Chapter 52

The gathering of the four great masters is truly a rare event in the martial world that hasn't been seen in a hundred years!

These four individuals are unparalleled in their martial arts. Although Palace Master Yao Yue said that Xiao Ran's martial arts are only at the second level of Qi cultivation, his public battle records are no less impressive than hers!

Back then, Wei Wuya managed to escape from Yao Yue's hands, but Xiao Ran was able to kill Wei Wuya. Although this comparison may not be entirely accurate, it at least indicates that Xiao Ran is on the same level as Palace Master Yao Yue!

When Jiang Bihe saw Yan Nantian appear, he was so frightened that his legs turned to jelly, and he immediately retreated to where there were more people.

But Yan Nantian, with his keen eyesight, immediately spotted Jiang Bihe. He said in his extremely hoarse voice, "I searched high and low for you, and now you come to me without any effort!

Back then, I couldn't find you no matter how hard I tried, and today you come to me of your own accord!

Jiang Qin, prepare to die!"

As he spoke, he raised his finger, and a dazzling sword beam shot out from his hand, like a meteor streaking towards Jiang Bihe.

But Yan Nantian didn't know that back then, Jiang Qin not only sold the news of Jiang Feng to the Twelve Constellations but also to the Palace Master of Yi Hua Palace.

He betrayed his master for glory, playing both sides.

Now, he is essentially a vassal of Yi Hua Palace. Otherwise, how could he have risen to such prominence in such a short time, and how could Hua Wuque have so easily trusted him and even stood up for him!

Although Yao Yue didn't care much about Jiang Bihe's life, Yan Nantian killing someone in front of her was a loss of face, and she couldn't help but intervene!

Yao Yue raised her right hand and struck out with a palm as white as jade, directly colliding with Yan Nantian's sword qi!

With a loud boom, Yan Nantian's sword technique and Yao Yue's palm force exploded simultaneously, sending a torrent of true qi surging, creating a hurricane-like wind that forced everyone around to retreat several steps. They felt as if they had been hit by a hammer, their true qi boiling, and their blood flowing backward!

The entire crowd was stunned. When had these martial artists ever seen such divine and magical martial arts!

Gu Siye of the Gu family, a master of divine boxing, trembled and said, "This is the skill of condensing true qi into a force field, and shaping true qi into form. This is the cultivation of the fourth level of Qi cultivation!

Heaven, it's true that such a martial realm exists. Master Xiao was indeed not lying; he truly is a master of the martial arts!"

Iron Wushuang, who loved talent, couldn't believe his eyes: "Back then, I saw the great hero Tie Zhongtang and the Night Emperor in action, but even they didn't have such overwhelming power!

Master Xiao was not lying. It turns out we really took the wrong path in our martial arts journey!

I regret not being born fifty years later, so I could start over and try to experience the true essence of martial arts!"

If they felt this way, it was even more so for the other martial artists, who were like frogs struck by lightning, only able to open their mouths wide, their brains completely frozen, unable to speak!

Jiang Bihe didn't care about anything and tried to run for his life, but Xiaoyu stood in his way: "Jiang Bihe, Jiang Qin!

I never thought that the famous Jiang Daxia, renowned in the world, was actually my late father's servant, and even more so, that you actually killed my late father!

My late father may not have raised me for a day, but he is still my father!

I really don't like killing, but I can't let you go like this!"

In the original history, Xiaoyu let Jiang Bihe and his son go, but at that time, they had already been crippled by Yan Nantian and paid the price. Now, Jiang Bihe was completely unharmed and wanted to leave without any consequences, which Xiaoyu was unwilling to allow!

At this moment, a figure flashed, and Hua Wuque stood in front of Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu was furious: "Our duel time hasn't arrived yet. Do you want to break your word and protect this despicable person?"

Hua Wuque bowed and said apologetically, "I cannot disobey my master's orders. It seems our final battle will have to be moved up!"

Thus, the two stood facing each other, while Jiang Bihe cursed his parents for not giving him more legs and fled frantically!

On the other side, Yan Nantian, seeing Palace Master Yao Yue block his attack, slowly said, "More than ten years ago, when my second brother died, I wanted to challenge Yi Hua Palace, but this battle has been delayed for so long!

Please!"

Palace Master Yao Yue, who had just broken through to the fourth level of Qi cultivation, was brimming with confidence. She said coolly, "You have also broken through to the fourth level of Qi cultivation, so you are worthy of a fight!

They say Yan Nantian is the divine sword of the world. Is a brute like you really worthy of this title?"

Her tone was still incredibly arrogant, but she had no intention of underestimating him. She had also reached the fourth level of Qi cultivation and knew what it entailed, so how could she dare to underestimate Yan Nantian?

But she had looked down on everyone for over twenty years and couldn't change her attitude so quickly!

At this moment, Xiao Ran's voice intruded inappropriately: "Ahem... Congratulations, Brother Yan, on your full recovery!

However, I was the one who challenged you first. There should always be a first and a second!"

Xiao Ran stepped forward, drew his sword, and thrust it at Palace Master Yao Yue in a crooked and unsteady manner. This sword strike looked like a child's random slash, but to experts like Palace Master Yao Yue, it was truly terrifying!

She extended her hand, and her fingers pointed out slowly.

Her fingers seemed to form a strange connection with the tip of Xiao Ran's sword, moving in a mysterious rhythm, like two butterflies dancing a death dance!

It seemed to last a long time, yet it was just an instant!

The white jade-like fingers pressed against the sword tip, and both bodies trembled.

Palace Master Yao Yue felt a surge of true qi from the tip of Xiao Ran's sword.

This true qi was composed of three different types: one as fierce as thunder, one as deep as the sea, and one as swift as lightning. The three types of true qi were distinct yet seamlessly integrated.

Her Mingyu Gong at the ninth level could absorb others' true qi, but these three types of true qi were like a solid iron plate, and she couldn't absorb them at all. She had to clash with Xiao Ran directly!

She couldn't withstand the force and retreated two steps, while Xiao Ran only swayed slightly!

Everyone was stunned. Xiao Ran, who was two levels below Palace Master Yao Yue, actually had more profound internal strength than her!

Everyone had a thought: it turns out that blind practice is so far behind the correct method of cultivation!

If Xiao Ran hadn't yet reached the second level of Qi cultivation, his internal strength would have been about the same as Palace Master Yao Yue's, or perhaps a bit weaker.

But after Xiao Ran broke through to the second level of Qi cultivation, his internal strength and output were far superior to Yao Yue's!

He had cultivated using the most advanced methods, practicing supreme martial arts like Xiantian Gong, Piyexianfa, and Jiayi Shengong, none of which were inferior to Mingyu Gong.

So, the gap wasn't surprising!

But Xiao Ran still sighed. Palace Master Yao Yue was indeed a grandmaster of martial arts, and her techniques had reached a divine and profound level. He couldn't gain any advantage in technique against her.

At the third and fourth levels of Qi cultivation, the battles were different from those at the first and second levels. There was less emphasis on technique changes and more on the manipulation of true qi, seeing who could make the most creative use of it!

Palace Master Yao Yue's originally white jade-like face turned ashen, and she said coldly, "Xiao Ran, this is your doing!"

She pointed again, but this time she didn't engage in close combat. Instead, she sent a sword qi towards Xiao Ran from a distance. The sword was like a streak of light, reaching him in an instant, but it was clearly visible to Xiao Ran's Phoenix Eye!

Although he couldn't project true qi outside his body, he could attach it to his sword, which was crafted by ancient artisans and had the ability to channel true qi!

This allowed his sword to emit a white glow like a sword beam when he fully channeled his true qi. In terms of power, it was no weaker than Palace Master Yao Yue's sword light, which was why he dared to challenge two Yi Hua Palace masters at once!

Xiao Ran's sword struck the sword light, and Palace Master Yao Yue's sword light shattered. Xiao Ran said calmly, "Although you have reached the fourth level of Qi cultivation, you haven't developed any specialized techniques for true qi. Shooting true qi like this is just a bit more powerful than a projectile!

You are not my match. I said it before, you two sisters should come at me together!"

Specialized techniques for true qi, for example, in the world of "Twin Dragons of the Tang Dynasty," Xu Ziling once threw his true qi like a catapult, and the Purple Qi of the Sky, used by Xi Ying, spread like spider silk throughout the surrounding space, entangling opponents like a web!

Xiao Ran had mentioned this in his lectures, but he himself didn't know how to do it, so how could those who listened to his lectures develop such techniques in such a short time!

Xiao Ran's sword vibrated and stabbed out like lightning. Not only was his sword technique divine, but it was also incredibly fast, as fast as a fleeting flash of lightning!

Palace Master Yao Yue's face turned serious. She channeled her true qi, and Xiao Ran felt a force pushing him forward, which was the true qi field generated by her Mingyu Gong.

It couldn't compare to the refined Heavenly Demon Force Field used by Fan Fan and Zhu Yuyan, but it was already a rudimentary specialized true qi technique!

Palace Master Yao Yue instantly understood what specialized true qi techniques were, showing an astonishing martial intelligence!