Having studied for a hundred years, why do you call me the Martial Saint?

Qin Zhongyu drew his sword and charged forward.

He poured his true essence into the sword, and in an instant, it was as if purple energy was coming from the east. The sword light flowed and met the palm strike head-on.

boom!

The shockwave spread outwards, and the bluestone bricks in front of the hall broke inch by inch.

Qin Zhongyu felt a fierce and violent force coming from the sword, which made his arms go numb and caused him to stagger back seven steps, each step leaving a footprint on the stone ground.

His expression was solemn.

Helian Chuan was already a veteran expert in the True Yuan Realm, and his Vajra Inner Force was of the metal element, which suppressed his Purple Cloud Wood attribute.

Although he had also practiced a pure yang internal energy technique, he had only condensed pure yang qi, which was enough to barely resist.

"Is that all you've got?" Helian Chuan laughed loudly. "You've only learned a few smatterings of your master's swordsmanship, yet you dare to stop me?"

Qin Zhongyu took a deep breath and turned to his fellow disciples, saying:

"Let's all charge forward shoulder to shoulder! We don't need to talk about chivalry when dealing with evil spirits! If we let him step into the palace today, what will become of Suishan's reputation?"

The fellow disciples exchanged glances and drew their swords.

In an instant, several sword lights shot towards Helian Chuan from different directions, each with a different sword style, some fierce and some gentle, weaving together a dense and impenetrable sword net.

Helian Chuan snorted coldly, his robes billowing, his true energy like an impenetrable wall, the sword tip could not advance an inch further after reaching three feet in front of him.

He unleashed a barrage of palm strikes, each one possessing the power to shatter stone tablets.

Bang bang bang!

Several sword lights shattered instantly.

Several Suishan disciples coughed up blood and flew backward. The youngest junior brother was even hit on the left shoulder by the palm wind, his entire arm went limp, and he rolled far away with a scream.

Qin Zhongyu's face turned ashen, but he pushed himself forward again with all his might.

In just a few moves, he was already stretched thin, his robe torn in several places by the force of the palm strikes, leaving him in a sorry state.

"Trash! You're all trash!" Helian Chuan grew increasingly ferocious in battle, sending Qin Zhongyu staggering back several steps with a single palm strike. "Hand over the Jinghong Sword, and I'll spare your corpses today!"

"Wishful thinking!" Qin Zhongyu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, extremely agitated.

In the entire Sui Mountain, only he and his third junior brother Shen Heting were at the True Essence Realm; most of the other fellow disciples were at the True Qi Realm and could only stand by as support.

Meanwhile, the third junior brother was accompanying the Guan Jinghong Sword of Chijin Mountain. The Jinghong Sword was extremely important, so naturally someone had to be left to watch over it.

However, he had already sent someone to invite Han Baitao; they just needed to stall for time.

Seeing Helian Chuan pressing closer and closer, several of his fellow disciples who could still stand stood in front of Qin Zhongyu, but they were all exhausted.

"Hahaha, you think you can stop me!"

Helian Chuan laughed wildly, his palms whistling through the air.

Just now.

A bone-chilling cold descended from the sky.

Everyone couldn't help but shiver.

"What?!"

Helian Chuan suddenly looked up, his pupils shrinking sharply.

A sword light appeared, as if cascading down from the heavens, aloof, cold, and untouched by worldly concerns.

It was like a celestial being casually wielding a sword.

Ascend to the clouds!

Chu Wuyai had already stood in front of the hall at some point, his long sword hanging down, his sword intent like an inverted Milky Way.

This sword strike was aimed at Helian Chuan!

Helian Chuan roared and unleashed both palms, gathering his true energy in front of him. Two walls of energy materialized out of thin air, and he took the sword strike head-on!

boom!

The sword light pierced through the first layer without any hindrance, and then easily penetrated the second layer.

Helian Chuan forced himself to turn around, but still couldn't dodge the sword.

A cloud of blood mist burst from his left shoulder. He steadied himself and struggled to strike out with his palm, but he was still sent flying like a kite with a broken string.

It crashed heavily into the bronze sword stand in front of the hall, causing the hundreds of kilograms of sword stand to collapse with a roar!

He struggled to get up, but a sharp pain surged in his chest, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

That sword intent had actually severed all the meridians in his body!

"W-What kind of swordsmanship is that?!"

Helian Chuan clutched his chest, his voice hoarse, and finally, a look of horror appeared in his eyes.

Chu Wuyai slowly descended from the front of the hall, his long sword sheathed, his face pale, a clear palm print on his chest, and a trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

He didn't explain, he just said coldly:

"If you had seen my master draw his sword, you wouldn't be coming up the mountain today."

Helian Chuan's eyes widened, and he wanted to say something more, but no sound came out. After a few breaths, his body collapsed and never got up again.

The entire audience was initially silent, then erupted in uncontrollable gasps.

"Dead? Dead? Just like that?"

"Heavens! One sword! Helian Chuan, a True Yuan Realm cultivator, was killed with a single sword strike!"

"What kind of swordsmanship is that? It's like it flew in from outer space!"

"Sui Mountain actually harbors such a remarkable figure!"

Qin Zhongyu, panting heavily, stared at Chu Wuyai's figure with a complex expression, a mixture of shock and relief.

He turned to look at the group of martial artists on the mountain path, their mouths agape, still reeling from the aftershocks of the sword strike.

Qin Zhongyu couldn't help but smile bitterly.

It was only the first minor mastery of the technique, yet these martial arts practitioners were so astonished.

Master has not drawn his sword for many years. The martial arts world only knows of the Sword Master's reputation, but very few people have actually seen his sword. The stories that those who have witnessed it firsthand are very far-fetched and seem exaggerated.

In reality, Master's sword is even more terrifying than the rumors suggest.

Junior Brother Chu has only mastered the first move to a minor level, yet he can kill a veteran True Essence Realm cultivator with only True Qi Realm cultivation. However, if Master were to unleash this move, let alone one Helian Chuan, even ten would be a matter of a single sword strike.

Unfortunately, out of all their fellow disciples, not one of them truly inherited their master's mantle.

If someone in the sect could master all six sword techniques, even just the first one, Qin Zhongyu would have the confidence to face all the heroes of the world with dignity. Why would he need to hide and walk on thin ice like he does now?

However, these thoughts should only be kept to oneself; the most important thing right now is to stabilize the situation.

Qin Zhongyu took a deep breath, faced the group of martial arts practitioners on the mountain path, and said loudly.

"As you all have seen."

He straightened his back and arrogantly swept his gaze across the entire room.

"Our Suishan Sect may deceive men, but not swords! Helian Chuan, a senior figure in the martial world, barged into our sect without asking any questions, insulted my master, and injured my fellow disciples. He has now been executed!"

"Please spread the word... Our Suishan Sword Sect will never be coerced!"

After he finished speaking, the whole mountain fell silent.

No one dared to speak.

Qin Zhongyu said no more and turned to walk quickly toward Chu Wuyai.

Chu Wuyai remained standing in the same spot, his face pale, with a clear palm print visible on his chest.

Qin Zhongyu quickly steadied him, shielding him from the mark, and whispered, "Junior Brother Chu, how are you?"

"I won't die," Chu Wuyai said calmly.

As soon as he finished speaking, his knees buckled. Qin Zhongyu grabbed him, his heart sinking.

Helian Chuan's Vajra Annihilation Hand was incredibly powerful. Although Chu Wuyai had a special skill to protect him, he was still only at the True Qi Realm level. After taking that blow, his internal injuries were definitely not light.

"Don't be stubborn, come inside with me." Qin Zhongyu lowered his voice and helped him walk into the hall.

Chu Wuyai didn't speak again, but simply nodded slightly.

The palace doors slowly closed behind the two of them.