Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Enter V Three-in-One
Ji Ruoxi noticed that Shi Yan looked a little strange and quickly joked, "It's not Hong Ting, is it? If it was Hong Ting, you wouldn't be laughing. Whose girl did you meet in Jiangnan?"
Gu Shiyan didn't answer him. At that moment, he still didn't realize his strange thoughts. Instead, he turned his gaze to Jing Ziping beside him. "Let's go, General Jing."
But Ji Ruoxi knew him well. He sighed inwardly, thinking that his disciple usually showed little interest in anything, always sullen and sullen, and never once teased anyone. He was curious about what Gu Shiyan had encountered in Jiangnan. He would definitely ask him about it when Hongting returned.
Although Gu Shiyan's words were only five words long, Jing Ziping felt the unyielding majesty from them. He had only felt such momentum from the emperor in the nine-story palace, and Gu Shiyan was the second person to feel it.
So Jing Ziping followed Gu Shiyan out of Yunliang Qianchi in a daze, and both of them were silent along the way.
Jing Ziping was afraid of accidentally saying something wrong and angering the other person. In his mind, even speaking to the other person felt like blasphemy. Gu Shiyan was just like that by nature, always silent and taciturn.
In such a strange yet peaceful atmosphere, the two of them traveled for two days and two nights, and finally arrived at Frost Iron City at dawn on the third day.
Gu Shiyan, mindful of Jing Ziping's lack of cultivation, didn't employ his Qing Gong skills. The two of them simply rode on horseback, a journey that took two days and two nights. If Gu Shiyan had been alone, traveling by sword, it would have taken only a few hours to travel from Yunliang Qianchi to Hantie City.
The warm sunlight of the early morning shone on the dark and solemn city walls. The soldiers guarding the tower first saw Jing Ziping in plain clothes on horseback, and then saw the cold and elegant Gu Shiyan beside him, and they cheered and ran to tell others.
They were standing on the city wall and could not see Gu Shiyan's face directly. They just looked at his immortal appearance and mistakenly thought he was Ji Ruoxi, the martial arts master who had been in seclusion for many years in Yunliang Qianchi.
A moment later, the city gates opened from the inside, and a group of soldiers advanced. Each one was clad in armor, their eyes fierce, and they carried the bloody stench of battlefield experience. Their faces were rough and uneven, their hands covered in calluses from countless years of wielding swords and spears. Yet, they wore smiles, their voices full of life and energy. Jing Ziping brought back not only their hope, but also the hope of the people of Frost Iron City.
"Thank you for your hard work this time, General."
"Yes, I really failed you this time, General."
Everyone chatted, their words filled with greetings for Jing Ziping, but their eyes were focused on Gu Shiyan standing nearby. Despite the long journey, Gu Shiyan wore no trace of dust or dirt, and his face showed no sign of fatigue. Even Jing Ziping, who marched for years, showed the signs of hard work. Everyone sighed in admiration, truly worthy of being the legendary Free and Easy Realm expert.
But when their eyes shifted to Gu Shiyan's youthful face, they were momentarily stunned. Wasn't Wu Zun already over forty years old this year? While not old, he couldn't be this young. Could it be that a Free and Easy Realm expert could regain youth? Then why was the Northern Rong State Master so old? He looked like an ordinary old man.
Facing the scrutinizing and amazed gazes of the crowd, Gu Shiyan remained expressionless and composed, as if the person being stared at was not him.
Jing Ziping noticed the stunned expressions on everyone's faces and laughed heartily, "Don't mistake me for someone else. This is Master Yue Zun, Wu Zun's disciple." He introduced Gu Shiyan to everyone, laughing at their surprise. But that was human nature. When he first laid eyes on Master Yue Zun, he felt just as much shock and emotion as they did.
Upon hearing this, the soldiers smiled awkwardly at first, then immediately calmed down and greeted Gu Shiyan enthusiastically, "So it's Lord Yue Zun. We've heard of your extraordinary appearance for a long time, and today we finally get to see you in person."
As soon as he said this, the man next to him elbowed him and scolded him, "Don't talk nonsense, boy! We clearly heard that Lord Yue Zun's cultivation is unfathomable." Then he turned to Gu Shiyan with a flattering smile on his face, "It is truly our honor to have Lord Yue Zun's help this time. Your Excellency must have been exhausted from traveling all the way. Why don't you go into the city and rest up first? We'll host a banquet to welcome you tonight."
After his reminder, the man realized the inappropriateness of his words and looked at Gu Shiyan with an apologetic face: "Your Excellency, that's not what I meant..."
In their eyes, a strong man like Gu Shiyan is remembered not for his cultivation, but for his appearance, so the other party will definitely have some opinions in their hearts.
But Gu Shiyan didn't care. Soldiers were known for their boldness and carelessness, so they ignored these subtleties. He didn't need to be angry with them; it was just an unintentional mistake. "Just find me a place to stay. No need for a welcome."
Gu Shiyan didn't refuse the other party's kindness, but he never liked crowded occasions, so he declined the invitation to host a banquet. Then, he entered the city first under the guidance of a soldier.
After Gu Shiyan left, everyone gathered around Jing Ziping and asked curiously, "General, didn't you go to invite Wu Zun? Why did Yue Zun come instead? This venerable is so young, how could he..."
He didn't finish his words, but everyone understood what he meant. He simply felt that Gu Shiyan was too young and would not be a match for the Northern Rong State Master. They all had such thoughts in their hearts, but they just didn't say it out loud like he did.
Jing Ziping observed their doubts about Gu Shiyan and began to reprimand them, "No matter how young he is, he's still a Free and Unrestrained Realm Venerable. How can you and I casually discuss him behind his back? Furthermore, it's precisely because he's so young that it speaks volumes about his talent. When has such a young Venerable ever appeared in the martial arts world in all these thousands of years?"
Suddenly, he lowered his voice and whispered in their ears, "Don't underestimate this Yue Zun just because he's young. I've heard quite a few rumors about him on my way back. He just returned from Jiangnan a few days ago. Do you know what he did there?"
Jing Ziping suddenly paused, whetting everyone's appetite. The soldiers beside him complained, "What happened? General, tell me quickly. You're dithering like a woman."
Faced with everyone's strong demands, Jing Ziping suddenly stood up and said mysteriously: "You want to know? Then come chase me." Then he got up, mounted his horse, and galloped towards the city gate.
The crowd was left standing there in a daze. After a moment, they realized that they had been fooled by the other party, so they jumped on their horses and chased in the direction Jing Ziping had left.
For a moment, the tense atmosphere disappeared in the midst of playfulness. People rode their horses along the long street, and the people on the side gave concerned greetings.
"General Xiao Jing is back. I haven't seen you for a long time." An old woman selling wine said with a smile as she looked at Jing Ziping riding his horse.
"Yes, mother, I went out of the city a few days ago and just came back." Jing Ziping responded while riding his horse.
The sound of anxious horse hooves came from behind. Jing Ziping quickly waved his whip and said, "Auntie, I'm leaving now. I'll come back to buy wine next time."
"What's this kid doing in such a hurry?" The old lady was left alone there, muttering to herself in confusion.
The group chased each other and arrived at the military camp. Although they had been playing and joking outside the city, once they entered the camp, everyone put away their smiles and looked serious. They were dressed in full sets of armor, with swords on their waists, solemn and dignified.
Jingzi usually loves his subordinates, which can be seen from their jokes and playfulness just now, but he is extremely strict in disciplining his troops. Once they enter the barracks, everything must be done according to the rules, even he himself is no exception.
Inside the main tent of the military camp, a group of men stood before a sand table, discussing how to resist the attack of the Northern Rong cavalry. On the sand table was a geographical map carved by Daliang soldiers, depicting all the surrounding terrain and topography, allowing for more precise planning during battle preparations.
Someone pointed at Frost Iron City on the sand table and said, "Our Frost Iron City has always been the first line of defense against the Northern Rong. It's easy to defend but difficult to attack. Otherwise, the Northern Rong wouldn't have been able to capture this place for hundreds of years."
His outstretched fingers were dark, covered in thick calluses from years of wielding a sword. It was also him, Zhu Dian, who had just apologized to Gu Shiyan outside. He looked like a burly, rough-and-tumble man, but in reality, he was a respected military advisor.
Then he changed the subject, "It's just that the Northern Rong seem determined to conquer Frost Iron City this time, and they've even summoned the Imperial Master, who hasn't been seen in decades. The situation was so sudden, we didn't have time to report the matter to His Majesty and ask Master Jingkong to intervene. So, we can only ask the general to go to the nearby Yunliang Qianchi to ask for the Martial Master."
There was a hint of regret in his tone. "But we didn't invite Wu Zun, but Yue Zun. There's a huge age difference between him and Zhu Zhe, so how can he be a match for the other? Zhu Zhe is also very prestigious among the Northern Rong. With him in charge, the morale of the Northern Rong soldiers is soaring. They will attack Hantie City in a few days. There's no time to invite other venerables now."
After these words were spoken, the generals around him fell silent, and their morale dropped significantly for a moment.
It wasn't that they looked down on Gu Shiyan; it was simply that, in their minds, a master's cultivation was undoubtedly superior to that of his apprentice. Seeing the low morale, Jing Ziping stopped playing it safe and told them all the rumors he'd heard along the way. "Like you, I initially had no hope for this newly emerged Venerable, believing it was better than nothing. But during this journey, rumors about this Moon Venerable have sprung up like mushrooms after rain."
"At first, we heard of Yue Zun's name because of that bastard son of Minister Sun, but this time, the rumors are about Yue Zun's fight with Demon Zun. As I just said, Yue Zun went to Jiangnan not long ago, and he went there for Demon Zun. Now the rumor is spreading in the martial arts world that Yue Zun personally went to Jiangnan, not only defeated Demon Zun, but also brought him back to Yunliang Qianchi. As for the reason for this, we don't know."
"You just said that if we had enough time, we could go to the capital and ask Master Jingkong for help. This is undoubtedly because he has the highest level of cultivation among all the venerables in Daliang. But when he fought the Demon Lord back then, he couldn't defeat him, let alone capture him alive. The new generation pushes the old generation out, and I'm afraid the position of the number one in the martial arts world has changed."
He spoke to himself, and everyone beside him was stunned. This news really shocked them. "General, this isn't something you made up to boost morale, is it?"
"Am I so bored? This matter has already spread throughout the martial arts world. It will reach our Frost Iron City in a few days. By then, you will be able to hear it walking on the street."
"What's more, the owner of Fengyu Tower witnessed this incident with his own eyes in Jiangnan. When has the news about Fengyu Tower ever been false?" Seeing that everyone still didn't quite believe it, Jing Ziping brought up Fengyu Tower, a well-known brand in the world.
Sure enough, as soon as everyone heard the name of Fengyu Tower, they immediately believed it 70%. "General, can you tell us what this rumor is about?" someone said, and then the people around him all echoed.
Jing Ziping held his forehead and smiled bitterly. "Since you all want to hear it so badly, I'll tell you." "One rainy night, Yue Zun engaged in a fierce battle with Mo Zun. The details are unknown, but in the end, Yue Zun triumphed over Mo Zun. The next day, a servant beside Yue Zun, armed with the Feiyun Order, loudly declared in front of the Xingding County government office that Yue Zun had punished evil and promoted good, finally eradicating the malignant tumor that was Mo Zun."
"Naturally, many people, like you, were skeptical. But then the servant took out the Demon Lord's weapon, the Bloodthirster, and the renowned Bloodthirster was shattered in two. Many people witnessed it, and the Tingyu Tower Master even personally verified the authenticity of the Feiyun Order."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's trust in this matter became 100%.
After this matter was settled, Zhu Dian was the first to speak. He turned towards Jing Ziping and asked, "Does Lord Yue Zun have any taboos? If so, I can inform the servants in advance. We can't let Lord Yue Zun come here and then fail to take good care of him, right?"
Jing Ziping didn't say anything. He reached out and scratched the back of his hair. He avoided looking at Zhu Dian.
The two had been partners for many years, and seeing Jing Ziping's guilty expression, Zhu Dian guessed that he hadn't paid attention to these matters before. However, Yue Zun was someone else's guest, and no one else had ever had any contact with Yue Zun. Only Jing Ziping could give the answer to this question, so Zhu Dian continued to stare at him.
"Yue Zun has never appeared in the martial arts world before, and I have never worked in Fengyu Tower. How can I know what the other party's taboos are? If you want to know about this, you should go to the capital and ask the Shadow Dragon Guard." Jing Ziping defended himself, then pretended to be angry, trying to end the matter.
But Zhu Dian had already seen through his little thoughts, and just remained silent and kept looking at him.
Jing Ziping felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze. Seeing that the other party was determined not to give up until he gave an answer, he could only speak to reassure everyone: "Didn't you see it just now outside the city? That Yue Zun may look a little cold, but he's actually very easy to talk to."
The rest of the people didn't say anything, but just silently agreed with what he said.
On the other side, in an official office in Hantie City.
After a hot shower, Gu Shiyan changed into a suit of aquamarine clothes, his hair still tied up high with a jade hairpin. After the shower, he felt much fresher. This suit was prepared by Zhu Dian in advance. The aquamarine color was also a light color, and Gu Shiyan's cold temperament seemed a little gentler under this suit.
Because Hong Ting was still in Jiangnan at the time, and the army was mostly men, it would be inconvenient for Hua Ling, a girl, to appear here, so Gu Shiyan came alone. Originally, Zhu Dian had assigned him a few servants, but because he didn't like being served by others, he sent them all away and did everything himself.
After finishing all the chores and having lunch, Gu Shiyan prepared to fall asleep. Afraid he'd lose control of his emotions when he woke up, he specifically instructed the servants not to call him for dinner. He'd always been a sleepyhead, and after all the traveling he'd been doing recently, he hadn't gotten a good rest. If he fell asleep again, he might not wake up until tomorrow evening.
The night was already deep. The moonlight tonight was not as cold and clear as usual, but instead had a strange blood-red hue.
The crimson crimson light of the blood moon overhead cast a chilling crimson glow on the ground. The sounds of fierce fighting outside woke Gu Shiyan from his sleep. He put on his clothes and boots, his face expressionless. But if anyone familiar with him were here, they would know that Gu Shiyan was someone not to be messed with.
Gu Shiyan opened the door, took the white feather in his hand, and walked straight out. Just then, a soldier ran over in a panic, and the two almost collided. Fortunately, Gu Shiyan reacted in time, took a step back, and stretched out his long sword. The long sword stopped the man's body, and finally stabilized it from being on the verge of collapse.
When the soldier saw Gu Shiyan, he didn't even have time to thank him, and hurriedly said, "Master Yue Zun, the Northern Rong have launched an attack, and the general sent me to call you."
Before he could finish his words, Gu Shiyan tiptoed into the air, the white feather sword already at his feet. The battle must be intense now. At least the Northern Rong imperial advisor has taken action, otherwise Jing Ziping wouldn't have sent anyone to fend for him, Gu Shiyan thought to himself, then sped up and flew towards the city gate.
The closer they got to the city gate, the louder the clash of swords and the angry roars of soldiers grew. Gu Shiyan, standing on the suspended White Feather Sword, looked up and saw this scene: a massive palm print had appeared out of thin air on the thick, solid city wall, and cracks were now appearing on the stone bricks that had stood firm for centuries.
On the city wall, soldiers came and went, either delivering different supplies or taking their blood-covered comrades down for treatment. They were all in a hurry and didn't notice Gu Shiyan in the air at all.
"No one in your Frost Iron City can stop me. If you surrender now, I'll spare your life." The voice was elderly, yet its tone was filled with excitement. Beirong and Daliang had been enemies for centuries, and Frost Iron City had held them back for centuries. Now, he was finally about to conquer it. The chance to leave his name in history was right before his eyes, and Zhu Zhe was naturally thrilled.
Upon hearing this, the generals on the city wall, led by Jing Ziping, were all filled with anger. One general, with a strong temper, could not tolerate the mockery. He took a few steps forward, pointed at Zhu Zhe in mid-air, and cursed, "You, a mere Northern Rong, dare to think of conquering Hantie City. It's truly ridiculous. You might as well go home and daydream."
Zhu Dian, standing nearby, quickly reached out and pulled him back. Zhu Zhe's devastating palm strike was still fresh in his mind. Fortunately, it had only struck the city wall, otherwise they would have been reduced to dust. Yue Zun hadn't arrived yet, leaving no one to stop him. Provoking him now would do them no good.
Jing Ziping looked solemnly at Zhu Zhe, who was on the verge of anger, and turned his head to ask the deputy general beside him, "Where's Yue Zun? Have you sent someone to invite him?"
"General, we have just sent someone there. Lord Yue Zun should be on his way now." The deputy general who was asked answered quickly.
But Zhu Zhe wouldn't give them any more time to wait. He stretched out a bony hand, gathering his inner energy. The next second, a massive hand materialized above them. Zhu Zhe spoke in a deep, hellish voice, like a demon from hell: "Since you refuse to surrender, I will give you a quick death."
He raised his hand and swung it downwards. The next second, the giant hand in the air fell in unison. The faces of those on the city wall showed no fear. They closed their eyes tightly, awaiting death. In their final moments, they prayed for the Moon Lord to arrive quickly and save the innocent people in the city.
They had considered relocating the people before, but the answer they received was: "We have been here since birth, and if we are to die, we will die here. People in other places have never seen war, but we have. They are afraid, but we are not."
For centuries, Frost Iron City had been plagued by constant war. War was ingrained in the hearts of its inhabitants, a constant experience from birth to death. Some had served in the military, but due to age or serious injuries, they eventually retired, staying here to start families, marry, and raise children. Among the current soldiers were their families and children; how could they be allowed to leave alone?
Countless images flashed through their minds, from a happy family, strict training in the army, playfulness among comrades, and finally to a deserted battlefield with only countless corpses. Their short lives were relived in their minds in a cursory manner. This was probably the legendary last glimmer of light before death.
But the death they imagined never arrived. Suddenly, a sword rang in their ears. Cautiously, they opened their eyes and saw a longsword, as translucent as white jade, charging towards the giant hand suspended in the air. The moment the sword made contact with the giant hand, it dissipated between heaven and earth. Then, the longsword circled in the air and flew back.
Seeing his attack so easily blocked, Zhu Zhe said with interest, "I was wondering who it was? It's the White Feather Sword. Did you go to Yunliang Qianchi and invite Ji Ruoxi?" The White Feather Sword was renowned in the martial arts world. Whether it was the legend of a white bird carrying the sword, or the symbolism it had symbolized for the position of the head of Yunliang Qianchi, it had greatly enhanced its fame. Therefore, it wasn't surprising that Zhu Zhe recognized it.
Jing Ziping and others had also escaped from the gates of hell, and they felt relieved to see Gu Shiyan coming. At this moment, they felt quite happy that they had survived a disaster, so they ignored Zhu Zhe.
Seeing no one paying any attention to him, Zhu Zhe's anger grew even more intense. "Do you think you can rest easy just because you invited Ji Ruoxi? Yunliang Qianchi is just a Jianghu sect. How can it possibly defeat my Beirong Gongfeng Hall? Today, I will show you that the so-called number one sect in Daliang is nothing but a name."
"Ji Ruoxi, why do you have to play tricks on me? You dare not show your true face to others. What's the point of hiding in the crowd? Why don't you come out and have a fair fight with me. If you can die in my hands, it will not be a waste of the careful teachings of your Yunliang Qianchi ancestors." Zhuzhe said in a sarcastic tone, and his words were full of contempt for Ji Ruoxi.
But things did not go as he expected. A quarter of an hour later, the Ji Ruoxi he mentioned still did not show up.
He had lost his patience at this moment. He gathered his internal energy in his hands and formed a huge palm in the air like before. When it was about to fall, a voice came and interrupted his action.
"With only the cultivation level acquired through the teachings of the previous Beirong State Master, do you think you are qualified to speak so arrogantly here? Is this the level of the current Beirong State Master? It's really ridiculous."
Although the cultivation level of the Northern Rong's national masters of all generations was passed down by the previous national master using the Purple Lotus Holy Book to his successor, and although this matter was not a secret, it was pointed out in public like this, and Zhu Zhe's face still looked a little dull.
The first Beirong Imperial Master managed to achieve the Free and Unrestrained Realm, but he was already old by then, and even reaching the Free and Unrestrained Realm couldn't extend his lifespan. Therefore, to ensure that every Beirong generation would produce a Free and Unrestrained Realm master, he founded the Hall of Offerings, gathering together the masters of the Beirong martial arts world. Leveraging their power and the Beirong royal family's secret treasure, the Purple Lotus Sacred Book of Transmigration, he forcibly transferred his own cultivation to his disciples.
For hundreds of years thereafter, successive Northern Rong Imperial Masters continued this practice, selecting exceptionally gifted young men from the Hall of Worship and, upon their deathbed, passing on their lifelong cultivation. Those who received this inheritance were known in Northern Rong as Holy Sons.
His eyes swept over the crowd below, but he didn't notice who was speaking. Jing Ziping and the others clearly recognized Gu Shiyan's voice. The arrogance contained in the young man's words was something no one else could imitate. At the same time, they secretly felt sorry for Gu Shiyan. Provoking him like this would not benefit him.
But Gu Shiyan wasn't one to act rashly. He had already discerned Zhu Zhe's cultivation level from his opponent's moves. He was only at the fifth level of the Free and Easy Realm, certainly a bit more powerful than the Upper Demon Lord. This, in fact, demonstrated the difficulty of cultivating a Free and Easy Realm expert. From the first Beirong Imperial Master to reach the Free and Easy Realm, to the current Zhu Zhe, countless exceptional talents over the centuries had ascended from the first level to the current fifth level. Therefore, each level of the Free and Easy Realm represents a new realm within the martial arts world.
For others, each level required decades of arduous cultivation, and the higher the realm, the harder it was to advance. The ninth level of the Free and Unrestrained Realm existed only in legend. But this was not the case for Gu Shiyan. He had just reached the third level of the Free and Unrestrained Realm, and after his battle with the Demon Lord, he even broke through to the fifth level. Therefore, in his eyes, Zhu Zhe was not an invincible enemy, but merely a close match.
Seeing that Zhu Zhe had lost his patience and was about to attack the civilians, Gu Shiyan walked out, holding the white feather sword in his hands, and leaned lazily against the city wall with a frown on his face. Seeing that the other party had not noticed him yet, he reminded him, "I'm here."
Zhu Zhe, in mid-air, heard the noise and came over, his gaze scanning Gu Shiyan. He was initially uncertain, but when he saw the White Feather in his arms, he confirmed that it was the man who had attacked him. His anger had already turned to doubt. The man before him didn't look reckless; he must have something to rely on to dare to provoke him. He first used his inner energy to scan the surroundings, confirming that there were no ambushes within a few hundred miles. Then, in a probing tone, he asked, "Who are you? Ji Ruoxi shouldn't be as young as you. What's your relationship to him? Why is this White Feather in your hands?"
Gu Shiyan only felt that it was noisy and frowned slightly, "I am from Yunliang Qianchi, and the Ji Ruoxi you mentioned is my master."
Zhu Zhe had just confirmed that there were no other Free and Easy Realm experts nearby. He believed that Gu Shiyan's only reliance was the White Feather Sword and the internal energy Ji Ruoxi had retained within it. He completely denied the possibility that Gu Shiyan himself was a Free and Easy Realm expert. He was considered extremely talented in Beirong, but if he hadn't been taught the skills, he would have wasted his entire life without ever reaching the Free and Easy Realm threshold, let alone Gu Shiyan, who looked only seventeen or eighteen years old.
"If you leave now, I can let you go for Yunliang Qianchi's sake. Don't try to be a hero at such a young age. Wait until you break through to the Free and Easy Realm before coming out." Zhu Zhe said jokingly with a smile on his face.
But what Gu Shiyan said next surprised him, "I am already in the Free and Easy Realm, am I qualified to fight with you now?" Gu Shiyan's tone was flat, with no expression on his face, and he had no idea how shocking his words were.
Zhu Zhe's smile froze instantly. He'd forgiven Yun Liang Qianchi's numerous offenses for his sake, but he hadn't expected him to claim he was in the Free and Easy Realm. It was truly absurd. "You say you're in the Free and Easy Realm? Are all these brats so arrogant these days? Do you even know what the Free and Easy Realm entails?" He pondered for a moment before bursting into laughter, his tone unabashedly sarcasm.
Seeing the other party didn't believe him, Gu Shiyan didn't explain, but simply took a few steps forward. With Gu Shiyan's movement, the howling night wind died down, and the two armies fighting below froze in their positions, motionless. Among the hundreds of thousands of people, only Gu Shiyan and Zhu Zhe could control their bodies.
Seeing this, Zhu Zhe's expression shifted from sarcasm to shock. How could someone so young reach the Free and Unrestrained Realm? A cold glint flashed in his eyes. The martial arts masters of the Northern Rong were not as strong as those of the Daliang. Of the five venerables of Daliang, the Buddhist Master Jingkong would have intervened for the sake of the so-called righteousness of the nation. Yunliang Qianchi was in Jizhou and would have been affected by any war. Therefore, the Martial Master Ji Ruoxi would not have sat idly by.
Beirong was the only one in the Free and Easy Realm, relying on the power transmission Gu Shiyan had just mentioned. The situation was already unfavorable to Beirong, and now a new Free and Easy Realm expert had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and he was so young. If they waited until he fully matured, Beirong's cavalry would probably never be able to march through Jizhou and occupy the Central Plains again. Only talents that matured were useful; if they died halfway, they could no longer be called geniuses. In a moment, he made up his mind: today, no matter what, he would save Gu Shiyan's life.
A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. Blame this young man for not knowing how to restrain his edge. Zhu Zhe put away his smile, a murderous look in his eyes, and said in a cold tone, "Reaching the Free and Easy Realm at such a young age is indeed something to be proud of. It's a pity that your master didn't teach you that there are always people better than you. The Free and Easy Realm has nine levels. How can you, a mere person at the first level, stir up any storm in front of me?"
"You have offended me just now, so you should atone for it with your life." After saying that, Zhu Zhe's figure flashed and rushed towards Gu Shiyan like a ghost. A faint orchid light emanated from his palm, which looked even more creepy under the blood-red moonlight.
Gu Shiyan didn't let his guard down. After all, this opponent was the most formidable he'd ever encountered. He unsheathed the White Feather Sword, a resounding sound echoing through the air. Gu Shiyan had already channeled all of his previously released internal energy into the sword, and those unable to move gradually recovered.
When Jing Ziping and the others opened their eyes, they saw the Northern Rong Imperial Master, his eyes fierce and his internal energy surging, rushing towards Gu Shiyan. Gu Shiyan did not retreat, but held the White Feather Sword in his hand and rushed straight at him. The White Feather Sword was a powerful sword that could cut through iron like mud, but the palm technique that Zhu Zhe practiced was also a world-class skill. The two of them were in a stalemate, with no winner determined.
The crowd watching the fight murmured softly, "How could Yue Zun tie with Zhu Zhe? I don't know whether to call Yue Zun a young hero, or to call him an old man who embarrasses himself by trying to bully the younger generation, only to find out he's no match for them."
His voice was undisguised, and Zhu Zhe, who was fighting alongside Gu Shiyan, heard every word clearly. His wrinkled face was now stained red with anger. He was the dignified Imperial Master of the Northern Rong, revered throughout the nation. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was second only to the emperor. But now, in Daliang, he was not only challenged by a junior, but also mocked by ordinary people without any internal strength. The former was at least in the Free and Easy Realm, barely on his side, but what was the latter's claim? Did they really think that a Free and Easy Realm master could protect them all? How naive!
He concentrated all his internal energy, and the dark blue light in his palm became even more intense. Then, dust flew everywhere, and Gu Shiyan was thrown back. Zhu Zhe turned and took the opportunity to strike out at the man. "Who do you think you are? How dare you discuss this in front of me?" Zhu Zhe cursed angrily.
Seeing that the giant palm formed by internal force was getting closer and closer to him, the man tried to dodge, but the palm was chasing him. At the moment when the palm was about to touch him, a sword energy still passed through the air and touched the palm, canceling each other out.
Zhu Zhe only then began to harbor doubts. He had used his full strength in that palm strike. If Gu Shiyan were merely a cultivator entering the Xiaoyao realm, there was no way he could have recovered so quickly. And regarding those two massive palm strikes, he had first assumed that the White Feather Sword contained some internal energy left by Ji Ruoxi, which was why the sword energy had easily neutralized his attack. But how could he explain this palm strike now? Furthermore, he hadn't sensed any internal energy during their previous clash, indicating that the White Feather Sword didn't contain any Martial Honor's internal energy. This was all Gu Shiyan's own cultivation.
The more he thought about it, the more serious his expression became. At this moment, he had made up his mind that he would not let Gu Shiyan return to Yunliang Qianchi alive no matter what. Even though he had already guessed that Gu Shiyan's cultivation was not as simple as he expected, he still didn't want to believe that someone could have such a high talent.
"Boy, what is your current level of cultivation?" He asked tentatively, trying to find clues from Gu Shiyan's answer. Suddenly, he seemed to have thought of something, and his expression gradually changed from confusion to fear.
Gu Shiyan chuckled softly, his tone gentle, but to Zhu Zhe, it sounded extremely frightening. "I can see through your cultivation level, which is only the fifth level of the Free and Easy Realm, but you can't see through mine. Don't you understand by now?"
Zhu Zhe's forehead was covered in cold sweat. Now he finally understood. He had never explored Gu Shiyan's cultivation level because he thought he was not a threat. But when he tried to check just now, he found nothing.
According to rumors, Yunliang Qianchi has a technique that can restrain one's own cultivation, called Yunyin. Gu Shiyan should have practiced this technique, but what frightened him was another thing.
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