Clang!
The blades of two Tai Chi steel swords met, sending a spark flashing between Wan Yunting and Xiu Qi's eyes. Their footsteps intertwined, and Wan Yunting instantly twisted his body. His Tai Chi steel sword gleamed coldly, unleashing countless snake-like sword shadows in a rapid succession…
Clang, clang, clang…
Instantly, Xiu Qi's steps retreated. His long sword and Wan Yunting's clashed repeatedly, sparks leaping like fireworks blooming in the night sky. In the blink of an eye, dozens of moves had passed between their swords. The speed was so astonishing that the surrounding Wudang disciples' eyes widened, and they held their breath, as if trying to keep up. But Duan Yingying and Lan Xin's eyes ached from straining to follow the speed and techniques of Wan Yunting and Xiu Qi's swordplay…
Only Senior Brother Xian Yun, Third Senior Sister Xu Yuxin, Fifth Senior Brother Qin Yuan, and Sixth Junior Brother Yang Xuan could not keep up with Wan Yunting's sword speed. Based on this alone, Yang Xuan knew that those outside were not exaggerating. This Abbot Wan was indeed a master of the sword.
Clang!
A hum, lower than that of ordinary steel swords clashing, vibrated through the sword hilt in Xiu Qi's hand. A strong internal force shook his right tiger's mouth, making his feet falter. He was forced to leap backward, and only after two steps upon landing did he stabilize his form. Looking at Wan Yunting, whose sword tip was lowered, his eyes sharp and a calm smile on his face, it seemed he had not yet used his full strength.
"What kind of sword technique is this, so sharp and overbearing?"
Xiu Qi sheathed his sword, raised his eyebrows, and stared directly at Wan Yunting, unable to help but say, "I have sparred with your disciples from the Wuliang Daoist Temple before. I have never seen your Wuliang Daoist Temple possess such an overbearing sword technique!"
Wan Yunting also sheathed his sword and smiled, "This is our Wuliang Daoist Temple's Wuji Tiangang Sword Technique!"
"Wuji Tiangang Sword Technique? I haven't heard of the Wuliang Daoist Temple having such a sword technique…"
Xu Yuxin and Qin Yuan exchanged glances. In their impression, a third-rate sect like the Wuliang Daoist Temple wouldn't have any superior martial arts.
But the sword technique Wan Yunting had just displayed was undoubtedly a superior sword technique.
"A Taoist sect that has stood for so many years naturally has a few secret manuals that are not widely known. This is normal," Senior Brother Xian Yun said neither servile nor overbearing, always exuding a sense of approachability and peace. He smiled.
Xu Yuxin nodded, her gaze returning to Wan Yunting.
"Continue."
Xiu Qi once again took his stance. He had been successfully spurred on by Wan Yunting's skill, as he himself had not used his full strength. He said, "Brother Wan, this time we're getting serious."
Wan Yunting also assumed his sword stance and smiled, "Senior Brother Xiu, please!"
Xiu Qi's eyes widened, and with a flick of his right hand, his long sword let out a hum. A surge of energy was released as he once again charged at Wan Yunting. The sword released an invisible aura that sliced through the air, attacking Wan Yunting with thunderous speed. Wan Yunting narrowed his eyes, tilted his head back slightly, and Xiu Qi's sword tip swept past his face…
Swish!
Following that, Wan Yunting raised his sword, also surrounded by an aura, and flicked it upwards. Xiu Qi's pupils contracted sharply. He spun and, with a perilous maneuver, dodged Wan Yunting's sword. However, a corner of his robe was sliced off by the sword energy, fluttering down to the ground…
Xiu Qi looked down at his Taoist robe, then looked up at Wan Yunting. This time, neither of them held back. Xiu Qi let out a stern shout and drew his sword. Wan Yunting spun in mid-air, his sword a blur of motion. Numerous surges of energy flew wildly, like over a dozen sword snakes attacking Xiu Qi…
"You all retreat quickly…"
Senior Brother Xian Yun's expression changed. Seeing Wan Yunting's overbearing sword energy, he quickly called out to the surrounding junior disciples to retreat, lest they be injured by the sword energy…
The sword energy flew wildly, stirring up the snow on the ground. Wan Yunting's sword moved like a snake, flashing with cold light. The speed was so great that even Third Senior Sister Xu Yuxin and Qin Yuan were stunned into speechlessness.
Even Xiu Qi was somewhat flustered. Facing Wan Yunting's increasingly powerful blows, like flashing lightning and crisscrossing sword energy that kicked up the snow, Wan Yunting let out a low shout: "Exploding Sword!"
Xiu Qi's eyes widened. Before he could react, he saw countless sword energies flashing before him. Instinctively, he raised his steel sword to block. Wan Yunting's sword tip released ten inches of sword energy that slammed into Xiu Qi's blocking sword…
Clang!
A clear, sharp clanging sound echoed in everyone's ears, followed by a muffled groan from Xiu Qi. He was sent flying backward. Seeing this, Senior Brother Xian Yun rushed forward and caught Xiu Qi by the back. He himself took a step back before stabilizing Xiu Qi. The steel sword in Xiu Qi's hand was now broken, its tip flying off and lying in the snow on the bluestone floor.
The scene left all the Wudang disciples present dumbstruck, their mouths agape, and silence descended for a long time.
"Wow, so amazing…"
Lan Xin, who was the first to recover, exclaimed. Duan Yingying beside her puffed up with pride and said arrogantly, "Of course. If he weren't amazing, how could he be the Abbot of our Wuliang Daoist Temple?"
Wan Yunting put down his sword and quickly came forward to check on Xiu Qi. Seeing that he was unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Senior Brother Xiu. I was a bit heavy-handed just now."
Xiu Qi, who had recovered, felt a pang of discomfort, but seeing Wan Yunting's politeness, he naturally couldn't make a scene. He clasped his hands in return and smiled, "Abbot Wan, you have excellent skills. I was simply outmatched."
Wan Yunting waved his hand modestly, relieved to see he was fine.
Senior Brother Xian Yun smiled, "Alright, it was just a sparring match. Let's call it a day."
"Yes."
Yang Xuan and the others immediately chimed in, "But Second Senior Brother, you didn't use your full strength."
This remark earned Yang Xuan a sharp glare from Xiu Qi. Sensing his senior brother's displeasure, Yang Xuan quickly shut his mouth, not daring to stir up trouble.
Just then, Yao Xin, the female disciple of Old Daoist Zhang Yansong, approached and called out from a distance, "Abbot Wan, my master invites you to observe some alchemy."
"Oh, alright."
Seeing this, Wan Yunting tossed his steel sword to Duan Yingying, instructing her to practice diligently. He then clasped his hands in farewell to Xian Yun, Xu Yuxin, and the others, smiling, "Senior Brother Xian, Senior Brother Xiu, I'll be going down now."
"Good, Abbot Wan, safe travels…"
Xian Yun, Xiu Qi, and Xu Yuxin watched Wan Yunting trot away to descend the mountain with Junior Sister Yao Xin…
Xiu Qi then lifted his broken sword, his brow furrowed. Xu Yuxin asked him, "Second Senior Brother, did you really use your full strength?"
Xiu Qi nodded, looking at Wan Yunting's retreating figure as he descended the mountain, and said, "This Wan Yunting is truly powerful. Both in sword technique and internal energy, he is far superior to me. He doesn't seem like someone at the middle stage of Wudang's Dan Jin realm!"
"So powerful," Qin Yuan and Yang Xuan exclaimed in surprise.
"He still hasn't used his full strength!"
At this moment, Zi Qing, dressed in a grey robe with her long hair disheveled, walked over with a calm expression. She stated plainly, "No, if he had used his full strength, you would already be dead, Second Senior Brother!"
These words made Xiu Qi feel unconvinced, but then he remembered something, and his expression stiffened.
Indeed, Wan Yunting had held back with his last strike. If his sword energy had been an inch longer, it wouldn't have just broken his sword; the sword energy would have pierced his chest.
Senior Brother Xian Yun looked at Zi Qing and smiled, "It seems Seventh Junior Sister intends to take him to Sword Cliff!"
Zi Qing nodded and said, "His talent in swordsmanship is above mine. The last time I went down the mountain to discuss swordsmanship with him was to see if he was qualified to inherit the sword intent legacy of our Wudang Sect's Sword Ancestor!"
"That can't be right, Seventh Junior Sister."
Xu Yuxin's eyes widened in disbelief. "You are the foremost swordsman of our Wudang Sect. Could he be better than you?"
Zi Qing turned to her Third Senior Sister, her naturally phoenix-like eyes revealing a special glint. "I don't misjudge people!"
"Wait, Junior Sister. If what you say is true, then we absolutely cannot let him observe Sword Cliff in the back mountain. If he truly inherits the sword intent legacy of our Sword Ancestor, wouldn't that cause their Wuliang Daoist Temple to soar?" Yang Xuan's eyes widened as he objected.
Upon hearing this, Xiu Qi and Qin Yuan felt it made sense. If the entire world knew that the legacy of their Wudang Sect's Sword Ancestor was learned by the Abbot of a third-rate sect like the Wuliang Daoist Temple, wouldn't their Wudang Sect be mocked for their incompetence?
"Sixth Junior Brother, do you know why your progress has been stagnant?"
Senior Brother Xian Yun then looked at him. Yang Xuan's expression faltered, and he looked somewhat embarrassed. He asked, "Why?"
Xian Yun said expressionlessly, "It's likely because your heart is too small!"
Zi Qing said no more, turned, and descended the mountain. Xu Yuxin also shot Yang Xuan a glare and followed.
"Second Junior Brother, Fifth Junior Brother, diligently supervise the junior disciples' training."
Senior Brother Xian Yun instructed Xiu Qi and Qin Yuan, then also followed them down the mountain, leaving Yang Xuan standing there, his expression bewildered. After a moment, he scratched his head, still not understanding, "I'm not wrong. I'm doing this for our Wudang Sect. Why did Senior Brother say my heart is small?"
"You brat, you're still talking…"
Qin Yuan yanked him, telling Yang Xuan to shut up quickly. He said, "Our Master once said that Sword Cliff should be open to all major sects. Whoever inherits the sword intent legacy of our Sword Ancestor contributes to our martial arts. The purpose is to prevent the sword intent legacy of our Sword Ancestor from being lost."
"Yes, Master is right."
Xiu Qi nodded and said, "To put it in today's internet terms, this is the magnanimity of our Taoist Orthodox Wudang Sect!"