Chapter Forty-One: A Nighttime Foray into Moonwatch Peak

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In the dead of night, a silver moon hung high in the sky. Between the forests of Moonwatch Peak on Mount Azure Cloud, a lone figure darted through layers of woodland, racing straight toward the summit.

The faint sound of air being split shattered the silence of the mountain woods, instantly alerting the patrolling disciples of the Seven Absolutes Sect hidden within the dense forest. Several disciples, faces grim, drew their weapons and hurried in pursuit of the direction from which the sound had come.

Dressed in fitted black attire, Qi Fei sensed something amiss. He halted abruptly, then vanished into the darkness in the blink of an eye, leaving only a shadow behind.

The group of Seven Absolutes disciples who had rushed over found nothing but empty air, their faces filling with suspicion and uncertainty.

The leader, a man dressed in black, crouched down, carefully examining the surroundings under the moonlight. Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically. “This is bad. A master has come to our Seven Absolutes Sect by night. Quickly, report to the Sect Master and the elders!”

Before long, the urgent ringing of bells echoed over Moonwatch Peak, shrouded in night.

Hidden among the trees, Qi Fei’s eyes flashed with cunning. He had not expected the Seven Absolutes Sect to discover his presence so quickly. Yet the purpose of his incursion was precisely to throw the sect into chaos, and to test the martial prowess of their masters. With his formidable cultivation and the supernatural art of Bloodshadow Evasion, Qi Fei felt no urge to retreat.

After calming his breath for a moment, Qi Fei emerged from the dense forest, ready to continue his stealthy ascent. Suddenly, several figures appeared from behind a large rock just a few yards ahead.

“Friend, what brings you to Moonwatch Peak at this hour?” The foremost figure stepped slowly from the shadow beneath the rock. Bathed in moonlight, the man’s imposing build and rugged features were laid bare.

Qi Fei thought to himself that the Seven Absolutes Sect was indeed formidable. Circulating his internal energy to observe more closely, he discovered that this black-clad man’s cultivation was no less than his own master’s.

Noticing Qi Fei’s calm demeanor, the black-clad man felt a twinge of apprehension. With a wave of his hand, the disciples behind him swiftly encircled Qi Fei.

Yet, upon closer inspection, the man found himself unable to discern the depth of the youth’s cultivation, and was greatly alarmed. “I am Fang Yunhai of the Seven Absolutes Sect. May I ask for your illustrious name?”

Qi Fei smiled faintly and uttered words so brazen they drove the Seven Absolutes disciples to fury: “My master taught me never to leave my name when doing bad deeds. Tonight, I have come for the Creation Martial Scripture. If you value your lives, step aside.”

Fang Yunhai, incensed by this audacity, leapt into the air with a shout, striking at Qi Fei with his palm.

Before coming to Moonwatch Peak that night, Qi Fei had already learned of the Seven Absolutes Sect’s martial arts from his master and Elder Sun. Seeing Fang Yunhai’s palm technique, fierce and swift as thunder, he guessed it must be one of the sect’s seven ultimate arts: the Thunderclap Palm.

Qi Fei did not evade. He raised his own palm to meet Fang Yunhai’s attack, shouting wildly, “Is this so-called thunderous palm force only good for scaring mosquitoes and flies in these mountains?”

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Eight-Armed Wind and Thunder Fist clashed with Thunderclap Palm. When fist and palm met, an explosive roar echoed through the forest.

In a single exchange, the outcome was clear. Fang Yunhai felt a searing pain in his palm; blood surged to his throat, and like a kite with its string cut, he was hurled backward by the overwhelming force of Qi Fei’s fist.

Through a stroke of fortune, Qi Fei had fused his martial energy and Daoist true essence into one. Using only forty percent of his strength, he sent the formidable Fang Yunhai flying with a single punch.

Fang Yunhai was evidently of high status within the sect. Seeing him defeated in one blow, the surrounding disciples were terrified, their faces ashen. None dared lay a hand on the inscrutable youth before them.

Without pausing to wipe the blood from his lips, Fang Yunhai gathered his breath and let out a thunderous roar, leaping up from the ground. Like a tiger descending the mountain, he lunged forward, winds howling in his wake.

With his left palm, Fang Yunhai unleashed a fierce gust, crackling like thunder. Both palms crossed and struck forcefully at the unruffled Qi Fei.

“Foolish,” Qi Fei snorted coldly, his fists multiplying into a storm of shadows.

Wind and thunder rose; eight arms displayed their might. The Thunderclap Palm of the Seven Absolutes Sect was utterly suppressed by Qi Fei’s Eight-Armed Wind and Thunder Fist, leaving Fang Yunhai helpless.

The ferocity of Fang Yunhai’s palm wind was shattered by an even more domineering barrage of fists. In moments, as Fang Yunhai leapt into the air, he was battered by countless forceful blows, the suffering indescribable.

Intent on establishing his might atop Moonwatch Peak, Qi Fei pressed his advantage, leaping high and channeling his internal energy to pound Fang Yunhai, who raised his arms to block, inch by inch into the massive rock.

The disciples nearby, all weaker than Fang Yunhai, were powerless to intervene. They could only watch as their senior was humiliated by this mysterious, formidable intruder.

With effortless movements, Qi Fei left Fang Yunhai battered and broken on the ground. Standing atop the rock, Qi Fei withdrew his fists, swept his gaze over the crowd, and sneered, “So this is the famed Thunderclap Palm? And the Seven Absolutes Sect dares call itself the foremost martial clan of Mount Azure Cloud?”

From within the rock, blood oozing from his lips, Fang Yunhai forced himself upright and said in a trembling voice, “Do not insult my sect. Tonight, I, Fang Yunhai, am simply lacking in skill. If you have the courage, go meet my master atop Moonwatch Peak and witness his supreme techniques.”

Qi Fei, unperturbed, looked down and asked, “Your master is the Sect Master Sima Yan?”

A trace of pride flickered across Fang Yunhai’s face as he gritted out, “That’s right.”

“Very well. I shall pay a visit to Sect Master Sima, who has attained the Martial Dao’s Innate Realm.” Feigning arrogance, Qi Fei leapt past Fang Yunhai and his men, heading straight for the summit.

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“After tonight, your Seven Absolutes Sect will become a gate of utter misery and despair.”

The youth’s wild, unrestrained laughter echoed through the forest, deeply wounding Fang Yunhai and the other disciples. As the boy’s arrogant words rang in his ears, Fang Yunhai could not help but cough up more black blood.

Weak and battered, Fang Yunhai seized the arm of a disciple who had scrambled up to help him, and with all his remaining strength said, “Forget about me. Hurry and inform my master and the elders—this man’s cultivation is unfathomable, and he has come for our sect’s treasured Creation Martial Scripture. Be on your utmost guard.”

“Don’t worry, Brother Fang. I’ll report at once!”

“Wait,” Fang Yunhai grabbed the disciple who was about to dash to the summit, pointing to a glimmering object where Qi Fei had stood earlier. Alarmed, he asked, “What is that?”

A nearby disciple hurried over to inspect the spot and quickly returned with a talisman. “Brother Fang, it’s a spirit talisman—from the Temple of Profound Truth.”

The three great sects of Mount Azure Cloud had a long history together, and all Seven Absolutes disciples could recognize the talisman from the Temple of Profound Truth.

Still embedded in the rock, Fang Yunhai took the talisman with trembling hands, his face filled with shock and disbelief. Could the mysterious youth who had defeated him in a single move, possessing such profound martial prowess, truly be connected to the Daoist Temple of Profound Truth?

“Could that boy be a disciple of the Temple of Profound Truth?” one disciple blurted out, his face ashen.

All around, the disciples were stunned. How could anyone from a Daoist sect, known for their mystical arts, possess such overwhelming martial might?

His mind in turmoil, Fang Yunhai hastily handed the talisman to another disciple, commanding sternly, “No wild guesses. Take this talisman and deliver it to the Sect Master and elders at once.”

The disciple accepted the talisman and, not daring to delay, sped up the mountain.

Still full of doubts, the group worked together to free Fang Yunhai from the rock. Carrying their barely conscious senior, they hurried toward the summit.

After the disciples had left, Qi Fei, who had feigned heading for the peak, silently reappeared behind the massive rock. Glancing at the spot where the Temple of Profound Truth’s talisman had vanished, a faint smile played across his lips.