Star Martial Soaring Cloud

Wang Xiao's pupils contracted sharply. In a haste, he turned and retreated, drawing his Seven Star Sword from his waist. The sword flashed with golden light and, with a crisp clang, precisely parried the sudden sword attack.

The aftershocks of the sword energy spread out, instantly shattering the rocks beneath their feet, sending fragments flying everywhere.

He looked up and saw that the newcomer was dressed in a black and white scholar's robe, with a handsome face and eyes as bright as stars, yet exuding a chilling aura. A jade pendant with the words "righteous spirit" engraved on it hung at his waist.

"Xiao He?" Wang Xiao was shocked. He never expected that it was Xiao He who had attacked him. In a moment, he realized the reason. It seemed that the other party must have mistakenly thought that he had injured his fellow disciple.

During the Lishan Trial, the two met once, and at that time, Wang Xiao was unable to see through the depth of his cultivation.

Based solely on that one sword strike, Wang Xiao was shocked to realize just how powerful he was—at the same Fish Leap Realm, someone could exert such immense pressure on him, to the point that he dared not take the blow head-on with his bare body. He knew very well that the power of that sword strike was enough to break through his physical defenses.

"I never imagined there would be such a powerful expert in the Fish Leap Realm... Could it be that he didn't make a move back in Lishan because he felt I wasn't worthy of making him draw his sword?"

"Did you injure my fellow disciple?" A cold, sharp question suddenly rang out. The moment Xiao He landed, a second, even more condensed sword aura pierced through the air, heading straight for Wang Xiao's face—the sword's edge was powerful, but it left some room for maneuver, not aiming for a fatal blow.

"It wasn't me, they were..." Wang Xiao was about to explain when the sword energy was already upon him. He immediately used the Seven Star Rain Step, his body moving nimbly and swiftly, barely avoiding the deadly attack.

"Stop making excuses! If you hadn't hurt them, why would they be here?" Xiao He didn't believe Wang Xiao's words at all, and rushed straight at him in a flash.

He had already made up his mind: three of his fellow disciples had fainted on the spot, leaving only Wang Xiao. He had to take down the other party first and then ask for details.

After all, being in the dangerous Demon Island and being complete strangers, ensuring one's own safety is the top priority. Even if the other party is not the real culprit, before knowing their purpose, one must suppress them first to prevent being ambushed while rescuing fellow disciples, and even more so to avoid accidentally letting the real culprit go free.

The longsword in Xiao He's hand was surrounded by a faint golden glow. This golden glow was not the usual sharpness of sword energy, but rather carried an overwhelming and unstoppable sense of righteousness, just as the Confucian classics say, "I am good at cultivating my righteous spirit." This is the unique Confucian sword intent of the Righteousness Pavilion.

Before the sword even reached him, his overwhelming momentum had already crushed him. His sword seemed to have no intention of defense whatsoever; from the moment it was drawn, it was purely offensive—as if he wanted to use his righteous spirit to destroy all evil in the world.

Wang Xiao frowned, not expecting the other party to act rashly without giving him a chance to explain, and anger rose in his heart.

What alarmed him even more was the opponent's sword intent—unlike his own agile, graceful, and unrestrained natural sword intent, Xiao He's sword intent was like a surging river or a blazing sun, carrying an undeniable determination, with only advance and no retreat, yet concealing a trace of restraint within its sharpness.

"Is this what the world calls the fearlessness of the Confucian school?" Wang Xiao retreated swiftly to avoid the first sword strike, shouting at the same time, "Stop! I'll say it again, I didn't harm your fellow disciples!"

"Enough with the nonsense! Here, I only trust my own sword. I'll take you down first!" Xiao He's tone was firm, and his sword swings became even faster. His sword moves were seamless, each strike aimed straight for vital points, yet leaving some room for maneuver.

Amidst the crisscrossing sword energy, the faint phantom of an unfolding scroll could be seen, which was the basic move of the Confucian swordsmanship of the Haoqi Pavilion—"Opening the Scroll to Understand the Meaning".

This sword strike, though seemingly simple, embodies the Confucian principle of "getting to the root of the matter," striking directly without any frills, launching a fierce attack in the most direct way, forcing Wang Xiao to respond with all his might.

Seeing that the other party was determined not to listen to his explanation, Wang Xiao had no choice but to fight back. He roughly understood Xiao He's intentions. He was afraid that he was the real culprit, or if he wasn't, he was afraid that he was someone with ulterior motives. He wanted to take him down, or rather, he wanted to make himself no threat to him. In the Demon Island, such a decision was undoubtedly the safest.

If it were me, I would also make this stupidest but best choice.

Aside from his first sword strike, which revealed his concern for his fellow disciples and his murderous intent, all of his current moves are clearly aimed at taking him down.

But Wang Xiao wouldn't hand himself over to the other party, because he didn't trust Xiao He either.

The only option left for both sides is to fight, until both are exhausted, no longer a threat, and unable to escape.

The golden light of Wang Xiao's Seven Star Sword flowed like a dense array of stars, colliding with the majestic golden radiance on Xiao He's sword, producing a series of crisp clangs and sparks flying everywhere.

The two figures intertwined, their swords flashing, and they exchanged dozens of blows in the blink of an eye.

Wang Xiao's Seven Star Sword is agile, graceful, and unpredictable. He unleashes the Seven Star Rain Steps, his figure moving like a flowing wind, seeking gaps in defense while attacking, and brewing counterattacks while dodging.

Xiao He, on the other hand, was completely different. His steps were as steady as a rock, and his sword moves became increasingly fierce and powerful. He seemed to have no defensive stance, but in fact he used offense as defense and used his momentum to overwhelm others.

The shockwave from the collision of the two top-tier sword intents swept outwards, scattering rubble across the open ground and snapping nearby low trees in half.

"Such powerful sword intent! Such pure offense!" Wang Xiao was shocked. This was the first time he had encountered a fellow cultivator of the same level who was so skilled in offense.

Xiao He's swordsmanship is not only exquisite in its moves, but also carries the noble spirit of Confucianism. The belief of "establishing a life for the people and creating peace for all generations" is integrated into the sword intent, making each sword strike carry an irresistible majesty.

What's even more terrifying is that Xiao He's vital energy far surpasses that of an ordinary cultivator at the peak of the Fish Leap stage. His continuous attacks show no signs of exhaustion, as if he will never tire.

Wang Xiao felt a surge of immense power emanating from the sword, his arm slightly numb, and he was increasingly shocked: "There is such a powerful person in the Fish Leap Realm!"

Xiao He was equally surprised. He had thought that this "Righteous Sword Technique" was an offensive defense, and no one of his level could withstand it. He thought that he could suppress Wang Xiao in just a few moves. However, he did not expect that Wang Xiao's swordsmanship was so agile and his footwork so exquisite. Despite his continuous attacks of dozens of swords, he could not even touch the corner of the other party's clothes.

What alarmed him even more was that Wang Xiao's sword intent, though not as powerful as his own, was like stars in the night sky, seemingly scattered but actually interconnected, and could be precisely neutralized no matter which angle the attack came from.

He quickly went through the list of swordsmen from the five regions in his mind: Was it Ling Cheng from Qingcheng Mountain? Ye Wuhen from Yanyi Palace? Or Feng Rujing from Beiji Immortal Palace? Wuchen from Ziqi Mansion was also a famous swordsman, but he had known this person for a long time. Who exactly was this person in front of him?

"Your footwork is indeed strange, but unfortunately, unorthodox methods can never withstand the righteous spirit!" Xiao He snorted coldly, and his sword moves changed again: "Cultivate oneself and manage one's family!" As soon as the shout fell, he suddenly increased the speed of his sword swings, and golden sword energies spread out like a spider web, each containing a strict pattern, weaving together a sword net that integrates offense and defense.

This tactic is derived from the Confucian concept of "cultivating oneself, regulating one's family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world." It emphasizes first securing oneself before seeking advancement. Once entangled, one will be trapped in endless constraints and unable to escape.

Wang Xiao's eyes narrowed, and he dared not be careless in the slightest. He could clearly feel that the sword net contained extremely strong binding power. Once hit, his meridians would probably be burned by the righteous energy.

He activated the Seven Star Rain Steps with all his might, his figure nimbly weaving through the sword net, leaving numerous afterimages beneath his feet; at the same time, the Seven Star Sword in his hand continuously unleashed tiny sword shadows, like scattered stars, precisely striking the nodes of Xiao He's sword energy.

"Clang! Clang!" A series of rapid collisions rang out, sparks flying everywhere. Wang Xiao's sword strikes were perfectly timed, precisely breaking through the sword net's restraints, but Xiao He's sword moves were like a continuous river, one after another. As soon as the old sword energy was broken, the new sword energy was generated, always keeping him within the attack range, preventing him from escaping.

"This can't go on. His swordplay is too precise. If I can't break his sword momentum, I'll be stuck in a tough fight!" Wang Xiao thought to himself, and his internal energy suddenly surged, causing the golden light on the Seven Star Sword to burst forth.

"Slash!" he roared, and a massive golden sword shadow materialized out of thin air, carrying a world-destroying force, and slashed fiercely towards Xiao He's sword net. This sword strike concentrated ninety percent of his vital energy, and its power was terrifying.

Seeing this, Xiao He's eyes flashed with seriousness, but he showed no intention of backing down. If he retreated, he would no longer be able to stop Wang Xiao, and if the other party was really a culprit, the feud between his fellow disciples would be impossible to resolve.

Instead, he pushed the Confucian sword intent to its limit: "Pacify the world!" The longsword suddenly shot forward, and all the scattered sword energy instantly converged to form a golden pillar of light, which collided fiercely with Wang Xiao's sword shadow.

A deafening roar shook the heavens and the earth, as if the ground itself was trembling.

A golden wave of light swept outwards from the two of them, carving a trench several meters deep into the open ground and crushing the surrounding rocks into dust.

Both Wang Xiao and Xiao He were thrown back several feet by the powerful impact before regaining their footing. Wang Xiao felt a tightness in his chest, and his internal energy churned slightly. Looking down at his palm, he saw a faint tremor: "Such a powerful and righteous sword intent! This force is not only fierce, but it can even slightly disrupt the circulation of my internal energy!"

Since he began cultivating, he had never encountered such a powerful opponent in the Fish Leap Realm. Even Ying Zhao had never made him so disheveled.

Xiao He wasn't in much better shape; his face was slightly pale, and his breathing was a little rapid. That last attack had almost exhausted all his energy, yet he had only managed a draw with Wang Xiao.

"Your strength has indeed exceeded my expectations." Xiao He stared intently at Wang Xiao, his wariness undiminished, though his killing intent had largely dissipated, replaced by a more serious expression. "But the matter of injuring my fellow disciple must be investigated thoroughly today. You will not leave here!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he launched another attack, this time even faster. His figure transformed into a golden streak of light, and the longsword in his hand seemed to possess a spirit. Every swing contained the essence of Confucianism, yet he still maintained a degree of restraint.

"A scholar must be resolute and persevering!" Xiao He roared, and his swordplay suddenly became even more fierce. The sword energy carried the determination of "I will go even if there are thousands of people against me" as he attacked Wang Xiao madly.

Wang Xiao took a deep breath, suppressed the surging energy within him, and his eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

Xiao He's strength brought unprecedented pressure, but it also ignited his competitive spirit.

"Since you insist on not listening to explanations, then I will beat you until you will listen!" He flicked the Seven Star Sword in his hand, his figure suddenly rising higher, and he activated the Seven Star Rain Step to its limit, shuttling through the air like stars in the night sky, dodging Xiao He's attacks while looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

"Fall!" Wang Xiao shouted, his Seven Star Sword flashing rapidly, countless fine golden sword shadows falling like a rain of stars, enveloping Xiao He.

These sword shadows appeared chaotic, but in reality, each one contained a subtle trajectory, covering all of Xiao He's attack routes.

In the midst of the fierce battle, Wang Xiao suddenly felt a sense of absurdity: facing such a true scion of a noble family, he felt like a country bumpkin encountering a nobleman, experiencing a strange sense of "a chicken meeting a phoenix."

The opponent's moves were not only grand in name, but also executed with strict rules and discipline. Their style and demeanor were completely different from his own.

The two were clearly evenly matched in combat strength, but their demeanor and style were far inferior.

This is only the Fish Leap Realm. If Xiao He were to step into the Dragon Gate Divine Realm and condense these moves into divine abilities, who knows how dazzling and magnificent they would be.

"So, does this mean I went astray by not deliberately cultivating supernatural abilities? People talk about techniques and supernatural abilities with such grandeur, am I supposed to imitate Miss Mulan and slap a pig fifteen times?" Wang Xiao was startled, then felt it was absurd—how could she have such a thought? Techniques emphasize structure and grandeur, this style doesn't seem like her own at all, it's more like…

Upon seeing this, Xiao He not only did not shy away, but faced the challenge head-on.

"Cultivate my noble spirit!" He chanted the Confucian mental cultivation method, and his noble spirit became more and more intense, condensing into a golden light shield to protect himself.

At the same time, he kept swinging his long sword, each strike precisely shattering a shower of starlight sword shadows. Amidst the crisscrossing sword energy, he actually managed to tear a gap in the sky full of starlight.

"Pfft!" A streak of starlight sword light narrowly broke through his defenses, grazing his shoulder and leaving a clear bloodstain on his black and white scholar's robe.

Xiao He seemed oblivious, his gaze remaining firm, his sword strikes undiminished, but instead becoming even more ferocious—he feared that if he relaxed his grip, Wang Xiao would escape.

"Is this the belief of Confucianism? To be able to integrate sword intent with one's own beliefs to such an extent!" Wang Xiao was secretly amazed and felt more respect for Xiao He.

Just then, Xiao He seized an opening, and his long sword, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, thrust straight into Wang Xiao's abdomen, carrying with it a powerful righteous aura.

The sword strike was swift and ruthless, seemingly impossible to dodge. However, in the instant Wang Xiao turned to the side, he caught a glimpse of Xiao He's sword strike faltering slightly, and the blade subconsciously shifted by three points—clearly, he was afraid that he would be unable to dodge and that his life would be in danger.

"It seems he just wanted to keep me here, but he didn't trust me, so he had to use his sword to keep me here. Is this what a Confucian scholar is like? He's really a bit stubborn!" Wang Xiao understood. He pressed down with his Seven Star Sword, the spine of the sword slamming into Xiao He's sword, breaking his sword momentum. At the same time, he used the reaction force of this blow to quickly retreat and create distance between himself and Xiao He.

"Since you only suspect me, why don't you go and wake up your fellow disciples first? You'll find out the truth once you ask them." Wang Xiao looked at Xiao He, his eyes full of confusion.

"Protecting our fellow disciples and upholding righteousness is the duty of every disciple of the Righteous Spirit Pavilion!" Xiao He said firmly. "But the people on Demon Island are unpredictable, and I dare not stop rashly. Today, I must capture you first. If I have truly wronged you, I will apologize to you; if you are truly the culprit, I will not let you escape!"

Before he finished speaking, he pounced again. This time, his sword moves were still fierce, but he was more inclined to restrain him—he was afraid of not being able to capture Wang Xiao, and he was also afraid of accidentally hurting innocent people.

"Crazy! No wonder some people say that Confucian scholars are pedantic? When a scholar encounters a soldier, he can't reason with him. Is it possible that it's not the soldier's fault?" Wang Xiao cursed inwardly, but he could also understand the other party's concerns.

The two fought fiercely, their sword energy crisscrossing and turning the open area into a mess.

The surrounding trees were cut down by the sword energy, the rocks were shattered, and the ground was covered with ravines of varying depths. The air was filled with rich energy fluctuations and a faint smell of blood.

Xiao He's swordplay became increasingly fierce, each move embodying the fearless spirit of Confucianism and carrying an indomitable and resolute momentum.

"Bang!" The two swords clashed fiercely again. This time, neither of them retreated, staring intently at each other, the power on their swords constantly increasing. The golden, majestic sword energy and the silver Seven Star Sword Energy intertwined and collided, emitting a piercing "sizzle" sound, and sparks flew everywhere.

Wang Xiao could clearly see the determination and resolve in Xiao He's eyes—a look of unwavering commitment to his beliefs.

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate and their energy was about to run out, a faint groan suddenly came from behind them.

The two were startled at the same time and subconsciously turned around to look. They saw that one of the three disciples of Haoqi Pavilion had slowly opened his eyes and was struggling to get up.

"Senior Brother Xiao..." the disciple called out weakly.

Xiao He's heart tightened, and the strength in his hand instantly dissipated. He could no longer care about restraining Wang Xiao and hurriedly turned around to run towards the disciple. His heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down. The truth was right in front of him, and he no longer needed to fight Wang Xiao to the death or worry about Wang Xiao escaping.

After the fierce battle, both sides were almost exhausted, and it wouldn't be easy for Wang Xiao to escape.

Wang Xiao also breathed a sigh of relief, sheathed his Seven Star Sword, and gasped for breath, his face pale. If his junior brother hadn't woken up in time, he probably would have fought Xiao He to a standstill.

"Junior brother, how are you? Did he hurt you?" Xiao He squatted down, his eyes fixed on the disciple, his tone full of concern, but his sword was pointed directly at Wang Xiao.

"Senior Brother Xiao, no...we...we were injured by Yingzhao," the disciple said weakly. "It was extremely powerful; we were no match for it at all...it knocked us unconscious in just a few moves..."

"What?" Xiao He was struck dumb, completely stunned. He turned sharply to look at Wang Xiao, his eyes filled with disbelief, guilt, and remorse. "You...you're telling the truth?"

At this moment, the other two disciples of Haoqi Pavilion also woke up one after another, and they confirmed what the first disciple had said.