Chapter 123: The Challenge

Chapter 123: The Challenge

Liu Mo clearly hadn’t suffered any abuse.

Standing there, he was intently watching the duel in the arena.

The two purple-gold concave flails were still strapped to his back, not having been removed.

Su Mo pursed his lips and said to Yang Xiaoyun, "This man seems entirely unaware that the Heavenly Blade Sect is after him."

"Who would have thought? We turned Wufangji upside down looking for him, while he... well..."

Yang Xiaoyun also shook her head repeatedly.

Taking advantage of everyone's attention being on the arena, the two of them quietly stepped over the high threshold of the Weaponless Hall and approached Liu Mo.

Liu Mo, who had been watching intently, suddenly felt two people beside him and was startled when he turned his head.

"You..."

"Liu Leader certainly has good taste."

Su Mo smiled wryly, "We all thought you had sneaked off to enjoy some flowers and wine without us, which was already quite unkind. But we never expected that your refined tastes would lead you to watch a show at the Heavenly Blade Sect."

"Chief Su..."

Liu Mo’s face was full of remorse, "I am truly sorry. After this matter, I will give an explanation."

"Hmm."

Su Mo knew this wasn’t the time to talk about it. He just looked at the arena and asked, "What’s going on here?"

"This..."

Liu Mo whispered, "This person is called Fu Hanyuan, from the cold northern lands. It’s said that he has no more worthy opponents in the north, so he came south to enter Donghuang and challenge the great martial artists of the world. His first stop was the Heavenly Blade Sect."

"Northern lands?"

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun both felt a stir in their hearts, thinking of Beichuan.

However, the northern lands were different from Beichuan.

Beichuan is the Beichuan of the world, one of the four corners of the earth along with Donghuang, Nanhai, and Xizhou.

As for these northern lands... they are merely the northern part of Donghuang.

Because it borders the ten-thousand-mile ice fields, it is extremely cold.

People from the northern lands live in harsh conditions, battling nature, and are bold in character. However, once they engage in combat, they are truly ruthless.

It’s not that Fu Hanyuan lacks grace; rather, they cannot afford to have such grace.

"Exactly."

Liu Mo whispered, "When Fu Hanyuan came to challenge, the entire Heavenly Blade Sect was alarmed. From the Sect Master Nangong Yu down, most of the sect’s experts are present. However, before the conversation could finish, the eldest disciple Feng Baichuan returned, and they clashed immediately after a few words."

Su Mo nodded slightly but then shook his head, "Feng Baichuan is in trouble."

Although Feng Baichuan’s martial arts are good, Fu Hanyuan from the northern lands is no ordinary person.

His earlier moves were mostly probing, seemingly trying to thoroughly examine the Heavenly Blade Sect’s martial arts.

Thus, the fight was 'dragged out,' with the pace of the exchange under Fu Hanyuan’s control.

Once he feels he has seen enough, Feng Baichuan will likely be defeated on the spot.

Sure enough, as soon as Su Mo finished speaking, Feng Baichuan grunted, having been broken through by Fu Hanyuan’s blade and struck on the chest.

He staggered back two steps, his face turning pale, and a faint cold breath escaped as he exhaled.

"Thank you for the match."

Fu Hanyuan bowed with a smile, "The eldest disciple of the Heavenly Blade Sect indeed has impressive martial arts."

Feng Baichuan’s face was cold, his brows like swords unmoving, and he only turned to look at the elders seated among the Heavenly Blade Sect members.

Suddenly, one of them stood up, his face as cold as ice, and in a few steps, he was beside Feng Baichuan.

Yang Xiaoyun’s heart tightened, and she whispered, "Does the Heavenly Blade Sect have a rule that disciples who lose in a match must be punished on the spot?"

Su Mo’s mouth twitched, feeling that this wasn’t the case.

But he couldn’t be sure, especially since the expressions of the Heavenly Blade Sect members all seemed ready to kill. Who knew what they were planning?

Indeed, the man reached out and took Feng Baichuan’s wrist, made him spin around, and then pressed his palm against Feng Baichuan’s back.

As internal energy flowed, white vapor emerged from Feng Baichuan’s mouth, and a layer of frost formed on the ground within a short distance.

After exhaling, Feng Baichuan took a deep breath, and his complexion gradually returned to normal.

Fu Hanyuan’s pupils contracted, "Impressive, truly worthy of being a Heavenly Blade Sect expert, to be able to expel my Frost True Qi."

"Frost True Qi."

The man who expelled the cold from Feng Baichuan spoke coldly, pulling Feng Baichuan behind him, "So impressive, I, Feng Ziheng, will take this lesson."

"Uncle." Feng Baichuan spoke softly.

Feng Ziheng waved his hand, signaling him to stop.

"Hey, it's Mo Wenden Feng Ziheng!"

Fu Hanyuan's eyes twitched, and he sneered, "My humble Frost Heaven True Qi is nothing extraordinary; otherwise, why would I challenge various masters to test my skills? The Heavenly Blade Sect is the foremost sect in the southwestern region, standing out uniquely among the myriad martial arts factions. The martial arts within the sect have many remarkable aspects. Though I am unworthy, I have come here today not for any other reason but to witness the divine techniques and supreme skills of the Heavenly Blade Sect!"

"Fu Hanyuan..."

Feng Ziheng softly repeated these three words, then exchanged glances with the others from the Heavenly Blade Sect.

He then spoke softly, "Never heard of him."

"Ha ha ha, what a Heavenly Blade Sect! Today, I will make you hear of me!"

Hearing this, Fu Hanyuan laughed in anger, swallowing all his intended words. In one step, he was already in front of Feng Ziheng, raising his hand to strike.

Feng Ziheng said no more. With a clanging sound, his single saber was drawn, slashing forward!

In an instant, the sharp edge descended.

Fu Hanyuan smiled, his figure suddenly turning, moving in a peculiar manner to dodge under the saber's edge.

With both hands, he seized Feng Ziheng's middle path.

However, Mo Wenden Feng Ziheng of the Heavenly Blade Sect was no ordinary person; every move he made was exquisite.

Seeing that he could not defend in time, he simply thrust the hilt forward. A dull thud echoed as the two men clashed head-on.

But this was just the beginning.

Fu Hanyuan's close-quarters combat skills far exceeded expectations, and his internal strength was extraordinary.

After his hand strikes failed, he flipped over and struck with his elbow, combining grabs and punches, determined not to give Feng Ziheng the chance to use his saber techniques.

As for Mo Wenden Feng Ziheng, though his single saber could not fully concentrate and unleash its blade intent, he did not yield an inch in this confined space.

For a moment, the two stood still, their hands moving up and down, attacking and defending without pause.

Layers of powerful energy and cold qi flew up and scattered around.

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun also watched intently, observing Feng Ziheng's saber techniques and Fu Hanyuan's finger and palm skills.

But as they watched, Su Mo's expression became increasingly strange.

Yang Xiaoyun couldn't help but speak up:

"Does Fu Hanyuan really act so freely and spontaneously?"

By saying he acted freely and spontaneously, she didn't mean that every move he made was a masterpiece.

Rather, he moved casually, using whatever technique came to mind.

Though often unexpected, making the situation seem perilous,

there were inevitably some comical and absurd moves. For instance, a palm strike that should have been difficult to guard against would instead aim directly at the blade of the Heavenly Blade Sect's expert, risking losing half a palm if it landed.

Such foolish moves were not uncommon, yet his quick adaptability was truly surprising.

It made one wonder if these foolish moves were real or feigned, whether he was deliberately playing with his opponent.

Regardless, Mo Wenden Feng Ziheng remained calm as a rock, responding to all attacks with his single saber, regardless of the storm.

"He is no match for Feng Ziheng."

Watching this, Su Mo shook his head:

"Though his martial arts are formidable and his internal strength profound, his Frost Heaven True Qi is unexpectedly effective and miraculous. However... his foundation is unstable, and his combat experience seems extremely... shallow. Has this man truly challenged the northern experts?"

This question went unanswered.

And as he spoke, Feng Ziheng, who had initially been caught off guard, gradually regained his footing.

Suddenly, his single saber rose, and the sharp edge appeared.

Feng Ziheng's eyes instantly became like a pair of translucent jade stones, reflecting everything in the world yet untouched by it.

No joy, no anger, no worry, no thought!

No thought means no sorrow, no fear means no shock!

The Seven Emotions Undying Blade!

A diagonal slash fell abruptly, as if cutting through not a person but the seven emotions and six desires of the world.

In an instant, Fu Hanyuan felt everything in his eyes replaced by the blade, his thoughts gradually emptying, his movements momentarily slowing, free from the troubles of joy and sorrow, the distress of worry and thought, almost forgetting where he was, what he was doing, and why he had come here?

Why had he come here!?

As these four words flashed through his mind, a sharp light suddenly appeared in Fu Hanyuan's eyes.

He suddenly extended a finger!

"Hmm?"

As the finger extended, a look of surprise flashed across Su Mo's eyes: "How can this be?"

The Seven Emotions Undying Blade is a supreme technique of the Heavenly Blade Sect, one of the rarest saber techniques in the world.

At this moment, the strike of Feng Ziheng's blade could not be said to have reached the pinnacle of the Heavenly Blade Sect, but it was certainly no ordinary feat.

The flaw in this blade had been reduced to just one, and it was hidden beneath its brilliance.

However, Fu Hanyuan's finger thrust boldly through the brilliance, piercing the gap with a finesse that left no room for error.

The sophistication of his technique not only surprised Su Mo but also caught Feng Ziheng off guard.

Buzz!!!

The clash of blade light and finger wind produced a buzzing sound, followed by a rustling noise as the single blade in Feng Ziheng's hand, the Mo Wen, flew out.

In that instant, even though he practiced the heart techniques of the Heavenly Blade Sect, which were devoid of emotion, a look of confusion appeared on his face.

How did he know about the flaw in this blade?

Each person's cultivation of martial arts varies according to their aptitude and insight, so the skills they develop can differ.

However, the flaw in the Seven Emotions Immortal Blade he cultivated was minimal, and this sole flaw was kept secret, unknown to others.

There was only one person who knew about this flaw...

As he pondered this, the finger charged with Heavenly Frost True Qi was already before him.

Inside the Edgeless Hall, all the members of the Heavenly Blade Sect who witnessed this scene furrowed their brows, and some had already placed their hands on their swords.

But at this point, even if they acted, it would be too late.

Just as everyone thought the finger was about to land, a fierce blade light suddenly cut through the air.

Fu Hanyuan's expression changed, and he shifted his stance, abandoning his attack.

Otherwise, even if he could have killed his opponent, his arm would inevitably be severed by the excessively sharp blade light.

The blade light passed between the two men, slicing through the air and flying out of the hall, leaving a crack on the eaves of the mountain gate. It continued its trajectory toward the sky, eventually disappearing without a trace.

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun simultaneously looked toward the seat of honor in the Edgeless Hall.

The one who made the move was none other than Nangong Yu!!

This man, around sixty years old, with white hair and half-open eyes, showed no change after releasing such a startling blade light; no one even noticed when the blade was drawn or sheathed.

"Even the Sect Master Nangong has taken action?"

Fu Hanyuan's expression showed a hint of surprise, but then he laughed heartily: "What an honor, to have the Sect Master Nangong personally intervene. I wonder, does this mean I won my battle just now?"

Upon hearing these words, the entire hall fell silent.

These people from the Heavenly Blade Sect, who rarely showed their emotions, now had some frowning, some shaking their heads lightly, and some lowering their heads in silence.

For them, this was a rare display of emotion.

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun exchanged a glance.

Their eyes reflected a sense of surprise.

It was said that since five years ago, the old Sect Master Nangong had sealed his blade intent and no longer wielded his blade casually, cultivating the highest technique of the Heavenly Blade Sect, the "Unparalleled Heaven and Earth Blade."

Not only Nangong Yu, but throughout history, after reaching the peak, the sect masters of the Heavenly Blade Sect would choose to seal their blades and cultivate their blade intent to pursue the Unparalleled Heaven and Earth Blade.

They aimed to achieve the supreme realm of man and blade as one.

Unfortunately, no one has succeeded to this day.

Not only because the cultivation of blade intent is difficult, but also because this realm seems like a mirage, a futile pursuit that ends in nothing.

The current Sect Master Nangong Yu has nurtured his blade intent for five years, and whether he can achieve the Unparalleled Heaven and Earth Blade remains uncertain. Yet today, he unexpectedly unleashed all his blade intent.

No matter how one looks at it, it is a regrettable event.

However, Nangong Yu seemed unconcerned, his half-open eyes as cold as snow:

"Your martial arts are indeed formidable, so you have won."

"Good, winning is what matters."

Fu Hanyuan smiled and said, "I've heard that Sect Master Nangong's martial arts are unparalleled. Today, I rashly intruded into the Heavenly Blade Sect to witness the strength of the old Sect Master."

"Our Sect Master hasn't wielded his blade for many years."

"If you want to fight, you can fight us."

As soon as these words were spoken, someone in the Edgeless Hall spoke up.

If said with urgency, these words would have been reasonable, but coming from them, they carried a cold and sharp edge.

Some opened their mouths, seemingly unsure what to say, and finally managed to utter a cold response:

"Hmm."

Yang Xiaoyun whispered to Su Mo, "Didn't you notice... the people of the Heavenly Blade Sect seem a bit strange..."

Su Mo nodded: "Indeed..."

People often say that the Heavenly Blade Sect is as cold as a blade, sharp and fierce.

And that the martial arts they practice turn them from human beings into living blades, hence their extremely cold and sharp personalities.

In the past, Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun had heard rumors but never paid much attention to them.

But after this encounter, they found that these people indeed spoke and acted with coldness, yet their true nature... might not be as cold as it seemed.

Just like Feng Baichuan, whose words were icy and gave no warmth.

Yet during rest times, when he noticed Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun lacked water, he would offer his water pouch, even reminding them that he hadn't used it himself, so there was no poison inside... It was an unnecessary precaution, but it showed that he had thought about it for a long time; otherwise, he wouldn't have said such a thing.

Now consider the current Heavenly Blade Sect's leader, Nangong Yu.

To save his sect members, he was willing to abandon the blade intent he had cultivated over five years of self-imposed seclusion.

This resolve became all the more precious in that critical moment.

After all, if he had hesitated even slightly, Feng Ziheng, the wielder of the Unquestioning Blade, would have died on the spot, and the blade intent sealed for five years would have been preserved.

The deliberation in that split second made it all the more commendable.

All these things left Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun with a different impression of the Heavenly Blade Sect.

At this moment, Liu Mo whispered:

"The people of the Heavenly Blade Sect, because they all have cold faces, are easily misunderstood. In truth... they are cold outside but warm inside."

"Cold outside but warm inside?"

Su Mo thought about it carefully and found it to be quite reasonable.

However, the coldness was so pronounced that the warmth within was hard to detect.

At this moment, a voice rose slightly:

"Fu Hanyuan, I ask you... how did you know the weakness of my Seven Emotions Immortal Blade?"

The speaker was none other than Feng Ziheng, the wielder of the Unquestioning Blade, who had just engaged in combat.

His brows were now furrowed, as if something was about to break free from its restraints.

Nangong Yu glanced at him and called out softly:

"Stop!"

The single word fell like a great bell, striking Feng Ziheng's mind. His entire body trembled, and the restrained feeling that was about to burst forth gradually subsided.

After a while, he let out a soft breath, turned around, and bowed deeply to Nangong Yu.

Then he turned back to Fu Hanyuan: "Although Feng Ziheng is incompetent, I believe that my Seven Emotions Immortal Blade has reached a realm few predecessors have achieved. There is only one flaw, known to few besides myself.

"How did you, in our exchange, manage to strike precisely at this flaw without any deviation?"

"What?"

Fu Hanyuan sneered: "Is it a rule of the Heavenly Blade Sect that your techniques can only be used to attack others, and no one else can counter them?"