Green Baleful Qi

P.S.: I was about to go crazy—the internet had been down for three whole days, and it was only fixed today.

The two stood ten paces apart, beginning to gather their Momentum.

After several breaths, Purple Qi covered Luo Hanshan's face. No one knew what technique he cultivated, but with a low shout, he suddenly charged at Liu Wuxiang, chopping out with his right palm at the same instant.

Before he arrived, his force had already struck. Faint ripples spread through the air.

Liu Wuxiang's expression turned grave. He shattered the tiles beneath his foot with one step, shooting forward like lightning and exchanging a palm strike with Luo Hanshan.

Boom!

A transparent current of air spread outward in a spherical wave, sending tables and chairs flying. At the same time, the two figures separated, each shooting backward.

Ye Xuan looked startled. She had not expected a clash between Late True Condensation Realm experts to be so devastating—even from seven or eight meters away, it could send heavy rosewood tables and chairs flying. Ji Xueyan was only one step away from the Late True Condensation Realm, so she was not overly surprised. Of course, she knew her own limits. She was no match for either of them and would not be able to receive even a single palm strike.

The two struggled to steady themselves, then moved toward the center at the same time. Intense fighting intent radiated from their bodies, so strong that everyone could feel it from afar.

"I don't think there's any need for a third palm. If this is all the strength you have, the second palm will decide the victor." Green streams of air rose around Liu Wuxiang's body. They were incomparably sharp; every bit of air they touched twisted and split apart, letting out hissing sounds.

"Green Baleful Qi!" Luo Hanshan murmured, his expression growing even more solemn.

At the head seat, Luo Xinglie was even more nervous than Luo Hanshan. This Green Baleful Qi was one of Jade Valley's secret, untransmitted arts, an Earth-grade Low-tier technique. It had an exceptionally obvious effect in breaking inner True Qi and had always been passed down only to the most elite disciples—not even ordinary Core Disciples qualified. Judging from the phenomenon Liu Wuxiang displayed, he had clearly reached the eighth layer of Green Baleful Qi. What astonishing talent! But how would Hanshan deal with it?

Liu Wuxiang said indifferently, "I don't see the need to continue."

"Not necessarily!" Luo Hanshan took a deep breath. A vein suddenly bulged on his forehead, followed by a second, then a third... An astonishing sight unfolded: his eyes changed from black to red, from red to purple, and finally gave rise to two streams of Purple Qi that drifted out.

"Purple Eyes Ice Heart, the eighth layer of the Violet Extreme Technique. Well done." Luo Xinglie was stunned at first, then overjoyed.

The other Inner Sect Elders of the Flowing Cloud Sect all smiled. The Violet Extreme Technique was an Earth-grade Low-tier technique with nine layers in total, each harder to cultivate than the last. They had originally thought Luo Hanshan was no match for Liu Wuxiang, but now there was nothing to worry about.

Seeing Luo Xinglie's ecstatic expression, Luo Hanshan felt pleased as well. Thinking back on the past two years, his life had truly risen and fallen like a storm-tossed sea. Ever since winning the title of one of the Four Great Young Masters two years ago, he had been stuck at the sixth layer of the Violet Extreme Technique, unable to advance even an inch. Later, he lost to Zhu Mei, the current First Disciple, in the Core Disciple assessment competition. Everyone had believed his potential had been exhausted, that he might not even be able to keep his position as the second disciple in the future.

No one should doubt me now, right?

"Ha!" This time, Liu Wuxiang struck first. His palm, wrapped in green streams of air, slammed out viciously as though it would destroy the entire hall.

Luo Hanshan remained calm and met the strike with his own palm. Unlike Liu Wuxiang, when his palm force erupted, it made not the slightest sound of wind breaking. Yet wherever his palms passed, the surrounding air suddenly churned with an extremely violent fluctuation, endlessly roiling like boiling water.

The two palms collided!

Several cracks abruptly split open across the ground. Violent force spiraled outward, shredding the surrounding tables and chairs into dust as if they had been hacked apart a thousand times.

Facing the sharp Qi Force rushing toward her, Ji Xueyan circulated her True Qi and thrust out her palm, holding it before herself.

Crackle! Crackle!

The sweeping Qi Force was blocked, erupting in a dense series of explosions that made Ji Xueyan's face turn slightly pale. Fortunately, it was only an aftershock, and seventy to eighty percent of its force had already dissipated.

Ye Xuan, seated beside Ji Xueyan, cried out, "If Sister Xue Yan hadn't blocked it with all your strength, even the aftershock alone could have seriously injured me."

Ji Xueyan said, "Green Baleful Qi specializes in breaking inner True Qi. Combined with the pure True Qi of the Violet Extreme Technique, its destructive power is extraordinary."

Other than Ji Xueyan and Ye Xuan, everyone else ignored this Qi Force completely. It was as if invisible walls stood before them, dispersing all its force.

Outside the hall, Ye Chen's heart surged.

So this is a duel between Late True Condensation Realm experts? It's simply too intense—no less impressive than the first-rate masters in twenty-first-century wuxia dramas. When will I reach such a realm?

Tap, tap, tap...

As the Qi Force exploded, Liu Wuxiang swayed and retreated thirteen steps in a row, each step leaving a deep footprint in the ground. Luo Hanshan retreated fifteen steps; on the last step, he simply crushed the tiles beneath his feet, sinking three inches deep.

The result was that Liu Wuxiang had won by a slight margin.

After taking a deep look at Luo Hanshan, Liu Wuxiang said, "After all, palm techniques are what I excel at. Let's call this a draw."

Luo Hanshan said, "Let's begin the third palm."

"There's no need. I already have some understanding of your strength. Though you have not yet reached the level of my senior brother, you have at least recovered the bearing of Young Master Cold Mountain." Liu Wuxiang shook his head.

Seeing that the fight would not continue, Luo Xinglie laughed heartily. "Jade Valley's disciples truly live up to their reputation. Heroes emerge in their youth!"

Mu Fengyuan said, "Sect Master Luo, you flatter us."

"Hehe, not at all." Luo Xinglie was in an excellent mood. His son, Luo Hanshan, had returned to the ranks of top geniuses, and as his father, he basked in the glory as well. Grinning broadly, he said, "Hanshan, find yourself a seat."

Luo Hanshan nodded, then said to Liu Wuxiang, "Tell Pei Wushuang that I, Luo Hanshan, have returned."

"I will."

The two found seats and sat down, saying no more.

Outside the hall, Ye Chen came back to his senses and bowed to Luo Xinglie. "Sect Master, Elders, disciple Ye Chen pays his respects."

The Grand Elder said flatly, "Come in!"

Stepping into the hall, Ye Chen saw Ye Xuan. He also recognized Ji Xueyan beside her; they had met several years ago. She had now shed her youthful immaturity and no longer looked like the little girl she once was. But the world changed like drifting clouds, and he had more or less guessed why she had come. After all, their relationship was not close enough for them to visit one another.

Luo Xinglie steadied his emotions and said majestically, "Ye Chen, do you know these two?"

"I do." Ye Chen drew a deep breath.

"Since this is a private matter, settle it privately. What do you say?" Luo Xinglie had no interest in concerning himself with the private affairs of juniors, especially when the other party was not a Core Disciple.

"Yes."

Ji Xueyan rose to her feet and said to Luo Xinglie and Mu Fengyuan, "Please permit me to speak with him alone for a few words."

Luo Xinglie and Mu Fengyuan nodded.

Walking up to Ye Chen, Ji Xueyan said coolly, "Let's talk outside."

Ye Chen said nothing and followed her directly. Ye Xuan hesitated for a moment, then greeted everyone before following as well.