The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 336 Xu Xingchen: Not bad, the Nine Yin Manual is on me!
A tense situation had arisen on the grass near Jicui Pavilion.

On the White Camel Mountain side, Ouyang Feng, who was riding a giant black snake, was at the center, surrounded by Ouyang Ke, who was wearing tattered trousers, a group of white-clad men and women holding strange snake flutes, and thousands upon thousands of colorful and highly venomous snakes.

On the other hand, there are only four people: Xu Xingchen, Hong Qigong, Zhou Botong, and Guo Jing!
A tense atmosphere gradually and naturally permeated the air, creating a standoff.

Standing near the Jicui Pavilion, Huang Yaoshi looked at the scene before him with a gloomy expression, inwardly cursing with utter rage.

He didn't answer Ouyang Feng's question, but turned to look at the two suspects, Xu Xingchen and Zhou Botong. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to ask something, but then he felt that things had developed to this point and there was no need to ask any more questions.

not to mention.
The Old Rascal was trapped on Peach Blossom Island by him!
His actions were the cause, which led to the destruction of Ouyang Feng's ships.
Even if he revealed the truth, he couldn't blame Zhou Botong, because he and Zhou Botong were never on good terms; and Zhou Botong was never on good terms with Ouyang Feng.
This is a dilemma!

After a long silence, Huang Yaoshi slowly spoke: "Today's three matches are all null and void; as for who my daughter will marry in the future? We'll talk about that later!"

Then, he slowly turned to look at Xu Xingchen and Zhou Botong, and asked in a cold voice, "You two, tell me now, how did you escape from my Peach Blossom Formation?"

Xu Xingchen smiled calmly, her expression composed, but her attitude was firm: "Island Master Huang, this is our own secret, and it is not convenient for us to tell you!"

Zhou Botong jumped up and down behind him, shouting, "Brother Xu is right! Why should we tell you?! Besides, I've now become a top expert who has broken through four realms, and I, the Old Urchin, am no longer afraid of you!"

Xu Xingchen glanced back at Zhou Botong speechlessly, thinking to herself, "Is this an admission of guilt? Or are you just showing off like a child?"

Huang Yaoshi, Ouyang Feng, Hong Qigong, and even Ouyang Ke and others were all taken aback by Zhou Botong's words, and their reactions were quite strong.

The men and women in white who were gathered around the giant black snake couldn't help but start whispering among themselves.

"What? This fat old man has actually become a top expert who has broken through to the fourth realm?"

"Wouldn't that be just like our master?"

"I never expected that after so many years, another master who has broken through to the fourth realm would finally appear in the martial arts world. It's truly a rare find."

Hong Qigong's eyebrows twitched, and he felt a little amused. He had been wondering how he would deal with Huang Yaoshi and Ouyang Feng alone if a conflict broke out later.

As for Zhou Botong and Xu Xingchen, these two masters who have made great strides in breaking through to the third realm, it will be difficult for them to play an effective role in the fierce battle between the three of them unless they break through to the fourth realm.

This one step is the difference between heaven and earth, and it is the real distinction between a master and a top master!
Now, Zhou Botong has actually taken that crucial step and become a master who has broken through to the fourth realm.
The number of top experts on site immediately became two to two.

Even if a conflict breaks out later, he is no longer worried that his side will lose!

Ouyang Feng, standing atop the black giant snake's head, looked at Zhou Botong with a sudden, serious expression.

Huang Yaoshi was equally astonished: "This old rascal has been trapped on Peach Blossom Island by me for more than ten years without any breakthrough. Why did he break through after coming into contact with that kid surnamed Xu?"

"Could there be some connection between these two things?"

Although Huang Yaoshi was proud and arrogant and acted without regard for etiquette, he could not be careless when facing a master of the same level; otherwise, it would not only be disrespectful to the master of the same level, but also to himself.

As for Xu Xingchen, who fought to a draw with him after breaking through three realms, he was destined to be underestimated by him unless Xu Xingchen broke through to the fourth realm.

Not only Huang Yaoshi had this mindset, but Ouyang Feng and Hong Qigong also had this mindset.

Only Zhou Botong had just broken through and his mindset had not yet fully turned around!

Silence fell once again on the open ground in front of Jicui Pavilion after Xu Xingchen and Zhou Botong's answers.

After a while, Ouyang Feng sneered, "Brother Yao, this old rascal not only burned down my snake boat, but also doesn't take you seriously; how about we join forces today and take down this old rascal together?"

Huang Yaoshi frowned and remained silent.

Just then, Huang Rong, who was in the pavilion, spoke up loudly: "My master and Master Xu are together; and Master Xu is with the Old Urchin; my master certainly won't stand by and watch the two of you bully the Old Urchin."

"Two against two, who knows how this battle will turn out?! Father, you absolutely mustn't get involved; it would be better if my master and the Old Urchin joined forces to take down Ouyang Feng."

Huang Yaoshi turned around and coldly scolded, "Rong'er, don't be silly!" Ouyang Feng laughed loudly, "Although the Old Urchin has become a top expert who has broken through four realms, he will still be afraid when he sees my treasures; even without Brother Yao's help, I believe the Old Urchin would not dare to easily attack me."

"If it's just the old beggar, and our martial arts skills are evenly matched, what makes him think he can defeat me?"

Although Zhou Botong was somewhat frightened, he still shouted defiantly, "Ouyang Feng, as one of the Four Great Masters of the Martial World, how dare you try to scare me with your poisonous snakes? If you're so capable, drive all those snakes away, and I, the Old Urchin, will fight you all by myself!"

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng merely sneered and remained silent.

He is indeed one of the Four Great Martial Arts Masters, but he has always been ruthless and cunning in his actions; how could he be so easily provoked by Zhou Botong into agreeing to such a foolish thing?!
As things became increasingly complicated, Huang Yaoshi's expression grew more and more displeased.

"Old rascal, how about I fight you?" he said coldly. "Let me see just how powerful you are after breaking through four realms."

Hong Qigong laughed heartily and said, "Brother Yao, there's no need to be angry; after all, the Old Urchin was Wang Chongyang's junior brother. Although he has been dead for many years, there is still some affection between them."

At this point, he glanced at Ouyang Feng not far away: "Besides, Brother Ouyang has a large and wealthy family. It's just a broken-down ship. Let it burn down! We can just build another one when we get back."

"Who told that old poisoner to always use snakes to scare the old rascal? Consider this burned-down boat an apology for what happened before!"

"An apology?" Ouyang Feng roared, "Old beggar, do you really want to interfere in the matter between me and the Old Urchin?"

Hong Qigong shook his head and said, "It's not that I, an old beggar, want to get involved, but we are all people who have been famous for decades; if we were to fight over such a trivial matter, it would be beneath our dignity!"

Seeing that the two were about to continue arguing, Huang Yaoshi coldly shouted, "Brother Ouyang, Brother Hong, do you really want to have a big battle on my Peach Blossom Island?"

As the conversation between the group progressed, the situation became increasingly tense and the atmosphere grew more and more somber.
At this moment, Xu Xingchen stepped forward: "If we fight on Peach Blossom Island, it will put Island Master Huang in a difficult position; how about we find another place to have a proper battle?"

Huang Yaoshi snorted coldly, too lazy to even acknowledge Xu Xingchen.

Ouyang Feng sneered in return: "You, a mere junior, dare to interrupt our conversation? Don't think that just because you can contend with me after breaking through three realms, you have the right to speak here."

Xu Xingchen laughed heartily and said, "Senior Ouyang, don't speak so arrogantly! Since I dare to speak, I have the confidence to do so."

At this moment, Zhou Botong, who was standing behind him, for some unknown reason—whether intentionally or unintentionally—spoke up and agreed, saying, "Brother Xu is right."

"Brother Xu is not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also quite insightful; the reason I was able to break through to the fourth realm is because I learned a superior martial art from Brother Xu."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Feng, Huang Yaoshi, and Hong Qigong's eyes flashed with a sharp light, thinking to themselves, "As expected, this old rascal's breakthrough is related to that young man surnamed Xu."

Then they heard the old rascal continue, "To repay Brother Xu's kindness, I have given him the Nine Yin Manual that I possess; I imagine it won't be long before Brother Xu is able to undergo a complete transformation and become a top-tier master who has broken through to the fourth realm."

"What? The Nine Yin Manual!" Ouyang Feng's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed in surprise.

That thing was a martial arts manual that he had longed for for many years, but he never expected that it would fall into the hands of a young man.

Greed surged within him, and his aura rapidly increased.
The giant black snake beneath his feet seemed to sense his mood. The scales on its neck immediately spread open like wings, and a gaping maw continuously flicked its long tongue, hissing as it did so.

They looked ready to launch an attack at any moment!
Huang Yaoshi was equally surprised, never expecting that the treasure he and his five companions had fought over at the Mount Hua Sword Tournament would be so easily given away by the Old Urchin.
However, he quickly realized that the kindness of helping the old rascal break through the realm four times was truly worth the old rascal's efforts!

Xu Xingchen understood that Zhou Botong wanted to get rid of the huge trouble that his senior brother had been pinning his hopes on after his death, so he didn't blame him for revealing this matter.

Moreover, Xu Xingchen had already generously shown the Nine Yin Manual to Hong Qigong and his disciple Guo Jing, so he couldn't keep it a secret for long.

Xu Xingchen glanced at Ouyang Feng, who was glaring at him with a fierce look and seemed eager to fight; then he looked at Huang Yaoshi, whose face was gloomy and whose true feelings were hard to discern, and said with a smile, "The Nine Yin Manual is indeed on my person."

"If the two seniors are interested in taking it, they are welcome to try!"

"Although I haven't broken through to the fourth realm yet, my skill in escaping is still quite good."

"Of course, if the two seniors have concerns, why not listen to my suggestion?"

(End of this chapter)