At this sight, all present were greatly astonished. It was true that every successive Master of the Hall of Loyalty had been highly skilled in martial arts, upheld the code of chivalry, and long served as a pillar of justice amid the disputes of the martial world. In those turbulent times, they had always been held in the highest esteem by men of the jianghu. Yet today, the Nine Firmament Palace and the White Lotus Sect had brazenly joined forces, courting the condemnation of the entire martial world. To set four against one already ran contrary to every accepted rule of jianghu conduct; to say nothing of drawing weapons and preparing a massed slaughter. The gathered heroes could not help but look upon it with great disdain, and boos rose incessantly from the crowd.
But the Four Immortals, still burning with anger over the fact that Dragon Immortal had been knocked unconscious by Li Jian, were in no mood to heed such censure.
Tiger Immortal snarled,"Boy, I fear your death is not far off!"
Ox Immortal barked,"Enough of this nonsense—surround him!"
The Four Immortals thought to themselves that although this youth's inner power was strange indeed, what could he possibly accomplish now that the contest had turned to saber and sword?
Seeing himself hemmed in on all four sides by the Four Immortals with drawn blades, Li Jian knew that there was now no path left save to meet steel with steel. With a sharp shhk, he drew the broadsaber in his hand. A cold blue gleam flashed from the blade, and a faint chill seemed to spread through the air. It was, beyond doubt, a fine weapon. The Four Immortals all stiffened at once.
Li Jian said in a deep voice,"Blades have no eyes. A single careless moment may bring forth bloodshed."
Goat Immortal sneered."Save your boasting. All of you—attack!"
His voice rang high and clear, distinct even amid the clamor of the crowd. As the words fell, he thrust forward with a sword. Li Jian turned his saber aside, forcing Goat Immortal's blade past him. Immediately afterward, Horse Immortal rushed in with a thrust of his own. Li Jian guided it away with a sweep of his saber. Tiger Immortal and Ox Immortal then followed, striking with swords in deadly earnest. With a formidable enemy before them, the Four Immortals were of one heart and mind; in the blink of an eye, their fierce sword techniques closed over Li Jian like a net.
With flicking wrists they spun their blades, which hummed as their sword tips darted toward every part of Li Jian's body. Their assault was swift beyond compare. In but an instant, each of the four attacked three times—twelve sword strikes in all.
Li Jian circled his saber in reply. As blade met blade, each side displayed its prowess.
Though Li Jian had studied swordsmanship before, he knew only a few superficial moves. Saber technique, however, he had learned from Wu Tong—a set known as the Crouching Dragon Saber Art. This was the first time he had ever used it against an enemy in true combat. At first, his limbs were inevitably somewhat unfamiliar with it, and he could not yet fully let himself go. But ever since his Ren and Du meridians had been opened, his martial skill had advanced by leaps and bounds, and the depth of his inner power had become all but inconceivable. Now, with saber in hand, every slash and stance at once carried formidable force. Each motion was extraordinary, far above the commonplace—his saber fierce, his momentum heavy.
Though the Four Immortals extended their long swords and shouted in unison, their exquisite techniques emerging one after another without end, Li Jian whirled the great blade, channeling power through the saber-body. Whenever sword and saber met, the force transmitted through the steel, causing the blades in the Four Immortals' hands to tremble unceasingly. Each of them felt his palm jar sharply.
Remembering Wu Tong's words—that the Crouching Dragon Saber Art was severe and ruthless, and must be used with utmost caution—Li Jian refrained from employing its true killing moves. Even so, after only thirty or forty exchanges, his movements began gradually to open up and flow with natural ease.
By then, he had already formed a clear judgment in his heart. With a sudden bound, he retreated a full ten zhang and said gravely:
"Immortals, I urge you in goodwill—let this end here."
Yet upon hearing this, the Four Immortals only burst into laughter.
Ox Immortal shouted,"Boy, if you are afraid, it is already too late!"
Tiger Immortal added,"You brought this upon yourself by meddling in others' affairs. After we hack you down, there will be time enough to stop!"
Li Jian's face darkened.
"In that case," he shouted, "you may ascend to immortality at once!"
At once he circulated his inner strength. In an instant, the saber force turned sharp and urgent, fierce and ruthless. He brought his deep and powerful internal energy fully to bear; the saber's edge flashed, irresistible in momentum. The Four Immortals, receiving his attack, at once found it almost unbearable. The tiger's mouths of their right hands split open from the shock, and each nearly lost his grip on his sword.
Then Li Jian suddenly let out a long whistle. The saber gave forth a ringing cry, and in the next moment he unleashed the move "Pacifying the Central Plains from the North." The blade flashed like lightning, leaping forth in a murderous streak. Shhk, shhk, shhk!—seven or eight slashes in the space of a breath. His figure wove among them, his saber unbelievably swift, clean, and decisive.
A chorus of screams burst from the Four Immortals.
In the next moment, Li Jian had already drawn back, sheathed his saber, and walked calmly to his original place, his bearing as dashing as ever. The Four Immortals, meanwhile, collapsed to the ground wounded, crying out in pain without cease.
Among the gathered heroes, many began murmuring excitedly:
"That is indeed the Crouching Dragon Saber Art!"
"Once the Crouching Dragon Saber appears, no host of demons can withstand it!"
"The Crouching Dragon Saber Art—unmatched beneath Heaven!"
The followers of the Black Dragon Sect were even more roused, clamorously shouting in excitement.
Someone cried out,"White Lotus Sect Master, if you have any skill, go test sword and saber against this young hero yourself!"
Another shouted,"What is so great about the White Lotus Sect Master? He usually only throws his weight around by relying on the Five Immortals. That does not mean he truly has skill!"
Still another called,"This young hero's saber art surpasses yours by far! Go fetch a sword—if you can survive even a few moves under Young Hero Li, then perhaps your title as White Lotus Sect Master may still amount to something!"
At this moment, Huangfu Song, Master of the White Lotus Sect, truly found himself astride a tiger and unable to dismount. This youth possessed peerless martial ability; the excellent plan he had thought so clever had likely misfired completely. Fear and unease rose in his heart.
Li Jian swept his gaze across the White Lotus Sect disciples and declared loudly:
"Today I spare these four their lives. If hereafter you seek vengeance, come for me alone."
At that moment, Tan Wei stepped forth from the crowd and called aloud:
"The Master of the Hall of Loyalty cherishes benevolence and acts in the spirit of righteousness. Today he has merely displayed a small portion of his skill. Let the White Lotus Sect take care not to make an enemy of the Master of the Hall of Loyalty."
Huangfu Song, seeing the Four Immortals so miserably defeated, had already lost all face. Now this young girl added words of mockery, and his fury surged all the more. Blazing with anger, he shouted:
"Girl, are you with this brat? Spare us your idle chatter, lest you bring trouble upon yourself!"
Li Jian walked over toward Tan Wei and said in a ringing voice:
"Your White Lotus Sect is already a broken remnant of defeated men. How dare you still boast of valor?"
Tan Wei followed up at once:
"Sect Master of the White Lotus, a wise man submits to circumstance. Why not let today's matter end here?"
Huangfu Song's face turned iron-blue. Yet the situation before him truly pressed upon him from every side. The White Lotus Sect had already become a camp of wounded men. As for the lesser disciples and rank-and-file followers, how could they possibly continue the fight? Of those able to take the field, only he himself remained. Not to mention that this youth possessed astonishing skills; the demon-sweeping move he had just displayed was enough to strike terror into any heart.
Facing the young man now holding a great saber, Huangfu Song found that his confidence had drained away. Left with no better recourse, he turned his eyes toward Long Zhentian. And when Long Zhentian saw Huangfu Song look to him, how could he fail to understand his meaning?
Long Zhentian's brows drew together slightly.
This youth had appeared out of nowhere, yet by his own strength alone had overawed the heroes gathered here. Even the White Lotus Sect's four great experts had fallen beneath his saber. If they continued to press the matter, then he and Huangfu Song would likely stand little chance of victory. Yet if they withdrew now, would that not mean conceding the lower hand?
As his thoughts turned over again and again, his gaze grew icy. In a heavy voice he said:
"Murong Gui—so this is the helper your Black Dragon Sect invited? Truly unexpected."
Hearing this, Murong Gui threw back his head and laughed loudly.
"Long Zhentian, you have now witnessed the skill of the Master of the Hall of Loyalty. Are you still unconvinced? If you refuse to yield, then by all means step forth yourself and exchange a few moves with Hall Master Li!"
Long Zhentian's expression sank darkly, yet he did not answer at once. He understood full well that the situation was now unfavorable to himself and Huangfu Song. For a time, the atmosphere seemed to freeze, thick with the scent of killing intent.
The gathered heroes held their breath and waited, silently watching how matters would unfold.
For in the jianghu, in the end, might still reigns supreme.
How, then, would today's battle finally come to its end?
At that moment Tan Wei again called aloud:
"If the White Lotus Sect refuses to stay its hand, then next time we meet, it shall be the White Lotus Sect that is offered in blood sacrifice! All of you had best think carefully—never make an enemy of the Master of the Hall of Loyalty!"
Huangfu Song, seeing the Four Immortals so utterly defeated, had already lost all face; now, stung once more by the girl's open mockery, he was filled with furious humiliation. He shouted:
"Girl, are you with this brat? Speak no more idle words, lest you invite disaster upon yourself!"
Li Jian stepped toward Tan Wei and said loudly:
"Your White Lotus Sect is already a defeated remnant. What courage have you left to speak of?"
Tan Wei added at once:
"Sect Master of the White Lotus, a man who understands the times is a true hero. Why not let this affair end here today?"
Huangfu Song's face was iron-blue, but the pressure of the moment was undeniable. The White Lotus Sect was already full of wounded men, and the lesser fighters could no longer be relied upon. Only he himself remained fit to battle. And before him stood a youth with a saber in hand, whose peerless skill had already shaken all hearts. The force behind that demon-sweeping move a moment before was enough to chill the bones of any who beheld it.
Thus Huangfu Song, his courage spent, could only turn his gaze again toward Long Zhentian.
And when Long Zhentian saw Huangfu Song look to him, how could he not understand what was meant?