Chapter 171 - 156: Rain Does Not Fall Within 2 Feet!

Chapter 171: Chapter 156: Rain Does Not Fall Within 2 Feet!

"The battle at Copper Mountain."

Hearing the challenge letter sent by Long Zaitian, Chen Sha could not help but smile. "To think that before I could even seek him out, he actually took the initiative to issue a challenge to me first."

Yuu Miaolian, standing to the side, said, "This is also because your fame has spread across the world now, Junior Brother. It is increasingly forcing the world to look upon our Dao Yi Sect with newfound respect."

In the past, when their master Chen Canxuan was still alive, others would always be the ones to take the initiative and write to them whenever something happened. This slight difference perfectly illustrated the massive shift in status that came with a boost in strength.

Chen Sha said, "With Teng Zijing acting as my mount, this trip to Copper Mountain won’t even take ten days."

Copper Mountain was a famous peak situated between Zhao Country and Jin Country. For thousands of years, it had remained a mountain of great significance in the hearts of Martial Artists. Throughout history, roughly sixty to seventy percent of all duels between supreme experts had taken place here. The mountain had become a touchstone used to measure the caliber of the world’s greatest masters.

The previous generation’s Elder Sword God, Chu Yankai, had claimed the title of the world’s second-strongest precisely at this peak. As for the experts who had achieved global renown through a single battle at Copper Mountain, they were simply too numerous to count.

At the same time, Copper Mountain was sandwiched right between the territories of the Daoist and Demon Sects. To the north, the Demon Sect’s forces were dominant. Factions like the Demon Saint Sect, White Lotus Sect, Fire Worship Sect, and even the Celestial Demon Sect were all located in the Jin Country territories north of Copper Mountain.

To the south lay the spheres of influence of major Daoist Sects such as Dao Yi Mountain, Queen Mother Sect, and True Martial Mountain.

From this, it was clear that Long Zaitian’s choice of location for this battle carried a hidden symbolism, representing the clash between the Daoist and Demon paths.

"Are you planning to go alone? Since Long Zaitian has issued a challenge, he has likely rallied numerous experts from the Five Demonic Paths. Over the past few days, I’ve already sent a letter back to the Queen Mother Sect to inform their Sect Leader. At the same time, I requested Jiang Chengzi and the others from the True Martial Sect to head to Copper Mountain to assist you," Chang Xi said.

After all, Chen Sha was currently the nominal leader of the Daoist Sect. Long Zaitian was a formidable overlord who had already unified the Five Demonic Paths. If he intended to use this opportunity to lead the Five Demonic Paths to crush the Daoist Sect in one fell swoop, Chen Sha would undoubtedly be heavily outnumbered if he went alone.

Chen Sha, however, thought nothing of it. "Since he challenged me, this is a battle strictly between him and me. Otherwise, he would have been better off declaring war on the Daoist Sect outright. Still, I appreciate your good intentions, Senior Brother Chang. How about this—none of you need to accompany me. I will rendezvous with Sect Leader Bi at Copper Mountain."

Chang Xi, Yuu Miaolian, and the others raised no further objections. After all, this was already a decisive battle at the Great Innate Level between the fourth and fifth strongest experts in the world. Even if they went, they might not be able to offer any tangible help.

Just before his departure, Chen Sha took out the Seven Saints Pill and handed it to Chang Xi. "I have always wanted to thank you for treating Bell Spirit, Senior Brother Chang. I just never knew how to repay that kindness. As it happens, I acquired this pill a few days ago. It should be of extraordinary quality. Please accept it."

He had witnessed Chang Xi’s mastery of Qihuang Pharmacology firsthand. This remarkable pill, which had dropped from the Cosmic Light Fragments, should serve as a worthy gift of gratitude.

"The Seven Saints Pill?" The moment Chang Xi saw the pill, he was slightly astonished. "This is actually the legendary Life-extending Treasure Pill of the Demon Sect. Rumor has it that even if a Great Innate Level expert suffers a fatal injury, this pill can pull them back from the brink of death. How did you get your hands on this, Junior Brother Chen?"

"I obtained it during my trip to the Celestial Demon Sect," Chen Sha replied casually. "Just accept it, Senior Brother Chang."

Chang Xi shook his head decisively. "You are heading to Copper Mountain right now for a battle with Long Zaitian. How could you give me such a holy healing medicine? It will be most useful if you carry it yourself."

Chen Sha could not help but smile. "Right now, my blood is the most precious Spirit Pill in the world. No pill can necessarily surpass my own body’s natural healing capabilities. To me, this pill is practically useless. On the other hand, you are well-versed in pharmacology, Senior Brother Chang. You could perhaps study it and see if you can develop a similar pill. That would be a tremendous boon to our Daoist Sect in the future."

He did not expect Chang Xi to recreate a recipe with one hundred percent of the original’s efficacy. If it was truly as he said, and this pill could save even a Great Innate Level expert from death, then forging a pill with just half of its potency would still be an immense blessing for the Daoist Sect. It would undoubtedly become one of the sect’s signature treasures.

"Blood? You’ve awakened the Demon Sect’s Holy Blood, Junior Brother Chen?" Chang Xi was extremely clever. He guessed the truth from just a few of Chen Sha’s words.

Chen Sha smiled in confirmation. "So, please accept it, Senior Brother Chang." Saying so, he placed the pill in front of him.

He then turned to his two disciples and two fellow sect members. "Now that I am leaving, you can choose to continue traveling through the Yuan Country. Given the Yuan Country’s current attitude toward our Dao Yi Mountain, you shouldn’t face any real danger within its borders. Alternatively, you can return to Dao Yi Mountain first. After this battle..."

Clasping his hands behind his back, Chen Sha walked out. "There will not be many people left standing in front of me in this world. It won’t be long before I return to the mountain myself."

Everyone felt their hearts surge with emotion upon hearing this.

When he first descended the mountain, it was to claim the title of number one in the world. When he finally returned to the mountain, it would mean he had ascended to that absolute pinnacle. Considering the speed of Chen Sha’s current progression, that day truly was not far away.

And so, Chen Sha stayed in the Yuan Country for two brief days to make arrangements for the others. Two days later, he stepped onto Teng Zijing and headed straight for Copper Mountain.

During the month leading up to Chen Sha’s departure, the various factions of the world’s Martial Arts had long had their minds captivated by this news. Countless powers had arrived in the vicinity of Copper Mountain ahead of time.

At the foot of Copper Mountain lay Xiaowang Village. It belonged to Qixia Town, a place fully equipped with inns, taverns, banks, and more.

Even as early as seven days prior, it had become virtually impossible to book a room at the inns in Qixia Town. As a result, many martial practitioners inevitably ended up paying to stay in the homes of the farmers in Xiaowang Village.

The farmers seemed used to this by now. Whenever a major event occurred in the Martial Arts world, people armed with sabers and swords would flock here. When this happened, the villagers would beam with joy as they watched the usually deserted dirt roads fill up with horses. Moreover, these Jianghu figures were quite particular and generous with their money. Whenever they stayed in a local home, they always left behind plenty of silver.

Today was the thirteenth day of the eighth lunar month. Two days later would be the fifteenth—the day of the fullest moon. The date Long Zaitian had set for the duel was exactly on this fifteenth day.

On this day, the Little Demon Saint Ma Rulong and the Fortune Teller Qin Half-Immortal also arrived at Xiaowang Village. As they walked through the village, Qin Half-Immortal glanced around in all directions. Seeing the pedestrians coming and going, who were all clearly Jianghu figures, he sighed heavily. "Others are here just to watch a spectacle. We, however, are watching our own destinies unfold."

Ma Rulong replied coldly, "Save your talk of fate and destiny. The people of my Demon Saint Sect have never believed in fate. We only believe in ourselves."

Qin Half-Immortal wore a bitter expression and didn’t say another word. The two continued walking forward.

Soon, they heard a storyteller at the entrance of a nearby teahouse, holding forth with great enthusiasm. "In my opinion, in this great battle two days from now, regardless of whether the Daoist Sect Master wins or the Demon Sect’s Demon Saint emerges victorious, the winner will gain the qualifications to challenge the number one in the world."

Given their status as Grandmasters, the two men initially didn’t take a mere storyteller’s ramblings seriously. Unexpectedly, someone in the crowd chimed in, "How exactly does this give them the qualifications to challenge the world’s number one? You must realize they are only ranked fourth and fifth. Even if one defeats the other, there are still three people ahead of them."

The storyteller stroked his beard. "Now, this is something you all might not know. The Demon Saint Sect’s Cultivation Technique is one of the Martial Arts Marvels known as the Demon Heaven Tribulation Technique. With every advancement in realm, one can master a new ability—such as manipulating water, fire, poisonous miasma, and even Celestial Thunder. Its core principle prioritizes Tribulation Crossing above all else. As long as one successfully undergoes a tribulation, they will be just like the Immortals in the myths, achieving Feather Transformation and ascending to the heavens.

"The Daoist Sect Master in this battle possesses peerless strength despite his young age. To Long Zaitian, he is a rare and formidable adversary the likes of which he has scarcely seen in his lifetime. If Long Zaitian manages to cross this tribulation, he won’t just be facing the top three. With just a year or two to solidify his foundation, he could launch an assault on the position of the world’s number one."

The crowd listened to the storyteller speak with such conviction that they couldn’t help but be completely enthralled.

"What about Sect Leader Chen? What can be said about him..."

Even Ma Rulong and Qin Half-Immortal involuntarily halted their steps.

Qin Half-Immortal said in astonishment, "This man is no simpleton. He’s definitely not just an ordinary storyteller. To think he actually knows the underlying philosophy of your Demon Saint Sect’s Demon Heaven Tribulation Technique."

Ma Rulong stared deeply at the man. "You rely on the Chess Master as your backing and have met countless people. Have you never heard of a figure like this in the world?"

Qin Half-Immortal shook his head. "This man..."

While the two were conversing a short distance away, their expressions suddenly stiffened. The storyteller at the teahouse entrance had abruptly turned to look in their direction. He offered a faint smile.

A sudden jolt of terror seized the two, prompting them to instinctively stumble back three steps.

However, after that single glance, the man merely smiled and turned back to address his audience. "As for Dao Yi Sect’s Sect Leader Chen, his potential is even more extraordinary..."

Not far away, Ma Rulong and Qin Half-Immortal felt as if that single glance had seen right through their very souls. By the time the man withdrew his gaze, the two realized they had subconsciously broken out in a cold sweat.

They instantly exchanged a look. "Let’s get out of here!" Not daring to linger a moment longer, they hurried away.

It wasn’t until they had walked two or three miles out that Ma Rulong spoke, his voice palpably shaken. "To invoke such intense fear in me with just one look... I’ve only ever felt this from my master and the Chess Master. This man... This man..."

Qin Half-Immortal blurted out, "He must be one of the top three in the world!"

Was it Pang Saint? Or perhaps Wang Zaixiang? Or had Yuan Ruhua traveled all the way from the South Sea?

The two dared not think deeper on it, but a heavy stone seemed to weigh upon their hearts. Even after arriving at an inn shortly afterward and ordering food and wine, they had no appetite to eat.

"If one of the world’s top three is secretly observing the battle between my master and Chen Sha, there are simply too many uncertain variables. No, I must send out a message..."

However, just as Ma Rulong was about to dispatch his message, he stepped outside the inn only to discover that a torrential downpour had unknowingly swept over Xiaowang Village.

The misty rain obscured everything, and the roads were now completely devoid of passersby. When they passed by the tea stall again, the storyteller was nowhere to be seen either.

The swirling mist and rain seemed to transform Xiaowang Village into an ink wash painting. Meanwhile, the storyteller was holding a broken oil-paper umbrella in one hand and keeping his other behind his back. He strolled leisurely until he reached the reeds outside the village. Without realizing it, he came to a halt beside them.

He looked ahead.

Standing by the reeds was a figure with his hands clasped behind his back. His aura was so harmonious that it seemed to blend seamlessly with the rain—ethereal and profoundly solitary. But what was truly astonishing was that...

When the cascading raindrops reached a distance of exactly two and a half feet from the figure, they automatically swerved, sliding down along the sides instead. It was as if that two-and-a-half-foot radius was the most impenetrable domain in the world, forcing even the natural forces of heaven and earth to yield.

With the storyteller’s keen eyesight, he could naturally tell that there was absolutely no Qi Power circulating within those two and a half feet. Yet, he completely failed to comprehend how such a feat was achieved without relying on Qi Power.

He let out a sigh and said, "You are as magnificent as ever, Mr. Yuan."

The figure spoke calmly. "Out of the ten, you are the only one whose Martial Arts I have yet to witness. Since we have crossed paths, why not let me have a look?"

The storyteller’s brows furrowed as he braced himself for a formidable foe.