Huang Rong knew that the newcomer was a true master as well. She hurriedly carried the Profound Iron Heavy Sword over with both hands, ran to Lu Chen's side, and placed it in his hands before asking the beggar in a crisp voice:
"Are you a master of the Beggars' Sect, Senior?"
The beggar looked at Huang Rong and chuckled.
"This little girl's features carry a faint resemblance to an old friend. The swordplay that lad used just now also looks very familiar to this old beggar. What is your surname?"
Huang Rong answered with a smile.
"This junior is named Huang Rong. May I ask Senior's esteemed name?"
The beggar said with a chuckle:
"This old beggar is the Beggar Gang Leader. My surname is Hong, and I am seventh in my generation. You may call me Hong Qi, Seventh Master, or even Old Beggar."
"Seventh Master!"
Huang Rong called out sweetly and formally paid her respects.
"Huang Rong, daughter of the master of Peach Blossom Island in the Eastern Sea, pays respects to Seventh Master!"
Lu Chen followed with a bow.
"This junior Lu Chen pays respects to Senior Hong."
Though he was confident in his future prospects, he still had to show respect when facing a Five Greats-level master at present. Besides, Hong Qigong was chivalrous, righteous, and hated evil; he truly deserved respect.
Hong Qigong smiled.
"So this little girl really is Old Heretic Huang's daughter? Lu, you know Peach Blossom Island's Movement Technique, and your Falling Blossom Swordplay has reached a level comparable to Old Heretic Huang in his youth. Could you be Old Heretic Huang's disciple?"
Huang Rong pouted. "Why does Seventh Master call my father 'Old Heretic Huang'? It sounds awful."
Hong Qi laughed. "Your father is the Eastern Heretic, this old beggar is the Northern Beggar, and together with the Western Venom, Southern Emperor, and Central Divine, we are known as the Five Greats. This old beggar and your father are old acquaintances. What is wrong with calling him Old Heretic Huang?"
Huang Rong froze. She knew of the title "Five Greats" and understood that it represented the pinnacle of martial arts in the world, but her father had always said there was more evil than good in the Martial Arts World, and that girls gained nothing from hearing too much about it. Thus, he had never explained the Five Greats to her in detail.
As a result, she truly did not know who the other four masters ranked alongside her father were.
So this Beggar Gang Leader was also one of the Five Greats, a supreme master on the same level as her father?
Huang Rong felt a little nervous.
She did not know Hong Qigong's temperament and had no idea whether he had come to trouble Lu Chen over Elder Peng's matter. She immediately invoked her father's name.
"Brother Lu Chen is my father's final disciple! His swordsmanship was personally taught by my father too!"
Since they were old acquaintances and both among the Five Greats of the World, Seventh Master should not bully the young for her father's sake, right?
Hong Qigong said, "So he is Old Heretic Huang's final disciple. No wonder he has such an unorthodox nickname as 'Little Sword Demon.'"
Huang Yaoshi was unconventional, aloof, proud, and disdainful of propriety. It seemed perfectly normal for his final disciple to be a little unorthodox.
Huang Rong giggled.
"I gave him the nickname Little Sword Demon just for fun. Please forgive the amusement, Seventh Master. May I ask why you have come?"
"Advice is hardly necessary."
Hong Qigong looked at Lu Chen with a smile.
"You killed a Nine-Bag Elder of the Clean-Clothed Faction of the Beggars' Sect. The other two Nine-Bag Elders and the Eight-Bag Disciples of the Clean-Clothed Faction are furious and have been clamoring to gather their best men to avenge him. This old beggar received word and came especially to investigate the matter. I also wanted to see how formidable this 'Little Sword Demon' truly is... Lu, be careful!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hong Qigong suddenly leaped into the air and swept above Lu Chen in an instant, striking downward with his palm from on high.
When masters exchanged moves, they truly could not casually leave the ground and attack from the air.
But Hong Qigong's martial arts had already reached the absolute pinnacle of the age. He could fight however he wished, and the move he used was itself a supreme technique meant for leaping into the air and attacking from above.
Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, Flying Dragon in the Sky!
There was no dragon's roar, nor did any dragon-shaped burst of energy emerge.
Though there were no dazzling effects whatsoever, the instant Hong Qigong's palm descended, Lu Chen felt the air above his head violently tremble. A crushing gust of wind came thundering down, enveloping his entire body. It not only stifled his breathing, but even pressed down on his movements, making him feel as though an immense burden weighed upon him and shackled him in place.
Facing this tyrannical palm strike, Lu Chen felt pressure as heavy as a mountain, yet remained unhurried. He swiftly circulated his true energy, and the Profound Iron Heavy Sword shot upward. With a simple upward diagonal thrust, he split apart the heavy palm wind like parting waves and cleaving through surf, stabbing straight at Hong Qigong's palm.
That sword thrust was incredibly fast. The eighty-one-jin heavy sword was only slightly slower in its thrust than a light steel sword weighing one or two jin.
Yet it could not threaten Hong Qigong.
Hong Qigong saw at once that the Profound Iron Heavy Sword was extremely weighty and that the force behind it was extraordinary. His originally direct, incomparably fierce palm suddenly shifted aside, tracing a light, gentle arc in a flash, before striking the blade of the heavy sword.
This seemingly light and gentle palm strike produced a thunderous clang like a great bell when it hit the heavy sword.
Not only did it knock the heavy sword aside with a single blow, a fierce and heavy vibrating force also traveled down the blade to Lu Chen's sword hand. His tiger's mouth throbbed with pain, his fingers and palm went numb, and he nearly lost his grip on the hilt.
However, Lu Chen's internal strength was now quite pure and deep, and he also possessed tremendous physical strength. He forcibly endured the vibrating force, held firmly onto the hilt, and moved his feet. His body spun rapidly in the direction the heavy sword had been knocked aside, using the momentum to turn.
As he spun, the heavy sword followed in a great windmill-like arc, raising a wild howl of wind as it slashed at Hong Qigong again.
Hong Qigong was in midair with nowhere to borrow force. Though his previous palm had knocked the heavy sword away, the force of the sword had also caused his diving body to stall in the air for an instant. He could not continue his descent and seize the fleeting opening created when Lu Chen's heavy sword was knocked aside.
His earlier Flying Dragon in the Sky palm had only used fifty or sixty percent of his strength.
He had assumed that a palm strike using fifty or sixty percent of his skill would be enough to knock the heavy sword from Lu Chen's hand. Yet not only had he failed to send it flying, Lu Chen had borrowed the force of his palm to instantly spin around, and the heavy sword came sweeping across with an even more ferocious momentum than before.
Such internal strength and adaptability far beyond his age made Hong Qigong praise him despite himself.
"Good lad!"
At the same time, both his palms struck out in midair again, landing upon the blade of the heavy sword.
But this time, there was no collision at all.
Hong Qigong's palms seemed to contain no force whatsoever, as if they had become magnets stuck to the blade. His large frame was like a feather without weight. With his palms pressed to the heavy sword, his whole body actually followed it through half a circle in the air. Only when the force behind Lu Chen's strike was nearly spent did the palms pressing on the heavy sword suddenly unleash a palm force like a bursting mountain flood.
Buzz!
The heavy sword shuddered violently and was knocked downward by the palm force.
Lu Chen had already become adept at wielding the heavy sword and could easily halt its momentum, but that only applied to force he himself had placed upon it.
Now, the heavy sword had been sent plunging down by Hong Qigong's palm force. Its own weight, coupled with the enormous momentum created by Hong Qigong's strike, made it difficult for Lu Chen to dissipate and control it at once. The tip immediately crashed heavily into the ground with a clang.
Before he could lift the sword, Hong Qigong had already borrowed the force to flip behind Lu Chen. As he landed, he struck backhand with Divine Dragon Swings Tail, aiming at Lu Chen's lower back.
Unable to turn around in time, Lu Chen simply lunged forward. At the critical instant when he escaped the range of Hong Qigong's Divine Dragon Swings Tail palm force, the heavy sword dragging along the ground sprang upward like a startled spirit snake. With a backhanded strike, he slashed upward at Hong Qigong's wrist.
Hong Qigong laughed loudly, flipped his wrist, and sent out a burst of palm force that struck the tip of the heavy sword dead on.
Clang!
Amid the explosive crash, Lu Chen's already forward-rushing body jolted. He staggered several steps before barely stabilizing himself, then lifted his sword and turned around.
Hong Qigong did not press the attack. He merely shook his reddened palm, drew in a sharp breath, and said, "Lu, your internal strength is quite good for someone so young. Your adaptability is even better. This heavy sword of yours is something special too. It even hurt this old beggar's palm."
He had collided barehanded with the Profound Iron Heavy Sword three times. Though he had held the absolute advantage every time, the experience of striking Profound Iron with bare flesh was truly not an easy one.
Only because he was one of the Five Greats, and had devoted his life to cultivating the world's most fierce and forceful Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, were his palms tough enough to endure it. Otherwise, striking Profound Iron barehanded might well have caused minor injuries to his hand bones.
"This junior merely relied on the advantage of his weapon and was fortunate enough to receive a few of Senior Hong's moves. Thank you for showing mercy, Senior Hong."
Lu Chen said with cupped hands.
He knew that although Hong Qigong had used the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms from the start, he had not truly gotten serious.
He understood very clearly that in this world, the gap in strength between masters was extremely severe.
If the combat power of a Five Greats-level master was one hundred points, and Qiu Qianren had ninety-five points, then the first-rate masters below them probably possessed only fifty or sixty points.
Such an enormous, cliff-like disparity allowed Five Greats-level masters to casually crush anyone below their level in a one-on-one fight.
Though Lu Chen had mastered Heavy Swordplay, the weather had prevented him from training beneath a waterfall. His attainments in Heavy Swordplay were likely still inferior to Yang Guo's, who had risked his life practicing swordsmanship under a waterfall.
His internal strength was also still inferior to Yang Guo's.
After all, Yang Guo had slept on the Cold Jade Bed every day in the Ancient Tomb. Even sleeping increased his internal strength. He had also practiced the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra and Chongyang's Legacy Inscription. By the time he left the mountain, his foundation was already extremely deep. After gaining further experience in the martial world, his martial arts had entered the first-rate level even before he lost his arm.
After losing his arm, he had likewise consumed a great number of Bosiqu Snake gallbladders, causing both his internal strength and physical power to soar.
When Lu Chen entered Snake Valley, however, his internal strength had still been quite weak, far below Yang Guo's. He had relied entirely on consuming snake gallbladders to increase his strength.
Thus, by his own estimation, excluding Sword One, his ordinary strength could not yet compare to Yang Guo with the heavy sword, but he should have reached Mei Chaofeng's level.
At that level of martial arts, being able to receive three of Hong Qigong's Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms could only mean that Hong Qigong had gone easy on him.
Hong Qigong chuckled.
"You relied on the advantage of your weapon, while this old beggar relied on superior internal strength. If Old Heretic Huang found out, he would probably laugh at this old beggar for bullying the young."
After a pause, he added with feeling:
"Judging by your age, you are not yet twenty, are you? To possess such skill at so young an age, you may well earn yourself a place at the Mount Hua Sword Conference in the future."
When Hong Qigong had suddenly leaped up and attacked, Huang Rong had been extremely nervous. She had thought he intended to teach Lu Chen a lesson and had nearly cried out, "Seventh Master, please show mercy."
But after their first clash, she realized that Seventh Master was only testing him and had not used any heavy hand. Only then did she relax.
Now, seeing Lu Chen successfully receive Hong Qigong's three palm strikes and even win his praise, Huang Rong was happier than if a Five Greats-level master had praised her herself. She said with a grin:
"Seventh Master must be right. With your auspicious words, Brother Lu Chen will surely participate in the Mount Hua Sword Conference one day and win himself a title."
Hong Qigong could not help laughing.
"You little girl, this old beggar praised Lu, so why are you so happy?"
Huang Rong gave a playful smile.
"Brother Lu Chen is my father's final disciple. Rong'er and he are family. Of course Rong'er is happy when you praise Brother Lu Chen."
Hong Qigong smiled and shook his head before looking toward Li Mochou.
"This little girl's martial arts style also looks very familiar. Could your sect founder have been surnamed Lin?"
Lin Chaoying's reputation had never spread widely throughout the martial world, and she had died before the first Mount Hua Sword Conference. Thus, not many in the current Martial Arts World knew of her existence, but Hong Qigong naturally knew.
"Li Mochou, disciple of Patriarch Lin's disciple, pays respects to Senior Hong."
Li Mochou bowed to Hong Qigong, looking somewhat nervous.
Hong Qi, the Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar, was one of the Five Greats of the World. She had heard her master mention that title before.
But she had never imagined that a young person who had only just entered the martial world like herself would be fortunate enough to see a living, breathing pinnacle master of the Martial Arts World, one of the Five Greats.
At the same time, she now understood Huang Rong and Lu Chen's backgrounds.
The daughter and final disciple of Huang Yaoshi, the Eastern Heretic among the Five Greats—their origins were exceedingly illustrious as well.
At first, she felt slightly inferior.
But then she thought:
My Patriarch Lin was someone who could stand on equal footing with Wang Chongyang, the Central Divine and foremost of the Five Greats. When I entered the sect and became a disciple, I even spat at Wang Chongyang's portrait on Master's orders.
So although I have not inherited the Ancient Tomb Sect's supreme art, the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra, my own background still seems presentable enough?
It is just that my seniority seems to be one generation lower than Sister Rong'er and Brother Lu...
"Old Heretic Huang's daughter and disciple, Heroine Lin's disciple's disciple... What a coincidence. The three little ones today are all descendants of old acquaintances."
Hong Qigong chuckled, then looked at Lu Chen.
"Lu, do you know why this old beggar came looking for you?"
Lu Chen said, "Because of Elder Peng."
Huang Rong hurriedly said, "The Hanshui Gang committed all manner of evil, and Elder Peng was its greatest backer. If Elder Peng had not supported them, the Hanshui Gang would never have been so rampant."
Hong Qigong nodded.
"I have already heard from several disciples of the Dirty-Clothed Faction that the Hanshui Gang indeed carried out many deeds deserving death. Several disciples of the Dirty-Clothed Faction have also fought the Hanshui Gang twice. This old beggar investigated personally as well and met several local girls you rescued. You were not wrong to destroy the Hanshui Gang. Elder Peng supported the Hanshui Gang, so he deserved to die too."
Huang Rong let out a sigh of relief and said with a grin:
"So Seventh Master came to reward us?"
"Reward?"
Hong Qigong laughed in disbelief.
"The Nine-Bag Elders and Eight-Bag Disciples of the Clean-Clothed Faction were clamoring to gather their best men to avenge Elder Peng. This old beggar suppressed them with difficulty and personally came to gather evidence of Elder Peng's crimes to settle the matter for you. Yet you little girl still want a reward?"
Huang Rong turned serious.
"But we helped you expose a scoundrel within the Beggars' Sect, upheld the Beggars' Sect's reputation, and spared you the trouble of dealing with a Nine-Bag Elder... You are one of the Five Greats of the World, a supreme figure in the Martial Arts World. We juniors have helped you so much, and you cannot even bear to give us a little reward?"
Hong Qigong blew out his beard and glared.
"When an elder of the Beggars' Sect commits an offense, the sect's rules naturally deal with him. You directly killed a Nine-Bag Elder, whose status is second only to mine as Gang Leader. Not only is this old beggar not seeking trouble with you, I have even worked hard to clean up after you. What reason is there to reward you?"
Huang Rong pouted and gave two little hmphs.
"My father said Seventh Master was chivalrous and righteous, hated evil as his enemy, and acted with the utmost fairness. He said you were the greatest, peerless hero under heaven... Hmph, so this is how fair Seventh Master is?"
At first, she had not known Hong Qigong's temperament.
But after watching Hong Qi exchange moves with Lu Chen and speaking with him for a while, she had more or less taken his measure. She immediately began goading him while flattering him.
"?"
Hong Qigong looked utterly surprised.
"Old Heretic Huang truly said I was the fairest of all, the greatest, peerless hero under heaven?"
Huang Rong's tone was earnest and flawless.
"Yes! My father even said that Seventh Master was the person he admired most."
Seeing Huang Rong's serious expression, Hong Qigong thought that Huang Yaoshi had always been aloof and proud, considering himself unmatched in both literary and martial arts, with peerless talent. Other than Wang Chongyang, no one could truly earn his respect.
Thus, although Old Heretic Huang and this old beggar were acquainted, Old Heretic Huang had never said many kind words about him. How could he possibly praise him so highly behind his back?
But on second thought, Huang Yaoshi's temperament was somewhat awkward. Perhaps Old Heretic Huang truly admired this old beggar in his heart, but merely put on an arrogant front in his presence. Behind his back, he could not help praising him before his daughter?
At that thought, Hong Qigong could not help feeling a little pleased with himself.
In this world, aside from Wang Chongyang, perhaps only this old beggar could make someone as proud as Huang Yaoshi admire and respect him so highly?
Today's two chapters have been combined and posted together. Please send monthly votes!
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