"Nine Heavens' Pure Cold, Ice Crystals for Ten Thousand Miles!"
"Summon ice from the heavens, let it plummet to the earth!"
On the arena, Qi Hao gripped his Ice Sword, his expression grim as he unleashed his full power.
The technique he employed was called the Heavenly Ice Plummeting Earth Technique, one of the four great sword arts of Qingyun Sect.
A pure ice-attribute sword technique, it perfectly complemented his treasure, the Ice Sword…
Hiss—
"The Heavenly Ice Plummeting Earth Technique?"
"Senior Brother Qi has actually mastered this sword art?!"
"They say its power rivals the Divine Sword Thunder-Control Technique. To think Senior Brother Qi has achieved it!"
The disciples below the arena buzzed with excitement.
But soon, a puzzled voice cut through the chatter: "That's odd. Isn't Senior Brother Qi at Jade Purity Ninth Layer? Why is he using one of Qingyun's four great sword arts against a mere Jade Purity Fifth Layer like Zhang Xiaofan?!"
The words stunned the crowd.
Indeed.
Why would Zhang Xiaofan, a mere Jade Purity Fifth Layer, warrant Qi Hao unleashing one of the sect's four great sword arts?
"You guys don't get it! Senior Brother Qi is showing respect for his opponent!"
"Exactly!"
"No matter how high or low his opponent's cultivation, Senior Brother Qi always gives his all as a sign of respect!"
The Longshou Peak disciples chimed in.
The crowd nodded, enlightened.
So, Senior Brother Qi is just respecting his opponent?
In the arena, Qi Hao overheard the discussions.
He nearly broke character.
Respect my opponent, my foot!
Boom—
Zhang Xiaofan charged forward, gripping his Fire-Stick tightly.
Qi Hao snapped back to attention.
He swiftly formed a sword gesture, fully executing the Heavenly Ice Plummeting Earth Technique.
Rumble—
In an instant, countless ice spikes rained down from the heavens.
Zhang Xiaofan's face paled.
He hurriedly suspended the Fire-Stick in front of him, intending to block the ice spikes with his treasure.
But alas, he was already exhausted.
The Fire-Stick held for only a moment before an ice spike struck, knocking Zhang Xiaofan unconscious.
"This match—Longshou Peak's Qi Hao, victorious!"
The presiding elder lightly struck the bronze bell, announcing the result with a calm voice.
Qi Hao let out a sigh of relief.
He glanced at the unconscious Zhang Xiaofan, still bewildered…
Is this really Jade Purity Fifth Layer?!
_
That Night
A gentle breeze stirred the air.
The moon hung high, its silver glow cloaking the world in a hazy veil.
Tongtian Peak, Ancestral Shrine.
Ji Changfeng lifted a wine jug, pouring full bowls for the three elders before filling his own.
"Changfeng, tomorrow's the final match against Cangsong's top disciple for the championship, isn't it?" Wan Jianyi took a swig from his bowl. "How's your confidence?"
Before Ji Changfeng could respond, Qingyun's foremost Ji Changfeng enthusiast, Cangsong Daoren, cut in.
"Senior Brother Wan, that's an insult to Changfeng." Cangsong shook his head with a smile. "I know my disciple's level all too well. I'm afraid he couldn't even withstand a single strike from Nephew Changfeng…"
Ji Changfeng smiled faintly, saying nothing.
Cangsong was right.
If he went all out…
No, even with just half his strength, Qi Hao likely couldn't block a single sword.
Cangsong continued, "Senior Brother Wan, today I saw the Xiaozhu Peak disciple Nephew Changfeng has taken a liking to."
"Oh?" Wan Jianyi's interest piqued. He leaned in eagerly. "How's her appearance? Her strength? Her talent?"
Three questions in rapid succession.
Ji Changfeng shook his head helplessly.
Thank goodness I'm thick-skinned.
Otherwise, I'd never survive Senior Brother Wan's teasing.
Cangsong glanced at Ji Changfeng, grinning. "Her beauty could topple cities, her strength is unmatched among her peers, and her talent is probably second only to Nephew Changfeng…"
Daoxuan Zhenren stroked his beard with a smile.
He, too, held high hopes for Lu Xueqi, the Xiaozhu Peak disciple.
If she and Ji Changfeng ended up together, wouldn't they be a divine couple?
Ji Changfeng sipped his wine, unfazed by their teasing.
Thick skin? What's that?
Never heard of it!
Wan Jianyi turned to Ji Changfeng with a grin. "My dear disciple, if you've got your eye on her, go for it boldly. Don't be shy…"
"And if you don't know how to woo her? Your master's got plenty of experience!"
Plenty of experience?
You mean at flirting?
Ji Changfeng had to admit—Wan Jianyi did have some skills in that department.
But…
Is that why you're still single?
Ji Changfeng held his tongue, sparing Wan Jianyi's feelings. Instead, he turned to Daoxuan Zhenren, his tone serious. "Sect Leader Martial Uncle, there's something I'd like to discuss."
"Oh? What is it?" Daoxuan raised an eyebrow.
Wan Jianyi and Cangsong paused their banter, their eyes shifting to Ji Changfeng.
"Sect Leader Martial Uncle, about Xiaofan…" Ji Changfeng began slowly. "He's practicing Buddhist techniques!"
He decided to address Zhang Xiaofan's cultivation of the Great Brahma Prajna.
Leaving it unresolved could become a hidden danger later.
Better to clear the air with Daoxuan now…
"What?!" Daoxuan's eyes narrowed sharply.
Wan Jianyi and Cangsong exchanged startled glances.
"Nephew Changfeng, do you realize what you're saying?" Daoxuan's voice carried a heavy weight.
"I do." Ji Changfeng nodded. "One night, I passed by Xiaofan's courtyard and noticed him practicing an unusual technique. After some investigation…"
"I discovered he's cultivating the core technique of Tianyin Temple—the Great Brahma Prajna!"
"What?!" Daoxuan's shock deepened.
Practicing Buddhist techniques was one thing.
But the core Buddhist art of Tianyin Temple?!
Daoxuan's eyes flickered. He fixed his gaze on Ji Changfeng, his tone grave. "Nephew Changfeng, you…"
"Do you already have a theory?"
Ji Changfeng nodded. "Years ago, a monk visited Caomiao Village. If I'm not mistaken, he's likely the one who taught Xiaofan the Great Brahma Prajna."
He left the rest unsaid.
The men present were no fools.
A single hint was enough for them to piece it together.
Cangsong frowned. "Tianyin Temple's Monk Puzhi?"
Daoxuan fell silent for a moment.
Then he spoke slowly. "Back then, Monk Puzhi visited me at Tongtian Peak. He offered to exchange Tianyin Temple's Great Brahma Prajna for our Qingyun Sect's Taiji Xuanqing Dao, hoping to pursue Buddhist-Daoist dual cultivation and glimpse the realm of immortality."
"But I refused."
The revelation made the others' eyes narrow.
Wan Jianyi, piecing together the information, speculated, "So, he taught the Great Brahma Prajna to Zhang Xiaofan to test the feasibility of Buddhist-Daoist dual cultivation?"
"But how did he know Zhang Xiaofan would join Qingyun Sect?"
"Could he have witnessed the demonic sect's massacre at Caomiao Village? Did he save Zhang Xiaofan and the others?"
Cangsong frowned, sensing the theory didn't quite add up.
But then, Ji Changfeng's quiet voice cut through. "What if…"
"The massacre at Caomiao Village was his doing?"
"What if Monk Puzhi had already fallen to demonic ways, resorting to any means necessary for immortality, for Buddhist-Daoist dual cultivation…"
The words struck like thunder, leaving everyone stunned.
_
[…]
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