Fang Bai stood in the open space in front of the building, looking around proudly: “I wonder who else would like to give me a lesson?”
Just as some renowned martial artists upstairs were itching for a fight, planning to teach Fang Bai a lesson and enhance their own reputation, they suddenly saw a green-clothed figure dart out from the crowd, step onto the platform, and bow respectfully: “This humble one is Qi Zhengyan from the Huanhua Sword Sect. Brother Fang, please grant me the honor of a match.”
A disciple from the Huanhua Sword Sect? Why haven’t we heard of him before? The renowned martial artists downstairs were all taken aback. They were familiar with the prominent disciples of the Huanhua Sword Sect—even those not on the Human List should have been known to them. Yet none had heard of the name Qi Zhengyan.
The onlookers whispered among themselves, speculating about who Qi Zhengyan was. While the Huanhua Sword Sect was well-known, surely an unknown disciple couldn’t just challenge someone on the Human List?
At this moment, a clear and powerful voice rose above the murmurs: “The Huanhua Sword Sect is a great sect under the heavens, concealing dragons and tigers. Its outstanding disciples may not be known to everyone. Since he dares to step forward, he must possess some real skill. I look forward to seeing the artistic charm of the Moon-Tide Sword and the poetic grace of the Sunset Autumn Waters Sword!”
All eyes turned to a young man in a black martial robe in the crowd. He looked impressive, spoke eloquently, and his voice was loud and clear.
“Brother, have you witnessed the Moon-Tide Sword and the Sunset Autumn Waters Sword before?” Someone nearby immediately asked Meng Qi.
Meng Qi struck a composed pose: “Of course. I’ve just arrived from Yingcheng. The Young Master Qinglian is truly a master of sword and wine!”
“Ah, that explains it!” Upon hearing the name Young Master Qinglian, the crowd’s anticipation soared. If they couldn’t see the master himself, they were eager to witness the long-named sword techniques of the Huanhua Sword Sect!
Hearing the chatter below, Fang Bai—who had been impatient to fight someone unknown—smiled lightly: “I’ve long admired your sect’s sword techniques. How could I pass up this opportunity to witness them?”
Young Master Qinglian had roamed the rivers and lakes with unrestrained indulgence, and many had sought to challenge him. Fang Bai was among them. Yet, he was well aware of his own limitations. Still young, he had only recently attained the Initial Formation of the Inner World. Barely making it onto the Human List by mastering a single Outer Manifestation Claw Technique, he had defeated a renowned Nine-Orifice expert. But in truth, he stood no chance against Young Master Qinglian, who was rumored to have reached the realm of Unity with Heaven and wielded formidable Outer Manifestation techniques. It would be wiser to wait until he had fully opened all nine orifices before issuing a challenge—otherwise, it would only invite utter humiliation.
Until then, he should study the sword techniques of the Huanhua Sword Sect thoroughly—knowing both oneself and the enemy.
If he accepted every challenge from unknowns, Fang Bai would have been worn out long ago.
Dressed in a green robe, tall and upright, Qi Zhengyan’s appearance was unremarkable but not unattractive. However, his expressionless face made him seem lifeless, lacking the aura of a true martial expert—this was Fang Bai’s initial impression of him.
Qi Zhengyan said nothing further. He bowed again, then grasped the hilt of his sword with his right hand. His movement was graceful, like a calligrapher wielding a brush, capturing the essence of the Huanhua Sword Sect.
Fang Bai’s eyes lit up. He discarded his initial contempt, circulated his true energy, and prepared himself fully to face the opponent’s sword.
“Excellent!” A loud shout rang out from below—Meng Qi’s voice, perfectly timed.
“Excellent? How so?” Someone beside Meng Qi asked in confusion.
At that moment, Qi Zhengyan unsheathed his sword. Faint dragon patterns shimmered on the blade, exuding a quiet majesty that made even the seasoned martial artists downstairs reconsider their initial dismissal.
Meng Qi smacked his lips and said, “Earlier, Qi Zhengyan’s grip on the hilt contained four subtle variations, each concealing a distinct sword technique. Had Fang Bai launched an attack during the draw, Qi could have countered immediately. What’s even more remarkable is how these variations were seamlessly embedded within his movements, which remained elegant and unrestrained—truly embodying the essence of the Huanhua Sword Sect.”
“Indeed outstanding!” The onlookers, lacking such insight, only realized the brilliance after Meng Qi’s explanation and erupted into cheers.
The expressions of the seasoned martial artists below varied—some twitched their cheeks, some barely suppressed their laughter, others showed quiet disdain. Qi Zhengyan’s sword drawing was indeed decent, but was it really that extraordinary? Who was this guy anyway? He had some insight, yet his analysis was shallow!
“A fine sword! The dragon-like aura is imposing. At the very least, it’s a top-grade weapon!” Meng Qi continued his commentary from various angles, indifferent to their opinions, making the onlookers gasp and exclaim repeatedly.
Fang Bai stood with his left foot forward, right foot back, body slightly bent, hands shaped into claws—one above, one below—like a coiled dragon ready to strike, his aura restrained, hidden deep within.
“Fang Bai truly lives up to his reputation. Even his starting posture carries the dragon’s divine aura, his power restrained yet potent. Once unleashed, it will strike with thunderous might.” Meng Qi knew well that describing the opponent’s skill made victory over him more valuable.
Yet he did not stoop to underhanded tactics. Fang Bai’s true energy flow was clearly visible in Meng Qi’s mind’s eye—his shifts, his hidden moves, all laid bare. If Meng Qi had revealed them outright, Fang Bai would have been forced to change tactics, which would have made Qi Zhengyan’s victory seem undeserved.
Hmm, the true energy surged violently in his fingers, shifting rapidly between them. Until the very moment of attack, it would be hard to tell which finger would lead the strike… This was Meng Qi’s true observation. Revealing it would be tantamount to provocation.
Hearing Meng Qi’s words, Fang Bai chuckled inwardly—knowing the surface but not the depth…
As the challenger, Qi Zhengyan struck first with the Sunset Autumn Waters Sword, slicing through the air like a lone wild goose soaring across a desolate horizon.
Fang Bai’s right claw gripped, his fingertips emitting sharp gusts of wind, unafraid of the blade. His left claw lingered behind, waiting for the right to deflect the sword before launching his own attack—the Poisonous Dragon Emerges from the Cave.
Once the battle began, the rapid movements made it impossible for Meng Qi to continue his detailed commentary, so he fell silent for now.
Clash after clash, sword against claw. Qi Zhengyan unleashed his sword techniques fully but did not activate the blade’s sharpness, engaging Fang Bai in fierce combat.
Meng Qi inhaled deeply: “Qi Zhengyan’s swordplay is indeed commendable, but compared to Fang Bai, the Dragon Soaring in the Clouds, he still lacks the final touch. He’s already at a disadvantage. If he doesn’t change tactics soon, he’ll be in grave danger!”
The onlookers could also see that Qi Zhengyan was on the defensive, but Meng Qi’s explanation made them realize just how dire his situation was—he was on the verge of defeat.
The seasoned martial artists downstairs ignored this shallow assessment—wasn’t it obvious to everyone?
Fang Bai, growing more excited, clenched his fingers into a dragon’s mouth shape and struck the dragon-etched golden sword, deflecting it. Then his left claw lunged forward, aiming at Qi Zhengyan’s chest and abdomen.
“He’s lost…” The seasoned martial artists upstairs all thought.
At that moment, radiant beams of light burst from Qi Zhengyan’s body, red as fire, resembling lotus blossoms dancing in the air. The light deflected Fang Bai’s left claw.
“What is this?” Meng Qi wore an expression of “shock.”
“What?” The seasoned martial artists upstairs, the people beside him—all wore the same expression, though one was genuine, the others feigned.
Internally shocked, Fang Bai, with his rich combat experience, remained calm. He shifted his stance and circled to Qi Zhengyan’s side.
Qi Zhengyan was now surrounded by radiant light, like a celestial being. His sword shimmered with frost, exuding a chilling aura. With a single slash, snowflakes drifted down.
The crystalline sword light pierced the void, shooting forth as the surrounding air congealed into a frosty mist.
The spectacle was dazzling, almost mythical.
Outer Manifestation? Half-step Outer Manifestation? Fang Bai was first startled, then quickly realized the power was off. Gathering his courage, he used his thumb as the lead and struck the sword light.
Crack! The crystalline light shattered. Fang Bai’s right hand was instantly covered in frost, the icy chill seeping into his body, making him shiver.
He circulated his true energy, quickly dispelling the temporary numbness.
The seasoned martial artists downstairs and the onlookers were all stunned. How could he suddenly surpass the Orifice-Opening level?
At this moment, Meng Qi, feigning “shock,” urgently explained: “The power seems to be at the Orifice-Opening level only. Qi Zhengyan shows no sign of mutual influence between inner and outer realms. It must be a unique technique!”
“The Huanhua Sword Sect doesn’t have such a martial art. Could it be that Qi Zhengyan gained an extraordinary encounter during his travels?”
“In ancient and medieval times, there existed a few rare techniques that could harness the power of heaven and earth during the Orifice-Opening stage through special cultivation methods. Perhaps this is one of them!”
Hearing his “shocked and bewildered” voice, the seasoned martial artists downstairs suddenly understood. So that’s it! This young man’s insight is truly impressive!
But how come we’ve never heard of such a martial art before?
“Is there really such a technique?” The spectators were both shocked and thrilled. Who would have thought that there existed martial arts in this world capable of harnessing the power of heaven and earth even at the Orifice-Opening stage!
Meng Qi declared firmly: “Of course there is! Isn’t the ‘Majestic Qi’ of the Zhou Clan’s Prince the same? By cultivating the righteous and mighty spirit within one’s chest, one can summon the omnipresent Majestic Qi even at the Orifice-Opening stage, enhancing one’s own power with infinite wondrous effects!”
The reason Meng Qi chose to “commentate” was not only for fun but mainly to use this opportunity to argue from various angles that Qi Zhengyan’s “Hun Tian Treasure Mirror” wasn’t so mysterious. Similar techniques existed in the Zhou Clan and ancient times, albeit rare. At most, it was just an extraordinary encounter.
In short, he couldn’t let them guess freely and suspect Qi Zhengyan. The saying goes, “Three men make a tiger”—too many voices can melt gold!
Once this spreads, the possibility of Qi Zhengyan being suspected will greatly decrease, and the “Hun Tian Treasure Mirror” will also be legitimized.
Upon hearing the term “Majestic Qi,” the seasoned martial artists upstairs exhaled in relief. They had forgotten about that technique. Still, Qi Zhengyan possessing a similar divine art was truly enviable. If he weren’t a disciple of the Huanhua Sword Sect, countless people here would have already coveted it. Now, they could only sigh—another divine art had been added to the Huanhua Sword Sect’s collection.
As for Qi Zhengyan himself, he had no intention of returning to the sect for now. He would wait until he reached the Outer Manifestation stage. By then, he would have enough authority to claim that the “Hun Tian Treasure Mirror” could only be learned through special crystals, thus avoiding handing it over in exchange for other benefits. If others wanted the crystals, they would either have to search for new ones or wait until his death when new crystals might form.
As the shock and explanations unfolded, Fang Bai was already in dire straits. The “Bicheng Snow” true energy transformed into radiant streams, flying with the sword techniques, suppressing him from a distance, making it impossible for him to approach Qi Zhengyan.
After blocking seven or eight strikes, Fang Bai’s lips turned blue and purple. The cold was clearly difficult to dispel, his movements slightly sluggish. Under the “Hun Tian Treasure Mirror,” he had no chance to counterattack.
This couldn’t continue. Fang Bai fully circulated his true energy, his steps intricate. Seemingly retreating, he suddenly maneuvered past the radiant streams and lunged toward Qi Zhengyan.
He raised his right hand, first clenching a fist, then spreading his fingers. His little finger was nimble, his ring finger steady, his middle finger powerful, his index finger unpredictable, and his thumb mighty—each finger forming a unique posture, as if five dragons were attacking together. Even before launching the strike, it felt as though he had grasped Qi Zhengyan’s vital points.
The rushing wind was like sharp blades, exuding a mighty dragon aura.
This was his Outer Manifestation ultimate technique—“Five Dragons Seizing the Claw!”
Facing the dragon’s majesty, Qi Zhengyan remained unshaken. With a flick of his sword, the surrounding chill intensified abruptly. A layer of ice encased Fang Bai, causing the ground to turn treacherously slippery.
He had utilized the “Bicheng Snow” true energy to activate the “Thousand Miles of Ice Seal.”
Crack! The five dragons shattered the ice layer, but Fang Bai’s blood turned stiff, his movements slowing further. He was clearly at his limit. Qi Zhengyan seized the advantage, forcing Fang Bai to bow in defeat!
“Qi Zhengyan actually possesses an Outer Manifestation killing move!” Meng Qi’s expression was “shocked.” “Indeed, disciples of the Huanhua Sword Sect are extraordinary!”
The seasoned martial artists downstairs sighed in admiration. Truly, disciples of great sects were favored by fate…
The onlookers murmured among themselves, never expecting to witness another young talent rising to the Human List today.
Fang Bai smiled bitterly: “Brother Qi, I never want to fight you again. your martial art is just too unfair.”
Qi Zhengyan forced a weak smile, exchanged a few polite words with Fang Bai, and then turned down the invitations from the experienced martial artists, using the excuse that he needed to find the physician Zhong.
Seeing the black-clad martial artist who had been commenting all along leaving together with Qi Zhengyan, the seasoned martial artists couldn’t help but twitch their mouths slightly, two words flashing in their minds: Despicable!
“Great! Based on your performance, you should at least rank within the top thirty-five of the Human List.” Meng Qi said enthusiastically. “Brother Qi, what kind of title do you want?”
Now that he had the power to decide the title, it was just a matter of his words!
If only he had encountered such good fortune before!
Qi Zhengyan was silent for a moment before saying: “Brother Meng, in the future, when I fight, it would be better if you didn’t praise me.”
“Huh, why?” Meng Qi was a bit surprised.
Qi Zhengyan exhaled: “You exaggerate too much in your praise. We’re familiar with each other, and when I hear your words, I feel ashamed and lose my composure…”
Sigh, he still couldn’t compare to Brother Wang Zai… Meng Qi reflected.
Soon, the two arrived at the Zhong family’s ancestral residence and submitted their visiting cards.
“Please return. My master is in a bad mood recently.” The gatekeeper didn’t even report their arrival and directly refused them.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage