Chapter 169: Slap the Face Hard!
Immortal Sect.
"Master Lihua, the bigger picture must take precedence, the bigger picture must take precedence."
More than half a year had passed for Meng Yu, but only three days had passed for the Immortal Sect.
After Master Lihua made a scene during the meeting, she took immediate action. She halted the Son of Heavenly Way project and sent out resignation letters, seriously admitting her faults. She stated that it was wrong not to have clearly distanced herself from Meng Yu, and that her stance on various matters was unclear. Luckily, Master Ouyang's stern reprimand woke her up to her errors.
Such a statement even made it onto public media.
You accuse me from a moral high ground? You cause trouble for me and make me agree to some conditions for the sake of the bigger picture?
Sorry, you are right. We'll take the blame and don't want anything else!
As for thinking I would worry about my disciple Zhuge Caihua's future?
Sorry, this is for her own good!
If you don't stand by your friends when it's time to choose sides, but instead have a vague stance for personal interests, or even persuade friends to submit in the name of righteousness, that's when you will likely regret it for the rest of your life. Now, Caihua, your teacher will take the pressure off you.
She dealt with the matters on the Supreme Star like lightning and left crisply. If Meng Yu could delete his account without a second thought, why couldn't she, who was no less decisive than a young child?
Not only did Master Ouyang slap Meng Yu's face, but also hers. Meng Yu had saved her face, and she felt ashamed for not being able to retaliate directly, but she had to stand firm.
Having Master Lihua act in such a way made Master Ouyang somewhat panic. The silent majority also felt something was wrong—this couldn't go on like this.
So many people were watching the project, especially the ordinary people. What would happen if it really got shut down?
When Master Lihua arrived at the starship port, old friends were still trying to persuade her to stay.
But... Master Lihua just shook her head and left decisively.
Some friends are fair-weather friends, while others will remember your kindness for a lifetime!
Zhuge Caihua was not fit to stand out and lead the charge, so she would!
...
Huang Tianxiang was a Mid-Level Foundation Building cultivator from the Five Directions Tower, and he had also comprehended the Sword Intent of Cold Ice. He was heralded as a future Golden Core Seed—undefeated in battles against his peers.
Yet Meng Yu, from his appearance, was but at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement. Even if he now boasted he was at the ninth layer, by what right could he challenge Huang Tianxiang?
Perhaps a powerful piece of treasure armor or weapon?
Weapons in the Cultivation World often needed to match one's cultivation level.
Qi Refinement could use Foundation Building weapons, and Foundation Building could use Golden Core magical treasures, but aside from some special talismans and the like, other items were often unsuitable.
The higher the level of the weapon, the more True Qi was required, and the constraints became greater. Sometimes after just a few uses, one's True Qi would be drained, making it less efficient than using one's regular weapon.
His gaze fell on Meng Yu, who wore a simple robe likely woven from Heavenly Silkworm Silk. Everything else about him was unremarkable, even the Wooden Sword at his waist.
"What weapon will you use?"
Still, for the sake of safety, he asked the question.
"Just this Wooden Sword. How about no talismans, no other tactics?"
Meng Yu's demeanor grew more affable by the moment, but Huang Tianxiang felt something was terribly off.
He had come knocking because the Four Golden Cores of the Five Directions Tower had arrived here, and Bai Qianqian, who was soft in nature, would not mercilessly pursue a fight to the death. By taking this risk for the sect, he naturally expected a generous reward.
"Hahaha, how could I, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, bully you, a mere Qi Refinement cultivator? Master Bai, I am here on orders, merely because of the tragic massacre that left a hundred and twenty-six spirits unavenged. How could it be a slap in the face?
The Five Directions Tower and the Moon-Watching Sect have always been good friends, helping and watching over each other. If there has been some misunderstanding..."
He had once challenged Bai Qianqian because she wouldn't fight. Today, this young man was challenging him, which meant he was brimming with confidence!
He wasn't foolish.
Meng Yu stepped forward with the Red Maple Wooden Sword in hand.
"Two options, a fair sword fight, or maybe, Qianqian, you could just kill him outright."
"All right," said Bai Qianqian, the pressure emanating from her directed at Huang Tianxiang.
"If I win, you'll let me go?"
At that moment, Huang Tianxiang also calmed down. He sensed something amiss, but he wasn't afraid of a sword fight. How could he, a Foundation Building swordsmanship prodigy, lose to Meng Yu?
He had been through countless battles...
His eyes glanced again at the Wooden Sword in Meng Yu's hand, wondering what treasure Meng Yu had.
...
The two of them stood opposite each other in front of the grand hall.
Just then, a voice carried from outside the Mountain Protection Array.
"Master Bai, this should be a fair sword fight."
Then came a second voice.
"Peace is most precious."
Next were the third and fourth voices, each carrying the distinct pressure of a Golden Core, announcing the arrival of the true masters from the Five Directions Tower.
This time, four Golden Cores from the Five Directions Tower had come!
The faces of those present changed dramatically.
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Golden Cores should not be easily mobilized; they are strategic weapons. Not to mention that the four Golden Cores from the Five Directions Tower had actually stealthily approached Moon-Watching Sect's vicinity. What were they up to?
This was a posture of a decisive battle to annihilate a sect. Any sect that discovered a large group of Golden Cores nearing its mountain gate, even if it were a sect of sworn siblings, would immediately mobilize all forces and be ready to turn hostile at any moment!
Green Bird's hand rested on the sword.
The Flower Demon's body instantaneously merged into the ground.
Some Imps panicked and squealed, while the faces of the Human Race cultivators turned pale.
"Hehe."
Bai Qianqian, however, was not flustered. With a flick of her finger, an invisible light appeared, and the Mountain Protection Array suddenly lit up.
This was a warning: if you continue to exert your aura, I will directly and completely shut down the Mountain Protection Array, and you will be unable to see or detect anything.
"Meng Yu, kill him within three swords for me!"
Bai Qianqian said calmly, her voice reaching everyone's ears.
Three swords?
The crowd was extremely shocked.
With not a cloud in the sky and the sea calm, everyone watched the two figures on the open ground, especially Meng Yu with his ordinary robe and Wooden Sword.
"My sword is named Cold Frost."
At this moment, Huang Tianxiang calmed down.
It seemed that the sect had made a miscalculation, Bai Qianqian was more confident than anyone else, and he was facing the most dangerous moment of his life.
Three swords, Bai Qianqian actually instructed Meng Yu to kill him within three swords?
What made Bai Qianqian so confident?
Although the young man in front of him seemed to be at only the sixth level of Qi Refinement, at this moment, Huang Tianxiang felt as though he was facing the most terrifying monster.
The monster was baring its teeth, smiling at him.
The sword Cold Frost, almost transparent, forged from the bones of a cold Jiao Dragon, greatly augmented his Cultivation Technique. Snowflakes with six edges began to emerge in the sky, this was his Sword Intent of Cold Ice, named Snow Covers the World!
Coldness, ice binding, and controlling the entire situation!
At the same time, a talisman fell into his hand, and the Treasure Armor on his body also began to emit a faint glow, connecting with the Spiritual Energy in his body.
"Three swords?"
Meng Yu felt a bit puzzled, thinking Bai Qianqian was going too far.
After all, he had fought a real battle with Bai Qianqian, who was at the Golden Core cultivation level, and though she had beaten him into doubting his life, it wasn't his fault! Why do you think I need three moves to kill this man?
Your husband is truly trained in the art of killing with the sword!
You say three swords, but where does that leave my face?
"Actually, one sword would suffice," Meng Yu said helplessly, as he walked towards Huang Tianxiang. A gentle breeze began to stir, morphing into a whirlwind that enveloped the surroundings, while a mild, peaceful flame covered his entire body.
The Shaoyang Mysterious Skill, that is the most orthodox technique, often practiced only by true disciples of the Orthodox Sect in the Central Plains. Its entry process is slow, its cultivation is slow, and it is a technique criticized by many!
"You've also cultivated Sword Intent?"
The moisture in the air condensed into snowflakes, but there was wind blowing through, causing Huang Tianxiang's pupils to narrow into a fine line. A Qi Refinement cultivator who had achieved Sword Intent was considered a prodigy wherever they went!
Meng Yu nodded.
"Sword Intent of the Wind?"
A chill suddenly entered Huang Tianxiang's heart. In the world of martial arts, speed is unbeatable, and the most bothersome aspect of the Sword Intent of the Wind is that it is too fast, too fast for one to dodge. Against such an opponent, even if you're stronger, you must be careful not to capsize.
Meng Yu's figure suddenly accelerated and rushed towards Huang Tianxiang, and in the next moment, he was in front of him.
There were no crisscrossing Sword Qi, no spells exchanged; it was suddenly close-quarters combat!
The two swords did not even clash. Huang Tianxiang thrust his sword at Meng Yu, and Meng Yu also thrust his sword at Huang Tianxiang!
The next moment, there was a "snap" sound.
It was Meng Yu's sword dealing a fierce blow to Huang Tianxiang's face!
This strike could have beheaded Huang Tianxiang, but Meng Yu chose to hit his face instead!
At the moment when the two matched their swordsmanship, it should have been a mutual demise, both striking their opponent. However, Meng Yu's wrist flicked impossibly and suddenly accelerated, and he turned the thrust into a slap, forcefully striking Huang Tianxiang's face.
What should have been a perfect victory turned into Huang Tianxiang getting a chance for a counter-kill. Meng Yu's strike had not killed Huang Tianxiang, but Huang Tianxiang's counter-thrust hit Meng Yu's shoulder!
Meng Yu dodged well, avoiding a thrust aimed at his chest by a clever movement of his body, displacing it by three inches. Still, that was a strike from a Mid-Level Foundation Building cultivator!
Although the force was reduced by fifty percent because it caught him after his own strike, the sword still stabbed deeply into Meng Yu's shoulder, Sword Qi bursting forth, tearing half of his clothes!
Suddenly, there was a "thump" under Meng Yu's feet, an invisible force transmitted outward. Expert swordsmen, like Green Bird, clearly saw what had just occurred!
It's not the hitting that counts in martial arts; it's how one takes a hit that's impressive!
Meng Yu skillfully diffused Huang Tianxiang's strike!
Though his robe was pierced, it was clear who was the more formidable.
It can even be said that this strike was true sword fighting, leaving aside all unnecessary fancy maneuvers, pushing to the test the sword technique, courage, and cultivation!
Meng Yu won.
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