or demonic battle purely through their external techniques, transcending the mundane… Witnessing such a spectacle, Fang Bai and Yi Song deeply sensed the gap between them. Both at the Opening stage, how could they be so terrifying?
“Wu Fang Di Dao” (Five Emperors’ Blade)… “Kuang Dao” (Fierce Blade)… Previously, they had recognized Qingyu as a disciple of Xuantian Sect. Seeing this performance, it wasn’t hard to deduce he was the “Five Emperors’ Blade,” while his opponent must be the recently renowned “Kuang Dao” Su Meng from Jiangdong—the “Blade Qi Long River” often seen there, a familiar face.
Indeed, those ranked within the top twenty of the Human List were already monstrous among the Opening stage cultivators… Such was their thought.
Clang!
The purple lightning dragon devoured the flames, transforming into countless tiny snakes dancing through the air, a magnificent display of bright purples, while “Heaven’s Scar” accurately blocked “Years.”
The twin blades leaned against each other, frozen midair, forming a stark contrast with the falling fiery rain and lightning, as if time had momentarily frozen.
Amidst the echoing metallic resonance, Meng Qi roared once more.
“Break!”
Beneath his black martial attire, solid muscles swelled, his skin glowing dark gold. In terms of brute strength, even if the “Celestial Emperor Jade Manual” was formidable, it could hardly rival the pinnacle techniques like the “Eight-Nine Mystic Arts” combined with the Golden Bell Shield. Moreover, both were at the initial stage of harmonizing their inner worlds, having opened seven orifices.
“Break!”
The “Years” blade was forcibly split open by an inch!
Through this one-inch gap, a brilliant sword light erupted from Meng Qi’s left hand, where the “Zi Wu” (Midnight-Noon) sword had appeared unnoticed, striking toward Qingyu with a solitary, proud stance.
Divine will and intent, change and constancy, achieved perfect unity in this moment. The sword technique remained unchanged, yet its momentum transformed, leaving no retreat, no hesitation, like a rainbow flying from beyond the heavens, beauty beyond compare.
This sword light illuminated the eyes of the onlookers, leaving them awestruck at the unparalleled beauty and power!
Qingyu felt a sharp pain in his brow, as if his soul had been remotely pierced by the sword intent. Forced to change his blade technique, he had no choice but to defend!
His expression turned solemn, dignified and majestic, like a child attendant before a Dao patriarch or a lofty emperor, yet without the overbearing, domineering presence of a Celestial Emperor ruling across ancient times. Instead, his power was restrained, like gentle water, continuous as Tai Chi’s wholeness.
“Black Emperor Covers All!”
The “Heavenly Immortal Flying” sword could not escape this all-consuming vortex either. Yet Meng Qi’s grip on the sword remained unusually steady, not the slightest tremble, guiding the blade straight toward the vortex’s core.
Qingyu was ultimately only at the Opening stage, still possessing vulnerabilities!
The sword pierced into the vortex, a bang as the air exploded outward. Zi Wu was deflected, losing all remaining force, while the vortex collapsed, the blade force scattered, and “Years” returned to hover before Qingyu.
No chance could be given to Qingyu to recover his breath!
No opportunity to regroup!
This was the only thought surging through Meng Qi’s mind. Instinctively, he slashed with his right-hand sword “Heaven’s Scar”!
Currently, his Qi, physical strength, and mental energy allowed him to use external techniques three times, though the third was extremely strained. Nevertheless, there was no time for hesitation; giving the opponent a chance meant his own defeat!
Bloodshot eyes, thin trails of blood trickling from his nostrils, Meng Qi’s eyes flared wide open. The blade light resembled worldly haze, evoking countless unforgettable memories, unrest, and unwillingness to attain serenity.
Facing this blade light, Qingyu gritted his teeth, blood trickling from the corners of his eyes, nose, and mouth. His aura changed abruptly—noble, awe-inspiring, mighty, and vast, invincible across an era.
This aura soared to the heavens, stirring the surrounding air currents, as if the void itself paid homage. Qingyu’s eyes turned cold, not cruel, not heartless, but embodying the impartiality of the Dao, viewing all beings equally, without distinction, without bias, without affection, and without hatred.
Within that cold gaze, he did not retreat but instead stepped forward, “Years” slicing out leisurely, without a sound, yet filled with the weight of ages.
The blade’s desolation brought about strange transformations in its wake. The wind halted, the flames and purple lightning froze, even Meng Qi’s “Heaven’s Scar” encountered unimaginable resistance, slowing down as if stuck.
Time flies; can any unforgettable event truly stand against the passage of time?
As time passes, everything will eventually be forgotten.
Nothing is beyond forgetting!
“Break Purity” was directly shattered. A buzzing filled Meng Qi’s mind, his already exhausted spirit further recoiling, his soul shaken, nearly losing his grip on sword and blade. A mouthful of blood spewed forth, scattering like crimson mist before his eyes.
This was the ultimate move of the Five Emperors’ Blade technique, flawlessly synchronized with the Qi cultivated from the “Celestial Emperor Jade Manual”—the Dharma Body-level “Celestial Emperor Traverses Time!”
If not for Qingyu only grasping the external manifestation of this move’s true meaning, few within the top ten of the Human List could withstand its frontal assault, much like Jiang Zhiwei’s “Sword Without Self.”
Three external techniques were unleashed in succession, one of which embodied the Dao and principles, nearly reaching the Dharma Body realm. Although Qingyu cultivated the “Celestial Emperor Jade Manual,” he had now reached his limit—his movements sluggish, his strikes slightly hesitant, blood oozing from his eyes and other orifices as tiny blood vessels ruptured.
Before him, Meng Qi also bled from the seven orifices, his hair bun undone, strands falling loose, appearing somewhat fierce.
Yet Meng Qi mustered his last ounce of strength, relying on the Deathless Seal Art to replenish his Qi, and unleashed one final slash.
The blade force was heavy, like mountains or cliffs, compressing the air currents inward, forming a vortex ahead and emitting thunderous roars!
Boom!
This “Thunder Weight,” mainly relying on Qi and brute strength, was one of the few techniques Meng Qi could still use, unless he activated the Self-Sacrifice Formula. Compared to his fight with Wang Zai, his Eight-Nine Mystic Arts had advanced greatly, his control over his body increasingly precise, nearly instinctive!
Boom!
“Heaven’s Scar” slashed toward Qingyu, who barely managed to block with his blade horizontally.
Clang!
“Years” was knocked aside. If it came down to pure power, Meng Qi was clearly stronger!
Meng Qi sheathed his blade, bowed his hand, and smiled: “You’re too kind.”
This battle had been won with slight luck, narrowly achieved.
A trickle of blood flowed down his face, making him appear somewhat fierce, yet exuding a bold and unrestrained aura.
Qingyu sheathed his blade with a hearty laugh:
“Exciting! Worth the journey!”
Saying so, he strode past Meng Qi with “Years” in hand, heading toward the street’s end, his figure graceful and unburdened. He had traveled thousands of miles just for this encounter lasting less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick.
Arriving with passion, departing once passion waned; all other matters were trivial!
Watching Qingyu’s retreating figure, Meng Qi couldn’t help but sigh. This young Taoist monk, though cunning, was indeed free and unrestrained, embodying the true demeanor of a Taoist!
The previous duel had been narrowly won. If he hadn’t planned beforehand to tell the young Taoist a “story” and conceal the “Thunder Shakes the Nine Heavens,” secretly storing much purple lightning energy, he probably couldn’t have regained the initiative.
If forced into a passive stance, facing the triple combo of “Fire Emperor Burns Heaven and Earth,” “Black Emperor Covers All,” and “Celestial Emperor Treads Through Time,” he would surely have lost. After all, during the last terrifying move when Qingyu was on defense, he had barely managed to withstand it. If Qingyu had been the aggressor, how could he possibly resist?
In other words, their strengths were evenly matched. The outcome depended on each side’s condition at the time, environmental factors like weather and terrain, and the randomness of battle—whoever seized the initiative in breaking the stalemate would ultimately emerge victorious.
Of course, regardless of everything, this battle had seen him win by a half move!
Meng Qi felt elated, his spirits high, joy spilling forth uncontrollably.
Fang Bai, Yi Song, and others on the teahouse balcony had already been rendered speechless. Was this still the Opening stage? It was practically monstrous!
Yet they also felt a surge of determination. With such formidable targets ahead, how could they afford to slack off?
The nearby crowd who hadn’t left yet felt their horizons broadened. To see Opening-stage fighters perform like this was unimaginable. The two just now were almost like gods or demons—could this be a battle between top ten figures on the Human List?
Meng Qi surveyed the surroundings, satisfied with his control during the fight with Qingyu. Indeed, no innocents had been harmed—a confidence he’d possessed from the very beginning of the duel—thus his joy intensified.
Just then, a constable approached: “Master Su, please hold a moment.”
As a constable, he had already recognized the “Fierce Blade” from the earlier fight.
“Eh? What’s the matter?” Meng Qi looked at him, puzzled.
The constable bowed: “I am An You, currently serving as the chief constable under the magistrate of Changchuan. Master Su, martial contests are commendable, but damaging the street and disrupting the people’s livelihoods must be compensated. Master Su, being a chivalrous gentleman, surely won’t let the people suffer hunger and cold.”
Meng Qi’s smile immediately froze, his lips twitching. He then glanced around, noticing the scorched blackened bricks on the ground, over a dozen shattered by purple lightning, stalls with goods still standing on either side, some overturned, some burned to ashes, others split in two, with oranges rolling about on the ground…
Indeed, compensation was warranted… Meng Qi suddenly gritted his teeth. But surely he shouldn’t bear the cost alone!
That guy Qingyu left in such a hurry, appearing carefree, but probably just trying to dodge the financial responsibility?
What a cunning fellow!
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