Chapter 64

(Updated at noon, it's been a while since I wrote such an exhilarating duel, how can one word "awesome" suffice, please give me recommendations and add to your favorites.)

The cold wind pierced the bones, and the wild grass danced. The bonfire in the hall flickered uncertainly. Su Qignian stood at the entrance of the Qingyang Hall, looking at Li Qinghe not far away. His gaze was open and unobscured.

"Good, if you can block my three strikes, if not, I want the 'Xiuming Dao' manual."

Li Qinghe's eyes were burning, but it wasn't greed. Su Qignian saw a yearning and madness for the dao.

A sword enthusiast and a dao enthusiast, father and son, truly blood relatives.

"Good!"

Su Qignian responded without any intention of retreating. No matter how strong Li Qinghe was, he had not yet comprehended the eighth level of the 'Gui She Gong.' If he lost under such circumstances, it wouldn't matter if he handed over the 'Xiuming Dao.' Besides, a first-class superior dao technique like 'Xiuming Dao' would be difficult to cultivate and fully utilize if one harbored evil and darkness. Su Qignian was not afraid of it falling into the wrong hands.

Clang, clang, clang, clang!

Li Qinghe raised his eyebrows and took a step forward. The five-foot-long dao dragged on the ground, sparks flying from the blue stone bricks.

His steps were extremely fast, initially a few feet per step, then over ten feet, and after three steps, he could cover several yards in one step. The air behind him distorted, and a blood-sweating steed seemed to land and gallop, its qi and blood like smoke and mist, illuminating the ground for several yards.

What a powerful momentum!

Su Qignian felt as if a wave of surging waves was rushing towards him. In an instant, the five-foot-long dao drew a very cunning trajectory, slashing diagonally towards his arm. The air split like silk, silently torn apart by the thin blade.

The pale blade light carried a fierce aura, a killing technique from the border battlefield.

It was a basic dao technique, but simplified to the extreme, aiming at vital points, yet not as venomous as an assassin's. Although equally ruthless, it was grand and righteous, with a strong backbone.

Clang!

Su Qignian drew his dao, the green iron long dao like a bolt of lightning, blocking the thin blade. When the blades met, there was no sound of metal clashing. Li Qinghe felt a very sticky force from the blade, all his strength disappearing like mud into the sea.

"The Gui She Quan, the principles of force application and the Taiji cycle have been integrated into the dao technique."

Li Qinghe's eyes were bright like lightning. His qi and blood surged, and his fighting spirit was intense. He saw through the essence of Su Qignian's dao technique at a glance.

"Second strike!"

With a roar, the long dao stirred up a fierce wind, like a storm at sea. The blade was crimson, and the qi and blood converged, forming a less than half-inch-long qi glow.

Fierce wind and heavy rain!

With this strike, Su Qignian's expression turned serious. This second strike was no longer a basic dao technique. The dao technique's realm, as described in some of Su Qignian's memories, seemed very similar to his father's famous 'Jingtao Zhanlang Jian' (Surging Waves Slash).

Surging Waves Dao?

Su Qignian's mind raced, and he understood. Li Qinghe indeed had extraordinary talent, transforming the sword into a dao and incorporating his father's sword technique into his own. Although he had only executed the first strike, it was clear that this dao technique's雏形 was not just third-rate.

Whoosh!

Su Qignian's green iron long dao reversed, the tip pointing down. He turned, and his entire demeanor changed, like an ancient divine tortoise awakening from a long slumber, breaking free from its shackles, and colliding with the mountain that had suppressed it for years.

Li Qinghe's pupils constricted. Su Qignian's dao tip pointed down, pushing horizontally, transforming into a tortoise shell in his eyes, marked with the trigrams of Kan and Li, and the winds and thunder of Xun and Zhen, instantly filling the entire sky and earth.

Clang!

A loud sound, the two blades collided, finally sparking. A large burst of sparks flew, and a gust of wind swept out from the center, scattering the wild grass. Within ten yards around them, the blue stone bricks were clean, and the dust had vanished.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The next moment, both retreated ten steps, standing six yards apart.

This strike was a draw.

"Your Gui She Quan, if I'm not mistaken, at least six forms have reached the divine essence stage."

Li Qinghe's gaze became serious and solemn, with a hint of admiration. In just over a month, to comprehend and practice the Wudang 'Gui She Gong' to such a level, even he felt inferior. Not to mention the seven forms of Gui She Quan, many of which involved the profound principles of Wudang Taiji and Yin-Yang. It was easy to grasp the basics, but difficult to truly understand, and reaching the divine essence stage required a special opportunity.

"There is one last strike." Su Qignian said calmly.

"This strike, I have only recently comprehended. I originally thought two strikes would be enough, but now it seems I underestimated you. Even the 'Xiuming Dao' was not forced out, it seems you still have hidden depths, making this journey worthwhile."

At this point, Li Qinghe spoke fluently. Concerning martial arts and dao techniques, his thoughts were as quick as lightning, and he spoke more eloquently than a scholar well-versed in poetry and literature.

Su Qignian slowly gripped the hilt, as Li Qinghe's body emitted a suppressive aura, even affecting the mental energy that permeated the surrounding void.

This aura was incredibly familiar!

Boom!

Li Qinghe drew his dao, the third strike. His entire demeanor became extremely fierce. When he slashed, it was like a thunderclap in the air. Upon closer inspection, it was like a giant wave rising from the vast ocean, crashing against the shore, deafening and overwhelming.

The pale blade light fell, yes, it fell, compressing the air and producing a thunderous sound.

At the tip of the blade, a blood-red qi glow extended to about half an inch.

The fierce wind hit like a sword, cutting through the bones, and Su Qignian finally confirmed that this was not just any aura, but the sharpness of the dao.

The sharpness of the dao!

Typically, this was a profound truth that only true masters of weapons could comprehend, a dividing line for weapon users.

One step of sharpness, and you could pluck the stars; otherwise, even a short distance would be like a mirage or a reflection in water.

His eyes emitted an unprecedented light. Under such pressure, Su Qignian also felt a surge of fighting spirit. Regarding the seven forms of Gui She Quan, he had only initially integrated the principles of force application and Taiji Yin-Yang into his dao technique, not yet fully mastering them. The previous two strikes had reached their limits.

Buzz!

The green iron long dao vibrated rapidly, the air rippling with fine wrinkles. In an instant, Su Qignian's entire body's qi and blood surged to their peak, his skin, tendons, bones, and marrow resonating like war drums. Even his internal organs responded, his heart and lungs beating, his breath long and powerful.

Clang!

In a flash, Su Qignian's green iron long dao sliced through the air, the blade light brilliant like the rising sun, as if it were the master of all light, conquering darkness and purifying evil. The half-inch-long red glow at the tip of the blade, like mist and smoke, cut through the surging waves and fierce storms, the dark clouds melting like snow in spring, and sunlight illuminating the earth, bringing life to all things.

A moment of light seemed to dispel much of the cold in the Qingyang Palace. The bonfire in the hall rose, the flames bright, and the dry branches and wood crackled.

In front of the Qingyang Hall.

Su Qignian sheathed his dao, looking at Li Qinghe ten yards away. Blood dripped from the five-foot-long white iron long dao in his hand, but the blade remained spotless, clearly a sharp blade that could cut hair.

And at Li Qinghe's feet, two faint furrows extended forward for about three yards, indicating that he had been pushed back three yards.

"You are not at your peak, and it is not a fair victory for me to defeat you."

Su Qignian said, "You can rest for a few days and choose a date to fight again."

Studying the classics and understanding true principles, Su Qignian had the demeanor of a gentleman, unwilling to take advantage. A gentleman wins with integrity and righteousness, winning the hearts of people.

Li Qinghe took a deep breath but shook his head, his tone becoming stiff again: "I have been fighting on the border since I was ten, killing many enemies. Blood and pain are more in line with the essence of my dao technique. This injury does not affect my fighting ability, I have lost."

After saying this, he turned and dragged his dao, leaving directly, seemingly unwilling to speak further with Su Qignian.

Looking at Li Qinghe's slightly staggering back, Su Qignian first frowned, then relaxed his brows. After a long while, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

…

It was the hour of Chen, and the sun was rising.

The orange sunlight stretched long, the bonfire in the Qingyang Hall had extinguished, and blue smoke rose. Su Qignian opened his eyes and looked outside the Qingyang Palace, where a familiar figure gradually approached. (Updated at noon, it's been a while since I wrote such an exhilarating duel, how can one word "awesome" suffice, please give me recommendations and add to your favorites.)