Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter Twenty: One Against Two

At this moment,

A figure appeared in front of Wen Qiuchi like a ghost.

It was a masked man dressed in a blue brocade robe.

He was incredibly fast. Upon landing, he channeled his inner energy into both palms and unleashed a powerful strike.

Where the palm wind passed, the air suddenly solidified, and a terrifying force surged out from the masked man's palm like an invisible giant wave, heading towards Gu Guanqi's Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm.

The dense palm prints and the powerful energy collided in mid-air.

"boom--"

A deafening roar, as if the sky had collapsed and the earth had split open.

Centered on the two individuals, a destructive surge of true energy swept outwards in all directions. The bluestone slabs on the ground were ripped off in pieces, shattering into countless fragments in mid-air, scattering like hidden weapons. The accumulated snow was whipped up by the shockwave, transforming into a vast white wall of mist that blotted out the sun.

After the shockwave dissipated, a large crater appeared on the ground, with soil churning inside.

The masked man was sent flying backward, but he also picked up Wen Qiuchi and quickly flew two or three zhang away. He then landed and took a few steps back, each step leaving a deep footprint on the bluestone slab before he finally regained his footing.

"There are still experts!"

Gu Guanqi's gaze fell on the figure in green, and his pupils contracted slightly.

The masked man quickly placed Wen Qiuchi on the ground.

Wen Qiuchi was in a sorry state, her monk's robes stained with dust and blood, a trickle of blood clinging to the corner of her mouth. Looking at the figure in blue, a hint of displeasure appeared on her pale face as she said, "Why didn't you wait until I was dead before showing yourself?"

The masked man didn't turn around, his gaze still fixed on Gu Guanqi. He said coldly, "If it weren't for someone above valuing you, do you think I would have saved you? Now that things have come to this, what use are you? You're utterly useless!"

This man was none other than Eunuch Cao, who was specifically tasked with cleaning up the mess at Wen Qiuchi's place. He had been hiding among the followers of the Guanyin sect, guarding against any unforeseen events.

However, he never expected things to develop to this point.

Ma Wanli couldn't stop Yan Wangchuan. He had considered this, so he prepared an imperial edict and an official document.

But as a result,

Despite all the precautions, no one expected that the dignified Blood Guanyin Wen Qiuchi would lose to Gu Guanqi, who had just become famous.

In his eyes, Wen Qiuchi was now worthless. However, there was nothing he could do. For some reason, the Ninth Prince valued Wen Qiuchi and repeatedly instructed him to prioritize saving Wen Qiuchi's life should a major accident occur.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have made a move today.

at this time,

When Wen Qiuchi was scolded by Eunuch Cao, his face darkened and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes, but he did not refute.

She took a deep breath, quickly sat cross-legged, placed her palms together in front of her dantian, and began to circulate her internal energy to heal her injuries. Wisps of true energy escaped from her palms, forming a thin mist around her, keeping out the wind and snow.

Eunuch Cao took a step forward, his figure like an arrow released from a bow, rushing straight towards Gu Guanqi.

His movements were extremely fast; in the blink of an eye, he had already closed in on Gu Guanqi, standing about ten feet in front of him.

Both palms thrust out simultaneously.

The left palm is fierce and powerful, the wind howling like Mount Tai pressing down; the right palm is gentle and silent, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. One is forceful, the other gentle; one is overt, the other covert.

Gu Guanqi neither retreated nor dodged, unleashing the full power of the Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm.

The palm shadows were numerous, one after another, one palm becoming two, two palms becoming four, four palms becoming eight... In the blink of an eye, thirty-two palm shadows covered the sky and the earth, like a blooming thousand-petaled lotus flower, enveloping Eunuch Cao.

The two exchanged blows.

"Bang bang bang bang——"

A series of muffled thuds exploded like popping beans as palm shadows and palm forces collided in the air, creating visible ripples of energy.

The pebbles on the ground were shaken and bounced up, and the snow was swirled up. Within a few feet around the two of them, nothing could be seen except for the flying pebbles, snowflakes, and mud.

Eunuch Cao's palm techniques were extremely unpredictable, combining both strength and gentleness, and were ever-changing. One palm strike was a powerful and unparalleled force, while the next transformed into a soft and gentle, lingering touch. Although Gu Guanqi's Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm was exquisite, he was never able to gain the upper hand.

The two exchanged blows for more than ten moves, with neither able to gain the upper hand.

Suddenly, Gu Guanqi struck out with a palm, the wind from which was fierce, heading straight for Eunuch Cao's left shoulder.

However, this palm strike was far below par, missing by at least two inches, and the force of the strike passed right past Eunuch Cao.

Eunuch Cao sneered, his voice full of mockery, and then attacked Gu Guanqi with a palm strike.

But at this moment,

A palm strike came silently from behind him.

The palm strike came without warning, as if it appeared out of thin air, and struck his back directly.

Eunuch Cao's expression changed drastically. He lunged forward and rolled on the ground in a sorry state, barely managing to avoid the follow-up attack of that palm strike.

He realized that the palm strike was none other than the one Gu Guanqi had just used when he lost his grip.

He suddenly realized that he hadn't lost his skill at all; he had clearly used a strange new palm technique.

He quickly rolled over and got up. His robes were torn in several places by the gravel on the ground, and he was covered in dust. He no longer had any of the demeanor of a master.

"What kind of palm technique is this?" Eunuch Cao's voice was tinged with surprise and doubt.

Gu Guanqi did not answer.

He struck out with lightning speed, one palm strike after another, each one different.

The first palm strikes towards the empty space to the left. The second palm strikes towards the empty space to the right. The third palm strikes towards the top of the head. The fourth palm strikes towards the ground beneath the feet.

Every palm strike missed its mark; every palm strike was a chaotic flurry of blows.

But the palm strikes didn't dissipate; instead, they curved through the air, attacking Eunuch Cao from all directions. Some flew in from the left, some from the right, some descended from the sky, some leaped from the ground, some went straight, and some circled around before finding their target.

The palm strikes seemed to possess a spirit, weaving and intertwining in the air to form an impenetrable net that enveloped Eunuch Cao.

Although the Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm can transform into multiple palms from a single palm, at least there are patterns to follow, making it possible to deal with them. But these palm forces are completely unpredictable, appearing from nowhere.

The power of the White Rainbow Palm can be as flexible as desired, whether straight or curved.

Eunuch Cao was overwhelmed and exhausted from dealing with the situation.

He had just deflected a palm strike from his left when another palm strike hit his shoulder from his right; he had barely regained his footing when another palm strike came down from above, forcing him to dodge again in a disheveled manner.

"What the hell kind of palm technique is that?!"

Eunuch Cao couldn't help but curse, his voice filled with exasperation. He, a grandmaster of his generation, had been forced time and again to resort to such lowly methods as rolling around on the ground like a monkey.

In that very instant—

Gu Guanqi lightly touched the ground with his foot and used the Lingbo Weibu technique with all his might.

His figure moved like smoke, leaving an afterimage in place before his true form appeared three feet in front of Eunuch Cao. He unleashed the full power of the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Palm, the palm shadows overlapping and covering the sky, like a blooming thousand-petaled lotus flower, enveloping Eunuch Cao entirely.

Eunuch Cao's pupils suddenly contracted.

Without a second thought, he slammed his palms together, and his inner energy surged forth like a river bursting its banks.

The fierce internal energy in his left hand and the gentle internal energy in his right hand converged, collided, and merged in front of him, forming a semi-transparent protective aura shield in that instant. The shield was pale blue with flowing light rotating on its surface, like an inverted bell, completely protecting him inside.

Gu Guanqi's Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm struck the protective aura shield.

"Boom boom boom boom—"

A series of muffled thuds followed as palm strikes repeatedly against the protective aura shield, creating visible ripples of energy. The shield trembled violently, its surface shimmering with light, yet it remained intact.

Eunuch Cao steadied himself and pushed forward with both hands.

An overwhelming and irresistible palm force surged from his palm, colliding head-on with Gu Guanqi's palm power.

"boom--"

The two of them each took a few steps back.

Gu Guanqi steadied himself, his expression remained normal, and his breathing was steady.

Standing opposite him, Eunuch Cao, his robes fluttering in the wind, looked at Gu Guanqi and said in a deep voice, "Gu Guanqi, you've been hiding your skills very well! Everyone in the martial world says you're not good at hand-to-hand combat, but your palm technique is almost as good as your swordsmanship!"

He paused, took a deep breath, and then said, "However, you can't break through my defenses. There's no need for us to fight to the death. I'll only take Wen Qiuchi; the others are yours to deal with, how about that?"

Gu Guanqi snorted coldly: "A coward like you, hiding your true colors, dares to negotiate with me?"

He reached out, his five fingers loosely clenching, and a long sword that had fallen to the ground seemed to be caught by an invisible hand, flying into his hand with a "clang".

Eunuch Cao's pupils contracted, his voice tinged with seriousness: "Your 'Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens' move might be able to break my protective aura, but that move consumes a great deal of internal energy. You've already used it once, and after such a long battle, I don't believe you can unleash a second strike!"

Gu Guanqi snorted coldly and charged forward with his sword.

In that instant, Eunuch Cao clasped his hands together, and his inner energy surged forth once more. The two forces of strength, softness and hardness, converged before him, and the translucent protective aura shield reappeared, even more solid and substantial than before. The flowing light on the surface of the shield resembled an inverted galaxy, dazzling and mysterious, completely protecting him within.

at the same time,

Gu Guanqi drew his sword.

A celestial being descends from the heavens.

A flash of sword light appeared, like a silver lightning bolt slicing through the sky. The sword light was pure and otherworldly, without a trace of worldly dust. The clear light of heaven and earth was contained within a single sword strike, ethereal and otherworldly, with a lofty and profound artistic conception.

As the sword light flashed, the surrounding shouts of battle seemed to suddenly cease, the flying snow fell silent, and only this peerless sword shadow remained across the sky.

Concealing its unparalleled divine power, it descended gracefully with effortless ease.

The sword light struck the qi.

"boom--"

A deafening roar.

The protective aura began to crack the moment the sword light touched it, the cracks spreading in all directions like a spider web. The surface light flickered violently, trembling and shaking, struggling on the verge of collapse.

Gu Guanqi's swordplay continued unabated, and his sword energy suddenly erupted.

"break!"

The protective aura shield shattered with a deafening roar, and the azure fragments, like broken glass, scattered and danced in the air, transforming into a rain of azure light that swept across the sky before vanishing in an instant.

The sword's momentum had not yet subsided when it struck Eunuch Cao in the chest.

With a muffled groan, Eunuch Cao was sent flying backward, tumbling twice in the air before crashing heavily to the ground. He spat out a mouthful of blood, which soaked into a large crimson patch on the snow.

He struggled to his feet, his gray-blue robe torn into shreds by the sword energy, revealing his body underneath.

At that moment, Gu Guanqi frowned.

A faint golden luster enveloped Eunuch Cao's body, as if he were coated with gold powder. The luster was particularly striking in the dim sky, making him appear as if he were cast in gold.

Gu Guanqi understood:

This should be a type of external martial art like the Golden Bell Cover or Iron Shirt. Moreover, even though it only blocked the remaining force of his Heavenly Flying Immortal, it is enough to show that this external martial art is of a very high grade.

Eunuch Cao looked at Gu Guanqi, his eyes filled with seriousness. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his voice hoarse yet tinged with arrogance: "Impressive, impressive! You actually managed to unleash a second sword strike. But I don't believe you can unleash a third..."

In that instant, Gu Guanqi moved.

With a light step, he shot forward like an arrow, hurtling straight at Eunuch Cao. His longsword flashed out diagonally, its speed not swift, yet carrying an inexplicable and mysterious power.

Eunuch Cao's pupils contracted. Instead of retreating, he advanced, unleashing both palms simultaneously. His left palm was fierce and powerful, while his right palm was gentle and yielding. The two palm energies intertwined to form an impenetrable net, meeting Gu Guanqi's longsword head-on.

Dugu Nine Swords, Palm Breaking Style.

Gu Guanqi's sword stance shifted abruptly, the tip of his sword drawing a delicate arc in the air, precisely aiming at the point where the force of Cao Gonggong's two palms met. That was the weakest point in the palm technique, and also the turning point of the force.

however--

"Ding!"

The sword tip pierced Eunuch Cao's palm, producing a crisp, metallic clang, as if striking a piece of fine steel. A faint golden sheen shimmered on Eunuch Cao's palm, and the tip of the Autumn Water Sword could not penetrate even an inch.

Eunuch Cao suddenly clenched his five fingers and grabbed the sword. His hand was like an iron clamp, firmly holding the Autumn Water Sword, and no matter how hard Gu Guanqi tried, he could not pull the sword back.

At the same instant, Eunuch Cao stepped forward.

His movements were as swift as a ghost, sliding along the blade of the sword. He struck out with his left hand, the palm wind fierce, heading straight for Gu Guanqi's chest.

Gu Guanqi met the attack with a palm strike.

With a deafening roar, a shockwave erupted from the point of their clash, sending snowflakes swirling and rubble flying everywhere.

Eunuch Cao took a small step back.

And at that moment,

Gu Guanqi thrust out his sword.

Dugu Nine Swords, Qi-Breaking Style.

The tip of the sword touched Eunuch Cao's chest.

In that instant, the golden light emanating from Eunuch Cao's body flashed intensely, then vanished rapidly like a burst bubble. Golden specks escaped from Eunuch Cao's body, transforming into tiny golden rays in the air before disappearing in a flash.

Eunuch Cao's pupils suddenly contracted.

He looked down at the small, bloody hole in his chest. Blood was gushing out, staining his tattered robes a deep crimson.

"you……"

He only had time to utter that one word before Gu Guanqi flicked his sword, sending Eunuch Cao flying backward and crashing to the ground.

Gu Guanqi seized the opportunity and struck out with his palm.

boom--

The palm strike exploded, creating a surge of air.

Gu Guanqi's palm was already inches away from Cao Gonggong's chest, and it looked like it was about to hit him.

However, in that instant, a powerful suction force suddenly came from the side. The suction force was like a deep-sea whirlpool, carrying an irresistible force, and actually sucked Eunuch Cao out of the air, avoiding Gu Guanqi's palm strike.

Gu Guanqi's pupils contracted slightly as he looked in the direction of the suction force.

It is Wenqiu Pond.

She had already stood up, but still looked disheveled. Her monk's robe was covered in dust and bloodstains, and there was still blood on the corner of her mouth. Her hair was disheveled, with a few strands of black hair hanging down beside her pale cheeks.

However, her temperament underwent a dramatic change.

The original ethereal, aloof, and moon-like charm has vanished, replaced by an indescribable allure.

A faint blush seemed to have settled over her brows and eyes, and her gaze held a captivating allure.

"Quickly transfer your power to me," Wen Qiuchi said.

Without hesitation, Cao Gonggong raised his hand and slapped Wen Qiuchi on the back. His true energy surged into Wen Qiuchi's body like a flood.

Gu Guanqi's eyes sharpened, knowing that Wen Qiuchi was definitely about to unleash a remarkable ultimate move.

He immediately raised his left hand and flicked his fingers repeatedly.

The Finger Flicking Divine Power.

Steel balls shot out from fingertips with a sharp, piercing sound, as fast as meteors. One, two, three... more than a dozen steel balls left the hand almost simultaneously, shooting towards Wen Qiuchi in a fan shape.

however--

The steel ball flew to within a foot of Wen Qiuchi, as if it had hit an invisible wall.

They hovered in mid-air, motionless.

At the same time, a fiery red figure rushed out from the crowd.

It is a fire phoenix.

Her face was as pale as paper, a trickle of blood hung from the corner of her mouth, and there was a deep wound on her left arm that exposed the bone, clearly from the melee earlier.

She was clearly prepared, and struck Wen Qiuchi on the back of the shoulder with her palm, unleashing a torrent of true energy.

Immediately afterwards, Lei Ming also broke free from the melee.

His condition was worse; he had a wound on his chest from being struck by the Great Calamity Finger, two palm prints on his back, and his robes were stained with blood. He gritted his teeth and slapped Wen Qiuchi's lower back, transferring all his remaining true energy into him.

The three of them transferred their power at the same time, and Wen Qiuchi's aura instantly surged.

Immediately afterwards, the surrounding air distorted.

Streams of crimson true energy surged from Wen Qiuchi's body, forming a flowing wave of energy around her. The steel balls trembled violently within the vortex, emitting a piercing buzzing sound.

Then--

"laugh--"

Those steel balls were actually crushed by the crimson true energy, turning into fine metal powder, and then dissipated.

Gu Guanqi's expression darkened slightly.

He darted past, thrusting his sword forward.

Dugu Nine Swords, Qi-Breaking Style.

But the longsword was embedded in the energy wave, and then the sword itself twisted.

then,

Wen Qiuchi struck out with his palm.

Gu Guanqi also struck out with his palm, and the two palm prints collided.

A loud bang was heard, and true energy surged forth.

at this time,

The aura emanating from Wen Qiuchi grew stronger and stronger. Her long, black hair moved without wind, fluttering and dancing behind her like willow catkins in the air.

What's even more bizarre is her face. It's still the same face, an ordinary appearance, but now it's even more radiant and dazzling, with a strange and captivating aura. Her eyes and brows hold both compassion and allure, contradictory and eerie.

She took a step forward.

The soles of her boots made no sound as they stepped on the broken flagstones, yet fine cracks spread outwards from the center of her feet in all directions.

An invisible pressure emanated from her, like a mountain pressing down or a deep sea hanging upside down, making it hard for those around her to breathe.

She looked up and her gaze fell on Gu Guanqi.

Those eyes were no longer clear and distant as before, but had turned into an eerie dark red.

"Before you, only one person forced me to use the Reversal Heavenly Net True Technique, and that person was Chu Shukuang."

Her voice had changed; it was no longer that cool and indifferent tone, but rather carried an ethereal quality, and seemed to have a touch of allure.

"Gu Guanqi, it was right of me to kill you. If I had given you three more years, no, even just one more year, I might not have been able to kill you."