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The vast region from the Kenchi Mountains to the Xingan Mountains, from the Onon River to the Kerulen River and the Yinshan Mountains consists of gently undulating hills, plains, deserts and mountains.

The vast Gobi Desert, located in the southern and western parts of the grassland, is the most daunting barren land on this plain due to severe water shortage. The climate is also drastically different, with windy springs, rainy summers in the north, and dry and hot summers in the south.

In this vast region with its unique natural scenery, the most precious things are grass and water, which are the basic conditions for survival and neither can be lacking. Whenever the water and grass in one place are exhausted, the people move to other pastures to solve the problem of feeding livestock, thus forming a nomadic lifestyle of living by water and grass.

Livestock are a means of livelihood, and water and pasture are basic necessities. The peoples of the steppe waged a struggle for supremacy around these two elements. Starting with the Xiongnu, the Xianbei, Rouran, and today's Turks rose and fell in succession to become the dominant powers of the steppe. Some peoples were annexed and merged with their conquerors, while others fled to distant lands. The speed of these changes was unimaginable to the Han Chinese in the Central Plains.

Under these circumstances, all the ethnic groups that survived were fierce and brave, and revered military force in order to protect water, grass and livestock. As a result, many masters and talented people emerged.

…………

The vast and fertile Hulunbuir Grassland stretched to the horizon beneath the three men's hooves, dotted with lakes of varying sizes like mirrors. Hulun Lake and Bel Lake were connected by the Urson River, which flowed into the grassland from the east. The river's course, like that of nomadic peoples, constantly shifted, causing the water to become sometimes salty and sometimes fresh, but it was rich in fish.

Shi Feixuan reined in her horse, pointed to a dozen or so tents standing by a small lake in the distance, with herds of horses and sheep grazing nearby and several herdsmen leisurely tending their flocks, and asked, "Which tribe do these tents belong to?"

Lianrou replied, “Any tent covered with felt, with a raised center and drooping sides, is a Turkic tent. On the vast grasslands, each herding tribe is like a self-contained community, with little communication. Sometimes they don't encounter outsiders for an entire year. When they do meet outsiders, they are exceptionally hospitable and welcoming, helping and watching over each other. If the host is pleased, we can stay there for the night and let you experience our tribe…”

Before they could finish speaking, a cold snort came from behind, making the two women's eardrums ring.

Lian Rou was shocked and turned around like a whirlwind.

A man stood proudly, exuding an eerie and intimidating aura.

He looked to be only in his early thirties, with jet-black hair tied back in a bun. His bronze skin shimmered with a dazzling luster, and the hemp robe draped over his body fluttered in the wind. His hands were large and broad.

A pair of eerily alluring eyes ignored the two women beside him and stared straight at Yi Huawei: "You are Wuming?"

Yi Huawei smiled slightly: "Bi Xuan, I have no intention of looking for you, so why did you come here to die?"

Yi Huawei's words were unremarkable, devoid of any murderous intent or oppressive aura, as if he were merely remarking on the pleasant weather. However, upon hearing them, Martial Venerable Bi Xuan's bronze-colored face suddenly hardened, and the eerie and intimidating aura around him involuntarily solidified by three points, as if he were facing not an ordinary-looking man in a blue robe, but an invisible barrier standing between heaven and earth.

He had roamed the grasslands for decades, meeting heroes from all directions, from Sogdians and Persia to even further west, to extraordinary individuals from the Central Plains and the north. Never before had anyone given him such a strange feeling. The person before him, though standing there, seemed to have his aura completely integrated with the grasslands and the world, perfectly seamless, yet also seemingly empty, elusive and unfathomable.

What alarmed Bi Xuan even more was that the other party revealed his identity without any surprise or seriousness in his words, only an almost indifferent calmness, as if the four words "Martial Venerable Bi Xuan" were no different from the stones and grass on the roadside.

Such an attitude could be either extreme arrogance and ignorance, or... a display of strength that had reached a level he could not even imagine. And Bi Xuan chose the latter without hesitation.

"Death?"

Bi Xuan spoke slowly, his voice deep and magnetic, yet with a metallic quality. Two burning flames ignited in his eerie eyes—the instinctive excitement and wariness of a martial artist when faced with a worthy opponent.
"Since I mastered this art, this is the first time I've heard anyone make such a comment. Your arrogance piques my curiosity; is your backbone as hard as your words?"

Before he finished speaking, the air around Bi Xuan suddenly distorted and heated up, as if an invisible blazing sun was rising around him, and the grass under his feet curled and turned yellow at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The miraculous feat of blazing sun is ready to be unleashed!
Just as things were about to escalate, a cool, clear voice broke in:
"Wait a minute."

Shi Feixuan stepped forward and stood between Yi Huawei and Bi Xuan.

Her state of mind was complex. She felt a mixture of resentment and unwillingness stemming from being "semi-forced" by Yi Huawei, as well as an instinctive fighting spirit and a desire to prove herself in the face of a formidable enemy like the Grassland Martial Venerable. More importantly, she desperately needed a thrilling battle, either to test her knowledge, to vent her frustrations, or... to prove that even if she chose that path, she was not entirely powerless.

Her clear eyes, bright as stars, stared directly into Bi Xuan's eerie pupils without the slightest fear.
"I have long heard that the Martial Venerable's 'Blazing Sun Skill' is renowned throughout the grasslands, making him the number one expert beyond the Great Wall. I, Fei Xuan, am a disciple of the Cihang Jingzhai in the Central Plains, and I wish to humbly request the Martial Venerable to teach me a thing or two. I wonder if the Martial Venerable would be willing to grant me this instruction?"

As she spoke, the Void Sword remained unsheathed, but an ethereal, serene, and peaceful sword intent rose from her body, subtly resisting Bi Xuan's scorching and domineering blazing aura. Although it was not as vast and intense as the latter, it was like the bright moon shining on a great river, its clear light spreading everywhere, forming its own domain and not at all inferior.

Bi Xuan's gaze shifted slightly, giving the woman he had previously overlooked his first proper look. She possessed an ethereal and otherworldly beauty, and despite her ordinary attire, her brilliance was undeniable. Especially striking was her sword intent, pure and clear, faintly displaying a righteous energy capable of restraining all kinds of evil and unorthodox martial arts. A slight chill ran through him.
“Cihang Jingzhai? I never expected that such a young successor would enter the world and even come to this northern grassland.”

He glanced again at Yi Huawei, who was still standing with his hands behind his back, seemingly indifferent, and his mind raced.

This man in blue robes is unfathomable. If he could spar with his companion first, he might be able to glean some insight into the nature and foundation of his martial arts. Moreover, the woman from Cihang Jingzhai possesses extraordinary swordsmanship, which has indeed piqued his interest.

"Cihang Jingzhai... Good!"

A glint of fire flashed in Bi Xuan's eyes, and he said loudly, "I'll see just how much this successor of the Central Plains martial arts holy land really is! If you can withstand ten of my moves, then your sect will have lived up to its reputation!"

Though arrogant, he was not without brains. His words, while specifying a ten-move limit, revealed his intention to test the waters, yet he did not underestimate his opponent. Shi Feixuan said nothing more, only nodding slightly. She lightly raised her jade-like hand and grasped the hilt of the Color Void Sword. Even before the sword was drawn, a chilling sword aura soared into the sky, harmonizing with her ethereal气质, creating a profound and mysterious atmosphere of "bright as the moon, yet when can it be grasped?"

Lian Rou had already cautiously retreated to a distance from Yi Huawei, watching the two confronting each other in the arena with nervousness.

She had heard of Bi Xuan's formidable reputation back in the Western Turkic court; he was a figure of immense prestige, even commanding respect from the Tongyab Khan. Shi Feixuan was indeed powerful, but… could she truly withstand the might of the grasslands? She couldn't help but glance at Yi Huawei, only to see his expression remain calm, his gaze fixed on the scene, showing no intention of intervening. Reassured, she felt even more curious.

"First move!"

Bi Xuan no longer held back. With a low shout, he appeared three feet to Shi Feixuan's left without making any move, and struck out with his palm.

This palm strike seemed ordinary, without any sound of wind or light, but as soon as the palm strike began, Shi Feixuan felt the air around her suddenly become scorching and viscous, as if she were being baked by the midday sun in the desert. Her breath caught in her throat, and an invisible, scorching force penetrated her body, almost causing her blood and qi to boil.

The "Blazing Sun Heart" technique of the Blazing Sun Wonder is not a direct attack, but rather uses a scorching aura to affect the enemy's mind and body, causing them to be afraid before the battle even begins and disrupting their balance of qi and blood.

Shi Feixuan possessed incredibly sharp senses, instantly discerning the true nature of the attack. She remained calm, her slender feet shifting slightly, her body swaying gently like a lotus leaf in the wind, slipping through the gap in the scorching aura at the last possible moment. Simultaneously, her left hand formed a sword incantation, pointing a finger towards Bi Xuan's Laogong acupoint in his palm. The finger strike, condensed like a needle, carried a cool, ethereal sword energy, piercing directly at the core of the scorching force.

"what?"

Bi Xuan let out a soft exclamation, his palm stance unchanged, but his palm slightly concave. The scorching true energy suddenly contracted inward, transforming into an invisible vortex that completely dissolved Shi Feixuan's finger-wind sword energy. At the same time, his other hand spread its five fingers wide, grabbing in mid-air. Five scorching finger winds, like five lines of fire, attacked Shi Feixuan's major acupoints from different angles, swift and ruthless, sealing off all her escape routes.

The "Burning Internal Organs" technique of the Blazing Sun!
Shi Feixuan's expression remained unchanged, and the Color Void Sword was finally drawn with a clang!

The sword light was like water, clear and cold, like a stream of moonlight flowing out. With a slight flick of the wrist, the Void Sword drew a profound arc in the air. Within the arc, the sword energy was inexhaustible, completely absorbing the five scorching finger winds, which dissipated with the flow of the sword's momentum. It was the exquisite defensive technique from the Compassionate Sword Manual—"Full Moon Sword Dance"!
However, Bi Xuan's blazing Yang True Qi was extremely domineering. Although most of it was worn down by the sword's momentum, it still had a trace of scorching power that penetrated the sword energy and attacked Shi Feixuan.

Shi Feixuan felt a slight heat in her hand holding the sword, and her internal energy circulation became slightly sluggish. She knew that her opponent's skill was indeed profound and unparalleled.

"drink!"

With a clear shout, her sword aura suddenly shifted from a circular motion to a straight line. The Color Void Sword transformed into a streak of light, piercing straight for Bi Xuan's throat. The sword energy was condensed like a thread, with extremely strong penetrating power. It was a sword strike that, under the "Sword Heart Clarity" realm, allowed her to anticipate the enemy's moves and attack their most vulnerable point!
Bi Xuan neither dodged nor evaded, his eyes blazing with intense light. He exhaled sharply and unleashed a punch! This punch was devoid of any fancy moves, containing only the purest power and heat! Wherever the fist passed, the air crackled and exploded, as if ignited. A visible, pale red, distorted heat wave surged forward with the force of the punch, colliding violently with Shi Feixuan's condensed sword tip!
boom!
The collision of their true energies produced a deafening roar like muffled thunder. The scorching air and the chilling sword energy exploded outwards, flattening and scorching all the grass within a radius of several feet.

Shi Feixuan's delicate body trembled violently, and she staggered back three steps, each step leaving a deep footprint in the grass, the edges of which quickly withered and turned yellow. Her hand gripping the sword trembled slightly, her tiger's mouth felt hot, her blood and qi churned within her, and sparks seemed to race through her meridians, causing her extreme discomfort. At the tip of the Color Void Sword, there was even a faint, almost imperceptible scorch mark!

Bi Xuan swayed slightly, taking a half-step back before regaining his footing. His gaze towards Shi Feixuan held genuine surprise and admiration. Although his "Blazing Sun Blast" wasn't at full power, it was still enough to shatter stone tablets and split rocks. An ordinary expert would either die or be seriously injured if they took it head-on. Yet this woman had only retreated three steps, her sword momentum undiminished. This demonstrated her pure inner strength and superb swordsmanship. Even more remarkable was her composure under pressure and her ability to redirect and neutralize the opponent's force.

"Excellent swordsmanship! Excellent cultivation!"

Bi Xuan said loudly, "Cihang Jingzhai lives up to its name! Take this move, 'Great Sun Patrols the Heavens'!"

He no longer held back, his figure suddenly rising higher, as if merging with the blazing sun in the sky. He held his palms together in a ball shape, and a dazzling, scorching ball of light rapidly condensed and expanded between his palms, radiating a destructive aura and locking onto Shi Feixuan!
This move has already drawn upon the yang energy of heaven and earth, making its power far surpass that of before.

Shi Feixuan felt immense pressure; the surrounding air seemed to have transformed into an impenetrable wall, and the temperature rose sharply, making even her breath scalding hot. She knew she couldn't withstand this attack head-on.

In a flash, Shi Feixuan's mind cleared, and she pushed her "Sword Heart Clarity" to its limit. She no longer tried to resist the scorching aura, but instead integrated her own sword energy and spiritual sense into it, feeling the trajectory of the "Great Sun" and the nodes of its energy flow.

The Void Sword seemed to lose its weight in her hands, dancing gracefully with her lithe figure. It was no longer a head-on sword strike, but rather like a bird soaring through the scorching air currents. At the last second, she would lightly touch the weakest and slightly stagnant part of the scorching energy with the tip of the sword.

She brought the "Bird Crossing Technique" to its fullest potential, and combined it with her exquisite swordsmanship, she managed to find a gap in Bi Xuan's seemingly overwhelming "Great Sun Patrols the Sky" aura, like a calm spot in the eye of a storm. Although it was still unbearably hot, it avoided the most destructive energy at its core.

Bi Xuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and the ball of light in his palm suddenly pressed down. The scorching energy poured down like a celestial river, covering a wider area and with a higher temperature, as if he wanted to crush it with absolute power!
Shi Feixuan's beautiful face was slightly flushed from the intense heat, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, but her eyes remained clear and determined. She knew that skill alone would not be enough to completely evade the attack.

"Zheng——"

Suddenly, the Color Void Sword emitted a clear and melodious dragon's roar, and its blade rippled with a clear light like water. She concentrated all her cultivation into this one sword strike, no longer dodging, but following the fleeting "darkness" in the trajectory of the "blazing sun" sensed by "Sword Heart Clarity", and thrust out the sword!
This sword strike was devoid of any flamboyant style or imposing momentum; it was only extremely fast, accurate, and refined. Carrying the sword intent of "breaking through illusions and returning to truth" from the Cihang Sword Manual, it aimed directly at the core of the scorching light sphere, which was also the pivot point for the circulation of Bi Xuanzhen Qi!
"break!"

A cold shout and a scorching explosion rang out at the same time!

Rumble——! ! !
A shockwave several times stronger than before suddenly exploded, sending sand and stones flying, grass clippings flying everywhere, and even the distant lake water was shaken into ripples.

Shi Feixuan's figure flew backward like a kite with a broken string, retreating seven or eight zhang before she staggered to the ground, using her sword for support to barely regain her balance. Her face was as pale as paper, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of her mouth, and the tiger's mouth of her hand gripping the sword was cracked, blood dripping down the hilt. Her body felt as if it had been scorched by flames; her meridians throbbed with pain, her true energy was in disarray, and she could barely muster any strength. Bi Xuan's Blazing Sun True Energy was so domineering!
Bi Xuan was forced to retreat two steps by this sword! The scorching light ball between his palms had dissipated, and there was a trace of blood on his palms, which was caused by Shi Feixuan's sword energy that had been condensed to the extreme!
That pure, sharp, and direct sword intent caused his blood and qi to stagnate slightly, and his blazing yang true qi circulation experienced a very brief disruption.

Bi Xuan looked down at his palm, then at Shi Feixuan, who was swaying precariously yet still standing tall in the distance. For the first time, a look of seriousness appeared in his eyes. This young woman, so young, had managed to withstand his near-full-force "Great Sun Patrol," and even managed to find a glimmer of hope in a desperate situation, using offense as defense, injuring his palm in the process. Her swordsmanship talent and combat adaptability were truly astonishing! Given time, she would surely become a grandmaster! (End of Chapter)