registerLog inforget the passwordfront pageRankingsCompleted novelsNovel ClassificationBook list collectionMy bookshelfMy book reviewReading recordsFeedbackTaiwan Novel NetworkTraditional ChineseBook pagesBookmarkTable of contentsset updaytimeErrorChapter 606 The Plan (Seeking monthly votes!) The main peak of Tianbao Shangzong, the rear hall.
The rain grew heavier.
Large raindrops pounded against the glazed tiles of the roof, making a dense sound.
Rainwater flowed down the eaves, gathering into curtains of water at the corners, cascading onto the stone steps and splashing up countless tiny droplets. Deep within the rear hall, candlelight shone brightly.
This was Jiang Lishan's cultivation place, his most private space within the sect.
Normally, apart from Luo Ping occasionally coming in to bring tea and water, no one dared to set foot here.
The furnishings inside were extremely simple, seemingly incongruous with the status of a sect leader.
A long table made of rosewood, a grand master's chair, a bronze incense burner, and a bookshelf filled with ancient books.
There were no paintings or decorations on the walls, only a yellowed portrait hanging in the center.
The portrait depicted an old man, with white hair and a youthful face, exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom—the founding patriarch of Tianbao Shangzong.
"Master..."
Jiang Lishan was standing in front of the portrait, his hands behind his back, looking up at the figure in the painting.
His shadow was long in the candlelight, falling on the bluestone ground, swaying slightly with the flickering flame.
Luo Ping tiptoed in, stopping three steps inside the threshold and bowing respectfully with clasped hands.
"Master,"
Jiang Lishan replied calmly without turning around, "Speak."
Luo Ping took a deep breath and began his report.
"Feng Shuofang of the Taiyi Upper Sect has arrived and has been accommodated in the guest courtyard on the east side of the Tian Shu Pavilion."
"The Xuan Tian Upper Sect's Sect Master, Jiang Huaizhou, is personally leading a team, accompanied by several disciples, who have already checked into the West Peak Guest House."
"The Yun Shui Upper Sect's new Sect Master, Xie Mingyan, has also arrived, accompanied by two elders, who have been accommodated in the Zi Wei Pavilion."
He paused, then continued, "In addition, people from the imperial court have also arrived. Marquis Jingnan has come in person, supposedly on imperial orders."
Jiang Lishan listened to this list without changing her expression, only nodding slightly.
"Anything else?"
Luo Ping pondered for a moment, then lowered his voice and said, "This disciple has also received news that someone from the Jin Ting region seems to have infiltrated the Yan Kingdom, but the exact location is unknown. Also... there have been unusual movements at the Great Snow Mountain."
After saying this, he lowered his head, not daring to look at Jiang Lishan's expression.
A moment of silence fell over the hall.
The sound of rain came from outside, dense and noisy, making the silence inside seem even more pronounced.
"Let Junior Brother Su and Junior Brother Ke settle these people,"
Jiang Lishan said calmly. "Guests are guests; our Tianbao Sect cannot be impolite."
"Yes! This disciple will go and deliver the message immediately,"
Luo Ping bowed quickly and then left. Silence
returned to the hall.
Jiang Lishan sat motionless in his armchair.
Rain and mist shrouded the solitary peak, the tower appearing and disappearing as if through a thin veil, indistinct.
Jiang Lishan gazed at it for a long time.
Then, he slowly extended his hand.
His hand was slender and well-defined, with long, elegant fingers. These hands had wielded swords, held pens, turned countless scrolls, and been stained with blood. Now, this hand reached into the void, as if trying to grasp something.
A crack appeared in the palace door, and rainwater seeped in, accumulating into a small puddle on the inside of the threshold.
Jiang Lishan reached out and caught a drop of rainwater dripping from the crack.
The drop landed in his palm, crystal clear.
Then, the rainwater spread across his palm, flowing along the lines of his hand, finally sliding through his fingers and dripping onto the ground with a soft "plop." Jiang Lishan looked down at his palm, watching the puddle slowly evaporate and disappear.
He remained silent for a long time.
So long that the candlelight inside the palace flickered.
Then, he spoke slowly, his voice so soft that only he could hear it.
"The storms of life are beyond our control..."
The smile on his lips gradually faded, and then he withdrew his hand, took out a white handkerchief from his sleeve, and wiped the water from his hands.
Outside the palace, the rain poured down harder and harder.
The rain washed over the stone steps, the eaves, and every brick and tile of this thousand-year-old sect.
The sound of rain, like a tidal wave, enveloped the entire Tianbao Shangzong.
After the rain, the sky cleared.
The thirty-six peaks of Tianbao Shangzong, washed clean by the night's rain, had every leaf glistening with green.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth, the fragrance of pines and cypresses, and the crisp, sweet aroma left after the mountain mists had dissipated. The main peak.
This highest peak of the Tianbao Shangzong sect had become the center of the entire sect today.
The plaza in front of the main hall was where the Tianbao Shangzong held important ceremonies. For thousands of years, it had witnessed countless moments recorded in the sect's history, such as the succession of the sect leader, the founding ceremony, and the ancestral master's sacrifice.
And today, it would witness an even more thrilling duel. A
duel for the sect leader's position.
The plaza was wide enough to hold thousands of people, and now, a sea of heads stretched from the steps of the main hall to the very end of the plaza, seemingly without end. Disciples from all thirty-six peaks, stewards and elders from all halls—almost everyone who could come was here.
No one wanted to miss this battle.
Regardless of the outcome, this was a battle that would be recorded in the sect's history.
The outer disciples crowded at the back, tiptoeing, craning their necks, desperately trying to see what was happening ahead.
Having been in the sect for several years, they rarely even saw a Grandmaster-level expert, let alone a duel between the Sect Master and a Heavenly Pivot-level expert.
The inner disciples, slightly ahead, were relatively calm, but the excitement and tension in their eyes were impossible to conceal.
They gathered in twos and threes, exchanging whispers about the information they had gathered.
The disciples, stewards, and elders on duty at each peak stood in neat rows according to their respective peaks and halls, maintaining perfect order.
Countless eyes darted about in the shadows, and countless thoughts raced through their minds.
At the front of the plaza, on the stone steps of the main hall, several rows of seats were set up.
These were reserved for the Heavenly Pivot-level lineage leaders, the peak masters, and the sect's elders.
At this moment, most of the seats were already occupied.
Li Yujun sat in the third seat on the left, but her expression was not relaxed; her brows were slightly furrowed, and her gaze frequently swept around.
Nan Zhuoran sat half a step behind her, and even he was quite nervous.
Han Guxi sat in the second seat on the right.
"Both belong to the True Martial lineage..."
he thought to himself, "The sect leader still has the advantage."
Eighth-level peak, hundreds of years of foundation versus a few years of accumulation, a sect leader versus a rising star.
From any angle, Jiang Lishan held an absolute advantage.
"Who could have imagined..." Han Guxi sighed softly, "Things have actually come to this."
Ke Tianzong, standing beside him, heard this and simply shook his head, also sighing, "Since it's already happened, let's hope for a good outcome."
As the head of the Xuan Yang lineage, he had maintained a neutral stance throughout this struggle.
It wasn't that he didn't want to take sides, but rather that he didn't know which side to choose.
Sect Leader Jiang Lishan had led the sect for hundreds of years, making great contributions and showing kindness to Ke Tianzong as well.
But what about Chen Qing?
He was a genius that the Tianbao Upper Sect had only seen once every few centuries, a hope that could lead the sect to even greater heights.
Regardless of who won or lost the struggle between these two, it would damage the very foundation of the Tianbao Upper Sect.
Su Muyun sat beside Ke Tianzong, his expression much calmer.
"Senior Brother Jiang is a man of principle,"
his voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of those around him, "He should show mercy..."
His words were casual, but the implication was crystal clear.
In his view, the outcome of this duel was already predetermined.
No matter how talented or brilliant Chen Qing was, he could never be a match for Jiang Lishan.
Li Yujun frowned even more deeply upon hearing this.
She seemed to want to say something, but ultimately said nothing, simply turning her gaze back to the center of the plaza.
Saying anything now was meaningless.
Everything would only be clear after the duel ended.
Just then, a low commotion suddenly arose from the crowd.
The commotion started from the outer edge of the plaza and spread inwards like ripples.
Everyone's gaze turned to the sky above the plaza.
There, a figure appeared suspended in mid-air.
It was an old man.
He was thin and wore a dark gray robe in the style of the Tianbao Upper Sect, plain and even somewhat shabby. His hair was sparse and gray, his face was aged, and his skin was like dried orange peel, covered with deep wrinkles.
Yet this seemingly frail old man stood in mid-air, hands behind his back, without the slightest fluctuation of true energy around him, as if he were a part of the sky itself, natural and without any incongruity.
Most of the experts from the Tianbao Upper Sect present did not recognize him.
Decades of seclusion on the peaks had long since buried his name in the dust of time, forgotten by the new generation of disciples.
But those peak masters and elders who were senior enough and of sufficient age changed their expressions the moment they saw that aged face. "Luan... Master Luan!?"
An elder from Xuan Yang Peak suddenly stood up, his eyes wide open, staring intently at the figure in mid-air, his voice trembling slightly. This man was none other than Luan Feng, the previous leader of the Xuan Yang lineage. He was one of the few surviving old men of the Tianbao Upper Sect. "He's the previous leader of the Xuan Yang lineage!"
another deacon exclaimed, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement. "It's said he entered Hidden Peak eighty years ago! Eighty years ago! I was just a new disciple then, and I saw him from afar. I never imagined… I never imagined I'd see him again!"
"Hidden Peak…" some true disciples repeated the words softly, their eyes filled with shock.
Hidden Peak.
That was the most mysterious place in the Tianbao Upper Sect.
Most of the sect's old monsters, nearing the end of their lives yet possessing unfathomable strength, would choose to enter Hidden Peak, secluded in cultivation, detached from worldly affairs, leaving behind their final legacy for the sect before their time was up.
Normally, these people wouldn't appear.
Only when the sect faced a life-or-death crisis, or when a major event occurred that could shake the sect's foundation, would they emerge from Hidden Peak. And today, Luan Feng had appeared.
What did this mean?
This meant that in the eyes of those old monsters at Hidden Peak, today's battle for sect leader had become serious enough to warrant their attention. Luan Feng stood in mid-air, his aged gaze slowly sweeping over the dark mass of people below.
"I will be responsible for maintaining order in this duel today,"
the Luan Clan Master finally spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly heard by everyone present.
"During the duel, no one is allowed to interfere, meddle, or make a sound."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the high pavilions and towers surrounding the plaza—the viewing positions for experts from various factions. "Anyone who disobeys will face my personal wrath."
The plaza fell silent for a moment upon hearing this.
After speaking, Luan Feng said no more, his figure slowly descending to a stone chair at the highest point directly in front of the main hall.
His appearance made the atmosphere in the plaza even more tense.
In the distance, atop a high building, experts from various factions gathered.
This building was specially built by the Tianbao Shangzong to receive distinguished guests; its location was excellent, offering a panoramic view of the entire plaza.
At this moment, the building was already full.
In the front row, Jiang Huaizhou, the sect leader of the Xuantian Shangzong, sat upright in his chair.
Beside him sat several elders and disciples of the Xuantian Shangzong, all possessing profound auras.
"Even that old fellow Luan Feng has come out..."
Jiang Huaizhou murmured, a hint of emotion in his voice.
He naturally recognized Luan Feng.
When he first took over as the sect leader of the Xuantian Upper Sect, he visited the Tianbao Upper Sect, and the two met. At
that time, Luan Feng, though old, was still vigorous and imposing, a far cry from his current frail and aged appearance.
Eighty years have passed, and Jiang Huaizhou has gone from a young man to an old man, while the Luan lineage leader is still alive.
Although he looks like he's on his deathbed, as long as he's alive, no one dares to underestimate him.
"The old guys from Yinfeng have all come out of seclusion; it seems today's competition will be a rare sight,"
an elder sitting to Jiang Huaizhou's right asked in a low voice, "Does the sect leader think Chen Qing can force Jiang Lishan to reveal his true strength?" Jiang Huaizhou replied calmly, "I'm not a fortune teller. You're asking me? Who should I ask?"
The elder chuckled dryly and remained silent.
Not far to Jiang Huaizhou's right, Feng Shuofang of the Taiyi Upper Sect sat alone.
This master of the spear sat there alone, a cup of tea in front of him, but he hadn't drunk a drop.
His gaze remained fixed on the plaza.
To be precise, it was fixed on the east side of the plaza, in the direction of the Wanfa Peak disciples' ranks.
Chen Qing had not yet appeared there.
"Chen Qing…"
Feng Shuofang muttered to himself, a hint of anticipation in his voice, "Let me see just how much you're worth."
He knew Jiang Lishan's strength well and was certain he was no match for her.
Today's duel would surely force out Chen Qing's full strength and cultivation, and then they would know who was the number one master of spearmanship in Yan Kingdom. Since Luo Zhixian's death, he had been the undisputed number one master of spearmanship in Yan Kingdom, but now his disciple had suddenly appeared, seemingly threatening his title of number one.
Feng Shuofang's heart was naturally filled with mixed feelings.
Further away, Xie Mingyan, the newly appointed sect leader of Yunshui Shangzong, sat upright in her chair.
Yunshui Shangzong had suffered heavy losses due to internal strife, and the burden on her shoulders as the new sect leader was extremely heavy.
She came in person for two reasons. First, Tianbao Shangzong and Yunshui Shangzong were neighbors, and if Tianbao were to descend into chaos due to internal strife, Yunshui Shangzong would lose its most important protective barrier.
Second, she also wanted to see for herself what kind of person this young man who had recently amazed the entire Northern Cang was.
Beside her, Marquis Jingnan withdrew his gaze from Luan Feng and looked at Xie Mingyan.
Although the internal strife within Yunshui Shangzong ended with the execution of Jiang Shangu, the sect suffered heavy casualties and its vitality was severely damaged.
She had been appointed to take over this mess only a few months ago, and it was already quite remarkable that she had been able to stabilize the situation in such a short time.
"Sect Leader Xie," Marquis Jingnan's voice was extremely low as he asked, "How is Yunshui Shangzong doing lately?"
Xie Mingyan nodded slightly and said, "Not bad."
These four words were spoken lightly, but Marquis Jingnan sensed a hint of reservation in her tone.
He didn't press further, only nodded. "Once this matter is over, the plan can begin."
Xie Mingyan's heart skipped a beat.
She naturally knew what plan the Marquis of Jingnan was referring to.
It was a secret agreement between the imperial court and the Yunshui Upper Sect, concerning the Tianxing Alliance and the Thousand Reefs Sea.
Since the internal strife within the Yunshui Upper Sect, the Tianxing Alliance's ambition to take advantage of the situation had become blatantly obvious.
That old fox Yan Jin thought that the Yunshui Upper Sect, weakened, could be bullied at will, unaware that the imperial court had long coveted the Thousand Reefs Sea.
The core of the plan was to use the Yunshui Upper Sect to remove the Tianxing Alliance, a thorn in their side, and then bring the Thousand Reefs Sea under the imperial court's control. However, the timing hadn't been right until now, and the Marquis of Jingnan's sudden mention of it clearly indicated that the imperial court's judgment had changed.
Xie Mingyan took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and nodded slightly.
She didn't speak, her gaze returning to the plaza ahead.
There, the commotion among the crowd was growing stronger.
Because the time for the duel is fast approaching.
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Chapter 607 Clouds Rise (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
Chapter 607 Clouds Rise (Seeking Monthly Tickets!)
The morning light peeked out from behind the clouds, bathing the entire hall in a pale golden glow.
Everyone was waiting.
Waiting for the duel destined to be recorded in the annals of the Tianbao Upper Sect to begin.
In the plaza, thousands held their breath.
The morning breeze blew from the mountains, carrying the fragrance of pines and cypresses and the scent of post-rain earth, causing countless robes to flutter.
The dark mass of people, like a silent forest, awaited the arrival of the storm.
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Just then, the commotion in the crowd suddenly subsided.
Thousands of eyes turned in unison towards the main hall.
Jiang Lishan, dressed in a deep purple sect leader's robe, walked with unhurried steps.
He didn't release any aura, yet simply walking there caused the thousands of Tianbao Shangzong disciples, deacons, and elders present to involuntarily straighten their backs and hold their breath.
This was the Sect Master.
This was the one who had ruled the Tianbao Shangzong for a hundred years.
That deep-rooted majesty wasn't something instilled by overwhelming cultivation, but rather the culmination of a century of holding power and deciding life and death with a single word.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
Someone shouted first.
Immediately afterward, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down, from the outermost to the innermost part of the plaza, from outer disciples to elders of each peak, thousands of people clasped their fists and bowed in unison, their voices so uniform that the morning mist in the mountains seemed to churn.
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
"Greetings, Sect Master!"
The shouts echoed wave after wave, reverberating between the thirty-six peaks, lingering for a long time.
Jiang Lishan stood at the highest point of the main hall's stone steps, her gaze slowly sweeping over the dark mass of people below.
His face was gentle, a faint smile even playing at the corners of his lips, appearing no different from when he presided over sect ceremonies.
He slowly raised his right hand, palm down, and gently pressed it down.
This simple gesture silenced the thousands of voices in the crowd in an instant.
The plaza fell into complete silence.
Jiang Lishan's gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on the old man.
"Uncle-Master Luan."
Luan Feng slowly opened his eyes and glanced at Jiang Lishan.
"Yes, Sect Master, you're too kind."
Luan Feng nodded.
Jiang Lishan turned around, facing the plaza.
Chen Qing hadn't arrived yet.
He didn't urge him, didn't ask, and didn't even show any impatience.
He simply stood there quietly, hands behind his back, his robes fluttering slightly in the morning breeze.
His posture was extremely composed.
At this moment, a figure appeared in the distance, soaring through the air.
The person was incredibly fast; one moment they were miles away, the next they had already swept across the ridge of Tianbao Peak, rushing towards the plaza.
It was just one person, walking through the air.
Morning light streamed down from behind him.
His robes fluttered in the high-altitude winds, yet he remained as steady as a rock, each step landing precisely in the void, as if there were invisible steps beneath his feet.
In the plaza, thousands of gazes turned to the sky.
"He's here!"
"Peak Master Chen is here!"
Whispers turned into low exclamations.
The figure drew closer, becoming clearer.
A moon-white robe, black hair tied back, a face so young it seemed impossible for someone to rival a sect leader.
Yet, this youthful face held a composure beyond his years.
Chen Qing stopped in mid-air.
He stood suspended in mid-air, looking down upon the dense crowd below, across the seats on the stone steps of the main hall, finally settling on the deep purple figure.
Jiang Lishan was also looking at him.
Hundreds of feet apart, their gazes met in mid-air.
There were no sparks, no clash of auras, not even a ripple.
Yet, this very calmness instilled an indescribable pressure in everyone present.
Before the storm, the world is often at its quietest.
Chen Qing's figure slowly descended, finally landing in the center of the plaza.
That position was directly opposite Jiang Lishan on the stone steps of the main hall, separated by the entire plaza.
One above, one below.
One to the east, one to the west.
Thousands of people surrounded them, turning this wide plaza into a natural battlefield.
The morning breeze passed between the two, stirring up a few fallen leaves, which tumbled a few times on the bluestone ground before falling silent again.
Jiang Lishan watched this scene, the smile on her lips finally fading slightly.
"You've arrived?"
Two words, spoken casually, as if asking a late disciple.
"The sect leader summoned me; how could I dare not come?"
Chen Qing slightly clasped his hands, his tone calm, but the deeper meaning in his words was clear to everyone present with a modicum of experience.
He was standing here today because Jiang Lishan had forced him to this point, step by step.
After speaking, Chen Qing looked at Luan Feng and bowed slightly in greeting.
"I am Luan Feng, you can call me Elder Luan." Luan Feng waved his hand, his gaze falling on Chen Qing, carefully scrutinizing the young man before him.
He had long resided in Hidden Peak, detached from worldly affairs, yet he had heard of this name.
The youngest Grandmaster in Northern Cang, he was unparalleled among the younger generation.
Even the once-renowned Four Heroes of Tianbao, at this age, were far less exceptionally talented.
He didn't know what unresolved grudge existed between these two disciples, nor did he want to.
Hidden Peak had its rules; they would only intervene when the sect faced a life-or-death crisis.
Today, he was merely here to witness, uphold the rules, and remain an outsider.
Chen Qing nodded again, respectfully saying, "Elder Luan."
Luan Feng nodded slightly, then took a step forward. His aged voice suddenly rose, resounding throughout the entire plaza: "Today, Chen Qing, the Wanfa Peak Master of the Tianbao Upper Sect, challenges Sect Master Jiang Lishan for the position of Sect Master. According to the sect's ancestral rules, I will preside over this battle."
He raised his hand and slowly lowered it.
"Begin!"
The two words exploded like thunder.
The murmurs that had been circulating in the plaza completely disappeared, and even the wind seemed to stop.
Luan Feng's figure flickered, and he retreated to the side, leaving the center of the plaza to the two facing off.
Instantly, only Jiang Lishan and Chen Qing remained in mid-air.
Thousands of beams of light converged, and Feng Shuofang, Jiang Huaizhou, Xie Mingyan, Marquis Jingnan, Li Yujun, Han Guxi, Ke Tianzong, and Su Muyun, all on the viewing platform, held their breath and looked over.
Jiang Lishan stood on the stone steps of the main hall, looking down from above.
Chen Qing stood in the center of the square, staring straight ahead.
No one spoke.
No one dared to speak.
Jiang Lishan stared at Chen Qing for a long time.
Then, he slowly raised his hand and placed it on the scabbard at his waist.
"I'm looking forward to it,"
Jiang Lishan said slowly, smiling, "I really am looking forward to it."
The sword was jet black, without a trace of luster.
The blade was as thin as a cicada's wing, with a faint dark red pattern visible at the edge.
He held the longsword horizontally in front of him, his left hand gently tracing the blade with two fingers.
"Chen Qing, let me see your strength."
"Let me see your ability."
He spoke the last few words slowly.
But a smile remained on his lips.
That smile was icy and chilling, yet utterly genuine.
Chen Qing looked at Jiang Lishan, looked at the jet-black longsword.
His expression remained calm, as calm as a still pond in the mountains.
Chen Qing stretched out his hand and made a grasping motion.
Buzz!
A low hum reverberated through the air, not loud, yet it seemed to strike directly at everyone's heart—
the Jingzhe Spear.
The spear gleamed coldly in the sunlight, its tip sharp as a thorn.
He raised his head, his gaze meeting Jiang Lishan's.
"Please enlighten me, Sect Master."
Five words, neither humble nor arrogant, neither hasty nor slow.
In the plaza, thousands held their breath.
The morning breeze blew from the mountains, causing countless robes to flutter.
On the stone steps of the main hall, the Heavenly Pivot Realm members wore varying expressions.
On the high-rise stands, experts from all sides shone brightly.
In the center of the plaza, two figures faced each other.
One above, one below.
One wielded a sword, the other a spear.
One was the Sect Master who had led the sect for a hundred years, a peak Eighth-Rank Grandmaster.
The other was the youngest genius to ascend the Grandmaster Ranking, a prodigy who had never tasted defeat.
The most shocking battle for Sect Master in hundreds of years had officially begun at this moment.
The morning breeze suddenly stopped.
Chen Qing moved!
His speed was incredibly fast, so fast that most people present only saw a blur as he appeared three zhang in front of Jiang Lishan in the next instant!
The Jingzhe Spear seemed to come alive in his hands.
The spear trembled, and an extremely sharp spear light burst forth from its tip!
The spear light left a straight trajectory in the air, its speed so great that it left a long-lasting trail of light, like lightning ripping through the sky!
Jiang Lishan did not retreat, nor did he dodge. He simply raised his black longsword and casually swung it.
The sword light split.
This sword strike seemed unremarkable, but the moment the longsword was swung, the sharp spear light silently split in two in mid-air, passing by Jiang Lishan's side and slamming into the stone steps behind him, blasting two bowl-sized craters and sending debris flying.
A casual gesture.
Effortless execution.
On the viewing platform, Feng Shuofang raised an eyebrow slightly.
The layman sees the spectacle, the expert sees the technique.
Jiang Lishan's sword strike, seemingly casual, contained a level of swordsmanship mastery that had reached the pinnacle of "overcoming skill with clumsiness and controlling movement with stillness."
It wasn't that he didn't want to retreat, but rather that he simply didn't need to.
This was the composure of a peak eighth-level grandmaster.
But Chen Qing's offensive was far from over.
The instant the first spear strike was broken, he had already closed in, the Jingzhe Spear spinning in his hand, its tip drawing a sharp arc, aiming diagonally at Jiang Lishan's throat from below!
This strike was fast and ruthless, its angle extremely tricky, giving his opponent no chance to breathe.
Jiang Lishan finally moved.
He took a slight step back, his body turning to the side, his black longsword held horizontally in front of him, precisely blocking the spear's sharpness.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing rang out, sparks flying!
Such powerful force!
Chen Qing thought to himself, but his feet didn't pause for a moment. Using the momentum, he spun around, the Jingzhe Spear drawing a perfect circle at his waist, and swept out again!
With this sweep, the air was torn apart where the spear passed, producing a crackling sound, as if it had truly summoned thunder!
A hint of seriousness finally appeared in Jiang Lishan's eyes.
He didn't take the blow head-on, but instead, his body swayed, his entire body floating backward several feet like a ghost, avoiding the spear's sharpness.
But the instant he retreated, Chen Qing had already caught up.
One step, two steps, three steps.
His pace was astonishingly fast, each step precisely matching Jiang Lishan's retreating rhythm. His spear thrusts were relentless, one after another, each faster than the last, giving his opponent no chance to breathe.
At this moment, Chen Qing was like lightning, frantically moving across the square, his spear flashing, each strike containing terrifying power enough to kill an ordinary grandmaster.
Jiang Lishan fought and retreated, his longsword parrying left and right, seemingly passive, yet every strike precisely blocked Chen Qing's attacks, not a single strike missing, not a single strike superfluous.
He was watching.
Watching Chen Qing's spear technique, watching Chen Qing's cultivation level, and watching Chen Qing's heart.
Chen Qing thrust out with his spear, the tip aimed straight for Jiang Lishan's chest, so fast that even an afterimage couldn't be left.
Jiang Lishan finally stopped retreating.
He stood firm, his long, black sword held horizontally before him, its tip pointing directly at Chen Qing.
Then, he struck.
This strike was completely different from before.
Before, he had merely parried, defended, and probed.
But this strike was a counterattack.
The sword light split!
Not one, not ten, but a full eighty-one!
Eighty-one sword lights burst forth from the black sword, each one as solid as a real blade, weaving in the air into an impenetrable net of swords, sweeping towards Chen Qing!
Sharp!
Extremely sharp!
This was unlike anyone Chen Qing had ever fought before.
Jiang Lishan's swordsmanship had reached a terrifying level.
He had brought this sword technique to its fullest potential.
Each of the eighty-one sword lights contained different variations—some thrust straight, some slashed diagonally, some swept horizontally, some cleaved downwards—seemingly chaotic, but actually conforming to some mysterious law.
At the edge of the plaza, countless disciples of the Tianbao Upper Sect watched in stunned silence.
They had never seen their sect leader in action, much less such terrifying swordsmanship.
The sword lights were overwhelming, blotting out the sun and sky, seemingly engulfing the entire plaza.
The *Nine Heavens Splitting Sword* was one of the unparalleled sword techniques of the Tianbao Upper Sect.
With each breakthrough in this technique, the practitioner could split into one more sword light.
At its highest level, it could split into eighty-one sword lights, overwhelming and capable of destroying anything.
On the plaza, Chen Qing faced the overwhelming sword lights, his expression remaining calm.
He didn't retreat, nor did he dodge; instead, he swept his spear!
The Jingzhe Spear drew a huge arc in front of him.
This sweep used a move from the *Thousand Rain Flowing Shadow Spear*, "Rain Hitting Banana Leaves."
The spear tip left countless afterimages in the air, each one precisely meeting a sword light.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The dense clanging of metal was like a torrential rain hitting banana leaves, continuous and unending.
One sword light after another was shattered by the spear tip, dissipating into specks of light in the air.
But eighty-one sword lights were simply too many.
Moreover, Jiang Lishan was at the peak of the eighth level; his sword lights were extremely powerful and sharp, some even capable of injuring a newly-entered Grandmaster.
Although Chen Qing had swept away most of them, more than a dozen sword lights still broke through the spear's blockade, heading straight for his vital points!
His brow furrowed slightly.
These sword lights that broke through the blockade had tricky angles and were extremely fast, leaving no time to block them with the spear.
But he didn't panic.
His feet floated backward, his figure weaving through the sword lights like a ghost, narrowly avoiding the sharpness of those dozen or so sword lights.
But in the instant he retreated, a deep purple figure appeared in front of him.
Fast!
Too fast!
So fast that almost no one present could see how Jiang Lishan moved.
One moment he was several feet away, the next he was in front of Chen Qing, as if space itself had lost its meaning beneath his feet.
"Shrinking the Earth to an Inch!?"
On the viewing platform, Jiang Huaizhou's eyes narrowed sharply.
This supernatural technique was renowned throughout the Yan Kingdom, yet very few could actually perform it.
Shrinking the Earth to an Inch, as the name suggests, shrinks a thousand miles into a single step; it's a spatial teleportation technique.
In the Tianbao Sect, only the sect leader was ever qualified to cultivate this technique.
On the viewing platform, the Marquis of Jingnan frowned deeply.
"What a magnificent Shrinking the Earth to an Inch technique! Truly extraordinary—"
On the plaza, Chen Qing frowned as he faced Jiang Lishan, who had suddenly appeared before him.
He had no time to ponder how Jiang Lishan had done it, because the jet-black longsword was already thrusting towards his dantian!
This sword strike was swift and ruthless, its angle extremely tricky, the tip pointing directly at the location of his golden core.
Although it was supposed to be a friendly spar, the ferocity of this sword strike clearly intended to take his life!
Chen Qing didn't have time to block with his spear, because the Jingzhe Spear was still in his right hand, and Jiang Lishan was already right in front of him. The distance was too close, and he couldn't use the spear effectively.
He could only fight back with his left hand.
His left hand clenched into a fist, and his blood and qi surged!
He activated the eleventh level of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Vajra Body at full power!
A faint golden light appeared on his body, so solid it seemed tangible, condensing behind him into a colossal Vajra phantom.
This Vajra phantom, several meters tall, with a majestic face, sat cross-legged in the void, its hands forming a mudra, enveloping Chen Qing entirely. "
Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison Force! Dragon Elephant Mountain Collapsing!
" Chen Qing let out a deep, thunderous roar. The surging, roaring energy within his body was instantly compressed to its limit by the Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison Force technique.
Beneath his skin, pale golden energy surged like molten gold, every inch of his bones and every strand of his fascia vibrating at a unique frequency. The phantoms of dragon roars and elephant cries intertwined and coiled on his fist, as if a dragon and a divine elephant were awakening from his flesh and blood.
This punch had no fancy variations, no complex trajectories, only the purest, most domineering, and most extreme burst of power.
The supreme killing technique of the Buddhist body-refining lineage was now unleashed to its fullest potential.
The black sword tip had already touched Chen Qing's robe at the abdomen, the sharp sword force even cutting through the outer layer of fabric. But at this critical moment, Chen Qing's left fist collided violently with that deadly sword light.
"Clang—!!!"
It wasn't the crisp sound of metal clashing, but a muffled boom like two mountains crashing together!
On the fist, the dragon-elephant divine power compressed to the extreme exploded, the supreme yang and supreme strength of blood and qi transforming into a visible pale golden torrent, forcefully crushing the remaining sharp force of the eighty-one split sword lights to dust.
The true essence that Jiang Lishan had gathered for this sword strike was completely dissolved layer by layer in the face of that immense force that seemed capable of suppressing the nine netherworlds.
The sword tip trembled inch by inch, emitting a hum that couldn't bear the burden, and even with Jiang Lishan's cultivation at the peak of the eighth level, her sea of qi surged.
"Hmm?"
A genuine surprise finally flashed in Jiang Lishan's eyes.
He already knew Chen Qing's body-refining technique was powerful, but he never expected that the power unleashed by this Buddhist killing technique would be so formidable.
Just as the sword light dissipated, the second wave of power contained within Chen Qing's fist arrived.
The essence of the Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison Force lies in the layered explosions of qi and blood; the more intense the compression, the more terrifying the resulting power.
The instant the first wave of energy blocked the sword light, the second, even more violent aftershock, erupted from the fist like a tsunami, transforming into a pale golden wave several meters wide, carrying the power to shatter mountains and split the earth, sweeping directly towards Jiang Lishan!
Wherever the wave passed, the air was completely torn apart, emitting sharp explosions. The invisible force pressed a deep trench into the bluestone-paved plaza, swirling up gravel and dust, creating a sandstorm that blotted out the sky.
Jiang Lishan's expression hardened slightly; naturally, he wouldn't take this force head-on.
With a light tap of his toes in the air, his true energy circulated throughout his body. He unleashed the Shrinking Earth Technique once more, his figure rising like a rootless leaf, soaring dozens of feet into the sky.
His robes fluttered in the gale, his deep purple figure appearing like a soaring eagle in the morning light, perfectly avoiding the sweeping golden energy wave.
The next instant, the unstoppable Dragon-Elephant Force slammed heavily onto the plaza in front of the main hall of the main peak—
"BOOM—!!!!!"
A deafening roar, like the collapse of heaven and earth, instantly engulfed the entire Tianbao Peak!
It was as if an ancient behemoth had pounded the earth with immense force.
The entire plaza trembled violently, the tremor spreading along the mountainside, even echoing faintly from the peaks of the thirty-six peaks. Gravel tumbled down the mountain streams, startling countless birds into flight.
The hard, iron-like bluestone ground shattered like paper under the aftershock of that punch.
Spiderweb-like cracks spread wildly outwards from the point of impact.
The central bluestone was completely crushed into dust, leaving a massive crater over ten feet deep and more than ten feet wide in the center of the plaza.
At the edge of the plaza, thousands of disciples of the Tianbao Upper Sect stared in disbelief, their faces deathly pale.
The disciples in the front rows were even thrown back by the shockwave, many likely injured by the aftershock if elders hadn't intervened in time.
They had only known of Peak Master Chen's extraordinary talent, his early ascension to the Grandmaster rankings, but only today did they truly witness the terrifying strength of this young peak master.
The aftershock of just one punch possessed such earth-shattering power.
"My God—this is the Dragon Elephant Suppressing Prison Force?!"
"The legendary supreme killing technique of the Buddhist sect is actually this terrifying?"
"Master Chen's punch could probably pierce through a small mountain, right?"
Uncontrollable exclamations rose and fell among the crowd, but were quickly suppressed. Everyone's eyes remained fixed on the two figures.
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1984: Starting from a Sichuan Restaurant
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Hunter x Hunter: Card Master, the Strongest in the World
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