Chapter 8

In the next moment, everyone saw Muge Peak 'thud' as he fell heavily from the sky, his hands covering his throat, blood seeping out between his fingers. A dull, black dart was quietly embedded there.

Chen Ang also saw his face, which had already contorted in pain, and sighed in disappointment: "The world is so vast, why don't you go see it? Why must you come to seek death?"

Taking a few steps to his front, Chen Ang slowly pulled the dart out of Muge Peak's throat, inch by inch.

At this moment, everyone in the scene changed color, the atmosphere was heavy, and it was so quiet that even the sound of a needle falling to the ground could be heard clearly.

Although Sai Bei Mingtu was not a top-notch expert, he was on par with the more powerful among the thirteen keepers of Mount Song. Now he lay there like a dead dog, making it hard for people to believe their eyes.

The disciples of the Five Mountains Sword School, who had been whispering below, fell silent, as if they had been struck by a spell, staring at Chen Ang as if they were looking at a monster.

Ding Yi, the nun, thought to herself: If Yu Canghai had left a little later, there would be one more person lying on the ground!

Chen Ang, again Chen Ang.

It was as if he had jumped out of a stone, like Sun Wukong.

Without a master, without friends in the martial world, he had come out with the name 'Sai Hua Tuo,' taking a life from the Qingcheng Sect, slapping Yu Canghai's face, and forcing him to endure.

Then, he shot and killed Sai Bei Mingtu with a dart.

This was not 'Sai Hua Tuo,' but 'Sai Yanwang'!

Now it seemed that Yu Canghai was not a coward, but rather extremely clever. Otherwise, the head of the Qingcheng Sect, Yu Canghai, would have become the late head of the Qingcheng Sect. Both Ding Yi and Liu Zhengfeng were greatly relieved for him.

Only one person looked at Chen Ang with eyes burning like charcoal, itching to see his back.

Turning around, it was indeed Lin Pingzhi who was looking at him, his eyes full of hope, as if he saw the hope of rescuing his parents.

The Hengshan Sect still had a mission, and Ding Yi was eager to find Yilin. Seeing that Chen Ang did not intend to let them in, she and the Hengshan nuns continued their search to the west, with Liu Zhengfeng leading the disciples following. Once they left, only Chen Ang and the others remained outside the Qunyu Courtyard.

"It's safe now! Come out!" Chen Ang shouted into the room, and the sound of rustling came from the cabinet. Qu Feiyun poked her head out, looked at Lin Pingzhi for a while, and then pulled the nervous little nun Yilin out.

"I'm suffocating!" Qu Feiyun patted her chest; her little face was red, clearly uncomfortable. Seeing Chen Ang and Linghuchong drinking, her eyes lit up, and she reached for the wine jug.

"Ouch!" She rubbed her hand, which Chen Ang had hit with a chopstick, and glared at him angrily.

"Children shouldn't drink!" Chen Ang put down the chopstick, poured himself a cup, and smiled: "Brother Linghu, if you don't leave soon, the next person to come might be someone you don't want to see."

Chen Ang didn't know if Linghuchong wanted to see Yue Lingshan, but if he saw Yue Buqun, he would probably have a headache. With Yue Buqun's stern character, seeing Linghuchong in a brothel would bring him trouble, and even his little junior sister would not give him a good face.

Sure enough, upon hearing Chen Ang's words, Linghuchong's face immediately showed tension. He looked back fearfully, not knowing that his performance had already been seen by Yue Buqun.

"You're right, this is not a place to stay long. Brother Chen, I'll take my leave!" Linghuchong bowed to Chen Ang. He was naturally free-spirited and open-minded, making friends without regard for status or position, even befriending the notorious bandit Tian Boguang. After their conversation, he had a good impression of Chen Ang.

"I said there are five and a half extraordinary martial arts in the world. I only mentioned five earlier. About the remaining half, I have a maxim to share with Brother Linghu." Before leaving, Chen Ang raised his wine to bid farewell: "In the past, the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai established a sword tomb in a deep valley. Later, the Divine Condor Hero Yang Guo accidentally entered it and received the inheritance. According to his records, the Sword Demon left these words!"

"Roaming the江湖 for over thirty years, I killed all my enemies and defeated all heroes. With no one left to challenge, I had no choice but to retreat to a deep valley and befriend a condor. Alas, I could not find a worthy opponent in my life, truly a lonely and unbearable existence."

Hearing these words, Linghuchong was both surprised and admiring, and he felt the loneliness and helplessness in them. It was as if an invisible aura had touched his heart. Although the words were few, they stirred his heart, making him excited and passionate.

He was filled with enthusiasm and said loudly: "Sweeping away all enemies, defeating all heroes! One sword out, and the world bows! The demeanor of the predecessor is truly inspiring!"

Chen Ang said: "Since it's a sword tomb, Dugu Qiubai naturally left the swords he used. The first one is a sharp, green sword. Dugu Qiubai left a message: 'Fierce and powerful, invincible, used to challenge the heroes of the north before the age of twenty.' I would describe it as: 'The thin enters the thick, the formless surpasses the formed.'"

"Good sword, good maxim, good description! Dugu Qiubai's message is excellent, and Brother Chen's description is even better!" Linghuchong clapped and laughed. At this moment, he could not fully understand these martial arts principles, but his natural talent for swordsmanship was stirred.

"The second one is the Purple Soft Sword: 'Used before the age of thirty, it mistakenly injured a righteous man and was discarded in a deep valley.' The third one is the Black Iron Heavy Sword: 'A heavy sword with no edge, simple and unadorned. Used to dominate the world before the age of forty.' I would describe it as: 'Lifting the heavy as if it were light, lifting the light as if it were heavy, effortless in both.'"

Hearing 'a heavy sword with no edge,' Linghuchong was entranced. When he heard Chen Ang's description 'effortless in both,' he was greatly moved. He murmured: "The various sword techniques of the Five Mountains Sword School, the dangerous and steep techniques of Huashan, the majestic techniques of Taishan, the serene techniques of Hengshan, the surprising techniques of Hengshan, and the elegant techniques of Songshan. No matter which school, the changes are different, but they all value agility and speed. This method of using a heavy sword truly transcends the boundaries of the world's sword techniques."

Suddenly hearing these sword principles, he was lost in thought and said dreamily: "I wonder what the fourth sword is like?"

Chen Ang smiled at him, "The Divine Condor Hero also thought so, but when he opened the sword tomb, he saw that the fourth sword's body and handle were already rotten..."

Qu Feiyun, who had been listening intently, exclaimed, "How could the divine weapon used by Dugu Qiubai be rotten?"

Chen Ang smiled and said, "Because it's not a divine weapon, but a wooden sword!"

"What?" Qu Feiyun stood up in surprise, almost unable to believe her ears. She jumped and asked urgently, "How could it be a wooden sword? Why a wooden sword?"

Chen Ang smiled and crossed his arms, not answering directly, but said, "Dugu Qiubai inscribed on the sword tomb: 'After the age of forty, not bound by material things, grass, trees, bamboo, and stones can all be used as swords. From then on, I refined my skills, gradually reaching the realm where no sword surpasses a sword.'"

He paused and said word by word, "I would describe it as: 'No sword in hand, but a sword in heart.'"

These words were like a thunderclap, resounding in everyone's ears.

Yilin and Qu Feiyun were visibly shocked, and even the always free-spirited Linghuchong opened his mouth wide, his face full of emotion.

After a long time, he muttered, "I thought my sword skills were excellent, and I had confidence in catching up with my master's exquisite Huashan sword techniques within ten years. Who knew that the Five Mountains Sword School was like a well in the world, and I, a frog at the bottom of the well, was so self-satisfied. What a joke, a big joke!"

After saying this, he laughed and cried, waving his hands and feet, unable to control himself. Suddenly coming to his senses, he bowed deeply to Chen Ang and said, "Thank you, Brother Chen, for enlightening me. Although Dugu's sword techniques are brief and do not describe any specific moves, they are worthy of the name 'half a martial art.' They are the grand path for us swordsmen!"

Chen Ang, seeing his enlightenment, couldn't help but laugh, "But this is not the half martial art!"

He pushed Linghuchong out and said calmly, "If you don't leave now, your junior sister will come! If she sees you here, she will be very angry! About the half martial art, you will know when you meet the person behind Huashan!"

Linghuchong was about to say something when he heard the bustling sounds outside. Listening carefully, he could hear Lu Hou'er's strange cries. He quickly grabbed Yilin and fled without looking back!

Only a voice was left behind, "Brother Chen, I'll treat you to a drink another day!"

Chen Ang watched his back, laughing. With his excellent insight, Linghuchong had now received the sword principles of Dugu Qiubai. How would the Dugu Nine Swords shine in his hands?

"Next time we meet, we may not be friends, but we will certainly be good opponents!"

Chen Ang couldn't help but look forward to the future, when Linghuchong, wielding the Dugu Nine Swords, would be his best opponent and teacher. Their final battle would bring greater gains.

He hoped this would inspire Feng Qingyang to advance further. Then, when they battled on the peak of Huashan, it would definitely give Chen Ang greater inspiration.

With his overpowered state and highly developed brain, Chen Ang didn't need to seek out various martial arts secrets. Every world-class expert he faced was a world-class secret, teaching him not only their martial arts but also their unique insights and wisdom. This was Chen Ang's reliance in pursuing the path of martial arts.

Holding his long sword and the flying dart in his heart, discussing the way with the heroes, and deciding the battle at the peak of martial arts, verifying what he had learned, what a joy!