Gao Wu insists on cultivating immortality.

Chapter 220 Nine Phases Divine Fist
Hai Wuji looked at his foolish disciple with a sense of helplessness. The words had already been spoken and could not be taken back.

Besides, he didn't have a better option to begin with.

They couldn't really turn against Qin Jiuyue and fight. Even if they were incompatible and had fallen out because of that incident, their decades of training and fighting side by side could not be erased.

The fact that the two men turned on each other and started fighting signified a complete break between their factions. It could truly tear the alliance apart. Hai Wuji understood one thing very well: the worst order is better than no order at all.

Only children cause trouble when they're unhappy. Because children don't consider the consequences and rarely bear them.

Even if he were to turn against Qin Jiuyue and fight him, it wouldn't solve the fundamental problem.

Moreover, Qin Jiuyue's Nine Phases Divine Fist is incredibly powerful. Even in a desperate fight, the outcome would be evenly matched.

Hai Wuji sighed inwardly, but smiled calmly on his face: "It's a deal."

Before Qin Jiuyue could speak, Hai Wuji added, "The martial arts competition is a big deal; we need to make preparations. After all, he's still too young."

“That’s natural.” Qin Jiuyue nodded in agreement. He knew that Hai Wuji wanted to delay for a few days to help Gao Wu prepare for the battle.

Pei Jidao has practiced martial arts for eleven years longer than Gao Wu, and those eleven years are his prime time. Gao Wu is only eighteen years old this year, and has only practiced martial arts for a total of ten years.

The two sides' source energy levels differ by a single level. Giving Gao Wu some time to prepare is only fair.

If Hai Wuji hadn't said he wanted to disband the alliance, he wouldn't have been so angry, and he certainly wouldn't have taken the opportunity to accept Gao Wu's words, leaving Hai Wuji with no room for reneging.

It's always shameful for a Martial Saint to bully a junior. However, this matter concerns the future of the alliance and the rise and fall of humanity, so he has to take advantage of it.

Qin Jiuyue actually despised Hai Wuji's naiveté. As a leader, he could only see advantages and disadvantages, and couldn't let go of right and wrong, good and evil. This is something only ordinary people need to consider.

"Then in ten days."

Hai Wuji considered for a moment and said, "There is a wide open beach north of Qiancao City with excellent scenery and plenty of space. How about we have our duel there?"

"Okay." Qin Jiuyue nodded in agreement.

He understood Hai Wuji's calculations; these were all insignificant details, and there was no need to argue with Hai Wuji.

With both sides having reached an agreement, Hai Wuji had no time for reminiscing. He stood up and said, "It's getting late, Senior Brother, please get some rest."

"Let's catch up after this is all over."

"Okay." Qin Jiuyue also stood up and saw Hai Wuji to the door.

Gao Wu, Song Mingyue, and Chao Fengying all bowed respectfully to Qin Jiuyue before quickly leaving with Hai Wuji.

Hai Wuji had several disciples retrieve their luggage, and he led Gao Wu and the others away from the hotel, and even away from Meixinzhai.

A minivan was already waiting outside. Hai Wuji got in and ordered, "Go to Qiancao."

"Master, should we retreat?" Gao Wu asked.

"So you think you're good at Chinese, huh?" Hai Wuji was already in a bad mood, and when he heard his disciple's witty remark, he reached out and flicked Gao Wu on the forehead.

Even with Gao Wu's physique, he was still seeing stars from the impact. He didn't dare to utter a sound; the old man was really hitting him, and he must be in a very bad mood.

Chao Fengying stared wide-eyed, wanting to speak, but seeing Gao Wu's miserable state, she turned away and shut her mouth tightly, not even daring to look at her teacher again.

Song Mingyue glanced at Gao Wu, who had a red mark on his forehead, clearly indicating that Hai Wuji had only given him a small lesson.

Seeing Gao Wu still grimacing, she reached out and rubbed his hand. Gao Wu looked pleased and tried to hold Song Mingyue's hand, but Song Mingyue avoided him.

No one spoke in the car. Hai Wuji's face was somber, and the atmosphere was rather oppressive.

At nine o'clock in the evening, the van slowly stopped in front of a villa. Gao Wu and the others followed Hai Wuji into the villa, passed through the living room, and came to the south side of the villa. Through the window, they could see the beach and the rolling white waves outside.

With the new moon high in the sky and the vast ocean stretching to the horizon, the sound of the undulating waves only made the sky and sea seem even more tranquil and profound...

"This villa belongs to Higashino Makoto; we've temporarily requisitioned it."

Hai Wuji said, "There are guest rooms upstairs. Don't feel uncomfortable. Just treat these few days as a vacation."

The room is decorated in a simple and refreshing style, with some modern artworks on display. The furnishings are simple yet sophisticated, making it a perfect place for a relaxing vacation.

Gao Wu was about to go upstairs with his luggage when Hai Wuji called out to him, "Gao Wu, I have something to tell you." Gao Wu stood in front of Hai Wuji, looking obedient.

Hai Wuji waved his hand impatiently: "Stop pretending, sit down."

"Yes." Gao Wu honestly sat down in the chair next to Hai Wuji.

Hai Wuji pondered for a moment and said, "It's quite good that you have the courage to fight."

"Master Qin is clearly targeting me, no, he's just making sure Master has no other choice. How can I diminish Master's prestige? We'll die standing!" Gao Wu said with a heroic air.

He wasn't acting impulsively. Pei Jidao was indeed strong, but he wasn't weak either.

As Hai Wuji's direct disciple, he was a member of the inner circle and had to step forward to share his teacher's burdens.

Hai Wuji understood Gao Wu's thoughts, and said, "You don't need to feel pressured. Pei Jidao is a martial arts prodigy. He has three less inspiration than Chu Shenxiu, but three more perseverance. If he hadn't been honing his martial arts foundation, he would have advanced to level six long ago."

"Master, aren't you underestimating me?" Gao Wu said, somewhat unconvinced.

"I didn't underestimate you. Your mental strength has increased several times over, and your physical reactions have also improved significantly. Your senior brother didn't know your specific situation and couldn't see how much progress you've made, which is why he remained so calm."

As a martial saint, how could Hai Wuji not see the tremendous changes in Gao Wu?

In his view, this progress was actually very unreasonable. Even if the Heavenly Dragon Elixir were ten times stronger, it couldn't possibly have such an effect.

What exactly happened to Gao Wu in just a few days? It certainly wasn't an improvement in his martial arts level.

It's obvious that Gao Wu has a secret. This secret is probably the reason for his rapid progress over the past year.

Hai Wuji was genuinely curious; if Gao Wu weren't his disciple, he would have loved to dissect him and study him.

Because Gao Wu's progress was so exaggerated, he even doubted his own judgment. He even tried to fight him, and it turned out that he was right and had even underestimated Gao Wu.

The matter was of great importance, so Hai Wuji could only make things clear to Gao Wu: "Although you are strong now, you cannot defeat Pei Jidao."

"Although my senior brother only learned the three phases of the Nine Phases Divine Fist—Ox, Dragon, and Tiger—it was already strong enough."

Gao Wu said, "I also have a special talent: I can generate high temperatures from flames to combine with swordsmanship."

Hai Wuji shook his head.

Gao Wu thought for a moment, then took out the Heavenly Destiny Sword. He reached out and swept his hand across the sword, imbuing it with the White Tiger Divine Weapon Incantation. He looked at Hai Wuji and asked, "How about this?"

Although Gao Wu didn't explain this power, Hai Wuji could sense the sharp, metallic force within it. Unlike sword intent, this was a special way of converting source energy—very special…

Gao Wu, fearing that Hai Wuji wouldn't understand, casually thrust his sword straight at him.

The White Tiger Divine Weapon Incantation not only enhanced its sharpness but also its agility. This sword strike was so fast it was like a phantom light.

Hai Wuji flicked his finger lightly across the extremely sharp blade. The blade vibrated and was deflected, but Hai Wuji's finger wasn't even broken.

He thought for a moment and said, "With the addition of Crimson Flame, we have the strength to fight."

Gao Wu was stunned. Pei Jidao was that strong? He really didn't realize it.

"He has been cultivating with my senior brother for twenty years and is regarded by my senior brother as a disciple who can inherit his mantle. In other words, this person should be able to become a martial saint in the future."

"Such a person truly deserves to be called a top genius." Hai Wuji sighed, wondering why he couldn't find a disciple with such talent.

Especially Chu Shenxiu, a gem wasted on a fool, what a pity...

"Master, how does Pei Jidao compare to Tianye Grass?" Gao Wu asked.

"He's about seven or eight points better than Amano Grass. He's not much worse than Higashino Shin." Hai Wuji wasn't overestimating Pei Jidao; he was just trying to make an objective assessment.

Hai Wuji said, "There are still ten days left. You can spar with Higashino Makoto these few days and experience the power of a martial arts master."

Gao Wu was both surprised and delighted that the chief priest, Higashino Makoto, was actually in his teacher's hands. Whether he could practice or not was not important; he valued Higashino Makoto's merits more.

As the chief priest, it would be quite reasonable for Higashino to have accumulated forty or fifty million in merit...

(End of this chapter)