Chapter 57: The Way of Harmony

  Liang Xiao ran like a madman, his mind a complete blank, and he didn't know how long he had been running. His legs suddenly went soft, and he fell to the ground with a thud. As his senses slowly returned, he felt that same tearing pain in his chest again. His vision was blurry, and his chest felt like it was going to explode. In an instant, he suddenly understood why Qin Bo had refused to let Hua Xiao Xue meet him even if it meant fighting to the death, why Ling Shui Yue wouldn't let Shi Tian Feng mention Xiao Xue, and why Yun Shu treated him like a formidable enemy. It was all because Hua Xiao Xue was already dead, and everyone was terrified of what he would do next in his grief and anger.

  He didn't know how long he had been kneeling, when a gentle breeze swept across his head. Liang Xiao raised his tearful eyes and suddenly felt that the summer flowers were blooming all around him, with the warm sunshine casting a charming glow. The birds chirped, the spring water flowed, and the pool reflected the white clouds drifting aimlessly in the sky. Every blade of grass, every tree, every spring, and every rock seemed to be at peace, yet he felt more out of place than ever, as if he didn't belong to this world. In contrast, his sorrow became even more sorrowful, his loneliness even more lonely. For a moment, a terrifying thought flashed across his mind: "Has heaven abandoned me?"

  All sorts of past events flashed through his mind: As a child, heaven had used Xiao Qian's hands to scatter his parents; In the Tianji Palace, he had bitterly studied arithmetic, solving the Ten Heavenly Equations but unable to solve the last one; Later, a great war had killed Ah Xue; He had allowed him to reunite with his mother only to have him kill her himself; And now, he had lost all his loved ones. Even at this point, heaven still wouldn't let up, when he was in pain and despair, the world seemed to be full of vitality, as if a group of shameless onlookers were gloating, rejoicing in his misfortune.

  Liang Xiao Yue's anger grew, and he suddenly jumped up, exerting all his strength to slash at the sky. The Six Great Qi Jin, the Heavenly Arc Palm Power, the Whale Breath Technique... every technique he could muster was unleashed, with palm power and finger energy surging into the air, only to dissipate gently in the atmosphere.

  He had clapped for over a thousand times, and Liang Xiao's muscles were exhausted, he fell to the ground on the mountain slope, his mind was in a daze: "What's the use of martial arts? What's the use of calculations? Even if one's martial arts are unparalleled in history, it can't save loved ones; even if one can calculate all the mysteries of heaven and earth, they can't calculate their own fate." He suddenly felt despair, buried his head deep into the mud, tears streaming down, wetting the soil.

  Dazed and confused, he didn't know how long he had been lying there. When he woke up, the dawn was already breaking. Liang Xiao's head was splitting with pain, his throat felt like it was on fire. He crawled to the creek and drank some spring water, which slightly cleared his mind. Stumbling down the mountain slope, he walked into a dense forest. The forest was shrouded in darkness, devoid of sunlight, with dead trees everywhere. Bats flew back and forth between the trees, venomous snakes coiled around the branches, hissing menacingly.

  Liang Xiao walked a few steps, his legs lost their strength to move forward, and he sat down leaning against a withered tree. The fallen leaves floated onto his head, but he didn't even bother to brush them away. Before long, the scenes of past events began to emerge from the bottom of his heart again. He tried not to think about it, but the more he avoided it, the clearer the images became. Liang Xiao felt as if there was a large saw in his brain, constantly moving back and forth with a screeching sound. He couldn't help but hold his head and kneel on the ground, wailing uncontrollably. At this moment, he had already reached the edge of collapse. In a daze, his fingertips suddenly touched something hard, and when he looked up, it was a withered branch.

  Liang Xiao's mind stirred, and he unconsciously tightened his grip on the withered branch. With a flick of his wrist, he wrote down a math problem on the lush green moss, solving it in an instant before hastily setting up another one. As he asked and answered himself, his intellect was captivated by the profound math problems, and for a moment, he forgot about his suffering.

  Thus, Liang Xiao immersed himself in math problems day and night, not allowing his mind to have a moment's rest. He filled the surrounding area with dense mathematical formulas, writing and erasing, erasing and rewriting. When he was hungry, he would grab some moss or fungi nearby to fill his stomach; when he was thirsty, he would lick the dew on dry leaves. Unconsciously, he poured out his resentment towards heaven onto paper, listing one strange math problem after another: either disrupting the calendar, making the sun and moon move backwards, and the stars change positions; or recklessly setting up water conservancy projects, causing rivers to flow backwards, and filling seas with mountains; even within the universe, turning straight lines into curves, circles into straight lines, twisting and turning at will, not following any rules. The heavenly principles that people had believed in since ancient times were all distorted and split on his paper, chaotic and confusing. Originally, as the world's number one mathematician, he knew that talking about military strategy on paper was useless, but now with a belly full of resentment and nowhere to vent it, he insisted on going against heaven, exhausting his thoughts, and challenging the heavens.

  The shadows between the branches shifted and the light changed, from dim to bright, unknowingly transforming three times. Liang Xiao had just finished calculating a problem, his heart slightly moved, he turned back to review his previous calculations, and suddenly his eyes widened in astonishment. It turned out that he discovered that no matter how chaotic or wrong the problems were, but to get the results, the algorithms used must be concise, elegant, and harmonious, like flowing clouds and water; no matter how much he resisted heaven and earth, the algorithm would eventually return to harmony. After a long time of contemplation, an idea flashed through his mind: mathematics takes its laws from heaven and earth and returns to heaven and earth, the harmony of mathematics is the harmony of heaven and earth, although the laws of heaven and earth can change repeatedly, but the harmony within them remains eternal and unchanging.

  As he thought of this, Liang Xiao felt his whole body go limp, and he put down the withered branch in his hand, almost losing all his will to fight. In a daze, it seemed like there was a voice booming in his mind: "The heavens have their own laws, not for Yao's existence, nor for Jie's demise. The movements of heaven and earth are unknowing and unfeeling, harmonious and natural, what is there to discuss about good or evil? You, Liang Xiao, are just a lowly and insignificant body, standing between heaven and earth, no different from the smallest dust speck. What you call a life of hardship is just an instant in the workings of heaven and earth. Your thinking that the heavens are playing tricks on you is just being overly sentimental..."

  In an instant, Liang Xiao's soul underwent a tremendous change. What he heard and saw made him feel that even this gloomy and lifeless old forest had suddenly become full of endless interest. He even heard the sound of bats hunting and the strange noise of snakes mating; he clearly saw withered branches everywhere among the lush trees, hiding and revealing their decay, while dead old wood was sprouting small tender buds, filled with vitality. At this moment and in this place, life and death, prosperity and decline, circulated endlessly, everywhere radiating supreme harmony.

  As he sat in contemplation, Liang Xiao's emotions gradually calmed down. He felt that the entanglements of love and hate, the intertwining of gratitude and resentment, were all just part of the harmonious operation of the universe. His sorrow was hard to dispel, but it didn't affect the universe; it was just self-pity. With this thought, he finally let out a long sigh, cast aside his worries, leaned against a large tree, and breathed deeply. After a while, he regained some energy, slowly got up, and walked out of the forest. As he emerged from the woods, he saw the sun rising in the east, its rays shining softly and uncertainly, casting a warm glow on him, making everything seem golden for a moment.

  He walked silently in the mountains for a while, when he suddenly felt a strong gust of wind behind him. He turned his hand over and scooped up seven iron pellets into his palm. Turning around to look back, he saw two people standing far away, both dressed as Han Chinese. One of them, a pale-faced man, was holding a silver-plated slingshot, with a ghastly pale face and trembling hands.

  Liang Xiao frowned and said, "Who are you two? Why did you attack from behind?" The two men exchanged a glance, and the pale-faced man gritted his teeth and shouted loudly, "I have no qualms about attacking from behind. You, surnamed Liang, I recognize you. You destroyed my country, killed my compatriots, and a hot-blooded man can be executed at will. Since I missed my chance, then let's end this with a fight to the death. Frowning is not becoming of a good man." He had just used his "Seven Stars Linked Pearls" technique, firing seven shots in three directions, which few people could avoid. Who would have thought that even when he attacked from the shadows, Liang Xiao caught him off guard? He knew that encountering such a strong enemy meant certain doom, so he made bold statements, determined to die with dignity.

  Liang Xiao said calmly, "Well said, indeed a good man who stabs people in the back." The white-faced man was caught off guard by Liang Xiao's words and his face turned hot. Another bearded man suddenly said, "Liang Xiao, look at this!" He opened his palm to reveal a string of sheep fat jade beads. Liang Xiao's expression changed involuntarily, as this string of jade beads was round and lustrous, exactly the beautiful jade produced in Kunlun Mountains. Having been with Feng Lian for a long time, he recognized it as her personal item. Liang Xiao's heart skipped a beat: "Oh no, I was so caught up in my own sorrow that I forgot about her!"

  The bearded man saw Liang Xiao's expression and sneered, "Do you understand? The owner of the pearl necklace has been captured by Qin Tianwang! Hmph, if you have the guts, go to the Tianji Palace to meet with the heroes of the world!" The white-faced man also said, "Right, we were ordered to come and inform you of this matter, but if we don't return by noon, that woman's life will be in danger." Liang Xiao knew that the two men were just trying to escape, and the so-called noon deadline was just a trick. But he didn't care about it at the moment, thought for a moment, and waved his hand, saying, "Leave the pearl necklace here, go back and tell the person in charge, at the time of Chen Si, Liang Xiao will come to the Tianji Palace to pay respects."

  The two men had a pleased expression, and were about to leave after handing over the pearl necklace. Suddenly, they heard Liang Xiao say: "You who use the crossbow, what is your name?" The white-faced man was taken aback, saying: "A great man's actions do not change his name, nor does he change his surname when sitting; I am Zhang Qingyan, 'Silver Bullet Falling Moon' of Luo Fu Mountain." Liang Xiao coldly smiled and said: "Silver Bullet Falling Moon, the name sounds good!" Zhang Qingyan heard the implication behind his words: the name sounded good, but the actual ability might not be up to par, and he couldn't help but feel ashamed and angry. Suddenly, they heard Liang Xiao say: "Silver Bullet Falling Moon, I'll return this bullet to you." With a wave of his hand, seven iron pellets shot out in succession. Zhang Qingyan stretched out his hand to catch them, but unexpectedly the string of iron pellets was like a small snake, twisting and turning in mid-air, slipping through his fingers, making a rattling sound as they all fell into his deerskin bag used for storing hidden weapons.

  This move was calculated with precision, and the two men looked at the deerskin bag with ashen faces. Liang Xiao understood the "Way of Harmony", and Cow Knife made a small test, feeling slightly satisfied, and immediately threw down the two men and walked away with big strides.

  He walked for a while, and Liang Xiao realized that he had been staying in the mountains of Kuocang for several days without leaving. He caught a mountain chicken, wrapped it in mud, roasted it over an open flame, and ate it with water from the stream. After finishing his meal, he rested for a short while, and as the sun began to set, he headed towards the Tianji Palace. Before long, he saw the two peaks of Yuan Lian Mountain facing each other across the water. Liang Xiao felt a pang in his chest: "The mountains and rivers remain the same, but human affairs have changed completely. The twin peaks of Yuan Lian still exist, but where are the lovers of this world?" He recalled a poem that Hua Mulan had recited to him when he was young, and couldn't help but recite it to himself: "The Cowherd Star is distant, the Weaving Maiden is bright. Her slender hands hold the shuttle, her fingers move deftly on the loom. All day she weaves without finishing a single piece, tears falling like rain. The Milky Way is clear and shallow, how far apart are they? A river of water separates them, and they cannot speak to each other."

  Liang Xiao's heart was still resonating with the ancient poem, and he couldn't calm down for a long time: "Even the Cowherd and Weaving Maiden, who are pitiful and lamentable, can still gaze at each other across the river. But I have traveled thousands of miles back to the Central Plains, only to find that I can no longer see Xiaoxiao's face." Thinking of this, his eyes became blurry with tears, but he was afraid that if he were seen by his enemies, it would add to his shame. So he wiped away his tears and walked to the front of the East Peak, looking out at the scenery below. The long wind from the west blew through the valley, causing his clothes and hair to rustle loudly. Liang Xiao faced east and let out a long, mournful whistle, which was carried far away by the wind, echoing off the mountains and lingering for a long time.

  In a short while, a leaf-shaped boat floated down from upstream with "Chi He" Ye Zhong standing at the bow, holding two dragon-head oars. The boat stopped under Yuan Lian Peak and Ye Zhong called out: "Ye Zhong has come to welcome you on behalf of the Palace Master, please board the ship." Liang Xiao saw that he was cold and distant, and replied gloomily: "I'm not worthy of Ye Gong's guidance again, what a fortunate coincidence!"

  Ye Zong heard this and suddenly remembered that more than 20 years ago, he had personally taken that little naughty child to the Tianji Palace. Now, people and things have changed, as if it were a fantasy dream. Just as he was sighing, he saw Liang Xiao pulling up his long shirt and rushing straight down from the top of the mountain, and couldn't help but be greatly shocked, blurting out: "You can't go!"

  Liang Xiao's momentum was unstoppable, and with a sweep of his large sleeve in mid-air, he brushed aside three times. The force was as if it had substance, slapping the water surface to create ripples all around. The rebounding energy then steadied him again. After three sweeps of his sleeve, Liang Xiao lightly floated down to the back of the boat, which didn't even sway a little. Ye Zhong secretly applauded and thought with regret: "This person has wasted an unparalleled skill that shouldn't be used on the right path." Shaking his head, he immediately turned the bow of the boat around and sighed, saying, "Liang Xiao, your visit this time is still quite aboveboard." Liang Xiao said: "The Tianji Palace is aboveboard, I am also aboveboard." The implication was that both were aboveboard; if there was any deceit or cunning, he would accompany them to the end. Ye Zhong heard the underlying tone and hesitated, saying: "From now on, the road ahead will be full of changes; I'm afraid everyone will be unable to control their own fate."

  Liang Xiao understood the warning and remained silent, sitting down with his legs crossed. Ye Zhong saw that he had made up his mind and couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. He immediately turned around and headed upstream, passing through the Six Dragon Waterfall and the Colorful Shell Gorge, and soon arrived at the Small Mirror Lake. Liang Xiao looked up and saw that the three wheels of the heavenly machine were still rotating as usual, and the two rows of giant characters on the cliff were still full of energy. However, there was a huge wooden platform added at the entrance of the Valley of Secluded Moon, which stretched out into the lake like a long tongue. Over a hundred giant trees with trunks as thick as a hundred arms were deeply rooted in the lake water, firmly supporting the platform. On the platform stood over two hundred people, all dressed in martial attire. Ye Zhong shouted loudly: "Liang Xiao, this Falling Water Platform is specially set up for you!"

  Liang Xiao couldn't help but smile wryly, and with a flick of his robe, he leapt forward, gliding over the lake's surface like a swallow skimming water, landing on the wooden platform. The heroes had already agreed to take him down a peg, and as soon as he stepped onto the platform, they let out a thunderous shout in unison, their voices booming like thunder, causing the valley to echo with the sound of the mountain responding.

  Liang Xiao, facing thousands of soldiers and horses, had never been intimidated. Upon hearing the noise, he simply smiled and cast his gaze into the crowd, where he spotted Feng Lian. Her emerald eyes and snowy skin made her stand out even more in the crowd. Hua Jingyuan stood beside her, holding onto her sleeve with a familiar intimacy. When Feng Lian saw him, she exclaimed excitedly: "Master!" Liang Xiao's eyebrows shot up as he sternly asked: "Have you been bullied?" Feng Lian was too agitated to speak and merely shook her head frantically.

  Liang Xiao's mind was slightly settled, waiting to ask more questions, when suddenly a strange laugh was heard. Shi Tianfeng burst out of the crowd and threw a punch straight at Liang Xiao's face, laughing: "Liang kid, I haven't seen you for a few days, so I'll give you a gift." Liang Xiao swept his sleeve to deflect Shi Tianfeng's wrist, causing his fist to veer off course, revealing a slight opening in his chest. Shi Tianfeng was startled and didn't wait for Liang Xiao to counterattack before leaping back several feet, staring at Liang Xiao with wide eyes, shouting: "Strange, very strange!"

  Li Xue used the "Harmony Method" and Shifeng only felt that he hadn't seen him for a few days, but his opponent seemed to be more powerful. He couldn't help but say, "Come again." After speaking, he wanted to go up, but Feng Lian hurriedly said, "Shifeng, are you going to play tricks again?" Shifeng angrily said, "Women are always so petty, what's the need to add 'again'?" Feng Lian coldly smiled and said, "Who told you that men have bad memories? If you continue to bother my master, I'll expose all your shameful deeds one by one, and make you lose face in the Jianghu." Shifeng angrily said, "You dare to insult me? What shameful deeds do I have?" He puffed out his chest and glared at her, trying to intimidate her. Feng Lian was afraid and didn't dare speak up. But Ling Shuiyue intervened, saying, "Old man, what are you shouting about? Can't you just back off?" Shifeng saw that his wife had spoken up and could only grunt in anger before retreating.

  Suddenly, the crowd surged forward, and a group of people emerged from the stone array in an orderly manner and walked onto the wooden platform. Huā Qīngyuān was at the front, followed by Tóng Zhù, Qín Bó Fú, Yáng Lù, and Míng Sān Dié. In recent years, Bai Hè Zuǒ Yuán and Dān Dǐng Hè Xiū Gǔ had passed away one after another, and Chí Hè Yè Zhuāng was not among them as he was busy poling the boat.

  He walked up to the front, only to see that he was already frosted at the temples, with deep wrinkles between his eyebrows and a worried look in his eyes. Liang Xiao looked at him and couldn't help but feel sad: "In just over ten years, he has aged so much?" Seeing his father, he thought of his daughter, and suddenly felt a warmth in his chest, blurting out: "Hua Da..." Suddenly realizing, he bit the word "Uncle" hard between his teeth, bowed his head and said in a hoarse voice: "Master Hua, it's been a long time?"

  Hua Qingyuan also slightly raised her hands, intending to go forward and support him. After hearing these words, she finally weakly lowered them again, sighing: "Liang Xiao, you really shouldn't have come!" Liang Xiao said: "As master and disciple, I had no choice but to come." As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt something and turned his head to look over. Hua Wuyan was already standing behind the crowd, standing silently with her hands behind her back. Her beauty-preserving skills were evident, as ten years of wind and frost had not left many marks on her face. Hua Muyang stood aside, compared to Yunying before she got married, she looked more plump and beautiful, with a tender and delicate complexion, holding a young child in her arms, with skin as white as snow, weak and pitiful.

  The scene fell silent for a moment, before Hua Qingyuan slowly spoke up: "Liang Xiao, what brings you here this time?" Liang Xiao hadn't expected him to ask so tactfully and was taken aback, hesitating for a moment before responding: "I have no other requests, just please let the young apprentice go." Hua Qingyuan was taken aback, thinking that this person had always been cunning and difficult to deal with, how could he be so easily willing to let go? He hesitated for a moment, his face revealing doubt, before shaking his head and saying: "Don't try to deceive me, the fault in Xiaoyu's matter lies with me. If you have any grievances, just direct them at me."

  Qin Bo Fu said seriously, "Palace Master, this is not right. In front of all the heroes in the world, your mistakes are also the mistakes of Tianji Palace. If we want to blame someone, we can't escape our responsibility. Moreover, regarding Xiaoxiang's matter, if we want to blame someone, we should blame Han Ningzi, how can we blame you?" Hua Qingyuan's expression turned gloomy and he said, "But..." Qin Bo Fu knew what he wanted to say and continued, "You and Xiaoxiang are father and daughter, blood is thicker than water. Liang Xiao can blame anyone in the world, but he absolutely cannot blame you." Hua Qingyuan was speechless.

  Liang Xiao saw that everyone had misunderstood him deeply, so he could only say: "Master of the Flower Palace, I really have no other intention, please just let go of my little disciple." Everyone just coldly laughed, thinking that this person would stop at nothing in his actions. Who knows what thoughts are in his mind now?

  Liang Xiao looked at the faces of the crowd, knowing that it was difficult to end well, and furrowed his brow for a moment. Suddenly, he heard someone in the crowd shout: "You dog thief surnamed Liang, why bother with so many useless words? If you have the ability, go and snatch people back yourself!" Liang Xiao's ears were familiar, and he looked around to see Jia Xiucan shouting loudly among the crowd. Chi Xianyu stood aside, stroking his beard and smiling coldly, but there was no sign of Jin Cuiyu and Bai Buxi.

  Li Shao's eyebrows rose, and he smiled: "Brother Jia's plan is brilliant, let's just follow orders." His body flashed and he was already in front of Feng Lian, the group of heroes shouted in anger and pounced, but before their eyes was another flower. They saw Li Shao pulling Feng Lian back to the original place, except that there was one more person by his side, and it seemed as if his feet had never moved. This coming and going was like a heavenly horse galloping through the air, except for a few people, no one could see how he made his move.

  The heroes were shocked and the scene fell silent. Chi Xianyu saw that the atmosphere was not right, so he spoke loudly: "Don't panic, everyone! This platform is surrounded by water on three sides, no matter how great the thief's skills are, they can't escape. We outnumber them, one person with a knife or sword will make it hard for him to defend himself." The crowd nodded in agreement, but their momentum had already weakened.

  Jia Xiutai shook his broken fan and chuckled: "Old Master Chi is right, this is called being in front of a fierce tiger and having Lei Chi behind, you can't move forward or backward. If you take one step forward, you'll become a stray dog, if you take one step back, you'll be a drowned dog, it's better to beat him up. Haha, unless he grows wings on his back and flies over, but then he wouldn't be called a dog anymore." Shi Tianfeng asked curiously: "If not a dog, what would he be?" Jia Xiutai laughed: "Master Shi asks a good question, if a dog grows wings, of course it's called a flying dog!" Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere rose again.

  Liang Xiao saw the vast expanse of water, with no boat or oars in sight. He thought to himself that it wouldn't be difficult for him to escape on his own, but if he were to bring Feng Lian along, there would be many inconveniences. As he pondered this, he suddenly heard Feng Lian speak up in a low voice, "Master, actually... I was the one who intentionally let them catch me." Liang Xiao was taken aback and asked, "What do you mean by that?" Feng Lian's face turned red as she lowered her head and said, "That day when you left in a hurry, I chased after you on horseback but couldn't catch up. I was worried that you might not be thinking clearly and was both anxious and afraid. Later, I saw Qin Bo Yu and Shi Fu Ren riding over, so I thought to myself that with their large group of people, it would be easier for them to find you. So I went forward and provoked them on purpose, letting them catch me, and told them that you already knew about Miss Hua's news and had entered the Cangshan Mountains. They were so scared that they didn't dare speak out loud and even dispatched many people to search for you." At this point, she glanced at Hua Jing Yuan, who was also looking at her. Feng Lian smiled and said, "It's also thanks to Yuan Er's words that the people here have been treating me quite kindly." Liang Xiao listened to her explanation and couldn't help but glance at Hua Jing Yuan, only to find that this little guy was staring back at him with great hostility in his eyes.

  Feng Lian saw Liang Xiao's expression and hesitated, her heart racing with anxiety. She stammered: "Master, are you angry with me?" Liang Xiao said: "Why would I be angry with you? Since you've come, it won't be easy to leave now. Are you afraid?" Feng Lian lightly bit her red lips and said: "I'm not afraid, at worst we'll die together!" As she spoke, her eyes locked onto Liang Xiao's, filled with tender emotions. Liang Xiao heard this and his pride surged, coldly laughing: "Feng Lian, don't mention that word 'death'. If they want to kill my master and disciple, it won't be easy!" The last sentence was as sharp as clashing swords, and everyone who heard it couldn't help but feel shocked and moved.

  Liang Xiao finished speaking, and his tone turned gentle again. He asked Feng Lian: "Where are the sword and horse?" Feng Lian pointed to Qin Bo Yu and said: "The sword is on his back, and the horse is in the Tianji Palace." Liang Xiao saw that half of the hilt of the sword was exposed from Qin Bo Yu's shoulder and shouted loudly: "Qin Tian Wang, please return the precious sword on your back to its rightful owner!"

  Qin Bohu's eyes flickered, and he felt a sense of doubt: "They attach such importance to this sword, could it be that this treasure sword has some extraordinary qualities? Liang Xiaowu's martial arts are already high, can't let him add wings to the tiger." At this point, he stroked his long beard, only coldly smiling. The "Heavenly Punishment Sword" was more precious than life to Feng Lian, seeing this she clenched her fist in anger and shouted: "You leper ghost, do you want to cheat me out of my sword? Hmph, if you don't return the sword, I'll pluck your beard clean!" The crowd looked at her angry face, but on her powdered face there were only three parts anger, while seven parts were playful, and they all burst into laughter.

  Feng Lian thought they were laughing at her for being overconfident, and she felt a surge of shame and anger. She felt a flame burning from the tip of her heart, making her ears hot and swollen. Just as she was about to fight to the death, she heard Liang Xiao say calmly, "Feng Lian, step back! As the guardian of the sword, I will take it back from him." Feng Lian's eyes lit up with joy, and she exclaimed, "Master, you...you're willing to accept the sword?"

  Liang Xiao nodded silently, Feng Lian knew he had agreed in front of everyone and would not go back on his word. She couldn't help but smile, and as she thought about the hardships she had endured over the years, tears suddenly welled up in her eyes. A string of pearls hung from that smiling face, like a spring flower blooming, with dew still fragrant.

  Liang Xiao didn't notice her little thoughts, and took a step forward to salute Qin Bo Fu: "Qin Tianwang be careful, I'm coming for the sword!" The group of heroes saw that he shouted before snatching the sword, his momentum was already extreme, and suddenly there was a loud whisper.

  Qin Bohu knew that Liang Xiao was not to be underestimated, and he didn't take his boastful words seriously. He calmly said, "Very well, you can come and get it!" He took off the Tian Fa sword and threw it onto the platform, stepping on it with one foot. His intention was not to let the precious sword hinder his movements. Feng Lian, however, was enraged from the bottom of her heart and shouted, "You consumptive devil, if you step on the precious sword again, I...I will also trample you underfoot in the future, making it impossible for you to turn over!" Qin Bohu's attention was fully focused on Liang Xiao, and he didn't respond to her words.

  Everyone in the Tianji Palace felt that if they were to be robbed of their treasure sword by Liang Xiao, it would be a great loss of face. Suddenly, Tong Zhu, Yang Lu, Ming San and others stepped forward one step at a time, standing in front of Qin Bo's left and right sides, while Hua Qingyuan hesitated for a moment before moving to the back of Qin Bo, thus forming a five-element array. It is necessary to know that these five people are all top-notch masters of the Tianji Palace, and this five-element array can withstand any powerful enemy in the world.

  "Five against one, what's the big deal?" Shi Tianfeng said with a frown. Liang Xiao smiled and said, "It doesn't matter." He slightly bowed his head and apologized, "I'm sorry!" Suddenly, he rushed forward more than ten feet, and Tong Zhu and Yang Lu simultaneously threw out four palms. Liang Xiao's body turned sideways and landed beside the two men. Tong Zhu and Yang Lu's palm strength fell empty, and they hastily turned around to defend themselves. Liang Xiao still didn't make a move, and with another turn, his body rushed towards Qin Bosi and Ming Sanlian. The two were just about to throw out their palms when Liang Xiao rotated his body again to avoid them. Seeing him dodging and retreating, the group of heroes thought he was at a disadvantage and began to clamor and jeer loudly.

  Liang Xiao's sleeves fluttered down, his steps quick and nimble, yet he didn't attack. Instead, wherever he went, he pointed out the weaknesses in the Five Elements Formation. The five people forming the array didn't dare to slacken their pace, following him as he moved. Unbeknownst to them, after several turns, they found themselves facing each other. Liang Xiao saw his chance and suddenly sprang into action, striking four palms in quick succession, almost simultaneously targeting Tong, Yang, Qin, and Ming. The four of them felt a surge of energy like a giant boulder crushing them, each exerting their strength to defend against the attack. But just as they thought they had blocked it, Liang Xiao's palm force dissipated, his figure vanishing into thin air. The four of them felt a sudden lightness in their bodies, their internal energy having been forced out by Liang Xiao, unable to be retracted. Tong, Yang, and Ming simultaneously struck Qin Bo with three pairs of palms, almost at the same time. How could Qin Bo withstand the combined force of the three? The palm forces intersected, and he felt a wave of nausea wash over him, his knees weakening, as if he was about to collapse to the ground. Those three were also blocked by the "Giant Spirit Mystical Skill", each taking a step back, their chests feeling extremely congested.

  Hua Qingyuan let out a low cry, took a step forward, and supported Qin Bo with his hand. He retrieved the dan medicine and fed it to him. At this time, Liang Xiao had no one blocking her way, so she floated up and picked up the Tianfa Sword. Qin Bo exclaimed, "Oh no, the treasure sword!" Hua Qingyuan shook his head and sighed, saying, "Brother Qin, what's the use of a mere reputation? One's life is what matters!" Without looking back, he placed his palm on Qin Bo's back and poured in true energy. Qin Bo let out a sigh and didn't say anything else. Liang Xiao heard these words and felt ashamed in her heart.

  Suddenly, someone burst out laughing and said: "Brilliant, brilliant! Your palm strike was flawless, not a single hair's breadth off, and your sword snatch was swift and decisive. It's been ten years since we last met, and your skills have become even more impressive!" Liang Xiao turned to look at the crowd and saw two people walking out with their feet barely touching the ground. They were wearing small hats and had long beards that reached their chests. Liang Xiao felt that he had seen them before, but couldn't quite place where. One of them laughed and said: "Don't you recognize old me?" He took off his hat, revealing a bald head, and then pulled off his beard, showing a round face full of smiles - it was actually Lion Heart Master! The other person also removed his hat and beard, revealing a gaunt face with sunken cheeks - it was Dragon Tooth Upper Master.

  The crowd was in an uproar, and Liang Xiao also felt strange: "What are they doing here?" The Lion Hearted One narrowed his eyes and carefully sized up Liang Xiao, smiling: "You're not only Liang Xiao Ping Zhang, but also the masked intruder who broke into the Great Heavenly King Temple, right?" Liang Xiao had just defeated five top masters with a single move, and it was exactly the same as when he didn't make a single move in the Great Heavenly King Temple, subduing the Nine Departments of Demons.

  Liang Xiao saw that the Lion Hearted One had seen through his disguise and no longer bothered to conceal himself, nodding and saying: "The Honorable One has keen eyes. In those years at the Great Heavenly King Temple, Liang was not convenient to reveal his true appearance." Longya Shangren obtained his personal admission, and his eyes shone with a fierce light, while the Lion Hearted One gave him a knowing glance, laughing and saying: "The old monk understands, it turns out that the masked man is indeed Liang Pingzhang. No wonder they are all accomplished..." Before he had finished speaking, suddenly "Silver Bow Shooting Moon" Zhang Qingyan shouted loudly: "What sinister plot do you two have with your disguises?"

  The lion-hearted one smiled but didn't answer, while the dragon-toothed one let out a heavy hum and coldly said: "You old men are talking, what are you yapping about?" Zhang Qingyan was furious and wanted to retort, but heard the man with the leopard-like beard beside him say: "Brother Zhang, wait a minute, I know these two people." Zhang Qingyan was taken aback, but then heard the leopard-bearded man say in a hateful tone: "These two are Western Region lamas, the thin one is called Longya, and the fat one is called Shixin. In recent years, they have been doing evil in Jiangnan, digging up people's graves to steal jewels, and indulging their disciples in bullying men and cheating women, committing all sorts of atrocities." The group of heroes heard this and were all enraged, cursing loudly. Longya and Shixin showed no shame, with a scornful smile hanging on the corners of their mouths.

  Zhang Qingyan grew more and more annoyed, loudly saying: "Li Ying, are you sure?" Li Ying indignantly said: "How can I not be sure? My several shifu and shixiong, because they saw injustice on the road and had a big fight with this thin lama's disciple..." Zhang Qingyan hastily asked: "What was the result?" Li Ying's face turned purple, his voice lowered: "The result...the result is that we were injured four times, and...and that thin lama didn't even make a move..."

  Zhang Qingyan didn't hear the whole conversation, and suddenly pulled out a slingshot to shoot seven pellets at Sima Zhongda. Sima Zhongda didn't lift his foot or move his hand, but smiled as he looked at Liang Xiao. However, Longyá suddenly rushed forward, and with three swift grabs, caught all seven iron pellets in his hand. Zhang Qingyan was so shocked that his lifelong skills had failed him twice in one day that he stood there stunned.

  Long Ya's gaze swept coldly over the crowd, and with a sudden movement, his two palms closed together. A red glow emanated from between his fingers, accompanied by a burst of white steam. In an instant, he suddenly separated his hands, causing a huge commotion among the onlookers. It turned out that seven iron pellets had been melted into a large, crimson iron ball the size of a fist. Liang Xiao slightly furrowed his brow, thinking to himself that in ten years, this lama's "Mahavairocana Heart Sutra" had become even more refined.

  Longya was pleased in his heart, proudly looking around, but then he heard Shitian Feng laugh and say: "This melting iron into a ball is not even a skill." Longya had a violent temper, hearing this he angrily snorted and said: "I'd like to see the skills of the master of Shitian Island." With a wave of his hand, the red-hot iron ball flew towards Shitian Feng.

  The heavenly wind saw that iron ball, the flames were overflowing, and its momentum was strangely slow. It clearly contained a huge amount of energy. He smiled slightly, stretched out his index finger, and placed it under the iron ball. The iron ball suddenly stopped at his fingertips, spinning rapidly, and the crowd cheered loudly.

  Longya's face turned iron-green, and he sneered: "Will the Island Master still play tricks?" Shitianfeng laughed: "Good, old bald donkey, I'll show you another trick." Longya heard his impudent words, and suddenly his eyebrows stood up straight, with anger in his eyes. Suddenly, he saw Shitianfeng grasp the iron ball, rub it with both palms, and turn it into an iron rod. Then, holding both ends of the rod, he pulled it to the left and right, stretching it longer and thinner until his arms were fully extended. He then folded the thin iron rod in half, pulling it to the left and right, making it seem as if the iron ball and rod had become a lump of dough that could be molded at will. Shenxin and Longya watched with their eyes wide, both turning pale.

  After folding and stretching repeatedly for ten times, the large iron ball was pulled into a thin iron wire. Shi Tianfeng stopped his hand and laughed: "Thin donkey, how is my Ling Ao Island's noodle pulling skill?" Long Ya had not replied yet, when Ling Shuiyue interrupted: "What's yours is yours, what's called Ling Ao Island's noodle pulling skill?" Shi Tianfeng smiled apologetically: "Madam is right, reputation is important, don't let others take us for noodle shop assistants." Ling Shuiyue gave him a white eye and said: "This is more like it."

  Ordinary people think it's easy to do what Shi Tianfeng does, but a high-level martial artist knows how difficult it is. The iron wire is not as soft as a dough ball after all. What's most difficult is to pull the iron wire into a general thickness, and also make sure that every strand is unbroken. Not only did Sima Yi and Long Yatong feel shocked and intimidated, but Liang Xiao also sincerely praised: "Shi Tianfeng's skill is something I don't dare to match." Shi Tianfeng laughed loudly and said: "Don't be in a hurry to admit defeat, my skills are not limited to this!" He carefully folded the thin iron wire in his hand once, using force from both sides. Suddenly, there was a series of snapping sounds, and more than half of the thin iron wire broke off. It turned out that human strength has its limits, and when the iron wire is pulled to an extreme degree, it can't withstand Shi Tianfeng's reckless pull, causing it to break off in large quantities.

  The Lion Hearted One burst out laughing and said, "Is this the skill of the Island Master?" Shi Tianfeng stared at the broken thread, his face turning red then white, white then green, and he let out a loud snort. The Lion Hearted One smiled slightly and bowed to Liang Xiao, saying, "Liang Xiao Ping Zhang..." Liang Xiao cut him off, saying, "You can just call me Liang Xiao." The Lion Hearted One laughed and said, "Where, where? Although the General is not here, his remaining prestige in the army still exists. His former subordinates, Tuhaha and Li Ting, defeated the Mongolian kings one after another, their military achievements were unparalleled at that time, even stronger than Wokou Tai Khan Hai, who upon hearing Tuhaha's name would retreat without a fight!"

  Liang Xiao said calmly, "Let's not mention past events. Liang Xiao is just a humble citizen, not worthy of your attention." Shi Xin, the respected one, laughed and said, "Don't say that, Ping Zhang's martial arts are unmatched in the world, and I have always admired him. The emperor has been searching for talents like a thirsty man, and if Ping Zhang is willing to return, his future prospects will be limitless!" As he spoke, he glanced at the group of heroes with a slanted gaze and said loudly, "As for these remnants of the Southern Dynasty, they are incompetent and dare to challenge Ping Zhang. They don't know life or death. Although my master brothers' martial arts are not impressive, they are filled with righteous indignation. Today, if we challenge Ping Zhang, it's equivalent to challenging my master brothers. Ping Zhang, let's not hesitate, let's have a fierce battle and kill them all, staining the lake with blood and covering the ground with corpses. This will make these rebellious remnants know the power of our Great Yuan Dynasty." Shi Xin knew that Liang Xiao was in a difficult situation and would not be able to retreat without external help. By lending him a hand, it would be like a timely rain from heaven, and Liang Xiao would have no reason to refuse. This person's reputation was well-known throughout the land, and if he could recruit him, it would be a great achievement. If he could also use his hands to severely defeat these remnants of the Southern Dynasty, it would be a double gain.

  The crowd was shocked as they listened, and Liang Xiao alone was already a formidable opponent. If he were to join forces with these two barbarian monks, the consequences would be disastrous. For a moment, all eyes fell on Liang Xiao.

  Ling Shui Yue thought: "If Liang Xiao wins against these two foreign monks, things will be very bad. But the old man has promised to let him try, and he's already lost twice. If he goes back on his word now, the prestige of Ling Wu Island for hundreds of years will be ruined. Besides, Liang Xiao has helped me before, I shouldn't be too biased towards Tianji Palace." She was torn in her mind, extremely hesitant.

  Feng Lian thought: "These two monks aren't good people, but they're great helpers. I just don't know what Master's intentions are?" She glanced over and saw Liang Xiao looking calm and collected, without a hint of joy or anger.

  Long Ya, who had a fiery temper, couldn't bear it: "General Liang, a real man makes decisions quickly, why hesitate?" Liang Xiao replied calmly: "I'm not hesitating, I just find it amusing." Shi Xin furrowed his brow: "What's so funny about this?"

  Liang Xiao smiled slightly and said, "Do you think I, Liang, am not worthy again? How could I be with the tomb robbers? Long Ya, Shi Xin, you two also underestimate people too much!"

  As soon as this was said, Mu Tai fell silent, and Hua Qingyuan's heart felt relieved of a heavy burden: "After all, I didn't misjudge this child. Although he has made mistakes in major matters, he is never ambiguous in minor ones." She immediately put aside her worries and devoted herself to treating Qin Bo's injuries.

  Lion heart, dragon tooth one fat and thin two faces swollen like pig blood, four eyes wide open, staring at Liang Xiao. Jia Xiūcái suddenly emerged from the crowd, broke his fan and pointed at the two of them, laughing: "Wonderful! Wonderful! Liang Xiao is not suitable to be with you, he is human, you are dogs and pigs, if he were a pig or dog, you would be worse than pigs and dogs..." Dragon tooth's face changed, he let out a heavy hum, and suddenly a scorch mark appeared on the wooden board under his feet, quickly crawling towards Jia Xiūcái's feet like a snake. Liang Xiao saw it and shouted: "Be careful!"

  Jia Xiutai was speaking with great enthusiasm when he suddenly felt a burning sensation on his feet. He looked down and saw that his shoes, socks, and pants were engulfed in flames. He was shocked and quickly jumped up, but the flames followed him, and before he could even land back on the ground, the flames had already reached his feet. In just two movements, Jia Xiutai's clothes were completely ablaze, turning him into a human torch. The crowd watched in horror as he frantically waved his arms and legs, his body engulfed in flames. Chi Xianyu was the first to react, rushing forward with concern etched on his face. He grabbed Jia Xiutai's arm, but immediately felt a wave of heat wash over him, and his sleeve caught fire. Without hesitation, he dragged Jia Xiutai several steps towards the edge of the stage and threw him into the lake with a loud splash. They didn't pull him out until the flames were extinguished. When they finally did, Jia Xiutai's clothes were in tatters, his hair was singed, and his body was covered in burns. He looked utterly disheveled.

  Chi Yan's eyes widened as he put down Jia Xiuzai, his hands on his hips, and said angrily: "Good move, Chi Yan still wants to learn from you." Long Ya looked up at the sky with a cold smile, and another scorch mark extended towards Chi Yan from under her feet.

  Chi Yan Yu knew that the scar was strange, but he couldn't think of a way to deal with it. Since his words had already been spoken, there was no reason for him to back down. Just as he felt at a loss, a figure appeared in front of him, and Hua Qing Yuan stood with his hands in his sleeves, saying warmly: "Brother Chi, this little trick is nothing, I'll take care of it first. Brother Jia's injury is not light, you take him down to get medical treatment." These words gave Chi Yan Yu a way out, while also subtly taking the burden off his shoulders. Chi Yan Yu was deeply grateful, and saw that the scar's momentum slowed down, twisting like a living snake before stopping two feet in front of Hua Qing Yuan.

  Hua Qingyuan smiled slightly and said, "The 'Great Round and Perfect Heart' of the Upper Person has been obtained, but how can it not be broken through the boundless worldly emotions?" Longya Shangren was seen through by him, his heart skipped a beat, and he replied in a low voice, "Hua Gongzhu's insight is indeed profound, but I wonder how your martial arts skills are?" The two men spoke with veiled intentions, asking and answering casually, while their feet continuously emitted internal energy, attacking and defending each other from afar.

  "The Great Perfection of the Mind" is an esoteric Buddhist technique that absorbs the essence of the sun and moon, making one's body strong and unmatched. Many high-ranking monks would gather their disciples before passing away, stimulate their inner energy, and burn their bodies to ashes, earning them the title "Rainbow Body". Longya's "Great Perfection of the Mind" had reached the eighth level, allowing him to set people ablaze without warning, making it a formidable feat. Hua Qingyuan saw that this lama's internal power was extraordinary, and he would be hard-pressed to find an opponent. In his haste, he stepped forward, his martial arts skills were already high, and in the past decade, he had made significant progress, surpassing Longya by a hair, but his calm demeanor prevented him from taking advantage of the situation, choosing instead to only block Longya's energy, hoping he would retreat upon realizing his disadvantage.

  The Lion Hearted One saw the situation, secretly mobilizing his energy, forcing out his inner strength from the sole of his foot, and merging it with Long Ya's "Great Round Full Heart Marrow" to form a single force, rapidly attacking Hua Qing Yuan. His "Compassionate Broadness Buddha Mother Divine Skill" had reached its peak, even more formidable than Long Ya's. Hua Qing Yuan only felt the opponent's strength suddenly increase, making it difficult to resist, as the scorching mark crawled over, inch by inch, his forehead instantly beading with fine sweat.

  Liang Xiao thought: "These two lamas are taking advantage of the situation, being shameless and thick-skinned. It wouldn't be difficult for me to take them down, but those stinky lamas are waving the flag of helping me, so it's not good for me to make a move against them." Just as he was feeling troubled, he suddenly saw Hua Wuyan walking through the crowd, floating over to his side, and standing carelessly behind Hua Qingyuan. Jiao Hen moved slightly before stopping again. Liang Xiao made up his mind: "It's settled then, Tianji Palace has many capable people, why do I need to take the lead?"

  Both sides were at a stalemate for a while, when Lion Heart suddenly laughed and said: "The Central Plains really have no one left, hundreds of men standing there but still need a woman to take the lead." Flower Unknowing calmly replied: "What's wrong with that? Do you look down on women? You practice 'Cibei Guangdu Fomu Shen Gong', shouldn't you know that Buddha was also born from a woman?" Lion Heart's face twitched slightly, and he laughed: "How dare I, how dare I. Your martial arts skills are even more impressive than mine, so I let out a sigh of emotion. Thinking back to when General Bayan led his troops to Lin'an, the Song Dynasty army surrendered, it was indeed '100,000 soldiers put down their armor, not one man among them'." His last two sentences were spoken with internal force and were very loud. Because this was true, Flower Unknowing was speechless for a moment. The heroes were even more furious, but thinking about fighting alone, no one could be the opponent of these two. Shi Tianfeng was also restricted by his promise and couldn't take action, so he just angrily shouted loudly.

  Suddenly, a voice came from the lake: "Who says that the great Song Dynasty has no more men?" The sound was like a thunderclap on flat ground, deceiving mountains and valleys, shaking everyone's ears buzzing. The heroes were delighted, shouting in unison: "Yun Daxia!" The Lion Hearted One's heart skipped a beat, turned his head to look back, and saw over ten small boats jumping out of the Caibei Gorge, with one person standing at the bow of the leading boat, whose eyebrows seemed to be painted, clothes and hats were snowy white, and the five-colored sword tassel on his shoulder was shaking straight in the mountain wind.

  The crowd shouted again: "Yun Da Xia!" Amidst the shouting, the boat came like a flying arrow, within six feet of the wooden platform. Yun Shu's foot tapped the ground once, and the tail of the boat rose three feet high. The crowd only felt a strong gust of wind hitting their faces, and when they looked up again, Yun Shu was already standing above the wooden platform.

  Longya saw Yunshu, a person who had not yet reached the shore. His voice and prestige were already overwhelming, with the intention of suppressing his momentum. Without waiting for him to land, he suddenly rushed out and slapped out with one palm. The crowd did not expect that this generation's high monk would launch a sneak attack. Before they could shout, they suddenly heard Yunshu let out a loud roar, and his palms shot out rapidly. In an instant, the fierce wind howled, and the scorching waves pressed in on people. Longya let out a loud cry, and before his feet even touched the ground, he had already tumbled out more than ten feet away.

  Yun Shu's body flashed, and he shouted: "Thieving monk, receive my third palm!" His body was like a whirlwind, and his palm struck towards Long Ya's chest. Long Ya had no way to dodge, and he welcomed the attack with his own palm, but felt that Yun Shu's palm was like a mountain, and his whole body was about to scatter. He fell back three feet, still unable to stand steadily, and spun around twice, his face alternating between red and white. Before he could steady himself, he heard Yun Shu's sudden shout: "Third palm!" The voice had barely faded when the palm arrived, even more fierce than the previous two.

  Longya gathered his remaining strength to block the attack, and the four palms intersected, producing a deafening sound like thunder. Longya's hands danced in the air as he leaped over the heads of the crowd and splashed into the lake with a loud "splash". He had already circulated the "Great Round Perfect Heart" to its fullest extent earlier, and now his body was burning like hot coals, not only stirring up waves but also steaming off large clouds of water vapor.

  Longyao's mighty aura was overwhelming, but who would have thought that he would be knocked into the lake with just three palms? The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Shenxin Zun was even more shocked and furious, gritting his teeth as he took advantage of Longyao's momentary distraction to launch a surprise attack on Yunshu's back, his two palms slicing through the air like sharp blades.

  Yun Shu's perception was sharp, and before the wind had even arrived, he had already turned around. His left fist was like a hook, pressing down on Shi Xin's right wrist, while his right palm faced up against Shi Xin's left palm. Suddenly, their fists and palms clashed, with Yun Shu pushing to the right and pulling to the left, exerting two powerful forces that were astonishingly great. Just then, there was a loud cracking sound, and Shi Xin stumbled backward three steps, his face turning pale as mud, with one of his arms hanging down like a dead snake.

  Yun Shu did not take advantage of the victory to pursue, standing still like a mountain, staring at Shi Xin's heart and shouting: "Who said that the Great Song Dynasty has no more men?" He shook off three palms, flying Dragon Tooth, and dropped Shi Xin's right arm with half an invitation. At this time, Lei Ting shouted, and Shi Xin's body suddenly shook, his eyes widened, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

  Shi Tianfeng's eyes lit up, and he shouted loudly: "Are you the disciple of Lao Qiong Su? Your kung fu isn't bad, come on, let me teach you a couple of moves!" He rubbed his fists together excitedly. Ling Shuimeng grabbed him and scolded: "Old man, don't interfere with other people's business." She looked at Yun Shuxi's powerful aura and felt a slight fear in her heart, worried that Shi Tianfeng would lose face in public. Shi Tianfeng was pulled back by her, unwillingly retreating to the side.

  With a splash, the dragon tooth emerged from the water, shook its body and shouted: "Don't be reckless, old monk hasn't lost yet!" It turned out that his three quick retreats had dissipated most of the palm force, so he hadn't been seriously injured. He thought to himself that he could still fight again. Everyone saw him being stubborn and burst out laughing. Jia Xiuzai took the opportunity to joke: "Have you guys heard a joke?" Someone asked: "What's the joke?"

  Jia Xiutai unfolded the fan and swept it across the ground, the fan had been burned by fire, charred and tattered, he didn't care about its appearance, shook the fan and laughed: "Speaking of which, there was a person reading Buddhist scriptures on the shore, but a pig was swimming in the water." Feng Lian asked strangely: "Can pigs swim?" Jia Xiutai said: "There are many strange things in the world, people can fart with their mouths, why can't pigs swim?" The people around him snickered and laughed secretly, Feng Lian suddenly realized that Jia Xiutai was scolding someone again, pouted her small mouth and hummed angrily.

  "Then, the pig asked: 'What is this thing?' The man replied truthfully: 'This is called a book!' The pig pointed to two curved characters on the book and asked: 'And what are these wavy things?' The man said: 'These are read as "old monk", it's how I refer to myself.' Haha, everyone guess what the pig said next?" Nineteen people couldn't guess, so someone intentionally asked: "What did he say?""

  Jia Xiutai burst out laughing and said: "That pig was stunned for a while, then suddenly said: 'Strange, why do you have books but I don't?' The crowd erupted into loud laughter, with someone shouting: "Pig-headed and brainless, having books or not is all the same!" Long Ya's face turned red and green, glaring fiercely at Jia Xiutai, thinking to himself that once he got his hands on this scoundrel, he would make sure he couldn't escape alive.

  Feng Lian coldly smiled and said, "Jia Xiūcái, you only know how to scold people as pigs and dogs. Look at your own appearance, it's like a dead pig with its hair burnt off." Everyone took a look, Jia Xiūcái's beard was dry and brittle, his whole body was drenched, except for being slightly thin, he really had some of the demeanor of a burnt-haired pig. The onlookers couldn't help but secretly laugh. Longyá Shàng rén glanced at Feng Lian with gratitude in her heart.

  Jia Xiutai remained calm and composed, fanning himself with a smile: "Miss, you don't know that pigs are associated with the 'Dun' hexagram in the I Ching. The Dun hexagram says: 'Good fortune for the gentleman, misfortune for the small man.' In other words, pigs can also be good or bad. A good pig like me can bring good luck to good people and calamity to evil people, punishing the wicked and promoting the virtuous - what a great achievement! As for those who refuse to admit defeat, they are all bad pigs..." He was misinterpreting the hexagram, getting more and more excited, when suddenly he furrowed his brow in surprise, made a bow to Hua Qingyuan and the others, and laughed loudly: "Using a big axe in front of Lu Ban's gate, discussing the I Ching in front of the Tianji Palace - I didn't mean to be presumptuous, I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed."

  Feng Lian couldn't help but burst out laughing at his comical appearance: "It seems that your thick-skinned and sturdy body can withstand even scalding." Jia Xiucan bowed with a smile: "Miss, you're overpraising me, I'm just lucky to have survived." Feng Lian said: "Among all the skins, only the facial skin is the thickest." Jia Xiucan's expression didn't change, he let out a hearty laugh and shook his head saying: "You know me well, Miss." Feng Lian was at a loss for words and could only clench her teeth in frustration.

  The other boats also arrived, and the people on board were all tall and handsome men, a total of twenty-eight people. He Xiangyang and Jin Weng were among them, all dressed in white clothes, but different from Yun Shu. These men had a red silk ribbon tied around their foreheads. The Lion Hearted One connected his broken arm himself, took a few deep breaths, and the pain slightly eased. Suddenly seeing the red ribbons on everyone's forehead, he was startled, and coldly smiled: "Your surname is Yun, are you the leader of the Jiangxi Red Ribbon Army, Yun Shu?" Yun Shu said: "That's right!"

  Lion heart, dragon tooth are all in one, the Red Bandits roam freely in Jiangxi and Guangdong, repeatedly at odds with the Yuan court. The Yuan court is extremely worried, several times they have besieged and attacked, but each time they suffered losses and their generals were defeated, without achieving any success.

  Shi Xin and Long Ya exchanged a glance, both thinking: "This person is the greatest villain under heaven. Today we are trapped in this place, with no way to escape alive. If we can just kill him, it will be worth our lives." Suddenly they had the intention of risking their lives. Shi Xin's superior shouted loudly: "Yun Daxia, earlier my two junior brothers and I were too careless and suffered defeat. Now we request another battle, Yun Daxia, will you agree?"

  "Please!" Yun Shu said coldly. The Lion Hearted One's face turned gloomy, and he slowly raised his palm to strike Yun Shu's left flank. Before Yun Shu could even react, the Dragon Toothed One took a swift step forward, and a blast of air shot towards his right flank like a hot arrow. The crowd gasped in shock and anger, shouting in unison: "You stinky bald donkey, you're not ashamed to gang up on him?" Hua Qingyuan shouted loudly: "Brother Yun, I'll help you!" He took a step forward, but suddenly heard Yun Shu laugh and say: "Please, Palace Master, sit back down and watch me take down these enemies!" As he spoke, his two palms shot out, unleashing two powerful gusts of wind that countered the Lion Hearted One and the Dragon Toothed One simultaneously. The Lion Hearted One and the Dragon Toothed One had initially underestimated Yun Shu, but now they were fully focused on working together to take him down, and their combined strength was greatly increased.

  Lion's heart, dragon's teeth attack swiftly, Cloud's fists and palms are incredibly fast. He created the "Surprise Shadow Interlocking Fist", which has reached a realm close to divine. The fist intent chases the shadow, the shadow arrives and the fist follows. To onlookers, as soon as one fist is thrown, the next fist has already caught up with the shadow of the first fist. When fighting intensifies, forms and shadows interlock, coming and going like tides, it's unclear how many Clouds are running around in the arena.

  Three people exchanged blows quickly, and in the blink of an eye, they had exchanged fifty or sixty moves. The Lion Heart and Dragon Tooth Palm techniques were unleashed, one emitting a hot wave that soared into the sky, the other releasing a cold energy that sent shivers down the spine. Yun Shu was like a person standing in a furnace of ice and fire, using his internal energy to defend himself. Gradually, the right half of his body turned crimson red, while the left half revealed a pale blue color. The group of heroes watched him fight for a long time without falling back, when suddenly an unusual phenomenon occurred, causing them all to worry. Suddenly, Yun Shu let out a long whistle and turned around to pull out his sword, stabbing Dragon Tooth in the abdomen with the sword still in its scabbard. Dragon Tooth groaned in pain and fell to the ground. Lion Heart was shocked and tried to retreat, but suddenly saw Yun Shu swing his sword to strike him down. In a panic, he raised his palm to block the attack. The flesh of his palm collided with the sword scabbard, producing a cracking sound, causing Lion Heart's palm bones to shatter, the pain piercing through his heart and lungs. Before he could let out a pained cry, Yun Shu's sword flashed out and stabbed him in the "Xin Zhong" acupoint. Lion Heart's pale face turned crimson red, and he stumbled backward like a drunkard, his throat making gurgling sounds. Suddenly, his eyes rolled back, and he fell to the ground with a loud thud, his back hitting the wooden stage with a resounding crash.

  Jing Wenzhen saw the situation and rushed up, raising his sword to slash at the two monks' necks. Suddenly, he heard Yun Shu say: "Their martial arts skills are already crippled, they're not worth harming. They said that the Great Song has no more men, so let's send them out to show the world whether or not the Great Song has men?" The crowd burst into laughter, and Yun Shu swept his sleeve, gazing at the two monks on the ground, saying sternly: "Get out of here!" Long Ya's injuries were slightly lighter, he struggled up, supporting Xin, stumbled onto the small boat, and drifted away with the current.

  Liang Xiao frowned, thinking that this move was too impulsive and reckless. These two barbarian monks had come to this place with unclear intentions, how could they be easily let go after a moment of pleasure? But Yun Shu's victory was exhilarating, shaking the foreign lands and greatly boosting the morale of the Chinese warriors. The heroes only cared about the thrill of it all, without considering anything else. Just as Liang Xiao was filled with doubts, he suddenly saw Yun Shu turn around and stare at him, his eyes cold and piercing. The two men's gazes met, seeming to spark a fire. Yun Shu slowly spoke: "After ten years, you are still safe and sound, I am truly overjoyed!" His words expressed joy, but his face was icy cold, without any hint of happiness.

  Liang Xiao said calmly, "Your Excellency is still in the mortal realm, how could I dare to die first? However, your arrival is quite timely, if you were late by even half a minute, I fear we wouldn't have met." Yun Shu smiled and said, "A sudden battle broke out, and I couldn't extricate myself for the time being. That's why I asked everyone to come and keep you company for a while. Fortunately, we arrived in time. If you had died at someone else's sword, wouldn't I have regretted it for the rest of my life?" Liang Xiao smiled slightly and patted his sword, saying, "Let's not waste words, are you all going to come at me together or use the wheel formation?" Yun Shu shook his head, "Since Cloud has arrived, we won't be using any group attacks or wheel formations." Liang Xiao said, "Then it's a one-on-one duel?" Yun Shu shouted loudly, "That's right! A wish of over ten years will finally be fulfilled today!"

  Up until now, the two of them were calm and composed, not at all like sworn enemies meeting, but rather like old friends reuniting; only those who deeply understood their grudge could hear the murderous intent hidden in their words.

  Liang Xiao nodded and said, "So, this will decide both victory and defeat as well as life and death?" Yun Shu's expression turned solemn, "That's right, it will decide both victory and defeat, as well as life and death!" Hua Mu Rong heard these words and her heart skipped a beat. She involuntarily cried out, "Yun Lang!" Yun Shu's sturdy body shook, he turned his head to look back, and saw that his wife and child were standing there. Hua Mu Rong's delicate face was filled with shock and fear, the small child in her arms stared at Yun Shu with big round eyes, and suddenly called out in a clear voice, "Daddy!"

  Yun Shu's eyebrows twitched at the sound. Over the years, he had been through life and death for the great cause of restoring the country, with his wife rarely together and often apart. Now that they were reunited after a long time, they would have to decide their fate again. If he lost, what would happen to his wife and daughter? As soon as this thought occurred to him, his heart was in turmoil, but this hesitation only lasted for a moment. Yun Shu took a deep breath, thinking that he couldn't let his mind be disturbed before the battle had even begun. He gritted his teeth and shifted his gaze away from his wife and child. Hua Mu Rong looked at him with a calm expression, smiled sadly, handed the child to the maid, and pressed her slender fingers on the hilt of the sword at her waist.

  Liang Xiao sighed and said, "I, Liang, have lost, and all is over. If I were to win by luck, what then?" Yun Shu replied, "If you win, naturally no one will stop you from leaving!" As soon as he spoke, the murmurs of discussion erupted. Jing Wen stepped forward and shouted, "Master Uncle, why bother with him? With a chaotic slash, are we afraid this beast won't die?" Yun Shu shook his head and said, "In the martial world, it's not like killing enemies on the battlefield; to gang up on one person is not the behavior of a good hero!" Jing Wen looked ashamed, lowered his head, and said, "Master Uncle's teachings are correct!"

  Yun Shu's eyes swept across the crowd of heroes, his voice loud and clear: "But if Yun Mou loses, I ask you all to keep your promise and not trouble this person, even if it's for revenge, wait until later." The crowd saw his solemn expression, and they all felt a sense of tragic heroism. Liang Xiao also nodded unconsciously: "This man's heroic spirit is far superior to what he was like before."

  Yun Shu's hand grasped the hilt and drew out the sword, its body shining brightly and clearly, with a faint flash of red light. Yun Shu held up the sword tip and said in a low voice: "This sword has long been stained with blood, with a bloody glow surging between its blades, like a fiery light, hence its name Flame Dragon. In my hands, it has beheaded 3,394 people, and you are the 3,395th." Liang Xiao smiled and said: "Nine-five is the most revered number, if I can offer my head, then I am indeed fortunate. But I wonder, among those 3,394 people, how many were evil, and how many were good?"

  Yun Shu's expression changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "Those who achieve great things do not get bogged down in trivial matters, and it is inevitable that innocent people will be mistakenly killed." Liang Xiao nodded and said: "This statement shows that you are open-minded." As he spoke, he drew out the Heavenly Punishment Sword. Everyone looked at it and saw that it was a rusty sword, and they all burst out laughing. Feng Lian's face turned red with anger and she said: "What's so funny? A precious sword isn't like a girl who has to look good, what's the point of making fun of it?" The laughter from the crowd grew even louder. Jia Xiucai laughed and said: "Miss, you don't understand, an ugly girl can still be a wife and have children, but if a sword is rusty, it's a matter of life and death." Yun Shu also said: "If the sword is not suitable for use, it can be replaced." Liang Xiao shook his head and said: "No need to." His expression became serious, and he stroked the long sword with his hand. In a slow voice, he said: "Even a blade made of grass or wood can harm people, let alone this sword which is the best in the world and has only killed one person since it was forged." As he spoke these last two sentences, his voice was like thunder rumbling, and it suddenly covered up the laughter in the room.

  Yun Shu's face changed slightly, and he said coldly, "The number one sword in the world? Humph, aren't you bragging?" Liang Xiao said, "Absolutely not!" Yun Shu nodded and said, "Good, please come on!" Liang Xiao bowed slightly, his long sword slanting downwards as he said, "Please!" As soon as the word "please" left his mouth, their swords had already clashed. These two were both geniuses of the current generation's swordsmanship, each trying to gain the upper hand in this exchange, a whirlwind of swift sword moves that seemed like a scattering of light and shadow, leaving onlookers dazed and almost breathless.

  The winds howled as they clashed several times, and Liang Xiao felt that the sword was like a cloud, changing unpredictably in an instant, leaving no trace to follow. Not only could he not see the shadow of the "Eight Great Sword Paths", but even the meaning of "Returning to Storage" had been transformed away. The sword came and went, and it seemed that there was no sign of the natural ease of the first heaven. Liang Xiao fought more and more astonishingly: "This person's swordsmanship is as strong as that of Qiong Ru Gong Yang in his heyday, but it's a bit too ruthless."

  These years, Yun Shu has been roaming the battlefield, killing countless people. Yuan Ting sent out spies and assassins to get rid of him, but he was able to evade them all. His swordsmanship was forged in the heat of battle, and once unleashed, it was almost impossible to defend against. But as he fought with Liang Xiao, he began to feel puzzled: "This guy's martial arts skills were already impressive back then, and I couldn't defeat him even if I wanted to. But now, his sword moves seem to be following the principles of the I Ching, yet they're also somehow natural and effortless, making it clear what he's doing but impossible to counter." The two men each had their own thoughts, and their sword moves gradually became more intricate and unpredictable, sometimes fast and sometimes slow. When they were fast, they were like a whirlwind, swift and furious; when they were slow, the sword tips seemed to float like willow catkins, as if suspended in mid-air.

  At times swift, at times slow, seemingly calm but in the eyes of a master, it's more thrilling than a quick sword attack. To know that a quick sword attack is just a burst of energy and speed. At this moment, not only is strength being contested, but also great wisdom and strategy. The slower pace of the moves may be due to fake moves to lure the enemy or to observe the enemy's true intentions, storing up power and momentum. Just like before a thunderstorm, there are strong winds, dark clouds gathering, thunder and lightning, and finally heavy rain. Even heaven and earth exercise their power with restraint, let alone ordinary martial arts. Therefore, the slower they draw their swords, the more thoughtful and deliberate they are. If they don't draw their swords, it's already a sign of caution; if they do, it must be a fatal move. Both of them are rare masters in this world, deeply understanding this principle. One person slows down, and the opponent will naturally have doubts, not daring to freely wield their quick sword, lest they reveal their weaknesses.

  Shi Tianfeng was forced to watch from the sidelines by his wife, feeling somewhat disheartened. However, he had a natural inclination towards martial arts and upon seeing the subtle techniques, he couldn't help but be excited, shouting and cheering, occasionally throwing punches and kicks, analyzing the changes in both parties' moves, and commenting on their gains and losses. As an observer, he was able to point out the flaws at times, but it's easy to say yet difficult to do; although the two combatants could hear his words clearly, they were frustrated by their opponent's rapid and unpredictable changes, making it hard for them to seize the opportunity to win.

  Feng Lian looked anxious, leaning close to Shi Tianfeng and asked: "Shi Island Master, who do you think has a better chance of winning?" Shi Tianfeng said: "It's hard to say, Liang Xiazi's swordsmanship is excellent, and the one surnamed Yun is not bad either. It's truly admirable that Gong Yang has taught such disciples." As he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on the arena, his two index fingers weaving in and out like treasured swords, constantly analyzing the changes.

  Feng Lian was disappointed and pouted, saying: "Among the martial artists here, you are the best. If you can't even say it, who else can?" Shi Tianfeng heard this and was overjoyed, saying: "Little girl, you have a good point. Of course, my martial arts skills are the best." Feng Lian's eyes sparkled as she asked: "Shi Island Master, when you fought against Yun, who was more powerful?" Shi Tianfeng didn't think twice and blurted out: "Needless to say, I'm the one who's more powerful!" Feng Lian smiled and said: "Really? So it's certain that my master will win?" Shi Tianfeng was puzzled and asked: "What do you mean by this?" Feng Lian explained: "At the Iron Tower in Kaifeng, Master defeated you by half a move, which means he is more powerful than you. Now you say you are more powerful than Yun, so logically speaking, doesn't that mean Master is even more powerful than Yun?"

  Shi Tianfeng scratched his head and said, "This, this..." He had lost to Liang Xiao, and it was a fact that he couldn't deny. But beating Yun Shu was just bragging, something he had never tried before. Feng Lian didn't give him time to think about it, and asked in one breath, "Is the master of Shi Island bluffing, and originally not as good as Cloud?" Shi Tianfeng angrily said, "Nonsense!" He cursed crudely, but Feng Lian wasn't angry, and smiled slyly, saying, "If the master of Shi Island isn't bragging, then Master will definitely win." Shi Tianfeng thought that the little girl was right, Liang Xiao had won against him by half a move, and he had lost to Yun Shu. Wouldn't he also lose? He became anxious for a moment, and loudly said, "That's right, Liang kid will definitely win, Cloud will definitely lose."

  Apart from Liang and Yun, the strongest martial artist here is Shi Tianfeng. As soon as he spoke, the surrounding heroes couldn't help but worry. Shi Tianfeng's words were immediately followed by action, and his speech was full of provocative remarks towards Yun Shu. For a time, it was as if Liang Xiao's martial arts had been added to Shi Tianfeng's insight, and the two great masters joined forces to fight Yun Shu alone. Yun Shu gradually felt the pressure, and was slowly at a disadvantage.

  Hua Wuying glanced at Feng Lian with a hint of disdain, thinking to herself that this little girl was quite cunning. She smiled slightly and said, "Master Shi Island, take a break for now. I'd like to make a bet with you." Shi Tianfeng asked curiously, "What's the bet?" Hua Wuying replied with a smile, "Let's guess who will win in the sword fight between the two on stage." Shi Tianfeng laughed and said, "Alright, what's the reward if I win?"

  Hua Wuying smiled and said, "I've won, please instruct my grandson in a powerful martial art." Shi Tianfeng smiled and said, "That's easy. What if I win?" Hua Wuying smiled and said, "If you win, Master Shi, I'll let you take a look at the 'Taiyi Splitting Light Sword Spectrum' of my Tiangong Palace."

  Shi Tianfeng was overjoyed and blurted out, "Is this true?" As it happens, the "Taiyi Split Light Sword" is a palace-keeping ultimate technique of the Tianji Palace, which has reached the pinnacle of martial arts. In those years, Hua Wuyan and Gong Yangyu used this swordsmanship to join forces and defeat Xiao Qianju, who was defeated and fled. Shi Tianfeng was obsessed with martial arts and had come to the Tianji Palace several times to borrow the sword spectrum for a look, but no matter how hard he tried to persuade Hua Wuyan, she always politely declined. Unexpectedly, today her words were loose, and how could he not be happy?

  Hua Wuyan said calmly, "In front of all the heroes in the world, how can I not keep my word?" Shi Tianfeng was overjoyed and clapped his hands, saying, "Good! I've made a bet." Hua Wuyan smiled and said, "Shi Island Master is quick-witted. Between us two, let's each guess one person's fate." Shi Tianfeng said, "Alright, are you betting on Yun Shu's victory?"

  Hua Wuyan shook her head and said, "No, I think Liang Xiao will win!" The crowd responded with surprise: "Yun Shu is his beloved wife, how could she bet on the enemy winning?" Shi Tianfeng didn't hesitate, opening his mouth to say, "Good, I'll bet on Yun Shu winning." As soon as he spoke, he felt awkward and scratched his head, saying, "Ah, no, no, I just said Liang Xiao would win earlier."

  Hua Wenyin's face sank, and she said seriously: "Shi Island Master, in front of all the heroes, we have no second words. If Liang Xiao wins, you will teach Yuan'er martial arts; if Cloud Xi wins, I will hand over the 'Taiyi Split Light Sword Spectrum' immediately." Shi Tianfeng frowned, thinking that if Liang Xiao won, he would not only lose the bet but also have to spend effort teaching that little rascal martial arts. If Yun Xi won, he could see the coveted sword spectrum, which seemed like a very good deal.

  He changed his mind and gazed at the arena, saying: "Cloud Xiazi's swordsmanship is off, if he had stabbed the 'Shenque' acupoint, Liang Xiazi would have been in trouble. Hmm, good, stab upwards at 'Xialing', right, and downwards at 'Tianquan'." His tone changed from before, and he began to instruct Cloud Shu's swordsmanship with a serious expression.

  Ling Shui Yue couldn't help but glance at Hua Wu Xian, thinking: "Hua's daughter is clever and quick-witted, just a few words and she's forced the old man to change his mind." At this point, she had no choice but to sigh deeply and watch from the sidelines.

  Feng Lian felt more and more that something was off as she listened, and angrily said: "Shi Daozhu, you're being really biased." Shi Tianfeng pretended not to hear, muttering to himself. Feng Lian stomped her foot, raised her palm to strike Shi Tianfeng, but Shi Tianfeng didn't even turn his head, stretching out a finger to press the "Wu Shu" acupoint on Feng Lian's body, rendering her immobile. As she tried to curse him, her throat felt dry and before she could get a word out, tears began streaming down her face.

  Hua Jingyuan suddenly let out a muffled hum and pounced up, punching and kicking at Shi Tianfeng. Shi Tianfeng dodged the two fists and glared, saying: "You little scoundrel, you're also coming to hit me?" Everyone felt strange, Hua Jingyuan's small face was tense as he continued to wildly punch and kick, but Shi Tianfeng had no choice but to release a burst of energy that sent him tumbling down. Hua Wuying loved this grandson the most, and hastily rushed forward to relieve his acupressure points, but Shi Tianfeng's "Wuxiang Divine Needle" was too formidable, and Hua Wuying tried several techniques to no avail, and couldn't help but angrily say: "Shi Tianfeng, why did you hurt my Jingyuan?"

  Shi Tianfeng glanced at her and thought to himself, "I see, this little girl is intentionally causing trouble, trying to help Liang Xiao win, forcing me to teach him martial arts. Hmph, Hua Wuyue is helping her out, she's also afraid that I'll surpass her and take a look at her sword manual. Heh, you two are in cahoots, how can I fall for it?" He smiled and continued to assist Yun Shu without paying attention to them.

  Flower Mirror thought to himself, "Now is not the time for sword fighting, I absolutely cannot offend this person. But he hit my Round Hole acupoint and it can't be settled like this, in the future when I have leisure time, I will settle accounts with this old scoundrel." Seeing Flower Mirror's eyes well up with tears, he thought he was suffering from the pain of the finger strength, unaware that his heart was aching to pieces as he tightly hugged his grandson, his eyes and nose filled with a sour and bitter feeling.

  Yun Shu gained the upper hand with his Release Heaven Wind speech, gradually turning the tide of the battle. The Flame Dragon Sword was like a storm that suppressed Liang Xiao. The more pressure Liang Xiao was under, the more focused his mind became. His long sword was guarded tightly, not allowing any openings. Even with Yun Shu's Release Heaven Wind assistance, it would be difficult to break through his defense in a short period of time. The two exchanged blows for over ten rounds, when Liang Xiao suddenly realized that there was a slight discord in Yun Shu's sword technique, although it was fleeting and only barely noticeable. Liang Xiao understood the "Way of Harmony", with a keen sense of awareness, not only did he strive to make his own moves harmonious and smooth, but also sensed any slight disharmony in his opponent's swordplay.

  The number of battles combined, the discord in the sword moves reappeared, and it appeared twice in an instant. Liang Xiao suddenly realized that no matter how strong a master is, if he has been using his sword for a long time, his energy will be relaxed, and there must be discord in his sword moves. Just like when calculating numbers, if the formula is not harmonious, the result will be wrong, if there is discord in the sword move, it will inevitably affect the momentum and reveal the defeat.

  Liang Xiao saw through this point, with the sword in his hand and a silent observation in his heart. He gradually became aware of more discordant places in Yun Shu's swordsmanship, some clear, some subtle, but not difficult to grasp after careful consideration. Suddenly, a strange and wonderful realm appeared before his eyes, and Yun Shu's swordsmanship was no longer untraceable. Liang Xiao felt both joy and sighs, deeply feeling that human power sometimes reaches its limits, and ultimately cannot compare to the vastness and perfection of the universe.

  At this point, Liang Xiao followed the Cloud Exquisite Sword move, according to the "Harmony Way" stabbed out a sword, hitting the Cloud Exquisite Sword body, making a clear ringing sound, the Cloud Exquisite Sword momentum was disrupted, and he was greatly shocked and retreated. Liang Xiao rushed up, the two long swords intersected, the Cloud Exquisite Sword momentum was again disrupted, and he had no choice but to use his body method to retreat once more. In an instant, Liang Xiao made five consecutive sword moves, and Yun Shu retreated five times, and in the blink of an eye, he retreated to the edge of the wooden platform. Everyone saw the situation change rapidly, and they were all shocked and amazed, even Shi Tianfeng was speechless, not knowing what to say.

  Behind him was the lake, and Yun Shu retreated without any room to retreat. Suddenly, his swordsmanship turned swift again, and he quickly drew out his fast sword, seizing every opportunity. Liang Xiao stood still, her long sword circling around her, sometimes in front of her and sometimes behind. Yun Shu was like a flash of lightning, his sword and body merging into one as they revolved around him. Only the sound of clashing swords could be heard, as their long swords clashed repeatedly. Yun Shu's long sword was constantly being opened up by Liang Xiao, who had the upper hand everywhere, and his momentum greatly decreased. However, the more he was controlled, the more the discord in his swordsmanship was exposed. As one side weakened, the other side grew stronger, and Liang Xiao's swordsmanship became even more free and unbridled. Yun Shu's sword was like a wild wind, but his moves were already full of flaws. However, apart from a few top-notch masters, none of the heroes could see the subtleties within, and they only saw Yun Shu approaching Liang Xiao, so they cheered and shouted in excitement.

  After shouting for a long time, Yun Shu's circle grew larger and larger, from an initial five-foot radius to a full ten feet. He seemed to be running wildly out of control. Even the less skilled martial artists could see that he was on a completely different level. The cheering gradually died down as everyone watched Liang Xiao draw his sword with ease, his movements becoming more fluid and natural. As he closed his eyes and drew his sword, his mind became even sharper, able to detect any discord in Yun Shu's sword wind without needing to see it. He responded with a sword strike that never missed its mark. The crowd was shocked into stunned silence by this incredible sight.

  Jia Xiutai's eyes rolled wildly, and he suddenly shouted: "Liang Xiao, who dares to block his ears?" Liang Xiao smiled and said: "What is there to dare not?" With his right hand, he unsheathed the Cloud Unique Sword, and with his left hand, he tore off a piece of cloth from his clothes to plug his ears. Even though he couldn't see or hear, he could still sense the discord in Cloud Unique's sword intent through his divine connection, and his sword moves were like magic, making it impossible for Cloud Unique to gain any advantage. Jia Xiutai watched with admiration, momentarily forgetting his hatred, and sighed: "Liang, you're incredible." Chi Xianyu couldn't help but get angry and said: "Third Brother, what nonsense are you talking about?" Jia Xiutai hastily said: "Big Brother is right to scold me, I was too caught up in the fight."

  At this point, Yun Shu should have abandoned his sword and admitted defeat, but this battle was not only about his personal honor, it also carried the hopes of the world. He thought to himself: "If we're talking about sword fighting, I've already lost miserably, but today is a life-or-death gamble, what's the worst that could happen? Death?" With a gritted teeth, his sword intent became even more frenzied and reckless, using only moves that would lead to mutual destruction.

  Liang Xiao was also conflicted in his heart. Now that he had the upper hand, killing Yun Shu would be as easy as turning over his palm. But if Yun Shu died, there would be another pair of orphaned children and a widowed mother in the world. However, if Yun Shu didn't die, he would surely continue to entangle himself with Liang Xiao. His own life or death was insignificant, but Feng Lian was innocent, and Yun Shu's hatred for him was as deep as an enemy's. It was unlikely that he would let go of this future trouble. Moreover, Liang Xiao had a few points of respect for Yun Shu in his heart and couldn't bear to see him defeated too miserably. Therefore, he took the defensive stance, hoping that Yun Shu would know his limits and retreat. Who would have thought that Yun Shu not only refused to admit defeat but also became more ruthless in his moves? Liang Xiao parried several attacks, knowing that if he didn't push this person into a desperate situation, it would be impossible for him to escape today. Thinking of this, he secretly sighed and shouted: "Look at my Great Straight Sword!" The Heavenly Punishment Sword fell straight down, its momentum unstoppable, directly striking the Flame Dragon Sword's body, producing a clear ringing sound. The "Flame Dragon Sword" broke with a loud crash. Everyone was shocked, realizing that the "Number One Sword in the World" was not just an empty reputation. Feng Lian saw the Heavenly Punishment Sword reveal its might and was overjoyed, shouting loudly despite being unable to move.

  Yun Shu's mouth spurted blood, his hand grasping the broken sword as he stumbled backward. Liang Xiao changed to a move called "Double Arc Slash", his long sword drawing two half-arcs in mid-air, splitting Yun Shu's chest and face. Yun Shu's body bent forward, falling back several feet. Hua Qingyuan hastily said: "Yun Shu, catch the sword!" With great effort, he threw a sword over, but just as Yun Shu was about to reach out and catch it, Liang Xiao used a move called "Spiral Thrust", shaking his sword flower as he thrust forward. The sound of clashing steel rang out, and the incoming sword was already knocked flying. These three linked swords were all moves that Liang Xiao had refined from his study of numerology, combined with the "Harmonious Way", their power was extremely great.

  "The Spiral Thrust" was originally based on the principle of a spiral line. Tianfa Sword, from small to large, drew out several sword flowers, and in the blink of an eye, Yun Shu was already wrapped inside, the cold sword wind sweeping back and forth across his face, forcing Yun Shu's hair to stand on end. Liang Xiao shouted: "Don't you admit defeat yet?" Yun Shu gritted his teeth and didn't speak, clapping his palms together, Liang Xiao used the "Zhōu Yuán Jiàn" (Perimeter Sword), the sword's spine rotating and pressing down on Yun Shu's wrists, lightly floating and sticking to his arm as it sliced towards his neck. Yun Shu secretly sighed: "It's over." For some reason, with the thought of death, it was as if he had put down a massive boulder in his heart, and his whole body felt an indescribable lightness.

  Liang Xiao's move "Zhou Yuan Sword" was not intended to kill, otherwise the sword would have fallen straight down and Yun Shu's wrists would have been severed long ago. Unexpectedly, Yun Shu had given up and was waiting for death, which made Liang Xiao feel slightly surprised, so he stopped his sword in mid-air, unsure whether to strike or not. At this moment, a sharp gust of wind suddenly rose from behind, as if a blade was about to stab him. Liang Xiao took advantage of the opportunity to turn around and use his sword to deflect the incoming attack, and when he turned back, he saw that Hua Mulan had retreated two steps, her pretty face pale, her eyes clear and icy cold, like a pool of autumn water.

  Yun Shu saw his wife and child take action, slightly stunned, and blurted out: "Mu Rong, what are you doing?" Hua Mu Rong smiled miserably and said: "What am I doing? Shouldn't I do anything and just watch you die?" Yun Shu shook his head and said: "I made a prior agreement with him, aren't you making me break my promise by doing this? This is a matter between men, don't interfere too much as a woman!" Hua Mu Rong bit her lower lip and shouted loudly: "Woman? Are women not human? Don't women know love and hate? I don't understand the grand plan to restore the country or the code of the Jianghu. All I know is that I can live without a husband, but my daughter cannot live without a father!"

  Yun Shu's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but glance over. He saw his daughter being held by the maid, seemingly having just cried, with tears still on her face. When she saw him looking over, she called out: "Daddy." Yun Shu's heart sank further. The little girl had called out to Yun Shu, then looked at Hua Mu Rong and said: "Mommy, hug me." Her small mouth pouted again as if she was about to cry.

  Her heart was like a knife being twisted, with many memories flooding her mind. She had lost her father at a young age and had mixed feelings of love and hate towards him, even though her mother forbade anyone from mentioning his name. She wanted to know what he looked like, that famous father of hers. The day she saved Yun Shu in the outskirts of Suzhou, she found out he was Gong Yangyu's disciple and was very curious, often asking him about her father's situation. As they spent more time together, she unknowingly transferred all her feelings towards her father to him. She also knew that Yun Shu had someone else he loved, and although he seemed nice to her, in reality, he valued the mysterious techniques and wealth of Tianji Palace, with his heart set on reclaiming their nation, leaving no room for personal relationships. Despite this, she still agreed to marry him, but just as they were about to do so, he left without a word for the south. This departure lasted so long that it almost gave her despair. Later, Yun Shu returned, looking defeated and ill. She could see that a part of him had died, not only because their nation's hopes were dashed but also because he would never get the person he truly liked. She didn't say anything, changing her spoiled nature to gently care for him. That night, he finally broke down in her arms, crying. In that moment, she suddenly understood that this man with a steel-like exterior had a heart as fragile as a child's, yet it was this heart that insisted on shouldering the weight of an impossible task. That night, she gave herself to him. After their marriage, Yun Shu was rarely home, always busy outside. She knew that compared to the nation's great cause, her own life didn't matter much, so she didn't have any complaints. Later, when they had a daughter, it brought her more comfort but also made her fear losing her husband even more. Although she never believed in Buddhism before, she secretly began praying to the Bodhisattva. One time, Yun Shu returned with severe injuries and was recuperating in the palace. She couldn't help but advise him not to go again, but he suddenly became angry and left that night despite his injuries. She cried all night, and the next day, she asked Qin Boshi to take care of him. For many years, she endured silently until now.

  Hua Mu-rong's thoughts turned, as if ten years had passed in an instant. Suddenly, his silver teeth clenched tightly, and he thrust his sword at Liang Xiao. Liang Xiao was unable to advance or retreat, and Hua Mu-rong's long sword came at him with no choice but to raise his own sword to block it. Just then, Hua Wu-qing called out, "Qing-yuan!" Hua Qing-yuan responded with a single word, drew the Ta'a Sword from its scabbard, and pointed it at Liang Xiao's face, the wind whistling past it. Liang Xiao did not wish to engage him in combat, so he lowered his sword and retreated.

  "Brother," Huā Mùróng called out as she turned around. Huā Qīngyuān smiled slightly at her, his eyes warm like a spring breeze. Suddenly, he snapped his fingers and drew his sword, saying loudly, "Mùróng, are you ready?" Huā Mùróng's heart was burning with excitement as she shouted, "Tàiyǐ Fēn Guāng!" The brother and sister duo clashed swords, emitting a long, clear hum. Their sword lights scattered towards Liáng Xiǎo, who was approaching with a divided mind.

  Liang Xiao's heart felt a chill, as he thought back to when he came to the Tianji Palace to learn the "Taiyi Fangguang Sword". He had spent countless efforts and hardships to master the "Tianji Ten Calculations", but now his sword skills were still incomplete, and instead, he had become the target of this very sword technique. It was truly the greatest irony in the world. The "Taiyi Fangguang Sword" had already broken through the ultimate realm of martial arts, and even at the height of his powers, Xiao Qian had not been able to withstand a hundred moves from it. Now that he had finally mastered it, the sword technique flowed smoothly and effortlessly, like a perfect work of art, with no unnecessary movements or flaws, just like an exquisite beauty, elegant and refined, without any excess or imperfections.

  The brother and sister joined forces, and the power of their swords increased by several times. Liang Xiao was forced to retreat repeatedly under their fierce attack. The crowd cheered in surprise and delight. The two people's swordsmanship was a perfect blend of softness and hardness, with yin and yang inverted, and the force on their swords was astonishingly great. With a series of swift swords, they pushed Liang Xiao to the edge of the wooden platform. Shi Tianfeng watched in rapt attention, and couldn't help but exclaim: "I've long heard that 'Taiyi Fangguang Sword' is the pinnacle of martial arts in the world. Its reputation is indeed well-deserved."

  Feng Lian looked anxious and asked, "What do you mean by that?" Shi Tianfeng said, "It means that no matter how strong one's skills are, when faced with this sword technique, they become like a fierce beast trapped in a cage, unable to use their claws or teeth." Thinking back to the earlier duel between Liang and Yun, where Liang Shuo emerged victorious, and realizing he would never have another chance to see the sword manual, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

  Feng Lian snorted and said, "I don't believe it. My master is also very powerful." Shi Tianfeng sighed and said, "Li Xiazi is naturally formidable. The sword technique he used to defeat Yun Shu just now was divine, and even I may not be able to handle it." Feng Lian said, "Good, old man, you finally admit that you can't beat my master." Shi Tianfeng's face turned black with anger and he shouted, "When did I admit that?" Feng Lian sneered coldly, "Whether or not you admit it, in short, no matter what kind of cage, birdcage, my master can defeat two people at once without losing." Shi Tianfeng shook his head and said, "It's hard to say. This sword technique is based on the changes of Tai Chi, and it's not just a simple combination of two people. In my opinion, this sword technique has two combinations: first, the combination of swords, which refers to the coordination and variation of sword moves. Second, the combination of energy, which is extraordinary. You see, Hua Lian'er was originally mediocre in her internal strength, but now she can compare with a top-notch expert. The reason lies in the changes of her energy mechanism. Because the internal skills used by men and women are different, the yin and yang energies exchange with each other, and Tai Chi gives birth to two instruments. At first, it's just two people; when the two instruments flow back, the two instruments give birth to four images, and there are four people's internal strength. Later, the four images give birth to eight trigrams, which is equivalent to one person transforming into four, and two people having the internal strength of eight people. If they let their eight trigrams spread out and return to the chaotic Tai Chi, then the power of the sword will be absolutely unmatched by human strength."

  Feng Lian's face turned white as she listened, and she stared blankly for a moment before shouting loudly, "Master Shi Dao, how can we prevent them from using that despicable Taiji?" She intentionally raised her voice so that Liang Xiao could hear. Shi Tianfeng snorted in anger, "It's the Chaotic Taiji, not the Despicable Taiji! Hmph, if I knew how to break it, this sword technique wouldn't be called the prison of the world's martial arts. To think about it, those two old fools, one with eight apertures and the other with nine apertures, could come up with such a ghostly path." As he spoke his last sentence, there was a hint of sourness in his tone.

  Feng Lian was increasingly frightened as she listened, and suddenly saw Liang Xiao with only one foot left on the edge of the wooden platform, his long sword dancing rapidly. The Hua siblings were attacking fiercely, and he didn't even have time to recite a poem, but no matter how he wielded his sword, he couldn't force Liang Xiao into the water. Feng Lian thought: "Master will definitely not lose, he must think of a clever plan." Before she could finish her thoughts, she suddenly heard Liang Xiao let out a long whistle and shook his hand to thrust out several swords, forcing the Hua siblings back several steps.

  "Alright, I've figured it out," said Shi Tianfeng. Feng Lian saw Liang Xiao launching a massive counterattack and couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by 'harmony'?" Shi Tianfeng replied, "It's the harmony of intent. The two swordsmen must be in perfect sync with each other to unleash their full power. When they're in sync, brother and sister can work together seamlessly, but as soon as they encounter obstacles, they start thinking differently and lose focus."

  Feng Lian saw that Liang Xiao had the upper hand, and her heart was filled with joy. She clapped her hands and laughed, saying: "That's right! This is what they call 'the lowest level compares techniques, the second level compares internal strength, and the highest level compares aura and bearing.' " She repeated Liang Xiao's words verbatim, which struck a chord in Shi Tianfeng's heart. He couldn't help but feel admiration for her: "This little girl is not very old, yet she can say such profound things. Indeed, the best martial arts require the best kind of person to wield them."

  Liang Xiao was suppressed by the "Taiyi Split Light Sword" for a while, but he firmly believed that no matter what kind of skill it was, if used for too long, it would inevitably reveal its flaws. He just had to hold on tight and wait for an opportunity to strike. As expected, after fighting for half a day, his opponent gradually became disordered, and Liang Xiao seized the chance to launch a surprise attack, constantly disrupting their rhythm and forcing Hua Shi's siblings to bring out the Four Symbols from the Two Trigrams, but they couldn't reach the level of the Eight Trigrams being born from the Four Symbols, let alone returning to the Primordial Chaos and forming the Taiji Sword Circle. As one side weakened, the other grew stronger, and the flaws in their swordsmanship became more and more apparent. Liang Xiao's swordsmanship grew stronger and stronger, and after fighting for a while, he suddenly shouted: "Got it!" The Heaven Punishment Sword shook with a single thrust, and Hua Mu Rong's long sword flew out of his hand, flying far away with a whooshing sound.

  At this moment, a figure flashed by, and Hua Wuyan leaped into the air to catch the long sword. "Hua Muzong, retreat!" she shouted. With a flash of her body, she rushed to Hua Muzong's side and caught Liang Shao's sword. The mother and son were connected at heart, and the power of the "Taiyi Splitting Light Sword" suddenly increased. In an instant, two instruments gave birth to four images, and four images gave birth to eight trigrams, which suppressed Liang Shao's sword light. Liang Shao gradually entered a state of optimal mental clarity and saw through the situation after exchanging seven or eight moves: although this mother-son pair was harmonious in their understanding and coordination, their personalities were not quite compatible. Hua Wuyan had a gentle and reserved personality, with deep thoughts and a lingering sword intent that always left room for maneuvering. Hua Qingyuan was calm and composed, neither attacking nor defending when necessary, lacking the majestic aura of a true master on his sword. As a result, both their sword techniques were biased towards gentleness, unable to complement each other, sufficient for defense but insufficient for victory. Liang Shao saw through this discord and retreated several moves before launching a counterattack. With a few swift swords, he broke through the Taiji Sword Circle formed by Hua's mother-son pair and restored it to its original Eight Trigrams form.

  Xie Tianfeng sighed, "Having the unparalleled swordsmanship but unable to wield it, how suffocating." Feng Lian was pleased in her heart and smiled, "You being suffocated doesn't matter, as long as I'm comfortable watching."

  At this time, the mountain light is like wine, and the sun has already set in the west. The evening wind blows gently on the lake, causing ripples to form. Suddenly, a clear and melodious voice is heard from among the rocks: "Don't listen to the sound of rain pattering through the forest, what's wrong with taking your time and strolling? With a bamboo staff and straw sandals, I can easily outrun a horse - who's afraid? A raincoat and a life of leisure are all I need. The sharp spring breeze blows away my wine-induced sleepiness, it's chilly, but as the sun sets on the mountain top, we'll meet again. Looking back at the desolate place I came from, returning home, there is neither wind nor rain, nor sunshine."