《Starting With The Martial Arts Holy Fire Order》


 Chapter 1 - The Sacred Relic of the Ming Cult, The Holy Flame Token

    Chapter 001: The Sacred Relic of the Ming Cult, The Holy Flame TokenOn the Silk Road through the Kunlun Mountains in the Western Regions, wind and sand billowed in all directions.


    A sixteen-year-old boy had just killed twenty-three members of a Persian caravan with his bare hands, sparing only a single middle-aged man who was now on his knees, begging frantically, ¡°Please¡­ please don¡¯t kill me¡­ I¡¯m not Persian¡­ I¡¯m Han¡­¡±


    As he spoke, he removed the foreign cap from his head and peeled off a fake beard from his face, revealing a Han Chinese appearance.


    ¡°A Han?¡± The boy¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°If you¡¯re Han, then why were you pretending to be a Persian merchant?¡±


    The man hurriedly explained, ¡°I¡­ I committed a serious crime in the Central Plains¡­ To escape the authorities¡­ I joined this Persian caravan by any means possible¡­ hoping to reach the Western Regions¡­ to save my life¡­ I beg you, young master, have mercy and spare me!¡±


    As the boy listened, though the man appeared respectful and submissive, his eyes flickered and avoided meeting his gaze, clearly hiding something.


    Without showing any reaction, the boy struck a pressure point on the middle-aged man, immobilizing him.


    Then, he scanned the three camels that the Persian caravan had led along, noticing that each camel carried large, bulging sacks between its humps, which appeared to be packed with goods.


    The boy opened each sack, discovering large quantities of gold, silver, jewels, silk, and tea. It seemed these were items acquired through trade in the Central Plains, intended to be taken back to Persia for sale.


    Suddenly, he found a small iron box inside one of the sacks. The lid was locked, and it felt quite heavy in his hand.


    Channeling his internal energy into his palm, the boy snapped the lock with brute force and opened the box. Inside, he found six jet-black, token-like objects neatly arranged.


    Each of these six black tokens bore inscriptions and flame patterns. They varied slightly in length and size and were made from a hard, unique material that was neither gold nor jade. The intricate patterns gave the illusion of dancing flames, emitting a faint, mysterious glow.


    These six black tokens were none other than the sacred relics of the Ming Cult, the Holy Flame Tokens.


    ¡°To think that not only did I master the Nine Yang Divine Art, but by sheer luck, I came across these six Holy Flame Tokens as well. My fortune is remarkable¡­¡± The boy held the tokens in his hand, examining them with a look of satisfaction in his eyes.


    This boy was, in fact, a transmigrator from the modern era, whose soul had crossed into the world of . His soul now inhabited the body of a recently deceased boy named Ling Yihan. (From this point, the protagonist will be referred to as Ling Yihan.)


    From the memories of his host, Ling Yihan learned about the period and the martial world he now inhabited, which differed slightly from the plot he remembered from . While the main storyline was mostly intact, some characters¡¯ ages and relationships had undergone minor changes (these details will emerge in future plot points).


    However, one fact remained certain: in this chaotic martial world, survival without powerful martial arts and influence was nearly impossible.


    Determined to gain strength, Ling Yihan spent nearly a year journeying from the Central Plains to the Kunlun Mountains, evading both the Kunlun Sect and Zhu Wu Lianhuan Manor. He finally located the cave valley that Zhang Wuji had discovered in the original novel, where he retrieved the Nine Yang Manual from inside a white ape.


    Having come prepared with a needle and thread, Ling Yihan stitched up the white ape¡¯s wound after retrieving the manual. In gratitude, the ape often brought him large peaches from the valley.


    These were no ordinary peaches. The white ape, originally raised by Xiaoxiang and Yin Kexi, should have lived only twenty to thirty years. However, after consuming the spiritual peaches that grew in the valley, absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy, it had survived over ninety years, nearly as long as Zhang Sanfeng.


    Ling Yihan spent three years mastering all four volumes of the Nine Yang Divine Art (Zhang Wuji, afflicted with the cold poison of the Xuanming Divine Palm, had needed over five years). Not only did Ling Yihan reach an unparalleled level of inner strength, but by consuming numerous spiritual peaches, his physical constitution far surpassed that of ordinary men.


    Upon completing his training, he left the valley and encountered the Persian merchants on the Silk Road. Needing supplies and funds, he chose to rob them. When they resisted fiercely, he killed them all in anger, sparing only the middle-aged man.


    Ling Yihan walked over to the man, holding the Holy Flame Tokens in his hand, and asked indifferently, ¡°Can you read Persian?¡±


    The man nodded, ¡°Just a little¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan showed him the Persian text on the tokens, but the man could only understand a fraction of it. Frustrated, Ling Yihan struck him on the crown, killing him instantly.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t allow anyone else to know the secret of the Holy Flame Tokens while they¡¯re in my possession. You have to die!¡± Ling Yihan said coldly, looking down at the man¡¯s lifeless body, his eyes wide open in death.


    The Holy Flame Tokens were originally sacred relics of the Persian Ming Cult, introduced to the Central Plains along with the Ming Cult¡¯s teachings. They symbolized the Ming Cult¡¯s highest authority, as if bearing the tokens equated to the leader¡¯s presence.


    According to the original story, however, during the rule of the Ming Cult¡¯s thirty-first leader, the tokens were stolen by members of the Beggar Clan. Eventually, they made their way back to Persia and were entrusted to the Persian sect¡¯s Three Envoys of Wind, Cloud, and Moon, who brought them to Spirit Snake Island, where they clashed with Zhang Wuji and his companions.


    Had Ling Yihan not encountered them, these Holy Flame Tokens would likely have been taken back to Persia.


    The Persian script on the tokens contained the Flame Token Divine Art, created by Persia¡¯s , Hoshan. The techniques were strange and treacherous, and even Zhang Wuji, a martial arts prodigy, had struggled in his first encounters with the three envoys.


    Of course, once Zhang Wuji had the text translated by Xiao Zhao, he mastered the Flame Token Divine Art and declared it the pinnacle of unorthodox martial arts. However, he found it inferior to the profound arts of the Nine Yang Divine Art, the Great Shifting Art, and Wudang¡¯s Taiji Sword and Fist.


    For Ling Yihan, who had just mastered the Nine Yang Divine Art and possessed immense inner strength but lacked techniques, the bizarre moves of the Flame Token Divine Art were a welcome addition.


    Rummaging through the middle-aged man¡¯s belongings, Ling Yihan found a jade seal and a letter.


    The jade seal was old and chipped, with a corner filled in with gold. Though ancient, the eight Qin-dynasty seal characters engraved upon it shocked Ling Yihan. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 2 - Practicing the Wedding Garment Divine Art

    Chapter 002: Practicing the Wedding Garment Divine Art S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.It had been years since he arrived in this world, and the system was only now making its appearance.


    Ling Yihan couldn¡¯t help but laugh bitterly in his heart.


    ¡°Good. The host has successfully accepted the gift package. Please check your rewards!¡± the system¡¯s voice echoed in his mind again.


    Ling Yihan focused his consciousness inward and found something like an inventory slot from an online game. Inside, he saw an icon representing the gift package, which he quickly opened:


    Wedding Garment Divine Art,


    Seeing these items, Ling Yihan was overjoyed. He had been wondering how to decipher the Persian script on the Holy Flame Tokens, but now, with the Persian Language Mastery Card, much of the trouble was resolved.


    The storage ring was a convenient item to store objects, making it an essential tool. As for the Body Refinement Pills, their purpose was self-evident; after consuming them, his body could become stronger and more resilient.


    As for the , however, it troubled Ling Yihan. Although this divine art was an exclusive martial skill of the Iron-Blooded Banner Sect, praised as the ¡°Zen of Martial Arts,¡± like the Ming Jade Skill, it was a supreme martial art.


    But this art was extraordinarily fierce. Once cultivated, the internal energy would burn through the eight extraordinary meridians like fire, requiring constant practice to maintain control. However, the stronger the inner energy grew, the greater the suffering and torment it brought. Lady Ye, who had practiced this art, endured the burning torment day and night, her appearance disfigured, her body mutated. Only after she passed her internal energy to Tie Zhongtang did she regain her former beauty and charm, only to die from her depleted inner energy.


    The name  hinted at its meaning¡ª Legend had it that if one hated another deeply, the best way to exact revenge was to give them this  manual.


    Aside from Tie Zhongtang, who practiced a transferred version of the , only one person truly mastered the complete version: Yan Nantian.


    Though Yan Nantian possessed both the physique and the indomitable will far surpassing that of Lady Ye, even he struggled to control this divine art on his own, stalling in his practice at the sixth or seventh level. Later, when he was ambushed by the Five Villains in Villain¡¯s Valley, he was severely wounded, his martial skills destroyed, and turned into a living corpse. But it was due to this injury that he was able to rebuild his strength, unwittingly reaching the peak of the  at the tenth level.


    Ling Yihan was well aware that if he wanted to master this art, he could either pass it on to someone else to cultivate and then have them transfer their inner energy back to him, though this would reduce its power. Or, like Yan Nantian, he could cultivate up to the sixth or seventh level, then destroy his martial arts, rebuild his strength, and achieve the peak power, though this was incredibly risky.


    ¡°Detected that the host possesses the  manual. Do you wish to cultivate it?¡± the system reminded him once more.


    Ling Yihan shared his concerns with the system, finally asking, ¡°System, is there any way for me to practice the complete version of the  without the risk of crippling myself?¡±


    The system replied, ¡°Yes, the host can take the Body Refinement Pills. Combined with the host¡¯s perfected , the  can be fully cultivated without the need for external cultivation and transference.¡±


    ¡°Really? You¡¯re not deceiving me, are you?¡± Ling Yihan asked with surprise and suspicion.


    ¡°Of course not. I have no reason to deceive the host. As the saying goes,  The internal energy of the  is excessively fierce, so its sharpness must be dulled through a secondary cultivation. It¡¯s like eating a walnut¡ªyou cannot swallow it whole with the shell on; you must first crack the shell,¡± the system explained slowly.


    Ling Yihan nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Yes, I understand that. But why did you say that after I practiced the , I wouldn¡¯t need to cripple myself to practice it?¡±


    The system patiently explained, ¡°It¡¯s simple. To dull the sharpness of this fierce internal energy, one could either disable the inner strength or use an equally powerful inner strength to suppress it. Given the host¡¯s current state, the  is the best choice. However, the clash of two fierce energies would inevitably harm the host¡¯s body, so it is essential to take the Body Refinement Pills to strengthen your physique.¡±


    Understanding dawned on Ling Yihan. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll cultivate it as you¡¯ve instructed.¡±


    He then stored the Holy Flame Tokens, the Imperial Seal, and the treasures and supplies in the storage ring. Leading the three camels, he found a hidden mountain cave nearby to begin his cultivation of the .


    Before starting, Ling Yihan swallowed one Body Refinement Pill. Shortly after, he felt significant changes in his body; his muscles and bones grew tougher and more robust. Only then did he confidently begin following the  mental instructions.


    With the power of the , his learning of martial arts proceeded swiftly. Ling Yihan quickly reached the sixth level of the , at which point he could feel two fierce streams of yang energy clashing within him.


    Though the pain was intense, his body, strengthened by numerous spiritual peaches from the white ape and the Body Refinement Pill, held up under the strain.


    However, on the seventh day, as he broke through to the ninth level, he suddenly felt a dragon of fire rampaging within his dantian. The scorching heat surged through his eight extraordinary meridians, even reaching his internal organs.


    In an instant, Ling Yihan felt as though he were engulfed in flames. His skin alternated between shades of purple and red, radiating intense heat. His once refined face contorted in agony.


    Unable to bear the scorching pain, he let out a furious roar and struck a massive boulder beside him.  The boulder shattered into countless fragments, dust flying everywhere.


    ¡°Am I about to suffer a Qi deviation?¡± Ling Yihan thought in a frenzy, though a thread of clarity remained in his mind.


    Afraid to continue, he quickly sat cross-legged, calming himself and slowly guiding and absorbing the rampaging internal energy.


    Without realizing it, Ling Yihan spent ten days and nights in the mountain cave cultivating and regulating his energy. By the ninth level of the , he felt as though he had been reborn. His internal energy was thicker and more powerful, as fierce as lightning and blazing like fire, yet completely under his control, perfectly integrated with his body.


    Although he took more Body Refinement Pills later, he could not break through to the tenth level. It seemed he had reached a bottleneck.


    Still, Ling Yihan was content. Reaching such a level in just ten days was already astonishing.  He would wait for the right opportunity and circumstances.


    Later, he used the Persian and Mongolian Language Mastery Cards, quickly mastering the martial arts inscribed on the Holy Flame Tokens. This was far easier than the  and did not take him long.


    ¡°Hm? There seems to be a cave here. Is anyone inside?¡±


    At that moment, a gentle, melodious voice called from outside the cave.

 Chapter 3 - The Physician Girl, Hu Qingyang

    Chapter 003: The Physician Girl, Hu QingyangAs soon as Ling Yihan heard her voice, he became alert, cautiously on guard.


    Using the movement technique from the Holy Flame Token Divine Art, he darted forward like a phantom, appearing in front of the girl in an instant.


    He reached out his right hand, gripping her throat, and coldly asked, ¡°Who are you? Why are you here?¡±


    The girl was caught off guard as he seized her neck, her face flushing red as she struggled to speak.


    ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m a physician¡­ I came to these Kunlun Mountain snow ridges to gather¡­ Tianshan Snow Lotus¡­ The sun is about to set¡­ I was just looking for a place to shelter from the wind and snow¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan detected the faint scent of herbs on her, which made him half believe her story.


    He loosened his grip on her throat and asked indifferently, ¡°A physician? What¡¯s your name?¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? I¡¯m a girl¡­ and you¡¯re so rough-handed¡­ My name is Hu Qingyang¡­¡± Freeing her neck, the girl coughed a few times, finally able to breathe more easily.


    ¡°Hu Qingyang? That name sounds familiar¡­ hmm¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan murmured as he recalled something. A sudden flash of realization crossed his mind, and he asked in a serious tone, ¡°Is the , Hu Qingniu, related to you?¡±


    ¡°Huh? So, you know my brother?¡± Hu Qingyang said in surprise.


    ¡°You¡¯re Hu Qingniu¡¯s younger sister?¡± Ling Yihan looked her over more carefully.


    The young girl before him might not be a peerless beauty, but her features were delicate and charming, with an air of quiet elegance.


    She wore a green dress and a headscarf, appearing to be around seventeen or eighteen years old. Though she wore no makeup, she had a unique grace characteristic of a young woman from a family of physicians.


    ¡°Yes, I am. There¡¯s no mistake about it¡­ Wait, have you met my brother? Are you his friend or his enemy?¡± Hu Qingyang asked warily, her gaze fixed on him.


    Ling Yihan had already used his inner energy to assess her, confirming that she had no martial skills. He replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve never met him, only heard of him. So, I¡¯m neither his friend nor his foe. It¡¯s cold outside; come on in.¡±


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    Hearing Ling Yihan¡¯s invitation, Hu Qingyang did not put on airs. She cautiously followed him into the cave but thought to herself,


    Her sister-in-law was, of course, Hu Qingniu¡¯s wife and junior apprentice sister, Wang Nangu, who was skilled in poison. Although Wang Nangu often tested her poisoning and antidote skills with Hu Qingniu, she was very fond of Hu Qingyang and had taught her some poisoning techniques for self-defense.


    So, even though Hu Qingyang lacked martial skills, she could still handle ordinary martial artists with her poison skills.


    ¡°Wow, are these three camels yours? They¡¯re so cute! Don¡¯t they need food, or feel the cold?¡±


    As she entered the cave, Hu Qingyang noticed the three camels huddled together and couldn¡¯t help but feel amazed.


    Ling Yihan, however, had no interest in talking to her and sat quietly beside the campfire in the cave, continuing his internal cultivation.


    Seeing that he was ignoring her, Hu Qingyang felt frustrated but continued to ask, ¡°By the way, I still don¡¯t know your honorable name, young master?¡±


    ¡°Ling¡­ Yi¡­ Han. If there¡¯s nothing urgent, please don¡¯t disturb me¡­ If you¡¯re hungry, there¡¯s some dry food here. Feel free to help yourself¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan replied briefly, then resumed his training.


    ¡°Hmph¡­ what¡¯s with the attitude¡­ so what if you know martial arts?¡± Hu Qingyang muttered to herself, rolling her eyes at his response.


    Before long, her stomach began to growl. Without hesitation, she grabbed some food from the cave and started eating.


    By the light of the campfire, Hu Qingyang took a closer look at Ling Yihan¡¯s face, noticing that, despite his cold and fierce demeanor, he was quite handsome¡ªa true fine-looking young man. She couldn¡¯t help but feel a slight stirring in her heart.


    The night passed quietly, with Ling Yihan and Hu Qingyang, a pair of young strangers, sleeping peacefully by the fire in the cave.


    The next morning, just outside the cave, Ling Yihan led one of the camels over to Hu Qingyang and said, ¡°Yesterday, I acted rashly and offended you, Miss Hu. I¡¯m giving you this camel as a means of transport as an apology.¡±


    Hu Qingyang shook her head, smiling. ¡°Brother Ling, I¡¯m not so petty. After all, we didn¡¯t know each other before. Out in the world, it¡¯s wise to stay on guard. I don¡¯t need your camel. But if you really want to make it up to me, how about joining me in picking Tianshan Snow Lotus?¡±


    Ling Yihan couldn¡¯t easily refuse her request, and since he had no particular destination, he nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go with you.¡±


    They soon reached a steep snow-covered ridge where, sure enough, a pristine white lotus flower grew on the cliffside. It seemed to be a Tianshan Snow Lotus.


    ¡°Brother Ling, this is the Tianshan Snow Lotus I found earlier. Yesterday, the heavy snow made it difficult to pick, but today¡¯s weather is much better¡­¡± Hu Qingyang pointed to the Tianshan Snow Lotus as she explained to Ling Yihan.


    Seeing the distance to the snow lotus on the cliffside, Ling Yihan said coolly, ¡°It¡¯s not too high; I can retrieve it for you quickly¡­¡±


    As he spoke, he prepared to leap up, intending to use his lightness skill to grab the lotus.


    Seeing this, Hu Qingyang quickly held his arm, smiling. ¡°Brother Ling, I¡¯ll do it myself! Just because I¡¯m a girl and can¡¯t fight doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m incapable¡­¡±


    With that, she began climbing up the cliff with a grappling hook, making her way up slowly.


    In no time, Hu Qingyang managed to pick the snow lotus. However, on her way down, the rock her hook was attached to suddenly loosened, and she lost her footing, tumbling down from the cliff.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡± Hu Qingyang cried out in fear as she fell.


    Prepared for such an event, Ling Yihan swiftly leaped into the air, catching her petite figure in his arms and gently landing back on the ground.


    With a look of lingering fear, Hu Qingyang kept her gaze fixed on Ling Yihan, taking a moment to regain her composure. She quickly pulled away from his embrace and stood aside, blushing. ¡°Brother Ling¡­ thank you, I¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan, unaffected, replied indifferently, ¡°Try to avoid dangerous situations like that. Risking your life for a single lotus is not worth it.¡±


    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Hu Qingyang nodded obediently, then added, ¡°By the way, Brother Ling, could you accompany me to Bright Peak?¡±


    ¡°Bright Peak? Isn¡¯t that the main base of the Ming Cult? Why do you want to go there?¡± Ling Yihan asked, curious.

 Chapter 4 - Dai Qisi Enters Bright Peak

    Chapter 004: Dai Qisi Enters Bright Peak¡°Yes, you may not know, but my brother once received a great favor from the Ming Cult.


    So, whenever any Ming Cult disciples suffer injuries or illness and come to him for treatment, he charges them nothing.¡±


    Hu Qingyang explained with a cheerful smile.


    ¡°This time, Cult Leader Yang rushed his training of the Ming Cult¡¯s supreme technique, the , and almost suffered Qi deviation. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thankfully, his life is safe, and with some rest, he¡¯ll recover.


    My brother asked me to come here to pick this Tianshan Snow Lotus for Cult Leader Yang to help nourish his body.¡±


    Ling Yihan nodded.


    ¡°I know this.


    Isn¡¯t your brother famous in the martial world as ¡®Unwilling to Save the Dying¡¯?


    He doesn¡¯t treat anyone from other sects, especially the disciples of the Six Major Sects, except those from the Ming Cult.¡±


    ¡°Unwilling to save the dying? That¡¯s impossible!


    My brother has always been a compassionate healer who has never turned away a patient¡­¡±


    Hu Qingyang said, puzzled.


    Hearing this, Ling Yihan suddenly recalled that in the original story, Hu Qingniu grew to despise the Six Major Sects because his sister, Hu Qingyang, was deceived by Xianyu Tong, the leader of the Huashan Sect.


    She lost her purity to him, only to be abandoned, leading her to ultimately commit suicide, taking two lives in one.


    This incident embittered Hu Qingniu, making him refuse to treat anyone from the Six Major Sects.


    Thinking of this, and looking at the innocent and lovely young girl before him, Ling Yihan felt a stir in his heart.


    Though he didn¡¯t want to interfere, allowing Xianyu Tong to get away with it again would mean he had come to this world for nothing.


    ¡°Is that so? Then I must have been mistaken.¡±


    Ling Yihan didn¡¯t wish to discuss the matter further and changed the topic.


    ¡°I can accompany you to Bright Peak, but I don¡¯t know anyone from the Ming Cult, so they probably won¡¯t let me into the main sanctuary.¡±


    Hu Qingyang smiled sweetly.


    ¡°Brother Ling, I have a close relationship with the cult leader¡¯s wife, and Cult Leader Yang listens to her most of all, so there¡¯s no need to worry.¡±


    Ling Yihan smirked inwardly.


    And so, Ling Yihan and Hu Qingyang each rode a camel, leading another one as they set off toward Bright Peak.


    Along the way, they encountered many traveling merchants and also faced attacks from bandits, though all of them met their end under Ling Yihan¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Brother Ling, although they were bandits, they¡¯re just trying to make a living.


    There¡¯s no need to kill them all.


    Just driving them away would¡¯ve sufficed.¡±


    Watching Ling Yihan¡¯s ruthless methods, Hu Qingyang couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy.


    Ling Yihan replied indifferently,


    ¡°In these chaotic times, it¡¯s survival of the fittest.


    If I don¡¯t kill them, they¡¯ll come to kill me.


    It¡¯s much easier to end them than to leave them alive to seek revenge later.¡±


    Hu Qingyang sighed helplessly, shaking her head.


    After seven days of travel, they finally arrived at Bright Peak.


    Thanks to Hu Qingyang¡¯s introduction, Ling Yihan was only checked for weapons and allowed into the Ming Cult¡¯s main sanctuary.


    In truth, the reason he agreed to accompany Hu Qingyang to Bright Peak was to obtain the mental technique of the .


    At that moment, the system¡¯s voice suddenly echoed in his mind.


    ¡°What? I have to become Yang Dingtian¡¯s disciple?


    With my current martial skills, even if I can¡¯t surpass him, I¡¯m certainly not far behind.


    Why should I lower myself to this short-lived fool?¡±


    Ling Yihan was displeased.


    ¡°And there¡¯s no mention of the reward.


    If it turns out to be something worthless, wouldn¡¯t that be a huge loss?¡±


    ¡°Rest assured.


    The task reward will definitely satisfy you.


    Please don¡¯t doubt me!¡± the system replied earnestly.


    Ling Yihan sighed.


    ¡°Fine.


    Why should I argue with a man who¡¯s about to die?


    Becoming his disciple it is.


    Strength in martial arts is all that matters.¡±


    Hu Qingniu was currently in Yang Dingtian¡¯s quarters, treating his injuries.


    Hu Qingyang brought the Tianshan Snow Lotus along to assist with the healing.


    Since the Ming Cult members viewed Ling Yihan as an outsider, he was arranged to stay in a guest room and was not allowed to accompany Hu Qingyang during the treatment.


    After treating Yang Dingtian¡¯s injuries, Hu Qingniu returned to Butterfly Valley, but Lady Yang persuaded Hu Qingyang to stay with her.


    Naturally, Ling Yihan also remained at Bright Peak.


    Two days later, Bright Peak was adorned with decorations, and disciples gathered in celebration.


    Not only was Hu Qingyang present, but even Ling Yihan, as a guest, was invited to the festivities.


    Yang Dingtian and his wife sat in the main seats of the hall, followed by the Left and Right Envoys of Light, Yang Xiao and Fan Yao;


    the Three Guardian Kings¡ªBai Mei Ying Wang, the White-Browed Eagle King; Jin Mao Shi Wang, the Golden Lion King; and Qing Yi Fu Wang, the Green-Winged Bat King;


    the Five Wanderers; the Five Element Flags; and other members of the cult.


    Ling Yihan curiously asked Hu Qingyang, who was sitting beside him,


    ¡°What¡¯s the occasion today?


    Why is the entire Ming Cult gathered here?¡±


    Hu Qingyang smiled at him.


    ¡°I heard Lady Yang mention it.


    Today, the Persian main sect has sent a few envoys to bring a follower who wishes to join the Central Plains Ming Cult.¡±


    ¡°Persian envoys?¡± Ling Yihan thought to himself.


    ¡°Could it be that Dai Qisi is coming?¡±


    Sure enough, not long after, three Persians entered, carrying a written message from the Persian cult leader, and greeted Yang Dingtian.


    One of the Persians spoke respectfully to Yang Dingtian.


    ¡°Cult Leader Yang, our sect has a Pure Kindness Envoy who was originally from the Central Plains.


    Having lived in Persia for many years, he joined our Ming Cult, married a Persian woman, and had a daughter.


    Sadly, he passed away a year ago.


    Before his death, he requested that his daughter return to the Central Plains.


    Our cult leader respects his wishes, so we have brought her to Bright Peak, hoping Cult Leader Yang will accept her.¡±


    Yang Dingtian nodded immediately and smiled.


    ¡°Since it¡¯s the cult leader¡¯s request, how could I refuse?


    Where is this Pure Kindness Envoy¡¯s daughter?


    Please bring her in.¡±


    At his words, the Persian envoy gestured, and a young girl stepped into the hall.


    The girl appeared to be about eighteen years old.


    Her hair and eyes were black, like those of people from the Central Plains, but her nose was higher, her eye sockets deeper, and her skin remarkably fair, like freshly fallen snow.


    Ling Yihan recognized her immediately¡ªit was Dai Qisi.


    She was stunningly beautiful, radiant and enchanting.


    As she entered the hall, it was as if the entire place lit up.


    Not only Yang Dingtian and his wife, but the Left and Right Envoys, the Three Guardian Kings, the Five Wanderers, the Five Element Flag-bearers, and every other member of the cult were all captivated by her beauty.


    ¡°Dai Qisi, at your service.


    Greetings to Cult Leader Yang and Lady Yang.¡±


    Dai Qisi greeted Yang Dingtian and his wife with a respectful bow.

 Chapter 5 - I’m Younger Than You All

    Chapter 005 ¨C I¡¯m Younger Than You All¡°Wow! This lady is absolutely beautiful¡ªI¡¯ve never seen anyone so stunning. She¡¯s like a fairy! Compared to her, I¡¯m nothing but a country bumpkin.¡±


    Hu Qingyang marveled at Dai Qisi¡¯s appearance, feeling a mix of admiration and jealousy.


    Ling Yihan had merely glanced at Dai Qisi earlier, dismissing her quickly. Hearing Hu Qingyang¡¯s comment, he chuckled lightly.


    ¡°No matter how beautiful, she¡¯s still only a face that will, one day, become old and wrinkled, leaving nothing of her beauty behind.¡±


    Curious, Hu Qingyang asked, ¡°Brother Ling, all the men are gawking at that lady, Dai Qisi, practically drooling over her. But you don¡¯t even look at her¡ªare you really not interested?¡±


    Ling Yihan shook his head with a smile.


    ¡°Why would I be interested? She¡¯s just a foreigner from Persia. Why would I look at her when there¡¯s a beautiful Central Plains girl right in front of me? I¡¯d rather spend my time admiring you.¡±


    Hu Qingyang¡¯s face flushed red, and she replied shyly, ¡°Brother Ling, you¡¯re just teasing me. I could never compare to her beauty!¡±


    ¡°Everyone has their tastes. It¡¯s only these Ming Cult men who don¡¯t know true beauty,¡± Ling Yihan remarked casually as he picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks.


    Hearing this, Hu Qingyang felt her heart flutter.


    she thought, her cheeks growing redder with each passing moment.


    ¡°Come here, Dai Qisi, let me take a closer look at you!¡±


    Madam Yang couldn¡¯t help but call Dai Qisi over with a slight smile. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yes, Madam Yang!¡±


    Dai Qisi replied promptly and walked over gracefully.


    As she passed Ling Yihan, she noticed him laughing and talking with the girl beside him, paying her no mind¡ªquite unlike the other Ming Cult men who openly stared at her. She felt both surprised and slightly disappointed.


    Although she was the Holy Maiden of the Persian Sect and a potential successor to the sect leader, requiring her to remain celibate, it didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t want to be admired. After all, a woman feels a sense of pride and accomplishment when men pursue her.


    Seeing this handsome young man, however, dismiss her beauty so easily, she felt a pang of displeasure, especially as he was friendly with a girl far less attractive than her.


    But the feeling quickly passed as Dai Qisi approached Madam Yang, engaging her in lighthearted conversation.


    The three Persian men stayed only one night at the Bright Peak and returned to Persia the following morning, leaving Dai Qisi behind.


    From then on, many young, unmarried men in the Ming Cult vied for her attention, using every possible means, only to be rejected by her each time.


    On this day, in the flower garden on Bright Peak, Ling Yihan was learning to identify medicinal herbs from Hu Qingyang. Life on the road often brought injuries, so knowing some herbal medicine was always useful.


    ¡°Right Messenger Fan, you¡¯ve been following me¡ªis there something you need?¡±


    A sweet, slightly teasing voice suddenly reached Ling Yihan and Hu Qingyang¡¯s ears.


    Turning toward the voice, they saw Dai Qisi and Bright Right Messenger Fan Yao not far off.


    Though Fan Yao was talented and skilled in martial arts, he was notoriously shy around women.


    He stammered, ¡°Ah¡­ there are often venomous snakes in this area. I was concerned for your safety, so¡­ I didn¡¯t mean to intrude upon your enjoyment of the flowers¡­ Please don¡¯t take offense¡­¡±


    Understanding his true intention, Dai Qisi gave him a slight smile.


    ¡°Thank you for your concern, Right Messenger Fan¡­¡±


    She glanced around and, seeing Ling Yihan and Hu Qingyang nearby, used the opportunity to walk over to them.


    ¡°Qingyang, what are you up to?¡±


    Dai Qisi greeted Hu Qingyang with a bright smile.


    As the Hu siblings held high status within the Ming Cult, Dai Qisi quickly became acquainted with them after arriving at Bright Peak.


    ¡°Sister Dai Qisi, I¡¯m just teaching Brother Ling how to identify some medicinal herbs. Nothing major¡­¡±


    Hu Qingyang replied gently.


    ¡°Brother Ling? May I ask for your full name?¡±


    Dai Qisi asked, taking the chance to address Ling Yihan.


    Ling Yihan gave her a brief glance and replied coolly, ¡°Ling Yihan.¡±


    After stating his name, he returned his attention to the herbs, clearly uninterested in conversing further.


    Dai Qisi felt somewhat frustrated. Compared to the other young men in the Ming Cult who sought her favor, Ling Yihan was icy toward her, only showing warmth toward Hu Qingyang.


    she wondered.


    To test her thoughts, she asked, ¡°Brother Ling isn¡¯t a Ming Cult disciple, right? You and Qingyang are always together¡ªbe honest, are you two a couple?¡±


    Unlike the more reserved Central Plains women, Dai Qisi was blunt and spoke her mind.


    ¡°Sister, what are you saying? Brother Ling and I are completely innocent; it¡¯s not what you think¡­¡±


    Hu Qingyang stammered, her cheeks turning bright red.


    ¡°Stop denying it; you can¡¯t fool me. I¡¯ve noticed the way you look at Brother Ling¡ªit¡¯s different from how you look at the other young men in the cult. And Brother Ling is only warm and considerate with you, treating the rest of us with indifference¡­¡±


    Dai Qisi cast an envious look at Ling Yihan.


    ¡°There¡¯s no such thing! Sister, stop teasing me¡­¡±


    Hu Qingyang blushed deeper, desperately trying to cut off Dai Qisi¡¯s line of questioning.


    Ling Yihan suddenly interjected, ¡°Qingyang¡¯s the only person I know at Bright Peak; I¡¯m not close with anyone else. Also¡­ I¡¯m actually sixteen. Aren¡¯t I younger than you?¡±


    ¡°What? You¡¯re only sixteen? But you look almost twenty!¡±


    Dai Qisi exclaimed, unable to hold back.


    Hu Qingyang¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Because of his mastery of the supreme martial arts, the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Marriage Robe Skill, Ling Yihan appeared more mature and robust than his peers, giving him an air of maturity beyond his years.

 Chapter 6 - You’re Not Even a Man

    Chapter 006 ¨C You¡¯re Not Even a Man¡°Sigh, why am I even telling you this?


    Qingyang, I still don¡¯t know the names of these herbs.


    Come on, teach me!¡±


    Ling Yihan ignored Dai Qisi, continuing to study the herbs in his hand.


    Dai Qisi, seeing this, huffed coldly and walked away.


    Watching from nearby, Fan Yao felt even more frustrated.


    He¡¯d been trying so hard to get close to Dai Qisi, yet Ling Yihan dismissed her despite her friendliness.


    The more Fan Yao thought about it, the more annoyed he became.


    ¡°Brother Ling, why did you make Sister Dai Qisi leave?


    It¡¯s rare for her to approach anyone so warmly, especially since she¡¯s usually cold to other men.


    Why did you treat her like that?¡± Hu Qingyang asked, clearly puzzled.


    Ling Yihan replied nonchalantly,


    ¡°It¡¯s simple.


    I¡¯m not that familiar with her, so why waste my breath on pointless chatter?¡±


    Hu Qingyang couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    ¡°You really don¡¯t know how lucky you are.


    So many young men in the cult would do anything just to make her smile,


    yet you responded with such indifference.


    What¡¯s going on in your head?¡±


    Ling Yihan stretched lazily.


    ¡°My thoughts are simple: eat well, sleep well, and train hard.


    I couldn¡¯t care less about other trivial things.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you!


    Don¡¯t you want to marry a beautiful girl someday?


    Unless you¡¯re not a man!¡± Hu Qingyang teased.


    ¡°Look at Right Messenger Fan over there¡ªhis eyes go wide every time he sees Sister Dai Qisi, but sadly, the feeling isn¡¯t mutual.


    Still, I think you¡¯d have a good chance if you pursued her.


    It¡¯s obvious she treats you differently from other men.¡±


    Ling Yihan shook his head with a smile.


    ¡°Forget it! I¡¯m not interested in her at all.


    As for marrying someone, if you can¡¯t find anyone to marry you,


    I might step up and do it as a friend¡­ out of loyalty.¡±


    Hearing this, Hu Qingyang blushed and lightly punched his shoulder with her delicate fist.


    ¡°Get out of here! I¡¯m not the one who can¡¯t get married!


    Though I may not be as beautiful as Sister Dai Qisi, I¡¯m still attractive enough.


    There are plenty of men lining up for me from Butterfly Valley all the way to Bright Peak¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought that Miss Hu, the skilled healer, is also a master braggart?


    I think you should change your name from Hu Qingyang to Hu Blowhard.¡±


    ¡°Ha! You¡¯re the one who¡¯s full of hot air!¡± she retorted, suddenly recalling something.


    ¡°Oh, and I haven¡¯t settled accounts with you yet!


    Why did you deceive me?¡±


    Curious, Ling Yihan asked,


    ¡°What did I lie about?¡±


    Hu Qingyang stared at him, annoyed.


    ¡°You took advantage of me!¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ you can eat too much, but don¡¯t talk recklessly.


    When did I take advantage of you?


    If someone hears, they might think we¡­ did something scandalous.¡±


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re clearly younger than me.


    Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier?


    You made me call you Brother Ling all this time.


    Do you know how unfair that is?¡± Hu Qingyang huffed.


    Ling Yihan shook his head, smiling.


    ¡°You never asked.


    Besides, I didn¡¯t force you to call me that.¡±


    Unyielding, Hu Qingyang said,


    ¡°I don¡¯t care.


    You have to call me ¡®Sister¡¯ from now on, or I won¡¯t let you off.¡±


    ¡°No way.


    You¡¯re only a year older than me, and besides, anyone seeing us standing together would think we¡¯re siblings, not sister and brother.¡±


    ¡°No, you have to call me ¡®Sister¡¯¡­


    or I¡¯ll tell everyone you bullied me.¡±


    ¡°Bullied you?


    Fine, if you insist, I¡¯ll do it right now.¡±


    ¡°Haha, you wouldn¡¯t dare!


    You¡¯re not even a man¡­¡±


    At this, Ling Yihan¡¯s eyes narrowed with a mischievous grin.


    ¡°You don¡¯t get to decide that.¡±


    He quickly leaned forward and planted a kiss on her lips, then used his light-footed skills to dart away.


    Stunned by the kiss, Hu Qingyang stood there, completely blank, her mind racing.


    It took her a moment to process what had happened.


    ¡°He¡­ he kissed me!


    No man has ever done that to me before¡­


    Ling¡­ Yihan¡­ you scoundrel!


    Don¡¯t you run away¡­¡±


    Mortified, she chased after him in the direction he had fled.


    Later, Hu Qingyang told Madam Yang about the day¡¯s events, omitting only the part where Ling Yihan had kissed her.


    Learning that Fan Yao had feelings for Dai Qisi, Madam Yang decided to play matchmaker and discussed the matter with Yang Dingtian, who was more than willing to help Fan Yao pursue the clever and beautiful Dai Qisi.


    One day, as Dai Qisi practiced her swordplay in her courtyard, Yang Dingtian and his wife entered.


    Watching her skillful sword moves, Yang Dingtian clapped and praised,


    ¡°Well done! Excellent technique!¡± sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Greetings to the Cult Master and Madam!¡± Dai Qisi quickly sheathed her sword and greeted them with a smile.


    Yang Dingtian nodded.


    ¡°Dai Qisi, you¡¯ve been on Bright Peak for a while now.


    Have you gotten used to life here?¡±


    ¡°With such a vast peak and so many interesting places to explore, how could I not feel at home?


    Thank you, Cult Master and Madam, for your kindness,¡± Dai Qisi replied warmly.


    Madam Yang smiled slightly.


    ¡°Good.


    I was worried you¡¯d feel homesick, so I had Persian dishes prepared for you to remind you of home.¡±


    Dai Qisi¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    ¡°Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Madam!¡±


    ¡°Oh, that reminds me,¡± Yang Dingtian interjected.


    ¡°Madam, didn¡¯t you have something to say to Dai Qisi?¡±


    Madam Yang smiled knowingly.


    ¡°Yes.


    Dai Qisi, what do you think of Right Messenger Fan?¡±


    Without thinking too much, Dai Qisi responded naturally,


    ¡°Right Messenger Fan is a talented and exceptional martial artist, certainly a rare talent.¡±


    Hearing this, Yang Dingtian smiled with satisfaction.


    ¡°Good eye!¡±


    Madam Yang beamed.


    ¡°With his talents, he¡¯d make an ideal husband.


    The Cult Master and I would be honored to arrange a match between you two.


    What do you think?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Dai Qisi¡¯s expression shifted, and she immediately declined.


    ¡°I won¡¯t marry Right Messenger Fan.¡±


    ¡°Oh! So, is there someone else you¡¯re interested in?


    Could it be that young man, Ling Yihan?¡±


    Madam Yang suddenly recalled that Hu Qingyang had mentioned Dai Qisi being fond of Ling Yihan, so she assumed this was the case.


    At the mention of Ling Yihan, Dai Qisi felt a slight stir in her heart, but she quickly composed herself and replied,


    ¡°Thank you, Cult Master and Madam, for your kindness, but I¡¯ve never thought about marriage¡­¡±

 Chapter 7 - Martial Duel at the Cold Jade Pool

    Chapter 007 ¨C Martial Duel at the Cold Jade Pool


    Madam Yang, thinking Dai Qisi was just shy, smiled and said,


    ¡°Silly girl, every young woman eventually needs a good match¡ªfalling leaves return to their roots.¡±


    Yang Dingtian nodded as well.


    ¡°That¡¯s right. Don¡¯t you like Right Messenger Fan?¡±


    ¡°Right Messenger Fan is indeed wise and courageous, a good man.


    But I¡¯ve never considered marrying him.


    If Cult Master and Madam wish to arrange a good match for him, please choose someone else.¡±


    Dai Qisi shook her head, firmly refusing.


    Madam Yang was puzzled.


    ¡°Since you think so highly of Right Messenger Fan, why not give him a chance?


    Perhaps, with time, you¡¯ll come to love him.¡±


    ¡°Many young women long day and night for a good husband.


    If you¡¯re not ready to marry, we can always delay the wedding,¡± Yang Dingtian added, trying to persuade her.


    Seeing Dai Qisi¡¯s constant refusals, Madam Yang asked,


    ¡°Could it be that your true feelings are for that young man, Ling Yihan?¡±


    ¡°Cult Master, Madam, you misunderstand.


    There¡¯s nothing between Young Master Ling and me.


    My mind is made up.


    I won¡¯t marry Right Messenger Fan, nor will I marry Young Master Ling or anyone else.


    If you insist on this, I¡¯d rather die!¡±


    With that, Dai Qisi drew her sword and held it to her neck, as if ready to take her own life.


    Seeing this, Yang Dingtian and Madam Yang had no choice but to abandon the idea.


    Nearby, hidden behind a rockery, Fan Yao overheard the entire conversation and felt his heart shatter.


    Later, Hu Qingyang heard about the matter from Madam Yang and told Ling Yihan.


    Ling Yihan only smiled slightly upon hearing it, keeping his thoughts to himself.


    Sure enough, less than half a month later, Han Qianye arrived alone at Bright Peak to challenge Yang Dingtian and avenge his father.


    When the Ming Cult followers saw Han Qianye, who looked quite unremarkable, daring to challenge their Cult Master, they burst into laughter.


    ¡°This kid doesn¡¯t know his place! Challenging our Cult Master is just asking for death!¡±


    Zhou Dian, one of the Five Scatters, couldn¡¯t resist mocking.


    The Beggar Monk, Say Not, nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Indeed. Look at him; he doesn¡¯t seem like a master at all.


    Our Cult Master could finish him off with just one finger.¡±


    The other followers chimed in, ridiculing Han Qianye with various remarks.


    However, Yang Dingtian¡¯s expression was serious.


    He ordered a feast to be prepared and welcomed Han Qianye with the respect due to an honored guest, much to the confusion of the disciples.


    ¡°You all don¡¯t understand.


    Years ago, I fought with Young Master Han¡¯s father over a disagreement.


    I used a technique, the Great Nine Heavens Hand, to seriously wound him, forcing him to his knees.


    At that time, he vowed to seek revenge, but his martial skills never improved.


    He mentioned that one day, either his son or daughter would come to avenge him.¡±


    Yang Dingtian explained the reason behind this challenge.


    ¡°I, too, promised that regardless of whether it was his son or daughter, I would allow three moves.


    He insisted I need not allow any moves but demanded that his child set the terms for the duel.


    So I agreed.


    It¡¯s been over ten years since then; I¡¯d almost forgotten.


    I never expected his son would come looking for me.¡±


    The disciples were unimpressed, but Ling Yihan frowned, remaining silent.


    Zhou Dian, noticing his expression, asked curiously,


    ¡°Ling, why aren¡¯t you saying anything?


    Do you doubt our Cult Master¡¯s martial prowess against this Han kid?¡±


    By now, Ling Yihan had spent quite some time on Bright Peak and often helped Hu Qingyang treat injured disciples, so he was quite familiar with many of the followers.


    He shook his head.


    ¡°Except for the Wudang Master Zhang, Cult Master Yang¡¯s martial skills are unrivaled.


    In pure combat, even ten or a hundred Han Qianye¡¯s couldn¡¯t match him.¡±


    The disciples nodded, pleased with his words.


    ¡°However¡­ what worries me is what kind of challenge Han Qianye might set.


    That¡¯s the real key to this duel,¡± Ling Yihan added.


    Golden Lion King Xie Xun laughed heartily.


    ¡°Ling, your caution is admirable.


    But you needn¡¯t worry.


    Even if he sets a difficult challenge, with so many masters in the Ming Cult, can¡¯t we handle it?¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Exactly, exactly¡­¡± other disciples chimed in.


    ¡°Is that so?


    I hope I¡¯m just overthinking it,¡± Ling Yihan thought with a slight smile, choosing to remain silent.


    Not far away, Dai Qisi¡¯s eyes lit up as she listened to his words, feeling a slight stir in her heart.


    The next day, as in the original storyline, Han Qianye used the terms of his father¡¯s agreement to hold Yang Dingtian to his promise, leaving him with no way to refuse.


    ¡°Young Hero Han, I deeply regret unintentionally harming your father,¡± Yang Dingtian said with remorse upon hearing of Han Qianye¡¯s father¡¯s passing.


    Han Qianye interrupted him,


    ¡°I¡¯m here to avenge my father.


    I¡¯m not interested in anything else.¡±


    Yang Dingtian asked, resigned,


    ¡°Where do you wish to hold the duel?¡±


    ¡°I would like to use your sect¡¯s Cold Jade Pool to duel Cult Master Yang.


    Only then can I fulfill my father¡¯s final wish,¡± Han Qianye replied cunningly.


    At these words, the Ming Cult followers were taken aback.


    They all knew that although Yang Dingtian was highly skilled, he could not swim.


    A duel in the freezing pool would be treacherous¡ªif he wasn¡¯t frozen, he¡¯d likely drown.


    White-Browed Eagle King Yin Tianzheng spoke in a low voice.


    ¡°The Cold Jade Pool is bone-chilling, even in the peak of summer.


    Now, in midwinter, it¡¯s hardly a suitable place for a duel.¡±


    Left Messenger Yang Xiao nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Brother Han, please choose another location.¡±


    ¡°I came alone to Bright Peak, never expecting to leave alive.


    If you wish to prevent me from dueling in the Cold Jade Pool, you might as well kill me now!¡±


    Han Qianye stood resolute, prepared to die.


    ¡°After all, I¡¯m a nobody.


    If you kill me, no one will seek retribution.


    So, why don¡¯t you go ahead?¡±

 Chapter 8 - Ling Yihan Steps In for the Duel

    Chapter 008 ¨C Ling Yihan Steps In for the Duel


    ¡°That¡¯s nonsense! The Ming Cult stands for honor and integrity.


    We¡¯re not as despicable as you think, you brat!¡± Zhou Dian couldn¡¯t hold back and cursed.


    Yang Dingtian raised his hand to silence him.


    ¡°Years ago, I made a promise to your father that the time and place of this duel would be decided by his heir.


    A true man keeps his word.¡±


    Sitting beside him, Madam Yang looked worried.


    ¡°Dingtian, you don¡¯t know how to swim¡­¡±


    Yang Dingtian shook his head, signaling her not to say any more.


    Han Qianye sneered and took out a dagger from his sleeve.


    ¡°This dagger belonged to my late father.


    If Cult Master Yang fears death and surrenders, he can kneel and bow three times to this dagger.


    Our grudge will be settled, once and for all!¡±


    The crowd gasped.


    Green-Winged Bat King Wei Yixiao responded coldly,


    ¡°Han, you¡¯re going too far!¡±


    ¡°How arrogant!¡± the Beggar Monk Say Not muttered indignantly.


    Even the usually silent Right Messenger Fan Yao couldn¡¯t contain himself.


    ¡°He¡¯s trying to humiliate the Ming Cult.


    Cult Master, you cannot endure such disgrace!¡±


    Han Qianye laughed loudly.


    ¡°Well, well, a renowned sect like the Ming Cult wouldn¡¯t break a promise, right?


    Cult Master Yang, either meet me in the Cold Jade Pool for our duel or bow to the dagger. The choice is yours!¡±


    It was clear. If Yang Dingtian surrendered and bowed before the dagger, Han Qianye would end his own life with it to avoid dying at the hands of the Ming Cult.


    The Hall of Holy Fire fell deathly silent.


    Although the Ming Cult had many formidable warriors, including the Light Left and Right Messengers, the Three Kings, and the Five Scatters, all capable and strategic, none had a solution for this predicament.


    Everyone understood Han Qianye¡¯s intentions¡ªto force Yang Dingtian to die as revenge for his father¡¯s humiliating defeat and kneeling. Then, he would take his own life.


    Anxiously, Hu Qingyang whispered to Ling Yihan,


    ¡°What do we do? If this keeps up, Cult Master Yang¡¯s reputation will be ruined!¡±


    The system¡¯s voice suddenly echoed in Ling Yihan¡¯s mind.


    Ling Yihan thought with a smirk.


    He looked at Hu Qingyang with a playful smile.


    ¡°If I can solve this problem, will you reward me?¡±


    Hu Qingyang let out a small, exasperated laugh.


    ¡°Brother Ling! Of all times, you¡¯re joking now? If you can really help the Ming Cult get out of this mess, then¡­ then I¡¯ll let you do whatever you want.¡±


    Her worry was so intense that she blurted it out without thinking, believing that even with so many Ming Cult experts stumped, Ling Yihan alone couldn¡¯t possibly solve this.


    ¡°Alright, you said it. Don¡¯t go back on your word.¡± Ling Yihan chuckled.


    At that moment, he moved swiftly, stepping gracefully before Han Qianye and bowing respectfully to Yang Dingtian.


    ¡°Master, let me take your place and duel with Young Hero Han. Since his father produced such an admirable son, could you not have an equally worthy disciple? With us in the same generation, I am the most fitting opponent for him in this duel.¡±


    The crowd was stunned.  But they soon realized that Young Master Ling must be pretending to be Yang Dingtian¡¯s disciple to break the deadlock.


    However, none of them had seen Ling Yihan demonstrate his martial skills, and given his young age, they doubted his abilities, especially for a duel in the freezing Cold Jade Pool.


    Grateful but reluctant, Yang Dingtian tried to dissuade him. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°My dear disciple, I understand your intentions, but I cannot let you risk yourself for me.¡±


    His words made it clear. This duel was a Ming Cult affair, and as an outsider, Ling Yihan need not endanger himself.


    Ling Yihan smiled.


    ¡°Master, have you forgotten?


    I grew up by the sea and am well-versed in swimming.


    The Cold Jade Pool is nothing to worry about.¡±


    Han Qianye sneered,


    ¡°If this young man wishes to take his master¡¯s place, I have no objections.


    But if he loses, Cult Master Yang will still have to kneel to this dagger¡­¡±


    But as he raised the dagger to emphasize his words, he realized his hands were empty.


    Ling Yihan held up the dagger with a faint smile.


    ¡°Young Hero Han, are you looking for this?¡±


    The crowd was astonished, wondering when Ling Yihan had taken it.


    ¡°When¡­ when did you take it from me?¡± Han Qianye demanded, staring at the dagger in Ling Yihan¡¯s hand, stunned.


    Ling Yihan examined the dagger with a smirk.


    ¡°This dull thing is your father¡¯s treasured relic?


    Its quality seems poor¡ªbarely sharp enough to cut anything!¡±


    With a casual grip, he bent the blade out of shape.


    ¡°Here, take back this piece of junk.¡±


    Ling Yihan tossed the twisted dagger back to Han Qianye.


    The entire hall watched in shock. For someone so young, Ling Yihan possessed an astounding level of internal power.


    Even the Light Messengers and the Three Kings, experts themselves, were awed.


    Looking down at the bent blade, Han Qianye¡¯s expression shifted.


    ¡°Young Master Ling¡¯s internal power is indeed remarkable. Truly, a great teacher produces a worthy student. I am humbled.¡±


    ¡°Enough talk.


    Tomorrow at noon, the Cold Jade Pool.¡± Ling Yihan¡¯s eyes were cold as he addressed him.


    Han Qianye nodded.


    ¡°Agreed.¡±


    Without another word, he turned and left the Hall of Holy Fire.


    After he left, Yang Dingtian looked at Ling Yihan sternly.


    ¡°Young Master Ling, that was reckless¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan shook his head, smiling.


    ¡°Cult Master Yang, don¡¯t worry.


    Since I¡¯ve accepted this duel, I won¡¯t disappoint you or the Ming Cult.


    Just wait for tomorrow¡¯s show.¡±


    ¡°Very well.


    But be careful.


    The Cold Jade Pool is icy cold, and though your internal power is deep, don¡¯t overdo it and risk your life.¡±


    Yang Dingtian reminded him one last time.


    Ling Yihan nodded.


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Hu Qingyang said nothing but looked at him with deep concern, while Dai Qisi, watching from a distance, found herself more and more intrigued by Ling Yihan.

 Chapter 9 - The Holy Son of the Ming Cult

    Chapter 009 ¨C The Holy Son of the Ming Cult


    At noon the next day, Ling Yihan, Hu Qingyang, and the members of the Ming Cult gathered by the Cold Jade Pool on the shaded side of Bright Peak.


    The north wind howled fiercely, and just standing by the edge, they felt the chilling cold sink into their bones.


    Those with less internal strength could barely stand the cold.


    The pool¡¯s surface had frozen over with a thick layer of ice, its depths invisible beneath the layer.


    Han Qianye looked at Ling Yihan and said coldly,


    ¡°Young Master Ling, make your move!¡±


    With that, he prepared to break through the ice and leap into the pool.


    Ling Yihan lazily grinned.


    ¡°Hold on!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?


    Afraid, Young Master Ling?¡± Han Qianye sneered.


    Ling Yihan smirked with a mischievous glint.


    ¡°Fear isn¡¯t part of my vocabulary.


    I just think this duel is too easy.


    How about we add a little challenge?


    You wouldn¡¯t object, would you, Young Hero Han?¡±


    Han Qianye frowned.


    ¡°What kind of challenge?¡±


    Ling Yihan pulled two iron chains from his sleeve and spoke slowly,


    ¡°Simple.


    We¡¯ll both chain our feet together, then jump into the pool.


    Think you¡¯ve got the guts, Young Hero Han?¡±


    The others gasped in shock.


    No matter how good a swimmer someone was, once their feet were chained, they¡¯d be as helpless as a fish on dry land, unable to move freely in the water.


    This challenge was far harder than what Han Qianye had initially proposed.


    Han Qianye, proud and unwilling to back down, nodded.


    ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll do it your way.¡±


    They both chained their feet, and then Ling Yihan shattered a section of the ice with a single palm strike and leaped into the pool, with Han Qianye following closely behind.


    The moment he entered the water, Ling Yihan felt an icy chill stab through him.


    Quickly, he circulated his internal energy, using the fiery power of the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Marriage Robe Skill to shield himself.


    With this protection, he was able to resist the cold¡¯s invasion.


    But Han Qianye wasn¡¯t as fortunate.


    His feet chained, unable to swim, and his internal strength inferior to Ling Yihan¡¯s, he soon felt his limbs grow numb, far too frozen to even strike back.


    Ling Yihan had planned this all along, knowing his swimming ability wasn¡¯t as strong as Han Qianye¡¯s.


    By chaining their feet, he turned Han into a sitting duck, forcing him into a contest of internal strength to see who could endure the cold longest.


    Growing weaker by the second, Han Qianye gathered his remaining strength, trying one last desperate move.


    He lunged at Ling Yihan with his dagger.


    Ling Yihan thought, amused.


    He dodged the thrust easily, then gathered his strength and struck Han Qianye¡¯s crown with his palm.


    Although much of the force was absorbed by the water, the combined power of the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Marriage Robe Skill was unstoppable.


    Ling Yihan¡¯s palm shattered Han Qianye¡¯s skull, killing him instantly.


    Above the ice, the Ming Cult followers couldn¡¯t see into the depths, only watching the water tremble. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Their anxiety grew by the second.


    Soon after, Ling Yihan emerged from the pool, dragging Han Qianye and tossing his body onto the ice.


    Ling Yihan¡¯s foot chains had snapped completely.


    Seeing Han Qianye dead and Ling Yihan unharmed, the Ming Cult members cheered in celebration.


    Yang Dingtian, too emotional to speak, patted Ling Yihan¡¯s shoulder.


    The other followers crowded around with praise and congratulations.


    The system¡¯s voice confirmed the task completion.


    Ling Yihan decided to claim the reward later, with so many people around.


    Unable to hold back her emotions, Hu Qingyang rushed forward and threw herself into Ling Yihan¡¯s arms, sobbing.


    ¡°Yihan, you were under the water for so long¡­ I thought you were¡­ gone¡­ You nearly scared me to death!¡±


    Ling Yihan patted her gently, smiling.


    ¡°Silly girl. I, Ling Yihan, have a destiny far too great to die so easily.¡±


    The other disciples grinned and chuckled at the sight, while Dai Qisi, watching from the side, felt a faint pang of disappointment seeing Ling Yihan and Hu Qingyang so close.


    Ling Yihan turned to Yang Dingtian and said,


    ¡°Master, Han Qianye died as an act of filial piety, avenging his father.


    Since he¡¯s perished at my hand, please allow his body to be buried respectfully.¡±


    Yang Dingtian nodded.


    ¡°How rare to find such kindness.


    As you wish, we¡¯ll lay him to rest properly.


    Tonight, the Ming Cult shall celebrate with a grand banquet.¡±


    The others cheered at the announcement.


    That night, the Hall of Holy Fire was filled with feasting and celebration.


    Yang Dingtian seated Ling Yihan beside him, along with Madam Yang and the Light Messengers.


    ¡°Yihan, today you fought for me and defeated Han Qianye, preserving the Ming Cult¡¯s honor.


    Your contributions are immeasurable,¡± Yang Dingtian said gratefully.


    At the nearby table, Green-Winged Bat King Wei Yixiao raised his cup.


    ¡°Indeed, a toast to Young Master Ling!¡±


    ¡°Cheers!¡± The cult members all raised their cups to Ling Yihan.


    ¡°No need for such formality.¡±


    Ling Yihan returned the toast, downing his drink in one go.


    Yang Xiao, seated next to him, added,


    ¡°Who would¡¯ve thought? Young Master Ling not only possesses great martial skill but also formidable internal strength.¡±


    Madam Yang smiled.


    ¡°Cult Master, one student like this is worth ten others.¡±


    Ling Yihan quickly responded humbly,


    ¡°Madam, you flatter me¡­¡±


    Madam Yang interrupted him,


    ¡°Still calling me ¡®Madam¡¯?


    The Cult Master and I have always wanted a student like you.


    Right, Cult Master?¡±


    She gave Yang Dingtian a meaningful glance.


    Yang Dingtian caught on, laughing heartily.


    ¡°Indeed, Yihan, once you called me ¡®Master¡¯¡ªthere¡¯s no taking it back now.¡±


    Madam Yang continued,


    ¡°The Cult Master wants to make it official.


    You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡±


    At that moment, White-Browed Eagle King Yin Tianzheng, Golden Lion King Xie Xun, and Green-Winged Bat King Wei Yixiao stepped forward to congratulate them with a toast.


    ¡°How wonderful it is that the Cult Master has taken such a talented disciple!¡±


    Ling Yihan had been hoping to complete his mission and had no objections.


    He stood up, raised his cup, and respectfully saluted them.


    ¡°Disciple greets Master and Madam!¡±


    ¡°Good, good¡­¡± Yang Dingtian and Madam Yang were overjoyed.


    Then, Xie Xun suggested,


    ¡°Cult Master, Young Master Ling¡¯s achievements are outstanding.


    He deserves a title.¡±


    Yang Dingtian nodded with a smile.


    ¡°You¡¯re right.


    Yihan, for your services to the cult, I hereby grant you the title of Holy Son of the Ming Cult, second in rank only to me.¡±

 Chapter 10 - The Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword

    Chapter 010 ¨C The Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword


    ¡°The Ming Cult¡­ Holy Son?¡± Ling Yihan was shocked.


    Madam Yang nodded with a gentle smile.


    ¡°Yes, Yihan, you may not know, but our Ming Cult was originally passed down from the Persian main sect.


    In Persia, the highest rank is held by the Sect Leader, followed by the three Holy Maidens.¡±


    When Madam Yang mentioned ¡°Holy Maiden,¡± Ling Yihan glanced at Dai Qisi, noticing a subtle change in her expression.


    ¡°Although we don¡¯t have a Holy Maiden in the Central Plains Ming Cult,¡± Madam Yang continued,


    ¡°the Cult Master and I discussed it last night and decided to create the position of Holy Son.


    In our Ming Cult, this position would be on par with the Persian Holy Maiden¡ªsecond only to the Cult Leader.¡±


    ¡°Yihan, you won a great victory in the duel yesterday and have made an extraordinary contribution to the cult.


    This title is only fitting,¡± she added. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her words made it clear that she was essentially designating Ling Yihan as the successor to Cult Master Yang Dingtian.


    The other cult members were astonished.


    Ling Yihan shook his head.


    ¡°I am not originally a member of the Ming Cult.


    Having the privilege of calling the Cult Master my teacher is blessing enough.


    Besides, in terms of seniority, achievements, and martial arts, how can I compare to the Light Messengers and the Three Kings?


    How could I rank above them?


    I must respectfully decline this title.¡±


    He had only taken Yang Dingtian as his teacher to complete the system¡¯s task.


    If he accepted the title of Holy Son, he feared he would face suspicion from other cult members, which would hinder his efforts to obtain the secret technique of Heaven and Earth Shift.


    Golden Lion King Xie Xun, always bold, laughed heartily.


    ¡°Ling, you¡¯re far too modest.


    If it weren¡¯t for you stepping in yesterday, Cult Master Yang¡¯s lifetime of honor would¡¯ve been tarnished.


    Your achievement eclipses all past merits.


    The position of Holy Son can only be yours!¡±


    ¡°Exactly! Winning the duel at the Cold Jade Pool¡ª


    I, Zhou Dian, admit I don¡¯t have the skill.


    I fully support you as our Holy Son!¡± Zhou Dian added enthusiastically.


    ¡°Right, Left Messenger Yang?¡±


    Zhou Dian loved sparring with Yang Xiao, implying that Ling Yihan¡¯s achievements outshone even the Light Left Messenger.


    Yang Xiao only smiled, saying nothing.


    Ling Yihan scanned the room.


    Besides Hu Qingyang, Xie Xun, Zhou Dian, and a few others, most of the members seemed hesitant about him becoming the Holy Son.


    Ling Yihan stood up, addressing the Cult Master and Madam respectfully,


    ¡°I deeply appreciate Master and Madam¡¯s favor, but I truly don¡¯t deserve the title of Holy Son.


    However, it would be disrespectful to refuse outright.


    So, I have an idea.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Let¡¯s hear it,¡± Yang Dingtian said, intrigued.


    ¡°Simply winning one duel isn¡¯t enough to justify the title of Holy Son,


    so I propose to perform another great deed for the Ming Cult first.¡±


    Ling Yihan spoke confidently.


    ¡°Well said! Very ambitious.


    So, what do you plan to do?¡± Yang Dingtian asked with a smile.


    Ling Yihan looked around at everyone present, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips.


    ¡°There is a saying in the martial world, ¡®Supreme of the Martial World, the Dragon-Slaying Saber. Command all under heaven, none dare disobey. When Heaven-Reliant Sword appears, who can rival it?¡¯


    This refers to the legendary weapons, the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword.


    I intend to acquire both to present to Master, allowing our Ming Cult to rule the martial world and command all.¡±


    The crowd was stunned.


    Both the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword were legendary weapons, desired by all in the martial world for their unparalleled sharpness and indestructibility.


    Obtaining even one of them was nearly impossible¡ªlet alone both.


    Yang Dingtian remained silent, but Yang Xiao, sitting beside him, spoke up.


    ¡°Brother Ling, you¡¯re oversimplifying things.


    Though I¡¯ve never seen the Dragon-Slaying Saber, I have encountered the Heaven-Reliant Sword.


    Years ago, I arranged a duel with the Emei Sect¡¯s master, Gu Hongzi, under the agreement that it would be a one-on-one fight with no interference from others.¡±


    Ling Yihan nodded.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of this. Gu Hongzi was the senior brother of the current Emei Sect leader, Abbess Miejue.¡±


    ¡°Exactly.


    Afraid he couldn¡¯t defeat me alone, Gu Hongzi borrowed the Emei Sect¡¯s treasured Heaven-Reliant Sword from his junior sister, Abbess Miejue,¡± Yang Xiao continued.


    Hu Qingyang asked curiously,


    ¡°So the Heaven-Reliant Sword belongs to the Emei Sect?


    What happened in the duel?¡±


    ¡°Though Gu Hongzi¡¯s martial skill was almost on par with mine,


    the Heaven-Reliant Sword couldn¡¯t be underestimated.


    So, before he could draw it, I struck his heart with my own technique and disarmed him, winning the duel.¡± Yang Xiao recounted.


    Fan Yao smiled.


    ¡°It was that duel that earned you the rank of Light Left Messenger alongside me, as appointed by the Cult Master.¡±


    Hu Qingyang, still curious, pressed on.


    ¡°But since you won and claimed the Heaven-Reliant Sword, why don¡¯t you still have it?¡±


    Yang Xiao laughed.


    ¡°Though I seized the sword, I threw it to the ground to taunt Gu Hongzi.


    It¡¯s said he was so humiliated on his way back to Emei that he worked himself into a fury and died on the road.


    The Heaven-Reliant Sword was taken by local officials.¡±


    ¡°Really? Just for losing a duel?


    That¡¯s a bit extreme¡­¡± Hu Qingyang sighed.


    Wei Yixiao scoffed,


    ¡°These so-called righteous sects are always talking about eliminating demons and defending the way by eradicating our Ming Cult.


    It¡¯s better they die of rage.¡±


    ¡°If the Heaven-Reliant Sword isn¡¯t with Emei, then, like the Dragon-Slaying Saber, it¡¯s lost,¡± Hu Qingyang said worriedly.


    ¡°Brother Ling, how do you plan to find them?¡±


    Ling Yihan didn¡¯t really want the title of Holy Son, and the quest for the weapons was only an excuse.


    After all, the saber and sword merely contained martial arts manuals, the  and  along with the war treatise


    In terms of martial prowess, these weren¡¯t even superior to the   or  he already possessed.


    He¡¯d rather figure out a way to secretly acquire the Heaven and Earth Shift technique from Yang Dingtian.

 Chapter 11 - Revealing Daiqisi’s True Identity

    Chapter 11: Revealing Daiqisi¡¯s True Identity


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry. When the time comes, a solution will present itself.¡± Ling Yihan looked at her with a slight smile.


    Yang Xiao kindly reminded him, ¡°Brother Ling, I said so much just now to tell you that even though I say I don¡¯t take the Heaven-Reliant Sword seriously, if you decide to pursue the Dragon Slayer Saber and the Heaven-Reliant Sword, it won¡¯t be as easy as you imagine. Think it through carefully!¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your concern, Brother Yang, but I¡¯ve made up my mind. Unless I acquire those weapons, I won¡¯t take on the role of the Holy Son,¡± Ling Yihan declared firmly.


    Seeing his determination, Yang Xiao said no more.


    Yang Dingtian finally conceded with a sigh, ¡°Since you¡¯re so resolute, Yihan, I won¡¯t force you. However, the battle for the Dragon Slayer Saber and the Heaven-Reliant Sword is no trivial matter. Be careful in all things.¡±


    Ling Yihan nodded at his master¡¯s words.


    After the banquet, the members of the Ming Cult, each harboring their own thoughts, gradually dispersed and left the Holy Flame Hall.


    Returning to his residence, Ling Yihan found Daiqisi standing by the courtyard gate, smiling at him.


    ¡°Do you need something?¡± Ling Yihan asked, looking at her coolly.


    Daiqisi blinked her lovely eyes and teased, ¡°I just can¡¯t understand why you¡¯ve gradually warmed up to others, yet you¡¯re always so cold toward me. Did I do something to offend you?¡±


    Ling Yihan shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. If there¡¯s nothing urgent, please go rest. It¡¯s late, and it¡¯s not appropriate for us to be alone.¡±


    ¡°Alone? Haven¡¯t you been alone with Sister Qingyang for some time now? Why don¡¯t you treat her like you treat me?¡± Daiqisi¡¯s eyes held a sly glint.


    Ling Yihan¡¯s gaze turned icy as he stared at her. ¡°Persian Ming Cult. Holy Maiden. Do I need to say more?¡±


    ¡°What? You¡­¡± Daiqisi¡¯s mind went blank, as if struck by lightning. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    Ling Yihan smirked. ¡°No need to put on an act in front of me. I¡¯ve known your true identity for a while now, as well as your reason for infiltrating the Central Plains Ming Cult. If I hadn¡¯t stepped in when Han Qianye challenged Master, the one who would¡¯ve replaced him would¡¯ve been you, right? Isn¡¯t that so, Holy Maiden of the Persian Ming Cult, Daiqisi?¡±


    ¡°How¡­ how do you know?¡± Daiqisi looked at him with fear, as if seeing a demon.


    Ling Yihan¡¯s lips curled into a wicked smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about how I know. As long as you stay in line, I won¡¯t expose you. But if you dare pull any tricks¡­ feel free to try.¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Daiqisi fell silent, then sighed, ¡°Brother Ling, the truth is¡­ I had no choice. My mother and sister are under the control of the Persian Cult¡¯s leader. I must follow her orders.¡±


    ¡°That has nothing to do with me,¡± Ling Yihan sneered. ¡°You came here tonight to discuss joining forces to seek the Dragon Slayer Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword, right? To earn the Master¡¯s favor and fulfill your original plan in the Central Plains Ming Cult. Am I wrong? It¡¯s not hard to guess your goal is either the Holy Flame Order or the Heaven and Earth Shift technique.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Daiqisi¡¯s shock grew as he spoke, unable to respond.


    Unfazed by her shock, Ling Yihan continued, ¡°The Holy Flame Order has been lost for years. Your goal must be the Heaven and Earth Shift technique, correct?¡±


    Daiqisi clenched her teeth and finally admitted, ¡°Even if I deny it, you won¡¯t believe me. You¡¯re truly terrifying, Ling Yihan! Yes, I¡¯m after the Heaven and Earth Shift technique. I know your martial skills surpass mine, and it would be easy for you to kill me¡­ but I won¡¯t just sit here and wait¡­¡±


    She suddenly drew a hidden dagger from her sleeve and stabbed toward his heart.


    Ling Yihan, unfazed, calmly evaded her strike with his superior skill, moving to her back in a flash and sealing her acupoints, immobilizing her completely.


    His martial arts¡­ they¡¯re similar to the techniques of Persia yet far more advanced. Who is he? Daiqisi, immobilized, marveled inwardly.


    Unable to resist, she spoke, ¡°Now that I¡¯m at your mercy, do as you wish!¡±


    Ling Yihan lifted her chin with a smirk. ¡°Such beauty¡ªpractically the most beautiful in the martial world. Killing you would be a waste. Think about it: if the Holy Maiden of the Persian Ming Cult loses her chastity, what kind of punishment awaits her?¡±


    Daiqisi¡¯s face turned ashen with fear. ¡°No¡­ please, no¡­¡±


    ¡°Burned alive, correct?¡± Ling Yihan teased, releasing her acupoints with a tap.


    Regaining control, Daiqisi rubbed her sore arms and asked in surprise, ¡°You¡¯ll let me go?¡±


    Ling Yihan smiled slightly at her shock. ¡°We have no quarrel. Why would I harm you? But stealing the Heaven and Earth Shift technique won¡¯t be easy. The Ming Cult has plenty of experts, and you¡¯ll be caught before you find it.¡±


    Daiqisi clenched her fists and sighed. ¡°I have no other choice. Can you keep my secret?¡±


    Ling Yihan chuckled. ¡°If I planned to betray you, why wait until now? However, if someone else catches you later, I won¡¯t be able to help. Take care.¡±


    With that, he turned to go back inside.


    ¡°Brother Ling!¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    He turned, and before he realized it, Daiqisi kissed him. Her soft lips and alluring presence left him momentarily stunned.


    She smiled shyly. ¡°Thank you¡­ you¡¯re truly kind¡­¡±


    With that, she hurried away, leaving Ling Yihan staring blankly at her retreating figure.


    ¡°This Persian beauty¡­ not bad at all¡­¡±

 Chapter 12 - Revealing Daiqisi’s True Identity

    Chapter 11: Revealing Daiqisi¡¯s True Identity


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry. When the time comes, a solution will present itself.¡± Ling Yihan looked at her with a slight smile.


    Yang Xiao kindly reminded him, ¡°Brother Ling, I said so much just now to tell you that even though I say I don¡¯t take the Heaven-Reliant Sword seriously, if you decide to pursue the Dragon Slayer Saber and the Heaven-Reliant Sword, it won¡¯t be as easy as you imagine. Think it through carefully!¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your concern, Brother Yang, but I¡¯ve made up my mind. Unless I acquire those weapons, I won¡¯t take on the role of the Holy Son,¡± Ling Yihan declared firmly.


    Seeing his determination, Yang Xiao said no more.


    Yang Dingtian finally conceded with a sigh, ¡°Since you¡¯re so resolute, Yihan, I won¡¯t force you. However, the battle for the Dragon Slayer Saber and the Heaven-Reliant Sword is no trivial matter. Be careful in all things.¡±


    Ling Yihan nodded at his master¡¯s words.


    After the banquet, the members of the Ming Cult, each harboring their own thoughts, gradually dispersed and left the Holy Flame Hall.


    Returning to his residence, Ling Yihan found Daiqisi standing by the courtyard gate, smiling at him.


    ¡°Do you need something?¡± Ling Yihan asked, looking at her coolly.


    Daiqisi blinked her lovely eyes and teased, ¡°I just can¡¯t understand why you¡¯ve gradually warmed up to others, yet you¡¯re always so cold toward me. Did I do something to offend you?¡±


    Ling Yihan shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. If there¡¯s nothing urgent, please go rest. It¡¯s late, and it¡¯s not appropriate for us to be alone.¡±


    ¡°Alone? Haven¡¯t you been alone with Sister Qingyang for some time now? Why don¡¯t you treat her like you treat me?¡± Daiqisi¡¯s eyes held a sly glint.


    Ling Yihan¡¯s gaze turned icy as he stared at her. ¡°Persian Ming Cult. Holy Maiden. Do I need to say more?¡±


    ¡°What? You¡­¡± Daiqisi¡¯s mind went blank, as if struck by lightning. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    Ling Yihan smirked. ¡°No need to put on an act in front of me. I¡¯ve known your true identity for a while now, as well as your reason for infiltrating the Central Plains Ming Cult. If I hadn¡¯t stepped in when Han Qianye challenged Master, the one who would¡¯ve replaced him would¡¯ve been you, right? Isn¡¯t that so, Holy Maiden of the Persian Ming Cult, Daiqisi?¡±


    ¡°How¡­ how do you know?¡± Daiqisi looked at him with fear, as if seeing a demon.


    Ling Yihan¡¯s lips curled into a wicked smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about how I know. As long as you stay in line, I won¡¯t expose you. But if you dare pull any tricks¡­ feel free to try.¡±


    Daiqisi fell silent, then sighed, ¡°Brother Ling, the truth is¡­ I had no choice. My mother and sister are under the control of the Persian Cult¡¯s leader. I must follow her orders.¡±


    ¡°That has nothing to do with me,¡± Ling Yihan sneered. ¡°You came here tonight to discuss joining forces to seek the Dragon Slayer Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword, right? To earn the Master¡¯s favor and fulfill your original plan in the Central Plains Ming Cult. Am I wrong? It¡¯s not hard to guess your goal is either the Holy Flame Order or the Heaven and Earth Shift technique.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Daiqisi¡¯s shock grew as he spoke, unable to respond.


    Unfazed by her shock, Ling Yihan continued, ¡°The Holy Flame Order has been lost for years. Your goal must be the Heaven and Earth Shift technique, correct?¡±


    Daiqisi clenched her teeth and finally admitted, ¡°Even if I deny it, you won¡¯t believe me. You¡¯re truly terrifying, Ling Yihan! Yes, I¡¯m after the Heaven and Earth Shift technique. I know your martial skills surpass mine, and it would be easy for you to kill me¡­ but I won¡¯t just sit here and wait¡­¡±


    She suddenly drew a hidden dagger from her sleeve and stabbed toward his heart.


    Ling Yihan, unfazed, calmly evaded her strike with his superior skill, moving to her back in a flash and sealing her acupoints, immobilizing her completely.


    His martial arts¡­ they¡¯re similar to the techniques of Persia yet far more advanced. Who is he? Daiqisi, immobilized, marveled inwardly.


    Unable to resist, she spoke, ¡°Now that I¡¯m at your mercy, do as you wish!¡±


    Ling Yihan lifted her chin with a smirk. ¡°Such beauty¡ªpractically the most beautiful in the martial world. Killing you would be a waste. Think about it: if the Holy Maiden of the Persian Ming Cult loses her chastity, what kind of punishment awaits her?¡±


    Daiqisi¡¯s face turned ashen with fear. ¡°No¡­ please, no¡­¡±


    ¡°Burned alive, correct?¡± Ling Yihan teased, releasing her acupoints with a tap.


    Regaining control, Daiqisi rubbed her sore arms and asked in surprise, ¡°You¡¯ll let me go?¡±


    Ling Yihan smiled slightly at her shock. ¡°We have no quarrel. Why would I harm you? But stealing the Heaven and Earth Shift technique won¡¯t be easy. The Ming Cult has plenty of experts, and you¡¯ll be caught before you find it.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Daiqisi clenched her fists and sighed. ¡°I have no other choice. Can you keep my secret?¡±


    Ling Yihan chuckled. ¡°If I planned to betray you, why wait until now? However, if someone else catches you later, I won¡¯t be able to help. Take care.¡±


    With that, he turned to go back inside.


    ¡°Brother Ling!¡±


    ¡°Hm?¡±


    He turned, and before he realized it, Daiqisi kissed him. Her soft lips and alluring presence left him momentarily stunned.


    She smiled shyly. ¡°Thank you¡­ you¡¯re truly kind¡­¡±


    With that, she hurried away, leaving Ling Yihan staring blankly at her retreating figure.


    ¡°This Persian beauty¡­ not bad at all¡­¡±

 Chapter 13 - Butterfly Valley, Hu Qingniu

    Chapter 13: Butterfly Valley, Hu Qingniu


    ¡°Congratulations to the host for completing the task of apprenticing to Yang Dingtian and obtaining the Heaven and Earth Shift technique. Rewards acquired: martial arts manuals  and , along with a powerful divine weapon, the  (crafted from meteoric iron, forged in celestial fire, with power surpassing both the Heaven-Reliant Sword and Dragon Slayer Saber),¡± the system¡¯s notification echoed in Ling Yihan¡¯s mind.


    After leaving the secret passage, Ling Yihan returned to his residence, receiving the rewards with delight.


    is Lu Xiaofeng¡¯s unique technique, capable of stopping any weapon¡ªbe it a sword, saber, whip, or spear¡ªwith just two fingers.


    is the lightweight technique of Ximen Chuixue, allowing movement across snow without leaving footprints, surpassing even King Wei Yixiao¡¯s Lightness Skill.


    The  was originally the weapon of Tianshan Sect¡¯s disciple Chu Zhaonan. According to the original story, it was no match for the Dragon Slayer Saber or Heaven-Reliant Sword. However, the system confirmed that its quality had been significantly upgraded, making it even more powerful.


    With the  in hand, I could break either the Dragon Slayer Saber or the Heaven-Reliant Sword, unlocking their secrets.


    ¡°Multiple martial arts manuals detected on the host. Would you like to start practicing?¡± The system prompted him again.


    Ling Yihan nodded. ¡°Of course, I want to practice.¡±


    ¡°Good! Loading ¡­¡±


    ¡°Loading ¡­¡±


    ¡°Loading ¡­¡±


    ¡°Loading ¡­¡±


    ¡°Loading ¡­¡±


    With the system loading his practice, it didn¡¯t mean he would master everything immediately. His proficiency level would still depend on his talent and physique.


    After a night of practice, Ling Yihan opened the system interface to review his stats:


    Name: Ling Yihan


    Identity: Ming Cult Holy Son (Unofficial) S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gender: Male


    Age: 16


    Talent: 99 (Outstanding)


    Intellect: 95 (Clever, Calculating)


    Inner Strength: Wedding Dress Divine Skill (Level 9), Nine Yang Divine Skill (Level 10, Max)


    Martial Skills: Heaven and Earth Shift (Level 7, Max), Great Nine Heavens Hand (Max), Shifting Flower Grafting Jade (Max), Lingxi Finger (Max), Holy Flame Order Divine Skill (Max)


    Lightness Skill: Treading Snow Without a Trace (Max)


    Weapons: Dragon Sword, Holy Flame Order


    Aside from , which hadn¡¯t reached the highest level, all other skills were maxed out.


    The next day, Ling Yihan bid farewell to Yang Dingtian and his wife, and set off down the mountain with Hu Qingyang in search of the Dragon Slayer Saber and Heaven-Reliant Sword. Daiqisi insisted on joining them, with Yang Dingtian¡¯s approval, leaving Ling Yihan no choice but to bring her along.


    ¡°Brother Ling, I¡¯d like to visit Butterfly Valley to see my brother. Will you come with me?¡± Hu Qingyang tugged at Ling Yihan¡¯s hand, her voice pleading.


    Ling Yihan smiled. ¡°Of course. We¡¯re in no rush to find the weapons anyway.¡±


    In truth, he had already met Hu Qingniu when treating Yang Dingtian¡¯s internal injuries on Bright Summit. This descent was a good opportunity to pay a visit as well¡ªafter all, befriending such a famed physician could only be beneficial.


    ¡°Sister Qingyang, I¡¯ve heard your brother Hu Qingniu is known as the ¡®Medical Sage of Butterfly Valley,¡¯¡± Daiqisi chimed in. ¡°I¡¯d love to meet him!¡±


    Ling Yihan silently remarked,


    The three of them headed toward a mountain valley. The path was vibrant with blooming flowers, creating a beautiful landscape. At the end of the path, butterflies fluttered among the flowers. This must be Butterfly Valley.


    Hu Qingyang led them along a small creek lined with simple thatched cottages surrounded by flowerbeds.


    Pointing to the gardens, she smiled and said, ¡°Look, these are all medicinal plants my brother cultivated. Brother, I¡¯m back!¡±


    A young apprentice soon emerged from one of the cottages. Seeing Hu Qingyang, he exclaimed with joy, ¡°It really is Sister Qingyang! Come in! Master has been talking about you these past few days¡­¡±


    Hu Qingyang pulled Ling Yihan and Daiqisi into the courtyard. There, a refined young man was instructing another apprentice to fan the flames under a cauldron of medicine. This was none other than Hu Qingniu, the Medical Sage of Butterfly Valley.


    Seeing him, Ling Yihan bowed politely. ¡°Mr. Hu, it¡¯s good to see you again.¡±


    Remembering how Ling Yihan had saved Hu Qingyang on the snowy ridge, Hu Qingniu returned the gesture with a smile. ¡°Brother Ling, no need for such formality. It¡¯s an honor to have you here.¡±


    He quickly directed his apprentice to serve them tea.


    ¡°Hmm? And who might this young lady be¡­¡± Hu Qingniu¡¯s gaze fell on Daiqisi. ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem like she¡¯s from the Central Plains?¡±


    Ling Yihan nodded, introducing her. ¡°You¡¯re correct. This is Miss Daiqisi from the Persian Ming Cult. While her mother was Persian, her father was from the Central Plains and served as the Pure Kindness Envoy for the Persian Cult. She recently returned to fulfill her father¡¯s last wishes and join the Ming Cult here in the Central Plains.¡±


    Hu Qingniu nodded in understanding. ¡°I see. Miss Daiqisi is as beautiful as a celestial fairy¡­¡±


    Daiqisi beamed with delight. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Hu! But Sister Qingyang is the truly beautiful one!¡±


    Hu Qingyang quickly covered Daiqisi¡¯s mouth, embarrassed. ¡°Sister, stop teasing me¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan and Hu Qingniu exchanged glances and couldn¡¯t help but laugh.


    Noticing the scent of the medicine brewing, Hu Qingyang wrinkled her nose. ¡°Sulfur, garlic, calamus¡­ Brother, is this¡­¡±


    Hu Qingniu smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, indeed. I¡¯m preparing the antidote for the Golden Silkworm Gu poison.¡±


    ¡°Golden Silkworm Gu poison?¡± Ling Yihan¡¯s expression changed as a thought crossed his mind.


    The young apprentice, unable to contain himself, added, ¡°Master encountered a young man afflicted with Golden Silkworm Gu poison while gathering herbs in Miaojiang a few days ago. He kindly saved him and brought him back, instructing me to prepare medicine to nurse him back to health.¡±


    ¡°Xian¡­ Yutong¡­¡± Ling Yihan murmured coldly.


    Hu Qingniu looked at him in surprise. ¡°Oh? How did you know? That young man with the Golden Silkworm Gu poison is indeed Xianyutong, a disciple of the Huashan Sect.¡±

 Chapter 14 - The True Nature of Xianyutong

    Chapter 14: The True Nature of Xianyutong


    Ling Yihan spoke seriously, ¡°Mr. Hu, you may not know this, but Xianyutong is a vile, deceitful man who has frequently exploited women. His morals are utterly depraved.¡±


    Hu Qingniu listened with some doubt. ¡°How could that be? Brother Xian seems like a fine gentleman. Isn¡¯t there a possibility of some misunderstanding?¡±


    Hu Qingyang and Daiqisi listened from the side, not fully understanding, so they remained silent.


    Seeing Hu Qingniu¡¯s skepticism, Ling Yihan explained further, ¡°The reason he¡¯s afflicted with the Golden Silkworm Gu poison is because he toyed with a girl from Miaojiang, betraying her in the end. That Miao girl still cared for him, so the poison she gave him wasn¡¯t too potent, hoping he would eventually come back to her. But that schemer not only abandoned her, he also stole her two Golden Silkworms. When he collapsed from the poison, he just happened to run into you and was saved.¡±


    Hu Qingniu looked puzzled. ¡°Strange, Brother Ling, if what you¡¯re saying is true, then how do you know these details? You¡¯ve been at Bright Summit with my sister all this time.¡±


    ¡°Well¡­¡± Ling Yihan was momentarily at a loss, realizing he had forgotten to explain how he knew Xianyutong¡¯s scheme without actually witnessing it.


    ¡°This young brother, what grudge do you bear against me that you would slander me so?¡±


    At that moment, a young man with a refined face emerged from the cottage, supported by another man with a trustworthy look.


    Naturally, the refined man was Xianyutong, though the identity of the other man beside him was unknown.


    The dependable-looking man protested, ¡°Indeed! My junior brother Xian has always been upright. How could you, boy, malign him so unfairly?¡±


    ¡°Brother Baiyuan, perhaps he simply misunderstood due to rumors. After all, we¡¯re all Mr. Hu¡¯s friends here. Let¡¯s not spoil the harmony,¡± Xianyutong said, still pretending to be the good guy.


    Hearing Xianyutong¡¯s words, Ling Yihan thought to himself,


    ¡°The host has triggered the main task: Expose Xianyutong¡¯s true nature. Reward for completion: one Memory Pearl and one Longevity Sword,¡± the system prompted.


    Ling Yihan smirked internally.


    He fixed his gaze on Xianyutong and asked coldly, ¡°If you claim I¡¯m slandering you, then explain¡ªhow did you contract the Golden Silkworm Gu poison?¡±


    Xianyutong had already prepared a story with Hu Qingniu. With a calm smile, he replied, ¡°I explained this to Mr. Hu earlier. While on a mission for my sect in Miaojiang, I accidentally encountered a master of Gu poison and was struck with the Golden Silkworm Gu poison. Luckily, I managed to escape and encountered Mr. Hu, who tirelessly treated me for three days and nights. Otherwise, I would have met my end. In gratitude, I formed a sworn brotherhood with him!¡±


    ¡°Well-spoken! But no matter how eloquent you are, you can¡¯t change the truth.¡± Ling Yihan had an idea and smiled slyly. ¡°You thought you could hide your shameful deeds, but you didn¡¯t expect that my dear sister, also from Miaojiang, would stand up for the girl you abandoned and document every detail in this letter, even noting your time spent there¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan discreetly retrieved a letter from his storage ring and handed it to Hu Qingniu. ¡°Mr. Hu, this letter is the evidence. Open it, and you¡¯ll see the truth.¡±


    Xianyutong¡¯s face paled slightly. His heart was already guilty; if Hu Qingniu and Bai Yuan learned the truth, his reputation would be ruined, and his chance at becoming head of the Huashan Sect would be lost.


    Without further thought, he quickly drew a folding fan, aiming it at Ling Yihan and Hu Qingniu, before leaping aside.


    Just as Hu Qingniu was about to open the letter, he suddenly felt a sweet fragrance fill the air. His mind clouded, his vision blurred, and he stumbled, nearly collapsing. Ling Yihan was also affected in the same way.


    ¡°Brother! Brother Ling!¡±


    ¡°Brother Ling!¡±


    Seeing the sudden turn of events, Hu Qingyang and Daiqisi rushed to their side to check their injuries, only for Xianyutong to seize the opportunity to seal their acupoints, rendering them immobile. Bai Yuan and the poisoned Ling Yihan and Hu Qingniu were also immobilized by him.


    ¡°Junior Brother, you¡­¡±


    ¡°Xianyutong, you hid the Golden Silkworm Gu poison in your fan. Truly malicious¡­¡±


    ¡­


    Those affected turned on Xianyutong, shouting curses and rebuking him.


    Xianyutong laughed smugly. ¡°Brother Bai, Mr. Hu, don¡¯t blame me. If not for that meddling kid making you believe his lies and prying into my affairs, I wouldn¡¯t have had to resort to such measures.¡±


    Hu Qingniu looked at him with bitter disappointment. ¡°It seems Brother Ling was absolutely right. You really did those despicable deeds! I spent three days and nights exhausting my energy to save you, and even formed a brotherhood with you. I was even considering letting you marry my sister¡­ yet you¡­ I was truly blind to your true nature¡­¡±


    Xianyutong sneered. ¡°Well, your stubbornness truly lives up to your name, as foolish as an ox. I already have a wife, the daughter of Huashan¡¯s headmaster. Did you honestly think I¡¯d marry your sister? I only wanted to play with her like some brothel girl.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°You¡­ you beast! You call yourself a man of honor, yet you indulge in such shameless acts¡­¡± Hu Qingniu cursed bitterly.


    Xianyutong laughed triumphantly. ¡°Curse all you like. It doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re all poisoned by the Golden Silkworm Gu, and I¡¯ve sealed your acupoints. No matter how skilled you are, Hu Qingniu, you won¡¯t survive for long¡­ Ha ha ha! And to think, Miss Hu is a beauty, and she even brought along a more stunning Persian girl¡­ I, Xianyutong, will have a fine time indeed¡­¡±


    ¡°Keep dreaming!¡±


    ¡°You wretch!¡±


    Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang shouted in unison, their voices filled with rage.

 Chapter 15

15


    sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 16 - Learning Medicine

    Chapter 16: Learning Medicine


    Bai Yuan and Xian Yutong obediently tore strips of cloth from their clothes and wrote blood messages according to Ling Yihan¡¯s instructions.


    Ling Yihan examined the blood messages carefully, then nodded with satisfaction.


    ¡°Good, very good.¡±


    Seeing this, Bai Yuan and Xian Yutong brightened and immediately kowtowed.


    ¡°Young Master Ling, we¡¯ve written the blood messages as you instructed. Will you let us go now?¡±


    ¡°Let you go? Sure¡­¡±


    Just as they breathed a sigh of relief, Ling Yihan¡¯s palm struck down on Bai Yuan¡¯s head with a ¡ªhis skull shattered instantly.


    Bai Yuan died with his eyes wide open, as if he couldn¡¯t rest in peace.


    ¡°You¡­ you went back on your word!¡± Xian Yutong stammered, his face a mix of anger and fear.


    Ling Yihan sneered.


    ¡°Oh, I may want to spare you, but my Great Nine Heavens Hand does not! Bai Yuan may have been innocent, but he knew too much. If I¡¯d let you both go, Butterfly Valley would never have peace. Killing him swiftly was already a mercy. But you¡­ you are different.¡±


    As he spoke, he reached out and crushed Xian Yutong¡¯s tendons and bones one by one, making him scream in agony.


    ¡°If not for my foresight and skill, I¡¯d be dead by your hands, and Dai Qisi and Sister Qingyang would have fallen to a beast like you. Killing you outright would be far too easy¡­ No, I¡¯ll take my time tormenting you¡­¡± Ling Yihan chuckled coldly.


    ¡°Devil¡­ you¡¯re a devil! All you demon cult members will die wretchedly¡­ Even as a ghost, I won¡¯t forgive you¡­¡±


    Abandoning his earlier pleas, Xian Yutong now cursed venomously.


    Ling Yihan responded with a cold laugh, pulling out the Dragon Sword from his storage ring.


    The sword¡¯s guard held a hollow sphere that rotated, emitting a low, dragon-like hum.


    ¡°What a sword! Today, you¡¯ll be my first test.¡±


    With a light movement, he slashed across Xian Yutong¡¯s wrists and ankles, severing them cleanly as though cutting tofu.


    Blood spurted from the wounds after a moment, drawing more pitiful screams from Xian Yutong.


    ¡°This blade is incredibly sharp! It¡¯s probably as good as the Heaven-Reliant Sword.¡±


    Ling Yihan noted with delight as blood dripped off the sword¡¯s edge without staining the blade.


    ¡°No time to waste. I¡¯ve heard of a punishment called ¡®death by a thousand cuts.¡¯ I¡¯ve never tried it¡­ Let¡¯s test it on you.¡±


    ¡°No¡­ no, please¡­¡±


    The sound of the sword slicing flesh, along with Xian Yutong¡¯s wails, echoed for half an hour.


    Finally, only a corpse and scattered bones remained at the cliffside.


    Ling Yihan placed their swords, iron fan, and blood messages in his storage ring, then struck the remains with his palm, sending them and the surrounding soil tumbling off the cliff.


    ¡°So, the Kunlun Sect and Mount Hua Sect plan to ally? I¡¯ll plant a little evidence to frame Kunlun for the deaths of Xian Yutong and Bai Yuan, make them turn against each other, and see how they fare against the Ming Cult¡­¡±


    With the matter resolved, Ling Yihan returned to the cottage in Butterfly Valley.


    By now, Hu Qingniu had taken his medicine and fully purged the residual Jin Can Gu poison from his system.


    ¡°Brother Ling, did you kill them both?¡± Dai Qisi asked curiously, noticing he returned alone.


    Ling Yihan nodded.


    ¡°Yes. After all, they were from the Mount Hua Sect. If I¡¯d let them live, it would only have brought trouble for Mr. Hu.¡±


    Hu Qingniu expressed his gratitude.


    ¡°Brother Ling, thank you for your thoughtfulness. My life isn¡¯t worth much, but my only concern is for my sister.¡±


    Hu Qingyang smiled playfully.


    ¡°Brother, no need to worry. With Brother Ling by my side, I¡¯ll be just fine.¡±


    ¡°A daughter is bound to leave someday¡­ Brother Ling, I¡¯ll leave my sister in your care,¡± Hu Qingniu said with a meaningful smile.


    ¡°Ah¡­ of course.¡± Ling Yihan pretended not to understand, simply responding with a nod.


    Over the following days, Ling Yihan didn¡¯t rush to leave.


    He stayed on to discuss medical topics with Hu Qingniu, focusing on meridians and pressure points. Living in the martial world, it¡¯s inevitable to sustain injuries, and having some medical knowledge is invaluable.


    Though not formally trained in medicine, Ling Yihan¡¯s mastery of martial arts gave him an understanding of acupuncture points and internal energy flow. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And, having recently studied medicinal herbs with Hu Qingyang at Bright Summit, he found he shared a natural rapport with Hu Qingniu.


    While many praised Hu Qingniu¡¯s medical prowess, few truly understood his skill¡¯s depths. Ling Yihan¡¯s sincere inquiries not only satisfied Hu Qingniu¡¯s intellectual solitude but also provided an eager disciple for his medical expertise.


    During this time, Hu Qingniu not only shared his insights but also taught Ling Yihan how to prepare and brew medicines.


    He even allowed him access to his entire collection of medical books, including his life¡¯s works,  and .


    With the Memory Bead, Ling Yihan could commit the contents of each book to memory with a single read, never to forget them.


    Hu Qingniu, his sister, and Dai Qisi were unaware of the Memory Bead, assuming Ling Yihan was simply gifted with a photographic memory.


    This only deepened Dai Qisi¡¯s admiration and affection for him.


    ¡°Brother Hu, have you heard of a medicinal wine that harmonizes yin and yang energy, preventing internal energy conflicts during training?¡± Ling Yihan asked Hu Qingniu one day, his eyes still on a medical book.


    Hu Qingniu shook his head.


    ¡°A medicinal wine to harmonize yin and yang energy? No¡­ where did you hear of such a thing?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s called . I only heard rumors about it, and I can¡¯t say whether it truly exists.¡±


    Ling Yihan¡¯s greatest concern was that if he ever obtained a martial art like the , its cold energy might conflict with the pure yang energy from his  and , making it impossible to train in both.


    Only a rare master who could balance yin and yang energies¡ªlike Shi Potian in ¡ªcould reconcile such conflicting energies, thanks to his consumption of .


    Though Wudang¡¯s Zhang Sanfeng was also capable of yin-yang balance, even he could only train in partial forms of the , without reaching absolute balance.


    If he truly wished to train fully in both the  and , even Zhang Sanfeng¡¯s methods might not suffice.


    Hu Qingniu pondered.


    ¡°Hmm, it¡¯s an interesting idea. I could try to concoct this medicinal wine.¡±

 Chapter 17 - Infiltrating the Prince of Ruyangs Mansion

    Chapter 17: Infiltrating the Prince of Ruyang¡¯s Mansion


    After nearly a month, Ling Yihan had finished reading all of Hu Qingniu¡¯s medical books.


    He had grasped most of the medical knowledge, though he still lacked practical experience in diagnosing and treating patients.


    With gratitude, he bid Hu Qingniu farewell.


    Although Hu Qingyang was reluctant to leave her brother, she was also uneasy about Dai Qisi constantly clinging to Ling Yihan.


    So, she decided to join him on his journey.


    ¡°Brother Ling, where are we headed next?¡± Dai Qisi asked Ling Yihan, her eyes curious.


    Ling Yihan thought for a moment before replying.


    ¡°The Heaven-Reliant Sword fell into the hands of the authorities and was later presented to the court. It¡¯s said that the Emperor awarded it to the Prince of Ruyang. As for the Dragon-Slaying Saber, it disappeared after the fall of Xiangyang, when Guo Polu died in battle. Its whereabouts remain unknown.¡±


    ¡°The Prince of Ruyang¡¯s Mansion?¡± Hu Qingyang was puzzled, not well-versed in the politics of court officials.


    Dai Qisi nodded thoughtfully.


    ¡°In that case, let¡¯s go to the Prince of Ruyang¡¯s Mansion and steal the Heaven-Reliant Sword.¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Why rush? More people than just the three of us know about this, yet no one in the martial world has successfully taken the Heaven-Reliant Sword from the mansion,¡± Ling Yihan replied calmly.


    ¡°The reason is simple: either the sword isn¡¯t there, or the mansion is guarded by formidable experts, making it impossible for martial artists to break in and seize it.¡±


    Ling Yihan was actually quite sure the sword was indeed there.


    In the original story, after the death of Lone Goose, the local official took the Heaven-Reliant Sword and presented it to the court, which then awarded it to the Prince of Ruyang.


    It was later stolen by Abbess Miejue, who braved the dangers of the Prince¡¯s mansion to retrieve it.


    This led to Zhao Min accusing Miejue of stealing her family¡¯s Heaven-Reliant Sword, while Zhou Zhiruo insisted it belonged to the Emei Sect, resulting in endless disputes between the two.


    ¡°What should we do, then?¡± Hu Qingyang asked, frowning.


    Ling Yihan closed his eyes to think, then said, ¡°First, we¡¯ll capture someone and get information on whether the sword is truly in the Prince¡¯s Mansion. After that, we can plan how to retrieve it.¡±


    Dai Qisi and Hu Qingyang nodded in agreement.


    So, the three of them set off from Butterfly Valley, heading for Dadu.


    To avoid drawing attention, they disguised themselves, especially Dai Qisi, whose appearance was distinct from Central Plains women.


    Following Ling Yihan¡¯s advice, she covered her face with a veil.


    Once in Dadu, Ling Yihan checked into an inn under the alias ¡°Lin Ajiu¡± and booked two rooms.


    He took one room for himself, while Dai Qisi and Hu Qingyang shared the other.


    That night, Ling Yihan instructed Hu Qingyang to stay at the inn, as she didn¡¯t know martial arts and might be at risk in the Prince¡¯s Mansion.


    He decided to take only Dai Qisi with him.


    Although he had initially planned to go alone, Dai Qisi¡¯s persistent persuasion left him no choice but to let her accompany him.


    With both possessing excellent lightness skills, Ling Yihan and Dai Qisi quickly infiltrated the inner courtyard of the mansion.


    Unfamiliar with the layout and unaware of who occupied each room, they captured several guards along the way, questioning and then knocking them out.


    By chance, they stopped outside one room and overheard voices inside.


    Silently, they climbed onto the rooftop, lifted a tile, and peered inside.


    A bald monk spoke first.


    ¡°Brother Chengkun, if you¡¯re determined to take down Yang Dingtian, I¡¯m more than willing to help.¡±


    Chengkun? So, he had already infiltrated the Prince of Ruyang¡¯s Mansion at this point.


    Chengkun turned to the monk, his voice low. ¡°Gangxiang, how do you intend to help me?¡±


    Gangxiang, the impostor Shaolin monk who once harmed Zhang Sanfeng on Mount Wudang, laughed heartily.


    ¡°You may not know this, but I¡¯ve infiltrated the Shaolin Sect myself, under the name Kongxiang. On paper, I¡¯m of the same generation as those four old monks¡ªJianwen, Zhixing, and the others. I can introduce you as Kongjian¡¯s disciple, allowing you to learn Shaolin martial arts and perhaps even their ultimate skill, the Shaolin Nine Yang Skill. What do you think?¡±


    Chengkun asked suspiciously.


    ¡°We¡¯re barely acquaintances. Why would you go so far to help me?¡±


    Gangxiang regarded him calmly.


    ¡°It¡¯s simple. Our Western Region Vajra Sect was founded by a former Shaolin disciple who was expelled for secretly practicing Shaolin techniques. Driven out, he took refuge in the Western Region. That humiliation has yet to be avenged. By joining forces, we can both learn Shaolin¡¯s martial arts and work to destroy both Shaolin and the Ming Cult, fulfilling our respective goals. What do you say?¡±


    ¡°Let me think about it. I promised my junior sister I wouldn¡¯t harm Yang Dingtian; otherwise, she¡¯ll take her own life. I must consider her safety,¡± Chengkun hesitated.


    Gangxiang frowned.


    ¡°Brother Chengkun, how can you be so indecisive? It was only because you swore to eliminate Yang Dingtian¡ªthe court¡¯s top enemy¡ªthat the Prince allowed you to stay here. If this continues, do you think he¡¯ll still trust you?¡±


    Chengkun shook his head.


    ¡°Let¡¯s discuss this later. I¡¯ve heard that the Prince has not only the Heaven-Reliant Sword but also some clue to the Dragon-Slaying Saber¡¯s whereabouts. Is this true?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Ling Yihan and Dai Qisi, still on the rooftop, listened more intently, fearing they¡¯d miss a word.


    ¡°That¡¯s correct. The Prince has spent years and sacrificed many men to finally learn that the Dragon-Slaying Saber is in the hands of the Grand Tutor Boyan,¡± Gangxiang replied with a nod.


    ¡°Boyan? I didn¡¯t expect it would end up with him,¡± Chengkun said in surprise.


    Gangxiang sneered.


    ¡°It¡¯s no surprise, really. Years ago, Boyan followed Kublai Khan, defeating the Southern Song general Jia Sidao¡¯s forces, capturing Xiangyang, and seizing the Dragon-Slaying Saber from Guo Jing¡¯s son, Guo Polu. Who would¡¯ve thought he¡¯d keep it hidden in his mansion all these years, rather than surrendering it to the court?¡±

 Chapter 18 - The Xuanming Elders

    Chapter 18: The Xuanming Elders


    ¡°The supreme treasure of the martial world, the Dragon-Slaying Saber. Command all under heaven, and none dare disobey.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because of this legend that Boyan dares to keep the Dragon-Slaying Saber hidden,¡± Chengkun speculated.


    ¡°It reveals his ambitious nature. No wonder the officials call him a power-hungry minister, constantly oppressing the current Mongolian Emperor.¡±


    Gangxiang nodded.


    ¡°Exactly. Boyan has had the Dragon-Slaying Saber for years without unlocking its secret. Fearing that we Han people might seize it and overturn the Mongol empire, he found a way to make it disappear from the Central Plains entirely.¡±


    ¡°He plans to present the Dragon-Slaying Saber to the King of Goryeo as part of a marriage alliance between Mongolia and Goryeo.¡±


    ¡°What? Giving the Dragon-Slaying Saber to the Goryeo people? Outrageous! How can we stand by and watch its secrets fall into their hands?¡± Chengkun fumed.


    Overhearing this, Ling Yihan thought to himself.


    He glanced at Dai Qisi, signaling her to prepare for action, indicating there was no need to listen any longer.


    Dai Qisi saw his look and nodded in understanding.


    As they were about to leave, Dai Qisi accidentally stepped on a loose tile, alerting Chengkun and Gangxiang inside.


    ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±


    Both Chengkun and Gangxiang leaped out of the room, using their lightness skills to pursue Ling Yihan and Dai Qisi across the rooftop.


    Ling Yihan and Dai Qisi didn¡¯t want to engage them in battle, so they kept running, using their lightness skills to evade pursuit.


    But just ahead, two men in their forties blocked the way.


    One held a short, black staff with a forked head resembling a stag¡¯s antlers, while the other wielded a pair of judge¡¯s pens, their tips shining like the beak of a red-crowned crane.


    ¡°The Xuanming Elders,¡± Ling Yihan muttered, his eyes flashing as he recognized them.


    ¡°What?¡± Dai Qisi, unfamiliar with the top experts of the Central Plains, looked puzzled.


    With enemies blocking them from both sides, Ling Yihan and Dai Qisi had no choice but to stop and face their four opponents.


    ¡°Listen carefully,¡± Ling Yihan said to Dai Qisi. ¡°The two in front of us are the Xuanming Elders¡ªLu Zhangke and He Biweng. They specialize in the Xuanming Divine Palm, a deadly, ice-cold technique. If you get hit, you¡¯ll suffer from a poison that chills the body, causing unbearable pain. Be extremely careful.¡±


    He turned to Chengkun and Gangxiang behind them.


    ¡°You heard their names. Chengkun is a fellow disciple of Lady Yang from the Ming Cult and the master of Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun. He¡¯s known as the ¡®Primal Thunder Hand¡¯ and specializes in the Primal Force and Phantom Yin Finger. As for Gangxiang, he hails from the Vajra Sect of the Western Region and excels at the Vajra Prajna Palm. One strike can shatter bones and crack stones; don¡¯t underestimate him.¡±


    Dai Qisi¡¯s anxiety grew as she listened. She hadn¡¯t expected the Prince of Ruyang¡¯s mansion to hide so many martial experts, each as skilled as herself. The chances of her and Ling Yihan escaping unharmed seemed slim.


    Gangxiang sneered.


    ¡°I¡¯m impressed. For someone as young as you to know so much about our skills and origins¡ªyou¡¯re no ordinary kid!¡±


    He Biweng, the more impatient of the Xuanming Elders, snapped.


    ¡°Who are you? Why have you broken into the Prince¡¯s mansion?¡±


    Ling Yihan smirked, unfazed.


    ¡°Even if I said we came for a midnight snack, you wouldn¡¯t believe me, would you?¡±


    He drew the Dragon Sword from his storage ring and handed the Longevity Sword to Dai Qisi.


    Dai Qisi, recognizing the sword¡¯s quality from its gleaming, razor-sharp blade, felt deeply moved by Ling Yihan¡¯s concern for her safety.


    ¡°Let¡¯s finish this quickly!¡±


    With a shout, Ling Yihan swung the Dragon Sword, the blade emitting a dragon-like hum as it slashed toward the Xuanming Elders.


    Dai Qisi wielded the Longevity Sword and launched a fierce attack on Chengkun and Gangxiang.


    The Xuanming Elders defended with their stag-headed staff and crane-beak pens, but to their shock, the Dragon Sword sliced cleanly through their weapons.


    Realizing the two swords were extraordinarily sharp, capable of slicing through iron, they dared not clash directly with Ling Yihan and Dai Qisi.


    In a flurry, they unleashed the Xuanming Divine Palm, Vajra Prajna Palm, and Phantom Yin Finger, all targeting Ling Yihan and Dai Qisi¡¯s vital points.


    Although Ling Yihan had profound inner strength, he hadn¡¯t learned any intricate sword techniques. Instead, he incorporated the Great Nine Heavens Hand, passed down by Yang Dingtian, into his swordsmanship. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At first, his movements were clumsy, but as he engaged with the Xuanming Elders, his technique grew more fluid, revealing the elegance of the Great Nine Heavens Hand.


    However, Dai Qisi struggled. Though armed with a treasured sword, her inner strength was weaker than Chengkun¡¯s, and Gangxiang¡¯s relentless attacks soon wore her down.


    To make matters worse, the noise of their battle had alerted the Prince¡¯s guards, who were now rushing toward them.


    Realizing he couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, Ling Yihan sheathed the Dragon Sword at his waist and gathered the inner force of both the Nine Yang Divine Skill and the Martial Arts of the Wedding Dress.


    He struck at the Xuanming Elders with both palms.


    The Nine Yang Divine Skill¡¯s pure yang energy, combined with the ultimate power of the Martial Arts of the Wedding Dress, was a perfect counter to the Xuanming Divine Palm.


    The impact of Ling Yihan¡¯s palm strikes sent the Xuanming Elders flying several meters back, crashing to the ground and coughing up blood from severe internal injuries.


    ¡°Ah¡­¡±


    A soft cry escaped Dai Qisi¡¯s lips as she faltered, struck by Chengkun¡¯s Phantom Yin Finger. A chilling energy invaded her body, spreading through her limbs and causing excruciating pain.


    Rushing to her aid, Ling Yihan unleashed his powerful inner force, blasting Chengkun and Gangxiang backward.


    Without waiting to see the outcome, he lifted the injured Dai Qisi and used his lightness skill, ¡°Treading Snow Without a Trace,¡± to flee the Prince¡¯s mansion like a gust of wind.


    The Xuanming Elders, Chengkun, and Gangxiang, all injured, could only watch as Ling Yihan carried Dai Qisi out of the mansion.

 Chapter 19 - Hu Qingyang Gets Jealous

    Chapter 19: Hu Qingyang Gets Jealous


    After carrying Dai Qisi back to the inn, Ling Yihan quickly instructed Hu Qingyang to ask the innkeeper to prepare a tub of hot water to help expel the cold poison from Dai Qisi¡¯s body.


    Seeing Dai Qisi¡¯s pale face and purplish lips, Hu Qingyang knew she had suffered severe cold-induced internal injuries. Without asking further, she rushed out to summon the innkeeper to prepare the hot water.


    Not wanting to waste time, Ling Yihan said seriously, ¡°Dai Qisi, forgive me!¡±


    Without waiting for her reply, he carefully removed her outer garments, leaving only a red undergarment. Her skin, white as snow and as smooth as jade, was exposed, and he placed his palm gently on her back, continuously transferring his pure yang energy into her.


    By the time the hot water arrived, most of the cold poison from the Phantom Yin Finger had already been forced out of her body. Then, with Hu Qingyang¡¯s assistance, he placed Dai Qisi into the wooden tub for a hot bath.


    Dai Qisi regulated her own breathing and, after more than an hour, finally regained her strength.


    ¡°Brother Ling, it¡¯s my fault. I was a burden to you.¡± Dai Qisi, now dressed, looked at Ling Yihan with an apologetic expression.


    Ling Yihan understood that she was referring to the moment in the Prince¡¯s Mansion when she had accidentally stepped on a tile, alerting the guards. Not only had she suffered a serious injury from the Phantom Yin Finger, but her misstep had also disrupted their plans to steal the Heaven-Reliant Sword.


    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. I didn¡¯t expect the Prince¡¯s Mansion to have so many skilled martial artists. Even Chengkun, the ¡®Primal Thunder Hand,¡¯ is now one of the prince¡¯s lackeys. Escaping with our lives was fortunate enough.¡± Seeing her guilt-ridden expression, Ling Yihan offered her some comfort.


    Hu Qingyang, who had been listening, was astonished. ¡°What? You¡¯re talking about Lady Yang¡¯s senior brother, Chengkun? He¡¯s joined the court?¡±


    Since she was close friends with Lady Yang, Hu Qingyang knew all about her connection to Chengkun.


    Ling Yihan proceeded to tell them about Chengkun¡¯s affair with Lady Yang and his enmity with Yang Dingtian. Both young women listened in shock.


    ¡°How could this be? Lady Yang betrayed the Cult Master? That¡¯s¡­ impossible,¡± Hu Qingyang struggled to accept the truth.


    Dai Qisi, who had already overheard Chengkun and Gangxiang¡¯s conversation in the Prince¡¯s Mansion, had no doubts about Ling Yihan¡¯s words. Still, she recalled how Lady Yang had shown such concern for her well-being at Bright Summit, and it was hard to believe that this seemingly virtuous woman was living such a double life.


    Ling Yihan sighed. ¡°Master warned me never to disrespect Lady Yang. You both must keep this knowledge to yourselves. If word gets out, it could destroy both Master and the Ming Cult¡¯s reputation. Moreover, Chengkun is also the master of Golden-Haired Lion King Xie Xun, and without sufficient evidence, who knows what chaos this revelation might bring?¡±


    Dai Qisi and Hu Qingyang nodded in agreement.


    ¡°Brother Ling, here¡¯s your sword back.¡± Dai Qisi handed him the Longevity Sword.


    Ling Yihan shook his head, smiling. ¡°Once a gift is given, it¡¯s not proper to take it back. The sword suits you; keep it.¡±


    Dai Qisi looked surprised and delighted, but then hesitated. ¡°This¡­ doesn¡¯t feel right. The sword seems to be a rare treasure, probably as sharp as the Heaven-Reliant Sword. I can¡¯t accept something so precious.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ling Yihan gently pushed the Longevity Sword back toward her, smiling. ¡°I meant to give it to you from the start; I just hadn¡¯t found the right moment. Besides, I already have another fine sword. Why would I need so many?¡±


    Realizing he was sincere, Dai Qisi no longer protested and happily accepted. ¡°Then¡­ thank you, Brother Ling. By the way, does this sword have a name?¡±


    ¡°It does. It¡¯s called the Longevity Sword,¡± Ling Yihan replied, smiling.


    ¡°The Longevity Sword! What a beautiful name!¡± Dai Qisi admired the sword with delight.


    But Hu Qingyang, listening to their conversation, felt a pang of jealousy. She muttered, ¡°Brother Ling, you¡¯re so biased, giving Sister Dai such a fine weapon and not giving me anything¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan looked embarrassed. ¡°Um¡­ mainly because you don¡¯t know martial arts, Qingyang! Even if I gave you a weapon, you wouldn¡¯t know how to use it. What if someone saw it, took it from you, and harmed you?¡±


    Hu Qingyang pouted, ¡°I don¡¯t care! If Sister Dai has the Longevity Sword, I want something just as good. If not, I won¡¯t speak to you anymore!¡±


    Remembering how Ling Yihan had touched her while treating her earlier and then given her such a precious sword, Dai Qisi felt both a sweetness and a pang of sadness due to her role as a Persian Holy Maiden. She handed the Longevity Sword to Hu Qingyang with a smile. ¡°Here, Sister Qingyang. You can have the sword.¡±


    Hu Qingyang huffed, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Giving me something he gave you? I don¡¯t want your charity. I want him to give me something himself.¡±


    Seeing Dai Qisi¡¯s awkward expression, Ling Yihan said, ¡°Alright, I promise I¡¯ll give you something even better. Is that okay? I don¡¯t have it yet, but I¡¯ll find something for you.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Hu Qingyang asked, surprised and skeptical.


    Ling Yihan nodded. ¡°Of course.¡±


    Hearing the system notification, Ling Yihan couldn¡¯t help but feel excited.


    Not entirely convinced, Hu Qingyang asked, ¡°You¡¯re not just saying that to make me feel better, are you? So, tell me¡ªwhat will you give me?¡±


    With a smile, Ling Yihan replied, ¡°The ¡®Lianhua Baojian¡¯!¡±


    ¡°The ¡®Lianhua Baojian¡¯? What¡¯s that?¡± Hu Qingyang asked, puzzled.


    Seeing Hu Qingyang and the equally curious Dai Qisi, Ling Yihan explained, ¡°The ¡®Lianhua Baojian¡¯ is a legendary medical manual, said to be written by Wang Lianhua, a heroic doctor from the Southern Song dynasty. It contains not only miraculous healing techniques that can bring the dead back to life, but also advanced martial arts, poison techniques, Miaojiang¡¯s insect arts, disguise techniques, and even Persian mental techniques¡­¡±


    Hu Qingyang shook her head in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re making that up! There¡¯s no way such a powerful manual exists. And I¡¯ve never even heard of this Wang Lianhua. If his skills were that great, wouldn¡¯t my brother have known of him? You¡¯re just trying to trick me!¡±

 Chapter 20 - Black Iron Piece, Treasure Map

    Chapter 020: Black Iron Piece, Treasure Map


    Ling Yihan shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not lying to you. This martial arts manual really exists. It¡¯s inside the imperial palace. Once I get the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heavenly Sword, I¡¯ll go to the palace, steal , and bring it to you.¡±


    Hu Qingyang was about to caution him against taking such a risk but held back when he saw the gleam of the Changsheng Sword in Daiqisi¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Alright, you said it yourself, so don¡¯t go back on your word!¡±


    As she spoke, she extended her finger, gesturing for Ling Yihan to link pinkies.


    Seeing this, Ling Yihan couldn¡¯t help but smile and linked pinkies with her.


    After leaving their room, Ling Yihan didn¡¯t return to his own room to sleep.


    Instead, he quietly slipped out of the inn and headed back toward Prince Ruyang¡¯s mansion.


    He knew that the Xuanming Elders, Cheng Kun, and Gang Xiang had all been seriously injured by him and would likely be occupied with their recovery, leaving no one on guard.


    It was the perfect time to retrieve the Heavenly Sword from the mansion.


    Using his light-footed technique, ¡°Stepping Through Snow Without a Trace,¡± Ling Yihan stealthily entered the mansion, noting that after the earlier commotion he and Daiqisi caused, the security had intensified.


    However, those guards, with their basic skills, posed no threat to Ling Yihan.


    Effortlessly avoiding them, he located Prince Ruyang¡¯s bedchamber.


    Ling Yihan slipped into the room, drawing the Youlong Sword and pointing it at Prince Ruyang¡¯s throat as he lay asleep.


    Awakened by the dragon¡¯s roar from the blade, Cha Han Temoer opened his eyes and was startled to see a young stranger holding a sword to his throat.


    ¡°Who are you to dare break into Prince Ruyang¡¯s mansion in the dead of night?!¡±


    Ling Yihan chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t act so tough. Your life is in my hands. If you don¡¯t want to die, hand over the Heavenly Sword.¡±


    ¡°So, you came for the Heavenly Sword! Then the intruder from earlier must have been you?¡± Cha Han Temoer snorted coldly, ¡°Who are you, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Who I am doesn¡¯t matter. Stop wasting time and give me the Heavenly Sword!¡± Ling Yihan replied coldly.


    Cha Han Temoer glared at him, his face showing no fear.


    ¡°I, Cha Han Temoer, have faced countless life-or-death moments on the battlefield. Do you think I¡¯d fear threats from a mere youngster? Even if you kill me, the court will hunt you down, and you¡¯ll never live in peace!¡±


    Ling Yihan couldn¡¯t help admiring his courage and smirked.


    ¡°Is that so? You¡¯re right¡ªI won¡¯t kill you. But it¡¯s not because I fear your Mongol Empire. I could kill your son instead. Now, what¡¯s more important¡ªthe Heavenly Sword or your son?¡±


    With that, he sheathed his sword and turned to leave.


    Realizing the young man¡¯s skill, Cha Han Temoer quickly called after him, saying, ¡°Wait¡­ if it¡¯s the Heavenly Sword you want, I¡¯ll give it to you¡­¡±


    He hurriedly opened a hidden compartment in the wall and retrieved a prized sword.


    Confident that Cha Han Temoer wouldn¡¯t dare to play any tricks, Ling Yihan accepted the sword and drew it from its scabbard, observing its razor-sharp edge.


    He lightly swung the sword at a stone stool in the room, slicing it neatly in half.


    ¡°This is indeed the Heavenly Sword. Farewell, Prince Ruyang!¡±


    With those words, Ling Yihan disappeared from the mansion with the Heavenly Sword, vanishing like a gust of wind.


    Cha Han Temoer stood alone, watching in stunned silence as the young man left.


    Not far from the mansion, Ling Yihan saw Daiqisi waiting anxiously at a crossroads, pacing back and forth.


    When she saw him appear, her face lit up with relief.


    ¡°Brother Ling, you¡¯re safe! That¡¯s wonderful!¡±


    Ling Yihan felt a warmth in his heart at her concern. Smiling, he asked, ¡°Were you waiting here just for me?¡±


    Daiqisi¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly.


    ¡°I went to your room to talk, but you weren¡¯t there. I figured you must have gone back to the mansion for the Heavenly Sword. So, did you get it?¡±


    Ling Yihan handed her the Heavenly Sword with a smile.


    ¡°Of course!¡±


    ¡°Really? Brother Ling, you¡¯re incredible!¡± Daiqisi exclaimed, examining the sword with delight.


    Ling Yihan observed her joy and remarked, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t stay here. The guards from the mansion will likely come looking soon. Let¡¯s head back to the inn.¡±


    Daiqisi nodded, ¡°Alright!¡±


    Back at the inn, Ling Yihan recounted the night¡¯s events in full detail to Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang.


    ¡°Brother Ling, now that we have the Heavenly Sword, what secret does it hold?¡± Hu Qingyang asked, feeling a mix of excitement and curiosity as she looked at the sword.


    Ling Yihan smiled mysteriously.


    ¡°If you want to know the secret of the Heavenly Sword, just watch¡­¡±


    He drew the Youlong Sword and carefully scored a spot seven inches from the Heavenly Sword¡¯s hilt.


    The sword¡¯s soft iron yielded, revealing a black iron piece that fell out.


    Daiqisi picked up the black iron piece, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.


    ¡°Brother Ling, what is this? It seems to have some kind of pattern¡­¡±


    ¡°This is a black iron piece with a map showing the layout of traps on an island,¡± Ling Yihan replied with a slight smile.


    ¡°An island? A map? Could it be¡­ a treasure map?¡± Hu Qingyang asked in surprise.


    Ling Yihan nodded.


    ¡°Exactly. Do you know the origin of the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heavenly Sword?¡±


    Hu Qingyang and Daiqisi exchanged puzzled glances and shook their heads.


    Ling Yihan gently stroked their hair and chuckled.


    ¡°Then let me tell you a little martial arts history tonight. Have you heard of Guo Jing and Huang Rong, the couple who defended Xiangyang?¡±


    Daiqisi, having grown up in Persia, didn¡¯t know their story, but Hu Qingyang, who often heard stories in the Ming Cult, had some knowledge of martial arts legends.


    ¡°I know a bit. Guo Jing, the great hero, and Huang Rong were renowned martial artists of the Southern Song Dynasty. They fought to defend Xiangyang against the Mongol invaders. But¡­ in the end, the Mongols still conquered the land¡­¡± Hu Qingyang said with a sigh. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ling Yihan nodded.


    ¡°Yes. Knowing they couldn¡¯t hold Xiangyang, Guo Jing and Huang Rong hid their military strategies, the , and unparalleled martial arts on an island.


    ¡°They reforged the Divine Condor Hero Yang Guo¡¯s Black Iron Heavy Sword and the Gentleman and Lady Swords into a saber and sword, now known as the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heavenly Sword.¡±

 Chapter 21 - Obtaining The Treasure of Admiring the Flower

    Chapter 021: Obtaining


    Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang both nodded.


    ¡°So that¡¯s the origin of the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heavenly Sword!¡±


    Ling Yihan continued, ¡°When forging the saber and sword, Heroine Huang Rong created two black iron pieces. One piece had the name of the treasure island engraved on it, while the other showed the layout of the traps on that island.


    ¡°These two black iron pieces were hidden inside the saber and sword, respectively. Since the soft iron hiding the black iron pieces is about seven inches from the hilt, even if used in combat, the hidden iron won¡¯t be damaged.¡±


    Daiqisi nodded.


    ¡°So that¡¯s why! No wonder you sliced open the Heavenly Sword earlier, Brother Ling. I thought you were just testing it! When I saw the sword split, I even thought it was a fake for a moment!¡±


    Hu Qingyang agreed.


    ¡°Yes, I thought the same when you did that. I didn¡¯t expect there to be such a story behind it!¡±


    Ling Yihan continued, ¡°After the saber and sword were forged, Huang Rong entrusted the Heavenly Sword to her youngest daughter, Guo Xiang, the founder of the Emei Sect. The Dragon-Slaying Saber went to her eldest son, Guo Polu.


    ¡°Guo Polu and Guo Xiang also had an older sister, Guo Fu. Because she was reckless and impulsive, Guo Jing and Huang Rong chose not to pass the saber or sword to her.¡±


    Daiqisi asked, ¡°If Guo Jing and Huang Rong intended to pass on the military strategy and secret martial arts, why didn¡¯t they just give the map directly to their children? Why go to such lengths to hide it within the saber and sword?¡±


    Hu Qingyang also nodded, equally puzzled by this approach.


    Ling Yihan explained, ¡°They feared that if the military strategies and martial arts were revealed too soon, it wouldn¡¯t be the right time to drive out the Yuan forces.


    ¡°If a treacherous person were to get hold of the secrets, it could be disastrous, making the goal of restoring the Han dynasty even harder to achieve.¡±


    Hu Qingyang¡¯s face lit up in realization.


    ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. But if the secret remained hidden for so many years, how did you come to know about it, Brother Ling?¡±


    Ling Yihan had a prepared response.


    ¡°My ancestor had a personal friendship with Guo Polu. Before his death, Lord Polu revealed the secret of the saber and sword to my ancestor.


    ¡°In the world today, besides me, only the Emei Sect¡¯s successive leaders and the descendants of the Divine Condor Hero from the Ancient Tomb Sect know this secret.


    ¡°Oh¡­ and there¡¯s another person who might know, which is the great monk Kongjian of the Shaolin Sect.¡±


    In the original story, Kongjian was tricked by Cheng Kun. Before dying, he revealed the secret to Xie Xun, instructing him to find the Dragon-Slaying Saber to uncover its secret and seek revenge. However, whether he actually knew the secret remains uncertain.


    ¡°I never imagined the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heavenly Sword held such a twisted, extraordinary tale. If Brother Ling hadn¡¯t told us himself, and if we hadn¡¯t seen it with our own eyes, we might never have known this secret in our lifetimes,¡± Hu Qingyang sighed.


    Daiqisi frowned, examining the map on the black iron piece.


    ¡°Right now, we have the trap map, but we don¡¯t know which island it belongs to. It seems we¡¯ll still need to retrieve the Dragon-Slaying Saber from Grand Tutor Boyan¡¯s residence.¡±


    Ling Yihan chuckled and shook his head.


    ¡°The map on this black iron piece is enough to find the military strategies and martial arts secrets! There¡¯s no need to risk retrieving the Dragon-Slaying Saber.¡±


    Hu Qingyang was surprised.


    ¡°Does that mean you already know which island it is, Brother Ling?¡±


    Ling Yihan looked at her with a mysterious smile.


    ¡°If you think about it carefully, it¡¯s not hard to guess. Since the method of hiding the secrets in the saber and sword was Huang Rong¡¯s idea, do you know where she came from?¡±


    Hu Qingyang thought for a moment.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard the Three Lords and the Bright Left and Right Messengers mention that Heroine Huang Rong¡¯s father was one of the Five Greats of the Central Plains, the ¡®Eastern Heretic¡¯ Huang Yaoshi, who lived on Peach Blossom Island¡­ Could it be¡­¡±


    ¡°Exactly. The treasure is hidden on Peach Blossom Island, located near Mount Pudu in the east.¡±


    Ling Yihan nodded with a faint smile.


    ¡°I initially suspected it was on this island. Now, seeing this map on the black iron piece with its coded reference to the Eight Trigrams formation confirms it beyond doubt.¡±


    ¡°In that case, should we go directly to Peach Blossom Island without seeking the Dragon-Slaying Saber?¡± Daiqisi asked.


    Ling Yihan nodded.


    ¡°Yes. The Dragon-Slaying Saber isn¡¯t particularly important to me right now. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll leave the capital and head to Mount Pudu to find Peach Blossom Island.¡±


    Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang both nodded, agreeing to his plan.


    ¡°Brother Ling, I have a question,¡± Hu Qingyang began hesitantly.


    ¡°For decades, countless martial artists have fought and died for the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heavenly Sword. Why are you willing to share the secret of the saber and sword with us? We know that with your skills, you could find the treasure on your own.¡±


    Daiqisi shared the same thought and looked at Ling Yihan, curious to hear his response.


    Ling Yihan paused, momentarily taken aback, but then he quickly regained his composure and smiled.


    ¡°What does it matter if I tell you? Don¡¯t overthink it. It¡¯s getting late¡ªrest up. We have an early start tomorrow!¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With that, he turned and left, heading to his own room.


    ¡°Congratulations to the host for completing the task of retrieving the Heavenly Sword from Prince Ruyang¡¯s mansion. You¡¯ve earned the reward: the martial arts manual .¡±


    Upon returning to his room, Ling Yihan took out  and used the Memory Pearl within his body to thoroughly read and memorize its contents before storing it in his spatial ring.


    He didn¡¯t plan to give  to Hu Qingyang just yet. He would wait until there was an opportunity to enter the imperial palace in the future, then hand her the manual.


    The next day, Ling Yihan left the inn with Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang and noticed wanted posters on the streets, offering a reward for him and Daiqisi. It was undoubtedly Prince Ruyang, Cha Han Temoer, who had posted the notices in response to Ling Yihan¡¯s theft of the Heavenly Sword the night before.


    Fortunately, Ling Yihan had learned a disguise technique from , allowing him to alter the appearances of himself, Daiqisi, and Hu Qingyang, making it easy for them to leave the capital undetected.


    Ling Yihan purchased a large carriage, and after making numerous inquiries, he finally arrived at the foot of Mount Pudu with Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang.


    While Mount Pudu was easy to locate, Peach Blossom Island was much harder to find. Otherwise, its secrets would have been discovered long ago.


    The three of them spent over a month gathering information before they finally found the location of Peach Blossom Island.


    In the end, Ling Yihan purchased a large ship and hired a few sailors, ready to set sail for Peach Blossom Island.

 Chapter 22 - Acquiring the Military Strategy and Secret Manual

    Chapter 022: Acquiring the Military Strategy and Secret Manual


    Peach Blossom Island¡¯s location was rather hidden, but fortunately, Ling Yihan had a map of the surrounding islands.


    Originally, to preserve the secrecy of Peach Blossom Island, he planned to pierce the sailors¡¯ eardrums, cut out their tongues, and, upon return, blindfold them.


    Daiqisi didn¡¯t mind this approach, but Hu Qingyang, being softer-hearted, persuaded him not to take such extreme measures.


    Ling Yihan reluctantly agreed to her idea and used poison to temporarily control them.


    When they neared Peach Blossom Island, he struck their pressure points and left them on the main ship.


    Then, he, Daiqisi, and Hu Qingyang took a small boat and rowed slowly toward Peach Blossom Island.


    As they entered the island, they found it densely covered with peach blossom trees arranged in a peculiar pattern.


    The winding paths were confusing, making it easy to lose one¡¯s way.


    Ling Yihan realized that these trees and buildings were arranged according to the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams by Huang Yaoshi years ago. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thanks to the trap map on the black iron piece, navigating wasn¡¯t difficult, and soon, they found two ancient manuals buried in a cave.


    One was , written by Yue Fei, containing battle strategies against the Yuan forces.


    Since Guo Jing had been the Golden Blade Consort in Mongolia and had participated in the Western expeditions, he had gained extensive knowledge of their combat tactics.


    The other was a martial arts manual. Aside from , it contained skills from the North Beggar Hong Qigong, including  and , along with techniques from the East Heretic Huang Yaoshi like , , , , as well as occult techniques and the recipe for .


    Ling Yihan stored these two books in his spatial ring, then returned to the main ship with Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang.


    He opened both books and used the Memory Pearl within his body to memorize all their contents.


    Then, he transcribed some softer martial arts techniques for Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang to practice and gifted Hu Qingyang the recipe for .


    Knowing that Daiqisi had some knowledge of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams¡ªsince in the original story, Xiao Zhao used it to find the secret path to Bright Summit¡ªhe transcribed the sections on occult techniques and gave them to her.


    Ling Yihan, who practiced masculine internal arts like  and , avoided learning the Yin techniques in  to prevent internal energy conflict.


    Instead, he focused on the powerful  (a technique Zhou Botong once used against Yang Guo¡¯s Sad Palm) and the devastating , as well as the precise  and .


    Since Hu Qingyang had no martial foundation, Ling Yihan taught her some basics and gradually guided her in  and .


    After the Heavenly Sword incident, Hu Qingyang realized that powerful martial skills were necessary to help Ling Yihan, so she devoted herself to training aboard the ship.


    Although her progress was slow, continued practice would soon allow her to reach the level of a third-rate expert.


    Daiqisi, however, was already quite skilled. Under Ling Yihan¡¯s guidance, she practiced both Peach Blossom Island¡¯s techniques and advanced skills from , including  and .


    To prevent her from rushing and risking harm as Zhou Zhiruo had in the original story, Ling Yihan emphasized building a strong internal foundation.


    Daiqisi, deeply respectful of Ling Yihan¡¯s knowledge, followed his advice diligently, progressing steadily without impatience.


    Although Ling Yihan couldn¡¯t practice  and  due to his internal arts, he used his martial skills to create a new technique based on the  and : .


    When using this technique, he channeled his intense Yang energy into his arms, making them glow red-hot.


    With one strike on a tree, five charred claw marks appeared on the trunk, surpassing the destructive power of the . If combined with the , it would be even more terrifying.


    On their return voyage, they spotted a luxurious government ship bearing the Mongol Empire¡¯s flag not far ahead in the East Sea.


    Out of curiosity, Ling Yihan left Hu Qingyang on their ship and, under the cover of night, he and Daiqisi rowed a small boat to the government ship.


    Ling Yihan noticed that, aside from Mongolian, some people on board were speaking a familiar language that he couldn¡¯t quite understand.


    After listening carefully, he realized it sounded like Korean, reminding him of a past conversation between Cheng Kun and Gang Xiang about Grand Tutor Boyan planning to present the Dragon-Slaying Saber as a bride price for Emperor Yuan Shun¡¯s marriage to a Korean noblewoman.


    Ling Yihan eavesdropped on the Mongols¡¯ conversation and confirmed that they were from the Grand Tutor¡¯s estate.


    It turned out that Boyan had ordered his nephew  to take the Dragon-Slaying Saber and sail to Korea to escort the noblewoman back to the Yuan capital.


    Ling Yihan thought with delight.


    He shared this news with Daiqisi, who was equally surprised and thrilled.


    Together, they eliminated all the officials on board, leaving only Tuo Tuo and the Chinese sailors alive, seizing control of the ship with ease.


    ¡°Who are you? Don¡¯t you know that kidnapping imperial officials is punishable by death for your entire clan?¡±


    Despite being captured, Tuo Tuo remained calm and demanded answers.


    Ling Yihan glanced at him and sneered.


    ¡°I¡¯m well aware of who you are. That¡¯s the only reason I¡¯ve spared your life. Otherwise, you¡¯d have been executed like those other mongrels.¡±


    Tuo Tuo frowned.


    ¡°What do you want? It can¡¯t be just the Dragon-Slaying Saber, can it?¡±


    Ling Yihan replied indifferently, ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to know that right now. I merely want you to come along as my guest.¡±


    After taking the Dragon-Slaying Saber, Ling Yihan struck Tuo Tuo¡¯s pressure points and chained him to prevent escape.


    Initially, he planned to return to Mount Pudu by sea and then head to the Bright Summit by land.


    However, due to the inconvenience of transporting Tuo Tuo, Ling Yihan decided to travel by sea from the East Sea to the South Sea and then proceed to the Western Regions by land from the southern borders.


    Since he possessed Tuo Tuo¡¯s official seal and imperial orders, they passed through customs without issue.


    They soon docked in the southern border and continued their journey toward Bright Summit by carriage.

 Chapter 23 - Passing the Leadership of the Ming Sect

    Chapter 023: Passing the Leadership of the Ming Sect


    On his way back to Bright Summit.


    Ling Yihan was on his way back to Bright Summit when he sought out a skilled swordsmith to reforge the broken Yitian Sword.


    Due to the sword¡¯s high melting point, it required an intense flame to be reforged, and ordinary tongs couldn¡¯t withstand the heat, melting as soon as they were placed in the furnace.


    Ling Yihan took out two Sacred Fire Tokens and handed them to the swordsmith to use as tongs for holding the broken Yitian Sword. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sure enough, they endured the fierce heat, and after several hours of forging, the Yitian Sword was perfectly restored without a trace of its former break.


    Upon returning to Bright Summit, Ling Yihan presented both the Dragon-Slaying Sabre and the Yitian Sword to Yang Dingtian and disclosed his identity as [Tuotuo].


    Yang Dingtian was initially astonished to see the weapons, and he was even more shocked when he learned that the young man Ling Yihan had captured was none other than the nephew of the court¡¯s Grand Tutor Boyan.


    That same day, Yang Dingtian gathered the Ming Sect¡¯s members in the Sacred Fire Hall to publicly reward Ling Yihan, officially appointing him as the Sacred Son of the Ming Sect.


    As previously agreed, the Left and Right Guardians, the Three Great Kings, and the Five Wanderers voiced no objections.


    Daiqisi, who had assisted Ling Yihan in these achievements, also earned great merit.


    She was appointed as Protector King, joining the ranks of the White-Browed Eagle King Yin Tianzheng, the Golden Lion King Xie Xun, and the Green-Winged Bat King Wei Yixiao.


    ¡°Daiqisi, we all have our own titles; you should have one too!¡± Xie Xun remarked as soon as Daiqisi was appointed Protector King.


    Daiqisi, taken aback, replied, ¡°Me?¡±


    Ling Yihan, smiling, looked at her and said, ¡°I thought of one. Let¡¯s see if you like it.¡±


    Hu Qingyang teased, ¡°Brother Ling¡¯s title suggestion will surely be perfect for Sister Daiqisi!¡±


    Daiqisi blushed, ¡°Qingyang, what are you saying?¡±


    Ling Yihan chuckled awkwardly and continued, ¡°Since you¡¯ve always loved the colour purple, and we captured Tuotuo together at the East Sea, securing the Dragon-Slaying Sabre, why not be called the ¡®Purple-Robed Dragon King¡¯? How about that?¡±


    ¡°The Purple-Robed Dragon King? It¡¯s even more striking than ours! The Sacred Son truly has wisdom beyond his years!¡± Yin Tianzheng nodded in approval.


    Daiqisi was delighted with the title and quickly smiled at Ling Yihan, ¡°Thank you, Brother Ling!¡±


    Ling Yihan smiled quietly.


    ¡°Haha¡­ Indeed, the title ¡®Purple-Robed Dragon King¡¯ is made for Daiqisi!¡± Wei Yixiao joined in cheerfully.


    Seeing his playful grin, Daiqisi retorted, ¡°Wei Yixiao, are you teasing me again?¡±


    After the congregation toasted to congratulate Ling Yihan and Daiqisi, Yang Dingtian made another announcement: he would be passing the leadership of the Ming Sect to his sole disciple, the Sacred Son, Ling Yihan.


    ¡°What? You¡¯re in your prime, Master! Why step down from the position of Sect Leader?¡± Zhou Dian, known for his impatience, immediately questioned upon hearing Yang Dingtian¡¯s words.


    The Five Wanderers¡ªMonk Bu Dai Heshen, Monk Peng Yingyu, Daoist Zhang Zhong, and Mr. Leng Qian¡ªexpressed their disapproval as well.


    Ling Yihan, surprised by Yang Dingtian¡¯s announcement, looked at his master, who gave him a meaningful glance.


    Ling Yihan quickly understood that his master¡¯s internal injury from practising the Heaven and Earth Great Shift would eventually resurface.


    The Left Guardian, Yang Xiao, simply observed Ling Yihan thoughtfully without comment.


    The Right Guardian, Fan Yao, known for his quiet nature, remained silent, neither supporting nor opposing Ling Yihan¡¯s appointment as Sect Leader.


    Among the Four Protector Kings, the Purple-Robed Dragon King Daiqisi, who firmly supported Ling Yihan, was thrilled to hear Yang Dingtian¡¯s decision.


    The Golden Lion King Xie Xun was a bit taken aback but held a favourable opinion of Ling Yihan and assumed that Yang Dingtian must have a profound reason for his choice.


    The White-Browed Eagle King Yin Tianzheng and the Green-Winged Bat King Wei Yixiao both thought Ling Yihan was too young and inexperienced to assume the position of Sect Leader.


    Irritated by their objections, Ling Yihan reflected on how he had once declined the role of Sacred Son despite defeating Han Qianye, believing that his success in acquiring both the Dragon-Slaying Sabre and Yitian Sword would silence all criticism.


    However, despite his notable achievements and capturing an influential official like Tuotuo, these members still opposed him, treating his merits as trivial.


    He couldn¡¯t hold back his frustration any longer.


    Scanning the room, Ling Yihan spoke calmly, ¡°Brothers, many of you doubt my ability to lead the Ming Sect. May I ask why?¡±


    Yin Tianzheng replied with a tone of seniority, ¡°Although your martial prowess and wisdom are impressive, you are still very young. I had made my name in the martial world before you were even born! If you take over as Sect Leader, I fear our older members won¡¯t respect you.¡±


    Wei Yixiao nodded in agreement, adding, ¡°Indeed, if you train under Sect Leader Yang for a few more years, it would be easier for us to accept you as the leader. Right now, it¡¯s too soon.¡±


    Yang Xiao then interjected, ¡°Eagle King and Bat King have a point. Even if you assume the position now, you may struggle to command the Five Element Flags and the Thunder and Wind Gates. Without unity, the Ming Sect could fall into chaos.¡±


    Just as Daiqisi was about to argue, Ling Yihan raised his hand to stop her, smiling slightly.


    ¡°Your reasoning is rather superficial. The qualifications for Sect Leader are based on merit, not age. Should only the longest-serving member qualify to lead?¡±


    ¡°On the contrary, if a young member has accomplished significant feats for the Ming Sect, shouldn¡¯t they be given a chance?¡±


    ¡°May I ask if anyone here has managed to achieve what I have¡ªobtaining the Dragon-Slaying Sabre, the Yitian Sword, and capturing a high-ranking court official¡ªall in under two months? If anyone has, I won¡¯t contend for the position.¡±


    With this, the opposing members fell silent, while Yang Dingtian and Xie Xun looked on approvingly.


    ¡°Fine, you may have done all that, but if you can¡¯t match us in martial skills, do you really have the face to claim the Sect Leader¡¯s position?¡± Wei Yixiao retorted defiantly.

 Chapter 24 - Crushing Wei Yixiao

    Chapter 024: Crushing Wei Yixiao


    Ling Yihan listened to him, sneering.


    ¡°So, Bat King Wei wants a duel with me?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right! In the Ming Sect, every leader has been the strongest in martial arts, which is why they commanded respect. You¡¯re just a sixteen-year-old child; no matter how gifted, your skills are unlikely to reach the level of a true master!¡± Wei Yixiao replied with disdain.


    Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang, hearing this, couldn¡¯t help but laugh to themselves.


    ¡°This foolish Bat King has no idea how strong Brother Ling really is.¡±


    Ling Yihan smiled calmly.


    ¡°Very well, let me experience the superior martial skills of our sect¡¯s elders.¡±


    Everyone present followed Yang Dingtian to the Bright Summit¡¯s training grounds to witness the duel between Ling Yihan and Wei Yixiao.


    ¡°Go ahead, Sacred Son! Make your move!¡± Wei Yixiao said, fixing his gaze on Ling Yihan.


    Ling Yihan smiled slightly.


    ¡°Hold on.¡±


    Wei Yixiao frowned.


    ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you scared? Afraid to face me?¡±


    Ling Yihan shook his head, smiling.


    ¡°Bat King, you misunderstood me. When I said I wanted to experience the skills of our elders, I didn¡¯t mean just you¡ªI meant everyone here who opposes me!¡±


    At these words, nearly everyone on the training ground was shocked.


    ¡°Hahaha¡­ Brother Ling, I thought I was bold, but you¡¯re even bolder! Do you realise that challenging even a single one of us¡ªour Left and Right Guardians, the Four Protector Kings, and the Five Wanderers¡ªis already a tall order? Not even Sect Leader Yang himself has made such a boast. If you¡¯re not careful, you might end up being beaten senseless¡­¡± Xie Xun burst out laughing.


    Other sect members joined in, mocking Ling Yihan for his arrogance, claiming he didn¡¯t respect his elders.


    Though Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang knew Ling Yihan¡¯s martial arts were profound, they couldn¡¯t help but worry. Taking on so many of the sect¡¯s masters alone seemed nearly impossible.


    Ling Yihan shook his head and scoffed.


    ¡°Thank you for the warning, Lion King, but I¡¯m merely trying to save time. If anyone here still doubts my ability to lead, come at me together!¡±


    Wei Yixiao snorted.


    ¡°You arrogant brat! Beat me first, then we¡¯ll talk!¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With that, he moved, his form flickering as he suddenly appeared in front of Ling Yihan, striking toward his shoulder.


    ¡°The Bat King¡¯s lightness skill is unmatched, and coupled with his Cold Ice Palm, I fear the Sacred Son won¡¯t stand a chance!¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Our Protector Kings have earned their titles. Ling Yihan¡¯s words were truly arrogant.¡±


    Ling Yihan ignored the comments. He saw Wei Yixiao¡¯s palm coming toward him, its bone-chilling force aimed straight at his shoulder.


    ¡°Cold Ice Palm, is it? Let¡¯s see its power!¡±


    Ling Yihan neither dodged nor parried, allowing Wei Yixiao¡¯s Cold Ice Palm to strike him squarely. He absorbed the chill directly.


    Wei Yixiao was confident this attack would decide the outcome. Even a top-tier fighter struck by his Cold Ice Palm would find their meridians frozen, needing time to expel the cold poison before continuing to fight.


    But to his shock, Ling Yihan remained unaffected. His complexion was still vibrant, his breathing steady. Wei Yixiao couldn¡¯t know that Ling Yihan¡¯s Nine Yang Divine Skill countered all cold-based techniques, augmented further by the fierce internal power of the Wedding Dress Divine Skill.


    To Ling Yihan, the Cold Ice Palm felt like a mere breeze.


    Smiling slightly, Ling Yihan looked at Wei Yixiao.


    ¡°Bat King, is this the power of your Cold Ice Palm? It¡¯s rather unimpressive. Now, it¡¯s my turn!¡±


    He channelled his Nine Yang energy, infusing his right hand with inner strength before releasing a powerful palm strike.


    ¡°It¡¯s the first move of the Great Nine Heavens Palm! Haotian Power!¡± Yang Xiao, observing sharply, immediately recognised it as Yang Dingtian¡¯s technique.


    ¡°Indeed! I never imagined the Sacred Son could master the Sect Leader¡¯s skill to such an extent in such a short time!¡± Fan Yao exclaimed in awe.


    Yang Dingtian watched with satisfaction, nodding at Ling Yihan¡¯s talent.


    A searingly powerful force surged toward Wei Yixiao like an unstoppable wave.


    Sensing the intensity of the strike, Wei Yixiao dared not block it directly, opting instead to evade using his exceptional lightness skill.


    Ling Yihan, however, had no intention of actually hurting him; the strike was meant to scare him.


    ¡°Bat King, I hear your lightness skill is unparalleled. Let¡¯s have a lightness skill competition!¡±


    With that, Ling Yihan executed the ¡°Treading on Snow with No Trace¡± technique, his steps light and soundless as he flitted like a phantom around Wei Yixiao.


    The spectators saw only two figures moving ceaselessly, unable to tell who was chasing whom.


    Only those with profound cultivation¡ªYang Dingtian, Yang Xiao, Fan Yao, Yin Tianzheng, and Xie Xun¡ªcould discern the nuances, each showing varied expressions.


    Hu Qingyang, not yet experienced enough to follow the action, asked Daiqisi beside her.


    ¡°Sister, can you tell who¡¯s better at lightness skill, Brother Ling or the Bat King?¡±


    Daiqisi, already understanding the outcome, smiled.


    ¡°What do you think? You know how strong Brother Ling is. How many people can surpass him?¡±


    ¡°True enough; I was overthinking it,¡± Hu Qingyang nodded with a laugh.


    Yang Dingtian and Xie Xun remained unbothered, while Fan Yao clenched his fists, irritated by the way Daiqisi¡¯s expression softened at the mention of Ling Yihan.


    Finally, Wei Yixiao halted and, facing Ling Yihan, admitted.


    ¡°I concede. Sacred Son, your skills are far superior to mine.¡±


    Though many couldn¡¯t grasp the details of the duel, hearing Wei Yixiao¡¯s words, they understood that Ling Yihan had bested him in both martial prowess and his prized lightness skill.

 Chapter 25 - The Nine Suns Scarlet Claw vs. Eagle Claw Technique

    Chapter 25: The Nine Suns Scarlet Claw vs. Eagle Claw Technique


    As soon as Wei Yixiao admitted defeat, his face suddenly turned pale, his lips purple, and his whole body began to tremble uncontrollably. He staggered for a moment before collapsing to the ground.


    ¡°This is bad, the cold poison in Wei Bat King¡¯s body has flared up again¡­¡± Yang Xiao exclaimed in surprise upon seeing this.


    Dai Qisi, not very familiar with matters concerning the sect brothers, asked curiously, ¡°How did Wei Bat King get infected with cold poison?¡±


    Xie Xun quickly explained, ¡°Dragon King, you may not know this, but when Wei Bat King was practicing the extremely cold Ice Silk Palm technique years ago, there was a flaw in his internal cultivation, causing the cold poison to accumulate in his meridians. Since then, whenever he uses his internal power, the cold poison flares up. The only way to suppress it is by drinking human blood.¡±


    Dai Qisi was shocked. ¡°What? He has to drink human blood? Doesn¡¯t that make him a vampire bat? That¡¯s terrifying!¡±


    She thought to herself, from now on, it¡¯s better to keep a distance from Wei Yixiao¡ªwho knows when his cold poison might act up and make him bite my neck for blood.


    Ling Yihan walked over to Wei Yixiao¡¯s side, gently touching his body. It was as cold as ice, like frost. At this rate, his blood might freeze and his blood flow would be blocked, leading to death.


    ¡°Quickly find a prisoner for Bat King to suck blood from!¡± Zhou Dian urgently shouted.


    Ling Yihan shook his head and said calmly, ¡°No need. Let me treat him instead.¡±


    He carefully helped Wei Yixiao sit upright and sat down behind him, cross-legged. Then, he silently circulated his Nine Suns True Qi, placing his palms on Wei Yixiao¡¯s back. The hot, yang energy of his internal power slowly entered Wei Yixiao¡¯s body.


    In less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Ling Yihan had used the Nine Suns Divine Art to expel the cold poison from Wei Yixiao¡¯s body. He even cleared out the years of accumulated cold toxins from his meridians. From now on, Wei Yixiao would no longer suffer from these episodes of cold poison and wouldn¡¯t need to drink blood anymore.


    Wei Yixiao felt his body, which had been freezing cold, gradually warm up and become more comfortable. He could feel that the cold poison had completely been cured. He quickly stood up and cupped his hands in gratitude to Ling Yihan.


    ¡°Thank you, Son of God, for repaying kindness with virtue and curing the cold poison in my body that I¡¯ve carried for many years. I, Wei Yixiao, am deeply grateful and fully support you as the leader of the sect.¡±


    Ling Yihan secretly smiled but pretended to act benevolently as he helped Wei Yixiao up. He said with a chuckle, ¡°Wei Bat King is too polite. We are all brothers of the sect. Disagreements are inevitable, but how could I ignore a good brother¡¯s injury?¡±


    Monk Peng couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°The Son of God¡¯s internal power is truly extraordinary. Such pure yang energy, I¡¯ve been in the martial world for many years and have never seen anything like it.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Daoist Tieguan Zhang Zhong nodded, saying, ¡°Yes, earlier when he fought Han Qianye in the Cold Pond, I noticed that his inner yang energy was incredibly strong. I wonder what internal art he practices? It might even surpass our sect leader!¡±


    After Wei Yixiao withdrew from the martial field, Bai Mei Ying Wang Yin Tianzheng quickly flew over to Ling Yihan and smiled, saying, ¡°Good boy, you managed to defeat that old bat and even cured his cold poison. This old eagle thanks you. But, let¡¯s be clear, if you want to become the leader, you still need to defeat me first.¡±


    Ling Yihan nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right, Eagle King. I¡¯ve heard that your most skilled technique is the Eagle Claw Grasp. I, Ling Yihan, am not talented, but I would like to test my own claw technique against your Eagle Claw.¡±


    ¡°Oh? It seems you¡¯re planning to use your own technique to challenge my absolute skill, just like you defeated that old bat with your lightness skill earlier? Very well, let me see just how formidable your claw technique is!¡±


    With that, Yin Tianzheng transformed his hands into claws and took a stance, ready to engage Ling Yihan.


    Ling Yihan waved his hand and smiled, ¡°Eagle King, there¡¯s no need to rush. I haven¡¯t finished speaking yet. The Eagle Claw is indeed fierce, and if we clash with it directly, both of us would surely suffer some injuries, and it wouldn¡¯t be in the spirit of brotherhood. How about this? Let¡¯s each find an object and demonstrate our claw techniques on it, to see whose skill is superior.¡±


    Yin Tianzheng heard this and felt it made sense. He nodded, saying, ¡°Good, I¡¯ll go along with your suggestion.¡±


    He found a heavy iron rod, grabbed it at both ends with his claws, and with a burst of strength, bent the rod in two.


    The sect members around them immediately applauded.


    Dai Qisi, watching from the sidelines, couldn¡¯t help but silently praise, ¡°No wonder he¡¯s the Bai Mei Ying Wang, the Eagle Claw is indeed powerful. If that claw were to hit someone, their bones would probably shatter. Fortunately, Brother Ling taught me the Nine Yin White Bone Claw. Though I¡¯ve only been practicing for a short time, if I continue working hard, I will definitely surpass him.¡±


    Hu Qingyang, on the other hand, was thinking, ¡°Hmph! What¡¯s so great about the Eagle Claw? Just wait until Brother Ling uses the Nine Suns Scarlet Claw. You¡¯ll be scared stiff!¡±


    Ling Yihan also complimented Yin Tianzheng, then scanned the field and eventually spotted a large copper pillar in the corner.


    ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s use this.¡±


    He walked over to the copper pillar and activated his Nine Suns Divine Power to its full potential. His right arm and even his fingers turned a deep red from the heat. Then, with a single claw strike, he struck the pillar, instantly creating five deep indentations where his fingers had pressed.


    ¡°Brother Ling¡¯s Nine Suns Scarlet Claw is indeed formidable!¡± Hu Qingyang and Dai Qisi couldn¡¯t help but exchange glances, both clapping in admiration.


    ¡°It¡¯s not over yet!¡±


    Ling Yihan¡¯s fingers continued to exert pressure, and the five indentations on the copper pillar began to melt. Even copper juice started dripping onto the ground.


    ¡°My heavens! This claw technique is terrifying!¡±


    ¡°Yes, if that were to hit someone, not only would they have five blood holes, but their flesh would be scorched to a crisp!¡±


    ¡°How could the Son of God possess such a terrifying and bizarre martial art? Who exactly is he?¡±


    ¡°It seems his martial skills have already surpassed Sect Leader Yang. No wonder he was so bold earlier, claiming to challenge all the elite fighters of our Ming Sect!¡±


    ¡°Indeed, his martial arts are far too terrifying!¡±


    The sight left all the sect members in awe. The ability to strike deep finger holes into a copper pillar with bare flesh and bone was already beyond belief. But to then melt the pillar into liquid showed just how profound Ling Yihan¡¯s inner power was, far beyond their imagination.


    Dai Qisi and Hu Qingyang applauded again, thinking to themselves, Brother Ling¡¯s claw technique has improved even more since the time on the ship.


    Yin Tianzheng¡¯s expression darkened as he sighed, ¡°Sigh, truly a rising star. I¡¯ve lost, and I lose with respect.¡±

 Chapter 26 - Easily Defeating the Left and Right Guardians

    Chapter 026: Easily Defeating the Left and Right Guardians


    At the training grounds, Ling Yihan noticed that it was time to halt the sparring session. He politely addressed Yin Tianzheng, ¡°Eagle King, thank you for letting me win.¡±


    Once Yin Tianzheng exited the arena, Yang Xiao and Fan Yao exchanged a glance before both leaping onto the training grounds.


    ¡°Sacred Son, the two of us know we aren¡¯t your equals in martial skill, but we¡¯d still like to learn from you,¡± Yang Xiao said, his usual arrogance replaced with a tone of respect.


    Fan Yao remained silent, merely nodding in agreement with Yang Xiao¡¯s words. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ling Yihan smiled slightly. ¡°In that case, please, Guardians, make your move.¡±


    Having witnessed Ling Yihan¡¯s impressive skills earlier, Yang Xiao and Fan Yao did not hold back. They immediately launched an all-out assault on him.


    Standing calmly between the two, Ling Yihan redirected their attacks with ease. Though he appeared to be engaged in combat with both men, he was actually pitting them against each other.


    It did not take long for Yang Xiao to sense something peculiar.


    ¡°Qiankun Great Shift¡­ it¡¯s Qiankun Great Shift!¡± he gasped.


    Upon hearing this, Fan Yao understood why Ling Yihan was handling their combined assaults so effortlessly. He was employing the Ming Sect¡¯s supreme skill, Qiankun Great Shift, to deflect their energy toward one another. Ling Yihan was not using his own strength at all.


    ¡°Did the Sect Leader teach Brother Ling the Qiankun Great Shift technique?¡± Daiqisi asked curiously, having never witnessed Ling Yihan use this skill before.


    Yang Dingtian nodded. ¡°Of course. Only the Sect Leaders of our Ming Sect are permitted to practice Qiankun Great Shift. After he defeated Han Qianye, I intended for him to succeed me as Sect Leader, so I saw no harm in teaching him. It seems, however, that he has already attained a very high level in the technique¡­ Tell me, my good disciple, what level have you reached?¡±


    While countering the Guardians¡¯ attacks, Ling Yihan replied, ¡°Not bad, Master. I¡¯ve reached the seventh level, though there are still nineteen phrases I haven¡¯t fully understood.¡±


    At this, everyone was left astounded.


    Yang Dingtian laughed helplessly. ¡°You rascal! Do you know how difficult this technique is to master? The first level alone takes seven years for a quick learner and up to fourteen for others. The time needed for each subsequent level only increases. I¡¯m considered a gifted martial artist, and I only reached the fourth level. Our eighth Sect Leader, who was the most skilled in history, barely managed to reach the fifth level but died the same day from inner turmoil. Yet you¡­ you¡¯ve reached the seventh level in less than two months¡­¡±


    ¡°Actually, I only needed one night to reach the seventh level,¡± Ling Yihan stated softly.


    This revelation nearly caused everyone to choke on their disbelief. Yang Dingtian¡¯s vision darkened, as if he might faint.


    As he sparred with Ling Yihan, Yang Xiao pondered, ¡°I always considered myself a martial arts prodigy. It took me five years to reach the first level of Qiankun Great Shift after the Sect Leader taught me. The second level would take even longer¡­ But this Ling Yihan¡­ Is he even human?¡±


    Realising that his energy was futile, since it was merely being redirected, Yang Xiao stepped back.


    He struck the ground with his palm, sending several pebbles flying before flicking them toward Ling Yihan¡¯s acupoints.


    ¡°Finger Flick Technique? Very well, let¡¯s see whose technique is stronger.¡±


    Ling Yihan quickly countered with the same Finger Flick Technique, sending several stones back at Yang Xiao. Not only did he shatter Yang Xiao¡¯s stones, but he also struck several of his acupoints, rendering him immobile.


    With that, Yang Xiao was defeated. Only Fan Yao remained.


    Fan Yao picked up a fallen branch and unleashed various techniques against Ling Yihan. Sword moves, sabre techniques, the Judge¡¯s Pen technique, staff techniques¡ªhe showcased skills from numerous schools.


    ¡°Fan Yao has indeed mastered many different techniques, just as the tales say. If I keep relying on Qiankun Great Shift and Nine Yang Divine Skill, he may not be convinced. I¡¯ll have to defeat him using techniques.¡±


    Ling Yihan then abandoned Qiankun Great Shift, opting instead to employ techniques from Peach Blossom Island, such as the Orchid Point Striking Hand and Falling Petals Divine Sword Palm.


    Next, he utilized the Demon-Subduing Fist from the Nine Yin Manual before finally incorporating the Sacred Flame Order techniques.


    The longer the fight progressed, the more astonished Fan Yao became.


    ¡°I pride myself on knowing almost every martial art in the world, yet his techniques are entirely unfamiliar to me. Each move is extraordinarily refined. At first, I could barely parry his palm strikes, but his fierce punches and unusual techniques leave me completely helpless. This young man¡¯s strength is terrifying¡­ and he¡¯s not even twenty¡­¡±


    After exchanging several more moves with Ling Yihan, Fan Yao eventually retreated, sighing.


    ¡°I concede. The Sacred Son¡¯s martial skills are unfathomable. I am no match for him.¡±


    Ling Yihan smiled slightly. ¡°Right Guardian, you¡¯re too modest. In terms of knowledge, no one in our sect can match you, aside from Master and Left Guardian Yang. A duel is merely a test of skill; there¡¯s no need to dwell on the outcome.¡±


    Following these matches, no one in the Ming Sect dared challenge Ling Yihan again, and he earned even greater respect from them.


    Three days later, at the Ming Sect¡¯s main hall on Bright Summit, a grand ceremony was held to officially instate Ling Yihan as the new Sect Leader.


    The Sacred Fire Hall was filled with celebratory tables, with all the prominent figures of the Ming Sect in attendance, creating a lively scene. The news spread throughout the martial world, and Ling Yihan¡¯s name echoed across the Mongolian court, the Six Great Sects, and other factions.


    As Yang Dingtian observed Ling Yihan¡¯s duel with Fan Yao, he noted similarities between his techniques and Qiankun Great Shift, prompting him to inquire further.


    Ling Yihan, now the official Sect Leader, shared everything without reservation. He informed Yang Dingtian about the six Sacred Flame Orders he had acquired from a Persian merchant, emphasizing that he had not realised they were holy relics of the Ming Sect.


    Yang Dingtian was both shocked and delighted, repeatedly praising his decision to make Ling Yihan his disciple and to name him as his successor.


    As for how to deal with Boyan¡¯s nephew, Tuotuo, Yang Dingtian left the matter entirely in Ling Yihan¡¯s hands.


    Ling Yihan opted not to kill him, intending to use him as leverage to negotiate with the imperial court for greater benefits. Thus, he had Tuotuo imprisoned in the most secure dungeon on Bright Summit, with strict orders that no one except the Sect Leader was permitted to visit him.


    4o mini

 Chapter 27 - Preparing for the Martial Arts Assembly

    Chapter 27: Preparing for the Martial Arts Assembly


    At the gate of the academy. Three people were already waiting there.


    Among them was Cheng Qingman.


    ¡°Cheng Qingman, this person you found isn¡¯t reliable. We¡¯re all here, but he still hasn¡¯t arrived.¡±


    ¡°A disciple from the outer palace, slower than us,¡± one of them said.


    He was wearing a grey robe, carrying a long sword on his back, with a clear expression of displeasure on his face.


    ¡°It¡¯s not even fully light yet, why are you in such a hurry? He¡¯s not late.¡± Cheng Qingman glanced at him.


    ¡°You seem to value this outer palace disciple quite a bit,¡± the man carrying the sword remarked, surprised at Cheng Qingman¡¯s retort.


    ¡°Of course I do. He¡¯s Senior Sister Cheng¡¯s lifesaver, a genius who, despite only being at the ninth stage of the Body Tempering realm, could kill someone at the first stage of the True Aperture realm. He¡¯s mastered the Absolute Death Blade Technique to perfection. Such a person is rare, even in our inner palace.¡±


    The speaker was quite young, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, holding a silver spear in his arms. He was Cheng Qingman¡¯s junior brother, Lin Rufeng.


    ¡°Is Senior Sister Cheng planning to invest early and recruit him under your father¡¯s command in the future?¡± Lin Rufeng joked.


    In the inner palace, Cheng Qingman¡¯s reputation wasn¡¯t primarily due to her strength but because of her father¡ªthe famous Marquis of Blood and Courage!


    Thirty years ago, the Di tribe of the Southern Borders rebelled, planning to massacre half a county of the Great Zhou as an offering to the Witchcraft Lands. But the Marquis of Blood and Courage led an army of ten thousand to quell the rebellion, beheading a hundred thousand Di tribe members. Their heads were piled into a mound, standing as tall as a mountain. It still stands today as a landmark.


    ¡°Why not?¡± Cheng Qingman asked.


    ¡°Of course, you can,¡± Lin Rufeng spread his hands. ¡°The Absolute Death Blade Technique is difficult, but if we really wanted to practise it, we could succeed. It¡¯s just unnecessary. Once you reach the True Aperture realm, you can practise Profound-grade techniques. Why waste time on Human-grade ones?¡±


    The man with the sword was named Jiang Hai. Hearing Cheng Qingman¡¯s words, he felt somewhat unconvinced. Inner palace disciples had always been superior to outer palace disciples, never surpassed by them. But the olive branch Cheng Qingman extended wasn¡¯t towards them, but to an unknown outer palace disciple.


    Cheng Qingman glanced at him. She didn¡¯t argue.


    Indeed, many in the inner palace could achieve this. But after investigating, she found out that Luo Mu had only received this martial skill for half a month. Half a month to reach perfection. Who could do that? Such comprehension was rare, even in the inner palace.


    Of course, she wouldn¡¯t announce it. To prevent others from trying to poach him.


    Suddenly, Cheng Qingman¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Not far away, a figure was quickly approaching.


    ¡°Junior Brother Luo, over here!¡± Cheng Qingman waved.


    ¡°Is that the outer palace disciple Senior Sister Cheng mentioned?¡± The two looked over immediately, raising their eyebrows slightly.


    His appearance was decent. Handsome and resolute. He had a tall and straight figure, walking with the grace of a dragon and the strength of a tiger.


    But his cultivation was a bit low. Only at the second stage of the True Aperture realm. Even with the perfected Absolute Death Blade Technique, it would be difficult to surpass too many realms in combat. It¡¯s impossible for him to be our opponent.


    ¡°Senior Sister Cheng,¡± Luo Mu approached, nodded slightly, and glanced at the others.


    Since there was no concealment of cultivation, their cultivation realms were also fully visible. One was at the seventh stage of the True Aperture realm, and the other at the sixth stage.


    In terms of realms alone, he was indeed somewhat lower.


    But a realm was a realm, and strength was strength. Even though he was only at the second stage. If it came to a fight, I wouldn¡¯t be weaker than these inner palace disciples at the sixth and seventh stages. Perhaps even stronger. Just as the elder in the Martial Arts Pavilion had said, most inner palace disciples practised lower-grade Profound techniques, not mid-grade ones. But he practised mid-grade techniques. And had already reached small success. It was enough to make up for the gap in cultivation realms.


    ¡°Let me introduce you. This is Jiang Hai and Lin Rufeng, both of whom can be considered your senior brothers. For the upcoming task, the four of us will be working together,¡± Cheng Qingman smiled as she spoke.


    ¡°Senior Brother Jiang, Senior Brother Lin,¡± Luo Mu nodded slightly.


    ¡°Junior Brother Luo.¡± The two also nodded lightly, acknowledging him. But after all, they were inner palace disciples. When facing an outer palace disciple, there was a natural air of superiority.


    ¡°This time, with Senior Sister Cheng leading the way, I have nothing more to say. But once we reach the Demon Dao stronghold, don¡¯t act on your own. Just focus on self-preservation. We won¡¯t have the time to protect you,¡± Jiang Hai said.


    ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Mu¡¯s expression remained calm. He didn¡¯t say much more. Nor did he feel any anger from Jiang Hai¡¯s obvious disdain. This was normal.


    In Jiang Hai and Lin Rufeng¡¯s eyes, I¡¯m just a ¡®connection,¡¯ brought along by Cheng Qingman to earn some easy contribution points.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Lin Rufeng broke the tension, mounting a spirit horse nearby and riding ahead. Jiang Hai quickly followed.


    ¡°That¡¯s just his personality, but he¡¯s not a bad person,¡± Cheng Qingman, worried that Luo Mu might be upset, added.


    ¡°Senior Sister Cheng, you¡¯re overthinking.¡± Luo Mu smiled faintly.


    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get moving. It¡¯ll take about a day to reach the destination.¡± Cheng Qingman lightly tapped her toes, her long legs cutting through the air, landing steadily on the horse¡¯s back. ¡°If things go smoothly, we can even visit my hometown, Xunyang City, on the way.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Xunyang City?¡± Luo Mu raised an eyebrow. That was one of the top cities in Fengdu County. It was said to be incredibly prosperous. He hadn¡¯t expected Cheng Qingman to be from Xunyang City. It seemed her background was indeed extraordinary.

 Chapter 28 - The Secret Affair of Cheng Kun and Lady Yang

    Chapter 28: The Secret Affair of Cheng Kun and Lady YangAfter the meeting concluded, the Ming Sect arranged for emissaries to send invitations to various sects in the Central Plains, informing them that the Ming Sect would hold a Martial Arts Assembly on Mount Tai in a month to select a Martial Alliance Leader.


    Just as Ling Yihan anticipated, as soon as news of the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heavenly Sword spread, representatives from the sects eagerly confirmed their participation.


    Since Ling Yihan had previously taught Dai Qisi the Peach Blossom Island¡¯s art of Qimen Dunjia, he appointed her as the new Chief Instructor of the Five Elemental Flags, tasked with training the Twenty-Eight Constellations Formation.


    This Twenty-Eight Constellations Formation was actually an innovation by Huang Yaoshi, who, after studying the Seven Stars Northern Dipper Formation of the Quanzhen Sect, meticulously crafted this new formation, drawing inspiration from various ancient strategies.


    Originally, he had intended to use it against the Seven Elders of Quanzhen.


    However, Huang Yaoshi never had the chance to test it against the Quanzhen formation. Instead, he deployed it to protect Xiangyang City against an invading Mongolian army, where it achieved great success.


    When Huang Rong recorded this formation, she included notes on how to exploit weaknesses in Mongolian combat tactics. Ling Yihan, therefore, saw great value in adopting this formation.


    The Five Elemental Flags, being under the direct control of the Sect Leader, were as loyal as the Imperial Guard to an emperor, even beyond the authority of the Left Emissary of Light. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thus, Ling Yihan felt confident in entrusting Dai Qisi with the training of the Twenty-Eight Constellations Formation.


    As for the Tian, Di, Feng, and Lei branches, while they were also under the Sect Leader¡¯s authority, they frequently stayed at the headquarters to guard Bright Summit.


    When the Sect Leader was busy or in secluded training, the Left and Right Emissaries of Light would often command them.


    Hence, during the siege of Bright Summit by the Six Great Sects in the original story, Yang Xiao was unable to mobilise the Five Elemental Flags but could command the Tian, Di, Feng, and Lei branches.


    If not for the persuasion of Green-Winged Bat King Wei Yixiao and the Five Wanderers, urging the Five Elemental Flag leaders to return and defend Bright Summit, they might not have resisted the Six Sects¡¯ assault.


    However, Ling Yihan did not wish for others to easily control the deployment of these forces, so he assigned members of the four branches separately under the temporary command of Yang Xiao, Fan Yao, and others.


    The Tian branch was composed of Central Plains men familiar with local martial customs and ways. Ling Yihan placed them under Yang Xiao¡¯s command.


    The Di branch members were women, and Ling Yihan believed that their combat abilities differed from men¡¯s, so he reorganised them to focus on logistics, responsible for tasks such as medical support and supplies in addition to training.


    Given Hu Qingyang¡¯s skill in medicine, he entrusted her with the leadership of the Di branch.


    The Feng branch consisted of monks and Taoists, while the Lei branch was made up of individuals from Western lands. Ling Yihan assigned the Feng branch to Xie Xun and the Lei branch to Fan Yao.


    In addition to the Tian, Di, Feng, and Lei branches, Ling Yihan established two new branches, ¡°Yu¡± and ¡°Dian,¡± led by White-Browed Eagle King Yin Tianzheng and Green-Winged Bat King Wei Yixiao, respectively.


    Yin Tianzheng, known for his steady nature, was tasked with using the Yu branch to support and rescue struggling Ming Sect allies throughout the land to prevent the sect¡¯s influence from being eroded bit by bit.


    With his exceptional lightness skills, Wei Yixiao led the Dian branch, specialising in gathering intelligence on the court and martial sects.


    As for the Five Wanderers, they were nominally free agents with no major duties. In truth, each had connections to various rebel forces.


    Leaders like Banghu and Zhou Zi Wang were actually their senior brothers. Hence, Ling Yihan assigned them the task of rallying heroes from across the martial world to join the Ming Sect¡¯s righteous army in resisting the court.


    After arranging all these matters, the brothers of the Ming Sect were impressed by Ling Yihan¡¯s steady and capable leadership, feeling he had the bearing of a great leader.


    Yang Dingtian, after reaching the fourth level of the Qiankun Great Shift technique, had repeatedly experienced inner turmoil due to the affair between Lady Yang and Cheng Kun, nearly driving him to madness.


    Ling Yihan publicly announced that he would leave Bright Summit for several days to assist Yang Dingtian in finding a secluded place for healing and to prevent any danger of qi deviation.


    Dai Qisi, the Purple-Clad Dragon King, and Xie Xun, the Golden Lion King, would accompany them to guard against intruders while he helped Yang Dingtian recover.


    In truth, Ling Yihan never left Bright Summit. Instead, he quietly led Yang Dingtian, Dai Qisi, and Xie Xun into a hidden stone chamber within a secret passageway, unbeknownst to even Lady Yang.


    For three days, Ling Yihan expended his energy to help Yang Dingtian channel his unstable qi.


    ¡°Master, I¡¯ve directed most of your inner qi back to your dantian. Today, you should be able to guide your healing by yourself, while I only need to provide occasional assistance,¡± Ling Yihan said as he noted Yang Dingtian¡¯s gradually improving complexion.


    Yang Dingtian nodded, ¡°Thank you, Yihan. Without your help these past three days, I¡¯m not sure what I would have done.¡±


    Ling Yihan shook his head and smiled, ¡°Master, there¡¯s no need to say that. You¡¯ve been a tremendous benefactor to me, so this is merely a small favour. But today¡¯s healing is particularly crucial and dangerous, so you must maintain full focus and allow no distraction, or it could all be in vain.¡±


    ¡°Understood, I¡¯ll be careful,¡± Yang Dingtian said, settling into a meditative position and focusing his qi to start the healing process.


    Ling Yihan remained nearby, guiding and supporting him, while Dai Qisi and Xie Xun guarded outside, keeping an eye out for any interruptions.


    ¡°Brother Kun¡­¡±


    ¡°Junior Sister¡­¡±


    Suddenly, voices echoed from outside the chamber. Ling Yihan and the others instantly recognised the voices as Lady Yang and Cheng Kun.


    They overheard Lady Yang say, ¡°Brother Kun, I need to talk to you¡­¡±


    Cheng Kun immediately interrupted, pulling her close and murmuring affectionately, ¡°Junior Sister¡­ I haven¡¯t seen you in days. I¡¯ve missed you so much¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, Brother Kun, I mean business!¡± Lady Yang quickly pulled away and spoke more seriously.


    ¡°Did Yang Dingtian mistreat you?¡± Cheng Kun¡¯s face darkened. ¡°That man¡¯s a bastard! He married you only to obsess over his martial arts and leave you alone, unhappy. He stole you away but couldn¡¯t treat you right¡­¡±


    ¡°If I¡¯d known how irresponsible he was, I¡¯d have stopped your marriage to him, even at the cost of my life. Despicable! I¡¯ll kill him right now!¡± Cheng Kun spat angrily.


    ¡°No, Brother Kun, that¡¯s not it¡­¡± Lady Yang quickly held him back. ¡°Yang Dingtian treats me well, indulging me in everything. How else would he have shown me the Ming Sect¡¯s secret passageway?¡±


    Ling Yihan and Dai Qisi, having expected this, were unbothered.


    However, Xie Xun, upon overhearing the conversation, was visibly shocked. He had never imagined that his respected master Cheng Kun would have an affair with Lady Yang.


    Yang Dingtian, hearing their exchange, looked deeply troubled but remained focused on his healing, understanding the critical stage he was in.


    Cheng Kun, hearing Lady Yang¡¯s explanation, relaxed slightly. ¡°I see¡­ then what did you want to tell me?¡±


    Lady Yang¡¯s face flushed as she replied shyly, ¡°Brother Kun¡­ I¡¯m carrying your child¡­¡±

 Chapter 29 - Have You Overestimated Yourself?

    Chapter 29: Have You Overestimated Yourself?Cheng Kun was both shocked and delighted upon hearing the news. ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡± Lady Yang replied softly, shyly nodding her head.


    This revelation left Dai Qisi and Xie Xun astonished, while Yang Dingtian was heartbroken, feeling as though a knife had been twisted into his heart.


    Ling Yihan, who had foreseen this, could only feel silent sympathy for Yang Dingtian, not knowing what else to say.


    Upon hearing the joyous news, Cheng Kun burst out laughing excitedly in the secret passage, ¡°I¡¯m going to be a father! I have a descendant!¡±


    Lady Yang quickly stopped him, smiling as she urged, ¡°Brother Kun, be careful! If the Ming Sect people hear this and word reaches Yang Dingtian, we¡¯ll both be doomed!¡±


    Cheng Kun embraced her passionately. ¡°Junior Sister, let¡¯s leave Bright Summit together!¡±


    Lady Yang shook her head, sighing, ¡°We can¡¯t. With the tens of thousands of Ming Sect disciples, they¡¯d find us with ease.¡±


    Cheng Kun, unwilling to accept this, muttered, ¡°To the ends of the earth¡­ Is there truly no place for us?¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lady Yang consoled him, ¡°For our sake and for our child¡¯s, we can¡¯t act recklessly.¡±


    Cheng Kun¡¯s face turned grim, his eyes dimming. ¡°If I can¡¯t fly free with my beloved, and I refuse to let my child recognise an enemy as his father¡­ Why is heaven so unfair to me?¡±


    Seeing his expression, Lady Yang felt a pang of fear. ¡°Brother Kun, your gaze is frightening!¡±


    Cheng Kun sneered coldly, his eyes glinting with a murderous intent. ¡°I know I can¡¯t defeat Yang Dingtian, but as they say, a concealed arrow is the hardest to guard against¡­¡±


    Lady Yang shook her head. ¡°No! Yang Dingtian has never wronged me, I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Shh! Don¡¯t speak. There¡¯s movement inside the stone wall!¡± Cheng Kun suddenly heard a sound and quickly covered Lady Yang¡¯s mouth with his hand.


    A loud ¡°click¡± echoed as the stone door shifted. A young man in green robes emerged, standing before them.


    It was none other than the new Ming Sect leader, Ling Yihan.


    ¡°Ling¡­ Yihan¡­¡±


    Lady Yang gasped in shock at the sight of him, rendered speechless. Cheng Kun, too, was startled. ¡°You¡­ so it was you who stole the sword from the palace last time¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan ignored Cheng Kun, his gaze icy as he looked at Lady Yang. ¡°Do you have the face to call my name? Do you think you¡¯re worthy of my master?¡±


    ¡°I¡­¡± Lady Yang was at a loss for words, her face flushed with shame.


    Ling Yihan turned to Cheng Kun, sneering, ¡°Defeated opponent, will you take your own life, or do you want me to do it?¡±


    ¡°Hmph! Don¡¯t get cocky, boy. I may not be able to beat you, but I can take you down with me!¡± Cheng Kun thought about trying to escape with his junior sister.


    ¡°Take me down with you?¡± Ling Yihan chuckled coldly. ¡°You overestimate yourself. Do you think you can?¡±


    Before the words had even faded, Ling Yihan¡¯s figure blurred. Before Cheng Kun and Lady Yang could blink, he had moved behind Cheng Kun and struck the acupoint in the back of his knee, forcing him to kneel.


    Then, channeling his powerful Nine Yang True Qi into his right palm, Ling Yihan¡¯s arm and fingers glowed red-hot as he gripped Cheng Kun¡¯s head.


    Feeling the searing heat on his scalp, Cheng Kun broke into a cold sweat, realising,


    ¡°Stop! Yihan, I beg you on behalf of your master, spare my senior brother!¡± Lady Yang, who had previously witnessed the power of the Nine Yang Fiery Claw, knelt down, pleading with Ling Yihan.


    ¡°What? He¡¯s Yang Dingtian¡¯s disciple?¡± Cheng Kun was stunned.


    Ling Yihan sneered, ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to be my master¡¯s wife. If not for his sake, I would have killed you with one strike to preserve his honour!¡±


    ¡°Yihan¡­ please stop¡­¡±


    At that moment, Yang Dingtian, supported by Xie Xun and Dai Qisi, emerged from the stone chamber.


    Cheng Kun and Lady Yang¡¯s faces changed dramatically when they saw the three of them.


    ¡°Yang Dingtian¡­ so you¡­¡± Lady Yang forced a bitter smile upon seeing him.


    Ling Yihan sneered, ¡°You thought none of us were at Bright Summit, didn¡¯t you? So you felt free to rendezvous here in secret, dragging the Ming Sect¡¯s name through the mud.¡±


    Lady Yang, overwhelmed with shame, dared not say a word.


    Yang Dingtian slowly walked up to her, helping her to her feet as he sighed, ¡°You two¡­ you¡¯ve done well¡­ truly done well by me¡­¡±


    ¡°Yang Dingtian, it¡¯s all my fault. It has nothing to do with my senior brother. Let him leave Bright Summit. I¡¯ll accept any punishment you see fit,¡± Lady Yang pleaded, tears in her eyes.


    ¡°Junior Sister, I¡­¡± Cheng Kun felt a wave of sorrow.


    Yang Dingtian¡¯s voice choked as he said, ¡°Even now, you still plead for him¡­ I may have your body, but¡­ I¡¯ve never had your heart¡­¡±


    With that, his face turned pale, and he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood that splattered across the ground.


    ¡°Master Yang¡­¡±


    ¡°Yang Dingtian¡­¡±


    ¡°Master¡­¡±


    Seeing this unexpected turn, Ling Yihan, Dai Qisi, Xie Xun, and Lady Yang all cried out in alarm.


    Xie Xun looked at Cheng Kun with a complicated expression. ¡°Master, you¡¯ve always treated me like a son¡­ but you¡­ you¡­¡±


    He was unable to continue, his heart filled with pain.


    Cheng Kun, still feeling a bond with his disciple, looked at him with both surprise and shame. ¡°Xun¡¯er, why are you here?¡±


    ¡°Master, I haven¡¯t had a chance to tell you¡­ I¡¯m now one of the Ming Sect¡¯s Protectors, the Golden Lion King,¡± Xie Xun sighed.


    Ling Yihan glanced at Lady Yang in surprise. Understanding his unspoken question, Lady Yang explained, ¡°Whenever I met with my senior brother, we rarely spoke about the inner workings of the Ming Sect. So my senior brother isn¡¯t aware of certain members¡¯ identities¡­¡±


    ¡°What? You joined the Ming Sect? And became a Protector? You¡­ you¡­¡± Cheng Kun was speechless, unable to comprehend that his beloved disciple had allied with his rival, Yang Dingtian.

 Chapter 30 - The Death of Yang Dingtian and His Wife

    Chapter 30: The Death of Yang Dingtian and His Wife¡°On the brink of death, and you still have so much to say!¡±


    Ling Yihan had no patience for further delay and prepared to unleash a Nine Yang Fiery Claw on Cheng Kun¡¯s forehead, intending to end his life with five charred holes.


    ¡°Yihan, don¡¯t! If Senior Brother dies, I won¡¯t live either!¡± Lady Yang cried out as she saw Ling Yihan about to strike Cheng Kun.


    Yang Dingtian sighed bitterly. ¡°Fine¡­ fine, both of you just leave! Yihan, don¡¯t kill Cheng Kun!¡±


    ¡°Master!¡±


    ¡°Leader!¡±


    Ling Yihan and Dai Qisi¡¯s expressions changed in shock, never expecting Yang Dingtian to spare Cheng Kun and Lady Yang even at this point.


    Xie Xun felt conflicted too¡ªtorn between his respect for his former leader and his long-standing bond with his master. In such a situation, he didn¡¯t know who to support.


    Cheng Kun laughed wildly, ¡°Yang Dingtian, even if you don¡¯t kill me now, I¡¯ll never be grateful to you!¡±


    Yang Dingtian glared coldly. ¡°I won¡¯t kill you, only because of Xinru. Don¡¯t ever let me see you again¡­ Yihan, let him go¡­¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ling Yihan had no choice but to release his grip on Cheng Kun, watching him and Lady Yang leave the hidden passage.


    ¡°Master, why did you¡­¡±


    Just as Ling Yihan was about to ask why Yang Dingtian let them go, he noticed Yang Dingtian¡¯s pale face and weak breathing. He hurried forward to press his hand against his back, sending his own energy to support him.


    ¡°Yihan¡­ don¡¯t waste your qi¡­ It seems my time has come¡­ I already know¡­ all that you want to say¡­ Despite all she¡¯s done, I¡­ I could never bring myself to hate her¡­¡±


    As Yang Dingtian spoke, tears began streaming down his face. ¡°If I couldn¡¯t have her heart, what¡¯s the use of keeping her by my side¡­ what¡¯s the use¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, his head tilted, his hands dropped to the ground, and he drew his final breath.


    ¡°Master!¡±


    ¡°Leader!¡±


    Seeing Yang Dingtian¡¯s sudden death, Ling Yihan, Dai Qisi, and Xie Xun cried out in shock.


    Ling Yihan felt deeply grateful to Yang Dingtian, knowing that without him, he wouldn¡¯t have learned the Qiankun Great Shift and the Mighty Nine Heavens Hand, nor would he have risen to lead the Ming Sect.


    Now, holding Yang Dingtian¡¯s lifeless body in his arms, a flash of murderous intent crossed Ling Yihan¡¯s eyes. He spoke coldly, ¡°Purple-Clad Dragon King, Golden Lion King¡ªattend!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Dai Qisi and Xie Xun immediately responded, sensing the shift in his tone.


    Ling Yihan¡¯s voice turned even icier, ¡°Relay my order: dispatch the Five Elemental Flags and the Six Gates of Heaven, Earth, Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning to seal off all exits from Bright Summit. Cheng Kun and Liu Xinru must not escape. Kill them on sight if they resist!¡±


    Dai Qisi bowed, ¡°Understood!¡±


    Xie Xun hesitated, about to speak up, but upon seeing Ling Yihan¡¯s cold, murderous gaze, he dared not argue and instead replied, ¡°Understood!¡±


    Following Ling Yihan¡¯s command, the Ming Sect disciples quickly moved to block all the major paths around Bright Summit. Soon, they located Cheng Kun and Lady Yang and surrounded them completely.


    Seeing herself and her senior brother encircled by Ming Sect members, Lady Yang turned pale, smiling bitterly. ¡°Dingtian¡­ he¡­ he still refuses to spare us¡­¡±


    Cheng Kun was about to speak when a cold voice called out from a distance, ¡°You¡¯re wrong. My master never wanted to kill you. The one who refuses to let you go is not my master, but me¡ªLing Yihan!¡±


    They saw Ling Yihan approaching, carrying Yang Dingtian¡¯s body.


    ¡°Dingtian¡­ what¡­ what happened to him?¡± Lady Yang¡¯s heart sank as she noticed Yang Dingtian¡¯s closed eyes and still form in Ling Yihan¡¯s arms.


    Ling Yihan sneered, ¡°You still have the nerve to ask? Thanks to you, my master¡¯s qi erupted in chaos after you left, and he died from a qi deviation. Are you satisfied now, you shameless harlot?¡±


    Everyone in the Ming Sect was taken aback. Yang Xiao, Fan Yao, the other Protectors, and the Five Wanderers had not known the full story, so Dai Qisi explained Lady Yang and Cheng Kun¡¯s affair and how it led to Yang Dingtian¡¯s death. Hearing this, they were all shocked.


    Lady Yang, both ashamed and remorseful, didn¡¯t dare respond. But Cheng Kun couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and shouted, ¡°You brat, what do you know? Your master Yang Dingtian stole her from me! He knew she loved me, yet he forced her father to let him marry her, keeping us apart. Yes, I met with her in secret afterwards, but we did nothing wrong!¡±


    Ling Yihan replied coldly, ¡°Let me tell you where you went wrong. Lady Yang, this will be the last time I call you ¡®Master¡¯s wife.¡¯ If you loved Cheng Kun back then, you shouldn¡¯t have married my master. But once you did, you should have stayed loyal instead of continuing an affair with Cheng Kun. By betraying my master, you led him to his death. Do you deny this?¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡± Cheng Kun was speechless with rage.


    Lady Yang stopped him, tears in her eyes, ¡°Yihan, you¡¯re right. I am the one to blame, I failed to be faithful. I betrayed Dingtian. Let me bear all the punishment¡­ Please, spare my senior brother.¡±


    She then suddenly drew a dagger from her sleeve and plunged it into her chest. Blood trickled from her mouth as she smiled, dying with tears in her eyes.


    ¡°Junior Sister!¡±


    ¡°Lady Yang!¡±


    Everyone was stunned, unable to react to Lady Yang¡¯s sudden suicide.


    Ling Yihan merely sighed, his expression unchanged.


    ¡°Disciples of the Ming Sect, seize Cheng Kun! Kill him on the spot if he resists!¡±


    At the leader¡¯s command, the Ming Sect disciples drew their weapons and charged at Cheng Kun, determined to tear him to pieces.


    Cheng Kun held Lady Yang¡¯s body close, laughing wildly, ¡°Junior Sister, I¡¯ll join you soon. No one will separate us again¡­¡±

 Chapter 31 - Dai Qisi’s Affection

    Chapter 31: Dai Qisi¡¯s Affection¡°But before that, let me kill a few more of these Ming Sect scoundrels!¡± Cheng Kun placed Lady Yang¡¯s body gently to the side and, using his internal energy, unleashed the Hunyuan Skill against the approaching Ming Sect disciples.


    Seeing Cheng Kun still resisting, Ling Yihan sneered, ¡°Still unwilling to accept defeat¡­¡±


    Just as he prepared to make a move, Xie Xun quickly interjected, ¡°Leader, there¡¯s no need for you to dirty your hands with this stubborn fool. Leave it to me!¡±


    Without waiting for Ling Yihan¡¯s response, Xie Xun leapt forward to engage Cheng Kun.


    ¡°Master, you can¡¯t defeat us. Seize me, and I¡¯ll help you escape from Bright Summit,¡± Xie Xun whispered as he feigned combat with Cheng Kun.


    Cheng Kun, quick-witted, understood his intent. He exploited the opening Xie Xun left on purpose and captured him, using Xie Xun as a shield to retreat.


    The Ming Sect disciples hesitated, not daring to act rashly.


    ¡°Leader, what should we do¡­¡± Yang Xiao, aware of Xie Xun¡¯s intentions, turned to Ling Yihan for guidance.


    Ling Yihan gave Cheng Kun and Xie Xun a brief look, said nothing, and turned to walk back to the Sacred Fire Hall.


    Yang Xiao and Fan Yao exchanged helpless glances, watching as Cheng Kun escaped Bright Summit with Xie Xun¡¯s help.


    In the Sacred Fire Hall, Xie Xun knelt before Ling Yihan, biting his lip. ¡°Leader, I acknowledge my guilt and am ready to accept punishment!¡±


    Ling Yihan sneered, ¡°Oh? And what crime have you committed, Golden Lion King, that has me so confused?¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Flushing with embarrassment, Xie Xun stammered, ¡°Just now, I pretended to capture Cheng Kun but secretly helped him escape. This was a betrayal of the Sect!¡±


    Ling Yihan glanced at him. ¡°Ah, you¡¯re quite self-aware! I know of your bond with Cheng Kun and understand that you, Golden Lion King, are loyal to those you care about. You couldn¡¯t bear to see him die by my hand, so you intervened. But did you consider that in doing so, you not only endangered yourself but could also implicate your entire family?¡±


    ¡°What? Leader, as the saying goes, punishment should not extend to family. I alone am at fault¡ªtake my life if you must, but please, leave my family out of this!¡± Xie Xun exclaimed, fearing Ling Yihan might target his loved ones.


    ¡°Leader, Golden Lion King simply acted impulsively. I beg you, show mercy and spare his family!¡± White-Browed Eagle King Yin Tianzheng quickly pleaded on his behalf.


    ¡°Have mercy, Leader!¡±


    ¡­


    The Left and Right Emissaries of Light, Yang Xiao and Fan Yao, along with the Protectors Yin Tianzheng, Wei Yixiao, and the Five Wanderers, knelt to plead for Xie Xun.


    ¡°Leader, please show mercy for Brother Xie!¡± Dai Qisi, standing beside Ling Yihan, also implored him.


    Ling Yihan looked over the disciples kneeling before him, sneering, ¡°Who would have thought my Ming Sect brothers were so united? How touching. But did I ever say I would punish Xie Xun and his family? Why are you all so anxious?¡±


    Everyone knelt in stunned silence, not understanding the meaning behind his words.


    ¡°Then, Leader, what do you mean?¡± Dai Qisi asked, confused.


    Ling Yihan sighed, ¡°What I mean is, it¡¯s not I who intends to harm Xie Xun and his family¡ªit¡¯s Cheng Kun.¡±


    ¡°What? That¡¯s impossible! Xie Xun risked his life to help him escape Bright Summit. Why would Cheng Kun repay kindness with betrayal?¡± Dai Qisi shook her head in disbelief.


    Xie Xun nodded, ¡°Indeed, Leader, Cheng Kun, despite his crimes, still cares for me as his disciple. He wouldn¡¯t harm me.¡±


    Knowing they wouldn¡¯t believe him, Ling Yihan replied, ¡°Since you doubt me, I have nothing more to say. But Xie Xun, though you¡¯ve committed a serious offence, I¡¯ll spare your life. Instead, you¡¯re to relinquish your duties temporarily and spend half a month in self-reflection at home. No objections, I assume?¡±


    Relieved, Xie Xun gratefully replied, ¡°Thank you for your mercy, Leader. I am sincerely grateful.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Leader!¡±


    The others were also pleased with Xie Xun¡¯s light punishment and expressed their gratitude to Ling Yihan.


    The next day, the Ming Sect held a funeral for the former leader Yang Dingtian on Bright Summit. Following tradition, the sect cremated his remains. Since Yang Dingtian had always cherished Lady Yang, even though she had betrayed him, Ling Yihan didn¡¯t hold grudges against the dead and had her cremated alongside Yang Dingtian. Their ashes were buried together, with a single tombstone to commemorate them both.


    ¡°Master, it was never my intention to drive Mistress to her death. I simply couldn¡¯t bear to see her leave Bright Summit with that scoundrel Cheng Kun while you died with unresolved resentment. I wanted her to stay by your tomb and repent. I hope you won¡¯t blame me.¡± Ling Yihan stood before Yang Dingtian and Lady Yang¡¯s grave, sighing.


    Dai Qisi walked up beside him and comforted him, ¡°Leader, you don¡¯t need to feel so sad. I¡¯m sure that if Leader Yang¡¯s spirit watches over us, he will understand your intentions. Lady Yang¡¯s death was not entirely your fault. Don¡¯t blame yourself too much.¡±


    Ling Yihan nodded, ¡°Daiqi, when we¡¯re in public, call me Leader. But in private, you may call me as you used to.¡±


    Hearing this, Dai Qisi blushed. ¡°Wh-what did you just call me?¡±


    Ling Yihan replied casually, ¡°I called you Daiqi. Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°Daiqi? Why are you calling me that?¡± Dai Qisi¡¯s heart was full of sweetness as she smiled.


    Ling Yihan gently wrapped an arm around her waist, smiling. ¡°Your name isn¡¯t quite like that of our people, so I wasn¡¯t sure if your surname was Dai and your name was Qisi, or if it was all one name. I thought it would be easier to just call you Daiqi.¡±


    Blushing, Dai Qisi protested, ¡°Dai Qisi is my name. My surname in Persia is Shavaidi. Besides, you know my true identity. We shouldn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan tightened his hold and laughed, ¡°What¡¯s there to fear? With my martial skills unmatched and my position as the Ming Sect Leader, if the Persian Sect dares to cause trouble, I¡¯ll crush them completely!¡±


    With that, he gently kissed her alluring lips.

 Chapter 32 - Naming the Child as Wuji

    Chapter 32: Naming the Child as Wuji¡°Brother Ling, did you know? Lady Xie just gave birth last night. It¡¯s a boy, and the Golden Lion King is overjoyed!¡±


    That day, Hu Qingyang saw Ling Yihan practicing martial arts in the courtyard and happily rushed over to share the news.


    Ling Yihan smiled slightly. ¡°Is that so? Such wonderful news¡ªlet¡¯s go!¡±


    Hu Qingyang asked curiously, ¡°Go¡­ where?¡±


    Ling Yihan lightly tapped her on the nose, smiling. ¡°Silly girl, of course we¡¯re going to congratulate the Golden Lion King!¡±


    ¡°All right! I¡¯ll go and get Sister Dai Qisi to come with us.¡± Hu Qingyang eagerly ran off towards the training grounds to find Dai Qisi, who was busy instructing the Five Elemental Flags.


    Soon, Ling Yihan, accompanied by the two beautiful ladies, Dai Qisi and Hu Qingyang, rode a carriage to Xie Xun¡¯s residence. On the way, Ling Yihan even bought a golden locket as a gift for Xie Xun¡¯s newborn son.


    ¡°Leader, what brings you here?¡± Xie Xun quickly came out to greet Ling Yihan, bowing respectfully upon seeing him arrive with Dai Qisi and Hu Qingyang.


    Ling Yihan smiled warmly, ¡°No need for formalities, Golden Lion King. You didn¡¯t even let me know about the birth of your son. If not for Sister Qingyang, I¡¯d still be in the dark!¡±


    He took the golden locket from his sleeve and handed it to Xie Xun. ¡°This is a little gift for the child. Please accept it!¡±


    Xie Xun tried to decline, but Ling Yihan pressed the locket into his hand, leaving him no choice but to accept.


    ¡°Leader¡­¡±


    Lady Xie, overhearing their conversation, tried to rise from her bed to greet Ling Yihan.


    Ling Yihan quickly gestured for Hu Qingyang to hold her down. ¡°Sister, there¡¯s no need for such formalities. You¡¯ve just given birth and need to rest. Don¡¯t worry about these customs¡ªjust focus on recuperating.¡±


    Dai Qisi looked at the baby in the cradle, her heart filled with tenderness. ¡°Such an adorable baby! Has he been named yet?¡±


    Lady Xie shook her head, smiling. ¡°He was just born last night, and we didn¡¯t know if it would be a boy or girl, so we haven¡¯t named him yet.¡±


    Xie Xun turned to Ling Yihan, ¡°Since the Leader is here, why not bestow a name upon my child?¡±


    Ling Yihan smiled thoughtfully, ¡°Since it¡¯s a boy, may he grow up fearless. Why not name him Wuji?¡±


    Lady Xie murmured, ¡°Wuji¡­ Xie Wuji¡­ What a wonderful name!¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Leader, for bestowing this name upon my child!¡± Xie Xun beamed, clearly pleased with the name.


    Hu Qingyang couldn¡¯t help but compliment, ¡°Xie Wuji is such a lovely name! Brother Ling, I never knew that aside from martial prowess, you¡¯re also a master of words¡ªa true talent!¡±


    Dai Qisi nodded, ¡°Indeed, I could never have thought of such a name.¡±


    ¡°Oh, stop flattering me, you two. If we¡¯re talking about true talent, then no one surpasses Golden Lion King among us,¡± Ling Yihan laughed, waving off their praise.


    Xie Xun quickly protested, ¡°Leader, you¡¯re too kind. You¡¯ll make me blush.¡±


    Ling Yihan shook his head, smiling. ¡°Golden Lion King, I¡¯m not just flattering you. I¡¯ve long heard that you¡¯re well-versed in classical texts, with an impressive knowledge of both history and martial tales. I can¡¯t compare to you in that regard.¡±


    Ling Yihan¡¯s praise was sincere. In the original story, Xie Xun was known for his vast knowledge. When he traveled with Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu to Fire and Ice Island, he cursed the emperors of every dynasty and even mentioned legendary figures like Guo Jing, Huang Rong, Yang Guo, and Zhang Sanfeng. This intellectual prowess was why Yang Dingtian had considered him a potential successor over others like Yang Xiao and Fan Yao.


    After chatting with Xie Xun and his wife for a while, Ling Yihan took his leave with Dai Qisi and Hu Qingyang, returning to Bright Summit by carriage.


    ¡°Brother Ling, the Mid-Autumn Festival is in three days. How will you spend it?¡± Hu Qingyang asked suddenly from inside the carriage. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve never celebrated Mid-Autumn in Persia. This year will be my first, and I¡¯d love to spend it with you and Sister Qingyang,¡± Dai Qisi added.


    ¡°Mid-Autumn¡­ the full moon¡­¡± Ling Yihan¡¯s expression suddenly turned serious as if something had just occurred to him.


    ¡°Brother Ling, what¡¯s wrong? You look troubled,¡± Hu Qingyang asked, concerned.


    Dai Qisi, noticing his change in expression, also looked worried. Ling Yihan shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a thought. Actually, let¡¯s not return to Bright Summit. How about we spend Mid-Autumn with Golden Lion King and his family? After all, I just disciplined him recently, so this could be a good opportunity to ease things over.¡±


    Hu Qingyang laughed, ¡°Brother Ling, you worry too much. Golden Lion King isn¡¯t that petty.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, Brother Xie wouldn¡¯t mind,¡± Dai Qisi nodded in agreement.


    Ling Yihan looked at the two of them, smiling. ¡°It won¡¯t hurt to visit anyway. The more, the merrier. Let¡¯s make it a plan.¡±


    Ignoring any objections from Dai Qisi and Hu Qingyang, he directed the carriage back towards Xie Xun¡¯s residence. He also decided to keep this visit a surprise, planning to appear unexpectedly on the night of the festival, much to the puzzlement of the two women, who didn¡¯t understand his intentions.


    On the night of Mid-Autumn, as Ling Yihan had anticipated, Xie Xun invited Cheng Kun to his home as a guest for the festival, where they enjoyed mooncakes under the moonlight.


    Xie Xun became heavily intoxicated, while Cheng Kun, who harbored a long-held grudge against the Ming Sect, seized the opportunity. Under the guise of drunkenness, he attempted to assault Lady Xie. Xie Xun¡¯s parents witnessed the attack and tried to intervene, only for Cheng Kun to kill them in cold blood.


    As he was about to proceed with his despicable actions against Lady Xie, a drunken Xie Xun stumbled into the room. Upon seeing him, Cheng Kun lifted the cradle containing Xie Wuji, prepared to crush the infant to death.


    At that critical moment, Ling Yihan appeared in a flash, swiftly seizing baby Xie Wuji from Cheng Kun¡¯s grasp and subduing him.


    When Xie Xun regained consciousness and saw the scene before him, he was horrified. Anger surged within him as he confronted his master. ¡°Master, why? Why would you kill my parents, assault my wife, and even try to kill my newborn son?¡±


    With his acupoints sealed by Ling Yihan, Cheng Kun sneered coldly, ¡°Indeed, you and I shared a strong bond as master and disciple. But first Yang Dingtian stole my junior sister, and then Ling Yihan drove her to her death. Such blood feuds must be avenged!¡±


    Ling Yihan responded coldly, ¡°If revenge is what you seek, then come for me. Golden Lion King risked his life to save you, yet you repay him with treachery. You¡¯re lower than a beast!¡±

 Chapter 33 - The Defeat of Cheng Kun

    Chapter 33: The Defeat of Cheng KunAt the gate of the hall.


    ¡°Hahaha¡­ Great achievements require flexibility! If I can destroy the Ming Sect and kill you, Ling Yihan, to avenge my junior sister, what does it matter if I sacrifice my disciple?¡± Cheng Kun laughed maniacally, his eyes bloodshot and crazed.


    Daiqisi, perplexed, asked, ¡°Even if you caused Brother Xie¡¯s family¡¯s demise, wouldn¡¯t that only fuel the Ming Sect¡¯s hatred for you? How does that help your revenge?¡±


    Before Cheng Kun could respond, Ling Yihan explained, ¡°You may not understand¡ªCheng Kun is deeply scheming, with a clear motive. Consider what would happen after Cheng Kun killed Xie Lion King¡¯s family¡ªhow do you think he would react?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xie Xun glared at Cheng Kun, snarling, ¡°I¡¯d hunt him down and kill him, no matter where he hides!¡±


    Ling Yihan calmly continued, ¡°And if Cheng Kun chose to avoid you, refusing to face you directly? What would you do if you couldn¡¯t find him?¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without hesitation, Xie Xun growled, ¡°Then I¡¯d purge the martial world! Every time I kill, I¡¯d leave his name, claiming he was the murderer, to force him out of hiding.¡±


    Cheng Kun sneered coldly.


    Ling Yihan shook his head. ¡°Lion King, you¡¯d only be falling into Cheng Kun¡¯s trap. He wants you to act impulsively, to slaughter indiscriminately and sow chaos across the martial world. Even if you invoke his name, how do you know the people you kill aren¡¯t his old allies? Who would bear the blame for these blood debts in the end? It would fall on our Ming Sect! By then, the entire martial world would see us as enemies. And if they unite to besiege Bright Summit, what will you do then?¡±


    These words sent shock waves through Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang, while cold sweat broke out on Xie Xun¡¯s back, sobering him instantly.


    ¡°Leader, I, Xie Xun, was blind and foolish, deceived by Cheng Kun. My impulsive actions almost endangered the Ming Sect. Please punish me!¡± Xie Xun knelt before Ling Yihan, ashamed.


    Ling Yihan waved him off. ¡°As long as you realize your mistake, punishing you serves no purpose. Since Cheng Kun killed your family, how you deal with him is up to you.¡±


    With this, Xie Xun struck Cheng Kun several times.  Cheng Kun¡¯s bones shattered, and he collapsed.


    ¡°Cheng Kun, you killed my family. This blood feud is irreconcilable. Yet, you taught me martial arts, so today I¡¯ll only cripple your skills, not kill you. Now leave!¡± Xie Xun said hatefully.


    As Cheng Kun¡¯s skills were stripped away, he laughed wildly. ¡°Hahaha¡­ You¡¯ll regret sparing me today¡­¡±


    Before he could finish, Ling Yihan¡¯s palm struck his crown, smashing his skull. Cheng Kun collapsed, dead, blood splattering everywhere.


    ¡°Lion King, you¡¯ve disappointed me greatly! In my eyes, there is no room for mercy toward those who oppose me! Such soft-heartedness will only lead to disaster!¡± Ling Yihan wiped Cheng Kun¡¯s blood from his hands and added, ¡°Do you understand why I didn¡¯t kill Cheng Kun right away, even though I had the chance? Do you?¡±


    Xie Xun sighed, ¡°You didn¡¯t want Cheng Kun to die by the Ming Sect¡¯s hand, but left him alive so I could see his true nature¡­¡±


    Being quick-witted, though emotionally driven, Xie Xun now understood Ling Yihan¡¯s purpose after reflecting calmly.


    Ling Yihan huffed, ¡°I¡¯m glad you finally understand. Loyalty and righteousness are good, but they must be directed wisely! Mercy to enemies is cruelty to oneself. Do not make such foolish mistakes again if you wish to remain the Ming Sect¡¯s Guardian King. Now, let¡¯s go, Ah-Qi, Qingyang.¡±


    Without looking at the kneeling Xie Xun, Ling Yihan left, followed by Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang.


    In the carriage, seeing Ling Yihan¡¯s uncertain expression, Hu Qingyang asked with concern, ¡°Brother Ling, please don¡¯t blame the Lion King. He¡¯s heartbroken, torn between his family and a master who once treated him kindly. It¡¯s hard for him.¡±


    Daiqisi added, ¡°Yes, give him time. The recent shocks have been overwhelming, from learning about Madam Yang and Cheng Kun¡¯s affair to the tragic events tonight at Xie Manor. Even I¡¯m struggling to process it all.¡±


    Ling Yihan gently pulled them close and sighed, ¡°Ah-Qi, Qingyang, my master entrusted the Ming Sect to me. I tread cautiously every day, fearing a single misstep could destroy it. You two are the only ones I trust completely, the ones I care for most. Only with you can I share these thoughts.¡±


    Hearing this, Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang nestled closer, listening intently.


    ¡°The Ming Sect is strong enough to handle any one of the six major sects, but if they unite to attack us, we¡¯d be like a tiger besieged by wolves. Even if we defended ourselves, the cost would be devastating.¡± Ling Yihan paused before continuing, ¡°Since I became leader, many elders have grudgingly accepted me due to my martial prowess. But secretly, they covet my position. If I make a single mistake, they would surely seize the opportunity to dethrone me. Punishing the Lion King recently was a vivid example.¡±


    Daiqisi, intrigued, asked, ¡°Brother Ling, did you use Brother Xie as an example, to send a message?¡±


    Ling Yihan shook his head. ¡°No, I intended for Xie Xun to owe me a debt and make sure he understood it fully. Otherwise, I would¡¯ve killed Cheng Kun long ago. I need these elders to support me willingly, not plot against me. Otherwise, how can I spare my strength to contend with the central sects¡ªor even the Mongol Empire?¡±


    Hu Qingyang marveled, ¡°Brother Ling, your ambition is vast! But I believe you¡¯ve surpassed past leaders. The Ming Sect has never been this strong.¡±

 Chapter 34 - Harmony Card! Winning Over Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang

    Chapter 34: Harmony Card! Winning Over Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang¡°Ding! Important message for the host: by killing Cheng Kun, the Thunder-Handed Fiend, prematurely, you have disrupted the future storyline of , creating a butterfly effect.


    Now, Ji Xiaofu and Yin Susu are slightly older than in the original story. Zhao Min and Zhou Zhiruo will also be born ten years earlier, and Xiao Zhao and Yang Buhui¡¯s character settings will change¡ªthey will no longer be the daughters of Daiqisi and Ji Xiaofu¡­¡±


    The system¡¯s alert echoed suddenly in his mind.


    Ling Yihan was shocked.


    ¡°System, it¡¯s just one kill! Does it really change things that much?¡±


    The system replied disdainfully,


    ¡°Don¡¯t you have any idea why things would change this way? I¡¯m being generous, giving you the chance to enjoy blessings. If you don¡¯t want it, I¡¯ll revert it¡­¡±


    ¡°Uh¡­ no, no¡­ it¡¯s fine like this! Just fine!¡± Ling Yihan quickly interrupted in his mind.


    ¡°You hopeless case¡­¡± the system couldn¡¯t resist a jab.


    ¡°With the storyline upgrade, I¡¯m also rewarding you with four Harmony Cards. Use these on any woman who likes you, and no matter how many you end up with, they will live together harmoniously without conflict¡­ Do you accept?¡±


    ¡°Of course I accept! Why wouldn¡¯t I?¡± Ling Yihan replied, thrilled.


    After receiving the four Harmony Cards, Ling Yihan immediately used one on Daiqisi and one on Hu Qingyang.


    Noticing both women suddenly shiver, Ling Yihan tested the waters,


    ¡°Ah-Qi, Qingyang, would you be willing to stay with me like this¡­ forever?¡±


    Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang exchanged glances, then shyly murmured,


    ¡°Brother Ling, you¡¯re so naughty! How could we not want that?¡±


    Ling Yihan, excited by their response, couldn¡¯t help but ask,


    ¡°And¡­ and what if I meet other women in the future?¡±


    Hu Qingyang laughed, without a trace of jealousy,


    ¡°As long as I can be with you, Brother Ling, I don¡¯t mind how many women you have in the future.¡±


    Daiqisi nodded in agreement, adding,


    ¡°Yes, if it¡¯s just the two of us, it might feel too quiet. If more people join us, we could all live together like sisters¡ªit would be lively and fun, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, wow! The Harmony Card is amazing! It works so fast!¡± Ling Yihan thought, both surprised and delighted.


    The three of them rode the carriage back to Bright Summit. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once there, Ling Yihan brought Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang to his private chambers.


    Seeing the beauty of the two young women, their faces flushed and alluring, Ling Yihan couldn¡¯t resist any longer.


    He extinguished the lamps, and under the glow of the Mid-Autumn moonlight, they shared a blissful yet indescribable night.


    After a night of revelry, Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang were still sound asleep by noon. Ling Yihan, with the unmatched power of his Nine Yang Divine Skill and Wedding Garment Divine Skill, possessed an extraordinary endurance far beyond that of ordinary men.


    The two women had spent the whole night begging for mercy, yet found sweetness in their exhaustion.


    As the day of the Martial Arts Conference approached, Ling Yihan prepared to lead the Ming Sect¡¯s members to the summit of Mount Tai.


    Aside from Fan Yao, who temporarily oversaw the disciples of the Heaven, Earth, Wind, and Thunder Halls, the rest of the sect¡¯s core members accompanied Ling Yihan to the conference, including Left Envoy Yang Xiao, the Four Guardian Kings, the Five Dispersed People, the Five Elements Flag, and disciples of the Rain and Thunder Halls.


    ¡°Deputy Fan, I leave Bright Summit in your hands. Should anything happen to us on this trip, use this Sacred Fire Order to rally Ming Sect disciples and establish yourself as leader. Pursue the sect¡¯s great cause¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan said, pressing the Sacred Fire Order into Fan Yao¡¯s hand.


    Fan Yao, astonished as he held the order, replied with a trembling voice,


    ¡°Leader, I¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan patted his shoulder gently, smiling,


    ¡°With you guarding the headquarters, I am at ease!¡±


    With that, he turned and prepared to depart with the other disciples.


    ¡°Four Halls, kneel!¡±


    Fan Yao¡¯s sudden shout made Ling Yihan and the others turn in surprise. They saw Fan Yao and the disciples of the Heaven, Earth, Wind, and Thunder Halls kneel together in a grand salute.


    ¡°Our leader¡¯s life is entrusted to the heavens! Fan Yao vows to protect the headquarters! We will not retreat, even if it costs our lives!¡±


    ¡°We will not retreat!¡±


    ¡°We will not retreat!¡±


    ¡°We will not retreat!¡±


    The resounding cries, led by Fan Yao, echoed throughout Bright Summit.


    Knowing he had won Fan Yao¡¯s loyalty, Ling Yihan was overjoyed.


    ¡°Thank you, Deputy Fan, and to all my brothers!¡±


    The Ming Sect soon arrived at the foot of Mount Tai, two days before the appointed time. Ling Yihan, anticipating the coming events, ordered his forces to prepare and set up surveillance to ensure the sect held a strategic advantage during the Martial Arts Conference.


    Once the arrangements were complete, Ling Yihan, persuaded by Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang¡¯s persistent pleading, agreed to explore a nearby town.


    After all, he thought, the other martial sects had yet to arrive. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to relax a bit.


    ¡°Brother Ling, this inn looks nice. Let¡¯s eat here!¡±


    Hu Qingyang said as she, Ling Yihan, and Daiqisi strolled along the streets at the foot of Mount Tai. She had spotted a large inn and couldn¡¯t resist suggesting it.


    Ling Yihan nodded,


    ¡°Very well. Order anything you like; I want you both to enjoy it.¡±


    Daiqisi, holding onto his arm, beamed,


    ¡°Brother Ling, you¡¯re so good to us.¡±


    Ling Yihan smiled as he led them inside, choosing a window-side table.


    ¡°Waiter, bring us a jar of your finest Daughter¡¯s Red wine, and your best dishes!¡±


    Ling Yihan called out.


    ¡°Right away, sir! Please wait a moment!¡±


    The waiter scurried to the counter to place their order.


    Shortly after, the food and wine arrived, and the three enjoyed their meal, finding the flavors delightful.

 Chapter 35 - First Encounter with Ji Xiaofu

    Chapter 35: First Encounter with Ji Xiaofu¡°Oh! Such beautiful ladies!¡±


    ¡°Indeed, who would have thought we¡¯d encounter two stunning women at the foot of Mount Tai? Especially that one in purple¡ªshe¡¯s a real beauty!¡±


    A group of martial artists entered the inn, and upon seeing Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang beside Ling Yihan, their eyes sparkled as they made lewd remarks.


    Ling Yihan frowned, irritated.


    ¡°I told you both to wear veils. We can¡¯t even eat in peace without being disturbed. What a hassle!¡±


    Daiqisi blinked and smiled sweetly.


    ¡°Oh, please, you¡¯re just pretending to complain. Having me and Sister Qingyang here is a blessing for you, and yet you¡¯re making a fuss.¡±


    Hu Qingyang nodded with a smile.


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Brother Ling. You¡¯re responsible for protecting us¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan shook his head, resigned.


    ¡°True, but with such third-rate guys, do I really need to step in?¡±


    As he spoke, the men who had been making lewd comments approached them and leered at Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang.


    ¡°Such beautiful ladies! It¡¯s a pity you¡¯re with this pretty boy. If you run into trouble, he won¡¯t be able to protect you. Why don¡¯t you come with us instead¡­¡±


    A flash of disdain crossed Daiqisi¡¯s eyes as she replied coldly,


    ¡°While I¡¯m in a good mood, you¡¯d better get lost. Otherwise, I might decide to relieve you of your arms!¡±


    ¡°Oho! A feisty one! I like it¡­¡±


    One of the men reached out to touch her face, but in a flash of white light, Daiqisi drew her Longevity Sword and severed his wrist.


    His hand fell to the ground, and blood spurted from the stump, causing him to scream in agony. The other martial artists, shocked, drew their weapons and charged at the three of them.


    ¡°Hmph! Foolish mortals!¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Daiqisi swung her Longevity Sword, making a light slash against their incoming weapons.


    The sound of metal breaking filled the air as their weapons were severed in two and fell to the floor. Terrified, the men scrambled to flee, shouting as they ran,


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s the Heaven-Relying Sword¡­ the Heaven-Relying Sword!¡±


    At that moment, Extermination Master Tai, the head of the Emei Sect, happened to pass by the inn with her female disciples. Hearing the shouts about the ¡°Heaven-Relying Sword,¡± she grabbed one of the men and barged into the inn.


    ¡°Tell me, where did you see the Heaven-Relying Sword?¡± She gripped the man¡¯s wrist tightly, demanding an answer.


    ¡°Th-there¡­ in the hands of the lady in purple¡­¡± he stammered in pain.


    Following his gaze, Extermination Master Tai saw the sword in Daiqisi¡¯s hand and asked,


    ¡°Excuse me, miss, but is that sword you¡¯re holding the Heaven-Relying Sword?¡±


    Daiqisi sneered.


    ¡°What nonsense. Look carefully¡ªthis is my own sword!¡±


    Unconvinced, Extermination Master Tai replied,


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, would you allow me to examine it?¡±


    ¡°And why should I¡ª¡± Daiqisi began to refuse, but Ling Yihan interrupted her.


    ¡°Master Tai, my sister here is a bit headstrong. If you wish to examine the sword, feel free.¡±


    Daiqisi looked at him in surprise.


    ¡°Brother Ling, you¡­¡±


    Ling Yihan gestured calmly.


    ¡°You must be Extermination Master Tai, the head of the Emei Sect. I trust that someone of your standing wouldn¡¯t resort to taking a young lady¡¯s sword by force, would you?¡±


    With that, he skillfully took the Longevity Sword from Daiqisi and tossed it toward Extermination Master Tai, scabbard and all.


    Feeling the powerful energy emanating from the sword, Extermination Master Tai dared not catch it directly. She wrapped it in her whisk to cushion the force before holding it and unsheathing the sword for a closer look.


    Ling Yihan smiled slightly.


    ¡°Master Tai, have you seen enough? Is this the Heaven-Relying Sword you¡¯re looking for?¡±


    After examining it, Extermination Master Tai shook her head and sighed.


    ¡°No, it is indeed not the Heaven-Relying Sword. I was mistaken.¡±


    She returned the Longevity Sword to Daiqisi with an apologetic tone.


    ¡°Forgive the intrusion. I will take my leave.¡±


    As she was about to depart, she caught a glimpse of a flame insignia on Daiqisi¡¯s purple garment and asked in shock,


    ¡°Are¡­ are you from the Devil Sect?¡±


    Daiqisi did not deny it.


    ¡°Yes, we are from the Ming Sect. So what?¡±


    Anger surged within Extermination Master Tai as she shouted,


    ¡°All members of the Devil Sect deserve death! Tell me, what are your roles in the Ming Sect?¡±


    Realizing that their identities had been exposed, Ling Yihan sighed inwardly.


    ¡°So much for a peaceful meal.¡±


    He casually tossed a jar of Daughter¡¯s Red wine toward Extermination Master Tai with a calm smile.


    ¡°Master Tai, if you wish to know our identities, it will depend on whether you are qualified. Please, go ahead!¡±


    Extermination Master Tai caught the wine jar with her whisk, prepared to drink.


    Standing beside her was a beautiful young disciple, her beloved student Ji Xiaofu of the Golden Whip Ji family.


    Ji Xiaofu, fearing poison, urged,


    ¡°Master, be careful¡ªit could be a trap!¡±


    ¡°Miss!¡± Ling Yihan called, raising an eyebrow with a wicked smile.


    ¡°A trap!¡±


    As he locked eyes with her, Ji Xiaofu felt a pang of anxiety, looking away as she dared not meet his gaze.


    Extermination Master Tai, known for her courage, smirked as she took a cautious sip from the wine jar with her whisk.


    Ling Yihan praised her with a smile.


    ¡°Master Tai, you are truly bold! A remarkable grandmaster indeed! It seems you are qualified to share a drink with me.¡±


    He lifted a wine cup from the table, gesturing to her.


    ¡°Here, Master Tai! Cheers!¡±


    With that, he downed his drink.


    Extermination Master Tai, who despised the Ming Sect above all, still did not know Ling Yihan¡¯s full identity. But judging by his impressive display of martial skill and presence, she could tell he was no ordinary disciple. With a slight exertion, she flung the wine jar in his direction.


    Ling Yihan, unfazed, gently waved his hand. A wave of energy suspended the jar mid-air, cracks forming along its surface until it shattered, sending wine spilling across the floor.

 Chapter 36 - Instantly Defeated x Super-Speed Block

    Chapter 36: Instantly Defeated x Super-Speed Block¡°Be careful!¡±


    Luo Lin shouted before charging forward with all his strength, not hesitating for a moment.


    After all, against someone like Biscuit, he wasn¡¯t in any position to hold back.


    ¡°His strength and speed aren¡¯t bad¡­¡±


    Biscuit nodded slightly as she watched Luo Lin rush toward her.


    For someone who hadn¡¯t yet learned Nen, having this level of strength and speed was indeed quite impressive, especially considering¡­


    Given the childish way he¡¯d been training before, it was remarkable that he had this much ability now. In a way, that really was a form of genius.


    However, before Biscuit could finish her silent praise, her expression dropped.


    Luo Lin had reached her and threw a full-force punch, the wind from his fist whistling as it came at her with considerable power and speed.


    But Biscuit took a light step forward, and her petite figure slipped right into his guard. Her fist struck his chest.


    With terrifying force, Luo Lin was sent flying.


    He flew through the air for more than ten meters before barely managing to stop himself. Of course, since Biscuit had used controlled force, even though he was sent flying that far, he wasn¡¯t hurt.


    Still, Luo Lin¡¯s expression was one of disbelief.


    He knew he couldn¡¯t be a match for Biscuit, but being defeated in an instant like this? That was too fast!


    What surprised him more was that Biscuit hadn¡¯t used overwhelming strength against him. Even that push she used didn¡¯t feel significantly stronger than his own power.


    At that moment, Biscuit frowned as she walked over, looking at Luo Lin with disappointment:


    ¡°Your power application is terrible, your ability to absorb impact is terrible, and you have almost no combat experience.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just relying on your physical strength in fights, and doing it badly. You¡ªare you really the genius Netero talked about? I honestly don¡¯t know what he saw in you,¡± Biscuit scolded him mercilessly, hands on her hips.


    Luo Lin, however, didn¡¯t take it to heart. After all, everything Biscuit said was true, and he understood that himself.


    In the end, he was just an ordinary person who had suddenly become strong. Just half a month ago, he hadn¡¯t been in more than a handful of fights in his life.


    Of course he wouldn¡¯t know anything about techniques like power application or how to absorb impacts.


    During the Hunter test, he could rely on raw strength, speed, and his natural balance and flexibility to succeed.


    But now, facing a martial arts master like Biscuit, all his weaknesses were laid bare¡ªit wasn¡¯t surprising.


    However¡­


    When Biscuit mentioned that Netero had called him a genius, Luo Lin realized why she had come.


    Or rather, why Netero had sent her.


    It was obvious that Netero had seen something specific in him, and that must be the reason.


    ¡°Master Biscuit, there¡¯s one technique I didn¡¯t get the chance to show earlier. If Netero saw something in me, this might be it,¡± Luo Lin said directly.


    Hearing this, Biscuit paused her scolding, a flash of anticipation in her eyes.


    Though she had been harsh with her words, in truth, she had seen potential in Luo Lin during their brief exchange.


    He might not be at the level Netero claimed, but he was still a rare gem.


    Yet, this gem wasn¡¯t polished at all¡ªin fact, it looked like someone had drawn a silly picture on the surface.


    As a treasure hunter, how could Biscuit stand seeing such a valuable gem in this state?


    And since she couldn¡¯t figure it out by observing or fighting him, she might as well let him show her directly.


    Although inwardly pleased, Biscuit maintained a nonchalant attitude, even appearing slightly dismissive:


    ¡°Oh, another move? Show me, then. But I¡¯ll tell you now¡ªif it doesn¡¯t impress me, then forget about me teaching you anything. I won¡¯t waste my time.¡±


    Biscuit deliberately upped the pressure, pushing him harder.


    Of course, she would be the one to decide what was impressive.


    And Luo Lin took the bait.


    Even though he knew his foundations were weak, the brief exchange with Biscuit had made it clear how lacking he was.


    So there was no way he could pass up the chance to be taught by such a capable teacher.


    ¡°Whew¡ª¡±


    Luo Lin took a deep breath, calming himself and focusing all his attention on Biscuit.


    In the next instant, Luo Lin¡¯s concentration reached an unimaginable level.


    He felt as if everything around him had frozen in place.


    Time itself seemed to stop.


    In this frozen moment, only Luo Lin could move freely.


    Feeling his energy rapidly draining, Luo Lin didn¡¯t hesitate. He launched himself at Biscuit with explosive speed, his right hand clenched into a fist, throwing a punch with all his strength.


    There was no holding back.


    After his clash with Hisoka, Luo Lin had realized one thing:


    Even in this ultra-speed state, he wasn¡¯t strong enough to hurt a Nen master.


    So at this moment, he didn¡¯t naively believe he could injure Biscuit.


    But what happened next still surprised him.


    Just as his fist was about to land on Biscuit, she moved.


    Her right hand appeared in front of his fist in an instant, blocking the attack.


    ¡°She blocked it¡­¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Luo Lin froze for a second, not expecting Biscuit to block him.


    But then, he understood. After all, this wasn¡¯t a unique ability he had.


    In this world, there was already a phenomenon known as , where skilled fighters could perceive their opponent¡¯s moves.


    There were even ridiculous figures like Netero who existed. So, it wasn¡¯t unheard of for masters to be able to enter a compressed time-sense state during high-level combat.


    As a top-tier martial artist, it wasn¡¯t surprising that Biscuit could do the same.


    Though many thoughts flashed through Luo Lin¡¯s mind, in this heightened state, only a moment had passed.


    Having figured things out, Luo Lin immediately exited the ultra-speed state.


    After all, maintaining that state was a heavy burden on his body.


    ¡°Master Biscuit, I believe this ability is what Netero saw in me.¡± Luo Lin said, stretching his sore body and looking toward Biscuit.

 Chapter 37 - Secretly Bringing Miss Ji Back

    Chapter 37: Secretly Bringing Miss Ji BackDaiqisi snorted, ¡°What a nice thing to say! I don¡¯t believe that all you so-called righteous sect members are good people. Don¡¯t tell me none of you have ever killed innocents or done bad things!¡±


    Before Extermination Master Tai could respond, Ji Xiaofu spoke up,


    ¡°Miss, I admit that there are a few scoundrels in the righteous sects, but that doesn¡¯t represent our usual conduct. If any disciple commits wrongdoings, most sect leaders will deal with them harshly. Unlike your Devil Sect, where no one is held accountable even if they do something terrible.¡±


    ¡°You¡­¡±


    Daiqisi was momentarily speechless.


    Ling Yihan smiled slightly.


    ¡°Well said. No wonder you¡¯re the favored disciple of Master Tai. But just how much do you know about right and wrong in the martial world? Do you really think every righteous sect punishes disciples for their misdeeds? How naive! Enough¡ªsince we can¡¯t agree, there¡¯s no point in talking further. Ah-Qi, Qingyang, let¡¯s go!¡±


    With that, Ling Yihan led Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang out of the inn.


    ¡°Wait, Leader Ling, I¡¯d like our sect¡¯s treasured Heaven-Relying Sword returned to me!¡± Extermination Master Tai called after him.


    Ling Yihan snickered.


    ¡°Master Tai, did you buy the Heaven-Relying Sword? Or forge it yourself? Do you have any proof that it belongs to the Emei Sect?¡±


    She replied sternly,


    ¡°The Heaven-Relying Sword has belonged to our Emei Sect since Lady Guo founded it. This is well-known throughout the martial world. Are you intending to take it by force?¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ling Yihan burst into laughter.


    ¡°Nonsense! Whether Lady Guo Xiang once possessed the Heaven-Relying Sword is a matter from decades ago. Who¡¯s to say she didn¡¯t seize it from someone else? And besides, I didn¡¯t steal it from your Emei Sect¡ªI took it from the Yuan soldiers, our people¡¯s enemies. Why shouldn¡¯t I claim it as mine? If your sect couldn¡¯t even keep it safe back then, it proves you¡¯re unworthy of it. If you truly have the skill, try to take it back from me at the Martial Arts Conference in two days.¡±


    Without looking back, he left with Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang.


    ¡°Master, that brat was so arrogant! He didn¡¯t even respect you¡­¡± Ding Minjun muttered bitterly.


    Suddenly, Extermination Master Tai slapped her, speaking coldly.


    ¡°If I failed to reclaim the Heaven-Relying Sword from the Devil Sect, it¡¯s my own incompetence. Complaining afterward¡ªthat¡¯s not the way of the righteous.¡±


    ¡°Disciple¡­ disciple understands¡­¡± Ding Minjun replied, holding her cheek in pain, her eyes reddening.


    Ji Xiaofu watched Ling Yihan¡¯s figure disappear, sighing quietly as she wondered what was on her mind.


    Back at their lodging, Daiqisi playfully teased Ling Yihan,


    ¡°Brother Ling, did you take a liking to that girl named Ji Xiaofu at the inn today?¡±


    Ling Yihan silently cursed at women¡¯s intuition, laughing it off.


    ¡°Ah-Qi, what nonsense are you saying? I only just met her today. How could I have taken a liking to her?¡±


    Hu Qingyang shook her head skeptically.


    ¡°You¡¯re lying. I saw you staring at her just now. Your eyes were practically glued to her.¡±


    Ling Yihan replied awkwardly,


    ¡°Was it that obvious? I was just curious. She¡¯s young and likely entered the sect recently, and her martial skills are unremarkable. Why does that old nun Extermination Master Tai favor her so much?¡±


    Daiqisi thought for a moment.


    ¡°Hmm, while Miss Ji¡¯s skills aren¡¯t impressive, she¡¯s quite courageous. Earlier, when Extermination Master Tai was subdued by you, none of the other disciples dared to act, but she drew her sword to save her master. Such loyalty shows she¡¯s a good person.¡±


    Hu Qingyang added with a mischievous smile,


    ¡°She¡¯s also quite pretty. Brother Ling has good taste. Sister Ah-Qi, how about this¡ªwe sneak into Emei¡¯s camp tonight, bring Miss Ji here, and leave her on Brother Ling¡¯s bed? That way, they¡¯ll be as good as married. What do you say?¡±


    Daiqisi covered her mouth, laughing.


    ¡°Good idea, Sister Qingyang! Not only would it fulfill Brother Ling¡¯s wishes, it would also infuriate that old nun. A double win!¡±


    Ling Yihan felt more embarrassed as he listened.


    ¡°Ahem¡­ When did you two become so¡­ devious? Weren¡¯t you the Holy Maiden of Persia, and the innocent lady from Butterfly Valley?¡±


    Since that wild night, Daiqisi had revealed her true identity to Hu Qingyang, who was initially shocked but soon accepted it and continued treating her like a sister.


    ¡°Hmph! After what you did to us, you still have the nerve to call me a Holy Maiden?¡± Daiqisi playfully stuck her tongue out.


    ¡°Sister, let¡¯s teach him a lesson tonight!¡±


    ¡°Agreed!¡± Hu Qingyang responded, and together they pounced on Ling Yihan.


    That night, sleep was out of the question.


    Two days passed quickly. After the encounter with the Emei Sect, other martial sects had also arrived.


    In addition to the host, the Ming Sect, attendees at the Martial Arts Conference included the Six Great Sects: Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, Kongtong, Huashan, and Kunlun.


    There were also smaller sects like the Sea Sand Sect, the Giant Whale Sect, and the Divine Fist School. Although the Beggars¡¯ Sect, once the largest sect in the world, had declined, they too sent an elder to represent them.


    On the day the Ming Sect elders reached the summit of Mount Tai, they found various sects arguing, nearly breaking into a fight.


    The disciples who had prepared the site reported to Ling Yihan that the quarrel was over seat arrangements. Shaolin and Wudang, being the foremost sects, were seated facing south from the north. Emei was next, followed by Kongtong. However, Huashan and Kunlun were bickering over whose leader should sit higher.


    Watching the scene, Ling Yihan couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    ¡°They¡¯re already bickering over such a trivial matter, and I haven¡¯t even revealed the Dragon-Slaying Saber or Heaven-Relying Sword yet. This Martial Arts Conference promises to be lively.¡±


    ¡°Hmph! These so-called righteous sects are disgusting!¡± Daiqisi scoffed in disdain.

 Chapter 38 - Show of Strength at the Martial Arts Conference

    Chapter 38: Show of Strength at the Martial Arts Conference¡°Exactly! Our Ming Sect initiated this Martial Arts Conference, so our Leader should be sitting in the principal seat. But instead, it¡¯s been taken by those bald-headed monks from Shaolin and those old geezers from Wudang,¡± Zhou Dian grumbled, glaring at the Shaolin and Wudang disciples seated to the north.


    Ling Yihan shook his head, smiling indifferently.


    ¡°Let it go. Dominating the martial world doesn¡¯t depend on petty matters like seating arrangements. True power lies in one¡¯s own strength.¡±


    After some persuasion from other sects, Kunlun and Huashan finally settled their seating dispute.


    Ling Yihan surveyed the attendees. Apart from minor sects like Sea Sand and Giant Whale, he noticed Shaolin¡¯s Four Divine Monks¡ª¡°Perception, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Nature.¡± Only Kongjian was missing.


    Wudang Sect was represented by Zhang Sanfeng¡¯s senior disciple, Song Yuanqiao, who led the Seven Heroes of Wudang, as Zhang Sanfeng was in seclusion practicing his Taiji techniques.


    The Emei Sect, of course, was led by Extermination Master Tai, who had brought nearly all her disciples, as Ling Yihan had encountered them just two days earlier.


    From Kunlun Sect, both the leader, ¡°Iron Qin Master¡± He Taichong, and his wife Ban Shuxian were present, along with several disciples, including Xihuazi and Wei Sinian.


    The Huashan Sect, without an appointed leader since Ling Yihan had killed their former leaders, ¡°Shenji Master¡± Xianyu Tong and his brother Bai Yuan, was led by ¡°The Elder Twins.¡± They managed Huashan¡¯s affairs and were here to represent the sect at Mount Tai.


    The Kongtong Sect was represented by the ¡°Five Elders of Kongtong¡± and their disciples. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As the Ming Sect¡¯s new Leader, Ling Yihan reached the summit with his followers. Although the other sects had past conflicts with the Ming Sect, they all greeted him with feigned courtesy, knowing he held both the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Relying Sword.


    As Ling Yihan moved to sit on a wooden chair, he noticed something unusual about it. When he lightly touched it, the chair suddenly splintered, collapsing into pieces on the ground.


    ¡°Leader¡­¡±


    Yang Xiao and other Ming Sect members looked alarmed.


    At this, Ban Shuxian of Kunlun couldn¡¯t resist mocking him.


    ¡°Leader Ling¡¯s inner strength is truly impressive! A mere touch and the chair falls to pieces. What a remarkable display!¡± she laughed loudly.


    Her words prompted the disciples of other sects to join in the laughter.


    Unable to tolerate such disrespect, the Ming Sect members prepared to retaliate.


    ¡°Stand down!¡±


    Ling Yihan commanded, and his followers obeyed, refraining from action.


    He knew someone had deliberately used hidden force on his chair, intending to make him fall and embarrass himself. Such subtle manipulation required significant skill, likely the work of an expert from one of the Six Sects. The Shaolin monks, Wudang¡¯s Seven Heroes, and Emei¡¯s Extermination Master Tai were all too proud to resort to such tactics.


    Given the recent seating dispute between Huashan and Kunlun, they likely had no time to arrange such a trick. Most likely, it was a member of the Kongtong Sect, whose Seven Injury Fist technique could weaken the chair without causing it to break immediately.


    ¡°Amitabha! Leader Ling, the chair seems too fragile for you. Allow my two junior monks to offer you a suitable seat,¡± Shaolin¡¯s monk Kongwen said, rising politely.


    Ling Yihan knew Kongwen was known for his calm demeanor and cunning, concealing his emotions well. His sudden offer was clearly not out of genuine goodwill.


    As expected, Kongxing and Kongzhi, two Shaolin monks, each lifted a large boulder, weighing four to five hundred pounds, and hurled them heavily toward Ling Yihan.


    The crowd watched, astonished.


    To catch even one of these boulders would be a feat few present could accomplish. Each stone weighed about four to five hundred pounds, and with the added force of the throw, they could easily total nearly a thousand pounds. A single mistake could lead to broken bones or worse, especially with two boulders thrown simultaneously.


    Ming Sect members cursed the monks¡¯ cunning tactics. Dodging the stones would damage the Ming Sect¡¯s reputation, but catching both barehanded was nearly impossible.


    As the boulders hurtled toward him, Ling Yihan smirked. He silently channeled his inner strength, leapt into the air, and hooked his hands around the stones, slightly redirecting their descent as he flung them skyward.


    He concealed his hands in his sleeves, so it appeared he had used his robes to redirect the boulders. In truth, he¡¯d employed the ¡°Great Teleportation of Heaven and Earth¡± technique, subtly deflecting the monks¡¯ throw without expending much inner energy.


    As one boulder fell after the other, Ling Yihan gracefully sat atop the higher one, descending with the stones.


    One stone landed in the ground, sinking deep, while the other rested atop it, sparks flying from the impact and causing the seats of the assembled sects to vibrate.


    Ling Yihan, seated on the stone, smiled proudly.


    ¡°The skill and strength of these two monks are remarkable. I am truly impressed!¡±


    Kongxing and Kongzhi, dumbfounded, stood in speechless awe.


    Silence reigned over Mount Tai for a moment, then the Ming Sect members erupted into cheers, their applause echoing across the mountaintop.

 Chapter 39 - The Might of the Saber and Sword

    Chapter 39: The Might of the Saber and SwordYang Xiao and the others were delighted, witnessing their Leader¡¯s unmatched prowess. Daiqisi and Hu Qingyang, the two beautiful women beside him, smiled the brightest. Just moments earlier, they had worried for their beloved, but now they were brimming with pride.


    Shaolin¡¯s head monk, Kongwen, maintained a composed expression, though he was deeply shocked. He had never imagined that the young Leader, who looked barely twenty, would possess such astonishing martial skills.


    Extermination Master Tai of Emei grew even more sullen. She had already suffered a defeat at Ling Yihan¡¯s hands days earlier, and now, seeing his even more impressive abilities, her displeasure deepened.


    Standing beside her, Ji Xiaofu felt differently. She was struck by the vast difference between her own martial skill and Ling Yihan¡¯s, despite being of similar age. Recalling their close encounter two days ago, her heart stirred with an inexplicable feeling.


    The other sect members, who had previously mocked Ling Yihan, were now awestruck and dared not underestimate him any longer.


    Wudang¡¯s Song Yuanqiao raised his wine cup and praised,


    ¡°I have long heard of the Ming Sect¡¯s new Leader¡¯s unparalleled skills, and today, seeing it with my own eyes, I must say the rumors were true. It is indeed an eye-opener. I, Song, am truly in awe. I toast to Leader Ling!¡±


    With that, he downed his drink.


    Ling Yihan smiled faintly.


    ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Hero Song,¡± he said, raising his cup in return.


    ¡°Leader, although this boulder is sturdy, it must be uncomfortable to sit on. Shall I make some adjustments?¡± Daiqisi asked with a mischievous smile, looking up at Ling Yihan, who was seated on the stone.


    Understanding her intent to impress the onlookers, Ling Yihan nodded.


    ¡°Very well, as you wish.¡±


    Daiqisi drew her Longevity Sword and cut the two boulders into four pieces each, making a total of eight. With a few quick strokes, she fashioned them into neat, square stone stools.


    Following Ling Yihan¡¯s instructions, Daiqisi, Hu Qingyang, Yang Xiao, and the other followers each took a seat on one of the stone stools.


    Watching Daiqisi slice through the stones as if cutting through tofu, the gathered crowd murmured, speculating that her sword might be the Heaven-Relying Sword.


    Daiqisi, sensing their thoughts, laughed aloud.


    ¡°You¡¯re all wondering if this is the Heaven-Relying Sword, aren¡¯t you? Don¡¯t be mistaken¡ªthis is called the Longevity Sword, a gift from our Leader. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can ask Extermination Master Tai of the Emei Sect.¡±


    Extermination Master Tai snorted but remained silent. Seeing her lack of denial, the crowd took it as confirmation.


    Next, the conference moved on to the main agenda: showcasing the power of the Saber and Sword and electing a martial alliance leader.


    At Ling Yihan¡¯s signal, White-Browed Eagle King Yin Tianzheng, the Ming Sect¡¯s Guardian King, stood up and addressed the assembly.


    ¡°I believe most of you already know that our Leader recently obtained two priceless weapons¡ªthe Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Relying Sword. As the saying goes, ¡®The supreme martial weapon, the Dragon-Slaying Saber, commands the world; none dare defy. When the Heaven-Relying Sword emerges, who dares to contend?¡¯¡±


    He paused, his sharp, hawk-like gaze sweeping over the crowd. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yin Tianzheng, tall and broad-shouldered with snow-white brows and a hooked nose resembling an eagle¡¯s beak, had earned the title White-Browed Eagle King. Exuding an imposing aura, he continued,


    ¡°Our Leader originally intended to invite you all to Bright Summit to view the Saber and Sword. However, out of concern that you might fear it to be a trap, he chose to hold the conference here at Mount Tai in central China, alluding to the idea of ¡®Martial Supreme, Mount Tai as the North Star.¡¯ Of course, our Leader also wanted to make it known that these weapons are now in our possession, which is why we invited you here. Now, let us show you the Saber and Sword in their true glory.¡±


    With that, he signaled, and several Ming Sect disciples stepped forward, retrieving the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Relying Sword from an iron chest and bringing out an iron anvil along with two large iron hammers.


    Yin Tianzheng ordered them to display the weapons to the crowd, announcing,


    ¡°Ladies and gentlemen, these are the legendary Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Relying Sword!¡±


    The Heaven-Relying Sword, forged from the Gentleman¡¯s Sword and Lady¡¯s Sword, gleamed coldly. The Dragon-Slaying Saber, created from a dark iron sword fused with other metals, appeared unremarkably black. The crowd murmured, questioning the authenticity of the Saber and Sword.


    ¡°Yewang, Susu, test the weapons!¡± Yin Tianzheng instructed.


    ¡°Yes, Father!¡±


    A young man and woman stepped forward¡ªYin Tianzheng¡¯s children, Yin Yewang and Yin Susu. They placed the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Relying Sword lightly on the iron anvil, with the Saber¡¯s edge facing up.


    ¡°Bring the hammers!¡±


    At Yin Tianzheng¡¯s command, two disciples wielding large iron hammers struck the edges of the Saber and Sword.


    Both hammers split in two, with one half clattering to the ground and the other remaining attached to the handle.


    The crowd gasped in astonishment, peering closely at the edges of the weapons and the smooth cuts on the hammers, verifying that no trickery was involved.


    ¡°While weapons capable of cutting through metal are rare, they aren¡¯t unheard of. But to slice through these hammers as effortlessly as slicing tofu¡ªnearly silently¡ªthese truly are divine weapons.¡±


    ¡°So they are indeed the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Relying Sword!¡±


    Seeing this, the crowd erupted in discussion, convinced of the weapons¡¯ authenticity.


    Then, Yin Yewang and Yin Susu each took a position beside two rows of trees, wielding the Saber and Sword. With a quick movement, they slashed at the trees, cutting through a dozen trunks in each row.


    Though the trees remained standing, the crowd watched in amazement, puzzled.


    Only after Yin Yewang and Yin Susu lightly tapped the first tree in each row did the trees fall one by one like dominoes.


    The blades had been so sharp that, though the trees were cut, they remained standing at their bases.


    The crowd burst into applause, marveling at the might of the Saber and Sword.

 Chapter 40 - Contesting with Force

    Chapter 40: Contesting with ForceAt this moment, Yin Tianzheng ordered Ming Sect disciples to bring forward a large iron cauldron filled with charcoal. Members of the Fierce Flame Flag lit a raging fire inside it, flames reaching over ten feet high, radiating intense heat even from a distance.


    Yin Yewang threw the Dragon-Slaying Saber into the cauldron. After a long while, the Saber remained as black as ever, completely unchanged. Yin Susu placed the Heaven-Relying Sword in the cauldron, and it too showed no change.


    The crowd marveled, praising the Saber and Sword as true treasures.


    Ling Yihan turned to the gathered martial artists, laughing boldly.


    ¡°Now that you¡¯ve seen the authenticity of the Dragon-Slaying Saber and Heaven-Relying Sword, as the legend says: ¡®He who wields both commands the martial world.¡¯ Does that mean I should be recognized as the supreme leader of the martial world?¡±


    This statement caused the faces of the Central Plains martial experts to shift.


    Kunlun Sect Leader He Taichong couldn¡¯t help but say,


    ¡°Leader Ling, your invitation to this Martial Arts Conference mentioned a public election for the martial alliance leader, with the winner granted the Saber and Sword. So how is it that you¡¯ve proclaimed yourself the alliance leader?¡±


    Ling Yihan chuckled.


    ¡°Master He, you¡¯re absolutely right. I did say the alliance leader would possess the Saber and Sword. Since I now hold them both, doesn¡¯t that mean I am already the alliance leader?¡±


    ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re twisting words! Even if you proclaim yourself leader, who here would recognize you, Ling Yihan?¡± He Taichong protested angrily.


    Shaolin¡¯s Kongwen nodded.


    ¡°Amitabha. Master He speaks the truth. Leader Ling, simply possessing the Saber and Sword does not compel Shaolin to recognize you as our alliance leader.¡±


    Extermination Master Tai chimed in,


    ¡°Master Kongwen speaks wisely. We righteous sects cannot accept a Devil Sect leader as our alliance leader! Don¡¯t even think about it!¡±


    ¡°You old nun! Watch your mouth!¡± Daiqisi cursed furiously.


    ¡°Hmph! Your Devil Sect¡¯s infamy has spread far and wide across the Central Plains. Am I wrong? And it¡¯s also known that the Heaven-Relying Sword originally belonged to my Emei Sect, yet your Devil Sect has taken it¡ªsuch dishonorable conduct! What right do you have to lead the martial world?¡± Extermination Master Tai replied coldly.


    Ling Yihan sneered.


    ¡°Master Tai, is your memory failing? Didn¡¯t I explain at the inn that I seized the Heaven-Relying Sword from Prince Ruyang¡¯s estate? It has nothing to do with your Emei Sect. But if you insist it¡¯s yours, let¡¯s settle this¡ªif half the sects here acknowledge the Sword belongs to Emei, I¡¯ll hand it over to you right now. How about that?¡±


    Under Ling Yihan¡¯s questioning, only Shaolin and Wudang supported Emei¡¯s claim, while Kunlun, Huashan, and Kongtong remained silent or evasive, refusing to recognize Emei¡¯s ownership. Minor sects like the Beggars¡¯ Sect, Sea Sand Sect, Giant Whale Sect, and Divine Fist School outright denied it. Emei Sect was left humiliated and dropped their demands for the Sword.


    ¡°Heh¡­ Master Tai, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m unwilling to give you the Sword. But since so few acknowledge it as yours, how could I go against their wishes?¡± Ling Yihan added pointedly.


    Extermination Master Tai snorted in anger, offering no response.


    Ling Yihan then addressed Kongwen and Song Yuanqiao.


    ¡°Master Kongwen, Hero Song, Shaolin and Wudang have always been respected as the pillars of the martial world. Do you have any suggestions for electing an alliance leader? I¡¯d like to hear your thoughts.¡±


    Song Yuanqiao replied solemnly,


    ¡°Leader Ling, we in the Central Plains have always looked to virtuous figures as role models. To be elected alliance leader, one must be upright and chivalrous. A person of high martial skill yet wicked in character is unfit to lead the martial world.¡±


    Kongwen nodded.


    ¡°Amitabha. I agree wholeheartedly with Hero Song. Only a righteous person could be recognized as the supreme leader of the martial world.¡±


    Ling Yihan smirked.


    ¡°Chivalry? Righteousness? That¡¯s simple enough¡­¡±


    He pointed to Hu Qingyang beside him.


    ¡°Standing here is Miss Hu Qingyang, sister of the famous Butterfly Valley healer Hu Qingniu. Everyone knows how many lives Master Hu has saved, and I¡¯m sure many disciples here have sought his treatment. His sister Miss Hu has also healed many people¡ªtruly a chivalrous and righteous person. So if I entrust her with the Saber and Sword, would you accept her as the alliance leader?¡±


    Hu Qingyang and Daiqisi covered their mouths, stifling laughter, while Ming Sect members chuckled softly.


    ¡°This¡­ Leader Ling, please don¡¯t joke. The alliance leader position is too important to be given to a young woman,¡± Kongwen replied, visibly uneasy.


    ¡°So, that won¡¯t do either? Are you mocking me?¡± Ling Yihan¡¯s eyes flashed coldly.


    ¡°Five Element Flag Commanders, where are you?¡±


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    The Five Element Flag commanders knelt before Ling Yihan, responding in unison.


    ¡°Form the formation!¡± Ling Yihan commanded, his voice icy.


    ¡°As you command!¡±


    At Ling Yihan¡¯s order, the five commanders waved their flags, and immediately, five units of Ming Sect disciples surrounded the Central Plains sects.


    The Sharp Metal Flag disciples wore white headbands, the Giant Wood Flag disciples wore green, while the Flood, Flame, and Thick Earth Flag disciples wore black, red, and gold headbands, respectively.


    Under Daiqisi¡¯s training, they moved in sync, deploying the Peach Blossom Island Twenty-Eight Star Formation.


    The martial artists of the Central Plains were alarmed. Ming Sect¡¯s Five Element Flags not only had vast numbers, but each unit alone could rival any of the Six Great Sects. It was no wonder that in the original tale, only a united effort of all six sects could attack Bright Summit.


    Song Yuanqiao exclaimed,


    ¡°Leader Ling, this is a Martial Arts Conference¡ªare you truly prepared to face us with force?¡±


    Ling Yihan sneered.


    ¡°Hero Song, I have treated you and the Seven Heroes of Wudang with respect and have been discussing the election of an alliance leader courteously. But since you repeatedly refuse, I have no choice but to use force to claim the position!¡±