A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 265 The first confrontation
In Pansha Town, the two sides in the battle were forcibly pushed back by the palm force that descended from the sky. Fu Tianjiao was pale and stood leaning on her sword. When she saw that it was Senior Shangguan who appeared, she breathed a sigh of relief. No matter what, Shangguan Yun was a righteous sect, and her life should be safe.

Turning around, he saw that his junior sister Fu Tianxiang and Cha Mulong were both unharmed. Fu Tianjiao gradually stepped back to their side. Just then, Shangguan Yun's deep voice rang out in the arena.

“White-haired man, this is the territory of my Zhongxin Hall. Instead of enjoying your life in Cangling Mountain, you come here to cause trouble. Isn’t that a bit disrespectful to my Zhongxin Hall?”

Shangguan Yun's eyes suddenly sharpened as he looked at the group of evil heretics before him.

Upon hearing this, the white-headed eagle flicked his sleeves and said coldly, "Shangguan Yun, you are now the leader of the martial arts alliance. What more could you want? Don't interfere in my affairs."

Upon hearing this, the Living Yama of Hell Gate, the Divine Fire Master of the Divine Fire Sect, and Zhong Yue of the Polar Gate all gathered around him. One person might not be able to defeat Shangguan Yun, but now that all the demons have gathered here, Shangguan Yun will surely not fare well either.

Shangguan Yun glanced coldly at the white-headed eagle. Although this guy's martial arts were slightly weaker than his own, he really couldn't defeat him in a short time. Now that he had learned about the Dragon Ball, he was worried that things might change if he waited too long. So, besides the Sun and Moon Duo, he only had a dozen or so elites who rushed to the scene overnight.

Zhongxin Hall was far outnumbered, and Shangguan Yun wasn't confident of victory in a head-on confrontation. Thinking of this, Shangguan Yun gestured to Yue Sha, who immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands in greeting to the demons, and said, "Gentlemen, Pansha Town is under the jurisdiction of Zhongxin Hall. We do not wish to start a war. Zhongxin Hall has prepared some wine and water. If you don't mind, please do us the honor of speaking frankly, shall we?"

"Master Shangguan, let's be frank. If Fu Tianjiao can hand over the black bead in her hand, we will leave immediately. Otherwise, no amount of eloquence can persuade us."

Upon receiving orders from the White-Headed Eagle, Zhong Yue of the Polar Sect immediately stepped forward to challenge Zhongxin Hall to a duel. Before Shangguan Yun could speak, Yue Sha's eyes flashed with anger. This Zhong Yue was incredibly audacious; how dare the small Polar Sect be so presumptuous? With a deep shout, Yue Sha flipped his palm and slashed, sending a gust of wind-breaking palm energy flying towards Zhong Yue. The latter's expression changed, but he then coldly snorted. If he couldn't handle Shangguan Yun, could he not deal with a lackey?

Zhong Yue's sleeves billowed, and dust suddenly rose from the ground, forming a smoke barrier under the condensation of true energy. He pushed forward, and the palm energy blade struck it. A sound of tearing cotton cloth rang out, and the barrier was shattered on the spot. The palm energy blade continued its momentum and struck directly at Zhong Yue's forehead. If it hit, his life would be in danger. Everyone's hearts tightened.

When Zhong Yue's defense was breached, his expression changed drastically. He thought to himself, "This is bad." Just when things were at their most critical moment, a white claw shadow flashed by, and the palm energy flying blade was easily crushed by the eagle claw.

"Shangguan Yun, keep your men in line, or I won't hesitate to teach you a lesson."

The white-headed eagle pressed down on Zhong Yue's shoulder and pulled him to the back, while it stood at the front, its eyes gleaming coldly as it gave Yue Sha a sinister look. The latter felt a chill in his heart and involuntarily took a half step back.

"White-haired man, don't push your luck! Sect Leader Xue of the Tianshan Sect is my close friend. With me, Shangguan Yun, here, you won't be able to touch a hair on Miss Fu's head!"

Upon hearing Shangguan Yun's words, everyone present except Fu Tianxiang displayed various expressions. The disdain on the Living Yama's face was almost overflowing. If he weren't unable to defeat Shangguan Yun, he would have definitely made some sarcastic remarks. In this martial world, there are no true friends; they are all just calculating interests.

"Shangguan Yun, I won't waste my time with you. As long as Miss Fu hands over what she has, I will leave immediately. There's no need for you, Hall Master Shangguan, to come here. Otherwise, things may not end well today."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yun frowned, pondered for a moment, then turned and walked to the side of Fu Tianjiao and the other two. After casually glancing at Fu Tianxiang and Cha Mulong, Shangguan Yun looked at Fu Tianjiao.

"Tianjiao, what do you think of what happened today?"

Hearing this gentle tone, Fu Tianjiao felt a pang of discomfort and immediately said in a serious voice, "Senior Shangguan, I originally did not wish to take this item, but somehow it ended up in my hands. This item was originally ownerless, and whoever gets it first will be its owner. If I hand it over today, my personal reputation is a small matter, but if I tarnish the reputation of the Tianshan Sect, I will probably have no face to see my master in the future."

At this point, Fu Tianjiao looked up at Shangguan Yun and said earnestly, "Senior Shangguan is a close friend of my master. If we are fortunate enough to receive your protection, my master will surely be very happy."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yun sneered inwardly. This kid was young, but quite clever. He, Shangguan Yun, was powerful and had everything he wanted. If it weren't for maintaining his image, he wouldn't be so fussy. He had no interest in doing things for others.

“Tianjiao, I am also in a dilemma. I brought too few people this time. If we fight, we will be the ones who suffer, especially White-headed Eagle and his men. They will not give up until they achieve their goal. Tianjiao is a chivalrous person and is also the favorite disciple of Sect Leader Xue. She will not want to see bloodshed here.”

"So, what do you mean, senior?"

"Give this to me, and you can leave without worry. I will bear all the consequences. As long as I have a breath left, I will fight to the death to prevent these evil forces from succeeding."

Even though Fu Tianxiang was slow to react, she gradually understood the thoughts of the senior in front of her. He was thinking of getting something for nothing and wanted to take the dragon ball away with just a few words.

“Senior Shangguan, the Dragon Ball was obtained by my senior sister. It would be unbecoming of you to take it away so easily. It is not the behavior of a senior like you.”

Upon hearing Fu Tianxiang's words, the surrounding demons burst into laughter. Shangguan Yun glanced at them, and the crowd immediately fell silent. He turned to Fu Tianxiang and said coldly, "If it weren't for the fact that your master and I are close friends, I could teach you a lesson on your behalf just for saying that. Tianjiao, your junior sister is too outspoken and needs to be properly taught. Otherwise, you are not a good leader of the Seven Heroes of Tianshan. If the Tianshan Sect is handed over to you in the future, and your junior sister causes any trouble, you, as the sect leader, will also be held responsible."

"Thank you for your guidance, senior. I will keep it in mind and will teach Tianxiang well in the future."

Fu Tianjiao pulled her junior sister behind her, nodded to Cha Mulong, and the latter stood in front of Fu Tianxiang. Shangguan Yuan witnessed all this, chuckled, and then said nothing more.

As soon as they stopped, the bald eagles started to get impatient.

"Attack! Live or die!"

The white-headed eagle had lost patience and waved his hand forward. Disciples from various sects rushed forward with their weapons and engaged in battle with the people of Zhongxin Hall. As soon as they moved, a cold light flashed in Shangguan Yun's eyes. He waved his hand at the Sun and Moon Twin Fiends, and the two of them immediately clashed with the Heaven, Earth, and Man Three Swords among the demons.

Seeing Shangguan Yun's cold gaze, Fu Tianjiao immediately became wary and held her sword horizontally in front of her. Seeing this, Fu Tianxiang also drew her sword. On the contrary, Cha Mulong was very relaxed. He glanced at the dragon ball in Fu Tianjiao's hand and silently sensed it in his heart.

Just then, Shangguan Yun moved and reached out to snatch the Dragon Pearl. The white-headed eagle that had been watching him for a while attacked, grabbing Shangguan Yun's back with its talons. If Shangguan Yun had ignored it, this move would have seriously injured him.

Shangguan Yun paused, turned around, and struck the white-headed eagle with a palm. The two palms collided, and both were shocked. Several people nearby were pushed back by the shockwave. Fu Tianjiao and Fu Tianxiang felt the powerful shockwave and their expressions changed immediately. They hurriedly waved their swords to protect themselves, but it was in vain. The shockwave swept around and forced the two of them to retreat several steps.

"careful!"

Seeing someone taking the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, Cha Mulong immediately moved and punched the attacker. With a cracking sound, the attacker immediately fell to the ground, howling in pain.

"Despicable."

Fu Tianxiang cursed and before she could say anything more, several more people attacked her. Fu Tianjiao was surrounded by several unorthodox experts, while Cha Mulong was the focus of attention. The White-Headed Eagle had already suffered a loss before, and this time they had him trapped in an array for a moment. Without him causing trouble, Fu Tianjiao and Fu Tianxiang could easily defeat him.

"Miss Fu, hand over the Dragon Pearl, and we will guarantee your safety. Otherwise, you, the leader of the Seven Heroes of Tianshan, will die here today!"

A figure dressed as a ghost, wielding a mourning staff, let out a ghostly laugh and launched a few attacks. The staff struck Fu Tianjiao's white jade sword, causing her blood to surge and her to stagger backward, her face turning even paler.

"You scum from the Demon Cave, even if the Dragon Balls are destroyed, we will not hand them over to you."

Fu Tianjiao smiled bitterly, and her attacks became even more fierce. Although her cultivation was already quite good among the younger generation, it was not enough against Wuchang of the Evil Ghost Cave. In addition, there were elders from the Divine Fire Sect and the Polar Gate. It was only a matter of time before she was defeated.

"Senior sister!"

Seeing her senior sister's condition, Fu Tianxiang immediately shouted, trying to break free to help, but was held back. Cha Mulong on the other side was also anxious, but he didn't understand the Central Plains formation and couldn't find a way out for a while. Just as he was about to reveal his secret, a figure suddenly entered the scene with fluid movements. To everyone's astonishment, the people who were besieging Fu Tianjiao immediately felt a sense of alarm and retreated in unison.

However, the newcomer clearly had no intention of letting them go. A flash of white light appeared, and the mourning staff in the hand of the Impermanent Ghost was immediately broken in two. A thin wound appeared on its neck, and it was already dead, truly becoming a ghost. The other three did not run far before several streams of blood gushed out, and they collapsed to the ground dead, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Fu Tianjiao and Fu Tianxiang exclaimed with delight upon seeing the newcomer, "Fourth Martial Uncle!"

Ni Qingfeng sheathed his sword, nodded to Fu Tianjiao and the other woman, and then slowly walked towards the place where Shangguan Yun and the White-Headed Eagle had fought. "Such a fast sword!"

Shangguan Yun and White-Headed Eagle sensed Ni Qingfeng's entry. After exchanging a glance, they simultaneously withdrew their hands. The others immediately lined up on both sides, forming a standoff.

"Master Shangguan, Mr. White Hair, fellow martial artists, Ni Qingfeng of the Tianshan Sect greets you."

Ni Qingfeng bowed to Shangguan Yun and the White-headed Eagle. The two dared not be presumptuous and returned the bow. A true expert's skill is evident from the first move. Ni Qingfeng's swordsmanship had deeply shocked them. Such a master was enough to threaten their safety.

"When did the Tianshan Sect produce such a master, besides Xue Wanshan and Shen Henian?"

The white-headed eagle's face was very grim. Things that he was originally very confident about had changed again and again. Was he really destined to be without the Dragon Balls?
Shangguan Yun was also shocked. He knew quite a bit about the Tianshan Sect. Although Ni Qingfeng was an elder in the sect, his martial arts skills were only average, far from being top-tier. How could he have changed so much in just a few years?

"So it's Brother Ni. It's been a long time. Brother Ni's cultivation has improved by leaps and bounds, which truly makes me feel ashamed."

"Master Shangguan flatters me. I know I am dull-witted, but I can make up for it with hard work. Fortunately, I haven't wasted my time."

Ni Qingfeng's calm words made Shangguan Yun even more wary. After glancing at Ni Qingfeng again, Shangguan Yun tentatively asked, "Brother Ni, are you perhaps a disciple of your sect in Pansha Town?"

"What Hall Master Shangguan said is true. Tianjiao and Tianxiang have been away from the mountain for a long time, and the Sect Leader was worried about their safety, so he sent me to meet them. I didn't expect that this matter is more serious than I thought. I wonder what Tianjiao and the others have done to provoke you all to use such a deadly method!"

As Ni Qingfeng finished speaking, his gaze turned icy as he looked at the group of demons. Apart from the White-Headed Eagle, the demonic experts felt a chill run down their spines when they saw him like that. How could someone as unknown as Ni Qingfeng possess such an imposing aura?

Fu Tianjiao and Fu Tianxiang looked at their martial uncle with excitement, feeling very relieved. They now deeply understood that in the martial arts world, strength was the only thing that mattered, otherwise face was useless.

"Master Ni, please forgive us. In the end, it was your sect's disciples who were unreasonable first. We were forced to do so. The dragon pearl was originally unclaimed, but after a struggle, Miss Fu got it. This is really not fair. We hope Master Ni can forgive us."

Master Shenhuo stepped forward with a smile to smooth things over, explaining to Ni Qingfeng. The latter snorted coldly and said in a deep voice, "Since it is an unclaimed item, it belongs to the capable. Tianjiao has obtained this rare treasure with great fortune. It would be unethical for you all to commit murder and robbery. Although my Tianshan Sect is weak, we will not allow you to bully the weak."

At this point, Ni Qingfeng gave Shangguan Yun a deep look, then looked at the white-headed eagle and said loudly, "Mr. White-headed Eagle, how should we settle this matter today? Let's draw up a plan, and I, Ni, will accept it."

Upon hearing this, the white-headed eagle felt a chill run down its spine. Just as it was about to speak, a dozen more swift horses flew in from afar, their attire clearly belonging to disciples of the Tianshan Sect.

"Uncle Master."

A group of Tianshan disciples quickly arrived, dismounted, and drew their swords to Ni Qingfeng's side.

"Yes, take good care of your senior sister and the others, and be careful."

"Yes."

As they spoke, the Tianshan disciples had already surrounded and protected Fu Tianjiao and the other two.

“Master Ni, today’s events all stemmed from the Dragon Pearl. I, Bai Tou, am willing to give you face. If you can subdue the three of us, we will immediately withdraw and never concern ourselves with this matter again. What do you say?”

The bald eagle racked its brains and soon came up with a good idea.

"Oh, besides Mr. White Hair, who are the other two like-minded people who would like to have a match?"

Ni Qingfeng spoke calmly, his white-haired face straightened, and he raised his hand. The Living Yama of Hell Gate and the Divine Fire Master of the Divine Fire Sect stepped forward.

"Brother Ni, these three are not easy to deal with, you must be careful."

Shangguan Yun kindly offered a reminder, and then led the Zhongxin Hall members to step aside. The others also retreated at the same time, leaving a large open space for the four to fight.

After giving a few instructions to Fu Tianjiao, Ni Qingfeng stepped gracefully into the arena with his sword. On the other side, White-headed Eagle, Living Yama, and Divine Fire Master exchanged a glance and walked towards Ni Qingfeng in a semi-circle. After arriving in the arena, White-headed Eagle faced Ni Qingfeng directly, while Living Yama and Divine Fire Master controlled the left and right sides. As soon as the four of them stood still, the atmosphere in the arena immediately became tense and murderous. Those with profound skills could already feel a killing intent.

"Master, isn't Ni Qingfeng being a bit too arrogant? These three white-haired men are not easy to deal with. If they were to perish here, it would be embarrassing for us. And what if the Tianshan Sect asks for an explanation?"

Yue Sha looked at the four people in the arena with a solemn expression. Apart from Ni Qingfeng, the other three were all top-notch experts of the evil sect. He could put up a few moves against one of them, but if the two of them attacked together, he would definitely lose. Even if he joined forces with his brother, the best he could hope for was a draw.

“Ni Qingfeng is a man of great hidden talent. I underestimated him. Since he wants to show off, I will grant his wish. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. The dragon pearl will surely be mine.”

Shangguan Yun coldly observed the four people in the arena. According to his plan, it would be best if these four fought to the point of mutual destruction, at which point he would naturally step in to clean up the mess.

"Senior Sister, can Martial Uncle defeat those three demons?" Fu Tianxiang looked at Ni Qingfeng in the arena with a worried expression. This Fourth Martial Uncle usually did not show much martial arts skill, so she couldn't help but feel worried.

"Don't worry, Fourth Uncle is always a man of careful planning. He would never agree to something if he wasn't confident. Now that everyone's attention is drawn to this battle, it's inevitable that some people will try to take advantage of the chaos. We need to be even more careful."

After taking the pill, Fu Tianjiao's complexion improved considerably. Although she was worried about her fourth uncle, she had to trust him now.

"Junior Brother Pei, tell all the junior brothers and sisters to be careful and not let outsiders take advantage of the situation."

"Yes, senior sister."

Upon hearing this, Junior Brother Pei immediately gave a few instructions, and the Tianshan disciples guarding the perimeter of the three became even more vigilant. Some people with malicious intentions immediately abandoned their plans upon seeing this.

At this moment, Ni Qingfeng and the three White-Headed Eagles faced off for a moment. With a shout of "Attack!", Ni Qingfeng felt a sharp aura rush towards him. At the same time, from his left and right sides, a scorching palm strike attacked his chest and abdomen, and a chilling fist strike pierced his dantian. The opponent actually used such a killing move right from the start, which made the onlookers exclaim in surprise.

"Eagle Claw Hand, Hundred Refinement Palm, Mystic Ice Fist, such ruthless moves."

When Ri Sha saw the three of them use their signature techniques at the same time, he was greatly shocked. Countless martial artists had died from these three unique skills, but he never expected that these three white-haired men would value Ni Qingfeng so much.

When Ni Qingfeng saw the three killing moves coming, he didn't draw his sword. Instead, he stepped on the Seven Stars and his figure was unpredictable. The scorching palm wind and the chilling fist force missed their mark. Ni Qingfeng turned around and stood still. With a wave of his sleeve, two streams of true energy were sent towards Living Yama and Divine Fire Master respectively. Upon seeing this, the two hurriedly dodged.

Ni Qingfeng looked at the approaching eagle claw hand and directly struck it with a palm. There was a sound of the palm wind tearing through the air. When the eagle claw hand collided with the palm wind, the white-headed eagle was startled and its body was thwarted!

"Seven Star Shifting Steps, Shattering Void Palm!"

Shangguan Yun's face darkened. The former was one thing, but the Shattering Void Palm was a unique skill of Tianshan. In his memory, apart from Xue Wanshan, only Shen Henian had some knowledge of it, but even he was far from having such power. Judging from Ni Qingfeng's appearance, he had clearly mastered it.

(End of this chapter)