Chapter 227 - 226: Defeating Li Qinghong
Chapter 227: Chapter 226: Defeating Li Qinghong
CLANG—BOOM!
The tip of the sword and the edge of the fist collided fiercely.
First came the crisp clang of metal, followed immediately by a thunderous explosion of Qi Force.
A ring-shaped shockwave, visible to the naked eye, erupted from the point of impact and spread out violently.
It kicked up dust and grass from the ground, forcing the nearby Xiao Chen and Song Xiang to retreat repeatedly, barely able to keep their eyes open.
Fang Han’s figure swayed slightly before he steadied himself.
STOMP, STOMP, STOMP—
Li Qinghong, however, felt a peerlessly sharp Power invade his arm through his meridians, carrying with it a strange, tearing sensation.
The impact sent his blood and qi into turmoil, forcing him to take three involuntary steps back before he could barely neutralize the force.
He looked up at Fang Han, a trace of horror in his eyes.
’The sheer volume of his Inner Qi is no weaker than mine, and that strange power contained within his Swordsmanship...’
Before he could dwell on it, Fang Han had already counterattacked!
SWISH, SWISH, SWISH—
He unleashed the Wind Shadow Annihilation Sword. The sword light was like wind and lightning—unpredictable and mysterious—enveloping Li Qinghong’s vital points with a sharp, killing intent.
At the same time, he pushed his Flowing Wind Shadowless Step to its limit. His figure flickered like a phantom, leaving behind a series of afterimages that were difficult to track.
Li Qinghong was both shocked and enraged. He swung his fists, executing his Breaking Army Fist to its fullest. Shadows of his fists appeared like mountains as he tried to use brute force to overcome technique.
However, Fang Han’s Body Technique was simply too agile and unpredictable.
Often, he would throw a punch only to hit one of Fang Han’s lingering afterimages.
Meanwhile, Fang Han’s sword would always strike from unbelievable angles. They were crafty and incredibly fast, forcing Li Qinghong to scramble in defense.
SLASH!
A flash of sword light slit open the robe under Li Qinghong’s ribs, and a line of blood appeared.
"Bastard!"
Li Qinghong roared, the momentum of his fists growing even fiercer as he tried to suppress Fang Han by force.
But Fang Han refused to clash head-on. He relied on his exquisite Body Technique to weave and harass, his sword light clinging to Li Qinghong like a persistent disease, continuously adding minor wounds to his body.
Though the cuts weren’t deep, they greatly disturbed his focus and drained his stamina and Inner Qi.
Their exchange was as fast as a flash of lightning, the explosive sounds of their Qi Force clashing ringing out incessantly.
Powerful shockwaves continuously spread outwards, destroying the grass and trees at the edge of the clearing and leaving shallow pits in the ground.
Such a huge commotion had long since alerted the other disciples within the Sub-Branch.
Figures rushed over from all directions. Seeing the two people fighting, they all wore looks of shock.
"It’s Fang Han and Li Qinghong!"
"Why are they fighting?"
"What an intense fight! Is this the power of the 30th-ranked disciple on the general list?"
Cries of alarm and discussion rose one after another.
Yun Qianyue, Li Feng, Shi Meng, Huang Ling’er, and the other top-level disciples of the Sub-Branch also arrived one by one. Seeing the scene, their expressions were all complicated.
A faint flicker of surprise crossed Yun Qianyue’s bright eyes from behind her violet veil, while Li Feng’s gaze grew sharp as he tightened his grip on the hilt of his saber.
Before long, several powerful auras rapidly approached.
Elder Chen Xuan was seen striding over with a solemn expression, surrounded by a group of Stewards.
"Stop!"
Steward Wu Hao shouted in a deep voice upon seeing the situation, his voice rolling like thunder as he tried to separate the two.
However, the two in the clearing were locked in the heat of battle, their qi intertwined. How could they stop so easily?
Elder Chen Xuan raised a hand to stop Steward Wu Hao, who was about to step forward and forcibly separate them. His gaze was like lightning as he scanned the battlefield.
It lingered for a moment on Fang Han’s unpredictable Body Technique, and an imperceptible hint of approval flashed in his eyes.
He asked in a heavy voice, "What’s going on? Why are you fighting privately here?"
Xiao Chen quickly stepped forward and gave a quick, clear report of what had happened, emphasizing that Li Qinghong had initiated the attack despite Fang Han’s refusal to accept the challenge.
After listening, Elder Chen Xuan’s expression remained unchanged as he turned his gaze back to the battlefield.
"Elder, should we intervene?"
Steward Wu Hao asked in a low voice.
Elder Chen Xuan shook his head slightly, his eyes still fixed on Fang Han’s figure. He spoke softly.
"It’s fine. Fang Han is not at a disadvantage. Besides... a real battle like this is a rare opportunity for him to hone his skills. We just need to ensure we intervene at a critical moment to prevent any deaths."
He could see clearly that Fang Han had already taken control of the battle’s rhythm.
Fang Han’s Flowing Wind Shadowless Step, which had already reached the Mastery Level, was playing a crucial role.
It was precisely because of this extraordinary Body Technique that Fang Han could contend with Li Qinghong’s fierce Fist Technique and steadily maintain the upper hand!
’How can he be so difficult to deal with?’
On the battlefield, Li Qinghong grew more alarmed the longer he fought.
He had originally thought that Fang Han’s Cultivation Talent was merely astounding, and that his actual combat experience must be lacking.
He never would have imagined that Fang Han’s combat ability would be so seasoned!
It was one thing for his Swordsmanship to be unpredictable and sharp, but his Body Technique was simply phantom-like, leaving him with a body full of power that he couldn’t fully unleash.
His opponent’s grasp of timing and use of techniques were nothing like that of a disciple who had only joined the Sect for a little over a year.
PFFT!
Another flash of sword light swept past. Li Qinghong was a fraction too slow to dodge, and another bloody gash appeared on his left arm.
He was anxious and furious, and an indescribable sense of defeat washed over him.
’I lost in the rankings. Am I going to lose in a real fight to this newcomer too?’
Just then.
A sharp glint flashed in Fang Han’s eyes. The Flowing Wind Sword let out a piercing hum as the Wind Momentum凝聚 gathered on its blade suddenly surged.
In an instant, the sword’s speed reached its peak, transforming into a streak of cyan lightning that tore through the air. With the speed of a thunderclap, it stabbed straight toward the opening on Li Qinghong’s chest, which was slightly exposed from his exertion.
Li Qinghong’s pupils shrank, his face paling in horror. He hastily crossed his arms to block, his Inner Qi erupting wildly.
CLANG—CRACK!
The tip of the sword struck his crossed arms, producing a deafening bang, followed by the faint sound of breaking bones.
Li Qinghong felt an irresistible force mixed with incomparably sharp Sword Qi penetrate his body. His chest felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, and his blood and qi surged upward.
He spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward like a kite with a snapped string, landing heavily on the ground several dozen feet away. He struggled a few times but couldn’t immediately get back up.
The robe on his chest was shredded, revealing a gruesome wound so deep the bone was visible. Blood quickly stained his clothes red.
He raised his head and looked at Fang Han, who stood holding his sword, his breathing only slightly labored. His eyes were filled with unwillingness, venom, and a trace of fear he himself was unwilling to admit.
’I lost! Completely and utterly lost!’
He had lost the competition for ranking, and now, in a real fight, he had been just as thoroughly defeated!
The surroundings fell silent.
All the spectating disciples, including the few Stewards who had rushed over, watched this scene with considerable surprise.
The veteran True Disciple, Li Qinghong, not only ranked lower than Fang Han, but he had also lost in a real fight—his greatest strength—to a disciple who had only joined the Sect for a little over a year!
And the defeat was so decisive!
The way everyone looked at Fang Han had completely changed.
While some might have previously doubted Fang Han’s ranking, there were no longer any questions.
Fang Han wasn’t just highly ranked; his combat ability was also monstrously strong!
A trace of satisfaction flashed through Elder Chen Xuan’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it. He waved his hand and instructed a Steward beside him.
"Take Li Qinghong to the Law Enforcement Hall and let them deal with him according to the rules. Publicly attacking a fellow disciple and provoking trouble is a compounded offense."
"Yes, Elder."
Two Stewards stepped forward and helped the heavily injured and weakened Li Qinghong to his feet.
Li Qinghong’s face was ashen. He let the Stewards support him, his gaze fixed deadly on Fang Han, but he couldn’t utter a single word.
Only then did Elder Chen Xuan turn to Fang Han, a kind smile on his face. He said in a warm tone,
"Well done. Your Swordsmanship and Body Technique have both improved. You remained calm and composed in battle, and your judgment was impeccable. You have not brought shame to our Sub-Branch’s name."
"Li Qinghong attacked me by force. This disciple had no choice but to fight back. I apologize for disturbing you, Elder."
Fang Han sheathed his sword and bowed in salute.
"It’s fine."
Elder Chen Xuan waved his hand.
"The fault in this matter does not lie with you. Continue your Cultivation diligently and without slacking, and ascend to a higher Realm soon."
"This disciple will remember the Elder’s teachings."
Fang Han bowed again.
Elder Chen Xuan nodded, offered a few more words of encouragement to Fang Han, and then left with the Stewards, taking Li Qinghong with them.
The crowd of disciples also gradually dispersed, their hearts filled with complex and indescribable emotions.
In the clearing, only Fang Han and Xiao Chen remained, along with the wreckage left by the fight.
Xiao Chen walked over to Fang Han’s side, looked at his friend, and opened his mouth. In the end, all he could say was a single word filled with immense admiration.
"Incredible!"
Fang Han let out a light breath of foul air. His gaze swept over the bloodstains and pits on the ground, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
Song Xiang had fled at some point. Li Qinghong coming to the Sub-Branch to challenge him was likely instigated by Chu Feng. The fact that Song Xiang had accompanied Li Qinghong was the best proof.
...
「The next morning.」
The morning sun cast a pale golden light over Qingxuan Mountain.
Fang Han had already woken up, washed, and eaten breakfast.
Today, he had changed into a clean, cyan Disciple’s Robe, with the Flowing Wind Sword hanging at his waist. His aura was calm, his eyes clear.
He walked outside and had just stood there for a moment when he saw a figure approaching along the path. It was Elder Chen Xuan.
Today, Elder Chen Xuan wore the formal green robes of an Elder. His expression was solemn, but the gaze he directed at Fang Han held an unconcealable warmth and expectation.
"Fang Han, come with me to see the Sect Leader."
Elder Chen Xuan’s words were simple and to the point, yet they carried a sense of gravity.
"Yes, Elder."
Fang Han bowed in salute, his expression calm.
A flicker of approval flashed in Elder Chen Xuan’s eyes. Without another word, he turned and led the way.
Fang Han followed, the two of them walking one behind the other, leaving the Sub-Branch. They followed a wide, green-stone main road towards the summit of Qingxuan Mountain.
Along the way, they encountered fewer disciples, but those they did see all had powerful auras. There were even many dressed in the attire of Stewards and Elders.
When they saw Elder Chen Xuan, they would either stop to bow or offer a greeting.
When their gazes swept over Fang Han behind him, they were mostly filled with curiosity, surprise, and even a hint of imperceptible complexity.
Fang Han’s name had already spread among the Sect’s upper echelons.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the two arrived before a grand and majestic hall.
The hall doors were dozens of feet high, made of precious Zitan wood, and carved with ancient, rustic patterns of clouds and cranes.
On the plaque above, three large words were written in a powerful and vigorous ancient seal script—Sect Leader’s Hall.