Chapter 476 458: 7 Martial Masters Assault an Immortal

WHOOSH—

A boulder the size of a millstone plummeted from the sky, crashing down toward Pei Yuhang.

Pei Yuhang's eyes narrowed as he rolled aside to dodge the boulder. He looked up at the figure who had thrown it—a gaunt monk in a kasaya robe.

But from the monk's withered body, Pei Yuhang could sense an immeasurably vast wellspring of vitality.

'To temper one's physical body to the absolute limit, achieving the power of the Qi Cultivation realm without relying on Spiritual Qi... Impressive! With a little guidance, he might even be able to enter the Dao through his own vitality.'

Pei Yuhang sighed to himself. Just as he was about to land, he felt a piercing Sword Gang sweep toward him.

He turned to the side and raised his sword to block.

BANG—!!

The clash of metal sent sparks flying, which quickly dissipated into the air.

The shadowy figure who had just launched the sneak attack was thrown back. He stared in shock at the bleeding web of his hand; if he had retreated even a split second later, the other man's sword would have pierced his throat.

"Hahaha, so the great 'National Guardian First Blade,' the Array-Breaking Grand General Qu Kang, has really gotten old! To lose the upper hand even in a sneak attack."

A brazen laugh echoed from the darkness.

The next moment, a cold glint of steel burst through the wall behind Pei Yuhang, aimed straight for his heart.

Pei Yuhang raised his sword to parry. Just as he moved to disarm his opponent's spear, a breathtakingly beautiful woman holding a crescent-moon scimitar slashed down at him.

The white-robed Swordsman silently dodged the poisoned blade.

Her strike having missed, the woman didn't dare confront Pei Yuhang directly and instantly melted back into the darkness.

The spear's owner took the chance to retract his weapon. He leaped out from behind the wall, his silver spear lashing out like a venomous snake, thrusting at Pei Yuhang with vicious, unpredictable strikes.

Wary of the female assassin with the strange crescent blade, Pei Yuhang hastily retreated.

"Hahaha, scared at last? Just as I thought! Of all the martial arts in the world, the spear of I, the Poison King Spear He Jie, is the most dominant, the most powerful, the absolute strongest!"

The Poison King Spear, He Jie, laughed boisterously. The flash of his spear forced Pei Yuhang back again and again, and he believed victory was within his grasp.

Just then, a gust of wind blew the dark clouds partially away from the full moon. A sliver of brilliant, silvery Moonlight cast down, illuminating the town's bluestone road.

The abrupt light caused a momentary flash of blindness.

In the next instant, He Jie heard the Abbot of Jinshan Temple's explosive shout in his ear.

'Was he... telling me to be careful?'

SCHLICK!!

He Jie's head flew into the air.

Pei Yuhang snatched the long spear, leaped into the air, and delivered a powerful kick to the butt of the weapon.

BOOM—!!

The silver spear shot out like a bolt from a siege crossbow, breaking the sound barrier. In a flash, it struck the beautiful scimitar-wielding woman as she tried to approach. The spear blasted straight through her ample chest, the sheer kinetic force carrying her body and pinning her corpse to the wall.

In a single instant, Pei Yuhang, who had just seemed to be losing ground under the combined assault, bared his fangs and killed two world-renowned masters.

The entire field was plunged into a deathly silence.

"As expected of the Swordsman who could escort Prince Ning's daughter out of the Capital City. Your Sword Dao has truly reached the pinnacle of perfection. The younger generation is to be feared."

A refined, middle-aged man in brocade robes slowly walked out. A faint smile played on his lips, and his every gesture exuded an air of calm composure, as if he were completely unfazed by the intimidating aura Pei Yuhang had just projected by instantly killing two masters.

As he approached Pei Yuhang, the other experts—all of whom possessed thunderously famous reputations—willingly parted to let him pass, deferring to him as their leader.

VMM—

The man drew the longsword at his waist and pointed it straight at Pei Yuhang.

"I am the Pavilion Master of the Sword King Pavilion, the World's First Sword, Yu Tianxiang! I once believed I had reached the very pinnacle of the Sword Dao, but in you, a member of the younger generation, I have glimpsed new possibilities for the sword."

His voice was like a Dragon's roar, and every word he spoke made the surrounding leaves tremble and rustle.

"State your name! I do not slay the nameless!"

Pei Yuhang's gaze was electric. He glanced at the longsword in the man's hand, and a smirk played on his lips, sending an inexplicable chill down his opponent's spine.

"First of all, on the path of the Sword Dao, I'm more than a hundred years your senior. It would be more appropriate for *me* to call *you* one of the younger generation...

Second, I don't know how much substance there is to your title of 'World's First Sword,' but that sword of yours is quite nice. It would be perfect for my disciple to practice with."

Pei Yuhang shook his head. He placed one arm behind his back and beckoned to the Pavilion Master of the Sword King Pavilion with his free hand.

"Since you intend for this to be a one-on-one duel, and given that I'm over a century your senior, I'll grant you a handicap of one arm. I wouldn't want word spreading that I, Pei Yuhang, bully my juniors."

Yu Tianxiang's eyes widened as he stared at Pei Yuhang, who truly intended to fight with only one hand.

To a man as devoted to the sword as him, this wasn't a show of courtesy—it was a blatant, naked humiliation! Blood rushed to his head, veins bulged on his temples, and his sword hand began to tremble.

"How... insolent!!"

The two words, squeezed from between his teeth, carried a thunderous rage.

Yu Tianxiang abruptly raised his longsword, holding it vertically before the space between his brows. The cold light reflecting from the blade cast a sharp pattern of light and shadow across his face.

Pei Yuhang understood his intent.

"To settle this with a single strike?"

Seeing Pei Yuhang put one hand behind his back, preparing to fight one-handed, Su Ziheng was filled with glee.

'How could this arrogant, white-robed Swordsman possibly know how the Pavilion Master of Sword King Pavilion earned his renowned title as the 'World's First Sword'?'

'Back at the Shu Mountain sword conference, he single-handedly defeated all three grand masters of Shu Mountain, cementing his status at the very apex of the Sword Dao—'

'And the stance Yu Tianxiang was taking now was the very one for his signature technique—the Celestial Immortal Sword!'

'Not one of the Shu Mountain masters could withstand that attack!'

'Su Ziheng could already picture it: this unbelievably arrogant white-robed Swordsman, dying full of regret because of his pride!'

He stared at the unfolding scene with rapt attention, eagerly anticipating the outcome. Finally!!

VMM—

Yu Tianxiang and Pei Yuhang moved.

Their figures moved with impossible speed, and a blinding white light suddenly erupted between them.

Everyone's vision swam. When their sight cleared, they were all aghast.

Yu Tianxiang was frozen in his lunging posture, but his Treasure Sword... was now spinning casually in Pei Yuhang's hand!

"Pavilion Master!" the members of the Sword King Pavilion cried out in alarm.

But then a fine slit tore open across the front of Yu Tianxiang's robes, and a single lock of his hair drifted slowly to the ground—

In that single instant, Pei Yuhang had not only taken the sword but had also severed a lock of his hair.

"You may leave. It is no small feat for a mortal to have come this far. I appreciate talent when I see it."

Hearing Pei Yuhang's voice, Yu Tianxiang finally snapped out of his daze. He stared at the tear in his brocade robes, silent for a moment.

Then, he turned and bowed respectfully to the white-robed Swordsman.

"Thank... thank you, Immortal, for sparing my life. And for the lesson in swordsmanship you have imparted. From this day forward, the Sword King Pavilion will erect a golden statue in your honor and worship you as an Immortal."

"Enough with the useless chatter. If you don't leave now, I might change my mind."

Upon hearing this, Yu Tianxiang dared not delay another second. He abandoned any further attempts at flattery, signaled for the members of the Sword King Pavilion to mount their horses, and prepared to depart with all haste.

Seeing this, Su Ziheng finally snapped out of his state of shock.

"Rain Sword King! You can't leave! Killing this man and capturing Prince Ning's daughter is a direct order from His Majesty—"

Su Ziheng's words caught in his throat as Yu Tianxiang suddenly drew a disciple's sword and pointed it at his neck.

"Young Master Su, are you trying to force me to die here today? After a hundred years of history, are you trying to force my Sword King Pavilion's very Sword Commander lineage to be extinguished here?"

Pinned by Yu Tianxiang's glare, Su Ziheng didn't dare to speak and even took an involuntary step back.

Yu Tianxiang snorted coldly, sheathed the sword, and leaped onto his horse.

As the members of the Sword King Pavilion departed, another person approached Su Ziheng.

"Abbot? Don't tell me you're also—"

"Amitabha. Young Master Su lacks the wisdom to recognize the might of an Immortal... I, on the other hand, do. I will not involve myself further."

With that, the Abbot of Jinshan Temple turned to follow the group from the Sword King Pavilion.

Before Su Ziheng could stop him, a burly, armored old man carrying a great saber walked past.

"Young Master Su, I must be going as well."

Su Ziheng was aghast. "General Qu, you are the 'National Guardian First Blade' of our Great Zhao! How can you dare to disobey an order from His Majesty!"

General Qu shook his head.

"I have fought on the battlefields for Great Zhao for fifty years. Now, my body is riddled with old wounds, and I don't have many years left. That's why I retired... Dragging this old frame out for one more campaign is already the most I can possibly do for Great Zhao.

I'd rather not lose what few years I have left."

General Qu shot a wary glance at the handsome figure in white, thinking to himself that if Immortals truly existed, they would surely possess such an air. He then hurried to catch up with Yu Tianxiang and the Abbot of Jinshan Temple.

Unable to persuade General Qu, Su Ziheng could only turn his pleading eyes to the last of his hired experts.

But that person didn't even spare Su Ziheng, a high-ranking Court official, a single glance before walking away.

In an instant, of the seven masters who had been besieging Pei Yuhang, only Su Ziheng remained.

Pei Yuhang looked at Su Ziheng, who had collapsed in a heap on the ground, terrified by a single glance. He shook his head in disdain.

"Go crawl back and tell your Emperor. Tell that despicable old woman to come find me herself."