Chapter 89

Hua Zixing was furious and was about to make a move, but he heard a loud shout from beside him: "Stop—"

Hua Zixing naturally did not dare to move a muscle, and the rough Taoist also stopped, curious to see what this little old man had to say.

"The Golden Eagle with Divine Eyes" He Dong sighed deeply and said, "Today, I, Old He, have to rely on my seniority... I am He Dong, the First-Class Constable of the Criminal Ministry, known in the martial world as the 'Golden Eagle with Divine Eyes'..."

The four brothers of Qingyun Temple were suddenly startled. It was this old man. Why would he come to Qingyun Temple?

Daoist Qingyan's expression turned from surprise to ease, and he smiled, "So it's the thirteenth on the 'Earthly Absolute List,' the 'Golden Eagle with Divine Eyes' He Dong, known for his divine eyes, divine claws, and unparalleled lightness of body. I have heard much about you..."

The face of "Golden Eagle with Divine Eyes" He Dong turned ashen, and he said in a deep voice, "I am not here to gain your respect. I just want to ask this Daoist, what are your chances of winning if we fight to the death?"

Daoist Qingyan smiled and said softly, "In terms of cultivation, none of us are a match for you, Old Sir. But if it comes to a life-and-death struggle, the outcome is hard to predict..."

"Good answer! It seems this Daoist has great confidence in his sword skills... But I wonder, if I fight to the death to escape, what are your chances of stopping me?"

Daoist Qingyan's expression turned serious, and he said solemnly, "Old Sir's 'Seven Feather Swirls' lightness skill is highly ranked on the 'Earthly Absolute List.' It would be difficult to stop you... But would you abandon your subordinates to save your own life?"

He Dong laughed loudly and shouted, "If I determine that you have ill intentions, I will certainly abandon my brothers to save myself. In the future, I will report to the court, and they will surely send experts to destroy Qingyun Temple and avenge my brothers..."

Qingyan and the others' faces darkened, and they tightened their grips.

Seeing that he had gained the attention of the Qingyun Temple Taoists, He Dong felt relieved. He thought to himself: At least I've gained a bit of leverage. As long as they have some hesitation, they won't act rashly. Next, I should increase the stakes in the negotiation...

He Dong wore a relaxed expression and said slowly, "Everything stems from a misunderstanding. I wonder if the Daoists can wait a moment and listen to my words?"

"Please, Old He, speak—"

"The Golden Eagle with Divine Eyes" He Dong's expression was solemn, his eyes flashing with sharpness, clearly thinking rapidly. He said, "Your martial skills are truly exceptional, and you are rare experts. However, the origins of your martial arts are quite mysterious. The techniques you use are always vague and obscure, as if trying to hide your true identities. But in front of a true expert, such behavior only raises suspicion. Although you try to hide it, I have seen through some of the subtleties in your techniques..."

He pointed at He Qingzhu and said, "For example, this Daoist used the 'Jade Shattering Palm' technique 'Jade Shattering on Kunlun'... It condenses in the air like jade, shattering like a collapse... Ha, what a powerful and dominant strike..."

Then he pointed at Tie Qingshi and said, "This Daoist also used the 'Jade Shattering Palm,' but the final move was a finger technique, using the sword move 'Wind and Snow Rolling.' Am I correct?"

Finally, he faced the slightly plump Chen Qingsong and said calmly, "What ultimately confirmed your identities was this Daoist brother. Although his moves were ordinary, how did he manage to exhaust Liu Gonggong and make him faint, unable to retreat? I recalled a sword technique that should have been lost a hundred years ago. The key to its power lies in using internal energy to create a suction effect, making it impossible for the opponent to escape..."

Seeing the Qingyun Temple Taoists listening intently, He Dong smiled inwardly and continued, "If I am not mistaken, your origins should be—"

He Dong did not say the next two words aloud but only mouthed them faintly.

Liu He and Lü Zhongji, who had fainted, were behind Hua Zixing and could not see.

But Qingyan and the others saw clearly, and their faces changed dramatically.

Almost as soon as He Dong mouthed those two words, Qingyan's killing intent surged, and his internal energy exploded. With a loud thud, he pushed off the ground, and a powerful aura burst out like a bomb.

Daoist Qingyan vanished from his spot.

The speed of his sudden burst exceeded the limits of what the human eye could capture.

"Come on—"

He Dong shouted and disappeared from his spot.

Bang—

A loud explosion.

The two appeared in mid-air, clashing head-on without any fancy moves. The collision of their internal energies sent several unprepared court experts flying.

Daoist Qingyan was sent flying backward, while He Dong landed gracefully. From this single exchange, it was clear that He Dong's internal energy cultivation was several levels higher than Daoist Qingyan's.

But Daoist Qingyan was not affected. As he flew backward, he stepped on a tree branch, and his sword hummed loudly, emitting a green light. He attacked again with his sword skills at their peak, delivering over twenty strikes in an instant. The sword energy burst like a blooming green lotus, all movements seamless and extremely fierce.

He Dong had donned a pair of golden claw-shaped gloves at some point. The claws glowed with a golden light, and a sharp golden aura emerged from the tips. He lunged forward again, and the two clashed several times in mid-air, the sounds of their energy colliding echoing continuously.

The golden claws slashed through the green lotus, and a series of rapid clashes rang out. He Dong shouted, and the golden light intensified. His right hand, like a bird's beak, caught Daoist Qingyan's sword, and the green lotus disappeared.

Daoist Qingyan's sword was hit as if by a thousand-pound hammer, nearly slipping from his grasp. His internal energy was disrupted, and he felt extreme pain.

He Dong laughed triumphantly and swung his left golden claw, releasing three sharp golden auras toward Daoist Qingyan's face.

At this critical moment, Daoist Qingyan remained calm. He spun in mid-air, evading the three golden auras at point-blank range. His sword spun with the momentum, and the tips clashed with the claws, sparks and energy flying in all directions. He Dong's right hand went numb, and he lost his grip on the sword. The sword, like a drill, broke free from the golden claws. Daoist Qingyan pushed lightly with his right hand, and the sword transformed into a spinning green light, aiming for He Dong's chest.

He Dong was extremely confident in his claw skills, believing that any weapon caught by his claws would be hard to escape. He never expected Daoist Qingxuan's sword skills to be so extraordinary, not only breaking free from the claws but also delivering a lethal strike.

He Dong was greatly alarmed and instantly brought his left golden claw to protect his chest. He saw a flash of determination in Daoist Qingyan's eyes and a mocking smile on his face. He Dong shouted, "Not good!" He realized that the strike aimed at his chest was a feint... But it was too late to change his move...

Just as he was closing his eyes, waiting for death, a loud shout came...

"Stop—"

He Dong opened his eyes in surprise and saw Daoist Qingyan twist his body, easily reversing his attack and landing lightly to the side.

He Dong had not expected Daoist Qingyan to change his move so easily, coming and going as he pleased. The intense pressure and killing intent vanished in an instant. This was the first time He Dong had encountered such sword skills.

He Dong was now drenched in sweat, gaining a deeper understanding of Daoist Qingyan's sword skills.

Turning to see who had stopped Daoist Qingyan, he saw a middle-aged Taoist with sharp eyebrows, clear eyes, and a well-proportioned face, a long beard under his chin, looking no more than forty. Just by his features, one could tell he had been very handsome in his youth. He held a duster in his hand and carried a long sword on his back, standing as steady as a rock, his presence dignified and stern, exuding a sense of righteousness and integrity.

The middle-aged Taoist flicked his duster and bowed, saying, "Daoist Qingzheng of Qingyun Temple greets Old He and the other martial artists... My master has instructed that Qingyun Temple has honored guests, and I am to invite you..."

Another advanced expert from Qingyun Temple?

How many experts are hidden in Qingyun Temple? What is the cultivation level of Lingxu Zhenren?

Just as he was wondering, Daoist Qingzheng continued, "My master instructed that Old He and the others are friends of Qingyun Temple. We are to invite you, not coerce you. If Old He does not wish to come up the mountain, we will not force you and will respectfully see you off..."