Chapter 212 - 199: By What Right?

Chapter 212: Chapter 199: By What Right?

As time passed, discussions within the Panshi Sect about the upcoming duel grew more intense, from the dining hall to the Hidden Skills Pavilion, from the training grounds to casual greetings on the mountain paths.

Chen Yue’s name could be heard in almost every corner.

「Six days later, in a courtyard on Dan Peak.」

Chen Yue stood on the ground, his gaze fixed on a spot dozens of yards away.

It was an old locust tree growing not far beyond the courtyard wall, its crown as dense as a giant, open umbrella. Its gnarled branches twisted and stretched out, casting a vast, layered shadow on the ground under the afternoon sun.

Just then, a light breeze passed through, and a rustling sound came from the dense layers of leaves. A moment later, a few yellowing leaves broke free from the branches, spiraling slowly downward in the wind.

Chen Yue took a step back with his right foot. It was a small, almost imperceptible movement, but in that instant, his body moved so fast it seemed to bypass acceleration entirely, reaching its peak speed the moment he pushed off.

In the next instant, an afterimage appeared beside the locust tree.

The afterimage’s outline was sharp and distinct. Then, its hands blurred at an incredible speed, creating the illusion of countless arms that snatched the falling leaves from the air.

The figure spun around and kicked at the empty air, as if stepping on an invisible platform. The motion produced a soft sound, like a gentle ripple on the surface of water.

Using the force of the kick, Chen Yue’s body shot upward and veered away, vanishing from sight.

Back in the courtyard, it was as if Chen Yue had never moved.

He stood on the very same bluestone slab where he had started, his posture perfectly straight and his breathing calm and even. But now, he held several fallen leaves in his hand.

[Violent Star Soaring Void Step (Perfection)]

After his recent training, he had cultivated this Body Technique—one that bordered on the Innate realm—to the Perfection Realm.

The explosive burst of Violent Star Step, the momentum transfer of Thunderbolt Movement, and the unending rhythm of Soaring Void Thousand Layer Step had finally fused, reaching their apex today.

Compared to twenty days ago, Chen Yue’s Body Technique had improved yet again, reaching a level that ninety-nine percent of cultivators at the peak of the Refining Organ Realm could hardly hope to match.

Chen Yue checked his cultivation. He was thirty percent of the way through the Refining Organ Realm. In terms of early, middle, and late stages, this meant he had passed the Early Stage and officially entered the Middle Stage.

Chen Yue exhaled a breath of stale air. It formed a nearly invisible wisp of white mist in the warm afternoon air before dissipating above the courtyard wall.

He settled into the stance for the Ten Thousand Forms Tiger Roar Golden Bell, slowly raising his palms. Just as he was about to begin a new round of cultivation, he suddenly heard footsteps approaching from outside.

The footsteps were quick and light. A moment later, Liu Wenying’s voice, slightly breathless, carried over the courtyard wall:

"Junior Brother! Junior Brother! Master says to go to Elder Feng’s. He and Elder Mo are already there!"

Chen Yue halted the punch he was about to throw, walked over to the courtyard gate, and unlatched it.

Liu Wenying was on the other side, her hand raised to knock. It hovered in mid-air as their eyes met.

A smile bloomed on Liu Wenying’s face when she saw him. "Junior Brother, come on! You probably don’t know where Elder Feng’s courtyard is. I’ll take you."

As she spoke, her gaze remained fixed on Chen Yue’s face.

Chen Yue smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Senior Sister!"

Liu Wenying waved it off. "There’s no need for that between us."

With that, she turned and led the way, her steps light and quick. Chen Yue closed the courtyard gate and followed her along the mountain path toward Elder Feng’s residence.

After a few paces, they were walking side by side on the mountain path. The afternoon sun filtered through the trees, casting dappled light across their figures.

A thin layer of pine needles covered the bluestone steps, making them feel slightly soft underfoot.

Liu Wenying, walking to Chen Yue’s right, glanced over at him. Her lips parted as if to speak, then closed again. After a few moments, she finally broke the silence.

"Junior Brother..."

Her voice was softer than usual, her typical boisterousness reined in. "The fight, the day after tomorrow... are you confident you can win?"

As she asked, she didn’t look at Chen Yue, instead keeping her eyes fixed on the path ahead.

’Lately, Liu Wenying had stopped agonizing over whether Chen Yue’s cultivation had surpassed her own. There was no point anymore—he was already in the Refining Organ Realm. The gap between them was no longer something she could close with just hard work. Once she accepted this, her mindset immediately stabilized. And so, Liu Wenying shamelessly continued to call him ’Junior Brother.’ Chen Yue, for his part, had never corrected her, always just smiling in response whenever she said it.’

’Actually, Liu Wenying had wanted to see Chen Yue for days, ever since she heard the news that he was going to the Liuyun Sword Sect for a life-or-death duel against Guan Duhai. She was genuinely worried that her junior brother would lose. The price of defeat was death—being carried away in front of everyone. But she had held back. She knew he must be training with all his might, and that this was the worst possible time to disturb him. She had suppressed her worries deep down, only allowing herself to glance at his courtyard wall from a distance whenever she passed by Dan Peak. Today’s summons from her master was the perfect opportunity. It gave her a legitimate reason to finally ask the question that had been weighing on her for days.’

Chen Yue turned to look at her, a smile on his face. "Are you going to the Liuyun Sword Sect the day after tomorrow, Senior Sister?"

He didn’t answer her question directly, posing one of his own instead.

Liu Wenying paused for a second, startled, then nodded as if the answer was obvious.

"Of course I’m going, to cheer you on!" she said, lifting her chin slightly.

Chen Yue smiled and nodded. "Then you’ll just have to watch how I handle that Guan Duhai, Senior Sister."

As Liu Wenying met his smiling eyes, the worry that had clouded her own for days began to dissipate.

The corners of her mouth curved upward into her usual, cheerful smile, and her voice became a little louder.

"Alright! Then I’ll be watching you, Junior Brother, as you thrash that Guan Duhai!"

As she spoke, she unconsciously pumped her fist.

A short while later, they rounded a bend in the path and arrived before a courtyard on Celestial Pillar Peak.

Celestial Pillar Peak stood out among the peaks of the Panshi Sect for its particular solemnity. Its slopes were solid and gentle.

It wasn’t precipitous like True Inheritance Peak or sharply angled like Celestial Stone Peak. It was more like a stone dais, polished smooth by ages of time, sitting firmly in the very center of the Sect.

This was the peak where most of the Panshi Sect’s Elders resided. The courtyard wall before them was made of gray bricks, and the tops of a few bamboo stalks swayed gently in the afternoon breeze above it.

Just as Chen Yue and Liu Wenying were about to step forward and knock, the courtyard gate swung open on its own, revealing a sun-drenched courtyard and several figures seated around a stone table.

Feng Hansheng’s voice drifted out from the courtyard. It wasn’t loud, yet it was as clear as if he were speaking right beside them.

"Come in."

Chen Yue and Liu Wenying crossed the threshold one after the other and walked into the courtyard.

Five people were seated at the stone table in the courtyard. Meng Yu Jin sat ramrod straight on a stone stool to the left, his hands folded in his lap. His gaze was fixed on the gate, and when he saw Chen Yue enter, his calm expression softened slightly.

Mo Ciqiu sat beside him, holding a cup of tea. The corners of her lips curved up when she saw Chen Yue.

Liu Zhengyi sat on the other side of the stone table, propping his chin with his hand. He nodded when he saw Chen Yue.

As for Feng Hansheng, he was seated on a stone stool against the wall, his posture more relaxed than the others. His gaze swept over Chen Yue before he tilted his head toward another elder beside him.

This elder’s spine was ramrod straight, like an old bamboo stalk that had stood against the wind for many years. His hair was gray, and his gaze, though peaceful, held a profound stillness born of long years.

He sat there without deliberately releasing any aura, yet his intangible presence made the very air around the stone table feel heavy.

’Chen Yue could sense that this elder’s cultivation was no less profound than Feng Hansheng’s.’

Chen Yue took a few steps forward to stand before the table, facing them all. He cupped his fist in salute.

"Greetings, Elder Feng, and this honored Elder. Greetings, Master, Elder Mo, and Elder Liu."

His gaze swept over everyone present in turn, pausing for a moment before each elder.

Feng Hansheng looked at Chen Yue and gestured to the elder beside him. "This is Zheng Tongchen, Elder Zheng. He’s come to see if you’re worth him making the trip to the Liuyun Sword Sect."

Feng Hansheng spoke casually, but the implications of "making the trip to the Liuyun Sword Sect" were anything but. It meant going there to act as Chen Yue’s backer.

Upon hearing this, Chen Yue turned to Zheng Tongchen once more and saluted. "Greetings, Elder Zheng."

Zheng Tongchen studied Chen Yue, his gaze sweeping over the young man’s face and posture twice before he spoke.

"I hear you not only plan to cut down that Guan Duhai, but also intend to challenge others on the Sword Heart Ranking afterward?"

Chen Yue nodded, his gaze unwavering. "That is indeed my plan."

Zheng Tongchen’s expression immediately turned severe, like a calm lake suddenly rippled by a cold wind. His gaze fixed on Chen Yue, and his voice grew heavy.

"You dare make such a bold claim with your Refining Organ Realm cultivation, which you only achieved less than a month ago? What if you fall at Guan Duhai’s hands and make a laughingstock of all of us in front of the Liuyun Sword Sect?"

His tone held no anger, but something heavier.

Chen Yue met his gaze calmly. "That won’t happen."

Zheng Tongchen stared at Chen Yue’s composed expression for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the courtyard.

"Just because you say it won’t happen, it won’t? And what gives you that confidence?"

His voice rose, and the chill in his tone was even deeper than before.

"On the basis of my current strength," Chen Yue replied calmly. His voice was crisp and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.

"HA HA HA!" Zheng Tongchen roared with laughter, even louder than before.