Chapter 73: Grandmaster of Martial Arts

The clash between two supreme masters erupted with such ferocity that the stone walls and vaulted ceilings of the great hall shattered again and again. Driven to desperation, Master Cangsong had no choice but to risk everything in a do-or-die attempt.

Amid the enveloping storm of sword energy, within the protective barrier of the Celestial Gate, a sudden crimson gleam flashed in Cangsong's hand. In the next instant, an entirely red orb appeared before his eyes.

The assembled experts watching the battle were all shocked—could the Xuanzhen Temple possibly possess a second Scarlet Sun Pearl? Remembering the deadly demonic aura the previous pearl had unleashed, they became inwardly vigilant, fearful of being harmed by this fiendish object.

Master Muyun’s expression changed drastically as he cried out, “Master Cangsong, you must not use the inner core of that demon beast and attempt the forbidden transformation with the demon pellet!”

Hearing Muyun’s exclamation, the Celestial Gate masters all turned pale. Though the Celestial Transformation was a profound and unparalleled technique, Cangsong’s intent to refine the beast’s inner core using his primordial spirit was fraught with dangers unimaginable to ordinary men. Moreover, no righteous cultivator would dare to practice such a method, which carried endless hidden perils. With this act, Cangsong clearly intended to fight Chu Yanran to mutual destruction.

Under the relentless bombardment of sword light, the protective barrier began to show signs of collapse. Forced into a corner, Cangsong gambled everything—his true body of Celestial Transformation suddenly swallowed the demon beast’s inner core.

In that instant, Qi Fei saw Cangsong become as monstrous as Elder Guo Huai of the sect had once been. His figure swelled dramatically, and his black Daoist robe was shredded by the surging force within him. Looking closely, Cangsong’s entire body was instantly covered by a thick layer of crimson scales, and jagged, menacing talons sprouted from his fingertips—he had become a humanoid beast.

As Cangsong refined the demon beast’s core, Chu Yanran’s sword energy broke through the barrier’s shimmering curtain. Twisting gracefully through the air, she drove her sword’s tyrannical energy straight at the transformed Cangsong.

Having fused with the inner core, Cangsong’s physical strength now rivaled that of a true beast. Ignoring Chu Yanran’s overwhelming sword energy, he raised his razor-sharp claws and lunged at her.

Boom!

The forceful sword energy of the pinnacle innate realm struck Cangsong, and a sharp, metallic screech echoed through the hall. The beastly toughness of his body was breached, leaving a gash inches long, the wound a horrific crimson.

Chu Yanran twisted in midair, narrowly evading Cangsong’s claws. In the next instant, a crimson beam shot from his talons, smashing fiercely into her raised sword.

Resolve flashed across Chu Yanran’s face as she summoned her innate martial energy. Her sword erupted with a blinding radiance.

In the blink of an eye, under the surge of her true qi and the external force of Cangsong’s primordial power, the long silver sword seemed to burst apart. Sword fragments exploded in all directions. Within her, Chu Yanran’s innate energy suddenly surged; the shattered remnants of her blade began to spin wildly, as if alive, then stormed toward Cangsong.

His face changed dramatically—there was nowhere to run. He had to meet Chu Yanran’s assault head-on with all his Celestial power.

Guided by Chu Yanran’s martial mastery, the whirling fragments transformed into a rain of swords, waves crashing down to envelop Cangsong’s massive form.

From midair came wave after wave of Cangsong’s anguished howls. Chu Yanran floated in the void, her jade-like fingers continually channeling innate energy, driving the countless sword fragments to shred Cangsong’s formidable body.

Page (2/3)

The destructive power of Chu Yanran’s martial technique, born from the storm of sword fragments, was overwhelming. Under her supreme pressure, neither Cangsong’s Celestial barrier nor his beastly body could withstand the onslaught.

Each rotation and explosion of sword shards tore shocking holes through him.

The martial technique she displayed left even the most knowledgeable in the hall reeling in awe. To stand in the void and command sword energy—this was the mark of a grandmaster who had reached the Ninth Heaven of Martial Will.

No one had expected that, aside from the formidable Marquis Chu Huaiyuan, the Chu family of Yongzhou would possess another peerless grandmaster. It seemed certain that Cangsong would not escape death.

Witnessing Chu Yanran’s prowess, Qi Fei thought to himself that Cangsong's fate was sealed, and with Xuanzhen Temple lost to them, Yang Zheng and his allies were no longer a threat.

Qi Fei himself, after his life-and-death struggle with Cheng Feng, had broken through the innate barrier and advanced greatly in cultivation, but he was also gravely wounded. Knowing he had no strength left for another fight, he was eager to escape the Qingyang Peak hall as soon as possible.

Having made up his mind, Qi Fei prepared to slip away amid the chaos, but he had already drawn Sima Yan’s eye.

“Master Qi, it’s been a while,” Sima Yan appeared silently at Qi Fei’s side, his expression cold and grim.

Qi Fei calmly gathered what remained of his innate energy, glanced up at the two masters battling above, and asked, “Sect Master Sima, with Cangsong and Chu Yanran’s duel still undecided, how do you have the leisure to seek out a nobody like myself?”

Sima Yan’s heart skipped—how did Qi Fei know Chu Yanran’s name? Then he recalled Chu Qingyun’s earlier shout and the Chu elder’s assertion, and sneered, “Are you still trying to trick me with Chu Yanran’s name, hoping to deceive me again?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Qi Fei replied, feigning nonchalance as he kept an eye on the battle, “That day, I acted out of necessity. If I misled you, I hope you can forgive me.”

Sima Yan’s gaze turned murderous. “Enough with the nonsense. Where is it?”

Nearby, Mo Zhanpeng and the others wondered what it was that Qi Fei had taken from the sect master of the Seven Severances Gate, that Sima Yan would be so distracted as to demand its return at such a critical moment.

Qi Fei produced the jade pendant Sima Yan had once given him and raised it. “My breakthrough today was all thanks to your gift of the Seven Severances Gate’s Yin Fiend Blade Art. This token of your sect, I return to you now.”

Sima Yan’s eyes flashed with killing intent. “Don’t play dumb. You received the Yin Fiend Blade Art—is that not enough? Are you still trying to keep that other thing for yourself?”

His words were evasive, as if afraid others might overhear mention of the secret medicine of the Danding Sect. Qi Fei’s mind turned quickly; he raised his voice deliberately, “What is this treasure you speak of, Sect Master Sima? I know nothing of it. Perhaps we should ask Miss Zhuo—she might know.”

Seeing Qi Fei draw attention and invoke the name of the woman from the Yin-Yang Sect, Sima Yan seethed with hatred.

With Zhuo Jin’er’s arcane arts, the Seven Severances Gate had succeeded in utterly destroying Xuanzhen Temple. Yet if this matter were exposed, it would spell disaster for his own sect.

After weighing the risks, Sima Yan forced himself to endure. “Very well. Since you have achieved the innate realm, once Miss Chu deals with Cangsong, we shall settle matters between us.”

Page (3/3)

Qi Fei’s expression remained calm as he whispered, “Sect Master Sima, are you not afraid that, if you push me too far, I’ll reveal everything about your schemes with Miss Zhuo?”

Sima Yan glanced over Qi Fei’s shoulder at Mo Zhanpeng, then grinned menacingly. “You won’t.”

“Are you threatening me?” A flash of murderous intent crossed Qi Fei’s eyes. Sima Yan was actually using the lives of his master and fellow Danxia Sect disciples to blackmail him, forcing him to remain silent about his collusion with the Yin-Yang Sect.

“Sect Master Qi, we’re in the same boat.”

Qi Fei’s mind raced for a solution. Suddenly, from above, came Cangsong’s despairing roar.

“If you kill me, the Marquis will not spare you!”

At that cry, Chu Qingyun and the Chu family elder’s faces changed dramatically. Though Chu Qingyun had given Xuanzhen Temple trouble, he had never intended to kill Cangsong. The abbot of Xuanzhen was highly esteemed by the Martial Marquis. With Chu Huaiyuan away inspecting the borders, if Chu Yanran killed Cangsong now, it would surely bring her uncle’s wrath.

“Aunt, show mercy—spare this old Daoist’s life!”

“Yanran, you must not take Cangsong’s life!”

Both of them cried out urgently, but Chu Yanran’s eyes were filled with grim resolve. With a sweep of her hand, she unleashed a surge of martial force so mighty that the very air in the hall seemed to freeze. Her palm strike carried a cataclysmic power, cutting down upon Cangsong’s mangled form.

Boom!

A terrifying crash sounded. Under the horrified gazes of Chu Qingyun and the others, the sword fragments within Cangsong’s body suddenly surged and reformed into a single blade, bursting from within him.

Cangsong’s tattered body exploded, filling the hall with a heavy mist of blood.

The abbot of Xuanzhen Temple, the foremost sect of Mount Cangyun, was slain by the full force of martial grandmaster Chu Yanran. His body was destroyed, his head torn from his shoulders.

Cangsong’s grotesque, beastly head rolled slowly to Qi Fei’s feet, his eyes wide and unblinking. The once-mighty abbot of Xuanzhen Temple had met a grisly end at the hands of the unexpected grandmaster, Chu Yanran.