Pang Yuanji was taken aback, then gave a thumbs-up to the young man in the azure robe.

Daring to speak to him, Pang Yuanji, like that, in this Sword Qi Great Wall, where nothing was plentiful except sword cultivators, required at least a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

It wasn’t that Pang Yuanji looked down on the outsider who had won two matches in a row.

Rather, Pang Yuanji simply looked down on the entire Vast Expanse.

Beyond this disdain, there was more loathing, laced with a hint of innate animosity.

If it weren’t for the existence of Beiju Luzhou sword cultivators like Ah Liang, Zuo You, and others from the Vast Expanse, Pang Yuanji might even hate that unfamiliar, wealthy, and stable realm.

Therefore, this young sword cultivator, considered by many in Sword Qi Great Wall to be the most compatible with Ning Yao, fell silent.

Pang Yuanji drained his bowl of wine in one gulp, then stood up, left the table, and slowly walked into the street.

The one-eyed, bearded man remained impassive, merely drinking.

Pang Yuanji had no interest in matters of love between men and women. He didn’t care who Ning Yao liked.

What Pang Yuanji cared about was his identity as a sword cultivator of Sword Qi Great Wall and as a disciple of the Hidden Official.

The biggest commonality between the two was that they were convicts and exiles from the Vast Expanse. This was a mark that had persisted for ten thousand years. The old sword immortal on the city wall, living in seclusion, had never spoken, but the young people ten thousand years later all harbored resentment!

Once Pang Yuanji was in the street, his expression turned solemn. It was hard to imagine he was only a twenty-five-year-old. “Chen Ping’an, I have no issue with you, but I have many issues with the Vast Expanse.”

Perhaps on the mountains of the Vast Expanse, someone of his age, even just a cave or sea gazer realm cultivator, would already be the direct descendant of the ancestral hall of a typical immortal mountain, the center of attention.

Down the mountains, perhaps he would be a young talent who had topped the imperial examinations, enjoying the glory of bringing honor to his family, embarking on his official career, full of vigor.

But here, in Pang Yuanji’s hometown, someone once said it was a place where even birds wouldn’t bother to defecate, because the sword qi was too heavy, making it hard to find any birds. How pitiful. Then the drunken man, surrounded by many children and teenagers, said that if you have the chance, you must go to the Inverted Mountain, and even farther than the Inverted Mountain, to see for yourselves. In any continent there, the water spirit maidens are a dime a dozen, guaranteeing that no one will be a bachelor.

Here, any child, as long as they weren’t blind, would see more sword immortals in their lifetime than there were high-ranking cultivators in the Vast Expanse.

Because here, one could easily run into a sword immortal buying wine or drinking in the streets, and would often see sword immortals flying towards the city wall.

Chen Ping’an smiled: “I have no issue with you, Pang Yuanji, but I have many issues with a certain saying.”

The discussions in the taverns and restaurants on both sides of the street grew more lively.

Even those young sword cultivators from Beiju Luzhou, who were all arrogant in their hometowns, had never dared to act and speak so boldly upon arriving at Sword Qi Great Wall.

Perhaps over time, they would form bonds of life and death, or continue to dislike each other, leading to friendly duels at the slightest disagreement. But in recent centuries, there really hadn’t been such a straightforward young man.

Beiju Luzhou was the continent that had the most contact with Sword Qi Great Wall. However, the young people who came here for training would be warned by their elders before reaching the Inverted Mountain. Different people used different tones, but the meaning was roughly the same: when you get to Sword Qi Great Wall, curb your temper, be tolerant, don’t speak rashly unless it involves major issues, and don’t draw your sword casually. Sword Qi Great Wall has very few rules, but the fewer the rules, the more troublesome it is when you get into trouble.

Perhaps the only thing that could make Beiju Luzhou sword cultivators so cautious was Sword Qi Great Wall, which was like being sandwiched between two realms.

Dong Bude, with her round face, stood on the second floor, surrounded by a large group of women of similar age, and some girls who were still growing up, with a youthful air. They were mostly looking at Pang Yuanji, who Ning Yao didn’t like anyway, so they all still had a chance.

Dong Bude was actually a little worried that her impetuous younger brother would get caught up in a strange melee.

Qi Shou also had his own faction, and whether it was the family power behind the young people, or the accumulated fighting strength of the young sword cultivators, they were no less inferior to Ning Yao’s side, and perhaps even surpassed it. Ren Yi had already left in shame and anger. Once a conflict broke out, there would be a fight.

Therefore, while Dong Bude was worried, she was also eager to try.

She was Dong Hua’s own sister.

A chubby girl stood on tiptoe, leaning on the windowsill, nodding vigorously and saying, “This guy is quite handsome. You can all like Pang Yuanji as much as you want, but from today on, I’ll like this guy named Chen Ping’an. Sister Dong, if Sister Ning doesn’t want him one day, remember to remind me immediately, so I can take advantage of the situation and get married sooner. The wedding dresses in the Jiaoshan Tower shop are so beautiful, they feel so smooth.”

Dong Bude kicked the little girl’s butt and laughed, “Usually, girls who aren’t clear-headed are crazy about men, but you’re crazy about wearing wedding dresses.”

The girl rubbed her butt, shrugged her slender shoulders, pushed away a giggling peer beside her, and shouted, “Sister Dong, my mother said that you’re the most unclear-headed old maid!”

Dong Bude smiled and said, “Is that so?” Then she reached out and pressed the little girl’s head, banging it against the windowsill one by one, making a thudding sound, “Old maid, huh?”

After Dong Bude let go, the girl rubbed her forehead, turned her head, and grinned, “Little girl, little girl, Sister Dong who’s eighteen years old every year.”

The girl secretly complained in her heart, “Old maid who’s eighty years old every year, right?”

As a result, Dong Bude pressed the girl’s head again and banged it, “Eighty years old, right? Your little thoughts are written all over your face.”

Dong Bude suddenly let go. “I knew it, Qi Shou wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble just to let Pang Yuanji take all the limelight.”

The girl didn’t bother to argue with Dong Bude. She pressed down the head of the annoying peer next to her, stretched her neck to look, and said in an old-fashioned tone, “If I were Qi Shou, I would have flipped the table and started fighting.”

From a tavern at the end of the street, someone appeared, it was Qi Shou.

Tall, imposing, wearing a long gown and carrying a sword, he looked clean and sharp.
Qi Shou smiled, “Yuanji, this is practically a family matter for me. Let me handle it, or people will mistake me for a shrinking turtle.”

Pang Yuanji turned his head, looking somewhat troubled.

Qi Shou’s gaze bypassed Pang Yuanji, focusing on the bare-handed outsider martial artist. Not very old, supposedly from a small place called Baoping Continent. About ten years ago, he came to the Sword Qi Great Wall, but he’d been holed up on the city wall, practicing his punches. As a result, he lost three matches to Cao Ci. That’s one of the two things worth mentioning about him. The other, more circulated among the womenfolk, was a joke that originated from the Dong family. Ning Yao said she could beat a hundred Chen Ping’ans.

Losing to Cao Ci or being teased by Ning Yao, neither was truly shameful.

But Qi Shou felt deeply uncomfortable when he heard it.

Pang Yuanji chuckled, “Between you and me, only one can make a move. Why don’t we take this opportunity to settle things first, decide who gets to be the host?”

Qi Shou appeared hesitant.

Whistles erupted, egging the two on to fight it out. Some were already making plans to set up a betting pool, taking wagers on the winner and how many moves it would take to decide the match. These schemes were learned from A-Liang. A single betting house would offer over a dozen types of bets. In A-Liang’s words, it was a gamble to turn toilet paper into silk, a bet to make a bald man grow hair.

Earlier, regarding this young man surnamed Chen, the gamblers mainly wagered on whether he would even step forward. They didn’t have high hopes. But who would have thought that this fellow would not only step forward but also fight two matches and win them both? Only then did everyone realize that without A-Liang running the show, gambling just wasn’t as fun. Back in the day, when A-Liang was the bookie, everyone felt satisfied, win or lose, though his gambling ethics were questionable. Once, A-Liang and a widely respected old gambler colluded to swindle people. The old gambler started by winning big with small bets. Then, one time, most people followed the old gambler’s bet, swearing to leave A-Liang penniless. Instead, A-Liang made back his capital and earned enough for half a year’s worth of drinks.

The crowd later learned that the “poor old man who collapsed at the table” had received a large cut, hid with dozens of millet coins, and then, one quiet night, A-Liang secretly escorted him to the gate, where they tearfully parted ways. If not for the Master of the Knife Room’s wife, who couldn’t bear it, leaking the secret, those big and small gamblers who had suffered together and lost everything would probably still be in the dark.

Even so, the men of the Sword Qi Great Wall missed that cursed fellow. Drinking just wasn’t as enjoyable without him.

Chen Ping’an had observed Pang Yuanji and Qi Shou’s short journeys, the size of their steps, the lightness of their landings, the relaxation of their muscles, the ripples of their qi, the speed of their breathing.

Just a few glances.

Based solely on what he saw, without considering what he had heard, Pang Yuanji seemed more skilled, harder to read. Of course, it was also possible that Qi Shou simply didn’t bother to disguise himself, or that he was better at it.

Chen Ping’an was in no hurry, gently rotating his wrist.

He allowed Pang Yuanji and Qi Shou to come to an agreement first.

Who went first, who went later, it didn’t matter.

It was simply a matter of choosing the option from over a dozen predetermined plans that best suited the current situation.

On both sides of the street, they noticed that the outsider young man had actually closed his eyes to rest.

One hand behind his back, the other in a fist against his abdomen.

Dressed in a green robe, hair held back with a jade hairpin, tall and slender.

So there was a hint of elegance.

The shouts and curses rose, but the cheers were noticeably louder.

Ning Yao saw no one else.

Diezhang gently tugged at Ning Yao’s sleeve, the one of her dark green robe.

When Ning Yao left the Great Alignment, she was dressed like this, and when she returned, she was still like this. Although robes had their advantages, constantly wearing the same outfit made her seem less and less like a woman.

Ning Yao turned her head. “What is it?”

Diezhang pointed with her chin at the figure in the distance and then gave a thumbs up.

Ning Yao’s face was impassive, raising an eyebrow.

It seemed as if everything that guy was doing on the street was perfectly natural to Chen Ping’an.

I, Ning Yao, am not surprised in the slightest.

You are surprised only because you are not me, Ning Yao.

Chen Sanqiu gently patted Yan Zhuo’s cheeks. “Someone put on a good display of boxing skills in the training field.”

Yan Zhuo slapped Chen Sanqiu’s hand away, smugly saying, “What did I tell you? A resounding martial arts grandmaster! My judgment, tsk tsk tsk.”

Dong Huafu mumbled, “Ren Yi and Pu Yu were clearly chosen by Qi Shou on purpose, people who couldn’t be faulted. Ren Yi is the youngest Dragon Gate Realm swordsman, with the fastest flying sword. If Chen Ping’an loses, of course, he’ll lose all face. If he wins Ren Yi, then Pu Yu, the most showy Golden Core cultivator, is up next. Winning Pu Yu makes it easy to become complacent. Chen Ping’an will have gained a fair amount of fame. Then Qi Shou, that schemer, will take care of Chen Ping’an, maximizing his own benefits. It’s a trap within a trap.”

Yan Zhuo rolled his eyes. “You, Dong Blackface, know all this, do you think we don’t?”

Dong Huafu said, “I’m just afraid Qi Shou will lose his mind and go all out.”

Chen Sanqiu nodded. “That’s the biggest problem.”

Because among the three people on the street, aside from Pang Yuanji, who had gone from watching the show to being part of it, only Chen Ping’an and Qi Shou were involved. This was no longer a simple dispute between young people of similar age. Chen Ping’an really shouldn’t have mentioned Ning Yao and the Dragon Slaughtering Platform. That gave Qi Shou an excuse to act unfairly. It involved matters between men and women and family. If Qi Shou acts ruthlessly this time, the old fogeys of the great families might be unhappy. But if Qi Shou uses soft swordsmanship, it would be even worse. Everyone knows what to choose.

Yan Zhuo rubbed his chin. “That’s the truth. My Ping’an brother made a slight mistake.”

Among them, Dong Blackface seemed the dullest, but Dong Blackface wasn’t truly stupid, just lazy to think.
Of course, Dong Heitan was still probably a Chen Sanqiu behind Yan Zhuo.

Chen Sanqiu pondered for a moment, then chuckled, “Let’s not bother with all this mess. Anyway, if Chen Ping’an dares to speak like that, daring to call out names, ordering dishes as it were, calling on Qi Shou and Pang Yuanji, then I’ll acknowledge Chen Ping’an as a friend. Because I wouldn’t dare. What’s the point of making friends? Besides free food and drink, it’s also because friends can do things that you can’t do yourself. To gather a whole bunch of bootlicking lackeys, I can’t bring myself to do that, I have some honor. If Qi Shou dares to break the rules, it’s not like we’re useless. We’ll fight our way through. Dong Heitan, you can fight halfway, then feign death, pretend to be injured. Your sister will definitely come to help us. Once she makes a move, her friends, for the sake of loyalty, will surely help too, even if it’s just for show. That will be enough to give Qi Shou’s cronies a good dose of trouble.”

Ning Yao, however, said, “Qi Shou is already a lot stronger than you guys. By a hair’s breadth. Not to mention you few, even I can’t stop him from afar. So, I’ll be watching Qi Shou’s choice of battlefield. Once Qi Shou deliberately lures Chen Ping’an towards Diezhang Shop, it means Qi Shou is going to strike hard. In short, you don’t need to worry about it, just watch the show. Besides, Chen Ping’an might not even give Qi Shou a chance to hold his sword. He should already be aware of the anomaly.”

Ning Yao glanced at the sword behind Qi Shou.

Chen Sanqiu was speechless.

Diezhang was worried.

She knew that she was the least skilled in these matters.

Sometimes, the sensitive and thoughtful Diezhang had to admit that these young masters from prominent clans, if they were good people, it was fine, but if they misused their intelligence, they were truly wicked.

Because they had a broader perspective, helping them, at a young age, to look down upon the complex affairs that Diezhang found a tangled mess, and they could unravel them, find the most crucial threads, solving many difficult problems with ease.

A’liang had said that this was also one of the sword arts of the world.

A’liang had also once told Diezhang that when making friends with Chen Sanqiu and the others, to watch and learn more, and you would have to overcome about two hurdles. If you passed them, you could be long-lasting friends. If you didn’t, one day, without experiencing life and death, the two sides would naturally have less and less to talk about, turning from close friends into nodding acquaintances. This ending, not particularly wonderful, had nothing to do with who was right or wrong. If that day came, just drink. Beautiful girls, often drinking, with pretty faces and slender figures, can last a long time.

Ning Yao suddenly turned her head and asked, “Do you think Chen Ping’an will definitely lose?”

Chen Sanqiu said helplessly, “If I’m lying, I’d say Chen Ping’an can knock Qi Shou down with one hand. But honestly, if Qi Shou wasn’t carrying that sword, I’d say Chen Ping’an still has a chance.”

Ning Yao remained noncommittal.

She turned her head and looked towards a place, her brow furrowed.

It was the edge of a restaurant’s roof ridge, where a little girl in loose black robes was sitting, with two playful pigtails, yawning for a long time.

She seemed a little impatient and finally couldn’t help but say, “Pang Yuanji, you’re so slow and fussy, you even cut your shits into several sections. Aren’t you ashamed? First, defeat Qi Shou, then fight that whoever-he-is, wouldn’t that be the end of it?!”

Chen Ping’an and Ning Yao looked towards the roof ridge almost simultaneously.

That was an unreliable-looking, yet powerful being whose punch could rip apart even Ascension Realm great demons.

The bad temper of Dong family sword cultivators only ranked second in the Great Wall of Swords.

Because she was there.

Chen Ping’an had once seen her on the city wall “falling straight down” and then going to “playfully fight” a great demon near the Great Wall of Swords.

That was a genuine Immortal Realm demon, but the Old Sword Immortal said that if she couldn’t kill the opponent, she would feel that she had already lost.

On the street, besides Ning Yao and a few sword immortals who deliberately ignored the “little girl”, and of course Chen Ping’an, almost everyone’s hair stood on end.

No one wanted to be a fool and offer flattery.

“Hidden Official” was not her name, but an unrecorded ancient official position, inherited through generations. At the Great Wall of Swords, she was responsible for supervising the army, punishments, and other matters. Historically, there were many useless Hidden Officials who became puppets, but after she took over this title, the Great Wall of Swords’ disdain for the Hidden Official disappeared. She was not only the one who killed the most Middle Fifth Realm demons, but in the Southern Battlefield over the millennia, many sword cultivators from their own side who were cowards and were killed by her fist, their flesh flying everywhere, also existed.

During the Thirteen-Way battle that year, the first person from the Great Wall of Swords to fight was this famous Hidden Official. As a result, the demon on the other side, known for its close combat throughout the continent, directly surrendered and ran away when it saw her. Then, the two sides watched a little girl wreak havoc on the battlefield for a whole quarter of an hour.

Pang Yuanji nodded, “I’ll listen to Master.”

Qi Shou cupped his fist and bowed his head, “I respectfully request that Hidden Official, allow me to make the first move. Win or lose, I will fight Yuanji. I am willing to fight to the death.”

The Hidden Official’s eyes lit up, and she waved her hand vigorously, “That’s acceptable. Then hurry up and start fighting, you just fight to the death. I’ll help you uphold the rules. Fighting is the most fair thing I do.”

Then she looked towards the wine table where Pang Yuanji was drinking earlier, with a frown on her small face, “That blind poor wretch, throw a pot of wine over here. If you dare not give me face, I’ll smash you…”

Suddenly, the entire restaurant exploded, roof tiles scattered, and the inside was a mess. All the sword cultivators inside, big and small, had fainted. Upon closer inspection, the big-bearded man who was a Jade Purity Realm sword immortal had been kicked in the head by her, directly crashing into the wall and flying out, covered in dust. After getting up, he didn’t return to the restaurant. She stood on the only undamaged wine table, stomped her foot lightly, and the wine pot popped up and was caught in her hand. She sniffed it, and said with a bitter face, “It smells like pee, but at least it’s wine, it’s wine!”

In the end, the lofty Hidden Official showed a bit of a gnashing and sad expression.

The moment the Hidden Official left the roof ridge.

Chen Ping’an took a step forward, but immediately retracted it, then looked at Qi Shou, and twitched his lips.
Pang Yuanji leaned back, retreating into the dilapidated remains of the tavern. He caught a falling roof tile and chuckled, “Master, the Great Sword Immortal said you’re not allowed to drink.”

The Hidden Official snapped, “I’m just smelling it, what’s the big deal? Is there even a law enforcement in Sword Qi Great Wall? Is that old codger Chen Qingdu gonna come after me?”

In a flash, she slumped back into her chair, looking dejected, and tossed the wine pot to Pang Yuanji. “Hold onto that for me.”

Chen Ping’an turned his head.

A streak of iridescent light flashed past his ear. It was only sword qi, yet it tore a thin, bloody line across Chen Ping’an’s face.

He bent slightly, tapping his toe on the ground, and his figure vanished. The ground beneath him instantly cracked into a massive spiderweb. Not only that, but a series of muffled rumbles echoed from the depths below.

A figure in azure robes appeared suddenly on the street, far from where he had been standing. He abruptly tilted to the side as an even faster sword light flashed past. Had he not evaded, that sword light would have pierced straight through his back.

The Hidden Official, seated at the table, nodded slightly, a small reward for the two juniors not ending the fight so quickly. Bored, she reached up and tugged at her twin pigtails, swaying them gently.

Pang Yuanji stood respectfully by her side, chuckling softly, “Can all Golden Body Realm martial artists of the Glorious Azure Continent run this fast?”

The Hidden Official pondered for a moment, then offered an answer she considered insightful, “Probably, maybe, possibly, it’s a bit rare.”

Pang Yuanji was used to her eccentricities.

However, Pang Yuanji truly had a question he couldn’t understand. He spoke in his mind, “Master seems to have a less than favorable impression of Chen Ping’an?”

The Hidden Official curled her lip. “Anyone Chen Qingdu likes, I dislike.”

She flicked her finger, and a Nascent Soul sword cultivator from another continent who had carelessly overheard her words, felt a thunderclap in his forehead. His eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground. He wouldn’t be getting out of bed for at least ten days, enjoying his convalescence, waited on hand and foot. A role reversal, how wonderful. She thought herself so considerate and kind-hearted.

The Hidden Official suddenly said, “Based on what that someone-or-other is showing right now, he actually couldn’t dodge those two flying swords. He’s mainly relying on guessing.”

Pang Yuanji smiled. “Qi Shou also hasn’t gone all out yet.”

The Hidden Official looked disappointed. “Boring.”

She stood up, changed her mind, and shouted, “Continue, I’m not going to interfere anymore! Remember, remember, fighting to the death is never a good fight.”

The Hidden Official vanished in an instant.

Leaving behind only a disciple with a wry smile.

Pang Yuanji composed himself, looking out at the street.

Qi Shou remained motionless, while the figure in azure robes closed the distance.

In the world of combat, Qi Refiners feared sword cultivators the most, while sword cultivators feared close combat from pure martial artists the least.

Especially Qi Shou.

Because Qi Shou possessed more than one Natal Flying Sword. The one already revealed was named “Flying Kite.”

And the faster one, “Heartstring,” was waiting for a Golden Body Realm martial artist to foolishly rush in close.

Yan Zhuo watched with trepidation, and Diezhang and the others also looked uneasy.

Ning Yao remained as calm as still water. As a participant, she seemed more like an observer.

This was probably the difference between her and Chen Ping’an. Chen Ping’an was always burdened with thoughts, while Ning Yao was always decisive and direct.

Qi Shou felt a hint of regret as he summoned his second Natal Flying Sword.

The Qi family’s sword cultivators had always been skilled in close-quarters combat, especially adept at quick resolution in stalemate situations.

The Flying Sword Heartstring was always fast and accurate.

The distance between them was only ten steps.

Even if the figure in azure robes had dodged a fatal strike, he couldn’t avoid having his shoulder pierced. His movements would inevitably falter slightly. In that instant, the Natal Sword “Flying Kite” would graze Chen Ping’an’s neck.

The figure in azure robes seemed completely enveloped by the light of the two flying swords, trapped within a cage.

Just when many onlookers believed the outcome was decided, Chen Ping’an vanished into thin air.

Qi Shou remained unmoved.

His third and most unpredictable Natal Flying Sword, “Jumping Pearl,” split into two, then four, then eight, and so on. It weaved a web around Qi Shou. Unlike the Golden Core sword cultivator who relied on the illusory and real transformations of his flying swords, the changes of “Jumping Pearl” were undeniably real. The Qi family’s ancestor was pleased with this and felt that this flying sword was the one Qi Shou could hone meticulously for thousands of years. After all, a Natal Flying Sword that could truly achieve both offense and defense would become even more numerous as its master’s cultivation level increased, eventually resembling a celestial weapon. Once Qi Shou could support the formation of thousands of “Jumping Pearls,” it would validate the ancient Taoist sage’s auspicious prophecy: “Seated amidst the starry river, rain falls upon the mortal realm.”

Chen Ping’an, appearing five steps to Qi Shou’s side, seemed to admit defeat and used the Immortal art of shrinking the earth once more.

Qi Shou knew this fellow would appear behind him. Several key acupoints vibrated subtly. The Jumping Pearls originally arrayed behind him suddenly multiplied as if conjured from thin air.

At the same time, the Flying Sword Heartstring, naturally capable of tracking the enemy’s soul, followed the figure in azure robes like a shadow. As for Flying Kite, it was even more agile and nimble.

Qi Shou intended to stand still and make this fellow run around in circles.

A Golden Body Realm martial artist?

An enemy of Qi Shou could only be played like a dog.

One side remained unscathed.

The other punched relentlessly, dodging and weaving for a long time, only to exhaust himself in the end. Was it fun?

Qi Shou thought it was very fun.

Yan Zhuo murmured, “If this continues, things will look grim. Although Flying Kite is pretty much what it is, it won’t change much. But if I remember correctly, Qi Shou can now support at least five hundred Jumping Pearls. There are less than three hundred now, and the longer it drags on, the more familiar Heartstring becomes with Chen Ping’an’s soul. It will only get faster and faster.”

“He is truly wicked, clearly doing it on purpose.”

Chen Sanqiu smiled wryly, “Many flying swords, properly coordinated, are simply unsolvable.”

Saying this, Chen Sanqiu couldn’t help but glance at Ning Yao’s back.

The battle was one-sided, yet she remained unmoved.
The figure in the extremely disheveled azure robes halted abruptly. The torrent of martial intent flowing through him was so vigorous that it almost materialized into a visible aura, discernible even to cultivators of the lower five realms.

Qi Shou, with his back to Chen Ping’an, didn’t hesitate, nor did he seek a flawless, overwhelming victory. With a single step, he faced Ning Yao and her group, instantly darting dozens of feet away. The leaping pearls within his pocket dimension multiplied again, further solidifying the already dense sword formation.

A fist pursued relentlessly.

Barely turning around, Qi Shou’s expression turned grave. He chose to retreat again, yet to onlookers, he seemed to be strolling leisurely, utterly at ease.

Flying Iris and Heartstring.

Both were struck by two flashes of sword light.

Those two inexplicably appearing flying swords were merely ornate decorations, only slightly hindering the advance of Flying Iris and Heartstring before being repelled.

However, that was enough.

Qi Shou watched with his own eyes as the figure in azure, with a single punch, shattered through the leaping pearl sword array. The fist was a bloody mess, bones visible beneath the torn flesh.

But it still only provided a sliver of obstruction.

It was sufficient, however, for Qi Shou to manipulate his natal swords, Flying Iris and Heartstring. The faster Heartstring drew a mystical arc, its tip aimed at Chen Ping’an’s heart, just slightly below. After all, he didn’t intend to kill; whether Chen Ping’an died or was left half-dead, Qi Shou would be considered defeated. A lowly life, having relied on luck to reach this point, wasn’t worth becoming a laughing stock.

Flying Iris pierced towards the spine of the azure-robed figure’s back.

Qi Shou wanted to see what remained of that fist’s power after the two swords pierced through the body of this Golden Body Realm martial artist, one from the front, one from behind.

It should be known that a sword cultivator’s physique, ceaselessly tempered by their natal sword day and night, was among the most resilient of all Qi refiners, nearly comparable to those of the military cultivator.

Qi Shou, possessing three natal swords, naturally had an exceptionally robust physique.

In that instant, Qi Shou instinctively activated the abundant spiritual Qi within all critical Qi palaces. Within his personal dimension, a water palace manifested with swirling clouds, and a mountain rose, shrouded in lush vegetation. The other major acupoints, each possessing a natal object, displayed various phenomena. This caused a multitude of Qi energies to surge out of his personal dimension, enveloping Qi Shou in a radiant, dazzling light. His eyes even shimmered with golden ripples.

So it turned out that Chen Ping’an not only possessed two decoy swords…

But also a genuine natal sword, its emerald blade lightning fast, perfectly meeting Heartstring tip to tip. The two swords separated, as if deliberately clearing a path for Chen Ping’an to continue his punch!

As for Flying Iris, behind the azure-robed figure, it never managed to catch up, failing to pierce the other’s spine.

After the punch that exposed bone.

Though blood trickled from the corner of Qi Shou’s lips, he felt slightly relieved.

Good.

The punch wasn’t heavy.

Using the iron cavalry charge to pave the way.

Followed by a divine drummer strike.

Qi Shou’s vision blurred. Even though he had used the force of the earlier punch to retreat, dodging and weaving, another punch landed on him inexplicably. Not only had Flying Iris consistently failed, but even Heartstring, usually perfectly attuned to his will, seemed somewhat bewildered. It was then intercepted by the emerald sword light, the two blades locked in a fierce dance mid-air. Each clash and impact sent ripples of Qi energy in all directions, filled with lethal intent, yet aesthetically pleasing.

“Isn’t my brother a Fourth Realm Qi refiner?”

“Why does this guy have three flying swords?”

Yan Zhuo and Chen Sanqiu exchanged confused glances.

The tables had turned. Qi Shou, once infinitely glorious, was now desperately struggling. A Golden Core Realm peak swordsman, with extensive combat experience, had been reduced to exchanging fist for fist.

It wasn’t a completely helpless situation.

After the two punches landed, Qi Shou’s Qi palace phenomena became even more intense. Combined with his solid physique, he exchanged blows with the one who delivered the “one punch arrives, every punch arrives” attacks, trading hit for hit. Subsequently, Qi Shou also began to fight with ferocity, opting to exchange punches. One of his strikes sent the opponent’s head reeling violently, yet the other remained impassive, seemingly immune to pain. Each punch was delivered without aiming for specific points, as if simply hitting Qi Shou was enough.

Heartstring was fast enough, but the emerald blade was a constant, equally matched opponent.

Flying Iris, however, was always a hair too slow.

In a swordsman’s battle, that single strand of difference was a world apart.

The leaping pearl sword array was already teetering on the verge of collapse, its threat to the elusive azure-robed figure becoming increasingly negligible.

The spectators on both sides of the street finally snapped out of their daze, understanding the situation, and a clamor erupted.

After fifteen punches.

Qi Shou, forced to it, was sent sliding backward across the ground, his back scraping the earth for dozens of feet after a blow. Yet, even as he slid, a military talisman slipped from the sleeve of his daoist robe, and in a flash, golden armor encased his body. Even so, as Qi Shou slammed a palm to the ground, preparing to rise, ready to absorb another punch that was destined to strike, the azure-robed figure, leaning forward almost prone, slammed a fist into his face, sending the armored Qi Shou crashing back into the earth.

This seventeenth punch, delivered with immense force, caused Qi Shou’s orifices to bleed.

Pang Yuanji sighed. Qi Shou should have retreated first and then drawn his sword in earnest.

Besides natal swords, sword cultivators also carry swords, that are not merely ornamental, indicating they are two types of sword cultivators in one body.

As everyone looked on in confusion, wondering why the azure-robed figure had suddenly stopped.

Moments later, a “Qi Shou” appeared thirty paces away from the Qi Shou on the ground.

Astral Projection to travel between Heaven and Earth.

Qi Shou had evidently used a secret technique. Otherwise, a normal cultivator’s astral projection, in regards to catching subtle cues, could be detected by all those sword cultivators.

The Qi Shou astral form was expressionless, reaching out.

With a clang, a longsword was drawn from its sheath, grasped in his hand.

One of the Qi Family of Sword Qi Great Wall’s semi-immortal weapons, named “High Candle.”
Legend has it that the true essence of this Demi-Immortal Artifact was once the spinal column of a Fire Deity from the ancient Heavenly Court. Its remains fell to the mortal realm and were acquired by the Qi Family Ancestor, who painstakingly refined it for over a century.

At the moment of Qi Shou’s birth, he became the new master of this Demi-Immortal Artifact.

Qi Shou’s Yin Soul grasped the High Candle and asked, “Still fighting?”

The following scene left the onlookers, who had long forgotten their drinks, and even Die Zhang, wide-eyed.

Chen Ping’an’s white-boned right hand, its fingers like hooks, seized Qi Shou’s true body from the ground, slowly lifted it, and then casually tossed it towards Qi Shou’s Yin Soul.

Chen Ping’an stood upright, his left hand still behind his back, his right hand clenched into a fist in front.

Along the white-boned fingers, crimson blood trickled onto the ground from his mangled arm.

Qi Shou’s Yin Soul unhesitatingly returned to his body, landing gracefully.

Chen Ping’an raised his gruesome arm and said calmly, “Come.”

A golden pillar of light soared from the distant Ning Manor, accompanied by rumbling thunder, piercing through the void and landing in Chen Ping’an’s grasp.

The golden thread that originated from Ning Manor and ended on this street was exceptionally dazzling. The sword intent was so intensely formidable that even though the longsword was already in the hands of the green-robed swordsman, the golden thread remained unbroken.

Qi Shou, his face smeared with blood, instantly turned ashen. “Who lent you this Immortal Weapon?!”

The Immortal Weapon in his hand, named Sword Immortal, seemed to be rejoicing in the long-awaited battle, trembling and constantly emitting wisps of golden light.

This made the green-robed swordsman appear as if he held the sun in his hand.

High Candle?

How high is a candle flame?

With the great sun hanging in the sky, what dares to compete with me for height?

The young man in green robes, relaxed and at ease, smiled and said, “If you didn’t have the Qi surname, you’d still be lying on the ground asleep. So you were born well, to have a Demi-Immortal Artifact. I’m different from you; I earned this Sword Immortal with my life.”

At this point, Chen Ping’an’s smile faded. “The Qi Shou on the southern battlefield is worthy of the surname. But, the fight still has to be fought. As long as you dare to draw your sword.”

Just then, the burly man with the large beard, who had somehow returned to the tavern and taken his seat, placed a large white bowl, which he had picked up from the ground and refilled with wine, on the table and said to Qi Shou, “Accept defeat when you lose. No direct descendants of the Qi family have died north of the city before.”

Qi Shou raised his hand, sheathed his sword on his back, and walked forward. As he brushed past the green-robed figure, he said, “Dare to set a time for another battle?”

He had a chance to become the first sword cultivator of his generation on the Great Wall of Sword Intent to reach the Nascent Soul Realm, even faster than Ning Yao.

Because she had too many, too great, things to do. It wasn’t about refining Qi, which was nothing to Ning Yao. Instead, she needed to refine objects, which constantly slowed down her breakthrough speed.

But if he, Qi Shou, reached the Nascent Soul Realm, then fought Chen Ping’an again, there would be no need to talk about winning or losing.

Chen Ping’an retorted, “You choose the location, I choose the time, how’s that?”

Qi Shou’s Adam’s apple bobbed; he almost couldn’t suppress the mouthful of blood.

Qi Shou said nothing more, did not ride the wind to leave, and simply walked to the end of the street, slowly disappearing around the corner.

A group of friends, their faces even uglier than Qi Shou’s, silently followed behind him.

Chen Ping’an glanced at Ning Yao and smiled.

Ning Yao glared at him.

Chen Ping’an looked around.

The Great Wall of Sword Intent was strange. It was the place, aside from his ancestral home and later the bamboo building on Fallen Mountain, where he felt most uninhibited.

So it was here that the “greedy for life, afraid of death” Chen Ping’an of Mud Bottle Alley dared to throw the most unrestrained punches and draw the most unreserved sword.

Because the Great Wall of Sword Intent was pure. There were good and evil, joy and anger, but they were far less complex than the Great Vast World, less circuitous, like a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers.

On the city wall of the Great Wall of Sword Intent was also the Old Sword Immortal who had personally told him “how to be unreasonable.” The old man had also personally demonstrated, casually summoning a sword intent from the sky, instantly killing a top-five realm sword cultivator from a major family.

Here, the Old Sword Immortal Chen Qingdu was the greatest reason.

Chen Ping’an sincerely recognized the old immortal of long ago, so to punch and draw his sword here could miraculously reach the longed-for state of having no worries and no taboos!

Moreover, this was the place where A Liang had spent many years, a place that made A Liang stay and drink so much wine over the long years. Therefore, if Chen Ping’an’s punches weren’t heavy enough and his sword wasn’t fast enough, he would be letting this place down.

Chen Ping’an took a deep breath, feeling a sense of liberation.

But it wasn’t enough.

Pang Yuanji was about to leave.

Unexpectedly, the green-robed swordsman, just like before, turned around and smiled at Pang Yuanji.

Pang Yuanji smiled and asked, “Don’t you think you’re at a disadvantage?”

After a great and bitter battle, the opponent had not won easily.

Chen Ping’an’s next action…

Made several Sword Immortals, who were not sitting together, smile and drink.

Everyone saw the man on the street plunge the tip of the Immortal Weapon longsword, which seemed to be named “Sword Immortal,” into the ground, then let go. He extended his right hand forward, signaling the other party to feel free to attack.

Then the man said, “I’m afraid you’ll feel at a disadvantage.”

Pang Yuanji, full of spirit and radiance, smiled, strode out of the tavern, stood in the middle of the street, cupped his fist, and announced loudly, “Great Wall of Sword Intent, Pang Yuanji!”

Chen Ping’an thought for a moment, returned the salute, and replied seriously, “The one whom Ning Yao favors, Chen Ping’an.”