Sword Candle Mountain Sea

Qian Luoyi could not help laughing as he cursed, "Brother Wang Chong, why have you started playing mysterious tricks?" Before his words had faded, the face of this New Generation Wolf God of the Turks suddenly changed. Not only his-the two Huji's expressions changed drastically at the same time. Even Su Luoyan and Chu Qiuzi looked startled and uncertain, as though they had seen some ghost or monster.

After Wang Chong transmigrated here, he had recalled all manner of martial arts, but he had never grasped the essence of the most formidable of them, the Candle-Bearing Sword Technique. These past days, he had put no small amount of painstaking effort into this sword technique, and every day he felt he had improved. Yet in that instant just now, the True Qi within him had suddenly surged. He felt his internal power obey his every whim, strength springing through every limb and bone, might radiating from his body. His presence climbed higher and higher, and in an instant, his martial arts had made the breakthrough he had dreamed of.

Wang Chong gave his sword a light shake, drawing an unbroken stream of clear notes from the blade. His heart filled with delight, and an unmatched confidence rose within him. He called, "Brother Qian Luo, let us continue our fight."

Qian Luoyi suppressed his shock and advanced with his saber drawn. Although he considered Wang Chong a worthy opponent, he did not think this sudden breakthrough could increase his strength by much.

Wang Chong suddenly whistled. His longsword struck, abruptly releasing a piercing shriek, and a faint glow appeared at its tip, like candlelight.

Almost instantly, this Wolf God of the younger generation of the Turks drew the longsword he carried and unleashed the Sword-and-Saber Double Kill Secret Art. In the blink of an eye, he also raised his power to its limit.

Their second exchange lasted only a single move. Qian Luoyi retreated more than ten steps, ferocity spilling from him as he shouted, "Is this the Candle-Bearing Sword Technique, one of Wudang Mountain's seven divine sword arts?"

"Just who are you, Brother Wang Chong?"

Wang Chong drew a deep breath. That single move had almost emptied his True Qi, and he thought in secret alarm, This sword technique consumes so much?

No, I simply don't know how to restrain myself. This sword technique surely isn't meant to be used like this. I should only raise my swordplay to its greatest speed at the most critical moment, rather than attack at full speed all the time as I did. More than half my power went to waste.

He answered solemnly, "A true man changes neither his name standing nor his surname sitting. I have not deceived you, Brother Qian Luo."

Qian Luoyi put away his saber and sword, shaking his head. "If we fight again, I fear it will have to end in life or death."

"There is no enmity between Brother Wang Chong and me, and I have no confidence that I could take your life while keeping my own. How about we call this fight off?"

Wang Chong laughed, thinking, If you attacked again, you could probably take my head. He said mildly, "As you wish, Brother Qian Luoyi."

Qian Luoyi suddenly smiled and said, "I said there was no way that fool Qin Han could have killed White Chrysanthemum. So it was Brother Wang Chong who struck."

"That lecher secretly learned Wudang swordsmanship. He must have angered the Wudang Mountain Revered Masters, who specifically sent Brother Wang Chong down the mountain to slay him."

"My enmity with that villain ran deep. I came to the Central Lands this time precisely to cut him down myself. Had anyone else struck, I certainly would not have accepted it, but since he died at your hands, Brother Wang, I will not dwell on it."

Wang Chong thought, That really isn't what happened. But when he looked back, he saw understanding dawn on both Su Luoyan's and Chu Qiuzi's faces. Clearly, they both accepted Qian Luoyi's deduction. Helpless, he could only say, "I already promised Brother Qin Han that I would let him have the credit for this. White Chrysanthemum really wasn't killed by me, either. I merely happened to be there." With Su Luoyan, an eyewitness, also present, Wang Chong could not lie. He could only speak half in truths and half in vagueness, hoping the parties involved would fill in the blanks themselves. He could not think of a logically flawless account himself.

Su Luoyan chuckled. She thought Wang Chong meant her. After all, although Sun Yanqi had been killed by Nan Xinlan, when all was said and done, he had still died at her and Monk Xuangang's hands. Without their pursuit, how could Nan Xinlan possibly have killed that lecher?

Huo Qingge was just about to step forward and challenge Su Luoyan. She genuinely refused to concede to the Central Plains' two great young female experts. But when she saw Qian Luoyi secretly signaling her with his eyes, a thought stirred in her mind, and she and her junior sister took Qian Luoyi away.

Su Luoyan said nothing more, watching the three disappear at the end of the road.

After riding swiftly for several dozen li, Qian Luoyi suddenly spat out a mouthful of stagnant blood. His body swayed slightly, on the verge of falling, and he cried, "What a move, Sword Candle Mountain Sea!"

"In that instant just now, Wang Chong made an inconceivable breakthrough. Not only did his True Qi grow more substantial, but the force behind his sword increased by at least fifty or sixty jin. Losing that exchange to him was no injustice. Luckily, he didn't notice I was already wounded, so I still managed to save face."

Huo Qingge could not help asking, "His strength was originally a little below yours. How could he have broken through at such a convenient moment? Could he have used some overbearing method that briefly multiplied his power?"

Qian Luoyi shook his head. "It really wasn't that sort of unorthodox art. It was a genuine breakthrough."

Xiao Yiguli was aghast and exclaimed, "How are we supposed to fight that? If he levels up every time he falls behind, won't he become invincible under heaven sooner or later?"

Qian Luoyi and Huo Qingge both laughed. "How could anything be that easy?"

Qian Luoyi said, "Don't let Wang Chong frighten you. If he could level up endlessly, would there be any room left under heaven for grandmasters or supreme experts? He simply happened to have reached a bottleneck this time. Such an opportunity comes once in ten thousand, and this trick certainly cannot succeed twice."

He mused, "I just reflected on Wang Chong's martial arts. Although his moves had no openings whatsoever, and after his breakthrough his internal power was no less substantial than mine, he probably hasn't fought others more than a few times. There is too little killing intent in his swordplay. If I didn't trade moves with him, but instead overwhelmed him with my presence, meeting every strike with an attack and taking a do-or-die stance, he certainly wouldn't last ten exchanges. Next time, he definitely won't be so lucky."

His words brimming with confidence, Qian Luoyi departed with the two Huji, laughing heartily.

Wang Chong suddenly said, "The mutton I just won has run away."

Recalling Xiao Yiguli's promise that "if he can last thirty moves against Qian Luoyi, I'll treat him to mutton," Su Luoyan and Chu Qiuzi could not help laughing. Su Luoyan said, "Since your big sister from the Western Regions won't treat you, let your big sister Su do it instead."

"I originally wanted to challenge Huo Qingge and Xiao Yiguli, but your fight with Qian Luoyi depleted your vitality quite a bit. You couldn't be left without anyone to protect you, so I had to let those two fellow disciples off."

"After clashing head-on with Qian Luoyi just now, did you feel any obstruction in your internal breath? Come back with me and recuperate for a few days. I have some excellent medicinal pills here, so take some of those as well. As we travel the martial world, injuries are inevitable, but we mustn't be careless and leave lasting ailments."

Chu Qiuzi suddenly felt that this Chess Sword Linglong seemed poised to usurp the host's place as a guest, and interjected, "Qingcheng's Five Dragons Pill is quite renowned as well. When I came down the mountain this time, my master had me bring one in case of need. This pill must be swallowed with strong liquor. Once we get back, sorry for the trouble, Sister Su, but please prepare some strong liquor so he can take it first."

...Qian Luoyi: I'm wounded too...

...Su Luoyan: Chu Qiuzi is eating far too well...

...Wang Chong: I'm not sick. I don't want to take medicine for no reason...