Chapter Five: Suspended Drizzle
In the square of Xiyu Mountain Villa, siblings Ling Qichen and Ling Xueyan were chatting idly when suddenly a domineering voice rang out:
"To reach the pinnacle of martial arts requires innate talent."
Famous for thousands of years
The winner is king, the loser is an outlaw.
"The Battle of Fengdu reflects in the Yellow Springs."
His voice was loud and arrogant, his words domineering and domineering, instantly changing the atmosphere of the square, filling the air with a murderous aura. Then, a figure stepped out with imposing presence, appearing before the brother and sister.
The newcomer appeared to be in his forties, with a puffy physique that exuded a fierce and domineering aura. His crimson cloak billowed and swayed behind him as his inner energy emanated, and his chilling gaze seemed to be fixed upon the entire world!
Seeing this, Lin Xueyan pointed with the hilt of her sword with her left hand and said, "Who goes there? How dare you utter such arrogant words at the entrance of Xiyu Manor!"
The man burst into laughter and proclaimed, "Shangguan Yanxin! I've come to learn your manor's unique skill, 'Floating Rain'!" With that, he fixed his gaze on the two people present.
Ling Xueyan scoffed and said coldly, "How arrogant! If you want to see the fine rain floating, you'll have to ask the sword in my hand first!"
Immediately, she leaped forward, drew her sword mid-air, and thrust it at Shangguan Yanxin, the powerful blade aimed directly at his throat. Shangguan Yanxin, seeing this, neither dodged nor evaded, catching the blade barehanded. His powerful energy from both hands prevented Ling Xueyan's sword from advancing even an inch into the air.
Seeing that she could not break through, Ling Xueyan withdrew her sword and swept it across Shangguan Yanxin's neck. Shangguan Yanxin leaned back to avoid the sword strike, and then attacked Ling Xueyan with his palm and fist. The two exchanged blows, going back and forth for dozens of moves.
Every time Ling Xueyan unleashed a sword strike, Shangguan Yanxin caught it with his bare hands. Although she dodged the incoming fists and palms, she couldn't gain the slightest advantage. Now, her mind focused, and she immediately unleashed her signature move. Her body brimmed with true energy, her sword powerfully protected, and she uttered in a sweet voice, "The sword moves without bounds, responding to the dragon's flight!"
In an instant, she moved like a phantom, like a dragon darting around Shangguan Yanxin. Her every move was as fast as a flash of silver, seizing every opportunity to find her opponent's weakness and strike him dead.
Shangguan Yanxin's expression darkened slightly. Facing Ling Xueyan, whose movements and swordsmanship had quickened, he immediately felt the pressure. He thought to himself, if it weren't for his superior internal energy, this would be tantamount to playing with fire.
With Ling Xueyan's move, the final sword stroke swept across, and a few strands of hair slowly drifted down from Shangguan Yanxin's neck. The two separated, signifying the end of this round.
Ling Xueyan thought to herself that she would never be able to break through his defenses. His hand guards were strong, and no matter how fast her sword moves were, she could not harm him in the slightest. She then urged her inner energy to protect the energy on her sword, trying to forcefully break through her opponent's strength. The clear voice rang out again: "The sword moves without bounds, bringing peace to the four seas!"
Seeing this, Shangguan Yanxin dared not be careless again. He also channeled his true energy into his body, increasing his speed to the maximum, and said, "Light as a swallow, I fight across the eight directions."
The two clashed with their swords and palms, and the sound of swords whistling could be heard. Although Shangguan Yanxin's movement was twice as fast as before, Ling Xueyan's sword moves were superior. Although Ling Xueyan's sword energy was strong, it was still no match for the power of a king. With the strength and weakness combined, this round was once again evenly matched.
Ling Xueyan, filled with rage, abandoned her previous sword techniques and instead channeled all her inner energy into the sword, preparing for a powerful breakthrough. She gathered her energy in both palms before her chest; the sword hovered in the air, its hilt gripped tightly yet constantly rotating, its tip pointing directly at Shangguan Yanxin. She casually uttered, "One sword shatters the heavens!"
She leaped forward, her sword thrusting straight in, the tip carrying immense force as it spun and pierced Shangguan Yanxin. Seeing this, Shangguan Yanxin swiftly unleashed his attack, meeting her attack head-on. He clasped his hands together and proclaimed with domineering power, "The Three Pure Ones Return to Origin!"
Ling Xueyan thrust her sword at him, and just like the first round, the sword spun, yet could no longer penetrate even an inch. Ling Xueyan knew that even with such a powerful sword at its peak, she could only hold out for this moment at most; any longer, and her true energy would be exhausted, inevitably resulting in serious injury. Just as she was about to withdraw her attack, Shangguan Yanxin suddenly opened his palms wide, unleashing the Three Pure Ones Returning to Origin Qi, which strengthened once more, and he was about to counterattack Ling Xueyan.
Upon seeing this, Ling Qichen hurriedly exclaimed, "Little sister, be careful!" Then she quickly flew away, gathering her inner energy and praising her palm.
As Ling Qichen channeled his true energy into the sword, the sword intensified its attack, yet it still didn't penetrate even an inch. Finally, the sword gave way, unable to withstand the immense force, and shattered instantly. Seeing this, Shangguan Yanxin seized the opportunity, striking Ling Xueyan with both palms. Both women, unable to withstand the overwhelming power, staggered back several steps, blood trickling from their mouths.
Shangguan Yanxin laughed loudly, "As expected of Ling Beixiao's children, they are so young yet their cultivation is so exquisite! Truly, like father, like son!"
He paused for a moment, then said, "Call your father, Ling Beixiao, out here!"
Ling Qichen asked, "What is your relationship with my father, senior? And what business do you have with my father?"
Shangguan Yanxin coldly said, "Who I am is unimportant! What's important is that if I don't see the fine rain floating in the air today, one of you will be in trouble with me!" He then coldly glanced at the two men.
Just then, a powerful voice rang out from the backyard of Drizzle Manor:
"One battle made him famous throughout the world"
When a person dies, their fame is gone; this too shall come in time.
If sages allow demons to rule.
Is there ever a day of peace and happiness in this world?
Immediately, a figure rose gracefully from behind the main hall of the manor. This person was Ling Beixiao, who appeared to be thirty-one or thirty-two years old. His composed demeanor and his seemingly righteous yet wicked eyes revealed an unimaginable depth and unfathomable nature.
When Shangguan Yanxin saw him, he was greatly surprised. Ling Beixiao was about the same age as him, and he himself had gray hair, so how could Ling Beixiao be so young? Could it be because of Lian Xiyu's levitation?
Just as he was lost in thought, Ling Beixiao spoke up: "Old friend, the two little rascals are ignorant of the ways of the world and have often acted rudely. A little discipline would have been enough. Why did you have to be so harsh?" After he finished speaking, his sharp eyes revealed his anger as he stared at Shangguan Yanxin.
Shangguan Yanxin met his gaze and felt a chill run down his spine. He then replied, "Brother Beixiao! I never imagined that after twenty years, you would have both a son and a daughter. And my niece's swordsmanship is truly exquisite and unparalleled!"
Ling Beixiao snorted coldly and said indifferently, "Aside from mastering the Three Pure Ones Returning to Origin Qi and the advantage of age, nothing else has changed for you. You are still just as competitive as ever."
Hearing this, Shangguan Yanxin felt a pang of sadness. Compared to him, he had indeed aged considerably. He forced a smile and said, "Brother Beixiao! To be honest, I've come here for two reasons. First, to witness the extraordinary skill of 'Floating Rain'; second, to see a divine object descend from the sky! I hope you can grant my two small wishes!" After speaking, he smiled and looked at Ling Beixiao.
Ling Beixiao: "Regarding the matter of the divine object falling from the sky in Longyang City, I sent people to investigate, but they found nothing. I don't know where you heard the rumor that the divine object is in my Xiyu Manor! As for the ultimate technique, Xiyu Suspension, it's a sure-kill move. Since I mastered it, everyone who has seen it is long gone. Xiyu Manor is a remote and impoverished place, it cannot accommodate a great figure like Sect Leader Shangguan. Please leave!" After saying this, he turned to leave.
Seeing this, Shangguan Yanxin hurriedly said, "Brother Beixiao, even if you haven't obtained the divine artifact, I absolutely must experience your extraordinary skill, 'Floating Rain,' otherwise, all my practice of the Three Pure Ones Returning to Origin Qi will have been in vain!" He then focused intently on Ling Beixiao.
Ling Beixiao ignored him and continued walking. Shangguan Yanxin was furious; it seemed Ling Beixiao didn't take him seriously. He channeled his inner energy into his right palm and shouted, "Ling Beixiao!" before unleashing a palm strike.
As soon as Ling Beixiao turned around, a fierce palm was already at his side. In his haste, he raised his left palm to meet it. To his surprise, his hasty palm strike, though only at half its strength, was evenly matched with Shangguan Yanxin's.
The two exchanged blows, neither gaining the upper hand. Suddenly, Shangguan Yanxin moved, striking out with his left palm. Seeing the ferocity of his attack, Ling Beixiao countered with eighty percent of his power in his right palm. This time, it was a true contest of their inner strength; the outcome would be decided the moment their palms clashed. Shangguan Yanxin was defeated and retreated several steps, while Ling Beixiao remained motionless. The difference in their strength was evident.
Ling Beixiao said, "Let's stop here."
Shangguan Yanxin retorted defiantly, "I only lost to you by half a palm because I didn't use the Three Pure Ones Returning to Origin Qi! Today, I'm determined to settle this with you. Show me your true strength and don't let me die with regret!"
Immediately, Shangguan Yanxin gathered his energy on the spot and unleashed his ultimate move. He met the attack with his palms apart, and as he flipped and moved back and forth, the energy within his body surged out like a primordial eruption. When it reached its limit, it struck towards Ling Beixiao.
Seeing this, Ling Beixiao dared not underestimate the situation and had already gathered all his strength into his palms. As a result, the four palms, carrying immense energy, clashed from a distance, and the four humanoid stone pillars in the arena were instantly blasted away.
At first, their internal strength was evenly matched. However, as time went on and their energy was depleted, Ling Beixiao gradually felt that his internal energy was running out. He calculated that if he continued, his internal energy would be exhausted, and he would inevitably suffer serious internal injuries. It would be better to withdraw his internal energy to protect himself and take a palm strike from a distance.
Immediately, Ling Beixiao withdrew his inner force and gathered his energy to protect himself. Instantly, Shangguan Yanxin's energy broke through his defenses and struck Ling Beixiao. Ling Beixiao was hit by the powerful energy and flew several feet away, but he did not suffer any internal injuries.
Shangguan Yanxin knew that Ling Beixiao hadn't used his ultimate technique, so she seized the opportunity to press further, channeling the Three Pure Ones Returning to Origin Qi into her palms once more. Seeing the situation was dire, Ling Beixiao immediately countered with an extreme move. He tilted his palms forward, fingers spread, and then abruptly pulled his arms back. (Don't be surprised that some moves may appear similar, but the martial arts employed can be vastly different. This is because different martial arts have different internal energy cultivation methods, and the way they channel true qi naturally differs. For example, the move "Floating Rain" requires emptying the dantian (lower abdomen) to use it.)
Shangguan Yanxin's right palm, carrying immense power, propelled him towards Ling Beixiao. Just as he struck, he suddenly lost control, his palm landing squarely above Ling Beixiao. Shangguan Yanxin immediately sensed danger and hastily tried to channel his energy into his left palm, only to find he had no energy to draw upon, and his body was powerless, rendering him immobile. He instantly understood—this was the "Floating Rain" technique! He also tried to circulate his internal energy, but with no energy to gather, his internal energy could only flow out, making circulation difficult. He knew that if he struck again, he would surely die, so he abandoned any further thought.
The instant Shangguan Yanxin lost control, Ling Beixiao had already gathered his inner energy in his right palm. He raised his right palm, ready to strike Shangguan Yanxin, but suddenly withdrew all the inner energy from his palm and slapped Shangguan Yanxin on the head. Shangguan Yanxin was stunned for a moment, and then fell from the air.
Shangguan Yanxin asked, "Why did you stop? Why didn't you kill me with one blow?"
Ling Beixiao said calmly, "You should leave. You are the only one who has seen this move and is still alive. But this palm strike has severed our brotherhood. From now on, you and I will have no relationship whatsoever."
Shangguan Yanxin: "Do you know? Your martial arts have always been superior to mine, so I wanted to defeat you once. That's why I practiced the Three Pure Ones Returning to Origin Qi diligently, but I never expected to still lose to you! I'm really not reconciled!"
Ling Beixiao smiled bitterly and said, "Does winning or losing really matter to you?! Only by not arguing and being confused can you maintain your true nature. That's all I have to say. Take care of yourself!" After saying that, he drifted away.
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Yanxin felt a chill run through him. Watching the departing figure and the Ling siblings beside him, he felt he could no longer remain. He quickly rose and slowly walked out of the Misty Rain Manor. Outside the gate, his subordinates Long Bailian and Xi Moguang, who had been waiting for some time, immediately stepped forward to greet him: "Master!"
Shangguan Yanxin said, "Let's go! There's nothing we want at Xiyu Manor." After saying that, he glanced back at the four characters, mounted his horse, and galloped away.
Upon seeing this, Long Bailian and Xi Moguang hurriedly mounted their horses and gave chase.
Inside the Fine Rain Manor, the Ling siblings hurriedly entered the main hall. Ling Beixiao stood inside, his back to the door, seemingly quite sad.
Ling Xueyan: "Father! Was the last move you used just now the 'Rainy Suspension'? I saw that Shangguan Yanxin was unable to move at that moment!"
Ling Beixiao turned his head, looked at Ling Qichen, and said sternly, "What have you been doing all these years? You can't even comprehend such an ordinary sword technique as Sword Movement Without Path. How can you practice the Drizzle Suspension and manage Drizzle Manor?"
Ling Qichen listened without speaking, feeling utterly helpless. Although he was born into a wealthy family, his life was devoid of joy, unlike those carefree villagers in the mountains. Aside from studying Confucian doctrines, all he had to do was study swords and clubs. Long-standing resentment had accumulated in his heart, but the time for it to erupt had not yet come.
Ling Xueyan: "Father, my brother has been working very hard! He practices every day! Please don't blame him!"
Ling Beixiao continued to berate, "Look at you! Xueyan studied martial arts with you, yet you're so much worse than her! How could I, Ling Beixiao, have such a dull-witted son!" Ling Beixiao grew angrier with each word.
Ling Qichen said, "I'm going to practice my martial arts. I'll try my best to do what you want." She then left the main hall.
Ling Xueyan: "Brother!" Seeing that Ling Qichen ignored her, she turned back and called out, "Father! Please stop pressuring him!"
Ling Beixiao sneered, "Born dull-witted! He'll never amount to anything!"
Ling Xueyan: "Father! I've learned all the martial arts of Xiyu Manor! Now, please teach me Xiyu Levitation!" She finished speaking and looked at Ling Beixiao with a smile.
Ling Beixiao smiled and said, "Xueyan, why would a girl like you learn such domineering martial arts!"
Ling Xueyan smiled and said, "I need to protect myself, and also to help my father strengthen our Xiyu Manor!"
Ling Beixiao: "With your current martial arts skills, you're more than capable of protecting yourself, let alone roaming the martial world!" He then turned and sat down.
Ling Xueyan was immediately displeased upon hearing this, but she didn't show it. She said calmly, "In the end, you just refuse to teach me, and you keep making up so many excuses!" Her face clearly showed her displeasure.
Ling Beixiao shook his head and said, "The 'Floating Rain' technique only has three moves, but they are all extremely domineering and can kill with a single strike."
Upon hearing this, Ling Xueyan excitedly asked, "What are the next two moves?!"
Ling Beixiao: "The next two moves are the Shattering Hand and the Empty Force Slash! I have used the Shattering Hand a few times, and none of my opponents have escaped it. As for the Empty Force Slash, I have not yet mastered it!"
Ling Xueyan was taken aback: "You have been studying the levitation of fine rain for many years, yet you still haven't fully grasped it?"
Ling Beixiao stood up and sighed, "Yes! This Shattering Floating Hand alone is enough to strike fear into the hearts of opponents. It's hard to imagine what kind of killing move the Empty Force Slash will be!"
Upon hearing this, Ling Xueyan immediately knelt on one knee and said, "Father! Your daughter is not talented, please teach me the art of levitation rain. I will practice diligently and comprehend that final move!"
After pondering for a long time, Ling Beixiao declared boldly, "Fine! Anyway, I can't count on your brother Qichen, so it's good that you've learned it!"
Upon hearing this, Ling Xueyan was incredibly excited, but the look in her eyes as she gazed at Ling Beixiao was quite meaningful.
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