Mystic Realm

Ding—ding—ding—

Clang—clang—clang—

In the blink of an eye, Chen Wu and Yang Yuchun had exchanged three moves!

In the blink of an eye, Chen Wu and Yang Yuchun had exchanged three blows!

Chen Wu pressed forward again and again, while Yang Yuchun retreated again and again.

Chen Wu pressed forward again and again, while Yang Yuchun retreated again and again.

Chen Wu understood. His opponent was finished!

Chen Wu knew it in his heart: his opponent was finished!

Yang Yuchun had only reached the Focused Mind stage. He lacked the ability of a Profound Mystery expert to let the heart die while the energy remained alive. After suffering severe injuries, his combat strength declined rapidly.

Yang Yuchun had only reached the Concentrated Spirit Realm. He lacked a Mystic Realm expert's ability to keep the qi alive even when the heart was dead, and after suffering severe injuries, his fighting strength had plummeted.

Chen Wu no longer hesitated. He thrust straight at Yang Yuchun's Juque acupoint, intent on finishing him quickly.

Chen Wu didn't hesitate any longer. He struck straight for Yang Yuchun's Juque Acupoint, intending to finish him quickly.

Yang Yuchun didn't even dare to block. He could only retreat.

Yang Yuchun didn't even dare to block. He could only retreat.

With nowhere left to go, he flipped upward and leaped to the highest point of the Riverwatch Tower, an octagonal light well.

With nowhere left to retreat, he flipped upward and leaped to the highest point of Liaowanghe Tower, where an octagonal skylight opened overhead.

The theater stage lay directly beneath the light well. A huge pane of glass covered the opening, forming a skylight through which sunlight streamed down onto the stage.

Below the skylight lay the stage of River-Viewing Tower. Huge panes of glass covered the opening, forming a glass roof through which sunlight spilled onto the stage.

The people onstage still knew nothing of the fierce battle outside. They were in the middle of singing a drum-ballad.

The people onstage knew nothing of the fierce battle outside. They were playing a Guzi Tune.

"The brave man heard this and burned with nameless rage,

"Once the hero heard it, nameless fury rose,

Wishing he could swallow him whole..."

He wished he could swallow the man whole..."

Chen Wu leaped up and heard the song too. What a coincidence. This was the very same "Happy Forest" he'd listened to with Shui Ziyi.

As Chen Wu leaped up, he heard the tune too. What a coincidence—it was Happy Forest, the very piece he'd listened to with Shui Ziyi.

Its fierce, fiery tune was perfect for sending off a Focused Mind expert!

Fierce beyond measure—it was just the thing to send off a Concentrated Spirit expert!

Yang Yuchun didn't keep running. Instead, he took up a corner of the light well and adjusted his breathing.

Yang Yuchun stopped fleeing and took up a corner of the skylight, steadying his breath.

His Focused Mind energy surged like true qi, driving his muscles, bones, and meridians. With every breath, it felt as if countless red-hot little knives were repeatedly carving up his pierced lung.

His concentrated spirit boiled like true qi, driving his sinews, bones, and meridians. With every breath, it felt as though countless red-hot knives were sawing through his pierced lung.

The faint dizziness before his eyes told him his road was coming to an end!

The faint dizziness before his eyes told him his road was nearly at its end!

There was no escape!

There was no escape!

Yang Yuchun scorned the thought of running any farther!

And Yang Yuchun scorned the idea of fleeing any longer!

He, Yang Yuchun, had risen from Sichuan Province. He'd fought battles large and small and had never once been defeated. He hadn't made it this far by running away!

He, Yang Yuchun, had risen from Sichuan Province and fought battles great and small without ever tasting defeat. He hadn't gotten where he was by running away!

"Jiang Zhong saw this and seethed with rage,

"Jiang Zhong saw it and flew into a rage,

He'd settle the score with the captain,

He'd settle the score with the constable,

The hero leaped into the middle of the street,

The hero leaped into the middle of the street,

And brought forth all his true skill..."

And brought all his true skill to bear..."

Chen Wu took the opposite corner. He didn't attack rashly, but silently circulated his profound arts and gathered his true strength as he listened to the drum-ballad.

Chen Wu took the opposite corner and didn't rush to attack. He silently circulated his profound art, building up his true strength as he listened to the Guzi Tune.

He knew Yang Yuchun was preparing to make a desperate last stand!

He knew Yang Yuchun was preparing to fight to the death!

Suddenly, the skin all over Yang Yuchun's body began to convulse.

All at once, Yang Yuchun's skin began to writhe.

Convulse—that was exactly what it did!

It writhed—every inch of him writhed!

Blood seeped from every pore, turning him into a veritable man of blood.

Blood seeped from every pore in his body, making him look like a man drenched in blood.

Vmmm—

A sword rang out!

Vrrrr—

A sword rang out!

Chen Wu acted decisively. His dantian roiled, his true strength converged, and he swung his precious sword, diving down from above with a slash.

Chen Wu acted without hesitation. His dantian boiled, his true strength gathered as one, and he swung his treasured sword, leaping down from above with a mighty slash.

A streak of blood shot up from below to meet him. At its very tip glinted a cold point of light: the tip of the judge's brush.

A streak of blood shot straight up at Chen Wu. At its tip gleamed a cold point—the nib of the Judge's Pen.

Ding—

The sword's edge collided squarely with the brush's tip.

Clang—

The sword's edge and the pen's tip collided head-on.

For an instant, Chen Wu felt as if time had stopped. His spiraling force and his opponent's opposing cold and hot forces clashed across that hair's breadth of steel, battling through countless exchanges.

For an instant, Chen Wu felt time grind to a halt. His Spiral Qi Force and his opponent's alternating cold and hot qi fought countless rounds across that hair's breadth of steel.

At last, his opponent's cold and hot forces could hold on no longer. They were utterly defeated!

At last, his opponent's cold and hot qi could hold out no longer. It crumbled in total defeat!

Thud—

Crash—

Yang Yuchun crashed backward onto the skylight's glass, smashed through it, and fell hard onto the stage amid a rain of shards.

Yang Yuchun fell backward onto the glass covering the light well, smashed through it, and crashed heavily onto the theater stage amid a rain of shards, right in front of the five drum-ballad performers.

He landed in front of the five Guzi performers.

"Now that was Song Wu, drunk, beating up Happy Forest—"

"That's what you call Wu Song Drunk at Happy Forest—"

The five performers onstage failed to react at first. Relying on muscle memory, they finished the final line, then finally panicked and scattered in every direction.

The five Guzi performers onstage didn't react at first. On muscle memory alone, they sang the final line; only then did they panic and tumble over one another.

Yang Yuchun lay on the stage, blood spreading beneath him like a curtain. Yet in his pupils, Chen Wu's shadow was reflected above in the light well. The light in his eyes went out completely.

Yang Yuchun lay on the stage, blood spreading beneath him like a curtain. The reflection of Chen Wu above him lingered in his pupils, but the light in his eyes had gone out completely.

Chen Wu gave Yang Yuchun a long look, then leaped away.

Chen Wu gave Yang Yuchun a long, deep look, then leaped away.

The constables swarmed after Wu Chengyi. The Daya Hall fell quiet again, as if the commotion from moments ago had been nothing but an illusion.

The constables surged after Wu Chengyi, and Daya Hall fell quiet for a time, as though all the commotion before had been an illusion.

Li Changeng suddenly sensed something was wrong. Wu Chengyi's arrival had been far too abrupt.

Li Changgeng suddenly sensed something was wrong. Wu Chengyi's arrival had been far too abrupt.

Uneasy, he hurriedly took out his golden melon hammer, settled himself in the rear courtyard, and let his Focused Mind energy rise.

Uneasy, he hurriedly took out his Golden Melon Hammer and sat in the rear courtyard, his concentrated spirit rising.

Through his perception of the surrounding energy, he sensed a figure charging straight toward him from the northwest, carrying the power of heaven and earth.

Through his sense of qi, he felt a figure bearing the power of heaven and earth charging straight toward him from the northwest.

Li Changeng was startled. Which Profound Mystery expert was this, making such a brazen entrance without concealing even a trace of the power of heaven and earth? He could sense it from this far away.

Li Changgeng was astonished. Which Mystic Realm expert was this, advancing with such brazen fanfare, making no effort to conceal the power of heaven and earth around him? He was so far away, yet Li Changgeng could still sense him.

Could the master of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower have come for revenge?

Could the master of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower have come for revenge?

He immediately ordered his servants, "Quick! There's danger. Call those constables back!"

He immediately ordered a servant, "Quickly! There's danger. Call those constables back!"

A carriage took two quarters of an hour to get from the Riverwatch Tower to Daya Hall.

By carriage, the journey from River-Viewing Tower to Daya Hall took half an hour.

But Chen Wu reached Daya Hall's main gate in less than a quarter of an hour. Unlike a carriage, he didn't need to wind around every turn; he pushed his lightness skill to its limit, leaping over rooftops and walls as he made straight for Daya Hall.

But Chen Wu reached Daya Hall's front gate in less than fifteen minutes. Unlike a carriage, he didn't have to wind his way along the roads; he pushed his lightness skill to the limit, racing over rooftops and straight for Daya Hall.

He was in such a hurry because this borrowed Profound Mystery power wouldn't last long.

He was in such a hurry because this borrowed Mystic Realm power couldn't last long.

According to the description in the Heaven-Cutting, Dao-Elucidating Method, it should last for an hour.

According to the Heaven-Intercepting Dao-Exposition Method, he should have been able to borrow it for an hour.

But Chen Wu didn't dare put his full faith in the manual, so he discounted that estimate from the start and counted on only half an hour.

But Chen Wu didn't dare trust the manual completely. He'd discounted that by half, allowing for only thirty minutes.

That was why Chen Wu waited until Yang Yuchun was nearly there before activating the secret art and borrowing the power of heaven and earth: he wanted to buy himself as much time as possible.

So he'd waited until Yang Yuchun was nearly there before circulating the secret art and borrowing the power of heaven and earth, giving himself as much extra time as possible.

Including the time it took to kill Yang Yuchun, Chen Wu had a little over two quarters of an hour left.

Including the time it had taken to kill Yang Yuchun, Chen Wu had a little over fifteen minutes left.

As expected, the constables weren't at the entrance. It seemed Wu Chengyi had led them away.

The constables who'd been guarding the entrance were indeed gone. It seemed Wu Chengyi had drawn them away.

Chen Wu charged straight for the rear courtyard. Li Changeng was in the best room.

Chen Wu made straight for the rear courtyard. Li Changgeng was in the best room.

Through his perception of the surrounding energy, Li Changeng sensed the man vault over the courtyard wall and charge straight toward the rear courtyard where he was waiting.

Through his sense of qi, Li Changgeng felt the man vault over the courtyard wall and rush straight toward the rear courtyard where he was.

You little thief! You really had come for revenge!

What a scoundrel! He really had come for revenge!

Li Changeng assumed a fighting stance and turned toward the man's approach.

Li Changgeng assumed a fighting stance and turned toward the direction the man was coming from.

A figure arrived right on cue, appearing atop the courtyard wall.

A figure appeared right on cue, coming into view atop the courtyard wall.

Vmmm—

A series of sword rings sounded as he charged straight at Li Changeng!

Vrrrr—

The ringing of a sword came in waves, hurtling straight toward him!

"You've got some nerve!"

"Have you a death wish!"

The instant he saw who had arrived, Li Changeng felt not alarm but delight. It was the same assassin who had held him hostage before.

The moment he saw who it was, Li Changgeng felt relief instead of alarm. It was the assassin who had held him hostage before.

He was only at the Focused Mind stage. Li Changeng could easily hold out until the constables returned.

The man was only at the Concentrated Spirit Realm. Li Changgeng could hold him off until the constables returned.

A rumble like thunder rose as he swung his golden melon hammer, smashing it against Chen Wu's long sword.

Thunder rumbled. Li Changgeng swung his Golden Melon Hammer and smashed it against Chen Wu's longsword.

Thud—

At the first clash, Li Changeng knew something was wrong. A violent tremor ran through his hand, and the immense force from his opponent's sword made his wound flare.

The instant they clashed, Li Changgeng knew something was wrong. A violent tremor shot through his hand. A vast force surged from his opponent's sword, making his wounds tremble.

How could this be a Focused Mind cultivator?

How could this be the Concentrated Spirit Realm?

Before he could think further, Chen Wu attacked again!

Before he could think further, Chen Wu's next strike was already upon him!

Chen Wu knew he wasn't truly a Profound Mystery expert. If they fought using only martial techniques, this fake expert wouldn't be a match for Li Changeng.

Chen Wu knew he wasn't truly a Mystic Realm expert. In a straight contest of martial techniques, he, a fake Mystic Realm fighter, wouldn't be a match for Li Changgeng.

But Li Changeng's serious injuries had yet to heal. Chen Wu meant to clash with him in true strength and set those wounds off.

But Li Changgeng's serious injuries hadn't healed. Chen Wu meant to clash true strength with him and set those wounds off.

Thud, thud, thud—

Chen Wu used a sword, but wielded it just like Li Changgeng wielded his hammer, as if he were swinging a mallet. Each blow landed with crushing force, forcing Li Changgeng to defend, and Chen Wu met him head-on.

Though Chen Wu wielded a long sword, he swung it just like Li Changeng wielded his hammer: each blow came down with tremendous weight, forcing his opponent to defend, as they met strength with strength.

If anyone else had watched, they would have thought the two were clumsy fighters, like beginners sparring.

If anyone else had been watching, they would have thought the two were clumsy fighters, like beginners sparring.

But the two men in the thick of it knew how dangerous things were. If either gave way even slightly, the other's crushing strength would overwhelm him at once.

But the two men in the midst of it knew how perilous the fight was. The moment either one weakened even slightly, he would be crushed beneath the overwhelming force.

As their true strength clashed, force scattered in every direction.

As their true strengths collided, waves of force scattered in every direction.

Crack—

The pagoda tree in the courtyard could take no more. The shock snapped it in two.

The Chinese scholar tree in the courtyard could take no more and snapped under the shockwaves.

Amid the clash of true strength, Chen Wu's body shuddered. His Bronze Skin, Iron Tendon, and Jade Bone were pounded as though under a hammer; it was only a matter of time before his body fell apart.

As their true strengths collided, Chen Wu's body shuddered. His copper skin, iron sinews, and jade bones felt as if they were being pounded, and it seemed only a matter of time before he fell apart.

Li Changgeng fared even worse. Though he could draw on the power of heaven and earth to sustain himself, his severe injuries remained unhealed. His Jade Bone was breaking down, his wounds slowly splitting open, and blood seeped from his neck.

Li Changeng had it even worse. Though he could draw on the power of heaven and earth in a continuous cycle, his serious injuries had yet to heal. His jade bones were breaking under the strain, and his wounds slowly split open, blood seeping from his neck.

Chen Wu's heart soared. His plan was working.

Chen Wu was elated. His strategy was working.

The servant was panting for breath when he finally caught up with one of the constables.

A servant, panting hard, finally caught up with one of the constables.

The constables' martial skills varied. The one lagging behind was the weakest of them all.

The constables' martial skills varied. The one lagging behind had the weakest skills of them all.

He grabbed a constable and said, "Quick! Hurry back!"

He grabbed a constable and cried, "Quick! Hurry back!"

The constable kept his eyes on Wu Chengyi up ahead and didn't stop walking.

The constable kept his eyes on Wu Chengyi ahead and didn't stop.

"What is it?"

"What is it?"

"My master is in danger!"

"My master is in danger!"

"Your master..." The constable was about to brush him off when he suddenly realized. "Li Changgeng is in danger!"

"Your master..." The constable was about to brush him off, but then it clicked. "Li Changeng is in danger!"

Then, still running, he shouted toward the men ahead, "Li Changgeng is in danger! Hurry back—"

Then, running as he shouted toward the others ahead, he cried, "Li Changeng is in danger! Hurry back—"