SHING!
Wang Xiao slashed out, unleashing a world-shaking torrent of sword light.
The ring of the sword was faint at first, but in the end, it drowned out all other sounds.
It was as if the only sound left in all of Heaven and Earth was the ringing of that blade!
"This sword strike... this sword strike!"
Chen Tiangang watched the torrent of light rushing toward him, his breath catching in his throat.
He could almost see a figure like an Immortal appearing behind Wang Xiao, reaching out to press a single finger toward him.
The intent radiating from it sent a tremor through the very core of his being.
Unstoppable!
Untouchable!
Inviolable!
At that moment, Chen Tiangang was once again reminded of how he felt when he first met Wu Shengtiang, the strongest martial artist in the Great Xuan!
"No! Impossible! How could you possess such power!"
Chen Tiangang roared madly, his fist strikes growing ever more ferocious, actually creating a white sonic barrier before them!
The sonic barrier surged with unrivaled power, sucking in the surrounding sand to form a protective curtain.
However, the next moment.
Like a rainbow piercing the sun, the endless light of the sword viciously shattered the curtain before completely engulfing Chen Tiangang!
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The clash of fist and sword was like the resounding beat of heavenly drums, erupting with a sound loud enough to rupture eardrums!
Everyone present instinctively covered their ears, a pained look in their eyes.
Immediately after, they felt a fierce shockwave from the impact sweep over them, knocking them off their feet.
Zhang Yuanzhu and those closest to the impact were sent flying outright!
With Wang Xiao and Chen Tiangang at the epicenter, the ground within a hundred-foot radius caved in violently!
The sand and dust blotting out the sky began to spin, forming a tornado that shot toward the heavens.
This spectacle lasted for more than ten seconds before finally subsiding.
「Outside the Dragon Banner Inn.」
Only two figures stood ramrod straight.
Wang Xiao stood as still as a mountain, sword in hand.
From the tip of his blade, fresh blood dripped to the ground.
A few hundred feet away, Chen Tiangang also remained standing.
Except his right hand had been cleanly severed, blood pouring from the stump.
Furthermore, a ghastly sword wound ran from below his neck, snaking all the way down to his Dantian, three inches below his navel.
There, a fist-sized hole had been blasted open!
This meant his Dantian had been destroyed.
From a Martial Saint, he had been knocked from his pedestal and reduced to a common man!
"I have lost."
Chen Tiangang glanced at his shattered Dantian, a look of desolation in his eyes.
The invincible aura that once surrounded him had been utterly scattered by Wang Xiao's blade.
If it had been an ordinary person who took that strike from Wang Xiao's Celestial Flying Immortal, there would have been absolutely no chance of survival.
However, to master the Celestial Spirit Divine Fist, Chen Tiangang had forged his body through countless trials and was protected by the Inner Qi of a Martial Saint.
Therefore, despite his grievous injuries, his life was not in danger.
But it would be impossible for him to ever practice Martial Arts again.
"Chief, how can this be?!"
"The Chief actually lost."
"That man is a Martial Saint too... and with a single strike... just one strike..."
Only then did the Jinyi Guard belatedly realize what had happened. They stared at Chen Tiangang and Wang Xiao, their eyes filled with disbelief.
In their minds, a Martial Saint was invincible.
How could it be possible? How could he be defeated by a single sword strike?!
In an instant, the hearts of all the Jinyi Guard plummeted.
From jubilant cheers to horrified despair—the difference was but a single sword strike!
However, they were battle-hardened veterans. Not a single man fled. Instead, they rushed to Chen Tiangang's side to support the faltering man.
SHING!
SHINK!
One by one, the Jinyi Guard drew the Brocade Spring Sabers from their waists, shielding Chen Tiangang behind them.
They all knew that with their level of strength, facing this young Martial Saint meant certain death.
But they did not retreat a single step!
The Jinyi Guard would rather die on their feet than live on their knees!
'So, this is a Martial Saint!'
Wang Xiao ignored the Jinyi Guard, his mind completely focused on comprehending the strike he had just delivered.
With that Celestial Flying Immortal strike, he had officially entered the realm of the Martial Saint.
And he finally understood what it meant to be a Martial Saint.
'It's said to be perfect control over Heaven and Earth, but it's really just borrowing the power of Heaven and Earth to execute one's own Martial Arts.'
'In simpler terms, it's about making your Martial Arts resonate with the rhythm of Heaven and Earth!'
'The power of resonance is immense.'
'It can shatter a glass cup, or even cause a bridge to collapse!'
'However, this resonance is incredibly difficult to control.'
'Only by achieving the state of Immaculate and Unbreakable by God can one continuously make adjustments and ultimately unify with the rhythm of Heaven and Earth.'
'When your Martial Arts resonate with Heaven and Earth, the power of the technique naturally multiplies!'
'Of course, it also involves complex steps like the circulation of Inner Strength.'
It was only after unleashing Celestial Flying Immortal that Wang Xiao fully grasped the principles behind it.
'My current strength, if converted to the Real World, should be at the Tier Two Life Peak, infinitely close to a Tier Three Life!'
Wang Xiao assessed his current state.
He raised his head, just in time to meet the gazes of the Jinyi Guard.
These Jinyi Guard looked at Wang Xiao, their bodies trembling involuntarily.
They might have had the courage to draw their sabers, but they could not overcome the innate aura of oppression that a Martial Saint projected.
Wang Xiao made no further move. His voice was calm as he spoke:
"Commander, deliver a message to Wu Shengtiang for me. In three years, I will come to the Forbidden City to face him in a decisive battle."
"During these three years, I will not take part in any uprisings. In return, I expect him not to show his face at the Sword Sect."
"Otherwise, I will slaughter his Overlord Army to the last man!"
Chen Tiangang narrowed his eyes.
"You may have defeated me, but you are no match for the Prince. He is an invincible force in this world!"
Wang Xiao said calmly, "No one can remain at the top forever, and no one is undefeatable. Not me, and certainly not Wu Shengtiang. In three years, I will personally make him understand that."
"Such spirit, young Martial Saint. I will deliver your words to the Prince." Chen Tiangang turned, mounted his steed, and said, "Let's go."
The Jinyi Guard mounted up and quickly vanished from sight.
"I never imagined it. I lost my chance to become a Martial Saint, only to personally witness the birth of another. The ways of the world are truly unpredictable."
Daoist Ming Xu, supported by Zhang Yuanzhu, walked forward.
"Fellow Daoist, from this day on, I imagine your name will soon be known across the land."
Ming Xu's face flushed as he recalled how he had once considered taking Wang Xiao as his disciple.
His form of address for Wang Xiao had naturally shifted from 'Young Friend' to 'Fellow Daoist'.
Zhang Yuanzhu stared at Wang Xiao, his expression dazed.
This young swordsman before him looked even younger than he was, yet had already achieved the rank of Martial Saint.
A sense of defeat washed over him.
However, on second thought, his ambition had never lain in Martial Arts, but in saving the common people and righting the wrongs of the world. His mood instantly brightened.
Wang Xiao, however, cared nothing for fame or fortune. He turned to Ming Xu and asked:
"Daoist Master, I wish to travel to Wudang. Would you be able to provide me with an introduction?"