In Emei, start by obtaining golden attributes.

Chapter 231 The Power of a Soaring Dragon
The solidified Qi energy, mixed with terrifying power, condensed into a golden dragon-shaped energy.

The moment the energy condensed, it seemed as if Gu Shaoan's entire body was coiled around a dragon, and the head of the golden dragon encompassed Gu Shaoan's hand.

The aura displayed by Gu Shaoan's "Regretful Dragon" at this moment was completely different from his previous ones.

This palm strike contained a flavor never before experienced.

"The momentum of a dragon soaring to the sky".

Its core lies in an intangible yet overwhelming "momentum"!
The Book of Changes (I Ching) states in the Qian hexagram: "The top line: The dragon soars too high and will have regrets."

“亢” means supreme, ultimate, and unparalleled.

The "Soaring Dragon" soars above the nine heavens, at the highest point of Qianyang, with a majestic aura, looking down upon the world, and seemingly omnipotent.

It can be described as extremely rigid.

Gu Shaoan's understanding of the "Soaring Dragon's Momentum" from the move "Regretful Dragon" is just like that, a sense of unstoppable and invincible power.

It was under the blessing of this "soaring dragon momentum" that Gu Shaoan's palm strike suddenly had the momentum of a golden dragon soaring high, pointing straight to the sky, and moving forward without hesitation.

The domineering and arrogant feeling contained in the palm wind and the palm force made Pang Ban shudder.

Sensing something was wrong, Pang Ban's expression not only didn't soften, but instead revealed an excitement he hadn't shown before.

While mobilizing his internal energy and spiritual abilities, his fist strikes not only did not cease, but instead gained an extra three-tenths of resolute killing intent.

The fist, seemingly enveloped in purplish-black demonic flames, slammed down with even greater ferocity and speed.

The moment their fists and palms made contact, Pang Ban's century-old demonic energy and Gu Shaoan's supreme yang energy were like two colliding stars, their violent energies and energy colliding and twisting wildly.

Pang Ban's robe was billowing high behind him, constantly blowing backward, while the hem of Gu Shaoan's robe was also swinging wildly.

But in the next second, the palm force contained in Gu Shaoan's palm, like a volcano that had been ignited, did not erupt outwards. Instead, it used the "light as heavy" technique to forcibly compress the palm force and the internal energy, carrying the sharp edge of the "soaring dragon" momentum—the domineering will of no regrets and no invincibility—and forcefully broke through the energy and internal energy condensed in Pang Ban's punch, surging into Pang Ban's body with a fierce force.

Feeling the terrifying force rushing into his body, Pang Ban's face suddenly showed a look of astonishment.

The next moment, Pang Ban's body moved like a shadow, and more than a dozen afterimages appeared at the same time, with footprints about half an inch deep appearing on the ground as if out of thin air.

Standing three zhang away from Gu Shaoan, Pang Ban's inner energy surged like flames.

When Pang Ban looked at Gu Shaoan, his expression turned slightly gloomy.

"You handle things with the power of a heavy hand, like the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms. I never expected you to have such a hidden skill."

Pang Ban's heart also grew more solemn.

Previously, when Pang Ban learned that Gu Shaoan had already reached the "Condensing Yuan into Gang" level of internal energy cultivation at such a young age, he was surprised but did not take it too seriously.

However, as the two clashed, Gu Shaoan's strength and depth of knowledge surprised even Pang Ban.

Gu Shaoan responded, "The Demon Master has not used his spiritual energy before. Logically and morally, what's so strange about me keeping a backup plan?"

When martial artists of Pang Ban's and Gu Shaoan's level clash, any carelessness or negligence could determine the outcome of their battle.

Just like just now.

Pang Ban suddenly mobilized his spiritual energy, causing Gu Shaoan's consciousness and perception to be affected by Pang Ban's spiritual energy.

If it were any other martial artist, even if they had just managed to break free from the illusion created by these spiritual energies, they would inevitably be unable to withstand Pang Ban's attacks due to the delay caused by being trapped in the illusion.

If Gu Shaoan hadn't been careful, and hadn't already mastered the "Soaring Dragon Stance" of the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms, he wouldn't have been able to achieve this.

In addition, there's the technique of "treating light matters as heavy ones".

Even with both factors combined, it would have been difficult to forcefully gather strength and unleash that palm strike to stop Pang Ban at that crucial moment.

However, seeing Pang Ban, who showed no signs of injury after taking his palm strike, Gu Shaoan's expression grew even more serious.

The probing has been sufficient; both sides are well aware of each other's typical strengths.

Gu Shaoan also knew that no matter how exquisite the ordinary moves were, it would be difficult to determine a winner at this level.

Moreover, when Pang Ban used his mental energy just now, Gu Shaoan had almost no chance to react before being affected by Pang Ban's mental energy and placed in an illusion.

As the saying goes, "A long-term hold on to something will inevitably lead to its loss."

Gu Shaoan has never liked to relinquish control to others.

Moreover, they were facing an enemy like the Demon Master Pang Ban.

In the blink of an eye, Gu Shaoan's aura suddenly changed.

Before everyone's eyes, Gu Shaoan did not press his advantage and use the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms again.

Instead, he slowly raised his right hand and grasped the hilt of the Heaven-Slaying Sword, which had remained unsheathed.

Upon seeing this, everyone in the room focused their attention.

It was at this moment that Pang Ban suddenly recalled Zhao Min's account of his escape from Bright Peak back to the Demon Master's Palace.

According to Zhao Min's description, Gu Shaoan's greatest strength is not his martial arts skills.

Rather, it lies in the weapon itself.

"The martial arts techniques we just displayed already possess such power; if we were to add the sword..."

Thinking of this, Pang Ban, who originally wanted to take action again, became more solemn.

"Zheng~"

The next second, a loud sword cry echoed as Gu Shaoan drew his Yitian Sword.

With the longsword in hand, its blade reflected a cold, pure gleam in the sunlight, a light as tangible as autumn water, or as solidified as the essence of ancient ice.

The moment the longsword was in his hand, Gu Shaoan's internal energy surged.

With a single step, his body, like a dragon in the clouds, tore through the space in front of him, leaving behind clearly visible afterimages, before closing in on Pang Ban by a foot.

At the same time, the Yitian Sword, which Gu Shaoan had been holding, also moved at this moment.

As strands of golden energy filled and surrounded the sword in Gu Shaoan's hand, a faint autumn breeze quietly rose around the sword. The sword blade, as smooth as autumn water, seemed to transform into the autumn wind and drifted straight toward Pang Ban's throat.

"Woo~"

As the sword tip pierced through the void, the howling mountain winds on the Golden Summit of Mount Emei suddenly stopped, and then, as if drawn by an invisible force, they frantically gathered towards Gu Shaoan.

Then, condensed sword-shaped wind blades transformed into a series of wind blades that swirled around Gu Shaoan's body.

These wind blades were almost identical in size and shape to the Heaven-Slaying Sword in Gu Shaoan's hand. They were not chaotic, but rather like the most loyal attendants, surrounding Gu Shaoan.

This formed a rapidly spinning vortex of sword energy that could cut through everything.

At the same time, visible whirlwinds also emerged.

With the influx of the surrounding winds, the sword light seemed to suddenly accelerate several times over at that moment.

Like a sudden gust of wind.

The Emei Sword Manual – “Sword Eight: Startling Wind”.

To the perception of those around, the biting cold wind that had been blowing on the summit of Mount Emei vanished instantly. A profound silence fell over the surrounding area.

Only Gu Shaoan's graceful and agile body, and the Yitian Sword in his hand, which moved as lightly as a feather, still retained the lightness of the wind.

Pang Ban also felt that the wind on the mountaintop had calmed down the moment Gu Shaoan drew his sword.

But Pang Ban knew that the reason these mountain winds suddenly disappeared was not because the winds had calmed down.

Rather, it was because all the mountain winds echoing on the mountaintop were drawn around Gu Shaoan at this moment, and then merged into the Yitian Sword that Gu Shaoan had raised.

"The power of heaven and earth?"

Faced with this sword strike, Pang Ban felt a chill run down his spine and suddenly let out a low roar, instantly unleashing the demonic power within his body to its maximum.

Thick, viscous energy, like mud, surged out from all around Pang Ban like a torrent of seawater, then condensed into layers upon layers of solid, over a foot thick, protective barriers of energy.

At the same time, Gu Shaoan's sword arrived in an instant, as gentle as a spring breeze.

However, just as the sword was about to strike the barrier, the sword-shaped wind blades around Gu Shaoan seemed to have a mind of their own and poured down on the protective barrier of qi that had been formed in front of Pang Ban.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss."

The sounds of cutting and impact, so dense they were chilling, instantly filled the air!
As these sword-shaped wind blades, condensed from the winds of heaven and earth, landed on Pang Ban's protective aura barrier, the condensed energy they contained continuously tore, impacted, and eroded the energy and vital essence within the barrier.

Each wind blade that struck the barrier was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating violent ripples of energy.

While the immense impact was blocked and absorbed by the barrier, the sharp sword energy contained within the wind blades was desperately tearing through the outer layer of the protective energy.

The purplish-black protective energy barrier in front of Pang Ban, which was originally incredibly thick and shimmering with demonic light, was visibly dimming.

Just as all these sword-shaped wind blades were exhausted, the gleaming sword tip appeared silently, like a white rainbow piercing the sun.

The moment the tip of the Heaven-Slaying Sword touched the barrier, it was as if a gentle breeze had suddenly stirred the water in the pool.

The protective barrier of qi that had formed in front of Pang Ban rippled.

Immediately afterwards, that bright sword light was like a scalding blade cutting into solidified grease, the sword edge slicing through the qi barrier with unparalleled smoothness.

However, the moment the protective barrier was broken, the sword strike before Pang Ban's eyes changed.

Just moments before, the sword that was thrusting towards them was like a gentle breeze brushing against the willow branches in the warm spring of March, its trajectory elusive and light as if it were nothing, seemingly without any killing intent, merely following some mysterious rhythm of the flow of energy in the world.

But just as the tip of the Heaven-Slaying Sword pierced through the barrier of qi and became unobstructed, the gentle, warm breeze instantly transformed into a chilling gust of wind, reminiscent of the dead of winter.

They seemed not to have expected Gu Shaoan's sword strike to be so bizarre.

The speed and momentum of the sword will suddenly increase just before it strikes.

Even Pang Ban was caught somewhat off guard at this moment.

In a moment of terror, Pang Ban's imposing figure suddenly became blurry.

Like water vapor violently evaporating under the blazing sun.

"Swish, swish, swish"

A dozen or so dense, almost tangible afterimages appeared out of thin air in an instant.

It may be tilted upwards, sideways, rotated, or folded.

At this moment, Pang Ban's figure moved so fast that it resembled a dark purple ghost.

After a series of dazzling afterimages disappeared, Pang Ban's figure appeared five zhang away from Gu Shaoan.

The blood and qi in his body seemed to surge because of that extreme dodge.

For the first time in twenty years, Pang Ban's breathing became disordered.

After regaining his footing, Pang Ban lowered his gaze and looked at his chest.

A nearly three-inch-long cut was visible on the chest of the garment.

Below the incision, a thin layer of blood spread out.

However, as Pang Bangang circulated his internal energy, the bleeding stopped instantly.

Not only Pang Ban, but also some people with good eyesight on the mountaintop noticed the wounds and scarlet bloodstains on Pang Ban's clothes on his chest.

Those who noticed this scene were all shocked.

"The Demon Master Pang Ban... he's actually injured?"

With this thought in mind, when everyone's eyes fell on Gu Shaoan again, their gazes were as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

When Pang Ban looked away from his own wound and then at Gu Shaoan opposite him, his face had darkened.

Staring intently at Gu Shaoan, he asked, "What kind of martial arts is this?"

Five zhang away, Gu Shaoan's Yitian Sword pointed diagonally at the ground, the energy that had previously lingered around the blade had long since dissipated.

In response to Pang Ban's question, Gu Shaoan slowly replied, "The Emei Sword Manual, Sword Eight: Startling Wind."

"The Emei Sword Manual, Sword Eight: Startling Wind!"

Pang Ban finally repeated it softly, his brows furrowing, clearly having never heard of the Emei Sect before, and that they possessed such profound martial arts.

It was actually able to manipulate the power of heaven and earth with the force of the sword.

Thinking of the injury on his chest, Pang Ban's heart was heavy, but he said calmly, "So, this martial art is what gives you the confidence to challenge me?"

Gu Shaoan said softly, "Let's just say that for now!"

Pang Ban snorted coldly at this.

"But if your 'Emei Sword Manual' is only this much, then it's probably not enough to deal with me."

Faced with Pang Ban's words, Gu Shaoan did not refute them, but nodded in agreement, saying, "Yes! Although Jian Ba's move can draw upon the power of heaven and earth, it is indeed still somewhat lacking when facing a master like the Demon Master."

After speaking, Gu Shaoan gently raised his hands, which were holding the scabbard and hilt of the sword.

Once the scabbard was placed in front of his chest, and the dark blade of the sword was steadily hovering above the top of the scabbard, his legs were slightly bent.

At the same time, the violently surging internal energy around Gu Shaoan suddenly subsided, like a raging sea returning to an abyss, and his state of mind once again sank into an extreme tranquility like a still well.

Only the Heaven-Slaying Sword became the sole extension and embodiment of his will.

The vast and pure Qi energy, like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea, silently and frantically poured into the divine weapon in his hand.

At the tip of the dull, unlit sword, hovering atop its scabbard, a point of pure, sharp, and dazzling golden light quietly condensed, like the lone, coldest star in the night sky.

The power of heaven and earth, which was previously difficult to perceive, began to take shape in Gu Shaoan's senses.

Pang Ban's eyes narrowed as he took in Gu Shaoan's actions.

"Could it be that the Emei Sword Manual has more than eight forms?"

Almost as soon as the thought crossed Pang Ban's mind, he suddenly raised his head as if he had sensed something.

(End of this chapter)