A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 290 Killer

Just as Shangguan Yun broke through Huo Ying's "Pointing to Three Stars", Li Lu and Zhong Xing's attack came immediately. There was no time to change his move. He slightly turned his body, and the Quanming Sword Light cut off a piece of Shangguan Yun's sleeve. Shangguan Yun was relieved and immediately raised his right hand. A powerful force burst out and a golden palm energy was released.

Although Zhong Xing's "Two Elements Yin Yang Palm" was powerful, Shangguan Yun's Gold Dividing Palm was even better. When the three palms collided, Shangguan Yun's palm force surged and released. With a slight exertion, the Yin Yang Palm force wrapped in his palm was broken. With another exertion, he knocked Zhong Xing back several feet.

With a single palm strike, Shangguan Yun forced Zhong Xing back. His eyes flashed with malice, and he moved with incredible speed, disappearing from his spot in the blink of an eye. Huo Ying and Li Lu's expressions changed drastically when they saw Shangguan Yun attacking Zhong Xing. They both shouted, and their two longswords gleamed with light, their cold glints flashing as they blocked Shangguan Yun from the front and back.

However, what the two did not expect was that what they had blocked was only an illusion of Shangguan Yun. The real body took advantage of the two's joint attack to arrive in front of Zhong Xing first.

Zhong Xing's blood and qi surged from Shangguan Yun's palm strike, and his face turned slightly pale.

"I thought that my Yin-Yang Palm technique had reached a state of perfection, so even if I couldn't defeat Shangguan Yun, I wouldn't be without any fighting power. Now it seems that I overestimated myself."

Zhong Xing gave a bitter smile, but before he could catch his breath, he saw Shangguan Yun rushing over like lightning. His expression changed drastically. Without thinking, he shouted and simultaneously activated his power with both palms. His left hand was Yang and his right hand was Yin. He unleashed a burst of Yin-Yang power towards Shangguan Yun. Upon seeing this, the latter snorted coldly and charged at Zhong Xing without regard for anything else. After a miserable scream, Zhong Xing was cut in half at the waist, blood flowing all over the ground. His eyes were wide open, and he died with his eyes wide open.

Shangguan Yun landed gracefully, turned around and looked back at Huo Ying and Li Lu, whose faces were filled with fear.

"If Wuming of the Qiankun Sect were to use the Yin-Yang Palm, I, the head of this hall, might have to be wary. Although Zhong Xing has mastered it to perfection, he was too eager for quick success and left a fatal flaw, so he deserves to die."

Seeing Huo Ying and Li Lu's unpleasant expressions, Shangguan Yun said calmly, "Huo Ying, your Three-Star Pointing Technique does have some skill, but that's all. Master Xuanwu's Three-Star Pointing Technique is much more powerful than yours. Also, Li Lu's Spring Echoing Sword, although this sword technique is unfathomable, when you wield it, it is far inferior to the divine weapon that died at the hands of this hall master."

"Shangguan Yun, don't be so smug. We've come here today because we're absolutely certain of our success. Even though Steward Zhong is dead, you won't leave alive. Attack!"

Huo Ying knew that Shangguan Yun's words were simply meant to undermine their confidence, but the three of them had already disregarded life and death when they set up this scheme, and now they were just making their move ahead of time.

As soon as Huo Ying gave the order to act, twelve men in black leaped out of the bushes, each holding a fishing net covered with sharp blades. The net gleamed coldly in the moonlight, so bright that Shangguan Yun had to squint.

"Fishing net formation, huh? No wonder you're so confident. Since you've brought out the fishing net formation, I suppose the Old Fisherman of Misty Waves has also arrived. So please show yourself."

This fishing net formation is a unique formation of Qingxi Valley. It is based on the Four Symbols, combined with the Eight Trigrams, and arranged in the Nine Palaces. The fishing nets are all made of rare minerals forged from refined iron, making them extremely sturdy. The sharp blades on them are also covered with deadly poison. Once cut by them, the poison will flow into the human body in an instant, and in no time, it will turn the person into a pool of blood.

The master of Qingxi Valley is Yanbo Diaosou, an old monster who is both righteous and evil. If you want his help, you must agree to a strange request from him. This request may be big or small, depending entirely on Yanbo Diaosou's mood.

"Haha, Shangguan Yun, I've arrived."

A burst of wild laughter caused the branches to shake violently and leaves to fall. Huo Ying and the others frowned upon hearing the sound, while Shangguan Yun's eyes flashed slightly. He looked up and saw a figure gently landing from the tree. The person was wearing a raincoat and a rain hat, and was holding a thin bamboo pole with a hook line on it, which swayed in the wind.

"Senior Yanbo".

Huo Ying and Li Lu both stepped forward to bow. Yanbo Diaosou grunted and looked at Shangguan Yun with a playful expression. He said in a low voice, "Shangguan Yun, the Divine Weapon of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect and the Nameless One of the Qiankun Sect both died at your hands. I suppose their Dragon Pearls have also fallen into your hands. I am not so greedy. One is enough. If you give me one Dragon Pearl, I will leave now. What do you say?"

"Senior, what Dragon Ball? How could Shangguan Yun have a Dragon Ball? Wasn't that Dragon Ball stolen by Meng Baichuan? How come I didn't know that the sect had a Dragon Ball?"

The old fisherman's words left Huo Ying and Li Lu puzzled. They thought there was only one Dragon Ball, but judging from his words, was there more than one? This...

"Brother Huo, it seems that this old codger has been hiding a lot from us. We thought we had met his demands, but it seems he's just taking advantage of us and making a fool of us."

Huo Ying's face turned ugly upon hearing this. This old bastard was truly cunning and treacherous. However, now was not the time for infighting; they needed to deal with Shangguan Yun first.

"You old codger, you're quite well-informed. I only have one Dragon Ball, so let's see if you have the ability to take it."

Upon hearing the old fisherman utter the words "Dragon Pearl," Shangguan Yun's murderous intent was aroused. He would not let any of the people here go tonight.

"Senior, why waste words with him? Let's take him down first. Even if he's stubborn, he still has his wife and daughter. Both of them are quite beautiful. If..."

Li Lu chuckled, his face contorting slightly, which made Huo Ying frown slightly. The Fisherman of the Misty Waves, however, wholeheartedly agreed, stroking his beard and laughing, "Not bad, not bad."

Upon hearing these foul words, Shangguan Yun's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He moved instantly, raising his hand to strike Li Lu with a palm. The latter, however, was dismissive. Before the palm energy could travel far, Yanbo Fisherman flicked his bamboo pole lightly. With a whooshing sound, the surging palm energy leaked out like a tattered bag, and when it reached him, it was as gentle as a breeze.

"Array up!"

The old fisherman reeled in his bamboo rod and gave a soft shout. Twelve disciples, each wielding a sharp-bladed fishing net, surrounded Shangguan Yun. The blades faced inward, flashing blue light, clearly indicating they were soaked in deadly poison.

"Shangguan Yun, prepare to die!"

Upon seeing the fishing net formation formed, Li Lu immediately shouted and leaped into the air. In a few bounds, he entered the formation, his long sword gleaming coldly, a chilling aura rushing towards Shangguan Yun. At the same time, Huo Ying nodded to the Fisherman of Misty Waves and calmly entered the formation as well. Their swords flashed, and he unleashed six or seven strikes, each aimed at Shangguan Yun's vital points.

"Little tricks."

Although Shangguan Yun was disdainful, he was very wary of the fishing net formation. He gathered his true energy in his palm and used it to deflect Li Lu's longsword. Then, he rolled up his sleeve and drew Huo Ying's longsword. Just as he was about to take a step forward to finish off the two, the fishing net formation suddenly changed shape.

The twelve people were divided into two groups, with six as the base, forming a ring that approached the inner ring. The fishing net and sharp blades clanged, trying to engulf Shangguan Yun. However, instead of retreating, the latter advanced. With a flick of his right hand, a fine steel soft sword flashed with cold light. Under the enhancement of internal force, it was taut. The sound of the sword piercing the air made Huo and Li feel that something was wrong.

"It's the Five Elements Sword Technique!"

Both the Golden Palm and the Five Virtues Swordplay are Shangguan Yun's signature skills. The former is fierce and unstoppable, and is best at overwhelming the enemy with force. The latter is unpredictable and difficult to defend against. Shangguan Yun wanted to finish the battle quickly, so he started with the "Peerless Benevolence and Righteousness" move of the Five Virtues Swordplay. This move is always straightforward and will kill any obstruction with a single sword strike.

When Yanbo Fisherman saw Shangguan Yun brandish his weapon, he was startled. He knew that the fishing net might not be able to cover Shangguan Yun in time, and Huo Ying and the other man would surely die. Without thinking too much, Yanbo Fisherman swung his bamboo pole forward, and the silver wire and golden hook swung gently toward Shangguan Yun.

"Humph!"

When Shangguan Yun saw Yanbo Fisherman make his move, his figure split into three afterimages, and he simultaneously drew his sword. The sword energy crisscrossed back and forth, and Huo Ying and the other could not distinguish between the real and fake ones. They could only choose one to attack.

Huo Ying thrust his longsword, only to find it had struck empty air. He knew he was in trouble and quickly withdrew his sword. At the same time, a cold light flashed from his sleeve, and a throwing dart shot to his left. With a clang, the dart was knocked away, and after a muffled groan, Huo Ying's abdomen was slashed open by the sword, blood gushing out. He staggered back three steps. Li Lu, on the other side, was not so lucky. He was a moment too slow in his attack, and by the time he reacted, he felt a chill on his neck. He wiped it with his hand, and a smear of bright red blood was stuck to his fingertip.

"you!"

Li Lu stared in disbelief at the dissipating afterimages, uttered only this one word, and then collapsed and died.

"Such fast swordsmanship."

As the old fisherman reeled in his golden hook, the afterimage shattered instantly. However, his expression grew increasingly solemn. The exchange had only lasted a few breaths, and he had already acted swiftly. He hadn't expected Shangguan Yun to be even faster. This exchange had not only failed to deplete his strength but had also resulted in Li Lu being defeated, which made him lose face.

"I have long heard that Master Shangguan's Five Elements Sword Technique is unparalleled in the martial arts world. Seeing it today, I can confirm that it lives up to its reputation. Very well, I have finally witnessed it."

With a wave of his hand, the fishing net array opened instantly. Huo Ying immediately retreated from it, but he had already lost his fighting ability and could only rely on the old fisherman.

“Fisherman of Misty Waves, if you had stayed quietly in seclusion in Clear Creek Valley, I might have allowed you to enjoy your old age in peace. But now that you have come, I’m afraid your lifespan is coming to an end.”

In Shangguan Yun's eyes, everyone here was already dead.

"Change!"

Upon hearing this, the old fisherman's face turned frosty. He spoke in a deep voice, and the twelve people simultaneously leaped into the air. The twelve fishing nets were connected to form a net several meters long, which descended upon Shangguan Yun from the air. At the same time, the old fisherman swung his bamboo pole horizontally, the silver wire and golden hook whistling as it attacked Shangguan Yun's lower body.

As Shangguan Yun saw the fishing net descending, his sword suddenly flashed with a ghostly light. A dazzling, crystalline beam shone through, and the seemingly impenetrable net formation shattered instantly. The twelve disciples died without a sound, and a rain of blood mixed with bits of flesh poured down, quickly staining the ground crimson. The pungent stench of blood made the terrified Huo Ying vomit uncontrollably. "Sword light!"

As a renowned swordsman, Huo Ying naturally knew what that tiny, crystalline light was. This sword light could only appear when one's swordsmanship had reached its peak. Shangguan Yun usually fought with his bare hands, so this sword light was his trump card.

When the Fisherman of Misty Waves saw the sword light appear, he was terrified. Although he had some skill, he was nothing but withered stone and rotten wood in front of this indestructible sword light. Thinking of this, the Fisherman of Misty Waves did not even look at the dead disciples. He retracted his bamboo pole and launched several hidden weapons in succession, trying to take the opportunity to escape.

Huo Ying sneered when he saw Yanbo Diaosou's actions. Since Shangguan Yun dared to reveal his sword, he was undoubtedly confident that he could kill them. Yanbo Diaosou was a senior in the martial arts world, yet he couldn't see the situation clearly. No wonder he was still living in seclusion and had not accomplished anything.

Shangguan Yun glanced coldly at Huo Ying, then leaped up and chased after the Fisherman of Misty Waves.

Just after Shangguan Yun left, a figure appeared here. Huo Ying saw that although the person was masked, he was not one of their own. He gripped his long sword tightly and looked at the person warily.

The newcomer didn't want to waste any more words with him. He threw a pebble and hit Huo Ying's sleeping pressure point. Huo Ying's head tilted to the side and he fell into a deep sleep. The newcomer immediately came to Huo Ying's side, carried him on his back, picked up the long sword, cleaned up the traces, and used his lightness skill to disappear into the forest in a short while.

When Shangguan Yun returned carrying the head of Yanbo Diaosou, he found Huo Ying missing. He narrowed his eyes slightly and then hurriedly returned to the carriage. By the time he got back to the carriage, the Sun and Moon Duo had already successfully annihilated all the invading enemies.

"Hall Master."

The Sun and Moon Duo, looking exhausted, came forward. The fierce battle had left them both with their internal energy completely depleted. If He Yanrong hadn't returned in time, they would likely have been in grave danger.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Shangguan Yun patted the two men on the shoulders and threw the head of the Fisherman of the Misty Waves on the ground. Yue Sha stared at it and was immediately shocked.

"Master, isn't this the Fisherman of Misty Waves? Why is he with the Diancang Sect and the others?"

"This matter cannot be explained in a short time. Let's talk about it when we get back to Zhongxin Hall. What about the casualties?"

"Sixteen people were injured and thirty-one people died."

Upon hearing this, Yue Sha immediately said that this conflict was one of the most devastating in the history of Zhongxin Hall, and all of them were elites of the sect. They had suffered some serious injuries.

Shangguan Yun glanced around and saw that his subordinates were scattered, numbering only twenty or thirty. Compared to the seventy-three who had just come down the mountain, this loss was far too great.

"Although this battle was fierce, those remnants were completely wiped out, so there is no need to spend too much effort on them anymore."

"How are the lady and young lady?"

"Everything is fine, except that the lady took a sword for the young lady and suffered some minor injuries."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yun strode toward the carriage. A few steps away from the carriage, the Sun and Moon Duo stopped and scanned their surroundings.

"Feiyan, how is your mother?"

Shangguan Yun asked a question from outside the carriage, and soon Shangguan Feiyan's voice came from inside.

"Father, Mother is alright now, don't worry. Let's hurry on our way."

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yun breathed a sigh of relief and then said, "Take good care of your mother, let's head over here."

After the battle, dawn was breaking. Shangguan Yun gave an order to Riyue to clean up the corpses and other bodies. After tidying up, he drove the carriage eastward along the official road.

Just as Shangguan Yun and his group were attacked, Ni Qingfeng rode his horse at breakneck speed and arrived at Qingyang Town, which was only fifty miles away from Tianshan, in just three days.

In the southeast corner of Qingyang Town, there is a manor that occupies a considerable area. With green bricks and tiles, white walls and red pillars, the plaque above the gate reads "Qiu Residence" in two gilded characters. The manor has a modern feel to it and is obviously a recent construction.

Ni Qingfeng led his horse to this spot, knocked on the door knocker, and soon a servant came out. Seeing Ni Qingfeng's extraordinary bearing, the servant politely asked, "May I ask what brings you here, sir?"

"Please inform him that Ni Qingfeng of the Tianshan Sect has important business to discuss with Master Qiutang Guiqiu."

The servant's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and then he said, "Please wait a moment, Daoist Master."

As she closed the door, she heard hurried footsteps leaving from inside. Ni Qingfeng waited at the door for only a short while before the door opened wide and Qiu Tanggui strode out. Upon seeing Ni Qingfeng's appearance, she was startled and immediately bowed.

"I, Qiu Tanggui, greet Master Ni in person." Qiu Tanggui was apprehensive, not knowing why Ni Qingfeng had come so suddenly.

"Master, please come inside to speak."

"Greetings, Second Master Qiu."

Ni Qingfeng returned the greeting and then followed Qiu Tanggui inside, while the servant led the horses to the backyard.

Qiu Tanggui led Ni Qingfeng to the living room. After serving tea, Qiu Tanggui cautiously asked, "Master Ni, may I ask what brings you here?"

"Second Master Qiu, I have come here for the sake of the survival of the Qiu family."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Tanggui was taken aback again, her expression changed slightly, and her heart pounded.

"Please enlighten me, Daoist Master."

Seeing this, Ni Qingfeng handed Chen Ji's letter to Qiu Tanggui. The latter stood up, took it with both hands, and her face grew increasingly pale as she read it. By the end, her face was completely ashen, devoid of any color, and her hands trembled uncontrollably. She looked up at Ni Qingfeng and said in a hoarse voice, "Daoist, I really had no idea."

Qiu Tanggui was terrified by what was written in the letter. If she had known that Qiu Ruofeng had done such a thing behind her back, she would have locked him up and never let him appear in public again. Once the matter of the iron ore was exposed, not only the Qiu family and the Iron Spear Sect, but even the Tianshan Sect would be held accountable by the higher-ups.

"I am naturally aware of this, otherwise I wouldn't have come to Master Qiu. Master Qiu should know the stakes of this matter. I have no idea how many of Qiu Ruofeng's men know about it, so it's up to Master Qiu to handle this himself. I hope this matter can be resolved cleanly within five days, leaving no future troubles. I wonder if Master Qiu can accomplish this?"

Five days was the longest Ni Qingfeng could tolerate. If it dragged on, Qiu Ruofeng would inevitably see through the scheme. Given his temperament, if the plan failed, he was very likely to resort to a desperate measure. In that case, the Iron Spear Sect would collapse in an instant, which would also suppress the development momentum of the Tianshan Sect. This was not what Ni Qingfeng wanted to see.

"Rest assured, Master Ni, I will resolve this matter perfectly within five days without any mishaps."

Qiu Tanggui returned the letter to Ni Qingfeng, who nodded upon hearing this. He crumpled the letter into a ball, channeled his inner energy, and turned the letter into a pile of powder, which then scattered to the ground.

"With Master Qiu's words, I am relieved. Master Qiu can rest assured that as long as the Tianshan Sect exists, it will never allow the people of Zhongxin Hall to come knocking on our door. You can live here in peace."

"Thank you, Master Ni."

"I have important matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer. I will take my leave now. Until we meet again."

Ni Qingfeng stood up and bowed. Qiu Tanggui then respectfully saw him off from the manor. After watching Ni Qingfeng leave, Qiu Tanggui's face immediately darkened. She instructed the steward to bring Qiu Tangjie over. After listening to her second brother's story, the latter's face also looked very unpleasant.

"First, detain that scoundrel's spies and confidants, then deal with that scoundrel. Second brother, in extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are needed. We must be ruthless, or the Qiu family line will be destroyed today!"

(End of this chapter)