Why do I have so many masters?

Sword Qi enveloped the sky, almost terrifying enough to split the liver and gallbladder of those who witnessed it.

Yet, within the Sword Qi, that strand of pure Sword Intent was even harder to ignore. Sitting on the carriage seat with one leg bent, Taisu Jian's expression changed slightly. In an instant, he leapt up, his right-hand grasping the hilt of the Jue Que Sword behind his back.

Since obtaining this Jue Que Sword, it was indeed the first time he had drawn it.

The broad sword's body initiated a stream of Sword Momentum, smashing toward that Sword Qi.

But within the third breath, Taisu Jian, holding the Jue Que, had already been forced into a clumsy retreat, unable to block the Sword Qi in the slightest.

Underneath the Sanshan Pavilion, a young man in a white robe seemed unwell, coughing twice.

He did not wait to see the result.

Leaning on the bamboo cane in his hand, he turned and drifted away.

Behind him, that three hundred meters of Sword Qi surged mightily, crashing down. The horses panicked, rolling over on the ground. Wang Anfeng's right hand gently rested on his sword weaponry, his spirit, Qi, and soul instantly unified. In a flash, the Qi mechanism extended long, a streak of azure Sword Gang rising from the sword's body.

Amid the clanging sounds, the sword was drawn from its sheath.

The azure Sword Gang, like a swimming fish, surged instantly, crashing into that three thousand catty Sword Qi. With aggressive Sharp Essence, Wang Anfeng's sword hummed low in his hand, his wrist turning slightly, but the movement of the sword body was as if entering a quagmire, increasingly slow.

The three hundred meters of Sword Qi pressed down, as if the heavens were about to collapse.

Wang Anfeng's Broad Sword in hand hummed low.

One sword,

Two swords,

In the blink of an eye, dozens of sword strikes were launched, the Qi Mechanism continuous. The Broad Sword in his hand suddenly let out a long cry, and everyone beneath felt a chill at their core. The dozens of meters of azure Sword Gang, like a dragon breaking through water, shattered the three hundred meters of Sword Qi cleanly, soaring into the clouds.

The Sword Qi pierced through clouds and fog, carrying mist up to the sky, solidifying into water from the cold, and the spring rain fell gently like a wisp of blue smoke from heaven.

The Broad Sword resounded as it was sheathed.

A figure in azure stood before the crowd.

Outside the Sanshan Pavilion, only a silhouette could be seen, already drifting away.

"Gone now..."

Yuchi Jie murmured, glancing around at the nearly indistinguishable ground, wiped his cheek, and saw a smear of red on his hand, his expression in his eyes slightly altered.

"A three hundred meter Sword Qi..."

His voice was faint, almost a mumble from his throat.

The rest who traveled with him had narrowly escaped this disaster, though seriously frightened, fortunately, there were no severe casualties. Many, however, no longer dared to proceed further.

Some said they needed to rest in the nearby county city for a day or two, others that their goods were destroyed and needed to return to Guan City in Guangwu County to purchase more before proceeding barely a mile and then changing direction, no longer daring to accompany Wang Anfeng and others.

They understood themselves that the person who had wielded a hundred meters of Sword Qi was not likely targeting them. Continuing together might risk their lives. A Scholar who lingered for the beauty of the sight, wishing to linger longer, was also forcibly dragged away to prevent needless sacrifice of life.

Yuchi Jie sat on the horseback, watching the departing silhouettes of the traders who had come from Guan City, clicking his tongue, and said:

"They are wise after all, knowing when to advance and when to retreat."

"No wonder they dare to go on trading journeys. Being a trader is like roaming the Jianghu, one must always keep their eyes sharp."

Wang Anfeng rode ahead, his expression solemn, right hand raised, the dark blue of his sleeve sliding down to reveal his wrist and palm, both covered with a visible layer of white frost. The crossing three hundred meters of Sword Qi was fierce, but the hidden Sword Intent was even harder to guard against.

Astonishment flickered through Wang Anfeng's eyes.

Considering the three hundred meters of Sword Qi like water, the Sword Intent was like a fish trailing within it.

This manner was indeed grand.

"How was it?"

A soft voice sounded, Wang Anfeng lowered his right hand, the sleeve sliding down to cover his palm again. Gong Yu switched to riding a horse, catching up with Wang Anfeng, her gaze resting on his hand tucked to the side, saying softly:

"Are you injured?"

Wang Anfeng laughed softly, generously admitting,

"It seems I can't hide it."

Gong Yu withdrew her gaze, saying softly:

"In terms of dismantling sword moves, you are above me, yet in understanding Sword Intent, I am ahead of you."

"You could see it, as I was breaking through the Sword Qi and guarding against the Sword Intent, so I naturally also could see it. I just didn't act earlier to help because I was on guard against that person turning back to strike."

Wang Anfeng smiled unconcernedly, merely saying with a smile,

"I intended to adopt the demeanor of a master, but it seems I was seen through."

"Miss Gong, do you know the school of swordsmanship that man practices? I feel that he is not from the same group as those who held famous swords before."

Gong Yu nodded slightly, saying:

"I haven't exchanged blows with him, so I can't be absolutely certain, but considering your Pure Yang Martial Body, just a strand of his Sword Intent was enough to form frost on your palm, which shows the solitary coldness of his Sword Intent."

Wang Anfeng nodded slightly, looking ahead on the road, lamenting,

"It seems I wasn't wrong."

"It's just unknown why this person would suddenly appear and leave after launching a single strike."

Gong Yu did not respond.

Acts in the Jianghu need no prior acquaintance, sometimes no reason at all; being in the Jianghu is the best reason.

"Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect?!"

Yuchi Jie exclaimed in surprise.

He had just been slightly affected by the aftermath of that Sword Qi, having sustained minor injuries, now sitting inside the carriage looking across at Lin Qiaofu, he exclaimed in surprise.

Lin Qiaofu nodded slightly, saying softly,

"I recognize that sword move just now."

"It's a move from the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect, 'Sword Qi Chills the Autumn Air,' not just any ordinary disciple can master such superior swordsmanship."

Yuchi Jie grinned, saying, "No need to say it, just watching it was enough to know that it was genuinely superior swordsmanship, ordinary sword or saber techniques are just External Cultivation for fighting, where else could such imposing power come from?"

"But I recall that the Qingfeng Edge has always had good relations with you. If he has mastered the true transmission of superior swordsmanship from Heavenly Mountain, why would he come specifically to trouble us."

"Don't say he just wants to test his sword, chopping down anyone he dislikes at a glance."

Yuchi Jie touched his own cheek and muttered.

"I guess, this young master also has a quite pleasing face, huh?"

Lv Baiping sneered from across.

Although they had known each other for a long time, Lin Qiaofu was still somewhat flustered around Yuchi Jie and pretended she hadn't heard his last remark, saying:

"The former ancestor who once catapulted the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect into one of the top seven sects in the world, he and my ancestor from Qingfeng Edge once traveled together as swordsmen, so naturally, they were on good terms."

"Although the ancestors of the two sects did not meet again in their lifetimes, the relationship between the two sects was very good, helping each other through many difficulties, and they had sent each other Sword Canons. Over three years ago, when Murong Great Elder celebrated his birthday, a elder from the Heavenly Mountain Sword Sect also brought a disciple with a sword to offer birthday congratulations."

"But now how..."

Lin Qiaofu opened her mouth, but could no longer speak.

Yuchi Jie smiled wryly, having somewhat guessed about this matter, but said nothing, his gaze lingering on Hong Luoyu, who was sitting beside him, seemingly with his eyes closed in meditation, and he laughed, saying:

"So... senior, what do you think?"

Hong Luoyu opened his eyes.

For some reason, Yuchi Jie thought he saw a moment of hesitation in his eyes, pausing slightly, but soon he heard a casual chuckle.

Then, he saw Hong Luoyu leaning back against the carriage, his eyes lively, none of the hesitation he had noticed before was evident, and he simply laughed at his own overthinking.

Hong Luoyu touched his chin with the palm of his right hand, slightly raising his eyebrows, and said:

"That's hard to say."

"Hard to say?"

Yuchi Jie was a bit surprised.

This was not what he had expected.

Hong Luoyu nodded, his face losing some of its usual frivolity and gaining a bit of the deep, solemn demeanor of a grandmaster, and slowly swept a look over the people in the carriage, speaking calmly:

"Yes, it's hard to say."

"Martial Artists are not mechanical people from the Mo Family; they add a bit of Inner Strength when heavily intoxicated, yet their moves can lose their structure. Mindset and experience, all can influence the state of combat, and even in mechanical beings, there are times of joint wear and significant loss of function, let alone in humans."

"Martial Artists, especially swordsmen above Middle Third Rank, can perform at an extremely high level, so high that a sword could pierce the heavens, but the lower limit of their strength can also be quite low, even being defeated or killed by a Seventh Rank Martial Artist with a death wish."

"This is not unusual; it happens from time to time in the Jianghu."

The three people in the carriage quieted down, listening as Hong Luoyu slowly narrated, while Taisu Jian, who had just endured a direct sword strike that had his blood boiling, also calmed his breathing and sat quietly, listening.

Hong Luoyu slowly said:

"Based on just now, Feng held a sharp sword in his hand, but still used up to eighty-seven moves before deflecting the other's effortless thrust, seeming at a great disadvantage."

"But one cannot know how long that person had been waiting in front of Sanshan Pavilion."

"Nor could one know how much fighting power he still had after that thrust."

"If he came an hour early and stood to nurture his Qi, then suddenly burst forth in an aggressive attack, catching Feng unprepared, then naturally he had the upper hand."

If so, it means that every move of mine was in the eyes of my opponent.

And they certainly had no shortage of manpower on their side.

Yuchi Jie understood this, but kept these morale-dampening thoughts to himself, only smiling and saying, "That seems to mean that the pale man in white robes, the consumptive trickster, mustn't be a match for Brother Wang in a real fight."

Hong Luoyu initially wanted to bluntly retort that he was either blind or foolish, but then realized his current status as a once-in-a-lifetime great senior and couldn't afford to lose face, merely clearing his throat lightly and saying:

"Whether he's strong or weak, we will only know after fighting him someday."

"This person made a single thrust with his sword and then turned away, clearly coming to issue a challenge by hinting in advance; however one views it, his actions can be considered upright."

Upright...

Yuchi Jie touched the wound on his face, recalling the momentary overwhelming Sword Qi that had come down like a barrage, touched his sleeve, and scoffed, saying:

"Upright? Perhaps."

"But truly disregarding the lives of ordinary people as well."

In Fufeng County City.

The greying Su Zhengcheng read through a document, his eyes quickly scanning until they fixed intensely on the second volume.

Starting from the first line, he slowed down, reading each line thoroughly.

He read the page several times back and forth, eventually pulling out the sheet densely packed with various events, primarily recording significant events that occurred in Fufeng County in the past.

Such as the annihilation of White Tiger Hall.

Below it briefly described the heinous crimes they committed, how Great Qin dealt with them, and the uncertainties; there was but one uncertainty: a high-ranking Fourth Rank master from White Tiger Hall was killed with a bamboo stick as a sword, and the attacker seemed to be connected to another case of that year.

He hadn't paid attention to this because something else caught his eye.

Without thinking deeply, he glanced over it and thought that the so-called 'Yi Nanping' and the son of Wang Tiance had nothing to do with each other, quickly glossing over that brief record.

His eyes fell to the bottom of the page.

Great Qin Great Yuan Era, October of Year One.

The valley master of Pharmacist Valley moved a thousand miles in one day, showing one man carrying mountains."

Pausing, he pulled out another document and placed it beside the original.

Great Qin Great Yuan Era, October of Year One.

The son of Wang Tiance left Fufeng Academy.

Comparing the two documents, Su Zhengcheng couldn't help but gasp, his expression subtly shifting, murmuring:

"Great Grandmaster...?"

PS: Today I present the second update..........

I've heard news that from June 2 to June 6, Qi Dian's platform will be undergoing maintenance, and neither this chapter nor the comment function will be available...

Ladies and gentlemen, feel my despair...