Within the Yulin Garden, waves of white mist rose, shrouding rivers, lakes, and forests.
Then, the mist dissipated, and everything appeared to return to normal. Yet upon closer observation, the void trembled faintly like ripples on water, rendering all before one’s eyes simultaneously present and elusive.
Although he had many secrets and was reluctant to allow others to attach their presence to him, for the sake of safety, Meng Qi still accepted Su Li’s goodwill.
If there was ever a possibility of his secrets being exposed, he wasn’t without ways to erase any presence!
None of the “talents” who had come to attend the Qionghua Banquet withdrew, even though they knew their strength was far inferior to Xuan Zhen, Bai Qigu, Kuang Dao, and others. They still stepped into the illusionary realm. To them, it was entirely possible that powerful figures like Xuan Zhen, Bai Qigu, and Kuang Dao might suddenly engage in conflict, eliminating each other prematurely. They did not aim for first place; simply surviving until the final moments and making a grand exit would be enough to steal the spotlight!
As they crossed the water and entered the illusionary formation, the old emperor chuckled and said, “In most cases, we can directly observe the battles within the illusionary realm. However, at certain times, to preserve the illusion’s potency, some areas will be shrouded in mist or darkness, obscuring the specific fights. After all, some individuals specialize in ambushes rather than head-on combat, so we must provide them with a fair opportunity. Of course, my esteemed ministers can perceive the surrounding areas through the attached presence, unaffected by the mist or darkness.”
His explanation was clear, and none of the court officials raised objections.
Finally, the three princes—Crown Prince, Jin Wang, and Zhao Heng—also entered the illusionary realm.
Meng Qi felt his body pass through layers of rippling water, damp and heavy. Then, his vision blurred, and he saw a canyon.
Looking up, the sky appeared as a narrow line, with steep cliffs on both sides, interspersed with greenery.
In the center of the canyon stood five young aristocrats dressed in brocade robes and jade sashes, slightly bewildered as they surveyed their surroundings.
Soon, they spotted Meng Qi.
“Kuang Dao!”
“Su Meng!”
“Unexpectedly encountered directly!”
With low exclamations, they became wary, wanting to retreat but fearing they would be pursued relentlessly, leaving no chance for resistance.
Meng Qi gripped his saber with his right hand, his expression calm, walking steadily toward them. Each step seemed to tread upon their hearts, making them shudder and feel the towering presence of Kuang Dao grow even more imposing.
His measured pace exuded immense pressure, making the five aristocrats feel both relieved that he walked slowly—giving them time to devise strategies—and anxious, wishing for a swift resolution rather than enduring the unbearable wait.
“The nephews and nieces of several distinguished officials still lack experience. They were completely overwhelmed by Kuang Dao’s imposing presence and had their spirits crushed,” the old emperor remarked, rubbing his drooping eyelids while smiling at the high-ranking officials, including Minister Song Shouren.
These five young men were scions of top clans like Luyang Song and Longnan Zhang.
“They were born later, and their highest cultivation level is merely the Eight Apertures. Facing Kuang Dao, who could break through at any moment, it’s natural they feel fear,” said Song Shouren, stroking his short beard while maintaining his refined demeanor.
“Born later…” the old emperor left the sentence unfinished, smiling. In terms of age alone, these five aristocrats were likely one or two years older than Suzi Yuan.
After all, with his family’s legacy, Zhang Yuanli, the legitimate son of Longnan Zhang, steadied his unsettled emotions and murmured, “We still have five people, and this place is cramped, leaving little room to maneuver. Engaging in battle doesn’t necessarily mean defeat. Even if we can’t win, we might find a chance to escape—better than being hunted down relentlessly!”
Song Quanlue of the Song family nodded slightly, saying, “My senior brother’s Great Sun Burning Heaven Palm is perfected, and my Houtu Life-and-Death Sword is no less formidable. The other gentlemen are similarly skilled. We should fight for a chance.”
Just as the five steeled their resolve and their momentum surged, Meng Qi suddenly burst into loud laughter, quickened his pace, and his footsteps thundered like an elephant’s, slightly shaking the ground—instantly shattering their imposing aura.
Song Quanlue inhaled deeply, his long sword darting out, outlining blooming plum blossoms full of vitality, while concealing deadly intent subtly.
Zhang Yuanli and others skillfully separated, some with palms like blazing suns, others with blades like vast skies, all targeting Meng Qi’s vital points.
Clang! The saber unsheathed, Meng Qi raised his right hand high and slashed downward heavily.
Bang!
Under the terrifying pressure of this heavy saber strike, Song Quanlue’s sword techniques could not unfold at all, like a sewing needle encountering a spiked club. All intricate preparations were swept away in an instant, and his countermeasures couldn’t be deployed in time as blade met sword.
His palm instantly split open, and his sword dropped lifelessly from his grasp.
A heavy sword needs no edge, and great skill requires no embellishment… In that instant, a saying from his elders flashed through his mind.
After cleaving Song Quanlue’s sword aside, Meng Qi pivoted on his heel, slightly sidestepped, and his saber, like a dragon emerging from the sea, slashed toward Zhang Yuanli and the others.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The attacks all landed on Meng Qi, yet his pale golden aura stood firm, showing no sign of weakening.
His saber swung horizontally, like a staff, with terrifying force, sweeping them all away.
Light flickered, and the five young lords vanished one by one, taken away by their elders.
Within just one or two breaths, the battle ended, and the court officials hadn’t even had time to comment.
“Now you know the difference…” Song Shouren looked at Song Quanlue, who hung his head in shame, his expression stern.
Song Quanlue lowered his head, his face flushed red, barely nodding.
Other spectators exhaled, realizing Kuang Dao had probably used no more than half his strength.
Meng Qi, saber in hand, dashed out of the canyon, seeing a desolate wasteland ahead. Approaching from the opposite direction was none other than Bai Qigu.
“Haha, better to arrive at the right time than too early,” Bai Qigu’s momentum surged, radiating a fierce aura like towering mountains, as if a terrifying beast had emerged.
Meng Qi’s eyes narrowed slightly. He felt his body become heavy, as if bound by the earth itself, each movement requiring more effort than before.
His original plan had been to avoid Bai Qigu and others first, eliminate the lesser threats, and reunite with Ruan Yushu and others before they were defeated, thereby gaining a seventy to eighty percent chance of victory. However, could things ever go entirely as planned?
“Encountered directly…” Zhang Yuanli adjusted his mood, observing the battle within the illusionary realm, suddenly becoming excited because Kuang Dao had met Bai Qigu.
Although the first-ranked figure on the Renbang list was extremely powerful, Bai Qigu and he were no longer at the same level.
Would Kuang Dao fall at the very beginning?
This encounter captured the attention of most spectators. Compared to other areas where the strong simply eliminated the weak, a duel between top-tier experts was undoubtedly far more captivating.
Bai Qigu laughed heartily, saying, “I’ve long wanted to fight you again!”
She charged forward, throwing a punch that was heavy and terrifying, seemingly capable of shattering mountains. The oppressive force and the sense of collapse made Meng Qi’s breathing difficult.
Even more terrifying was that around her, the earth itself seemed like a cage, binding everything. All martial movements became extremely difficult, making it impossible to move quickly. It seemed one could only confront and match her directly!
“Then let’s fight!” Meng Qi roared, his voice like spring thunder, using the shockwave to slightly break free from the restraints. His saber techniques unfolded, simple yet ancient, each strike heavier than the last, as if thunder from the heavens was slowly descending to the earth.
He chose to confront Bai Qigu head-on, his muscles bulging, his clothes swelling, resembling another human beast.
Peng! Peng! Peng! Saber and fist continuously collided. The dull sounds even made a nearby aristocrat hiding nearby feel his blood and qi churn, forcing him to flee in disarray.
Yet Meng Qi withstood Bai Qigu’s attacks, not retreating a single step, his strength seemingly not inferior at all!
“When did the first-ranked figure on the Renbang list become capable of directly confronting someone who has ascended to the Tiantong merging stage and is halfway to the external realm…” Song Quanlue watched with wide eyes.
To him, Meng Qi had become a monster wearing human skin.
Song Shouren glanced at him and said indifferently, “It’s not that he doesn’t want to maneuver and avoid her锋芒, but he’s bound by Bai Qigu’s earth force, making his martial movements不利, leaving him no choice but to engage directly.”
(Note: The terms “锋芒” and “不利” appear to be specialized martial arts terms that may not have direct English equivalents. If these terms are part of a specific terminology system, you may want to provide context or preferred translations for these terms. The current translation keeps them in pinyin for accuracy.)
“But, but his strength…” Song Quanlue found this hardest to accept.
Song Shouren’s gaze was exceptionally sharp: “His primary cultivation technique is especially outstanding in terms of strength. The power of his current normal strike surpasses that of an ordinary half-step practitioner, not far from Bai Qigu’s. Moreover, after achieving Tiantong merging, he can slightly harness natural forces.”
He paused, then continued: “Most importantly, each of his saber strikes precisely targets the weakest points in Bai Qigu’s strength. With this mutual weakening and strengthening, he does not appear inferior. This is the advantage of his saber technique realm surpassing Bai Qigu’s.”
“Of course, with Bai Qigu’s realm and strength, she will grow stronger as the battle continues, while Kuang Dao will become increasingly bound. The tide of victory will gradually shift.”
After understanding, Song Quanlue focused entirely on Meng Qi’s saber strikes.
Each strike appeared simple, yet adhered to the principles of martial arts, as if causing tremors in the void, infused with the force of thunder. They always landed precisely on the sides of Bai Qigu’s fists at the perfect moment. Had Bai Qigu not been wearing her treasured weapon gloves, her fists might have already been exploited by Meng Qi’s saber!
Song family’s inherited techniques included the “Houtu Life-and-Death Sword” and the “Houde Zaowu Saber.” Song Quanlue also had insights into saber techniques. Now, watching Meng Qi’s strikes, he became increasingly awestruck, as if watching his elders demonstrate saber techniques, gradually becoming immersed in the spectacle.
Bang! Bang! Bang! The saber clashed with the fist, unleashing a terrifying aura.
Bai Qigu’s feet firmly planted on the ground, rarely moving, while Meng Qi displayed more variation.
Suddenly, Bai Qigu inhaled deeply and threw a punch straight ahead, as if mountains were shifting, with no weak points in her force distribution.
Meng Qi transformed his saber into an arc, sweeping across the sky, using emptiness to accommodate and counterattack.
Pu! The atmosphere was thick, and the saber and fist seemed to lock together. Then, a howling gale swept in from all directions, disrupting their energy flow.
Bai Qigu and Meng Qi slightly pondered, simultaneously retreating in different directions without further engagement.
After the previous battle, both understood that continuing the fight would require a long time to determine the outcome. If their companions were defeated, the situation would become perilous. Therefore, wisely separating to seek out their allies first was the prudent choice.
Those outside sighed with disappointment.
As he ran, mist began to rise around Meng Qi, and the sky turned dark.
He extended his spirit, using natural feedback to guard against ambushes.
At this moment, he sensed a strong killing intent!
Not a rival’s challenge for victory, but a genuine intent to kill!
Outside the illusionary realm, seeing Kuang Dao’s figure disappear into the mist, others shifted their gaze to other battle scenes.
The old emperor slightly leaned back, resting against the chair’s back, his expression calm, gazing at the sky.
…
In the Northern Zhou, Changle.
Gao Lan sat inside a carriage, holding a cup of fine wine, gazing at the shimmering lake ahead.
“Who on earth invited me here, and why do they have her belongings?” His expression was icy, his gaze commanding.
At this moment, a figure emerged from the woods beside the lake, elegant as a fairy, draped in white gauze, her appearance indescribable.
Gao Lan’s gaze slightly changed, his expression showing a hint of excitement: “You’re not dead?”
Without rising or stepping forward, he appeared before the white-gauze-clad woman.
The woman exuded an ethereal grace, murmuring softly, “Arriving by fate, departing when fate is spent. ‘She’ has indeed passed away.”
Gao Lan’s expression shifted several times before returning to coldness, sneering, “The eldest disciple of Shuiyue Nunnery is actually the incarnation of Xuan Nu.”
Xuan Nu turned her head, seemingly strolling around the lake: “The Xuan Nu lineage has always been closely related to various ancient powers and is not evil.”
Gao Lan gazed deeply at Xuan Nu without speaking, walking beside her.
Both remained silent, unconsciously completing a full circle around the lake.
At this point, Xuan Nu casually said, “Where is your Holy Emperor Demon Order?”
Gao Lan recalled with a cold laugh, “I gave it to Huanmie Tianmo. After all, it’s useless to me now. Speaking of it, I should thank it. Without this item, how could I secretly attain enlightenment and escape?”
“Merely possessing the Holy Emperor Demon Order probably isn’t enough to secretly condense…” Xuan Nu gazed at the lake’s surface.
Gao Lan chuckled darkly: “I still have another item, one Huanmie Tianmo deliberately didn’t ask about, and I deliberately didn’t mention.”
Xuan Nu fell silent, and Gao Lan also remained quiet. They circled the lake once more, parting ways in different directions without looking back.
…
Within the imperial palace.
Zhao Wuyan held a gemstone-encrusted token, his surroundings shifting with profound yellow and dark golden hues, exuding a terrifying aura.
Outside his door stood “Purple Peng Divine Hunter” Liu Shengming, silently watching for a while before turning toward the Taiji Hall.
He pushed open the Taiji Hall’s door, and Liu Shengming saw the golden throne entwined with nine dragons, and beside the throne, a gaunt old man holding a green lamp.
But the first thing he saw was the maiden in white sitting upon the golden throne.
She was ethereal and sacred, exquisitely perfect, her pure white hands resting on the golden armrests, leaning against the back of the chair, her expression solemn, naturally exuding majesty.
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