Chapter 22

When everyone heard this, the hesitation in their eyes towards Dongfang Bubai completely disappeared, replaced by fervent admiration. Following such a leader would make their lives worthwhile. Only Xiang Wentian’s face turned ashen, and he was drenched in sweat.

"Hmph, I knew that a mere Ren Woxing could never be a match for my brother. Even if he were a grandmaster-level expert, so what? He’s just a whetstone for my brother’s skills," Dongfang Bai said, lifting her delicate chin with pride and confidence.

Xue Qianxun, with her beautiful and spirited face, smiled warmly, her eyes filled with love and joy as she looked at Dongfang Bubai.

At this moment, Dongfang Bubai suddenly turned to Xue Qianxun. Seeing her expression, he couldn’t help but let out a soft huff. "No matter what, your mistake cannot be forgiven. We will settle accounts later."

Xue Qianxun lowered her head slightly, neither speaking nor objecting. Her life and everything she had already belonged to Dongfang Bubai. Whatever he said, she would do, and she would not shirk her mistakes.

In the square, upon hearing Ren Woxing’s angry roar, Dongfang Bubai merely snorted and glanced at him without a word. This single glance only made Ren Woxing angrier, as he knew it was a sign of Dongfang Bubai’s extreme contempt. How could he not be enraged?

However, Dongfang Bubai was slightly frowning inside. His body was already quite injured. Ren Woxing was right; he had indeed been using Ren Woxing to hone his skills to break through the Great Nine Heavens Palm. Now, it seemed the effect was good.

He also wanted to gauge how powerful a grandmaster-level expert truly was, but the result was somewhat disappointing. Ren Woxing, a grandmaster-level expert, was indeed the weakest of his kind, even weaker than Dongfang Bubai had imagined. At least, Ren Woxing couldn’t use that one move, which was a stark contrast to truly powerful grandmaster-level experts. Only his solid internal strength supported his grandmaster-level status, and even the nearly dying Zhou Tianli was stronger than him.

Still, Ren Woxing was a grandmaster-level expert, and Dongfang Bubai was only at the Eighth Level of the Innate Realm. During the prolonged battle with Ren Woxing, he relied on his naturally broad and resilient meridians, which had a much higher tolerance than ordinary martial artists, even surpassing a newly ascended grandmaster like Ren Woxing.

Therefore, he could actively engage Ren Woxing in multiple palm clashes. Now, he no longer intended to continue this farce. Ren Woxing’s usefulness in this match was over. He had helped Dongfang Bubai make a small breakthrough and established his supreme authority within the sect. It was time to end the match.

Thinking this, Dongfang Bubai’s lips curled into a perfect, disdainful smile, exuding pride, dominance, and a devilish, indifferent aura.

His left hand naturally gripped the scabbard, and his long, white, and slender right hand finally rested on the hilt of the White Peak Sword at his waist.

"Hmm!" Ren Woxing, who was about to charge forward in anger to fight Dongfang Bubai to the death, suddenly stopped in his tracks. Seeing Dongfang Bubai’s right hand on the hilt, Ren Woxing instinctively swallowed hard. He had never seen Dongfang Bubai draw his sword in the past two years.

However, he had never doubted that Dongfang Bubai’s sword skills were anything but legendary. After Li Gong was defeated by Dongfang Bubai, he said something.

Dongfang Bubai was most formidable when his right hand was on the hilt but the sword had not yet been drawn. You could never know how fast or sharp that sword would be. The unknown was the most terrifying. By the time you knew about the sword, you were already defeated or dead.

This statement was recorded by the Hundred Informants Organization on the list of prodigies, known to all.

Now, as Ren Woxing truly faced Dongfang Bubai with his hand on the hilt, he finally understood the meaning of those words. He felt an invisible force locking onto him. His martial artist’s intuition told him there was no point in dodging, as he couldn’t evade it no matter what. He could only fight back, but an overwhelming sense of fear gripped his heart.

He hated this feeling, but it kept surging uncontrollably.

At this moment, everyone around subconsciously tensed up, their faces flushed with excitement and tension. They all knew those words, and when Dongfang Bubai’s right hand touched the hilt of the White Peak Sword, they understood what was about to happen.

Almost everyone hoped to see that sword, that miraculous sword, the one that could suppress all the world’s prodigies.

Dongfang Bubai’s smile faded, his perfect face calm and serious, but a hint of ferocity was evident.

"Clang!"

A crisp sound of a sword being drawn suddenly echoed, as if from another world. Before this sound, a thin, long white sword light had already appeared in everyone’s eyes. No one could describe the appearance of this sword light, nor its sharpness and fineness.

Ren Woxing only saw a thin, long white sword light filling his vision, the sound of the sword being drawn ringing in his ears. His body was already filled with powerful internal strength, ready to act, but he found himself unable to move. His internal strength felt as heavy as a mountain, beyond his control, and his body was completely immobilized.

"Thud!"

Ren Woxing’s powerless knees hit the ground. His wide eyes slowly and weakly looked down at his chest, and he suddenly understood the last part of those words.

When you know about the sword, you are already defeated or dead. Now, Ren Woxing knew, so he was defeated.

He also understood that Li Gong had lost but not died because of his own abilities, while he was spared by Dongfang Bubai.

At this moment, everyone clearly saw the situation in the square. Dongfang Bubai’s sword had returned to the scabbard, and Ren Woxing was kneeling on the ground with a long, ghastly bloodstain on his upper body.

The match was over, and the square was silent, as if still savoring that sword that should not have appeared in the mortal world. That sword was so brilliant, but when they saw the sword light, the enemy was already struck.

They couldn’t describe how fast or sharp that sword was. They only knew that when they saw the sword light, Ren Woxing’s internal strength defense was already cut through, and his body was already struck. When they heard the sound of the sword being drawn, the battle was already over.

"Dongfang Bubai! Dongfang Bubai!"

"Dongfang Bubai! Dongfang Bubai!"

...

...

The silent square suddenly erupted. Thousands of Sun Moon Sect disciples looked at Dongfang Bubai with fervent admiration, raising their arms and shouting wildly. Every disciple’s eyes were filled with fervent adoration.

On the stone steps, everyone except Zhou Tianli and Xiang Wentian looked at Dongfang Bubai with submission and reverence, also raising their arms and shouting.

At this moment, Zhou Tianli was also solemn. This was the first time he had seen Dongfang Bubai draw his sword. In the two years he had been on Blackwood Cliff, Dongfang Bubai had never drawn his sword.

Zhou Tianli saw this sword more clearly than anyone and understood its power better than anyone. If he were ten years younger, he could have withstood this sword. Even now, if he were willing to take some damage, he could have survived it.

However, he couldn’t be sure if Dongfang Bubai could only use this level of sword-drawing technique once. Normally, such techniques are only powerful on the first use because they gather most of the swordsman’s spirit and energy. Once used, most of the spirit and energy are spent, and subsequent uses are much weaker.

But facing Dongfang Bubai, Zhou Tianli didn’t dare to apply this common logic. If Dongfang Bubai could overcome this limitation, Zhou Tianli couldn’t even imagine it.

In that case, Dongfang Bubai would truly be the strongest in the Sun Moon Sect. Thinking of this, Zhou Tianli finally let go of his lingering attachment to power. The strong rule, and this was the true constant.

Dongfang Bubai’s strength was greater than his, which made him truly willing to step down as the sect leader.

Zhou Tianli put aside his thoughts, took two steps forward, and everyone immediately knew he had something to say. The fervent shouts gradually subsided.

Zhou Tianli cleared his throat. "I announce that the winner of this match is Dongfang Bubai. Dongfang Bubai will officially become the next leader of the Sun Moon Sect. In three days, the coronation ceremony will be held, and I will retire."

Everyone fell silent again, as if digesting this news. Two seconds later, even more fervent shouts erupted.

"Dongfang Bubai! Dongfang Bubai!"

"Dongfang Bubai! Dongfang Bubai!"

...

...

The shouts echoed throughout Blackwood Cliff, even dispersing the clouds in the sky.

Dongfang Bubai stood quietly in the square, saying nothing, but a hint of fervor appeared in his eyes. The position of the Sun Moon Sect leader was finally his, and a new beginning was about to start.

About ten meters away, Ren Woxing was still kneeling helplessly on the ground. He didn’t understand why Dongfang Bubai had spared him. Even if he had been killed, no one would have said anything, as he was a potential threat. But now, hearing the fervent shouts, he suddenly understood.

He thought he was a threat, but in Dongfang Bubai’s eyes, he was nothing. He wasn’t even considered a threat, and he didn’t believe Ren Woxing could cause any trouble. Moreover, as a grandmaster-level expert, Ren Woxing still had some value, so he was spared.

Looking at the fervent admiration of the crowd, Ren Woxing knew he couldn’t cause any trouble. And if Dongfang Bubai spared him once, he wouldn’t spare him again. If he had any more thoughts, he would be dead. If he died, what about Yingying and her mother...?

Thinking of this, Ren Woxing felt utterly disheartened.

(The issue of the Sunflower Manual will soon appear.)

Thank you all for your support! (Please recommend, collect, and review.) The novel’s QQ group: 528134281

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