Long Zhentian had come in full force this day to attack the Black Dragon Sect—how could he retreat so lightly? Yet the youth before him was clearly no ordinary opponent. Wu Tong had sent this young man to intervene, and having now witnessed him display such overwhelming prowess with his own eyes, Long Zhentian could no longer doubt that the lad possessed extraordinary skill. Still, under the watchful gaze of the gathered heroes, he could not openly withdraw.
So he threw back his head and laughed loudly.
"Boy! To rely on the sharpness of a weapon for victory—what sort of hero is that? Heh heh! Since you insist on playing the hero today, then let us waste no more words. By the rules of the jianghu, we shall fight empty-handed!"
Many renowned figures in the martial world prized their reputations above all else, and Long Zhentian was no exception. Though his challenge sounded grand and heroic on the surface, though his words were dignified and high-sounding enough, they could not conceal the unease in his heart. Everyone present knew full well that Long Zhentian dared not meet that saber with blade in hand, for what he truly feared was the Crouching Dragon Saber Art.
A sudden silence fell over the field.
Then Li Jian lifted his left hand, set his right palm against it, slightly raised his brows, and strode forward with gathering courage. Bowing with cupped fists, he said in a clear, ringing voice:
"This junior's skills are shallow indeed, and I dare not presume to match myself against Senior. Yet the Hall of Loyalty acts only in the cause of loyalty and righteousness. I dare not cling to life and forget honor. Today I shall certainly exert my utmost and respectfully receive Senior's supreme art. I shall not disappoint you."
The words struck the ears like rolling thunder. They were outwardly courteous, yet inwardly edged with steel; there was meaning beyond meaning in them. All who heard were won over by the young man's courage and bearing. Even Long Zhentian, arrogant and overbearing as he was, felt a chill rise in the depths of his heart. His body gave a slight tremor, and he was inwardly startled.
At this moment, neither Long Zhentian nor Huangfu Song wished in the least to see the Crouching Dragon Saber Art appear again. Long Zhentian laughed aloud once more and said:
"To win by leaning on a weapon's sharpness does not make one a true hero! Since you mean to play the hero today, why not cast aside your blade and pay Murong Gui's debt to the jianghu with your own hands?"
Murong Gui, naturally, had no wish to let the pair's scheme succeed. He stepped forward slowly and said in a resonant voice:
"Hall Master Li, your chivalry and righteousness command admiration! The debt I owe these two men should by rights be borne by me alone. That Hall Master Li has already come to my aid fills me with gratitude beyond words. Since these two refuse to abide by jianghu rules, I, Murong Gui, though overestimating myself, am willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with Hall Master Li in battle!"
Tan Wei also stepped out from the crowd and echoed:
"With Cult Master Murong's aid, what have we to fear?"
Huangfu Song had no desire to see his carefully laid plan ruined. Turning a sideways glance toward Li Jian, he taunted him sharply:
"The past Masters of the Hall of Loyalty were all youthful heroes of renown. Today all the heroes under Heaven are gathered here, craning their necks to witness the duel among the three of us. None of them wish to see Murong Gui interfere! If Murong Gui is to take the field in your stead, then why did you bother coming here to mediate at all? Are you here only to boast empty words? Get out! Get out!"
Long Zhentian shouted angrily:
"If you call yourself a hero, then stop stalling and step forth to fight!"
Though Li Jian's divine skill had already matured, he still felt uncertain when faced with two of the greatest masters of the age. Now Long Zhentian and Huangfu Song pressed him with taunts, and just as he hesitated, Tan Wei thought to herself that though Murong Gui's entering the fight might indeed leave room for gossip in the mouths of men, Li Jian's strength alone might still not guarantee victory. So she said:
"Brother Jian, why not let you and I go forth together?"
Within the martial order upheld by the Hall of Loyalty, this battle concerned nothing less than the order and justice of the jianghu itself. Li Jian had only just taken up this heavy charge. Though his experience in the martial world was still shallow, now that he stood in the midst of the arena, how could he possibly show weakness and withdraw? He could not cower from beginning to end. At this critical hour, with wolves before and tigers behind, there was not half a step left for him to retreat. To give way now would be to court utter ruin.
As the saying goes, a newborn calf does not fear the tiger. On hearing these words, Li Jian instead came to a decision. He said inwardly:
"A true man cannot shrink aside when trouble arises. How else could I shoulder the grave responsibility of being Hall Master of the Hall of Loyalty? If I falter in indecision today, I will have failed Uncle Tong's trust."
And again, as the saying goes: Throw one punch to open the way, lest a hundred punches come in return.
Thus he bowed respectfully and said:
"Senior Murong, since this junior has agreed to mediate, then I must shoulder this matter myself. If this junior proves insufficient in skill, it will not be too late for Senior to lend aid afterward."
Having spoken, he at once turned and strode forward. Brimming with heroic spirit, he raised his voice proudly:
"Very well, just as the two Seniors wish—make your move!"
There was no small measure of boldness in these words, and no little arrogance as well; the implication seemed almost to be that he did not place the two men in his eyes at all.
Long Zhentian and Huangfu Song, seeing that their scheme had worked, did not mind in the least. Inwardly they sneered:
"Brat, you are digging your own grave! With the combined strength of the two of us, there can scarcely be more than a handful in all the martial world who could withstand us!"
Both Long Zhentian and Huangfu Song were famed throughout the jianghu for their extraordinary martial arts. Murong Gui, too, worried that the youth might be overbold. Yet Li Jian's words had their logic: having promised to mediate, he had to carry the burden through. Thus Murong Gui could only watch closely and prepare to intervene at the proper moment.
Long Zhentian and Huangfu Song exchanged a glance. Then Long Zhentian called out:
"You make the first move!"
For a moment Li Jian did not know how to begin. He said aloud:
"This junior overestimates himself in insisting on playing the peacemaker. I can only risk my life and try. Senior, please make your move!"
The onlookers, seeing the youth standing calmly in the arena and facing the enemy without the least sign of panic, could not help but cheer inwardly and admire him all the more.
Yet Li Jian's thoughts were churning like waves. Though he stood ready, several fierce battles had already greatly drained his internal strength, and at this moment his inner power had inevitably grown somewhat depleted. Upon the hilltop, his sleeves fluttered in the mountain wind. Suddenly, he recalled several lines from the internal cultivation formula of the Northern Abyss Palm, and without intending to, he softly recited them:
"Where the will abides, there qi is born. Thus by channeling power and lifting qi, the breath shall surge forth like a spring. Once true qi is set in motion, it may be released and gathered at will, inexhaustible and without measure. Yet the subtlety of its use lies wholly in the mind. When the heart follows the will and qi follows intent, then one may wield the palm and perform the art. Let qi sink to the dantian below, guard the center of gravity, draw motion into the body, and let the inner breath fill abundantly, flowing on and on without cease, to be used without exhaustion, essence and spirit brimming…"
This was precisely the grand internal formula of the Northern Abyss Palm.
At once his dantian grew warm, true qi began to circulate, and with but a single turn of his breathing the currents of inner power spread throughout his limbs and bones. In but an instant his whole countenance brightened, his face flushed with color, and he seemed once more brimming with vitality.
As Li Jian chanted the palm formula, Long Zhentian watched him sidelong. Yet within only a few moments, Li Jian had become radiant with energy. Seeing this, Long Zhentian felt an icy alarm in his heart.
"This brat's inner force is so deep and strange—it is downright sinister. He must not be allowed to leave here alive today!"
At once he shouted:
"What an arrogant brat! You are seeking death by your own hand!"
As his words fell, his body flashed forward. Employing superb lightness skill, he sped in like the wind and unleashed the move "Slanting Moon Hung in Heaven." Rising into the air, he pounced downward with imposing force. His right palm shot forth with the momentum, sleeves sweeping as a blast of terrifying strength burst forth, striking straight toward Li Jian's chest. The depth of his power was immense; the move came swift and fierce.
Li Jian shifted his body to the side, instantly changing steps and moving laterally. He employed the nimble footwork of the Eight Forms of Cloud Hands, using the move "Clouds Light, Wind Gentle." His body turned like lightning, and Long Zhentian's two roaring palms brushed past him one after another without landing a hit…