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

Chapter 79: The Decisive Battle Against Qi Tianyang (10,000 views, please vote!)

Early morning, on the border of Danyang County. A thin mist hangs over a desolate plain. Before the mist has completely dissipated, the rising sun shines through the eastern mountains, gilding the rolling camps with a thin layer of gold.

This is a military camp stretching for several miles, which is the Hongzhou Martial Arts Alliance leading the Hongzhou Martial Arts and the Hongzhou Commandery's army, with a total number of more than 20,000.

The team has now set up camp here, with tents stretching out from the center of the field, one after another, and banners fluttering in the morning breeze.

In the largest tent at the very center of the camp, Qi Tianyang, the leader of the Hanyue Sect, was having breakfast at a low table.

Although he was over sixty, he was still very robust, with broad shoulders and a thick back. Sitting there, he was like an iron tower, his strong arms stretching his blue brocade robe taut. A thick, bushy beard stretched from his cheeks to his chin, white with a few strands of black, and had a rough, hard texture in the morning light.

He held a rough porcelain bowl filled with steaming rice porridge in one hand, and a piece of flatbread in the other, eating it in large mouthfuls, his eating manner rough and casual.

Across from him sat a young woman.

She was in her early twenties, with a plump figure, and she almost took up the entire surface of the low stool. She had a round face with plain features, and her eyes and brows showed a hint of impatience. Her thick lips were pursed in annoyance, and she poked around in her bowl with her chopsticks, as if picking out some food she didn't like.

It was Qi Miaomiao.

Qi Tianyang ate only noodles and rice porridge, but Qi Miaomiao was surrounded by a feast of fish and meat. She picked and chose, sulking, "Dad, what is all this? Can't you just have someone get me something better?"

Qi Tianyang swallowed a large mouthful of porridge and chuckled gruffly, "Bear with it. Being on the front lines can't compare to being at home. Once this is over, you can have whatever you want!"

Qi Miaomiao snorted and was about to say something when a series of steady footsteps came from outside the tent.

The footsteps paused for a moment outside the tent, then the curtain was lifted, letting in the morning light carried by a gentle breeze. Two middle-aged men entered, one after the other.

Leading the way was a burly man in iron armor, about fifty years old, with broad shoulders and a strong back, a resolute face, a short beard under his chin, and a heavy sword hanging at his waist. He was Gong Kun, the Commandant of Hongzhou Prefecture.

He also came from the Hanyue Sect and shared the same master as Qi Tianyang. Because of his talent for leading troops, he was assigned to the army. Later, with the support of the Hanyue Sect, he rose to become the Commandant of the Hongzhou Prefecture, commanding all the prefectural armies in Hongzhou.

Following behind Gong Kun was a middle-aged man in a gray long robe. He was rather thin, with a refined face, and looked like a scholar. However, the knuckles of his hands were unusually large. He was none other than Fan Tianyao, the leader of the Hongzhou Martial Arts Alliance.

He was originally the second elder of the Hanyue Sect. Now that the Hongzhou Martial Arts Alliance has been established, Qi Tianyang has arranged for him to take on the position of the alliance leader.

As soon as they entered, they bowed and greeted each other in unison, "Greetings, Senior Brother Sect Leader."

Qi Tianyang looked up, saw the two of them, grinned, and his gruff voice echoed in the tent: "Junior brothers, have you eaten?"

Gong Kun clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Reporting to Senior Brother, we have already used it."

Fan Tianyao said, "Senior brother, we have something to report. We just received a report from our scouts that the Yunzhou Martial Alliance and the Qingzhou Martial Alliance arrived at Futu Mountain yesterday afternoon and have now joined forces with the Rong Prince's Mansion. There are quite a few experts brought from Yunzhou and Qingzhou..."

"Snap—"

Just then, Qi Miaomiao slammed her chopsticks heavily on the table, interrupting Fan Tianyao.

Her round body abruptly stood up, her plain, round face filled with irritation and impatience. Her thick eyebrows furrowed, and her sharp voice interrupted Fan Tianyao: "My two senior uncles! Can't you choose a time to report your matters?"

Fan Tianyao's face froze instantly.

Gong Kun was slightly taken aback and said, "Niece Miao Miao, the matter is urgent..."

Qi Miaomiao stood with her hands on her hips, her round belly stretching her robes taut, her tone full of impatience: "My dad and I haven't finished breakfast yet! You've already eaten, so you're just going to leave us alone? Do you think it's appropriate for you to disturb our meal now?"

As she finished speaking, her voice grew increasingly shrill, echoing throughout the spacious tent, even causing the soldiers patrolling outside to turn their heads to glance at her.

Fan Tianyao took a deep breath and said, "Niece Miaomiao, this matter concerns military strategy, and we must report to our senior brother, the sect leader, as soon as possible..."

"What's there to report!" Qi Miaomiao interrupted him again, pointing her stubby finger outside the tent, her tone filled with undisguised contempt. "They're just the Qingzhou Martial Arts Alliance and the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance, a bunch of rabble. Is it really worth all this fuss?"

She snorted, her short, thick neck slightly stiffening: "And that Gu Guanqi, what kind of damned sword immortal, what kind of leader of two states, he's just a reckless fool who doesn't know his own death. When we get to Mount Futu, we'll just kill him!"

Why do you all keep reporting back and forth like you're some kind of insurmountable enemy! If it weren't for my father's plan to use this opportunity to infiltrate Qingzhou and Yunzhou, he would have already killed that damned Gu Guanqi!

Fan Tianyao and Gong Kun stood in the tent, unsure of what to say, and tacitly fell silent.

The tent fell silent for a moment.

Qi Tianyang slowly put down his bowl of porridge, his rough voice breaking the silence, but his face was all smiles as he said gently, "Miaomiao, you mustn't be rude to your two senior uncles."

"Hmph, I'm not eating!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Miaomiao threw her chopsticks on the table and, without looking back, lifted the curtain and went out. The curtain fell behind her, swaying slightly before returning to stillness.

The tent fell silent.

Fan Tianyao and Gong Kun stood there, both looking somewhat embarrassed.

After a long while, Fan Tianyao hesitated before saying, "Sect Leader, isn't Miao Miao's temper a bit too much...?"

Qi Tianyang waved his hand, smiled nonchalantly, and said, "It's alright. As you all know, I've worked diligently and tirelessly my whole life, all so that my family wouldn't have to live at the mercy of others!"

As he spoke, he picked up the rough porcelain bowl again, finished the remaining porridge in one gulp, and wiped his large fingers along the rim of the bowl. His tone was nonchalant: "Miaomiao is still young, a bit impatient. She'll naturally mature when she's a few years older. You, as her uncles, should be more tolerant."

Fan Tianyao was about to say something when Gong Kun quietly tugged at his sleeve. He immediately realized that if he said anything more, he would offend someone.

Qi Tianyang dotes on Qi Miaomiao. Now that such a big incident has occurred, causing turmoil in the martial arts world of the three states, it is ultimately caused by Qi Miaomiao's spoiled and domineering behavior. Six elders and hundreds of disciples of the Hanyue Sect were killed, but after learning about the incident, Qi Tianyang only ordered revenge and did not mention Qi Miaomiao at all.

Fan Tianyao sighed slightly and said, "Senior brother, although we are confident of victory in this campaign against Gu Guanqi, the situation at Futu Mountain is not simple now. We still need to take it seriously to avoid being caught off guard."

Qi Tianyang nodded slightly, pulled out chairs for the two to sit down, and said, "Even if you hadn't come looking for me, I was planning to come looking for you anyway. Prince Rong, Zhao Tianfang, has gathered more than two thousand men. Although the force was hastily assembled and cannot compare to the elite troops of the Commandery, they have a geographical advantage and are indeed not to be underestimated."

Gong Kun said, "Now that the martial arts alliances of Qingyun and Erzhou have arrived, along with the Tianyao Sect and Futu Mountain, the number of people is quite large, totaling nearly five thousand."

Zhao Tianfang has experience in military affairs. I have discussed military strategy with him. He is quite capable, and they occupy the high ground of Futu Mountain. Even if I lead eight thousand elite troops, I am not confident that I can take it down.

As long as he holds his ground, I definitely won't be able to take it down anytime soon. Our martial arts alliance appears united, but in reality, each faction has its own agenda. If we can't take it down quickly, morale will drop, and it might even affect the morale of my troops.

Qi Tianyang said, "I know that Zhao Tianfang has been restless all these years. He has raised several hundred armored soldiers on Futu Mountain and has always been plotting to clash with our Hanyue Sect. However, he has been playing the submissive role and holding back, mainly because he is afraid of me."

His military tactics might restrain ordinary grandmasters, but they're useless against me. I could easily charge in and capture him. This time, he dared to openly challenge me because he thinks Gu Guanqi can keep me in check!

Fan Tianyao quickly said, "Senior brother, Gu Guanqi is not to be underestimated. Based on the information we have now, although he is young, he is already a supreme master in the Dao Realm!"

Qi Tianyang nodded and said, "No matter the era, there will always be a few people favored by Heaven in the martial arts world. Ye Wudi and Jian Kui Junziyou from my era were of the same generation, causing great suffering. Gu Guanqi is just like them now. It's truly hopeless for the younger generation to encounter him!"

Fan Tianyao said, "It's not just the younger generation; I feel like I've wasted decades of my life!"

"That's right," Gong Kun said. "I spent most of my life trying to come up with the Five Elements Army Formation, which allowed me to directly enter the Dao. But that was just borrowing the momentum. Once I left the army formation, I couldn't even touch the edge of entering the Dao."

But this guy, at such a young age, created some kind of "Path of Passion," which is outrageous! Being a womanizer is one thing, but to actually manage to create a path to heaven through womanizing!

Qi Tianyang said, "This kind of peerless genius is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people like us. Just like Junziyou's Path of Ruthlessness back then, while others' Path of Ruthlessness involves killing their wives, children, fathers, and mothers, his Path of Ruthlessness involves killing enemies and grudges. In the end, when there are no more enemies, he will kill anyone he doesn't like!"

Gu Guanqi's "path of passion" is strikingly similar to Junziyou's "path of ruthlessness"—it doesn't matter whether others like him or not, as long as he's moved, that's enough. It's utterly shameless!

Fan Tianyao sighed and said, "It's a pity that such a prodigy didn't emerge from my Hanyue Sect!"

Qi Tianyang said, "This boy is actually quite chivalrous, much better than Jun Ziyou back then. If we hadn't already formed a blood feud, I really wouldn't have wanted to kill him. It's just a pity that his talent is too terrifying. If he doesn't die, the Hanyue Sect will die."

Gong Kun said, "That's exactly what I'm worried about. I'm not worried that you can't beat him, but I'm worried about whether you can kill him. According to our intelligence, that kid's lightness skill is quite good. I'm afraid he'll be outmatched and escape. If he escapes, then I'm afraid no one in our Hanyue Sect will dare to go out!"

Qi Tianyang shook his head and said, "Don't worry, my Mountain-Shaking Fist has already created its thirteenth form. When this form is unleashed, its momentum is like a real mountain. He has no choice but to take it head-on!"

"When the time comes, be careful. Don't be too reckless at the beginning of the attack on Mount Futu. I will take advantage of the situation to rush in and fight Gu Guanqi. I will kill him as quickly as possible and then capture Zhao Tianfang. Then you can launch a full-scale attack and take Mount Futu with minimal losses."

Gong Kun said in a deep voice, "With my senior brother saying so, I'm relieved!"

Fan Tianyao said, "I feel relieved now."

Qi Tianyang chuckled and said, "Junior brothers, this is just the beginning of our rise. After taking Futu Mountain, Hongzhou will be completely under the control of our Hanyue Sect. Then, we will take advantage of the situation to invade Qingyun and Erzhou. In less than five years, the Hanyue Sect will control three provinces."

The court is utterly corrupt now, and no one knows how long it can last. I won't say things explicitly; you all know what's going on. We brothers will surely build an extraordinary empire in this world!

Fan Tianyao and Gong Kun exchanged a glance, then simultaneously cupped their hands and said:

"I am willing to serve my senior brother faithfully!"

……

As the martial arts alliances of Qingyun and Erzhou arrived, Futu Mountain became very lively and noisy, but the atmosphere became increasingly oppressive, gradually creating a sense of impending doom.

Even Lin Yourong, An Yi, and the others, apart from a simple chaotic scene on the first day, did not confront each other again. They were all actively preparing for battle and making pre-battle mobilizations.

On the contrary, Gu Guanqi has always had relatively few things to do.

Everyone knew that the key to winning this battle lay with Gu Guanqi, so they tried their best not to disturb him.

On the evening of the fifth day, news arrived that the Hongzhou Martial Arts Alliance and the army of the Commandant's Office had arrived and encamped outside Danyang City.

The atmosphere was extremely oppressive that night.

The next morning, as dawn broke, a thin mist still clung to the treetops.

The first war drumbeat came from the foot of the mountain, its sound deep and lingering.

Immediately afterwards, a second and a third sound rang out in succession, converging from different directions and gradually becoming one, causing the rocks underfoot to tremble slightly.

Down the mountain, a dense crowd of people was surging in from the end of the official road.

Banners fluttered like a forest in the morning breeze, with the three banners of "Hanyue Gate", "Hongzhou Martial Arts Alliance" and "Captain's Mansion" each guiding three torrents to converge in one place.

And then,

The sound of war drums also rang out from Mount Futu.

The gate of the village slowly opened.

Zhao Tianfang took the lead, his black armor gleaming darkly in the sunlight, followed closely by Gu Guanqi, Liu Changgeng, Tang Yu, Shang Guzhou, and others.

Then came the armored soldiers of Prince Rong's Mansion and the disciples of the Heavenly God Sect, lined up in formation. Behind them were the martial arts alliance members from Qingyun and Erzhou, their swords drawn and banners raised high, spreading a chilling aura in the morning light.

The two armies faced each other across a hillside.

Gong Kun rode his horse to the front of the formation, reined in his horse, and bowed towards the mountain, saying loudly, "Prince Zhao, why commit such a treasonous act for a wanted criminal?"

His voice, amplified by his inner strength, echoed across the hillside, each word clearly reaching the ears of everyone on Mount Futu.

Zhao Tianfang spurred his horse forward half a step, his voice equally deep: "I am a member of the royal family, loyal to the court, and have long since reported the perverse actions of the Hanyue Sect to the court. Alliance Leader Gu has upheld righteousness and spoken out for the people. If you, Gong Kun, still acknowledge yourself as a high-ranking official, you should immediately investigate the Hanyue Sect!"

Gong Kun remained expressionless and said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, I am acting on orders from the Hongzhou Prefecture government. Even though you are a prince, you cannot distort the truth. If you insist on going your own way, I have no choice but to offend you!"

Zhao Tianfang suddenly drew his sword, pointing it at the dense mass of black banners behind Gong Kun, his voice booming like thunder: "Gong Kun, ask those people behind you, for decades, the Hanyue Sect has run rampant in Hongzhou, oppressing the people and indiscriminately killing innocents. When have they ever put the laws of the court in their eyes? Are you, Gong Kun, a lackey of the Hanyue Sect, or the Commandant of Hongzhou? If you insist on aiding and abetting evil, then bring it on!"

Gong Kun cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, you have been deceived by the villain. This humble general has no choice but to offend you."

He raised his hand, then chopped down sharply, shouting loudly:

"attack!"

The war drums sounded once more, more frequently and urgently than before, like rolling thunder.

The shield bearers in the front row began to move, their footsteps echoing dully on the rocks. The infantry in the rear row followed closely behind, their spears advancing like a forest, surging up the hillside from the foot of the mountain like a gray-blue tide.

Zhao Tianfang shouted in a deep voice, "Fire the arrows!"

The archers, who had been waiting in ambush, released their strings in unison.

Arrows, like locusts, streaked across the morning light, gathering in the air to form a dark curtain of rain, cascading down the mountain with a sharp whistling sound.

The arrows rained down on the shield formation, making a dense "thud" sound. Most were deflected by the iron shields and slid down among the rocks. However, many arrows still managed to pierce through the gaps in the shield formation and land in the infantry ranks, causing a brief scream and commotion.

"Keep playing!"

Another barrage of arrows rained down.

People began to fall within the shield formation, causing a brief moment of chaos in the ranks, but those behind immediately filled in, and the pace continued to advance steadily.

After several volleys of arrows were fired,

The troops of the Commandant's Office had already rushed to a very close distance.

Zhao Tianfang's gaze was serious as he calculated the distance. When the time was right, he suddenly waved the flag.

The gates on both sides opened simultaneously, and hundreds of warhorses surged out. Their hooves thundered across the rocks, and there were no riders on their backs, only long ropes tied to their necks, the ends of which dragged sharpened wooden stakes and iron spikes. Driven wildly downhill, they surged like a brown torrent, crashing violently into the infantry ranks charging upwards.

Caught off guard, the soldiers were sent flying by the charging warhorses in the front ranks, while those in the back were struck by wooden stakes dragged on the ground, their screams instantly drowning out the war drums. The ranks were thrown into disarray, and large gaps appeared in the shield formation amidst the chaos.

"Cavalry, flank them from both sides!"

Gong Kun gave a stern order from the rear, and the cavalry on both flanks immediately spurred their horses to maneuver, attempting to cut off the frenzied herd from both sides. However, Zhao Tianfang was prepared, and a dense barrage of arrows simultaneously rained down from the hidden bunkers on both sides of the stockade, forcing the maneuvering cavalry back.

For a time,

The great battle has begun.

The first match was between Gong Kun and Zhao Tianfang. Gong Kun had the advantage of elite troops and numbers, while Zhao Tianfang had the advantage of terrain. The two sides exchanged blows and fought back and forth for several rounds. Finally, after paying a heavy price, Gong Kun's army finally rushed to the front.

As the army of the Commandant's Office drew closer and closer,

Knowing that the battle had reached its crucial stage, Zhao Tianfang looked at Gu Guanqi and said, "Alliance Leader Gu, the key to victory today lies mainly between you and Qi Tianyang. We will do our best to hold off the other experts and prevent you from being surrounded. From the beginning until now, Gong Kun has not launched a full-scale attack, so I suppose they have similar plans. Qi Tianyang will likely target you as well!"

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "I think capturing the leader is a good idea."

Immediately, Zhao Tianfang said nothing more, raised his knife, and roared:

"Rush!"

With his command, the army behind him began to charge on horseback, some pushing chariots, some wearing heavy armor, and then the martial arts alliances of Qingyun and Tianshenmen also rushed forward.

Zhao Tianfang, Tang Yu, Xuan Bei, Jiang Baili and other grandmasters rushed to the front.

Meanwhile, many experts from the Hongzhou Martial Arts Alliance rushed to the forefront.

Soon, the two sides clashed.

The sounds of clashing swords, shouts, and screams mingled together, rising and falling between the morning light and the dust.

Gu Guanqi did not act immediately.

His gaze pierced through the chaotic battlefield and landed on a burly figure mingling in the crowd. It was an elderly man with gray hair and an extremely robust physique, who was moving up the mountain at an astonishing speed, weaving through the crowd.

Gu Guanqi had never met Qi Tianyang.

However, he was certain that the old man in front of him was Qi Tianyang.

Because he can sense it.

Similarly, Qi Tianyang could also sense him.

It was a Daoist aura that only people at their level could sense, and it could be detected whenever one side released their fighting spirit.

Qi Tianyang's speed increased rapidly, until his figure left a blurry afterimage in the morning light, a speed completely unlike that of a burly man.

next moment,

Gu Guanqi also moved.

He gracefully leaped off his horse.

Without borrowing any force or gaining momentum, his figure descended from the heights to the hillside like a cloud lifted by the wind. His robes billowed in the wind, his long hair flew backward, and the Autumn Water Sword was slowly raised in his hand, gleaming in the rising sun.

He drew his sword.

The moment the Autumn Water Sword was drawn, its clear, resonant sound, like a morning bell, could be clearly heard amidst the deafening shouts of battle.

White robes fluttered in the wind, and the sword gleamed like the moon.

The two were still a hundred feet apart, but at that moment, the wind on the hillside suddenly stopped.

Qi Tianyang quickly took a step forward.

"boom--"

The millstone-sized boulder beneath his feet shattered with a crash, sending fragments flying in all directions. He took a second step, and where it landed, the ground cracked with spiderweb-like patterns, the fissures spreading in all directions. By the third step, his figure was as fast as an arrow released from a bow, his massive body leaving a bluish-gray afterimage in the morning light.

He raised his right fist.

Before the punch was even thrown, the surrounding air began to distort. Dust around the fist was drawn towards the knuckles by an invisible force, forming a slowly rotating vortex. The muscles in his right arm suddenly bulged, stretching his robe sleeve taut as if it were about to burst.

The soldiers and martial artists fighting around them felt an overwhelming sense of oppression pouring in from all directions, and they all hurriedly moved away, instantly clearing a space.

next moment,

Qi Tianyang and Gu Guanqi are getting closer.

Then, he threw a punch.

As the fist passed, the air was compressed into a visible white wave, and behind the white wave was a huge fist shadow. The fist shadow was as solid as a solid object, more than ten feet wide, with a surface full of grooves and rugged rocks like real mountains. It was as if an invisible mountain was falling from mid-air and crashing towards Gu Guanqi.

Before the punch even landed, the powerful wind had already arrived.

Gu Guanqi drew his sword.

In an instant, a vast sword aura erupted from the sword, like a long-accumulated river pouring out the moment the sluice gate was opened, carrying a clear, cold light and a majestic sword intent, heading towards the mountain-like fist shadow that descended from the sky.

The sword energy surged like a great river.

The two forces met in mid-air.

For a moment, it seemed as if the world froze. Then, a blinding white light exploded at the point of impact, like a small sun rising on the mountainside.

Following the white light, a visible shockwave spread in all directions, causing rocks to crumble, dust to fly, and even the air to tremble and emit a low hum.

On the hillside, several pine trees, each as thick as a bowl, were uprooted and torn into pieces in mid-air.

The soldiers and warriors fighting within a radius of twenty feet involuntarily took several steps back, their shields clashing and clanging.

The white light dissipated.

In the middle of the hillside, the two stood facing each other, ten feet apart. Qi Tianyang's right sleeve was torn, revealing bulging muscles and prominent veins.

Gu Guanqi held the Autumn Water Sword diagonally to the ground, its blade shimmering with a faint, luminous sheen.

On the ground between the two, a crack about ten feet wide extended from the point of impact to both sides, with gravel still falling down from both sides of the crack.

"You've indeed reached the realm of enlightenment," Qi Tianyang said, shaking his hand. "What a pity. If it were any other day, I would have given you a good fight today, but now I have no choice but to finish this quickly!"

Gu Guanqi said casually, "What a coincidence, that's what I was thinking too."

"good!"

Qi Tianyang chuckled lightly.

Suddenly, he made a move, and a surge of powerful true energy boiled and surged like magma, then transformed into a dazzling golden light that burst forth from his body.

The golden light flowed from his chest and abdomen, then spread rapidly to his limbs and bones like splashed gold. His skin, bathed in the golden light, turned inch by inch into a reddish-gold color, and the texture of his skin became clearly visible, like an ancient Buddha statue cast in gold.

His bones crackled and popped, and golden light swirled around him, making the surrounding air feel slightly hot. Standing there, he was like a golden-armored deity descending from the heavens, exuding an undeniable, overwhelming aura.

Gu Guanqi's figure was reflected in Qi Tianyang's golden pupils. He raised his right hand, clenched his fist, and the air around his fist began to distort and collapse in that instant, as if even the light was being sucked into the clenched fist.

Then, he threw a punch.

The punch fell from a great height, seemingly aimed straight at Gu Guanqi, but the moment the punch was unleashed, Gu Guanqi felt a terrifying sense of oppression surging in from all directions.

Left and right, front and back, top of head, bottom of feet—all directions were locked in that instant by an invisible force, as if the entire world was being squeezed toward the center.

In the void, a huge phantom of a mountain appeared out of thin air.

The mountain, entirely bluish-gray, with its towering peaks and jagged cliffs resembling real rock, slowly pressed down from the center of the sky, carrying an irresistible pressure and an aura of impending doom. Wherever its shadow passed, the air was compressed into a tangible mass, emitting a sharp hiss, and the pebbles on the ground were ground to dust by an invisible force.

That punch was more than just a punch; it was like a real mountain falling.

Gu Guanqi's pupils contracted slightly. Facing the overwhelming force of the punch, he neither retreated nor dodged.

His figure paused slightly in place, then he gripped his sword with both hands. At that moment, the blade of the Autumn Water Sword gleamed with an extremely clear and bright white light, a light that was like solidified moonlight or the cold light shining through millennia-old ice.

He drew his sword, slashing it towards the sky.

The Compassionate Sword Manual: The Realm of Death.

In that instant, a straight crack suddenly appeared in the ground beneath his feet, from which countless thin, hair-like sword energies surged forth, like a long-dormant river deep underground suddenly awakening, flowing upstream and soaring straight into the sky.

He threw out his longsword, and its light rose like an inverted Milky Way. Countless sword shadows burst forth from his body, layer upon layer, covering the sky and the earth, transforming into a pillar of light formed by countless sword lights, directly meeting the falling mountain phantom.

A murderous intent arose from the ground, and endless sword light poured upwards like a reversed Milky Way.

Two unstoppable forces collided violently in mid-air.

Only a blinding white light exploded at the point of impact. The light was so dazzling that it was like the midday sun rising on the mountainside, casting a hazy silhouette of the surrounding rocks, grass, dust, and even the figures of those fighting.

Amidst the white light, the illusory mountain shadows clashed fiercely with the sword light of the Milky Way. The mountain's imposing presence was like a vast expanse of heaven and earth pressing down, while the sword light was sharp and fierce, seemingly capable of piercing the sky.

The next moment, the illusory mountain began to crack.

The jagged rock surfaces were covered with dense cracks, which spread in all directions like a spider web.

At the same time, the galactic sword light was also rapidly dissipating. Layer upon layer of sword shadows shattered the moment they came into contact with the mountain, turning into countless firefly-like specks of light that vanished.

With a deafening roar, the illusory mountain shattered completely, turning into countless bluish-gray fragments that scattered in all directions. At the same instant, the Milky Way sword light also exhausted its last bit of power, dissipating rapidly like the receding tide.

As the white light faded, smoke and dust filled the air, and pebbles rained down from the sky, striking the rocks with a series of crackling sounds.

The clearing in the middle of the hillside was completely unrecognizable; the ground had sunk several feet deep, with ravines crisscrossing it and the area scorched black.

However, just as the dust and rubble had settled, a tall, golden figure, like a streak of light, suddenly burst forth from the still-lingering dust.

Qi Tianyang rushed out,

He took a step to close the short distance between the two people, and his right fist was clenched again.

The punch, imbued with golden light, slammed into Gu Guanqi's chest. The wind from the punch howled, and the air was compressed into a white wave before the fist, moving at a speed like a meteorite tearing through space.

Gu Guanqi suddenly reached out his palm, his five fingers gripping Qi Tianyang's fist with precision, like iron clamps.

Qi Tianyang was suddenly startled—his punch was imbued with the power of a mountain-shaking fist. Even a grandmaster would suffer broken bones and tendons if grazed by it, let alone the fact that he was taking advantage of the situation. Gu Guanqi had caught it so easily in his hasty response.

Before he could think further, his left fist slammed out again, enveloped in a thick golden light, the wind from the punch howling like thunder.

Gu Guanqi neither retreated nor dodged, and met the attack with a punch of his own.

The two fists collided.

boom--!

A visible shockwave suddenly erupted from the point of impact, sending pebbles bouncing up an inch, and even causing soldiers fighting in the distance to stagger backward.

Qi Tianyang felt an overwhelming force surge through his fist and arm, causing his entire left arm to go slightly numb, and he involuntarily took a half step back.

His pupils suddenly contracted.

"How is this possible?" he blurted out, his voice filled with disbelief and shock.

Because he could tell that Gu Guanqi's punch was clearly just an ordinary punch!

While Qi Tianyang was in shock

Gu Guanqi reached out with his left hand, and the Autumn Water Sword seemed to leap into his palm as if it were alive. The moment the sword entered his hand, he flipped his wrist, and the sword light poured down like a waterfall, with countless sword shadows slashing down from all directions.

Ding ding ding—!

A series of dense clanging sounds of metal clashing exploded on the hillside, and sword light rained down on Qi Tianyang's crimson-gold body, sparks flying everywhere.

Qi Tianyang let the sword light strike him, leaving only shallow white marks on his golden body, which healed on their own in an instant.

Qi Tianyang took a few steps back, quickly regaining his footing. His pupils contracted slightly as he said, "You can't break my defenses, at least not in a short time. I want to see how long your internal energy can last, and whether your subordinates can hold out!"

He glanced around and saw that the formation of the Futu Mountain side was slowly shrinking under the pressure of the Commandant's army. Although Zhao Tianfang was commanding well, the difference in numbers was still there. The longer it dragged on, the more unfavorable the situation would become.

Gu Guanqi calmly said, "Then let's see who can't hold on!"

Before he finished speaking, he actually released the Autumn Water Sword from his hand.

The moment the longsword left his hand, he moved like a ghost, closing in on Qi Tianyang. With a flick of his left hand, a white palm strike shot out, its force tracing several strange arcs in the air, simultaneously attacking Qi Tianyang from all directions.

With his current martial arts level and extraordinary internal strength, the White Rainbow Palm Force he unleashed was naturally extraordinary and incomparably powerful.

Qi Tianyang snorted coldly and swung his fists repeatedly, creating a series of punches that dispersed the palm strikes that came from different angles. However, the trajectory of Bai Hong's palm strikes was too tricky, and several of them still managed to pass through the gaps in the fist net and land solidly on his shoulders and back.

Several muffled thuds were heard, but the golden statue remained completely still.

Qi Tianyang said coldly, "I told you, you can't break through my defenses!"

Without wasting words, Gu Guanqi closed in on them in the blink of an eye, the distance between them less than ten feet.

He unleashed the Thousand Hands Tathagata Palm with both hands, the palm shadows overlapping like a blooming thousand-petaled lotus flower, enveloping Qi Tianyang entirely.

Qi Tianyang let out a deep shout and threw out both fists at the same time, his fists and palms colliding.

A deafening roar filled the air as the two figures clashed violently within a very short distance. Each strike cracked the ground and sent fragments of rock flying. Trees within a radius of several dozen feet were warped and twisted by the immense force of the impact.

In the brief moment between the clashes of their palms, Gu Guanqi suddenly changed his move, his five fingers precisely gripping Qi Tianyang's fists.

Qi Tianyang's pupils contracted, and he subconsciously tried to pull his fist back, but was horrified to find that Gu Guanqi's hands were like cast iron, completely still.

Even more terrifying, a vast and boundless surge of true energy was gushing out from Gu Guanqi's palm, flowing upstream along his fist and arm.

The true energy was incredibly cold, as if it were surging from the frozen earth beneath the ground for thousands of years, pure to the extreme.

Wherever the chill passed, Qi Tianyang's golden body began to lose its luster. First his fists, then his forearms, then his shoulders, chest and abdomen... A thick layer of solid ice covered his entire body at a visible speed, freezing him completely inside.

"break!"

At the last moment before his golden body was frozen, Qi Tianyang let out a thunderous roar, his internal energy surging wildly as he tried to shatter the solid ice with the power of his Mountain-Shaking Fist.

But the moment he began to circulate his energy, his expression suddenly changed drastically, because he sensed that the true energy surging from Gu Guanqi's body was far more vast than he had ever imagined. He had never seen anyone in his life possess such terrifying internal strength, like a vast ocean that completely overwhelmed all of his true energy.

The ice spread rapidly, covering everything from the feet to the top of the head.

In just a few breaths, Qi Tianyang was completely encased in an ice sculpture about ten feet tall, his fists clenched and his eyes wide with anger, the shock on his face frozen beneath the transparent ice.

Gu Guanqi reached out with his right hand, and the Autumn Water Sword flew into his palm from several feet away.

He swung his sword.

The dense array of clear, sharp sword lights sliced ​​through the night like beams of moonlight.

A straight crack appeared in the center of the ice sculpture, the crack spreading rapidly before shattering with a deafening roar. Countless shards of ice scattered in all directions, resembling a sudden hailstorm in the morning light.

Qi Tianyang's body fell from the shattered ice, flying dozens of feet before crashing heavily to the ground. His clothes had turned to dust. The crimson-gold luster on his body had completely dissipated, replaced by a dense network of deep sword wounds covering his entire body. Blood seeped from dozens of wounds simultaneously, instantly turning him into a blood-soaked figure.

He scrambled to his feet, exclaiming in horror, "How could one person possess such profound internal strength? This is impossible! Ah!!"

He roared hysterically, the terrifying sound wave sending countless stones flying and dust billowing into the sky. Then he slammed his fist into the ground, and instantly, the earth shook violently. A terrifying burst of energy surged towards Gu Guanqi like a river bursting its banks, and a crack ten feet wide appeared in the ground.

With a swing of his longsword, Gu Guanqi unleashed a torrent of sword energy that surged forth like a mighty river, instantly shattering the blast of energy. He then seized the opportunity to strike at Qi Tianyang with incredible speed, instantly disappearing into the swirling dust and smoke.

Then, at that moment, Qi Tianyang suddenly turned around, a golden light flashed beneath his feet, and his figure shot towards the ranks of the Commandant's army below the mountain like an arrow. His speed was astonishing; although he was seriously injured, his escape speed was still unbelievable, and in the blink of an eye, he was already dozens of feet away.

"Junior Brother Gong! Save me—!"

His voice tore through the noise, filled with embarrassment and panic.