Chapter 56: Dragon Rushes Ten Thousand Miles

  At the foot of the iron tower, Hua Jingyuan was sobbing, his eyes red and swollen like two walnuts. Feng Lian smiled sympathetically: "Little one, I thought you were quite tough, but it turns out you're still a crybaby." Hua Jingyuan wiped away his tears and angrily said: "Don't look down on me, I'm not a child!" Feng Lian stroked his head and said: "What's wrong with being a kid? You always look so serious and gloomy, it's no fun at all." Hua Jingyuan hummed in discontent and pouted.

  Two people were talking while following Liang Xiao into the iron tower, and after a short while, they reached the top of the tower. Looking down, they saw the city walls and buildings below, with the Yellow River flowing far away like a ribbon. Liang Xiao sat cross-legged in meditation. Feng Lian glanced outside for a moment, then turned to Hua Jing Yuan and said, "Little guy..." Hua Jing Yuan angrily retorted, "I'm not little! Just because you're older than me doesn't make you superior!" Feng Lian burst out laughing and playfully pinched Hua Jing Yuan's cheek with her slender fingers, saying, "Who has ever seen a big man as delicate as you?" Hua Jing Yuan was left speechless, stamped his foot, and said, "You look down on people." He sat down on the ground in anger.

  Feng Lian sat down beside him, smiling: "Little one, don't be afraid, my master is not a bad person." Hua Jingyuan asked: "Then why did you bring me here?" Feng Lian glanced at Liang Xiao, also feeling puzzled, and said after a while: "I don't know either, little one, are you running away from home?" Hua Jingyuan glared at her coldly: "Are you guessing randomly?" Feng Lian said: "When I was young, I ran away from home to sulk with my parents, but after two days of hunger, I couldn't bear it and went back home." Feng Lian loved children the most, seeing that Hua Jingyuan was interesting, she tried every means to make him happy.

  She smiled and looked at Hua Jingyuan, who couldn't help but feel his face heat up. As the eldest grandson of the Hua family, he had been pampered by his elders since childhood and was used to being waited on hand and foot by servants. No woman had ever spoken to him so intimately, sharing even such a personal story as this failed attempt to run away. Hua Jingyuan was intelligent and wise beyond his years, with an extraordinary temperament. After listening to her words, he felt a few sparks of affection for Feng Lian, and thought for a moment before saying: "My family lives in a large mountain valley surrounded by mountains on all sides, it's suffocating. Last month, Qin Bao'er went out of the valley on an errand entrusted by my uncle, I wanted to follow him, but my parents didn't allow it. However, my grandmother dotes on me the most, and after being pestered by me, she said let me go out and gain some experience. My father listens to her words the most, so he couldn't say anything else. But my grandmother is going into seclusion for cultivation, so she can't accompany me outside. Coincidentally, my aunt and uncle came to the valley to play, my uncle is the most powerful martial artist under the sky, even more powerful than that scar-faced man..."

  Feng Lian listened to him taking the opportunity to belittle Liang Xiao, and said displeased: "My master has even more powerful kung fu that you haven't seen yet!" Hua Jingyuan hummed a sound, with a look of disdain on his small face. Feng Lian became even angrier, wanting to argue back but hearing him say again: "Later, my uncle patted his chest and told my aunt that he would definitely bring me out safely. My aunt knew he was very capable so she felt at ease, who knew that after leaving the house, Qin BoBo and Gu PoPo watched me closely, not letting me do this or that, saying I'm just a kid. Humph, they're only a few decades older than me, yet they look down on people like this. I'll definitely make something happen to make them not dare underestimate me."

  Feng Lian said with a smile: "What do you want to do, tell me and listen." Hua Jing's small face turned up, her expression serious: "I want to rally the heroes of Hebei to form a righteous army, defeat the Mongols, and restore the Great Song Dynasty." As soon as she finished speaking, Feng Lian burst out laughing, and Liang Xiao frowned with his eyes closed, looking strange.

  Feng Lian laughed so hard she fell over, panting and saying: "You're the one? Little guy, ah, I'm dying from laughter!" Hua Jing Yuan's round face turned bright red with anger, shouting: "You... you look down on me!" Feng Lian saw him getting angry and embarrassed, his eyes welling up with tears, and her heart softened. She held back her laughter and said: "Okay, how could I possibly look down on you? Hmm, tell me again, how did you form the righteous army and defeat the Tartars?" Hua Jing Yuan turned his head away, huffily saying: "I won't say it, your mouth isn't laughing but your heart is!"

  He looked at him with a fiery passion earlier, but now he's full of childishness, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. After sitting dryly for a while, seeing that his anger had dissipated, he teased him again to open his mouth. Huajingyuan was still a child after all, with lively thoughts, and couldn't help but tease him, and in a few words, he started chatting with Fenglian again. However, no matter how Fenglian asked him about the formation of the righteous army, he absolutely refused to mention it.

  Feng Lian heard that Hua Jingyuan was from Jiangnan, so she asked him about the scenery of Jiangnan. Hua Jingyuan had not seen much himself, but he knew a bit from books and his elders' words. However, he was proud and didn't want to be looked down upon, so he used his imagination to fabricate some stories about Jiangnan's scenery. Although he was young, his eloquence was impressive, and Feng Lian listened with admiration, saying: "Master, the Central Plains really have such a good place, we must come and play enough when we arrive."

  Liang Xiao had been to Jiangnan before, and he knew that the flower mirror was round and thin at the bottom. In his heart, he felt both angry and amused: "This little brat is boasting wildly, and really deserves a good spanking on the butt." At this point, he hummed a tune and didn't pay attention to him.

  Feng Lian saw him with a cold demeanor and couldn't help but wonder: "Could it be that I unintentionally offended him, provoking his anger?" For a moment, her heart was filled with anxiety, and she leaned against the windowsill, lost in thought. The storytelling of Huajingyuan reached its climax, but there was no audience to appreciate it, and even she herself felt uninterested.

  The sudden rain subsided, and only the remaining dew condensed into beads hanging from the eaves. The sound of the treasure bell carried by the wind came from outside the sky. In the silence, there was a commotion at the foot of the tower, and someone shouted loudly: "White No-Eat, is that dog thief on top?" Flower Mirror rounded his head to look, and saw that the tower was surrounded by over a hundred people looking up at the top and pointing. White No-Eat's body was large and conspicuous among them, and he said: "I can see clearly, Liang Xiao, that dog thief is on top, sitting with his concubine." Feng Lian was already extremely angry and scolded loudly: "You big fat pig, don't spout blood from your mouth!" White No-Eat grunted and shouted: "Things gather with their kind, people are divided into groups. You, little girl, are also not a good thing, mixing with that dog thief..." Before he finished speaking, a flash of green light flew over, hitting White No-Eat right in the face. White No-Eat let out an "ah" and spat out a tooth from his mouth, bleeding.

  The flower mirror rounded its head to look back, and saw Liang Xiao sitting there as usual. He couldn't help but feel curious in his heart, guessing how he had hurt the other party without moving. The group of heroes was furious, shouting loudly. In the midst of the curses, a man walked out from the crowd, with a square face, a knife-like eyebrow, and a sturdy body. Looking up at the tower top, he shouted: "Liang Xiao, do you still remember killing my father on Mount Funiu?" Liang Xiao said: "Who are you?" The man replied: "I am Chen Ding from Cai Prefecture."

  Liang Xiaonan killed many people on Mount Funiu that day, but unexpectedly there was a good hand with the surname Chen. As he pondered, he heard Chen Ding say: "You kill people and pay with your life, you with the surname Liang, if you have guts, come down from the iron tower and settle a life-and-death duel with me." His voice was like the collision of gold and iron, his heroic air was overwhelming. The group of heroes all raised their thumbs in praise, saying: "Good fellow!"

  Liang Xiao was silent for a moment, then sighed and said: "You are not my enemy, don't throw your life away." Chen Ding shouted loudly: "What's the difference? Who doesn't have one death in their lifetime. I'd rather be a dead ghost than a coward! Hmph, you're afraid to come down, aren't you, Liang? Fine, I'll go up and meet you!" He took big strides towards the tower gate, but before he could take ten steps, he suddenly heard two swift sounds, and his legs went numb. Chen Ding fell to his knees. These two hidden projectiles came too quickly, and although Chen Ding clearly heard the sound, he couldn't dodge in time. The heroes rushed forward, but suddenly a loud cry arose, and those near the tower gate fell to the ground.

  The flower mirror round just saw clearly, the hidden weapon was not an iron lotus or a flying locust stone, but rather the debris that Liang Xiao had picked up from the ground with his hand. Unbeknownst to him, he felt a chill in his heart: "The brick dust is light and won't withstand the wind, but once it passes through Liang Xiao's fingers, it can exceed 100 feet and hit the opponent's acupoint with precision, this inner strength and accuracy, I'm afraid no one in Tianji Palace can match." As he pondered, he suddenly saw Chen Ding crawling slowly towards the tower door with his hands on the ground, his eyes wide open and his teeth clenched, with a ferocious expression. The flower mirror round saw him like this and felt a slight fear in his heart.

  Liang Xiao flicked his wrist, shooting out two brick fragments that struck Chen Ding's elbows, rendering him immobile. Chen Ding collapsed to the ground, realizing his revenge was hopeless, and burst into tears. Feng Lian couldn't bear to watch, saying, "Master, there's no knot that can't be untied. Let him come up and talk it out." Liang Xiao shook his head, "There are also many grudges in this world that cannot be resolved. This person is straightforward and will not rest until he avenges his father. I have unfinished business and cannot let him off easily, but if we were to fight face-to-face, I wouldn't go all out, which would be unfair to his filial piety." He sighed, "As he said, I'd rather be a coward who doesn't dare show my face!" Feng Lian furrowed her brow, wanting to speak but hesitating.

  The warriors under the tower grew more and more numerous, joining hands to charge into the tower fiercely, but Liang Xiao sat calmly at the top of the tower, precisely to take advantage of the terrain to make it impossible for the crowd to surround him. The group of heroes clashed several times, all being forced back by him one by one. As time passed, night had already fallen, and a bleak wind brought cold rain, blowing in dense and sparse intervals. The group of heroes could not enter the tower, so they retreated to the front of a nearby forest to avoid the rain, muttering curses in their mouths. This group of people was born in the wilderness, not lacking in coarse and frivolous individuals, after cursing for a while, it was inevitable that they would involve men and women's affairs, and their words gradually became unbearable. Only then did Bai Bu Chi say: "I'm here getting rained on and blown by the wind, but that bastard is comfortable and happy, I wonder how he's dealing with that little girl right now?" Another person lightly laughed and said: "What's there to say? Whatever you think of, White Old Two wants to get it, whatever you can't think of, he's probably thought of it too. Just look at this one on top, that one below, this one below, that one above, after a few rounds, with a loud bang, haha, everyone guess what's going on?" The people around him chimed in: "What's going on?" That person chuckled and said: "Just watch that girl use too much force, and flip that bastard off the tower, smashing him into pieces, oh dear!" The crowd burst out laughing.

  Bai didn't eat and laughed: "Luo Dagang, you have a bird's mouth, it's amazing that your grandmother thought of this trick. Heh, however, that woman is a fox spirit, her skin is as white as milk, her body is tall and slender, her emotions are like a raging fire, it's really possible that she might do something like that." The crowd laughed again. Luo Dagang laughed: "That's right, that's right. But we must use every trick in the book to take that bastard's life, if in the end we're outsmarted by a woman and lose the initiative, that would be too embarrassing. Haha, if that bastard dies like this, it would also make him famous for eternity, infamous for ten thousand years... I'm afraid that if we reveal our plan ahead of time, he'll become even more cautious..."

  Huajingyuan didn't quite understand the rude words, but felt a chill run down her spine. She couldn't help but take Feng Lian's hand and ask, "Sister, are you cold?" Feng Lian gritted her teeth and remained silent, stretching out her hand to snap off a piece of roof tile. With a sudden burst of strength, she flung it out. Luo Dagang was in the middle of speaking when he heard a swift wind approaching, and hastily raised his steel knife to block it. All he heard was a loud crash, as the steel knife flew out of his hand into the forest. Luo Dagang's face twisted in pain as he clutched at the hilt, blood seeping from between his fingers.

  Feng Lian didn't expect that her casual toss would be so powerful, and she was also surprised. Looking back at Liang Xiao, she saw him smiling and nodding in approval, which greatly increased Feng Lian's courage. She shouted loudly from the top of the tower: "Whoever speaks nonsense again, I'll smash his dog mouth!" The people below fell silent for a moment, but then the curses and insults started again, this time even more obscene and filthy. Feng Lian was furious, grabbed some tiles, and wildly threw them down at the crowd. In recent days, she had been practicing her internal skills with Liang Xiao and had made some progress, although she couldn't control it freely yet. However, her strength was unusually great, and she was in a high position, so for a while, only the sounds of pain and screams could be heard from below. The crowd retreated in disarray, supporting their injured companions, until Feng Lian could no longer hit them.

  Hua Jingyuan covered her mouth and giggled, when suddenly a horseshoe sound like golden drums came from the night wind. In an instant, it arrived at the tower entrance. Suddenly, someone shouted: "Is Liang Xiao here?" Hua Jingyuan happily said: "Qin PoPo!" Liang Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, stood up with a swish of his sleeve and laughed loudly: "Qin Tianwang, long time no see!" This voice used internal power, majestic and prolonged, like the roar of a tiger or the howl of a dragon. Almost half of Kaifeng's ancient city could hear it. The group of heroes were about to restart their quarrel when this shout calmed them down, each one silenced, and for a moment, all was quiet.

  Qin Bohu said in a loud voice, "Liang Xiao, you are also a hero of the generation. Why do you bully a child? Aren't you ashamed?" Liang Xiao said, "I just want to see Xiaoxing once, I have no other thoughts." Qin Bohu snorted and said, "Since you want to see your sister, why take her brother as a hostage?" Liang Xiao said, "What can I do? Can't I just force my way into the Tianji Palace?" He paused for a moment and continued, "The King of Heaven's demeanor has always made me admire him. In those years at Bai Zhangping, your kindness in lending a helping hand is still etched in my heart. Now that the Tianji Palace and I have broken off all relations and sworn to never coexist, with Hua Wuyi's cunning and deep schemes, if I don't use this method, I'm afraid I won't be able to see Xiaoxing in this life. If Xiaoxing comes personally and is unharmed, I, Liang Xiao, swear to heaven that not only will I return the Huajingyuan, but also leave for the Western Regions and never set foot in China again!"

  Feng Lian listened to Liu Yingying mention past events and knew that Liang Xiao's return to the Central Plains this time was all for Hua Xiaoxue. Feng Lian went to great lengths to follow him, half of which was because she couldn't let go of her lingering feelings, and the other half was also to take a look at Hua Xiaoxue's appearance. She had always had some luck in her heart, thinking that Liu Yingying's talent and martial arts were unmatched in the world, and if Liang Xiao had a crush on her, she would rather die than give up. But Hua Xiaoxue might not have this beauty and talent. Feng Lian thought to herself that using some means, she might be able to compete with her. Therefore, when she heard Liang Xiao's words, her chest felt sour and uncomfortable.

  Suddenly a clear whistle was heard, and a black shadow shot up from under the tower, not walking through the tower gate, with both hands hooked on the flying eaves outside the tower, rising and falling, in an instant sweeping across the six layers.

  Feng Lian was shocked, and the tile in her hand happened to be a perfect projectile. Without thinking, she threw it with all her might. However, the black figure didn't dodge, and with a flick of his right palm, the tile flew back towards Feng Lian with increased speed and force. Feng Lian was caught off guard and didn't know how to react, but just as the tile was about to hit her, she heard a faint whooshing sound, and the tile shattered into pieces at her feet.

  Turning around, she saw Liang Xiao standing with his hands in his sleeves, calmly saying, "Let him come up." As soon as he finished speaking, a strong gust of wind carrying raindrops burst in from the window, causing Feng Lian's vision to blur. When her eyes cleared, there was an additional black-robed old man with a yellow face standing in the room.

  The old man glared at Hua Jingyuan and angrily said, "What's good about it? You stole the Divine Eagle Token and ran off without permission, and you still have the nerve to greet me?" Hua Jingyuan looked embarrassed and hung his head in shame.

  Liang Xiao bowed and said, "It's been many years, Qin Tianwang's martial arts have become even more refined." Qin Bo looked him up and down, furrowed his brow and said, "You've aged a lot, it seems like you've had a hard life." Liang Xiao smiled wryly and said, "A nobody who has fallen on hard times for many years will naturally age faster." Hua Jingyuan saw the two men facing each other with a mixture of emotions, not like enemies but like friends, and was very curious. He asked, "Uncle Qin, do you know him? Who is he? He said I have an older sister, why haven't I ever heard my parents mention it?" He fired off his questions one after another, but Qin Bo was angry with him for stealing the "Divine Eagle Token" and causing trouble everywhere. He just gave him a cold look and didn't answer, instead saying to Liang Xiao, "No matter what, taking this child as a hostage is completely wrong."

  Liang Xiao smiled slightly and said, "King Qin Tian, there's no need to say more. If Xiaoshuang doesn't come, I will never let you go." Qin Bo's eyebrows furrowed, his lips moved slightly, and after a while, he said slowly, "It seems that we have no choice but to fight." Liang Xiao sighed, "King Qin Tian, if it were not necessary, I would not want to fight with you." Qin Bo flicked his sleeve and shouted angrily, "All these are useless words. If you really have a good heart, return the child to me."

  Liang Xiao saw that his words were resolute and unyielding, and a doubt arose in his heart. He smiled and said: "Heavenly King, what's the point of this? As long as Xiaofeng comes personally, I will not only release him immediately but also apologize with a humble attitude, without any hesitation..." Qin Bo Yu raised an eyebrow and shouted: "Enough idle talk, let's exchange palms!" The two palms clashed towards Liang Xiao. Liang Xiao smiled slightly, and his palms shot out together. The four palms met silently, but suddenly Qin Bo Yu stumbled backward two steps, his yellow face flushing red, and he spat out a mouthful of air. His body swelled up like it had grown twice its size, his feet stomping the Nine Palaces, his footsteps heavy and clumsy.

  Qin Bohu's one move was not enough, and he had to use the "Giant Spirit Mystical Technique" to its fullest extent. Now that both sides were in a fierce battle, once they used their full strength, it would be clear who would live or die after just three moves. Liang Xiao's heart was filled with doubts, and he shouted loudly: "Wait, Qin Tianwang! If I wanted to rely on brute force, I would have already stormed into the Heavenly Machine Palace, why do you need to take this child as a hostage?" Qin Bohu looked at him silently, his sleeves still fluttering, but his eyes flashing with a less fierce glint than before.

  The two men stood facing each other for a moment, when suddenly a long whistle pierced the sky, accompanied by thunder that shook their hearts. Both enemies were stunned, and Qin Bo's eyes gleamed with joy. The whistling sound grew louder, strong and prolonged, like an angry dragon shaking its head and tail as it rushed forward. At first, it was still several miles away, but in an instant, it arrived at the foot of the tower, rising and falling suddenly, and in a flash, it approached the top of the tower.

  Liang Xiao's voice was stern: "Feng Lian, take care of the child." Feng Lian saw his serious expression, different from usual, and hesitated for a moment before saying: "Okay!" Before she could finish speaking, a white shadow suddenly darted out from the staircase. Liang Xiao's footsteps sank, his right palm circled and turned, using the "Gyro Force" of the "Bihai Jingtao Palm", while the "Tao Tian Xi" was spat out from his left palm. This one circle and one spit contained both offense and defense, with overwhelming power. The white shadow collided with him, and a fierce gust of wind suddenly arose in the room. Feng Lian only felt the powerful energy rushing towards her, making it impossible for her to stand still, and she leaned tightly against the wall.

  The two men exchanged blows in a flurry, exchanging twenty moves in the blink of an eye. The man in white exclaimed, "Kid, your kung fu isn't bad!" Suddenly, he launched a flurry of punches and kicks, forcing Liang Xiao to retreat three steps. Liang Xiao steadied himself, his palm technique swift as he forced the other back to the starting position.

  Qin Bohu saw the two men coming and going, fiercely fighting around the room, unable to distinguish between high and low. He thought for a moment, then loudly said: "The Island Master is wasting his energy, Qin will take a step first." The man laughed and said: "Wonderful! I'm so bored that my muscles are sore and my bones are soft. Tonight, I just want to waste a lot of energy... Ah..." He spoke distractedly, and was suddenly pointed at the elbow by Liang Xiao, feeling numbness and pain, and cried out in surprise.

  The man in white was actually Shi Tianfeng. He and Ling Shuimeng were entrusted by Hua Wuyin to bring the Flower Mirror to travel around Jianghu. Who knew that the little thing was so cunning, when they arrived at the Henan border, taking advantage of everyone's unpreparedness, it stole Qin Boshi's Divine Eagle Token and escaped on its own. Everyone split up to chase after it, but the Flower Mirror was young and clever, laying down a series of traps along the way, causing several old Jianghu masters to unexpectedly go in the wrong direction. Qin Boshi was initially still awake, but when he rushed back to Kaifeng, he heard that the Flower Mirror had been captured by Liang Xiao. He was shocked and hurried over on horseback. Shi Tianfeng and his wife also arrived soon after, with Shi Tianfeng being hot-tempered, as soon as he received the news, he used his lightness skill to rush over, leaving his wife behind, and without saying a word, he started fighting Liang Xiao. His martial arts skills were extraordinary, and it was rare to find someone who could match him in the world. He really made this old man happy. It just so happened that Liang Xiao had been practicing for many years and had reached a high level of mastery, and as soon as he saw Shi Tianfeng, he felt joyful and intended to have a good fight.

  Qin Bohu knew that the two were in a hurry and it was difficult to distinguish between victory and defeat, so he rushed forward and snatched the flower mirror from Feng Lian's arms. Feng Lian wanted to stop him, but the powerful energy in the room made her unable to move. Liang Xiao saw this and shouted loudly, changing his left palm "Gou Xuan Jin" to "Tao Tian Xi", and his right palm "Xian Kong Li" to "Yin Yang Liu". Then, his five fingers suddenly split into "Di Shui Jin", and after intersecting with his left palm, he followed the logic of the movement and transformed it into "Sheng Mie Dao". This move of his had transformed six major strange energies into the "Bi Hai Jing Tao Palm". Shi Tianfeng was caught off guard and retreated several steps in a flurry. Liang Xiao turned around and jumped to the window, slapping Qin Bohu with one palm. Qin Bohu knew he couldn't defeat him, so he hugged the flower mirror and crashed through the round window, flying down from the top of the tower.

  The flower mirror was still spinning, and he had not yet come back to his senses when he found himself in mid-air. Just as he was about to shout, a strong gust of wind hit him in the face, making it impossible for him to make a sound. The slanting rain hit his face, making it impossible for him to open his eyes. All he could hear was the sound of the wind in his ears, whooshing past. The group of heroes saw Qin Bufu flying down from the sky like a general, and they were both shocked and delighted. They shouted out loud and rushed to the foot of the tower to meet him.

  Qin Bofu only felt the ground rushing towards him, and the faces of the people below the tower gradually became clear. Just as he was about to land, he suddenly stretched out his hand to grab a corner of the flying eaves, wanting to dissipate some of the falling momentum. But unexpectedly, the wind above his head tightened, and a loud shout fell like thunder: "Come back!" Qin Bofu's arm felt hot, and Huajingyuan had been snatched away from him. He lost control and fell downwards, and four skilled men on the ground rushed up to hold him in place with all their might. Qin Bofu looked up and saw that Liang Xiao was holding Huajingyuan in his right hand, while his left hand had four fingers hooked onto the flying eaves, as if he were a fallen leaf drifting aimlessly. Qin Bofu composed himself and suddenly felt severe pain in his elbow. He reached out to touch it and found that it had been dislocated.

  Li Shaozhen cut off Qin Bofu's arm and snatched the Huajingyuan, his divine machine changing in an instant. He hooked onto the flying eaves just as he was about to jump up, but suddenly felt a gust of wind on his head, knowing that Shi Tianfeng had arrived, and couldn't help but secretly curse. At this moment, he fell to the lower level, and if they were to engage in close combat, he would certainly be at a disadvantage. If he fell into the encirclement of the group of heroes, the disparity between them would be too great, and a bloody battle would be inevitable.

  Just as he was thinking about this, a white shadow flashed before his eyes, and suddenly Shi Tianfeng appeared, hanging onto the flying eaves with one hand, laughing and saying: "Li Shaozhen, standing and fighting isn't enough to satisfy me, let's hang and fight again." As he spoke, he pointed at Li Shaozhen's heart.

  Li Shaozhen saw that Shi Tianfeng didn't want to take advantage of him, and admired him in his heart. He flipped his body and landed on the third level of the iron tower, laughing and saying: "Hanging and fighting, I willingly admit defeat." Shi Tianfeng followed closely behind, also arriving at the third level, and shouted: "Standing and fighting is still invincible under heaven!" Li Shaozhen said: "That's not necessarily true."

  Shi Tianfeng rolled his eyes and cried out strangely: "You don't believe me? Put down the little girl, and let's compare." Li Shaozhen laughed and said: "You want to trick me into putting her down, that's a waste of your cleverness." The two men spoke with their mouths, but their hands and feet didn't stop for a moment, treading on the precious tower and flying eaves, chasing each other, swift as lightning.

  Under the tower, a group of heroes watched the two men fighting in mid-air, all of them were distracted, and no one noticed that the rain was getting heavier, like thousands of fine arrows. Qin Boshi's heart worried about Hua Jingyuan, shouting: "Shi Island Master, be careful with Hua Jingyuan." Shi Tianfeng was in a fierce battle, no matter how he shouted, it was all unheard, and he continued to climb up with Liang Xiao.

  The sky was getting darker and more ominous, with dark clouds rolling in like lead. The iron tower of Kaifeng was already black as iron, and the higher they climbed, the more it blended into the night, losing its outline. As the two ascended higher and higher, they were gradually swallowed up by the darkness, when a flash of white lightning cut through the clouds, seeming to pass right between them. Qin Baofu's heart was racing as he considered ways to climb the tower, when suddenly someone behind him said, "Director Qin, it's better not to go up."

  Qin Bofu turned around to look, and Ling Shuiyue floated over with a paper umbrella. Qin Bofu bowed and said: "Madam Shi, you've come at just the right time." Ling Shuiyue took hold of Qin Bofu's severed arm and reattached it for him, scolding: "You're also someone who has weathered many storms, how could you lose your composure like this? You didn't even care about your own injury." Qin Bofu smiled bitterly: "Madam Shi is laughing at me. The Hua family has experienced many changes, and now there's only this one last scion left. This time I brought him out, but if something goes wrong, I'll have to take responsibility for it even with my life. I hope Madam Shi will call back the master of Shi Island, so as not to accidentally harm the young master."

  Ling Shui Yue shook her head and said, "My husband's martial arts skills have become more refined over the years, and Ling Ao Island is located overseas, so he has no opponents to be found. It's not easy to encounter an opponent like this, and I'm afraid he won't let it go easily. Alas, there's another unpleasant matter that Qin Zongguan must also know: my husband practiced 'Xian Xiong Gong' back then and lost his mind completely. Although he was fortunate enough to be treated by the brilliant doctor Xiao Shuang, he ultimately didn't fully recover. My husband's mind is sometimes clear and sometimes confused - seven parts clear, three parts muddled. He's currently in high spirits, but if we disturb his mood, it might have the opposite effect. If we provoke him into a frenzy, I'm afraid I won't be able to control him." Qin Bo Yu's face showed concern upon hearing these words.

  Ling Shuiyue smiled and said, "Don't worry, Qin. I guarantee that Jing Yuan will be fine. My husband's mind is still sharp, and he has his own measure of things. Besides, Jing Yuan is Xiao Feng's younger brother, and Liang Xiao won't let him come to harm." Bai Bu Chi overheard from the side and shouted, "That scoundrel Liang is sinister and vicious, how can he be so kind..." Suddenly seeing Ling Shuiyue give him a cold glance, although she was white-haired and gentle, this one glance had an air of authority, even Bai Bu Chi, who was used to being rough and rude, felt tongue-tied for a moment.

  Qin Bohu sighed, "It seems that Shifu's wife is not quite clear about Liang Xiao's character. He has a stubborn temperament and always judges the world with his own likes and dislikes. The fact that he destroyed a city and lost a country because of one person's anger is proof of this. Alas, now he insists on Xiaoxue coming in person to release the prisoner, how can that be? If he finds out the truth..." He worriedly shook his head, "The consequences are unbearable to think about!" Ling Shuimeng also felt that things were tricky, furrowed her brow and sank into thought, unable to come up with a plan.

  On the iron tower, the two men approached the top of the tower, the flying eaves gradually narrowed, and the narrow place was not enough to turn around. Moreover, the rain poured down, and the glazed tiles on the roof were even more slippery. Liang Xiao Hua held one person in his arms, and with only one hand to resist the enemy, facing Shi Tian Feng's high-level skills, he became more and more cramped, and could only run around the tower body. Shi Tian Feng's movements were swift as a ghost, constantly extending his long arm to snatch the person from Liang Xiao Hua. Liang Xiao originally wanted to hand the person over to Feng Lian, but was pressed too tightly, and never had the opportunity.

  Another week passed, and Liang Xiao's mind turned, shouting: "Give it to you." As he stretched out his hand, he suddenly handed over the flower mirror, and Shi Tianfeng didn't think twice before taking the child. Unexpectedly, Liang Xiao turned around, using three punches and two kicks to force Shi Tianfeng into a flurry of panic. Shi Tianfeng shouted: "Stinky little rascal, you're clearly trying to pawn off your own problem on me! Why are you shoving it onto me?" Liang Xiao laughed: "Isn't the Island Master eager to take it? You're still complaining after I gave it to you! Alright, if the Island Master really wants to compete with me, why don't we use this child as a wager and have a big fight?"

  This proposal was very much to Feng's liking, and he hastily said: "It's settled then, whoever goes back on their word is a turtle." As soon as he said the word "turtle", he tossed the flower mirror into the tower. Feng Lian caught it, but saw that the flower mirror's small face had turned pale with a hint of green, his mouth twisted to one side, and his body shaking uncontrollably. Knowing that he had been greatly frightened this time, and thinking that it was all caused by Liang Xiao, she felt even more apologetic. She sighed and pulled him into her arms, softly saying: "Don't be afraid, it's okay now!" The flower mirror was stunned for a moment before bursting into tears.

  Feng Lian took out a towel from her luggage and handed it to him to wipe away the rain, then helped him take off his wet clothes and wrapped him in a woolen blanket. Hua Jingyuan was the only heir of the Hua family, raised with care and never experienced such a fright before, so he was momentarily stunned like a cicada in winter, letting Feng Lian do as she pleased. Only after being wrapped in the warm blanket for a while did he slowly regain his composure, remembering how Feng Lian had changed his clothes earlier, and suddenly felt a different kind of emotion filling his whole body, his cheeks flushing with heat. He couldn't help but steal a glance at her, and saw that she was gazing out the window, her face full of worry.

  The flower mirror was round, but it felt damp and cold all around, with a sense of fear in her heart. She couldn't help but move her body closer to Feng Lian. Feng Lian seemed to have noticed something, turned around and asked: "Are you still cold?" Hua Jingyuan hastily shook her head, feeling warm in her heart, as if her body was about to melt.

  Feng Lian sighed and said, "My master treated you that way, it's really unbearable. But he must have had a reason for doing so, don't blame him." Hua Jingyuan listened to this and suddenly felt a surge of sourness in his chest, humming softly, saying: "Knife Scar Face is too detestable, you are ten times better than him, just looking at your face makes me temporarily not bother with him." Feng Lian stroked his head, sighing: "You're really talking like a child." Hua Jingyuan's expression changed as he shouted loudly: "I'm not a child!" Feng Lian smiled and said: "Yes, you are a big kid, not a little one anymore, but still a child after all."

  Hua Jingyuan was about to argue, when he saw Feng Lian stand up and point at the window. Hua Jingyuan immediately fell silent, turned his head to look, and suddenly a strong gust of wind with rain hit him in the face, cold and wet. He narrowed his eyes to see two figures outside the window, like lightning and flames, disappearing without a trace. Although the sky was pouring rain, when it landed on the two people, they were all bounced off by their internal energy. Hua Jingyuan thought of this duel's connection to himself, his heart tightened, and he concentrated to look carefully.

  Liang and Shi, with their minds focused, struck again without mercy. On the tower, they exchanged blows in a fierce battle. Fortunately, the iron tower's eaves were carefully crafted by master craftsmen of previous generations, making them extremely sturdy. Despite being constantly trampled by the two, they could withstand it.

  Fought to about fifty moves, the release of Tianfeng's prolonged battle without success led to the use of "Xianhugong". The true energy pierced through the holes and emerged, with sharp winds blowing everywhere. Liang Xiao exchanged several moves with him, but felt that the flying eaves were too narrow, and the "Bihai Jingtao Palm" was not fully extended. He immediately changed his move and used the "Xingluo San Shou" he created during his journey to the West. This martial art originated from the "Tianxing Jianfa" of the past, and over the years, Liang Xiao's martial arts had made significant progress. He abandoned his sword and used his palms, incorporating the celestial movements into his fingers, sweeping away stiffness and rigidity. With a long punch and short strike, he opened up the sky and collected it in the microcosm, with a carefree and elegant movement like a star flashing by, and a severe and stern movement like the Big Dipper array. In an instant, he turned the tide of battle and fought "Xianhugong" to a draw.

  After another half-day of fighting, Liang Xiao's "Star Scattering Hand" had reached its peak, with moves changing and becoming increasingly bizarre. He was no longer bound by the celestial bodies, and his fingers danced like mountains and seas, with sand swirling and thunder booming.

  It was clear that after ten years of traveling in the west, his mastery of arithmetic had become even more refined. Relying on mathematical principles, he had created many unprecedented techniques through self-study and practice. His skills encompassed all aspects of astronomy, geography, and the changes of all things, leaving no stone unturned.

  Even the great sages of Tianji Palace would find it difficult to match his level of mastery. Shi Tianfeng, despite being a rare talent from Lingwu Island, found himself struggling against such an opponent. Liang Xiao's skills only grew stronger with age, and he became even more formidable when faced with strong opponents.

  As the fight reached its climax, Liang Xiao let out a long whistle, covering his mouth to conceal the sound of the wind and thunder. The people below the tower were shaken to their core, almost unable to stand upright.

  The two fought for over 200 moves, with Liang Xiao exhausting his skills and knowledge. Shifeng gradually found it difficult to resist, suddenly sprinting around the iron tower. Just as Liang Xiao was about to chase after him, he saw Shifeng on the opposite side of the tower, his fingers rapidly moving in and out, his finger energy curving around the tower silently shooting over. This curved technique was truly unexpected, catching Liang Xiao off guard, and he took a hit on the shoulder, feeling an intense burning pain. Suddenly, he felt Shifeng's finger energy approaching again, and Liang Xiao hastily dodged to the side, slapping out a palm that drew an arc in mid-air, suddenly changing direction and sprinting around the tower to strike at Shifeng. Shifeng let out a surprised cry, striking out two fingers to disperse the palm energy, shouting: "Good kid, you also know this move?"

  Xie Tianfeng's "Immortal Hedgehog Skill" is also known as the "Infinite Spirit Needle". As its name suggests, it has no fixed form, and can change direction at will. Liang Xiao's curved palm force, on the other hand, comes from his "Stellar Scattered Hand", which he calls the "Heavenly Arc Palm Force". This is because many years ago, in the Egyptian desert, he witnessed a rare meteor shower that occurs only once every hundred years. The glowing tails of the meteors drew arcs of light across the night sky, and Liang Xiao was deeply inspired by this sight, using it to develop this strange and unusual palm force, which he incorporated into his "Stellar Scattered Hand".

  As a result, the two had similar martial arts skills and neither could gain an advantage. They could only run wildly around the pagoda, one in front of the other, each using their fingers to attack, although they were not facing each other, but the internal energy was coming and going, with no signs at all, making the situation even more dangerous.

  After exchanging over a dozen moves, Liang Xiao's "Tian Hu Palm Power" was ultimately no match for Shi Tianfeng's "Wu Xiang Divine Needle" Fantastical Skill, and he gradually fell into a disadvantage. Shi Tianfeng seized the opportunity to get close, shooting out several fingers in succession, forcing Liang Xiao into a frantic defense. Then, reversing his direction, he counterattacked with a palm strike. Liang Xiao met him with his left palm, and as their palms clashed, Liang Xiao suddenly employed his "Trap Empty Power", sticking Shi Tianfeng's palm power in place. Shi Tianfeng had calculated precisely, not waiting for Liang Xiao to use his "Whirlpool Vigor" before releasing the power from his own palm, arching his waist and sending over a hundred sharp gusts of wind bursting out of his acupoints and shooting towards Liang Xiao.

  Two people faced each other, Liang Xiao's left palm and Shi Tianfeng's right palm entwined unclearly. Suddenly, a hundred strands of energy shot out in front of them, making it impossible to think clearly. Shi Tianfeng saw the energy and thought he had the upper hand, thinking that he could defeat such a powerful opponent made him ecstatic. He shouted loudly: "Go down!" The shout was loud and clear, echoing for miles. Before the sound fell, Liang Xiao's body suddenly leaned back, as if he was about to fall over, but then straightened up again. Shi Tianfeng didn't understand what happened, but felt a strong internal energy surging into his right palm. His previous move "Hundred Needles Shooting Out" had exhausted his internal strength, and his body was empty. Moreover, his right palm was stuck and couldn't be moved, so he was instantly invaded by the energy, sealing off three meridians. Shi Tianfeng's upper body went numb, and with a single sway, he fell from the top of the tower.

  If it were someone else, even if they managed to withstand the "Wú Xiàng Shén Zhēn" (Infinite Divine Needles) for a hundred times, they would still be exhausted. However, Liang Xiao had once explored the source of the Yellow River and gazed out at the "Starlight Sea", where he gained insight into an internal skill called "Huì Juān Chéng Hé" (Gathering Streams to Form a River). This skill was based on the principle of multiple streams flowing together to form a river, which then flows into the sea. It allowed him to take in several strands of true energy that had invaded his body at the same time, merge them into one strand, and then expel it from his body.

  At first, Liang Xiao created this internal skill just for his own amusement and never thought he would actually use it to defeat an enemy. After all, facing a powerful opponent with only his physical body was too perilous, especially since Liang Xiao's martial arts skills were already high, and he was confident that no one could withstand the simultaneous impact of dozens of true energies on their body.

  Who knew that Shì Tiān Fēng not only launched a hundred needles at once but also dispersed his energy, causing more harm than fatal damage. Just as the sharp energy entered Liang Xiao's body, he didn't have time to think and resorted to using this "Huì Juān Chéng Hé" skill, channeling over a hundred strands of fine internal energy into the "Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian" and releasing it.

  Shì Tiān Fēng was completely unprepared and suffered greatly.

  Ling Shuiyue heard her husband's triumphant cry as he took the lead, but who would have thought that Shi Tianfeng would fall from the tower and suddenly lose his voice in shock. Just then, she saw Liang Xiao reach out and grab Shi Tianfeng's ankle, shouting "Get up!" as he pulled him back onto the roof and quickly climbed through the window. Feng Lian saw that he had won, but her heart was filled with mixed emotions of worry and joy. She glanced at Hua Jingyuan and saw that his small face was pale, with tears rolling in his big eyes. Feng Lian's heart ached with sympathy, and she patted him on the head, comforting him by saying "Don't be afraid." Hua Jingyuan grasped her sleeve tightly, desperately holding back his tears.

  Ling Shuiyue and Qin Bofu were also worried, so they went upstairs. Before Ling Shuiyue could speak, Liang Xiao smiled and said, "Don't worry, Master Shi's island master was just sealed by a forbidden technique." He stretched out his hand to undo the seal on Shi Tianfeng, but suddenly heard Shi Tianfeng shout loudly: "Wait!" Suddenly, with a swift movement like a carp jumping out of water, he stood up. Liang Xiao didn't expect him to break through the seal so quickly and couldn't help but laugh: "Master's internal strength is impressive, I admire it." Shi Tianfeng glared at him with wide eyes and said angrily: "Just now was my mistake, let's compete again." Liang Xiao said: "The island master had previously said that if words don't count, what would happen?" Shi Tianfeng said: "It's not wrong to call me a turtle, half of the martial arts on Lingwu Island were learned from turtles, and it's called 'turtle' for nothing." It turned out that the founder of Lingwu Island liked turtles and hedgehogs, and created the "Dormant Dragon" and "Immortal Hedgehog" techniques from their habitats, laying the foundation for the island's martial arts.

  Li Shao didn't expect his master to be so shameless, and he was momentarily choked with rage: "Let's have another match, can the island owner really win?" Shi Tianfeng's face flushed with heat, thinking that Li Shao's martial arts skills were on par with his own. If he won by luck again, it would be fine, but if he lost once more, he would never be able to turn things around. He scratched his head and said: "Alright, let's call the martial arts skills a draw for now, and we'll have another match in lightness skills." Li Shao had clearly won, but Shi Tianfeng was saying it was a draw, which made him want to cry and laugh at the same time. Ling Shuiyue and Qin Bosi saw this and thought that maybe by letting Shi Tianfeng continue his nonsense, they might be able to turn things around, so they both quietly observed the situation.

  Liang Xiao raised his eyes to look at the top of the tower, and suddenly sneered: "Release Island Master, you are enjoying yourself on Ling Ao Island, why bother to set up this beam? Provoking me, your enemy, will not be good for Ling Ao Island." Shi Tianfeng was taken aback, and spat out: "Pfft, boasting loudly, what's so great about that?" But Ling Shuiyue furrowed her brow, thinking that Liang Xiao's martial arts were extremely high, if Shi Tianfeng continued to be reckless, wouldn't he be creating a powerful enemy for Ling Ao Island for no reason. After a brief moment of contemplation, she said: "Old man, stop it, winning or losing has its own way, aren't you afraid that people will laugh at you for being so shameless?" Shi Tianfeng had always been afraid of his wife, and when he heard her speak, he was left speechless. Liang Xiao glanced at Ling Shuiyue, thinking to himself: this old woman didn't say anything until I spoke harshly to her, only then did she open her mouth.

  Ling Shuiyue said, "Liang Xiao, I'm asking you for a favor..." Liang Xiao shook his head and said, "No need to, if Hua Xiaoshuang doesn't come, I won't let anyone go." Ling Shuiyue was embarrassed by being interrupted, when suddenly Shi Tianfeng shouted loudly, "How can Xiaoshuang come? She..." Ling Shuiyue and Qin Bofu were shocked and anxious, Ling Shuiyue scolded, "Old man, what nonsense are you talking about?" Shi Tianfeng suffered a loud rebuke from the River East Lion, hastily swallowed his words, scratched his head, and was greatly perplexed.

  Liang Xiao observed the colors and expressions, and doubts arose in his mind: "What exactly happened to Xiaoxue? Was she imprisoned and unable to leave the palace? Or was she seriously ill and unable to move...?" He guessed left and right, and for a moment his heart was in disarray: "This matter is quite suspicious, I'm afraid that if I delay here for one day, Xiaoxue will suffer an extra day of pain. Fine! You won't let her come, then I'll directly attack the Tianji Palace, use Huajingyuan as a hostage, and exchange one for another." His mind was made up, he turned to Shi Tianfeng and smiled slightly: "Shi Island Master just said you wanted to compare lightness skills, is that true?" Shi Tianfeng's spirit suddenly rose, and he laughed: "You're sure to lose in a comparison of lightness skills!" Liang Xiao nodded, saying: "Good, let's compare then." Shi Tianfeng was unexpectedly delighted, and called out: "No cheating, right?" Liang Xiao said: "Island Master, after the fact there will be no cheating, who would dare to cheat? However, the comparison method must be decided by me." Shi Tianfeng was excited and asked: "What's the comparison method?"

  Liang Xiao said: "Let's compare our speed, from here to the Tianji Palace, whoever arrives first will be considered the winner." Except for Shi Tianfeng, everyone else was shocked. Ling Shuimeng interjected: "It's so far..." Liang Xiao didn't wait for her to finish and hastily said: "If I lose, the child will go to Master Shi; if Master Shi loses, he must not interfere with my relationship with the Liangs of Tianji Palace again." He also knew that Shi Tianfeng was a formidable opponent in his life, and his current victory was just a fluke. If he couldn't make him surrender, it would only increase the variables for the trip to Tianji Palace. It's better to win another round, making him speechless, withdraw from the conflict, and focus on dealing with the powerful masters of Tianji Palace.

  Tiān Fēng nodded slightly, and Líng Shuǐ Yuè thought to herself: "Tiān Fēng's lightness skill is unmatched. Liáng Xiāo's abandonment of length for shortness suits my intentions perfectly. However, the long journey has been too exhausting, Tiān Fēng is already old, while Liáng Xiāo is in his prime, and after a long pursuit, it's hard to say who will win or lose. But for now, there's no other way, so we can't help but take some risks." She nodded slightly, and Tiān Fēng's heart was filled with joy, as he turned around and smiled: "Liáng Xiǎozi, let's settle it like this then." Líng Shuǐ Yuè said: "Everyone is tired tonight, how about we set off tomorrow?" Liáng Xiāo nodded in agreement.

  They made a bet, and the three of them descended from the Iron Tower. Qin Bo Yu dispersed the crowd, and they stayed at the "Nine Bends Pavilion". Liang Xiao sat cross-legged on the top of the tower, cultivating his energy. The next morning, after the rain stopped and the sky cleared, with a hint of white in the east, Liang Xiao finished his dry rations, descended from the Iron Tower, and Feng Lian also brought along Hua Jing Yuan, riding Huo Liu Xing to wait for him at the foot of the tower.

  After a brief wait, Shi Tianfeng and his wife arrived with the people from the Tianji Palace. The group didn't exchange many words before boarding the boat to cross the Yellow River. As soon as they stepped onto the riverbank, the two great masters took off in a flash, their figures disappearing into the distance like lightning. In an instant, only two small dots could be seen. Ling Shuimeng saw that the two were evenly matched and couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart, her confidence in winning decreasing by several degrees.

  Feng Lian saw the situation and urged his horse to hurry up. Everyone had already made a plan to lure the tiger away from the mountain, wanting to take advantage of Liang Xiao being released by Tian Feng and snatch the Huajingyuan. Who would have thought that Huo Liu Xing didn't wait for everyone to make their move, and with a splash, he suddenly sprinted out, running dozens of feet outside. Everyone was shocked, slapping their horses to chase after him tightly, but what kind of footwork did Huo Liu Xing have? In an instant, the horse and rider were gone, leaving only a faint trail of dust. Ling Shui Yue and Qin Bo Fu looked at each other in shock, both thinking: "This Liang Xiao is indeed cunning, perhaps this time he has a surefire way to win the lightness skills competition."

  Feng Lian chased after the two in front, and Shi Tianfeng heard the sound of hooves behind him. He turned his head back and smiled: "This horse is running quite fast, don't let it catch up to you?" As he spoke, he quickened his pace. Liang Xiao saw Feng Lian approaching and no longer held back, urging on his inner strength as he bit down on Shi Tianfeng tightly.

  Two men on horseback galloped along the road. Both Liang and Shi knew each other's strengths and weaknesses, knowing that they would have a long time to settle their scores in the future, so for now, when hungry, they ate together; when tired, they slept; when encountering wind and rain, they separately sought shelter, not being overly anxious. In this manner, seven or eight days passed, and the Yangtze River came into view.

  Upon arriving at the riverbank, Feng Lian wanted to take in the view of the river, so everyone stopped to rest. Liang Xiao gazed out as far as the eye could see, but all he saw was distant mountains rising into the sky, far-off water shimmering like silver, boats coming and going, and seagulls flying together. He thought back to that year's bloody battle on the great river, when countless lives of the Song and Yuan armies were lost at the bottom of the river. But now, before his eyes, there was no longer any sign of blood and fire filling the river, or corpses floating in the current. It seemed as though that great war for control of the world had been nothing more than a dream of the southland, fleeting and empty. Only this long river flowed silently to the east.

  At the moment of sorrow, suddenly heard Shi Tianfeng muttering: "Unlucky, unlucky, two little brats chattering, what's good to look at in these poor mountains and evil waters?" Liang Xiao turned his head back, Feng Lian was riding on horseback with Hua Jingyuan pointing at the scenery, talking and laughing. Shi Tianfeng had his hands behind his back, pacing back and forth, with a face of impatience. Liang Xiao thought: "This old man is full of energy, running for a long time without getting tired, after crossing the river, there might be another good fight."

  The wind blew for a while, and couldn't help but get annoyed, shouting: "I'm not waiting anymore. If you don't leave, I'll cross the river first." Seeing that there was a boat docked nearby, he ran over, pulled out a bamboo pole, broke off a section, and with his body flying, stepped onto it, using his "Riding the Wind to Cross the Sea" light skill to glide two zhang across the surface of the river. Feng Lian was shocked and said: "Master, this is not good, this old man's skills are too great, let's quickly find a boat to cross the river."

  Liang Xiao smiled silently, thinking that using this method to cross the river was not difficult, but following in someone's footsteps didn't count as a skill. He changed his mind and took two bamboo poles in hand, with his left hand pole suddenly bending and straightening, sending him flying three zhang into the air. Liang Xiao's right-hand pole probed out and swooshed into the river water, the bamboo joints empty and buoyant, floating with great force, sinking and then rising again. Liang Xiao borrowed the force to execute a backflip and leapt another five zhang, his right-hand pole suddenly probing out again, sending him flying three more zhang between the sinking and rising of the poles. The two bamboo poles rose and fell in alternation, and from afar, Liang Xiao seemed like a long-legged heron, strolling freely on the vast river. Shi Tianfeng turned his head to glance back and couldn't help but exclaim: "Liang youngster, what skill!"

  Two people each showed off their magical powers, crossing the Yangtze River. The boatmen and fishermen on the river stared blankly, watching as the two figures flashed by like lightning, chasing each other. Liang Xiao's bamboo pole was wielded with great skill, suddenly striking from behind to surpass Shifeng Tian's head, sweeping past him. With a single push of the pole, he landed first on the southern shore. Shifeng Tian was still in mid-river, his face pale and defeated, shouting: "Alright, alright, I admit defeat this time! Hmph, since you've reached the shore, why don't you take a step forward?" As he spoke, he also leapt onto the shore.

  Liang Xiao smiled and said: "My disciple hasn't even crossed the river yet! Moreover, the Island Master can cross the river with just one bamboo pole, but you used two, it's clear that you're at a disadvantage. A discerning person can see this at a glance." This flattery pleased Shi Tianfeng so much that he stroked his beard and smiled, saying: "You're right, young man, your martial arts skills are not bad, and your insight is even more impressive. You've indeed made me look good." He was so delighted that he patted Liang Xiao on the shoulder while speaking. Liang Xiao knew that Shi Tianfeng was a straightforward person, so he calmly accepted his pat on the shoulder.

  Before long, the two of them arrived on a ferry boat. Seeing the two people on the shore chatting and laughing, they were both surprised. All they heard was Shi Tianfeng saying loudly: "To say it, just now you had two bamboo sticks in your hand, and your movements were much more convenient. If we were to use our spear techniques in the middle of the river, I would have been dodging and my feet would have been in a flurry, and I wouldn't have been able to avoid falling into the water with a splash. So this win or loss still needs to be carefully considered." Liang Xiao smiled and said: "Not so, if Master Shi had broken off bamboo segments as hidden weapons and used them on me twice according to the method of throwing darts, these two bamboo sticks of mine would have certainly been broken, wouldn't I also have fallen into the water with a splash without a doubt?"

  Hua Jingyuan burst out laughing and sang: "Old turtle, big turtle, splashing into the water." Shi Tianfeng's mind was muddled, but he could still tell that this was an insult. He glared at Hua Jingyuan and said: "If I catch you, I'll toss you in like that, and you'll make a 'splash' sound too, turning into a little turtle!" Hua Jingyuan saw how fierce Shi Tianfeng looked, felt afraid, stuck out his tongue, and hid behind Feng Lian.

  After crossing the Yangtze River, they had already passed halfway, and both of them quickened their pace. Although Shitian Feng was old, he was naturally talented, with a long and steady breath, not inferior to young people, while Liang Xiao's internal and external skills were at their peak, and for a time, they were evenly matched, neither able to gain the upper hand over the other.

  After traveling for several days, the group arrived at the banks of the Qiantang River. Liang Xiao stopped at the riverbank, rolled up his sleeves, and bowed three times towards the vast river waters. The others didn't understand what he was doing and felt puzzled. Shi Tianfeng asked him repeatedly, but Liang Xiao remained silent with a gloomy expression. Shi Tianfeng scratched his head for a while before suddenly realizing, "Ah, Liang youngster, you're secretly praying to the River God for help in winning, aren't you?" Before Liang Xiao could respond, he saw Shi Tianfeng facing east with clasped hands and respectfully sang an oath. Liang Xiao was surprised and asked, "Shi Island Master, what are you doing?" Shi Tianfeng smiled but didn't answer. Liang Xiao furrowed his brow, about to give up asking, when Shi Tianfeng couldn't help but say, "Liang youngster, I'll tell you, just now I made a vow to the East Sea Dragon King. If we win this time, I'll definitely offer sacrifices of black oxen and white horses. Ha! Your River God is just a small official, how can he compare to the grandeur of the Dragon King?" He shook his head and nodded, very pleased with himself.

  Liang Xiao couldn't help but smile bitterly, thinking to himself: "You only care about winning or losing, how would you know the pain of life and death separations? To say it out loud, Ah Xue wasn't outstanding when she was alive, and after her death, she probably can't even become a god of Qiantang River, at most just a lonely and pitiful little ghost." As he thought about this, his chest felt a pang, and he almost shed tears in front of everyone.

  As night fell, everyone found a place to rest. Liang Xiao called out to Feng Lian: "From now on, we will definitely have a fierce battle at the Tianji Palace. I have many enemies and it won't be easy for me to return unscathed. If something unexpected happens to me, don't grieve. Ride the Huo Liu Xing and escape with your life. For the past few days, I've been compiling my lifelong martial arts skills into a mnemonic device. Starting tonight, I'll pass it on to you, but how much of it you can comprehend depends on your destiny."

  Feng Lian's eyes welled up with tears, and she trembled as she said, "Master, why don't we just return the Mirror of Rou to the old man and let him go back to the Western Regions?" Liang Xiao's face darkened, and he said, "Do you want to disobey my orders?" Feng Lian had never seen him so severe before, and for a moment she lowered her head, tears streaming down her face. Liang Xiao steeled his heart and began to recite the incantation of the Heart Method, explaining it sentence by sentence, until the third watch of the night, when master and disciple finally rested.

  In broad daylight, they competed in lightness skills, and at night, they transmitted oral secrets. Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and Mount Baozhang was still far away. The day before, Liang Xiao had already surpassed ten zhang, but unexpectedly, before noon, he was caught up by Shi Tianfeng again. He couldn't help but feel annoyed, thinking that after ten years of bitter practice, he still couldn't surpass an old man in his seventies. If he had known this earlier, he would have practiced day and night, relying on his youth and strength to exhaust the old man. If they continued like this without winning or losing, it would be disadvantageous for him when they reached the Tianji Palace. As soon as he thought of this, he smiled and said, "Shi Island Master, why don't we settle the winner here in front of the mountain?" Shi Tianfeng asked, "What do you mean?" Liang Xiao pointed to a tall fir tree standing out from the forest in the distance and said, "Let's take that fir tree as the limit. Whoever reaches it first will be the winner." Shi Tianfeng smiled and said, "Good!" Before he finished speaking, they both shot out like the wind. Liang Xiao's feet tightened, and he closely followed behind.

  Two figures flashed by like fleeting shadows, and in an instant they were less than ten zhang away from the large fir tree. Liang Xiao's eyes watched as they galloped shoulder to shoulder, when suddenly he swung his palm towards Shi Tianfeng. Shi Tianfeng exclaimed and countered with a backhand, his feet slowing slightly, but Liang Xiao took advantage of the momentary lapse and swiftly retreated several zhang away. Shi Tianfeng let out an angry cry, his ten fingers flying as he shot out the "Wuxiang Divine Needles" to cover the sky and earth. Liang Xiao had only made a feint, but Shi Tianfeng's moves were fierce and ruthless, forcing Liang Xiao to turn around and defend himself.

  At this moment, the two were exchanging blows, neither allowing the other to advance easily. Just as they were fighting fiercely, a red light flashed beside them, and Feng Lian rode her horse, Fire Flowing Star, to the front of the fir tree, jumped off the horse, and laughed: "Master, Release Island Master, you both stop arguing, I'm the first one here!" The two were stunned, and they simultaneously stopped their fists and feet. Hua Jing Yuan also smiled: "This is called 'the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman benefits', this time in the lightness skill competition, neither of you won, but instead gave us an advantage." He tightly held Feng Lian's hand, with a smile on his face, standing close to her.

  Liang Xiao frowned and said, "Feng Lian, don't be reckless." Feng Lian bit her lip and said loudly, "I'm not being reckless. You said it yourself, whoever reaches the fir tree first wins, right?" Liang Xiao said, "This competition is only between me and Shi Daozhu, what are you doing here?" Feng Lian sneered, "You two think you're so great with your lightness skills, but you lost to me, a little girl. Do you still have the face to compete?" She argued shamelessly, and before Liang Xiao could respond, Shi Tianfeng had already become furious, shouting, "Little girl, who lost to you? If you hadn't been riding a horse, I would have thrown you thousands of miles away." Feng Lian saw his fierce demeanor and felt a slight fear in her heart. Hua Jingyuan pouted and said, "Gentlemen, you're wrong. The book says 'a gentleman is not different from others, he is good at using external objects.' Intelligent people should know how to utilize external objects. You have horses but don't ride them, you have boats but don't sit in them, and instead choose to run with your two legs. Isn't that the greatest foolishness?"

  Shi Tianfeng angrily said: "You little brat, stop spouting nonsense! I'll slap your mouth shut with one palm!" After saying that, he glared at Feng Lian again, "You say I lost? Alright, let's compare and see who's more powerful?" Before he finished speaking, his palm slapped towards Feng Lian. Liang Xiao intercepted it, using the momentum to deflect Shi Tianfeng's palm force. Shi Tianfeng's eyes rolled back, shouting: "Do you want to fight?" Liang Xiao coldly smiled: "Shi Island Master, talking is just talking, but if you want to use your strength to bully my disciple, I won't stand idly by." Shi Tianfeng clapped his hands and laughed loudly: "Good! I'll take you down first, then deal with your lazy disciple!" Liang Xiao snorted, calmly saying: "Shi Island Master can try if he wants."

  Feng Lian saw the two of them arguing again and hastily said, "Master, Shi Daozhu, you are both top-notch experts in this world. If you want to bet on who will yield, since I arrived at the tree first, everything should be decided by me." Although Liang Xiao was not satisfied with what she did, Shi Tianfeng had already turned against Feng Lian and chimed in, "That's right, little girl just said something extremely reasonable. A gentleman is good at making use of things, you may have won by being clever, but you also won intelligently. Whatever you want to say, I'll definitely support you." Feng Lian was overjoyed and laughed, saying, "The first thing I want to say is that since Shi Daozhu lost, he should withdraw from the dispute as promised and stop bothering my master."

  Shi Tianfeng's face turned black with rage, but just as he was about to erupt, Hua Jingyuan suddenly said, "Uncle Shi, Auntie often says your martial arts are the best in the world!" Shi Tianfeng's heart skipped a beat with joy, and he forgot his anger, grinning from ear to ear. "Did that old hag really say that?" Hua Jingyuan nodded. "However, when I get back, I'll tell Auntie that your martial arts aren't even close to being the best in the world. What you're really good at is being a big coward. You lost a fight and wanted to make excuses, and now you've lost again and still want to make excuses." Shi Tianfeng's face turned red with rage, and he was about to curse when he suddenly thought, "Wait, that won't do. Auntie loves Hua Jingyuan the most, and she listens to everything he says. If he goes back and exaggerates this story, not only will my reputation be ruined, but everyone on Lingwu Island will lose face too." He thought for a moment, then stomped his foot and gritted his teeth. "Fine, I'll agree to it, but I'll never admit defeat!"

  Feng Lian smiled and said, "It's not important to admit defeat or not. Just agreeing to this is enough. As for the second matter, Master Liang, you lost, shouldn't you hand over Hua Jingyuan to me as promised?" Liang Xiao was taken aback. Feng Lian pulled on his sleeve and whispered, "Master, you are a great hero, but using a child as a hostage is not right, it's making his parents worried and sad." Liang Xiao stood silently for a long time, then suddenly sighed and handed Hua Jingyuan over to Shi Tianfeng. Shi Tianfeng was surprised and said, "Liang Xiazi, you really agreed to give him to me?" Liang Xiao coldly replied, "If the Island Master can agree, why can't I?" Shi Tianfeng was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly and said, "You're right." He took Hua Jingyuan and was about to leave. Hua Jingyuan hastily said, "Wait, Auntie and Uncle!" Shi Tianfeng frowned and asked, "What else do you want to say, little one?" Hua Jingyuan glared at Liang Xiao and said, "I know you're not happy in your heart even though you agreed. After I leave, you can't blame Feng Lian sister. Otherwise, humph, I won't forgive you."

  Liang Xiao frowned and said, "How many catties do you have, dare to coerce me?" Hua Jing's neck stiffened, and he shouted loudly, "I can't beat you now, but when I grow up, I'll definitely surpass you." Feng Lian saw him standing up for himself like this, and his heart was deeply moved.

  Liang Xiao looked at Hua Jingyuan for a moment, nodded and said: "You're not old, but your ambition is not small. Alright, I won't blame her because of you." Hua Jingyuan wrinkled up her nose, hummed, and turned to look at Feng Lian. Thinking that they would be parting soon, her eyes suddenly reddened. Shi Tianfeng picked him up, chuckled and said: "Liang Xiaozi, we'll meet again." He unfolded his light skill and disappeared into the smoke towards Baozhang Mountain.

  Liang Xiao turned around and walked silently, Feng Lian followed him with her head down for a while before she couldn't help but say: "Master, if you're not happy, it's fine to scold me or hit me, just don't be silent like this, it's suffocating!" Liang Xiao saw that she had red eyes and was on the verge of tears, and he couldn't help but sigh: "You did the right thing, why would I scold you or hit you? I'm just resentful of myself." He saw Feng Lian's surprised expression and said: "Now that I think about it, taking Huajingyuan as a hostage was indeed impulsive, only considering my own peace of mind without thinking of others. Unexpectedly, after all these years, I still can't get rid of this willful and reckless temperament." Feng Lian happily said: "So you don't blame me?"

  "Today's matter, the fault lies with me. You can avoid responsibility and force me to release people, which is quite bold. In this world, whether it's studying literature or practicing martial arts, if you want to surpass your predecessors and become a master, you must have this kind of courage and breadth of vision. When top masters compete, the inferior ones compare their techniques and cleverness, while the slightly better ones rely on their internal strength. But truly exceptional individuals are compared based on their air and magnanimity. Your foundation is shallow, your wisdom is slightly inferior, and according to reason, you shouldn't be good at my martial arts. However, since you grew up under Mount Kunlun, with its vast skies and expansive lands, you have a carefree and unrestrained air about you, which is something that ordinary warriors can hardly match."

  Feng Lian saw that he not only didn't scold her, but also praised himself greatly, overjoyed and laughing: "Actually I don't have much magnanimity or breadth of vision, it's just that from the bottom of my heart I never considered you as a master." Liang Xiao couldn't help but smile wryly, thinking to himself that in this world, there are probably not many people who can say such words, this girl is really reckless.

  Feng Lian said, "Speaking of demeanor and magnanimity, what kind of demeanor does Shiyue Tiandao have?" Liang Xiao said, "It's not right to say that. The master of the island is obsessed with winning and losing, constantly polishing himself for a single victory, and getting an opponent is like obtaining a precious treasure. I've never seen anyone so obsessed with martial arts before. Moreover, he has suffered from amnesia, often in a state of half-dreaming and half-waking, which coincidentally matches the subtlety of no form or shape, making him unpredictable and difficult to match."

  Feng Lian smiled and said, "It seems he accidentally became a high-ranking official. Master, are you still going to the Tianji Palace?" Liang Xiao said, "I have to go. I originally wanted to enter openly and honestly, but since we don't have any hostages, we can only sneak in at night." Feng Lian asked curiously, "Are the people of Tianji Palace really that formidable?" Liang Xiao replied, "Not necessarily formidable, it's just that when it comes down to actual combat, there's a bit of inexplicable awkwardness."

  The two masters and disciples were talking, when they suddenly saw two people walking towards them. One of them called out from a distance, "Is that Brother Liang?" Liang Xiao recognized the person as Ming Sanqiu, who was followed by a 17 or 18-year-old youth in green clothes, with high eyebrows and a square mouth, looking somewhat dull at first glance.

  Liang Xiao was overjoyed to see his friend and smiled, saying: "Third Brother Autumn, you're well?" Ming Sanqiu rushed forward a few steps and hugged him tightly, looking him up and down before bursting into laughter. "Younger brother, I was afraid that if I came any later, I would have missed you." Liang Xiao asked in surprise, "How did Third Brother know I was here?" Ming Sanqiu glanced around cautiously and said, "It's a long story, let's find a safe place to talk first!"

  Liang Xiao nodded in agreement, still looking puzzled. The four of them found a quiet tea house and sat down, introducing each other. Ming Sanqiu pointed to the young man in green clothes and said, "This is my disciple, Zhu Shijie, who has made some progress in studying mathematics." Liang Xiao saw that Ming Sanqiu was pleased with his disciple, and he too was happy for him, smiling and saying, "Brother Sanqiu has found a good disciple, congratulations are in order!" He then bowed to Zhu Shijie and said, "Please, Brother Zhu." Zhu Shijie's face turned red as he almost dropped the cup in his hand, hastily getting up and saying, "I... I have long admired Mr. Liang's great name, I'm honored to meet you... I'll definitely ask for your guidance later..." He stuttered and looked embarrassed.

  Ming Sanqiu smiled wryly and said, "Don't mind, Brother Liang. This child is quick-witted but taciturn and not good at interacting with people. He can't say more than two sentences in a day. Today, he only spoke so much because he has admired you for a long time, which is already a big exception." Liang Xiao smiled and said, "Where's the need to be polite? As the saying goes, 'The wise man does not speak, and the great sound is rare.' Brother Zhu is introverted and unassuming, with the demeanor of an ancient gentleman!" Ming Sanqiu was taken aback, then burst out laughing. Zhu Shijie looked at Liang Xiao with excitement, feeling a deep connection. Feng Lian glanced at him and thought to herself, "This wooden guy doesn't speak all day, who would marry him? Wouldn't they be bored to death?"

  Ming Sanqiu said, "Liang brothers, where have you been all these years? I've been paying attention to you at all times, but I never got any news from you." Liang Xiao said, "I went to the Western Regions." Ming Sanqiu's eyes lit up and he asked, "I heard that there are many powerful families in the Western Regions. Is it true?" Zhu Shijie leaned forward after hearing this, his eyes fixed intently on Liang Xiao. Feng Lian saw the extraordinary sparkle in his eyes, which was different from before, and couldn't help but feel surprised.

  Li Shuo took a sip of tea and said, "That place was indeed the birthplace of many sages thousands of years ago. The precision of their mathematics was even more impressive than that of our own country. However, nowadays people's hearts are no longer pure, and the world is in chaos. Westerners worship the great god Jehovah, and mathematical instruments have all been rejected as heresy. Most officials and common people are foolish and ignorant, blindly believing in an all-knowing and all-powerful idol, and they've long since forgotten what mathematics even is." Ming Sanqiu stroked his beard and sighed, "What a pity! I had originally wanted to go there myself, but after hearing you speak, perhaps it's better not to go!" Zhu Shijie's eyes also dimmed. They sat in silence for a while before Ming Sanqiu suddenly spoke up, "Li Shuo, I heard that you captured the grandson of Hua Wuyan and he wants to seek revenge at the Tianji Palace?" Li Shuo sighed, "Brother Sanqiu, how did you come to know this?"

  Ming Sanqiu smiled bitterly and said, "The news on the rivers and lakes is spreading quickly. Moreover, this time Yun Shu has issued twelve divine eagle orders in a row to inform the martial arts world. Now many good hands are on their way here. I also heard the news and rushed from Yangzhou day and night to inform you, Brother Liang. As the saying goes: 'Two fists can't defeat four hands', temporarily avoiding the edge is the best strategy."

  Liang Xiao did not expect that his actions would stir up the Central Plains martial arts world, nor did he anticipate that Yun Shu's methods would be so swift and fierce. After a moment of contemplation, he said: "Brother San Qiu, your sense of justice is profound, and I am deeply moved. However, if I do not see Xiaoxiao this time, I will truly be unable to rest at ease. Brother San Qiu, you also know about Xiaoxiao's chronic illness... it has been over ten years, and people are worried..." As he spoke, he suddenly saw a hint of sorrow and regret in Ming Sanqiu's eyes. Liang Xiao was extremely intelligent, and in an instant, he sensed that something was amiss. He hesitated, saying: "Brother San Qiu, could it be that you know about Xiaoxiao's recent situation?"

  Ming Sanqiu smiled wryly and said, "If it weren't for the sake of necessity, I wouldn't want to tell you the truth." Liang Xiao grasped his arm firmly and said seriously, "What's going on with Xiaoshuang? Brother Sanqiu, you...you mustn't deceive me!" Ming Sanqiu felt a surge of pain from Liang Xiao's grip and furrowed his brow, saying, "Brother Liang, you need to calm down, or I'd rather not say anything." Liang Xiao was taken aback, withdrew his hand, and pressed down on the teacup in front of him, making an effort to compose himself. He spoke slowly, "Brother Sanqiu is right, please speak plainly."

  Ming Sanqiu sighed and said, "Although I have left the Tianji Palace, there are still many old friends in the palace, and we have had a lot of contact over the years. According to them, more than ten years ago, Miss Shuang unfortunately encountered Han Ningzi and was killed by her at the banks of the Han River. After that, the female demon's head seemed to be unable to escape justice and took her own life with a sword. Liang Xiaodi, you must think it through, as the saying goes: 'Cheap wine is often blamed on the lack of guests, a bright moon is often obscured by clouds.' The world is originally full of sorrow and few joys. Moreover, it has been many years since then, and being sad is also useless. It's better to mourn in moderation and let go...". When he said this, he suddenly saw Liang Xiaodi's face turn pale, his lips trembling, and his eyes dazed, which made Ming Sanqiu's heart skip a beat, and he changed the subject, "Liang Xiaodi, if you don't mind, I'll accompany you in drinking a few cups." He then called for the waiter to bring wine. Feng Lian saw Liang Xiaodi like this and felt a pang of sadness in her chest, grasped his hand, and found it ice-cold, unable to help but say, "Master, don't be too sad..."

  Liang Xiao's body trembled, and he shook off her hand, shaking his head: "Sorry, my heart is in a mess, I...I apologize, excuse me..." He spoke incoherently for a few sentences before quickly leaving. As he raised his hand, the teacup under his palm had already sunk deep into the table, level with the tabletop.

  Liang Xiao's body moved extremely quickly, and he ran out for several dozen feet before the crowd could react. Feng Lian called out: "Master! Where are you going?" Chasing him out of the teahouse, she only saw him running like flying, and in an instant, there was only a grey dot left. Feng Lian hurriedly chased after him like a shooting star until they reached the foot of the mountain, but all she saw was a dense forest, with no sign of Liang Xiao's figure anywhere.