One Sword

A Misty Cloud Sect disciple pointed at Xiao Peng and said, "Brat, do you dare fight me?"

Seeing someone about to bully Xiao Peng, Xiao Xun'er prepared to step in and help him.

"No need, Xun'er. I'll handle this myself."

"Brother Xiao Peng, could it be that you..."

When Xiao Xun'er saw Xiao Peng nod, she understood that he had recovered his strength.

He had likely even risen to a higher level—at least a Six-star Dou Practitioner.

Xiao Yan, who had been about to stop Xiao Peng, looked at him in surprise. He had not expected Xiao Peng to recover his strength, much less improve so greatly.

This could not help but lift Xiao Yan's spirits. Since Xiao Peng had suddenly recovered, perhaps he could recover as well.

Xiao Peng rose to his feet, walked before the Misty Cloud Sect disciple, and said, "Of course I dare. Shall we go outside?"

He was rather curious what level his cultivation corresponded to in Battle Through the Heavens.

The Misty Cloud Sect disciple said arrogantly, "No need. I can defeat you in one move."

How talented could a disciple from some family in this backwater region possibly be?

Judging by Xiao Peng's appearance, he looked to be only fourteen years old. He was probably around the sixth stage of Dou Qi at most, yet he dared mock a Dou Zhe like him.

Xiao Feng sneered and watched silently, waiting to see Xiao Peng get beaten senseless by the Misty Cloud Sect disciple.

The others shared Xiao Feng's thoughts. They all wanted to see Xiao Peng get beaten up.

Xiao Peng took out the longsword he had often practiced with in the past, pointed it at the Misty Cloud Sect disciple, and said, "Please enlighten me."

The man before him was not worthy of making him use the Qingping Sword.

The Misty Cloud Sect disciple said disdainfully, "Showing off before an expert. Misty Cloud Sect disciples are best with the sword. Today, I'll let you witness a Misty Cloud Sect Dou Technique."

With that, he drew his own longsword.

Today, he had to put on a good performance for Nalan Yanran. Perhaps he might even win her heart.

He knew that Nalan Yanran admired the strong and liked those with great strength and talent. If he performed well enough, perhaps he could be with her.

The Misty Cloud Sect disciple gave a loud shout. His longsword spun through several flourishes, and his body shot forward like lightning toward Xiao Peng.

He unleashed the Misty Cloud Sect's low-grade Profound-rank Dou Technique, Gale Slash. Dou Qi gathered along the blade, as though it had transformed into a raging gale, carrying a sharp edge as it viciously slashed toward Xiao Peng.

The fierce fluctuations of Dou Qi made the surrounding air tremble and emit a howling sound.

Facing the Misty Cloud Sect disciple's fierce Gale Slash, Xiao Peng's gaze remained calm, without the slightest hint of panic.

Just as the gale-like sword light filled with powerful Dou Qi was about to strike him, Xiao Peng moved.

He slightly raised his arm and casually swung the ordinary-looking longsword in his hand.

Mana surged from within his body, flowing down his arm and pouring into the blade.

A faint radiance blossomed from Xiao Peng's sword, like an invisible shield, precisely meeting the gale-like sword light.

"Boom!"

The instant the two collided, a tremendous explosion rang out, and powerful Energy Ripples spread outward like waves.

The Misty Cloud Sect disciple was sent flying by the powerful recoil. He spat out several mouthfuls of blood in midair before crashing heavily to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

His body twitched a few times. His eyes were filled with terror and unwillingness, utterly unable to accept that he had been defeated in a single move by this seemingly ordinary Xiao Family disciple.

The entire hall instantly fell into dead silence. Everyone was so shocked by the sudden reversal that they could not speak.

The expressions of the Xiao Family members seemed frozen in place. Their mouths hung open for a long while, their eyes brimming with astonishment and disbelief.

Xiao Feng's gloating face turned deathly pale in an instant. His body trembled slightly, his heart filled with a complicated mixture of emotions.

All along, he had treated Xiao Peng as a complete waste, mocking and belittling him without restraint. Yet now, reality had slapped him hard across the face.

At that moment, beyond his shock, he felt even more fear and regret. He feared that Xiao Peng would seek revenge against him because of it.

"You weren't happy when I called you trash."

Xiao Peng sheathed his sword and said to the Misty Cloud Sect disciple.

Ge Ye's expression was extremely ugly. He had not expected that disciple to lose so quickly.

In his eyes, there was no way a child like Xiao Peng could defeat that disciple.

Yet to his surprise, Xiao Peng had defeated the Misty Cloud Sect disciple without even using a Dou Technique.

Seeing this, Nalan Yanran's eyes lit up. Though she was deeply shocked, she admired Xiao Peng's powerful strength and talent even more.

Xiao Peng looked about the same age as her, yet he could defeat a Dou Zhe in one move. She absolutely could not accomplish something like that.

If Xiao Yan had been like this cousin of his, she would never have broken off the engagement.

When the Sect Master had accepted her as a disciple, she had learned about her circumstances.

She knew she had an engagement. At first, she had not interfered in her affairs, but after learning that Xiao Yan had become trash, she decided to break off the engagement.

Xiao Zhan kept an eye on Ge Ye, wary that Ge Ye might suddenly attack Xiao Peng.

Xiao Peng's actions had already offended Ge Ye, and Ge Ye might lash out in humiliation.

Xiao Peng bowed to Xiao Zhan, then returned to his seat.

"Xiao Peng, that was impressive."

Xiao Yan lowered his voice as he spoke to Xiao Peng beside him.

He was quite envious of Xiao Peng. Xiao Peng had actually recovered his strength and was even stronger than before he became trash, while he himself was still a waste.

Xiao Peng said softly, "Brother Yan, I suddenly recovered last night. I believe in you. You'll recover too."

Xiao Yan nodded slightly, quietly encouraging himself. As he looked at Xiao Peng, there was both envy and a little more hope in his eyes.

Ge Ye took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart. He stared coldly at Xiao Peng and said in a deep voice, "Brat, you have some skill. But this was merely a small sparring match. It amounts to nothing."

Though he said this aloud, he had become wary of Xiao Peng.

Xiao Peng smiled at Ge Ye. I'll find a chance to take this old bastard's head someday.

The young man crawled up from the ground, brushed the dust from his clothes, and sat back down in his seat in an utterly bedraggled state.

What followed was still the same as in the novel. Xiao Yan gave Nalan Yanran a thorough dressing-down, and Nalan Yanran proposed the Three Year Agreement to Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan boldly wrote Nalan Yanran a letter of divorce and declared, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Do not look down on a young man because he is poor."

Nalan Yanran was furious and left the Xiao Family with Ge Ye and the young man.

After Nalan Yanran and the others left, the other Xiao Family disciples also departed one after another, as did the elders.

Xiao Feng ran away the fastest. He was genuinely afraid Xiao Peng would come looking for trouble.

After all, just yesterday, he had mocked Xiao Peng as trash. It would already be fortunate if Xiao Peng did not break his legs.

Xiao Mei stepped forward and said happily, "Cousin Xiao Peng, congratulations on recovering your strength."

Xiao Peng smiled at Xiao Mei and said, "Thank you for your concern, cousin. You should cultivate diligently as well."

He remembered that Xiao Mei seemed to be at the seventh stage of Dou Qi now and would advance to the eighth stage of Dou Qi a month later.