Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Are we not going to fight in Chapter 80?

In battles between masters and above, it's difficult to win by relying on superior techniques. No matter how fancy the moves are, they are just paper tigers in the face of absolutely profound internal energy cultivation and skill.

In other words, above the Grandmaster level, what matters is the martial artist's ability to integrate cultivation techniques and martial skills behind their power. This is often where lower-ranking martial artists find enlightenment.

Mu Feng cultivates the Zheng Yan Gong of the Xiao Kingdom's royal family, which is extremely yang and intense. When combined with his exclusive martial art, Flame Palm, its power is even greater. It is difficult for martial artists of the same Grandmaster level to confront him head-on.

Therefore, Mu Feng first mobilized all his true energy, and flames condensed in his palm, their color turning crimson.

In all battles, one engages with the orthodox and wins with the unorthodox.

No matter how fancy the moves are, they're useless if you don't have enough internal energy. Only by maintaining a steady stance can you have the confidence to keep fighting.

Mu Feng's strategy was to fight the opponent with his true energy—this was certainly a case of bullying the weak, but without doing so, it would be difficult to discover the true nature of the so-called "immortal path".

Seeing Mu Feng slowly clapping his hands towards him, Chang Ping'an's face turned serious, and he also held his sword, ready to strike.

As the palm wind, carrying raging flames, drew ever closer, Chang Ping'an finally infused his spiritual power into Night Talk White Heron and unleashed the first of the three sword techniques, the thrusting sword technique, specifically the bow stance thrusting sword technique.

This move is really unremarkable; it's simply a matter of stepping forward with the left foot into a left bow stance, while simultaneously lowering the right hand holding the sword to the right side of the waist and thrusting it forward with a straight arm. Almost every sword technique has a variation of this move...

But this seemingly ordinary move, because it drew upon a large amount of spiritual energy, caused layers of dazzling golden light to surround the plain broadsword, directly clashing with the flames that Mu Feng had struck with his palm.

When the two forces clashed, there was no sound, but the arena cracked open with a snap, breaking in the middle.

Fortunately, these arenas were supported underwater by a dozen or so pillars, so the broken arenas did not collapse.

However, a surge of energy, generated by the contest of true qi and spiritual power, rushed towards the group of martial artists closest to the arena.

Murong Ruyan reacted the fastest. In an instant, she instinctively flipped over and leaped in front of the warriors, mobilized her spiritual power, and casually took the scabbard of Night Talk White Heron. She then unleashed several spiritual power blades at the energy fluctuation, barely managing to neutralize most of it.

The remaining warriors continued to charge at the crowd, inflicting internal injuries on many of the weaker martial artists.

Fortunately, the Sword Forging Manor had made good arrangements. There was a special medicine stall set up in the Sword Wiping Garden—it was free, and to avoid any accidents, it was set up in a corner. When they saw this scene, the young medicine boys and the Sword Forging Manor disciples who were responsible for maintaining order in the garden quickly grabbed some pills for treating internal injuries and rushed over.

Meanwhile, Mu Feng, who was confronting Chang Ping'an, was greatly alarmed.

His inner energy is slowly dissipating!

The power this kid is using is so strange!
Mu Feng's palm did not touch Chang Ping'an's sword blade; the two were locked in a standoff using the force they carried, whether it was their bare hands or their weapons.

However, Mu Feng's Flame Palm, with its imposing crimson flames, looked particularly frightening, making Chang Ping'an, who only used a sword move with a dazzling golden light, appear somewhat weak.

In reality, Chang Ping'an was gradually pushing the tip of the sword forward.

Night Talk White Egret is a broadsword, and it is quite long. Logically speaking, in the absence of special energies such as spiritual power or true qi, the most suitable sword moves for it are usually chopping, slapping, swinging, or at the very least cutting. Sword moves like the rapier style are really not in line with its clumsy appearance.

But what can you do when Chang Ping'an uses spiritual power?

The golden light grew stronger and stronger, while the crimson flames on the other side grew smaller and smaller. Even a fool could see who had the upper hand! The more Mu Feng exerted his true energy, the more alarmed he became.

This strange power that could erode one's true energy reminded him of a top-secret file sealed in the Palace's Talisman and Treasure Bureau.

More than a thousand years ago, the great master who created the cultivation of true qi was possessed by a demon at the age of sixty and practiced a demonic art that allowed him to absorb the true qi of others!
In order to master this skill, he went on a killing spree, persecuting many martial artists, causing widespread panic and chaos throughout the land.

That once highly respected grandmaster has gone from being a universally acclaimed and revered sage to a universally despised demon, known as the Blood Demon.

Therefore, the Martial Arts Alliance was established in the martial arts world at that time, with another grandmaster serving as its leader, leading the people of the world to fight against the Blood Demon.

That was a catastrophe for martial arts, killing thousands of martial artists, more than a dozen grandmasters, and countless other masters. Many techniques and skills were lost as a result, leading to the current decline of martial arts...

Of course, the Blood Demon himself also died in that catastrophe, supposedly killed by more than a dozen grandmasters in the Qin King's tomb.

This history has been obscured by several dynastic changes. Only royal families that have preserved libraries and documents, or some ancient sects that have existed for thousands of years, may know a little about it, and it is even gradually considered to be an exaggerated legend.

Could it be that the White Stone Immortal Sect practices this kind of "demonic art"?

Mu Feng thought for a moment and then dismissed the guess.

Because he could sense that although his true energy was gradually dissipating, it was not being "absorbed" by Chang Ping'an, but rather being dispersed, or rather, "refined".

Chang Ping'an did not gain any power from his own true energy, which is inconsistent with the records in the Talisman Bureau's archives.

If it's just about dispersing or refining true energy, it can't be considered a "demonic skill"—after all, this method doesn't require absorbing true energy to cultivate and enrich oneself, and there are other martial arts techniques and skills in the martial arts world that achieve similar effects.

After a few thoughts crossed his mind, Mu Feng dared not think about it anymore.

Because if this drags on any longer, he won't be able to win!

Therefore, Mu Feng decisively took several steps back and withdrew his Flaming Palm.

Chang Ping'an certainly wouldn't press his advantage—didn't they already say to stop when things were at their best?

So Chang Ping'an also withdrew his Night Talk with the White Egret and stood obediently in place, looking at Mu Feng with a blank expression.

So... we're not going to fight anymore?
Mu Feng laughed heartily and readily admitted defeat: "Hahaha, indeed heroes have emerged from among the young since ancient times. Brother Chang's skill is profound and truly extraordinary. I am slightly inferior and ashamed!"

Chang Ping'an was unsure how to respond, so he simply clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Senior Mu, you flatter me."

Mu Feng nodded slightly, then said loudly, "Young Brother Chang, you have such good fortune at such a young age. It won't be long before you become a 'Super First Grade' immortal, just like your master, Immortal Bai Shi!"

Before Chang Ping'an could react, the Sword Wiping Garden erupted in an uproar!

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Because I think there's a very small chance I might be able to reach Sanjiang _(:з」∠)_
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(End of this chapter)