"Meng Junior Brother, take him down with one sword..."
He Yunxia and Jian Feng, who had retreated to the side, cheered for Meng Yan...
"Senior Brother Mu, come on..."
Xie Qiuhhe and the disciples of the Huashan Sect also kept cheering for Mu Zhiming.
The two men, holding long swords, confronted each other. Mu Zhiming’s eyes were wide open, and he cautiously observed Meng Yan, who stood before him with a sneer of contempt and disdain. He couldn't discern Meng Yan's martial arts realm, but Mu Zhiming dared not underestimate him, so he did not attack immediately.
"Tsk, then I'll make the first move!"
Seeing that Mu Zhiming hesitated to draw his sword, Meng Yan showed his disdain and impatience. He twisted his sword-wielding right hand, and the long sword pierced through the air, emitting a sharp cry. With the speed of lightning, Meng Yan lunged towards Mu Zhiming. In the blink of an eye, the tip of his sword, carrying a potent aura, reached Mu Zhiming…
"Senior Brother, be careful…"
Xie Qiuhhe, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but exclaim.
Mu Zhiming's eyes widened in shock. He inwardly cursed how fast Meng Yan was. Then, by instinct, he retreated several steps and hastily raised his long sword…
Clang!
The long swords clashed, emitting a sound like metal striking stone. Meng Yan’s sword missed its target. The blades of the two swords scraped against each other, sending out a shower of sparks. Meng Yan's eyes turned cold. He spun around, his long sword circling through the air, and with a sharp angle, he slashed upwards from below towards Mu Zhiming…
Such a reaction speed left Mu Zhiming no time to think. He leaped backward, blocking Meng Yan's sword with his own.
But Meng Yan suddenly circulated his internal energy to his right hand. He spun his body continuously while holding the sword, and with a stomp of his right foot, he leaped into the air. With a roar, his long sword, carrying a powerful aura, unleashed a sword qi, slashing fiercely at Mu Zhiming…
Clang!
Mu Zhiming's long sword was broken by Meng Yan's strike. A section of the sword tip flew off, frightening the disciples of various sects into retreating. The broken sword tip landed and lodged itself in a crack in the stone…
Puff…
Before Mu Zhiming could react, he was kicked by the fallen Meng Yan. The blow landed squarely on his chest, sending him flying backward. He tumbled several times on the ground with a thud…
"Senior Brother Mu…"
Xie Qiuhhe and the other disciples of the Huashan Sect were horrified. They rushed forward to help the fallen Mu Zhiming up. His face was flushed, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood, scaring Xie Qiuhhe and the others into shouting, "Quick, find Doctor Zhang!"
"Junior Brother Meng is amazing…"
He Yunxia and the others from the Divine Sword Sect applauded Meng Yan.
The disciples of the various sects who were watching also pointed and discussed among themselves…
Jian Feng, holding his long sword with both hands, narrowed his eyes. His peripheral vision had already caught sight of Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi approaching from a distance…
A cold smile then curled at the corner of Jian Feng's mouth!
"You've gone too far."
Seeing Mu Zhiming severely injured, Xie Qiuhhe became furious. She drew her long sword, pointed it at Meng Yan and He Yunxia, and angrily said, "Even so, you shouldn't have used such heavy hands."
Meng Yan shrugged and smiled, "Beauty, swordsmanship is merciless."
Xie Qiuhhe gritted her teeth and declared, "I challenge you!"
"Alright, another one looking for a beating." Meng Yan naturally didn't mind. He was about to spar with this beauty when his senior sister, He Yunxia, stepped forward and waved him off, "Junior Brother Meng, let Senior Sister handle this. My hands are itching for a fight."
"Fine, let Senior Sister handle it then." Meng Yan chuckled and retreated to Jian Feng's side.
He Yunxia drew her long sword and sneered at Xie Qiuhhe, "Little girl, it's still not too late to kneel and beg for mercy. Otherwise, you'll end up like your Senior Brother, falling to the ground and spitting blood."
"Never! Watch this…"
Furious, Xie Qiuhhe brandished her sword and lunged forward, her long sword thrusting directly at He Yunxia…
Clang!
He Yunxia swung her sword, easily blocking Xie Qiuhhe's thrust. The two spun around, and their swords clashed again and again, emitting metallic sounds and sparking. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged more than ten blows, but Xie Qiuhhe was consistently suppressed by He Yunxia.
However, this was not surprising. After all, He Yunxia was in the middle stage of the Martial Dao Dan Jin realm, while Xie Qiuhhe was only in the early stage. No matter how she attacked, she couldn't break through He Yunxia's defense, let alone injure her.
"Heh, is that all the strength you have?"
He Yunxia smiled and shook her head, saying, "This is boring. Let me put you down."
As soon as she spoke, He Yunxia's expression changed instantly. Her entire body exuded a powerful aura. She swung her sword, breaking through Xie Qiuhhe's defense with a single move. Without mercy, she sliced through Xie Qiuhhe's sleeve, and blood spilled out…
Xie Qiuhhe's right arm was cut, and her long sword fell to the ground. Then, He Yunxia's eyes turned cold. She spun around, her long sword piercing directly towards Xie Qiuhhe's chest…
"No…"
The disciples of the Huashan Sect cried out in alarm.
Seeing He Yunxia's sword thrusting towards her, Xie Qiuhhe's eyes widened in fear. Just as the sword was about to pierce her chest…
Ding!
Suddenly, a faint metallic sound was heard. He Yunxia's sword, aimed at Xie Qiuhhe's chest, was struck by a silver needle, deflecting its trajectory. He Yunxia's expression changed drastically. The force of the impact made her sword-wielding right hand numb and trembling. She turned and roared angrily, "Who?"
Jian Feng had anticipated this. He turned and looked at Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi, Gu Luotang, Qi Miaomiao, Yang Jingyi, and Abbess Yun Bai who were approaching…
"You should be thankful I intervened!"
Wan Yunting walked over expressionlessly. He looked at He Yunxia of the Divine Sword Sect, then turned to look at Jian Feng and Meng Yan, who were smirking…
Zhou Ruoxi and Duan Yingying rushed over to check Xie Qiuhhe's arm injury. They quickly took out handkerchiefs to cover the wound and then glared coldly at He Yunxia. They couldn't believe that the disciples of the Divine Sword Sect, like their sect leader Yan Changjian, were so overbearing and reckless. If Wan Yunting hadn't intervened, Xie Qiuhhe would have likely met her end.
"Sect Master Wan, you're meddling in our affairs!" Meng Yan glared coldly at Wan Yunting and snorted.
Wan Yunting turned and looked askance at them, saying, "So, you intend to kill someone in broad daylight?"
"So what if we do, and so what if we don't?" He Yunxia’s expression was grim, and she snorted.
Wan Yunting stared coldly at her and scoffed, "I really don't know if you are ignorant or foolish."
"Kid, you're courting death…"
He Yunxia was provoked and drew her sword to attack Wan Yunting…
"Junior Sister, stop!"
Jian Feng called out in time, reprimanding He Yunxia and saying, "You are no match for him!"
Wan Yunting glared at He Yunxia and then looked sideways at Jian Feng, saying, "Killing incurs a life debt. Do you want to go to jail?"
"Heh heh."
Jian Feng stepped forward, holding his sword with both hands. He looked at Wan Yunting with great interest and chuckled, "Sect Master Wan, you jest. My junior sister was just playing around with them. How could she possibly kill someone?"
"I hope so."
Wan Yunting's sharp eyes met Jian Feng's. Their auras clashed, neither giving way.
Jian Feng smiled and said, "I've heard that Sect Master Wan's swordsmanship is peerless, and you have even comprehended the Wudang Sect's Great Dao Sword Technique. I wonder if I have the chance to experience it?"
Wan Yunting looked at Jian Feng's slightly stiff expression, which felt like a face-lifted one, and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? Tomorrow is the Martial Arts Conference, the Huashan Sword Summit. If you want to fight me, wait until tomorrow."
Jian Feng's sharp eyes stared intently at Wan Yunting and continued to provoke him, "However, I fear our match might not be arranged. Why don't we exchange a few moves now?"
Wan Yunting narrowed his eyes and met Jian Feng's sharp gaze. After a moment, he reached out to Zhou Ruoxi and called, "Sect Master Zhou, lend me your sword!"
Zhou Ruoxi, who was standing nearby, wanted to dissuade him, but seeing Wan Yunting's resolute attitude, she tossed her long sword over. Wan Yunting caught it and drew his sword. A flash of sword light flickered. It was evident that Zhou Ruoxi's sword was no ordinary weapon; it was a treasured sword used by the successive sect leaders of the Emei Sect.
Swish!
Jian Feng also drew his sword. A chilling glint emanated from it, revealing it to be an extraordinary sword as well. The tip pointed at Wan Yunting. Both of them exuded an aura that forced the onlookers to retreat…
"Stop!"
Just as they were about to fight, Shi Yizhen of the Huashan Sect, accompanied by Elder Ge Shulin, hurried over. The surrounding disciples parted to let them through. Shi Yizhen and Ge Shulin shouted at Wan Yunting and Jian Feng, "Sect Master Wan, stop! Don't stoop to their level."
Seeing their sect leader and elders trying to intervene, Wan Yunting found it difficult to continue sparring with Jian Feng of the Divine Sword Sect. He sheathed his sword and returned it to Zhou Ruoxi, saying to Jian Feng, "Don't worry, at tomorrow's Huashan Sword Summit, I will challenge you myself!"
Jian Feng also sheathed his sword and chuckled, "Sect Master Wan, don't back down then. Let's go…"
With that, Jian Feng led Meng Yan and He Yunxia away. Ge Shulin angrily shouted, "Stop! You injured our disciples and now you want to leave?"
Jian Feng turned and looked askance at Sect Leader Shi and Elder Ge, pointing at a doctor on the ground treating Mu Zhiming and Xie Qiuhhe. He smiled and said, "They challenged us first. Blame yourselves for having inferior martial arts. What does their injury have to do with us?"
"Also," Meng Yan sneered, "your disciples made a bet with us. Now that he has lost, arrange a courtyard for our sect leader to stay in immediately."
With a light chuckle, Jian Feng then left with He Yunxia and Meng Yan, their expressions arrogant and showing no respect for the Huashan Sect's Sect Leader Shi. This made Shi Yizhen furious, and he cursed, "Presumptuous, utterly presumptuous…"
Ge Shulin, standing beside him, also snorted, "Indeed, the disciples are just like their sect leader – utterly arrogant and unbridled…"
"Sect Leader, do we really have to arrange a courtyard for them?" Ge Shulin asked.
Sect Leader Shi Yizhen's old face was filled with helplessness. He waved his hand and said, "Arrange it, or they will make even more trouble."
Ge Shulin, feeling aggrieved, could only nod and instruct the disciples to make the arrangements…
"Sect Master Wan, thank you for your help just now."
Shi Yizhen expressed his gratitude to Wan Yunting, Zhou Ruoxi, Yang Jingyi, and Abbess Yun Bai. He shook his head and said, "These disciples of the Divine Sword Sect are truly too presumptuous. This matter absolutely cannot be let go."
Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi nodded. After listening to Shi Yizhen and Ge Shulin complain for a while, they told Wan Yunting and his companions to return and rest. Shi Yizhen then went to complain to Zhong Yulong.
Seeing this, Wan Yunting and Zhou Ruoxi shook their heads and continued towards their courtyard. Zhou Ruoxi asked the other members of the Emei Sect to return and rest, while she and Abbess Yun Bai followed Wan Yunting and Yang Jingyi to the living room of their courtyard to continue discussing the Martial Arts Conference tomorrow…
However, Wan Yunting took his phone and went outside to make a call, saying, "Feipeng, where are you now?"
Hou Feipeng, nicknamed "Swift-footed Hou," replied excitedly, "Boss Wan, I'm back in the country. I'm in Huadu City."
Wan Yunting said, "Fly to Huashan immediately and find me at the Huashan Sect!"
Hou Feipeng's expression froze. Knowing that Boss Wan definitely had something to arrange for him, he readily agreed, "Okay, Boss Wan. I'll buy a plane ticket right now…"