Chapter Thirty-Four: The Gate of Splendor and Heroism

“Brother Long Yun, how are you feeling?” Xiao Leng suddenly asked upon hearing Long Yun speak.

Long Yun was deeply grateful to Xiao Leng. After all, when he was on the brink of death, Xiao Leng had helped him without regard for his own safety. This favor weighed heavily on Long Yun’s heart.

“Brother Xiao Leng, thank you for what happened just now!” Long Yun rose to his feet and bowed respectfully to Xiao Leng.

Xiao Leng stood and patted Long Yun on the shoulder. “No need to thank me. I just couldn’t stand their behavior. Let’s return to Jade Sword Sect. It would be best to make this matter public!”

But Long Yun shook his head. “With just the two of us, we can’t gain the trust of all the disciples. We must plan carefully. Especially you, Brother Xiao—though you helped me this time and no one else knows, nothing stays hidden forever. When you return, you must be extremely cautious.”

Xiao Leng nodded. “Don’t worry, I understand.”

With that, the two sped toward the Jade Sword Sect. This outing had been a matter of life and death, but it was the kind of life Long Yun enjoyed most.

He was skilled at growing stronger through battle—a habit cultivated over many years. As long as he survived, his cultivation would advance significantly. This time was no exception; he had successfully broken through to the Spirit Condensation realm!

When they were about ten miles from the Jade Sword Sect, Xiao Leng and Long Yun parted ways, as Long Yun had requested. After all, Xiao Leng was a disciple of the Sword and Man lineage.

If Long Yun appeared at the Jade Sword Sect, the Grand Elder and Elder Duan would surely suspect that those sent to ambush him had been utterly destroyed, and might blame Xiao Leng as a result.

Xiao Leng said nothing about Long Yun’s departure and left first.

“Jade Sword Sect, I have returned. Qiu Di, Duan Tianyi—you disregarded the bond of fellow disciples and tried to kill me. But my fate is strong, and since I was not meant to die, perhaps it’s time for you to step aside!” Long Yun’s eyes flickered.

Before he even reached the mountain gate of the Jade Sword Sect, the sounds of battle echoed through the air, surprising him. Though Jade Sword Sect was but a minor order, it was renowned within this mountain range—few would dare provoke it. Who, then, was fighting outside its gate?

With this thought, Long Yun’s figure darted through the forest like a lynx, weaving between trees and leaping nimbly until he landed atop a tall tree a hundred feet from the battle.

Concealed by the foliage, he peered through the branches toward the center of the fray and could not help but smile.

Both combatants were masters of the Bone Transformation realm. On one side stood a Jade Sword Sect disciple; on the other, a young man in a blue robe with a blue headband—a headband that marked him as a member of Hua Ying Sect, a group as famous as Jade Sword Sect in the Green Mountain region.

Hua Ying Sect had risen to prominence in recent centuries. Rumor had it that their leader was a powerful figure from the Central Plains who founded the sect single-handedly, establishing its reputation in just five or six hundred years.

They were certainly no unknowns. Both Hua Ying Sect and Jade Sword Sect were medium-sized orders in the Green Mountain region, often at odds and engaging in both open and covert rivalry. Yet, such direct challenges at the mountain gate were rare.

The Hua Ying Sect disciple clearly held the advantage; his spiritual bones seemed superior to those of the Jade Sword Sect disciple, making him more formidable in battle.

Around the battlefield, a crowd had gathered—mostly Jade Sword Sect disciples, while Hua Ying Sect had only a dozen or so present. Still, because their senior brother was winning, their voices drowned out those of the Jade Sword Sect disciples.

A crisp clang rang out as the Hua Ying Sect disciple’s sword struck the Jade Sword Sect disciple’s blade, snapping it cleanly in two.

The blade hovered less than three inches from the Jade Sword Sect disciple’s throat. A slight push and the disciple would be dead on the spot, blood spraying everywhere.

“Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother. I am Hua Longyin of Hua Ying Sect. Is there any other brother who would care to teach me?” Hua Longyin spoke humbly, but his face could not conceal his arrogance and swagger.

The Jade Sword Sect disciple seemed to want to say something, but remembering his defeat, he sighed deeply and retreated into the crowd.

Hua Longyin’s gaze swept over the Jade Sword Sect disciples. He continued, “Our senior brother brought us here today simply to exchange pointers with you. We have no intention of causing harm. There is no need to fear—just look at the previous match as proof!”

“Damn it, you’re too arrogant! Let me see what you’re made of!” A burly Jade Sword Sect disciple strode forward to stand opposite Hua Longyin.

“And how should I address you, Senior Brother?” Hua Longyin asked, his tone respectful.

The disciple replied, “Fang Zhou, second disciple of the Earth Sword lineage. Hua Longyin, you are clearly a talented member of Hua Ying Sect—coming here to challenge us, I wonder what your true purpose is?”

Hua Longyin laughed. “Brother Fang, you flatter me. I’ve only come to accompany our senior brother in sparring with Brother Chang Yi. I simply couldn’t resist testing my skills against a few of your brothers first.”

Fang Zhou’s brows knit together. The visitor’s intentions were clearly hostile, not as simple as they claimed. He had observed Hua Longyin’s moves and recognized him as an outstanding master of the Bone Transformation realm—he himself was not certain of victory.

If not for the absence of challengers among the Jade Sword Sect and the resulting decline in morale, Fang Zhou would not have stepped forward so readily. Hua Longyin’s status within Hua Ying Sect must be significant.

Within Jade Sword Sect, only Chang Yi—the strongest disciple and master of the Heaven Sword lineage—and Chen Long, the senior disciple of the Earth Sword lineage, could confidently defeat Hua Longyin. Both, however, had reached the Rebirth realm; to fight Hua Longyin would invite gossip. Among the Bone Transformation realm, only Rui Dong, the second brother of the Heaven Sword lineage, and perhaps Xiao Leng, the genius of the Sword and Man lineage, could contend against him.

Hua Longyin’s eyes shone. “Since Brother Fang is willing to teach me, I shall respectfully accept. Please, you may make the first move.”

“Arrogant!” Fang Zhou snorted.

Among masters, whoever made the first move seized the advantage. Their cultivation was not far apart.

Yet Hua Longyin offered Fang Zhou the initiative, which infuriated him. This was not humility, but blatant contempt. Fang Zhou gritted his teeth and drew his sword with a ringing sound.

“If you’re so arrogant, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Fang Zhou shouted in anger, his sword sweeping forth and transforming into waves of sword light that surged toward Hua Longyin.

“Such a move plays right into his hands. Though he seized the initiative, his composure is disturbed. Fang Zhou is likely to lose this match,” Long Yun, hiding atop the tree, sighed and shook his head.

He could see that their cultivation was nearly equal. Hua Longyin’s spiritual bones were superior, but Fang Zhou had the advantage in pure energy.

Thus, if it came to a true contest, Fang Zhou had a chance of victory. But Hua Longyin’s words had unsettled him, disrupting his calm. The outcome seemed clear.

As Fang Zhou launched his furious attack, Hua Longyin retreated lightly, his movements fluid. He did not confront Fang Zhou head-on but deftly dodged the strike.

“Hm?” Fang Zhou’s sword met only air. He frowned, flicked his wrist, and unleashed the “Later Earth Sword Technique” of the Earth Sword lineage. The yellowish sword energy billowed like dust, obscuring the crowd’s view. Within the thick sword aura, a cold glint of sword light hid, stabbing toward Hua Longyin’s chest at a cunning angle.

Hua Longyin’s gaze grew calm. Though he had shattered Fang Zhou’s composure, Fang Zhou’s strength was not to be underestimated.

At once, Hua Longyin’s sword thrust forward, the tip surrounded by rings of light that pressed together and surged ahead like a hurricane. Wherever they passed, the yellowish sword energy was scattered and destroyed.