On Dragon Tiger Mountain, Zhao Huangchao wore a black Daoist robe, its sleeves fluttering in the wind. With a stern, icy expression, he was methodically preparing to grant Xuanyuan Dapan's urgent request and descend the mountain at once.
Beside him, Zhao Xituan looked deeply worried.
In recent days, Zhao Xituan had watched the stars night and day. Their paths were veiled by a layer of mist, chaotic and difficult to discern.
He had also used the wondrous art of Mysterious Gate and Eight Trigrams, but every time he performed a divination, he found nothing at all about Wang Ritain. He had no clues whatsoever.
This uncertainty made Zhao Xituan's unease grow like wild grass, growing stronger by the day.
"Junior brother, wait!"
Zhao Xituan stepped forward and said urgently,
"This journey is like walking straight into a dragon's lair or a tiger's den. It's fraught with danger. You mustn't rush down the mountain. There's something indescribably strange about Wang Ritain. Even these eyes of mine, which can see through the secrets of heaven, can't make him out. You should stay out of Xuanyuan Dapan's affairs and let fate take its course."
Zhao Huangchao gave a disdainful snort.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Senior brother, don't make a mountain out of a molehill. Wang Ritain is nothing but a brute with a bit of strength. Even if Wang Xianzhi himself came, the grand formation I've laid could stop him and trap him inside. And you think I should fear one Wang Ritain? I've made up my mind. There's no need to waste your breath." With that, he flung his sleeve sharply, as if casting aside Zhao Xituan's objections once and for all, and strode down the mountain. Left behind, Zhao Xituan watched him disappear into the distance and shook his head with a helpless sigh. His faint premonition of disaster hung over his heart like storm clouds gathering before a downpour.
Meanwhile, Wang Ritain had quietly arrived near Mount Hui.
In the forest, Wang Ritain slowed his steps. Like a wary leopard, he sensed something unusual in the air around him. He didn't hurry toward the Xuanyuan Family, but cautiously surveyed his surroundings, taking each step carefully as his alert gaze swept over every corner. The moment he entered the small town at the foot of Mount Hui, its tranquility shattered. A streak of cold light shot toward him like a shooting star, swift as lightning. The flying sword carried a sharp sword aura and let out a piercing whistle as it hurtled forward with enough force to tear through the air, aiming straight for Wang Ritain's throat.
Wang Ritain's eyes narrowed, a cold glint flashing in them. Without the slightest panic, he leveled the long saber in his hand with a smooth, effortless motion. "Clang!" The sharp ring echoed across the town like the toll of a great bell, making everyone's ears ache. The flying sword was easily knocked away. It traced an arc through the air before sticking into the ground nearby, its hilt still trembling as if recounting the heart-stopping moment that had just passed. The townspeople and martial artists stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, their faces full of disbelief, as if they'd witnessed something impossible. "Th-that's Wang Ritain! What's he doing here?" someone cried out from the crowd, unable to hide their shock and fear. All at once, everyone's attention fixed on Wang Ritain as if drawn by a magnet. They whispered and speculated among themselves, and the town's atmosphere turned tense in an instant.
Just then, Sui Xiegou's figure slowly appeared atop the city wall. He was so thin he looked as if a gust of wind might blow him away, but his gaze was as sharp as a drawn sword, able to pierce through anything. A former subject of Great Chu, Sui Xiegou was known throughout the jianghu as one of its greatest swordsmen. People called him the "Sword-Eating Ancestor." He had once exchanged a sword and an arm with Li Chungang at the height of Li Chungang's powers. That legendary encounter was still told throughout the jianghu and remained a favorite topic of conversation. His gaze fixed on Wang Ritain, and he called out, "Wang Ritain, I've heard of your heroic exploits in Wudi City. Today, I, Sui Xiegou, will test you myself and see if you're truly as formidable as the rumors say."
The crowd was stunned. Their expressions froze, then shifted to excitement. Sui Xiegou was going to fight Wang Ritain? What an eagerly anticipated duel, like a magnificent performance about to begin. Wanwan, who had just arrived, couldn't help being surprised by Wang Ritain's youth and courage. The corners of her mouth lifted in an intrigued smile as she stood aside, ready to watch the coming clash between two masters.
Wang Ritain tilted his head slightly to look up at Sui Xiegou. A confident smile curved his lips, as if declaring his fearlessness and strength to the world. "Since you've said so, I'll accept your challenge." His voice was steady and powerful, carrying an undeniable authority across the town and into every listener's ears. Everyone felt their hearts tremble.
Sui Xiegou broke into a beaming smile, sly and expectant at once. He raised his hand and struck with a single sword stroke. It looked casual, yet held astonishing power. Sword energy roared forth like a bellowing dragon, carving a sword mark nearly a thousand meters long through the air. Wherever it passed, the ground was savagely torn apart, sending bricks and stones flying as dust billowed. The crowd turned pale as paper and trembled like leaves in the wind, retreating in a panic and thanking their lucky stars that they hadn't been near the heart of the battle. They thought to themselves, That casual strike is already this terrifying. If it hit me, wouldn't I be smashed to pieces?
Wang Ritain remained calm, like a fathomless lake without a ripple. He circulated the Three Points Return to Origin Qi within him, and his power surged as the aura around him grew stronger in an instant. With a light sweep of his saber, he sent out a powerful wave of force, like an impenetrable city wall, easily shattering Sui Xiegou's sword energy. The moment it broke apart, it rang out with a crisp crack. Sui Xiegou's expression turned grave. His easygoing look vanished, replaced by utter seriousness. He realized Wang Ritain was no ordinary opponent. He had underestimated his strength.
Sui Xiegou drew a deep breath, as if pulling all the air around him into his lungs. He drew his sword again. In an instant, countless streams of sword energy appeared around him, each carrying a different sword intent. Some were sharp as frost, seemingly able to freeze all things; some were as weighty as mountains, pressing down with an immovable force; others drifted like mist, impossible to fathom. The sword energy wove together into a web that enveloped Wang Ritain, displaying the terrifying might of the Sword-Eating Ancestor. Within the web, sword energy flashed in dazzling light, too bright to look at.
Looking at the sword web before him, Wang Ritain's eyes held a hint of admiration. "Sui Xiegou, your strength is truly no less than Li Chungang's." With that, he slowly drew his long saber. As the blade left its sheath, boundless demonic aura and towering demonic flames swept outward like black fire, blazing fiercely until, in the blink of an eye, they covered an area nearly ten thousand meters wide. Wherever the demonic aura spread, the air seemed to turn black, filling with a pungent stench. Sui Xiegou felt an overwhelming threat bear down on him, the pressure so great he could barely breathe. His face turned deathly pale. He was shocked to realize that Wang Ritain's strength far exceeded anything he'd imagined. He had been far too careless before, and no longer dared underestimate the young man before him.
Sui Xiegou gritted his teeth until they cracked. He unleashed even more sword energy, and it lunged at Wang Ritain like a pack of frenzied beasts, claws bared, seeking to kill him with a single blow. The sword energy darted through the air with piercing whistles, as if shouting encouragement for the battle. Wang Ritain remained unhurried. The demonic aura behind him instantly gathered and took the shape of a saber a hundred zhang long. Runes flickered across its surface, radiating a heart-stopping aura. They seemed alive, dancing and flashing across the blade as if reciting an ancient incantation. Wang Ritain gripped the saber with both hands and let out a shout like rolling thunder, shaking the air around him, then brought it crashing down from above.
Sui Xiegou was horrified, his eyes filled with fear and despair. He frantically summoned his sword energy in an attempt to stop the terrifying blow. It surged toward the demonic saber and collided with it, producing a tremendous roar like countless bombs exploding all at once. But Wang Ritain's strike was simply too powerful. Wherever the demonic saber passed, Sui Xiegou's sword energy shattered.
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