Struggle

Wan Wuyun's swift sword was known as the Shadowless Sword. Anyone who had made a name for himself in the martial world was no mere pretender.

When he struck, the longsword could not be seen at all. All one could feel was countless sword shadows sweeping through the air, shrouding everything like a violent storm.

Ren Qianxing refused to be outdone. True qi surged within his dantian, making his clothes rustle around him. The longsword in his hand left its sheath like a comet striking the moon. Its piercingly cold light illuminated the entire courtyard, and everyone felt their skin sting as they instinctively shut their eyes.

Clang~

The crisp sound of clashing swords echoed throughout the hall.

"Heh. So this is Wan Wuyun, the famed Shadowless Sword? Meeting you truly is worse than hearing of you," Ren Qianxing mocked.

Wan Wuyun had not expected his killing blow to have no effect whatsoever. He roared, "Junior, do not be so arrogant! When this old man roamed the martial world, you were still nursing at your mother's breast! The winds and clouds shift—die!"

His longsword stirred up the winds and clouds. His already shadowless sword techniques now seemed as ever-changing as wind and clouds, formless and intangible, yet brimming with lethal killing intent.

Ren Qianxing looked relaxed, but inwardly he was extremely grave. Anyone who could contend for the title of Shadowless Sword in the martial world was no fraud. Moreover, Ten Thousand Horses Fort had held out against the Supreme Alliance's campaign until now; it could not be underestimated.

"The waves behind the Yangtze River drive those before them onward. Wan Wuyun, you are old. It is time for you to go below and rest. Fallen Starfall."

The sword in his hand changed its move. Heavy true qi poured into the blade, which descended from above like a falling star crashing down from the heavens.

Break~

Bang~

In an instant, Wan Wuyun felt his arm go numb, nearly losing his grip on his treasured sword. A surge of internal force also rushed into him, shaking his organs. His mouth suddenly filled with sweetness, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Wan Wuyun's face became even uglier. More precisely, he was terrified. A mere disciple of Guan Yutian had already driven him to such desperate straits. What would happen if he truly faced Guan Yutian?

With his mind in turmoil, even the sword moves in his hand became riddled with openings. Ren Qianxing seized the chance and slashed his sword across Wan Wuyun's arm.

"Ah... my hand! My hand!"

Wan Wuyun's entire right arm was severed and fell to the ground, blood spurting from the wound.

Ren Qianxing looked coldly at Wan Wuyun and said disdainfully, "Trash. You think someone like you can fight my master? Die."

With a sweep of his sword, Wan Wuyun's voice came to an abrupt end, and his massive head rolled aside.

The slaughter in the courtyard was also nearing its end. The entire Ten Thousand Horses Fort was thick with the stench of blood.

Ren Qianxing turned to look at Goddess of Cooking Liu Yiyi beside him. Though Liu Yiyi was somewhat nervous amid this field of carnage, there was no fear on her face.

"You are the Goddess of Cooking?" Ren Qianxing asked coolly.

Liu Yiyi straightened her chest and replied loudly, "So what if I am?"

"You truly are an extraordinary woman of the martial world. Not bad."

"As if I needed you to tell me that."

Ren Qianxing walked to the table and directly picked up an untouched dish, placing it into his mouth.

"Truly delicious. Did you make all these dishes?"

"Spit it out!"

Ren Qianxing narrowed his eyes, and a trace of killing intent emerged.

"You are not afraid of death?"

"The dishes have gone cold, so they no longer have any flavor. Without flavor, it would disgrace the standards of the Goddess of Cooking," Liu Yiyi said proudly.

"Hmph. You are indeed a good cook. Come with me to the Supreme Alliance. My master intends to host a grand banquet for the heroes of the realm. Your cooking is good enough for you to cook for him," Ren Qianxing said.

"I will not."

"Hm?"

The subordinate beside him flew into a rage at once, pointing his blood-dripping sword at Liu Yiyi. "Insolence!"

"What insolence? You got blood all over the dishes I worked so hard to make! Why am I so unlucky? I have not even been paid yet, my kitchen knife is broken, and now I have run into murderous maniacs like you. I will not go!" Liu Yiyi snapped, her temper rising.

"You truly refuse?"

"No means no."

"Fine. Men, seize everyone at Gourmet God Residence and behead them," Ren Qianxing ordered coldly.

"Yes."

Liu Yiyi could no longer maintain her pride. She said furiously, "How can you do this?"

"My Supreme Alliance rules over the world. Those who refuse to submit shall be killed without mercy. Since they will not obey the Supreme Alliance, there is no need for them to exist. Kill them."

"You..."

Liu Yiyi's face turned pale, then flushed. Having traveled the martial world for so long, everyone who asked her to cook had always been respectful. Never had anyone been so rude.

Liu Yiyi was so angry that her chest rose and fell.

"Have you decided?"

"Fine. I can go to the Supreme Alliance and cook for you, but my knife is broken. You must have a new kitchen knife made for me."

"Agreed."

"You provide the ingredients."

"Fine."

"You..."

"Insolence!"

"Who is it?"

"Damn it!"

As they spoke, a figure darted forward like the wind, as nimble as a wildcat. Before anyone could react, he grabbed Liu Yiyi and vaulted over the wall.

"Bold indeed!"

Ren Qianxing was furious as well. Someone actually dared to snatch a person from under his nose. It was a blatant provocation.

With a stomp, his entire body soared into the air, clearing the high courtyard wall like an eagle.

The one who had taken her was naturally Fang Xuan. He had not wanted to take such a risk, but when he remembered that Ren Qianxing would earn Guan Yutian's favor after this trip to Ten Thousand Horses Fort and that his martial arts would advance by leaps and bounds, he realized that he might truly be unable to defeat him the next time they met.

Fang Xuan did not know the martial arts of this world, nor did he possess any true qi. He could only rely on the body of the fourth level, the Suppleness Realm, carrying Liu Yiyi through the forest as swiftly as an arrow.

In the Suppleness Realm, one rose like the wind and landed like an arrow, as agile as a wildcat or ape.

Half an hour later, within a dense forest.

Fang Xuan tossed the already unconscious Liu Yiyi aside. Yet only a few minutes later, accompanied by a whistling sound through the air, Ren Qianxing descended from the sky, his movements graceful and elegant.

Fang Xuan could not help but sigh.

As expected of a martial arts world. It truly matched the jianghu he had always imagined.

But now, he cultivated immortality.

Before Ren Qianxing even arrived, a streak of sword light fell. The sword qi was razor-sharp, splitting the leaves drifting through the air in half.

White Crane in the Clouds.

His ten toes gripped the ground, his thigh muscles quivered, and his foot instantly stamped a huge print into the earth, spraying dirt in every direction.

Rather than retreat, he advanced. In an instant, he struck first and seized the initiative before Ren Qianxing. Then his leg technique erupted, and Crane Snake Fight sent explosive leg shadows sweeping across the air.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~

The howling wind from his kicks tore through the air.

"Not good!"

Ren Qianxing's expression changed drastically. He had no time to switch techniques and could only hold his longsword across his chest.

Bang~

With a dull thud, Ren Qianxing was sent flying by the kick. With nowhere to borrow force in midair, a huge footprint was left on his chest.

"What tremendous strength. Why is there no true qi?"

Strike while he was down and finish him off.

Fang Xuan pressed his advantage without mercy. Bang, bang, bang—he landed five consecutive kicks on Ren Qianxing's chest.

"Ah~"

With an angry roar, Ren Qianxing circulated his true qi and swung his longsword, sending a streak of sword qi shooting toward Fang Xuan.