Li Jian knew full well that he was finally facing a truly formidable opponent. Though he stood in grave danger, he merely smiled and said, "We must still settle this with a clear victory or defeat. Only then can the grudges between the Three Sects, Shaolin Temple, and the Alliance of Justice be wiped away in one stroke." Yet what kind of smile was this, if not a bitter one?
In the eyes of the Unaging Demon, however, that casual smile was nothing short of provocation and contempt. Having already defeated numerous masters from the Three Sects and Shaolin, his arrogance burned at its peak. He had not expected that this young man—who claimed to be the new leader of the Hall of Loyalty—could force him back with a single palm strike. And now, seeing the boy still smiling, his fury surged uncontrollably.
"You are indeed not to be underestimated," he thought coldly, "but I, the Unaging Demon, am no easy foe either."
A cruel smile crept onto his lips as he said icily, "Good boy—then let's see what you're capable of. Take this!"Before his words even faded, his figure flashed forward like a ghost, rushing toward Li Jian.
It is said that scholars tend to belittle one another—so it has always been. Each prides himself on his own strengths while disparaging the shortcomings of others. If even scholars are like this, how much more so martial artists? In the jianghu, every sect and school behaves the same way. Naturally, the Unaging Demon looked down upon the youth before him.
"With skills like yours, you dare step forward? Ridiculous!" he sneered.
Though famed for his extraordinary martial prowess, the Unaging Demon was also known for his cruelty and bloodlust. His attacks surged once more—fiercer than before—driving straight toward Li Jian's vital center. Li Jian swiftly evaded. In the blink of an eye, the Demon unleashed over a dozen strikes, hacking and smashing relentlessly.
From the pattern of his blows, Li Jian immediately sensed the malicious intent. This was no mere sparring match—this was an attempt to kill.
"So ruthless!" Li Jian thought. "We bear no grudge, yet he seeks my life!"
With a sudden drop of his wrist and a push of his left hand, he deflected the assault. Then, transforming his palm into a blade, he slashed sideways toward the Demon's abdomen. The move was astonishingly fast—far beyond expectation. Startled, the Unaging Demon inhaled sharply and retreated five paces.
"Rumor says your art is vicious," Li Jian said calmly. "Now I see it's no exaggeration."
Instead of shame, the Unaging Demon burst into wild laughter. "Accept your fate, boy! I kill without mercy—everyone in the jianghu knows it!"
His gaze now burned with murderous intent. Like a storm unleashed, his relentless assault only ignited Li Jian's own anger. No longer holding back, Li Jian infused his palms with inner force and struck out. A crushing wave of power surged forward, forcing even the Demon to falter upon impact.
The battle grew increasingly fierce and perilous. The surrounding heroes knew better than to intervene—the Unaging Demon's power was such that stepping forward would mean certain death. Thus, all could only watch.
Figures blurred as the two clashed—shouts rang out, fists collided with palms, elbows struck, knees drove forward. They moved like lightning—swift as a falcon's strike.
Suddenly, the Unaging Demon pressed in again, launching two roaring palm strikes."Senior," Li Jian called, "show mercy where it is due—why go this far?"
But his plea was met with fury.
"Kneel now, and I may spare your life!" the Demon roared, his palms surging again with overwhelming force.
Li Jian's figure flickered, agile beyond belief. He sighed inwardly. He had only wished to resolve conflict, not create new enmity. "I merely hope to settle this through martial exchange," he said.
But these words only deepened the Demon's rage.
"Insolent brat! Into a house, you greet the master—into a temple, you bow to the gods! Kneel!"
Yet he failed to see his own cruelty—his every move aimed to kill. Li Jian's courtesy was merely reciprocation.
"If I fall to you," Li Jian said boldly, "then it is my own lack of skill. I accept my fate."
In an instant, they clashed again—then separated just as suddenly. To onlookers, it seemed a single exchange, but in that fleeting moment, countless strikes had already been traded.
"Don't think your petty skills make you invincible—I haven't even used my ultimate techniques yet!" the Demon barked.
Li Jian replied sharply, "If you win, I'll bow as you wish—but would you spare my life? Since that is not the case, we can only determine superiority!"
"Exactly!" the Demon sneered. "Kill one to warn a hundred! You meddled where you shouldn't—now you'll pay!"
With that, he unleashed the Thirty-Six Forms of the Unaging Demonic Art. His palms swept forward in overwhelming force, pressing relentlessly. Li Jian spun like a wheel, countering with two powerful strikes of his own. Their forces collided, and the Demon leapt back.
Then suddenly, the Unaging Demon began to murmur:
"Qi flows through the body in natural harmony,Moving like a dragon, sitting like a tiger, still as a mountain…Transforming between emptiness and solidity,The secrets of yin and yang lie within the palm…"
This was the core mantra of his inner cultivation.
The entire assembly was stunned. They knew—the true killing technique was coming.
At that same moment, Li Jian silently recited the formula of the Northern Abyss Art:
"The Northern Abyss divine skill…The Dao resides where qi resides…Qi is the root of life…"
His breath sank to the dantian, energy surged through his body.
And just then—
With a piercing cry, the Unaging Demon shot into the air…