Immortality begins with the Swordsman.

The autumn wind blew in, brushing against Gu Changfeng's profile, a few strands of his long hair fluttering in the wind.

He looked at Cai Qingyan, feigning fear: "Uncle-Master Cai, you wouldn't be planning to kill me to cover your tracks because I know about your conspiracy, would you?"

Cai Qingyan remained expressionless and simply said, "Enough with the nonsense, draw your sword."

Gu Changfeng secretly glanced at Zixiao Daoist and saw him sitting to the side, pouring himself a drink, looking calm and composed, as if the events before him had nothing to do with him.

Gu Changfeng's face darkened, and he said, "Uncle Cai, let me explain... ptooey, I mean, my explanation..."

Cai Qingyan said coldly, "We'll talk after we've finished fighting!"

Gu Changfeng's eyes narrowed, knowing that this battle was inevitable. He slowly raised his right hand towards Ning Zhongze, who understood and immediately handed him the Zixiao Sword.

The two men, swords in hand, moved to an open area on the cliff.

"Uncle Cai, I apologize for the inconvenience."

Gu Changfeng raised his longsword and unleashed the "Welcoming Pine Tree" move, executing it with both steadiness and speed.

Before the sword could even reach him, a gust of wind swept towards him. Gu Changfeng's heart tightened, and he swung his sword fiercely.

Just then, a sharp pain shot through his left shoulder; Cai Qingyan had stabbed him with his sword.

So fast!

Gu Changfeng was horrified and quickly retreated.

If Cai Qingyan's sword hadn't been sheathed, this strike would have pierced his shoulder.

Cai Qingyan said coldly, "You dare to hold back when you fight me? You've already died once."

Clang—!

Longsword drawn!

Cai Qingyan arrived in a flash, his sword moving like a dragon, slashing four times in quick succession. All of these were basic Huashan sword techniques, but the speed of his movements was simply unbelievable.

Gu Changfeng dared not hold back any longer. His face suddenly turned purple, and he accelerated rapidly, retreating several steps to barely avoid the four swords. It was an extremely dangerous situation.

"Oh! You've even mastered the Purple Cloud Divine Skill." Cai Qingyan seemed somewhat surprised. "However, this is the second time."

Gu Changfeng was slightly taken aback. Looking down at himself, he realized that his robe at the waist had been pierced with a hole.

When did the fifth sword strike come out, since you dodged all four sword strikes?

"Open your eyes and look carefully." Cai Qingyan's lips curled up slightly as he launched a fierce attack with his sword. Each strike was faster than the last, employing a variety of sword techniques, including the Beginner Sword Technique, the Xi Yi Sword Technique, and the Yang Wu Sword Technique. He used all sorts of moves with ease and fluency.

Gu Changfeng circulated his Purple Cloud True Qi, using stillness to control movement.

No matter how many changes it makes, I will block it with a single sword.

At first, he could barely manage, but Cai Qingyan's sword was getting faster and faster...

"The third time."

"The fourth time."

"The fifth time."

Every time Cai Qingyan's voice rang out, it meant that he had "died" once.

Gu Changfeng felt extremely aggrieved, and his entire body erupted with Purple Cloud True Qi, slashing Cai Qingyan away with a single sword strike.

Overcome skill with simplicity, and control with stillness!

It sounds easy, but it's only suitable for people with extremely profound internal strength like Daoist Zixiao. Every move he makes has earth-shattering power, and others can only avoid his sharp edge.

Although Cai Qingyan was a swordsman, his internal strength was no less than that of Gu Changfeng.

This method then loses its effectiveness.

—If there is nothing left to defend, then attack!

Gu Changfeng gently gripped the black and white Bodhi bracelet with his left hand. Instantly, his mind cleared, a purple light flashed, his movements accelerated, and his swordsmanship was fully unleashed.

While parrying Cai Qingyan's moves, he said, "Although I no longer consider you a junior, I didn't expect I still underestimated you."

The two exchanged blows, their swords flashing so fast they were almost invisible.

Ning Zhongze watched in a daze, seeing a figure flashing with purple light moving swiftly through the arena, its movements so fast that it was difficult to discern its whereabouts.

On the contrary, Cai Qingyan was calm and composed, while Ning Zhongze could not see how he drew his sword at all, and could only judge by the purple figure retreating and dodging.

fast!

too fast!

Gu Changfeng's back was drenched in cold sweat.

Cai Qingyan's sword strikes were incredibly fast. Although they were all familiar sword techniques, they were so fast that the moment the sword light appeared, before he could even make a move, his body was already struck by the sword.

Is this the true strength of the Sword Sect Master?

Gu Changfeng understood.

If Cai Qingyan hadn't been testing his martial arts skills, with Cai Qingyan's unparalleled sword speed, he would have been powerless to dodge and would have been riddled with holes long ago.

really!

The three grandmasters of Mount Hua have all forged their own paths.

Feng Qingyang – No moves are better than moves.

Master Zixiao—using clumsiness to overcome skill, using stillness to control movement, and now adding the heavy sword without an edge, great skill without artifice.

Cai Qingyan, on the other hand, believed that speed was the only way to win.

However, this "fast" is different from Gu Changfeng's "fast".

Cai Qingyan is fast at drawing his sword, while Gu Changfeng is fast at moving.

The key to a fast sword strike lies in practice—practicing again and again, day and night.

The speed of movement comes from internal strength.

"The eighth time."

"The ninth time."

"The tenth time."

Just as Gu Changfeng "died" ten times, the voice of the Purple Cloud Taoist drifted over.

"That's enough. If you disturb his Dao heart, I'll cause you trouble."

Upon hearing this, Cai Qingyan sheathed his sword.

Gu Changfeng stopped moving, panting heavily, his robes riddled with holes.

Cai Qingyan laughed and said, "That's right, it's a bit of a waste for you to follow Old Yue. You should have agreed when Junior Brother Feng asked you to join the Sword Sect that day. With your talent, once you learn the 'Nine Swords of Dugu,' you'll definitely become famous throughout the martial arts world within three years."

Master Zixiao couldn't help but snort, "Hey, I'm still here."

Cai Qingyan didn't care and continued, "At such a young age, you've already forged your own path in swordsmanship. That's quite impressive, and I admire you. However, while I admire you, I won't let you off easily until you clearly explain your statement, 'You're a hypocrite.'"

Gu Changfeng, having caught his breath, stepped forward and said to Cai Qingyan, "Well, take the Green Wolf Gang for example. Its existence depends on sucking the blood of the people. While the Sword Sect has restrained the Green Wolf Gang, preventing it from causing trouble, thus maintaining social order and stability while also obtaining profits from the Green Wolf Gang, it seems like a win-win situation. But in essence, it's still sucking the blood of the people. Of course, it's undeniable that, thanks to the Sword Sect's efforts, the lives of the people have indeed improved a bit."

Cai Qingyan narrowed his eyes and asked, "So, if it were you, what would you do?"

Gu Changfeng's gaze was sharp as he said, "Now that we've already entered the fray, why do we need those small gangs? The Sword Sect isn't incapable of controlling everything, so why should we share a piece of the pie with those minor factions?"

Upon hearing this, Cai Qingyan turned to look at Zixiao Daoist and laughed, "Haha, finally I see what a young man should look like. I almost thought he was some kind of reincarnated monster. Young man, it's time to go down the mountain and broaden your horizons. Your perspective on issues is still not comprehensive enough."

Gu Changfeng, puzzled, asked, "Uncle-Master Cai, what makes you say that?"

Cai Qingyan countered, "Do you know what your master and I have been planning for our entire lives?"

"It's naturally the Demon Slayer Sect!"

"The Demonic Cult is powerful, with countless experts and tens of thousands of followers. Blackwood Cliff is a place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Our Huashan Sect alone is far from enough to destroy the Demonic Cult. Therefore, we must unite all forces that can be united in order to have a chance of victory."

"When the time is ripe, our Huashan Sect will raise its arms and call upon all forces to vanquish evil and uphold justice. We will lead the Songshan, Taishan, Hengshan, and Hengshan sects as generals, and gather all the forces, large and small, in the Guanzhong region as soldiers. Righteous men throughout the land will surely respond in droves. At that time, what need will we have to worry about avenging our great grudge?"

In the end, Cai Qingyan was nearly insane.

The Purple Cloud Daoist's gaze was also cold.

The hatred that had been suppressed in their hearts for far too long.

Gu Changfeng took a deep breath, bowed, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Uncle Cai."

Cai Qingyan regained his composure and said, "Actually, young people shouldn't be exposed to too many conspiracies and schemes, as it will dampen your ambition. But you are destined to become the leader of the Huashan Sect—"

Gu Changfeng was taken aback.

How did he suddenly transform from the future leader of the Qi Sect into the head of the Huashan Sect?

He quickly said, "Let's talk about this later. Tell me what your plans are next?"

Daoist Zixiao and Cai Qingyan exchanged a glance and slowly uttered six words.

"To repel external aggression, we must first pacify internal strife."