The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

If Tian Boguang could also comprehend this level, he might actually be able to save his life from the Chu Lu people.

Moreover, this is not just a sandstorm; within the sandstorm, there are also deadly "swords"...

Ding Mian, Lu Bai, and Ning Zhongze also caught up at this time. Upon seeing this scene, the former couldn't help but have a complicated expression—Feng Buping had also been hiding his true abilities in front of them before.

The latter was worried for her husband.

Chapter 159 The Deadly Triple Immortal Sword

In the second battle of sword energy, the Qi Sect emerged victorious once again.

Moreover, this time the situation is exactly the opposite of that 25 years ago.

Twenty-five years ago, the Qi Sect used underhanded tactics outside the arena to lure Feng Qingyang away. However, inside the arena, they won brilliantly. Despite having an overwhelming numerical advantage over the Sword Sect's experts, the Qi Sect managed to defeat the many with the few thanks to their solid internal strength.

In this second battle of sword energy, the Qi Sect was blameless on the sidelines, but was forced into a hasty battle by the Sword Sect with the help of external forces...

However, the victory on the field was not exactly honorable, at least Ning Zhongze felt it was not honorable!

First, there were Linghu Chong and Lin Pingzhi, two young disciples who followed the path of the Sword Sect and left the Sword Sect with nowhere to go. However, Yue Buqun's ultimate victory was due to his "Deadly Three Immortal Swords".

During the stalemate, Yue Buqun used his profound Purple Cloud True Qi to force his way in. Then, with a flick of his right arm holding the sword, he transformed into three purple phantoms that slashed towards Feng Buping...

Feng Buping naturally recognized the move and understood that the three sword shadows were real, and that each move was aimed at his vital points.

The Deadly Triple Immortal Sword!

Back in the day, during the Sword Sect's killing move, the battle between sword qi, it was this move that killed the most qi sect masters.

In the original work, it was just a single combo attacking the enemy's vitals, but in the vast world of martial arts, it can split into three swords in a single move...

After the Qi Sect's victory, they also analyzed this move and ultimately concluded that it was the greatest proof that the Sword Sect had gone astray!

The reason why they despise this move so much is actually due to the principles of Qi Sect.

From a martial arts perspective, this move has no "momentum" whatsoever; it's merely a method of channeling energy. In the vast world of martial arts, it should be considered the lowest level and least respectable technique.

However, because this move has been refined by countless senior masters of the Sword Sect, in terms of its "technique" component, it is already extremely exquisite and can indeed greatly increase its lethality.

If techniques are the applied "formulas," the gleaned momentum is the "theorem" itself, and cultivating internal energy is "brain-boosting," then pure techniques like the "Deadly Three Immortal Swords Combo" are simply "choosing the longer of three short and one long"...

The Qi Sect believes that nourishing the brain, or strengthening the body, is the most important thing, while the Sword Sect believes that memorizing formulas, or practicing moves, is the most effective method—once you understand the theorems, your skill level will be no less than that of the late-stage Qi Sect.

This simple "skill" has a lower ceiling than the sword techniques that contain "momentum," but it is also more effective.

However, if it only stays at the level of technique, its flaws will eventually be identified, and it will naturally be increasingly despised by the Qi Sect.

In terms of effectiveness, it is indeed very easy to use.

Feng Buping blocked two moves with his swift sword and dodged half a move in a sorry state, but his left arm was still severed by a solid sword aura formed from the true qi of the purple clouds!

Ning Zhongze's heart was also pierced at this moment—although she didn't say anything in front of outsiders, she was secretly heartbroken that her husband, who had always been upright and righteous, had actually lost the true meaning of Qi Sect...

"Good, good! What a brilliant move, the 'Deadly Three Immortal Swords Combo'!" Feng Buping said through gritted teeth.

"Brother Feng, are you convinced this time?" Yue Buqun said in a cold voice.

"Hahaha, my skills are inferior to yours, my skills are inferior to yours!" Feng Buping admitted defeat with a sarcastic laugh.

In Chu Luren's view, the battle of sword energy was nothing more than a battle of "momentum" and "energy," and in the end, Yue Buqun won by using "skill," which the Qi Sect looked down upon the most.

"Losing is losing. Skills that can kill are good skills!" Mu Wanqing whispered to Chu Luren.

“That makes sense… but if we calculate it that way, then we probably don’t need to learn martial arts.” After a moment of contemplation, Chu Luren half agreed and half disagreed.

"Hmm? You can't do it without martial arts skills, right? If you didn't have martial arts skills, Yue Buqun wouldn't have been able to get close to Feng Buping just now." Mu Wanqing always addressed these masters of major sects by their given names.

"If it's just about killing, the most powerful techniques in the world aren't in martial arts, but in conspiracies, tricks, and traps." Chu Luren's voice grew louder, and his emotions became more intense and varied.

That's right, these are the words Feng Qingyang said to Linghu Chong in the original work—What's more powerful than having moves is having no moves, and what's more powerful than having no moves... is scheming and trickery!

Chu Luren guessed that Feng Qingyang was probably nearby, so he decided to lick his lips... cough cough, he was just expressing his inner thoughts. Whether it was "Nine Swords of Dugu" or not, Chu Luren didn't really care. The main thing was to make the old man happy.

Unfortunately, Chu Luren's flirtatious glances were directed at the blind man. Those around him who overheard him just smiled awkwardly at his sudden appearance and "loud talk," and Feng Qingyang was nowhere to be seen.

"Why are you suddenly shouting so loudly!" Mu Wanqing complained somewhat embarrassedly.

"Ahem, it's nothing..." Chu Luren was puzzled—could it be that Feng Qingyang didn't come at all?

Little did they know that just moments before, Feng Qingyang, who had been mocking the Qi Sect leader for using the "Deadly Three Immortal Swords" with Mu Renqing, remembered what had happened back then after hearing Chu Luren's words and left in anger.

Mu Renqing, who had been secretly observing, looked at Chu Luren speechlessly—was this kid doing this on purpose? Why did he have to bring up the sore spot?

Mu Renqing was not surprised that Yue Buqun used a sword sect technique, but... because "the Qi sect leader exposed a sword sect technique in public," his expression turned a little cold.

Mu Renqing has a full white beard and has survived the battle of sword qi. What hasn't he seen?

The reason he ignored the Huashan matter before was not only out of spite, but also because he had noticed some of Yue Buqun's little tricks, hints, and secret observations. He was completely disappointed and that's why he finally severed ties with him.

Even more pale than Mu Renqing were Ding Mian, Lu Bai, and others from the Songshan Sect. As for Feng Buping... he had severely depleted his internal energy, broken his arm, and lost too much blood, causing him to faint. Cheng Buyou quickly stepped forward to seal his acupoints to stop the bleeding and applied medicine to his wounds.

The Songshan Sect had put in a lot of effort to establish its authority in Huashan. Considering the Quanzhen Sect, Zuo Lengchan specially sent several bodyguards and contacted the Qianyou Shenshan. With such a lineup, unless the Quanzhen Sect wanted to turn against them, they would be powerless to protect Huashan.

In fact, Zuo Lengchan's plan did succeed, forcing Yue Buqun to the point where he had no choice but to risk his position as sect leader in a battle. However...

They actually lost?

Given Huashan's current strength, Songshan Sect never imagined that three sword masters comparable to the top of the Thirteen Protectors would lose in a best-of-three series. Even though Zuo Lengchan thought highly of Yue Buqun, he didn't believe that Huashan had any other masters besides Yue Buqun!

Ning Zhongze was indeed a heroine, but in terms of martial arts skills, she was only at the level of the latter half of the Thirteen Protectors.

However, the facts are clear: Feng Buping had concealed his strength from the Songshan Sect, yet he still lost to Yue Buqun. In fact, two of his younger disciples even fought him to a draw, resulting in one win and one loss for Yue Buqun.

When Yue Buqun and Feng Buping were fighting, Ding Mian had not yet arrived. However, because the fight had lasted for quite some time, more than twenty people had arrived by then, especially heavyweight figures such as Shenshan and Qiu Chuji. There was no way to deny it!

Songshan, which had previously been the driving force behind this matter, is now in a predicament—it has no choice but to accept the outcome.

However, Lu Bai still sneered, "Master Yue of the Huashan Sect is indeed insightful. Yu Canghai acted like a villain in vain, but in the end, it was Master Yue who obtained the Evil-Repelling Sword Technique? Hehe, congratulations to the Huashan Qi Sect for gaining another peerless sword technique!"

Indeed, not only Yue Buqun, but most people present, including those from the Songshan Sect, attributed Lin Pingzhi and Linghu Chong's performance to the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique".

"Everyone in the martial arts world knows that the Evil-Repelling Sword Technique is the Lin family's unique skill. It's one thing for these kids to be fooling around, but how can it be considered the Huashan family's unique skill? Senior Brother Lu is joking."

Yue Buqun then withdrew the purple aura surrounding him and returned to his calm demeanor; no one knew what he was thinking.

Chapter 160 Invitation

The second battle of sword qi at Mount Hua came to a close in front of many fellow practitioners.

Unlike twenty-five years ago, this time there was no life-or-death battle between the two sides, so the Qi Sect's strength was not greatly damaged, and even... two young experts were "exposed".

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, even Mount Song could no longer forcefully support the Sword Sect's seizure of power. They could only utter a few harsh words, the core intention of which was to inform Yue Buqun that the Left Alliance Leader was still waiting for his explanation.

Chu Luren could vaguely guess that Zuo Lengchan was probably already planning the Five Mountains Alliance Conference, which was a warning to Yue Buqun that he had to attend!

After the Songshan Sect members left, the martial arts practitioners from various sects also took their leave, and they all dispersed within a few days.

As for the Huashan Sect's own affairs, how they were resolved behind closed doors was unknown to Chu Luren. He only heard some details from Lin Pingzhi the next day...

His and Linghu Chong's swordsmanship naturally aroused Yue Buqun's suspicion. However, unlike in the original work, where Linghu Chong suddenly "displayed great power", Yue Buqun could at least suspect him of "stealing the Lin family's swordsmanship". Although he was wronged, the questioning itself was aboveboard.

However, now that Lin Pingzhi and Linghu Chong are "showing their divine power" together, how can Yue Buqun question them?

Is it questionable that Lin Pingzhi learned his family's swordsmanship and then taught it to Linghu Chong?

Even so, what does it have to do with you, Yue Buqun?

No one has stipulated that a disciple must teach his master his family's martial arts skills, right?

Therefore, Yue Buqun did not outwardly retaliate, but merely warned the two not to follow the evil path of the Sword Sect and to pay attention to cultivating their internal strength, etc.

He was more polite and evasive towards Lin Pingzhi, but towards Linghu Chong... there was a genuine hint of sarcasm in his tone. Yue Buqun even suspected that Lin Pingzhi had recruited his eldest disciple to deal with him!

Even though Yue Buqun had suspicions, he didn't say it directly, and Linghu Chong didn't dare to explain the matter of the sword wall on the Cliff of Contemplation. Firstly, the Huashan sword techniques on the sword wall were indeed mainly from the Sword Sect; secondly, he and Lin Pingzhi were suspected of stealing sword techniques from other schools; and thirdly, and most importantly... the sword wall was already destroyed, so what was the use of saying it?

Without Yue Buqun directly asking and only making sarcastic remarks, Linghu Chong dared not rashly reveal the truth.

Lin Pingzhi would certainly not say—that I misunderstood and practiced the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique".

Great news!

Lin Pingzhi was still worried that he didn't have a chance to go back to Fujian to take out the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique". He knew that if he went back to his hometown at this time, Yue Buqun would definitely be watching him.

However, now that Yue Buqun mistakenly believes that he has mastered the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique", he will naturally not be too wary of or monitor his return to his hometown!

Therefore, after humbly accepting Yue Buqun's teachings, Lin Pingzhi took the opportunity to propose that he wanted to escort his parents' coffins back to their hometown for burial.

Yue Buqun did not refuse, but instead asked Lao Denuo to go back with him, since Lao Denuo knew the way well...

Upon learning this, Yue Lingshan offered to accompany him. Yue Buqun initially hesitated, but after Ning Zhongze gave her her approval, he agreed as well.

As for Linghu Chong, Yue Buqun lifted his confinement on the Cliff of Contemplation on the grounds that he had rendered meritorious service in battle—but Chu Luren knew that this should be considered as Yue Buqun's growing dissatisfaction with him and his intention to change his successor.

Just as Ning Zhongze said in the original work, going up the Cliff of Contemplation is not a bad thing.

Yue Buqun had Linghu Chong confined to the Cliff of Contemplation half a year ago, indeed with the intention of further cultivating him. The main purpose was to provide Linghu Chong with a quiet and peaceful environment to allow him to accumulate internal strength, so that he could pass on the "Purple Cloud Skill" to him when the time was right!

After all, no matter how cunning Yue Buqun was, he had raised Linghu Chong. From both a moral and logical standpoint, cultivating Linghu Chong as his successor did not conflict with his interests and was most conducive to the stability of Mount Hua—Linghu Chong was not particularly competitive in terms of personality, and his position as the "senior brother" among his peers was extremely secure.

However, the matter of the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique" has clearly made Yue Buqun wary, and he feels that this eldest disciple may be trying to harm him!

Chu Luren was originally supposed to leave the next day, but Lin Pingzhi took the initiative to come and asked Chu Luren to accompany him!

Lao Denuo, this "old" senior brother, usually behaves very well. Lin Pingzhi is not familiar with him, but as for Yue Lingshan... Lin Pingzhi's knot in his heart has been untied to some extent.

However, whether it was intentional on Yue Buqun's part or not, the fact that these two "coincidentally" appeared in Fuzhou before his family was wiped out made Lin Pingzhi very uncomfortable. In comparison, "Brother Chu" was definitely the most reliable!

Ultimately, this was Lin Pingzhi's mission to escort his parents' coffins back to their hometown, not a task assigned by the Huashan Sect. Naturally, Lin Pingzhi could make his own decision about bringing Chu Luren along.

“Go to Fuzhou? You… Well, that’s fine. I’ll ask Wanqing. She’ll probably go with you. But I have other things to do after we leave Henan. See you in Fuzhou in a year!” Chu Luren thought for a moment and didn’t refuse.

Although February 15th is the Wudang Sect's Sanqing Festival, if one goes to Fuzhou, they will most likely miss it. After all, it's impossible to travel south through the Wudang and Xiangyang areas, otherwise one would have to pass through the Song-Yuan confrontation zone. Lin Pingzhi also plans to first go to Luoyang to see his maternal grandfather, Wang Yuanba, and then travel south through Jining Prefecture and Xuzhou...

But Chu Luren didn't necessarily have to go to Wudang—after all, it was impossible for Chu Luren to become a disciple of Wudang, as having more masters would only create more stains on his reputation.

As for giving the Shaolin Nine Yang Skill as a gift to the Wudang Sect?

Chu Luren had indeed thought about this matter, but... although he had a bad impression of Shaolin because of Qiao Feng, it hadn't reached the point of turning against them.

Besides, Zhang Sanfeng is a highly accomplished Taoist master; such vulgar flattery might not be appreciated.

Therefore, it doesn't matter to the Chu Lu people if they don't join in the festivities of the Sanqing Festival.

Chu Luren from Fuzhou will definitely accompany Lin Pingzhi. Firstly, to prevent him from having a momentary lapse of judgment and insisting on practicing the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique." Secondly... why would Chu Luren refuse the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique" that is offered to him?