Kumārajīva stared warily at Murong Fu. If he weren't unsure of the man's martial arts skills, he would have certainly struck him with a palm.

Murong Fu spoke eloquently, his expression calm:

"The Penglai School originated from the Nine Provinces. Its founder, Li Canghai, was a disciple of Changchun Zhenren Xiaoyaozi."

I once heard my master say that our patriarch had several senior brothers and sisters who left behind a lineage throughout the Nine Provinces.

If I'm not mistaken, the Master's Lesser Formless Skill originated from the lineage of our sect's founder's senior brothers and sisters, which seems to be called the Free and Unfettered Sect.

Upon hearing this, Kumārajīva was startled and pondered, "I never imagined that Young Master Li and I would have such a connection. Indeed, my Lesser Formless Skill is a unique skill of the Free and Unfettered Sect, which I obtained by chance. If we follow this logic, Young Master Li can be considered my junior disciple."

Murong Fu smiled coldly and said, "Master, I am the head of Penglai Sect. According to my status, you should address me as the head of the sect."

"..." Kumārajīva was silent for a moment, then said, "Young Master Li, why don't we each discuss our own points?"

"Very good."

Murong Fu nodded.

A glint of light flashed in Kumārajīva's eyes as he tentatively asked, "Young Master Li, this humble monk is quite curious about the unique skills of Penglai. How about we exchange a few blows?"

"Can!"

As soon as Murong Fu finished speaking, he used his Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique) to appear in front of Kumārajīva in an instant.

Kumārajīva was horrified. Such speed! It was almost as fast as that old woman's!

But he remained calm despite his panic.

"The Golden Body of an Arhat!"

Kumārajīva was covered in a layer of golden light, like a golden bell.

Murong Fu punched the Golden Bell Cover, producing a muffled "thud".

The golden bell-shaped shield caved in, and waves of air rippled outwards, blowing away the surrounding fallen leaves and dust.

Duan Yu was also blown away.

However, while in mid-air, Duan Yu's internal energy circulated, releasing the pressure points.

"Cough cough cough!!"

Duan Yu coughed repeatedly and hurriedly hid behind a large tree.

"Fortunately, Master Kurong gave me initiation, otherwise I would have been doomed."

Duan Yu recalled that a few days ago, Master Kurong said that his days were numbered and forcibly poured a hundred years' worth of internal energy into his body, and also forced him to memorize the Six Meridians Divine Sword.

However, Duan Yu had no desire to practice martial arts, so he never deliberately guided his internal energy. However, from time to time, his internal energy would run rampant in his body, causing him great pain.

Unexpectedly, today, because of these chaotic internal energies, I have turned misfortune into blessing.

It was only then that Duan Yu realized that sometimes mastering some martial arts skills could be very useful.

...

Murong Fu's punch failed, so he struck the Golden Bell Cover with his sword.

bite!

Sparks flew, and cracks appeared in the golden bell cover.

This was a sword strike without any pattern, a pure bombardment of internal energy.

Kumārajīva was greatly alarmed. This boy's inner strength was probably second only to that old woman!

"Master, the Arhat Golden Body you created with the Lesser Formless Skill is truly powerful; I couldn't break it."

Murong Fu stepped back a few paces, sheathed his sword, and said with a smile.

Kumārajīva removed the Arhat's golden body, his face turning deathly pale, then flushed red. He pressed his acupoints a few times and forcibly swallowed the stagnant blood.

Kumārajīva, his eyes bloodshot, clasped his hands and said, "There are few in the world who can fight me to a draw, but Young Master Li is one of them! I admire you!"

Murong Fu also clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "There are few who can withstand my full-force sword strike and still be so vigorous. Master's skill is profound, and I admire him."

"..."

Kumārajīva's lips twitched a few times with difficulty.

Murong Fu suddenly pointed at Duan Yu's fleeing figure: "Master, your lover has run away."

Kumārajīva was taken aback. He stared at the dark figure, and before he could refute it, he chased after it.

"Young Master Duan, where are you going?"

"Don't come any closer!"

In a moment of desperation, Duan Yu pointed at Kumārajīva.

A sharp sword aura swept across the sky, like starlight shining in the night.

Kumārajīva was terrified again, twisting his body into an unbelievable angle to narrowly dodge the sword energy.

However, the sword energy still tore his clothes, leaving a wound on his arm.

"Young Master Duan! You still say you don't know the Six Meridians Divine Sword!"

Kumārajīva approached step by step, his eyes like the cold, sharp eyes of a hawk, staring intently at Duan Yu.

Duan Yu pointed again in alarm, and Kumārajīva dodged to the side, but this time he did not unleash any sword energy.

"What happened?"

Duan Yu fired repeatedly, but only one out of ten shots produced sword energy.

"I see." Kumārajīva understood. "Young Master Duan, you have not yet fully mastered the Six Meridians Divine Sword, so let this humble monk assist you in your cultivation."

"Don't come any closer!"

Duan Yu tripped over a tree root and was struck again.

Zhongchong Sword!

This time, the sword energy was magnificent and powerful, heading straight for the forehead.

Kumārajīva dared not take the blow head-on, and dodged to the side, but watched as the sword energy pierced through a large tree, then smashed a large rock to pieces.

"The Six Meridian Divine Sword, the number one sword technique in the world, truly lives up to its name!"

Kumārajīva's eyes gleamed with longing; he yearned even more to obtain this martial art.

"I cannot agree."

Murong Fu had arrived beside Duan Yu at some point and shook his head.

"Um?"

Kumārajīva frowned as he looked at Murong Fu.

"The best sword technique in the world should be the Yue Maiden Sword Technique."

Murong Fu said in a serious tone:

"Legend has it that over a hundred years ago, when the Great Qin State was not yet unified and it was during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, a girl named Qingqing learned a set of sword techniques from a white ape and once defeated two thousand Yue soldiers with a bamboo stick."

Kumārajīva was shocked, his pupils shrinking slightly: "Such a sword technique?!"

If anyone else had said this, Kumārajīva would certainly not have believed it, but Murong Fu was different; he had just fought Murong Fu to a draw.

"Indeed!" Murong Fu nodded. "It's a pity that the Yue Maiden Sword Technique has been lost. The Yue Maiden Sword Technique in the martial arts world today is only a superficial understanding, not even a fraction of its true essence."

Kumārajīva remained silent. "It's all lost, what are you talking about!"

Murong Fu smiled slightly and continued, "However, there is another sword technique, second only to the Yue Maiden Sword."

Kumārajīva's heart tightened, and he asked, "What kind of sword technique is this?"

"The Nine Swords of Dugu!"

Murong Fu said slowly, "The Dugu Nine Swords originated from the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai a hundred years ago. This Sword Demon senior once used this sword technique to defeat all opponents in the world. Afterwards, he felt lonely and went into seclusion in the mountains. He was like a fleeting flower, so there are not many records left in the martial arts world."

"Hiss!" Kumārajīva pressed, "This sword technique has also been lost?"

Murong Fu shook his head: "Yang Guo, the Condor Hero of the Southern Song Dynasty, used a heavy sword technique derived from the Dugu Nine Swords. And..."

"And what?"

Kumārajīva asked anxiously.

Murong Fu remained calm and said indifferently, "Master, I know you are in a hurry, but please don't rush."

"..."

Kumārajīva's lips twitched, but he could only suppress his thoughts and nod slightly.

Murong Fu said, "And Feng Qingyang, the Supreme Elder of the Huashan Sect in Daming Prefecture, is proficient in the Dugu Nine Swords."

"..."

Kumārajīva fell silent again. Neither the Condor Hero nor the Huashan Sect of Daming Prefecture were easy to mess with.

Thinking about it carefully, Duan Yu, that weak scholar, is still easier to bully.

Murong Fu asked, "Why is Master silent? Do you dislike talking?"

"..."

Kumārajīva forced a smile and said, "This humble monk is still more interested in the Six Meridians Divine Sword."