Chapter Nine: Fury

“Pfft—” The two of them simultaneously spat out a mouthful of blood, crashing heavily to the ground. They had not anticipated Pei Yue would act so suddenly, and caught off guard, both were severely wounded.

“Pei Yue, how dare you attack us!” Chen Jie roared, rushing to Yuan Chen and Xu Lie’s side. Seeing their pale faces, his rage burned uncontrollably.

The disciples of the Heart Sword Sect surged forward, forming a protective circle around the three, their gazes wary as they watched Pei Yue.

Pei Yue snorted coldly, “This is the price for not controlling their mouths. Hmph, I didn’t destroy their cultivation—already giving them plenty of face! Otherwise, with you lot, mere chickens and dogs, I could slap you all dead with a single palm!”

Supported by Chen Jie, Yuan Chen managed to stand, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. He addressed Quan Guanxin, “Quan Guanxin, do you share Pei Yue’s view as well?”

Quan Guanxin smiled faintly, as if untouched by the events unfolding before him, and replied indifferently, “If it were me, I’d act the same. If you lack strength, keep your mouth shut.”

“You—” Yuan Chen’s gaze chilled, humiliation rising within him. If only the Heart Sword Sect were not so weak, would they have to endure such disgrace?

Pei Yue chuckled disdainfully, “You’re dissatisfied? This is the symbol of power. If one day your Heart Sword Sect surpasses my Sword of Man Sect, you could humiliate me just the same!”

“Is that so?” No sooner had Pei Yue finished speaking than two figures descended before the Heart Sword disciples. They glanced at the wounded Yuan Chen and Xu Lie. Long Yun’s gaze was icy cold.

“Pei Yue, was this your doing?” Before Xue Renqi on the side could speak, Long Yun addressed Pei Yue in a chilling tone.

Pei Yue felt Long Yun’s cold stare slice through him, and a sudden tremor ran through his heart. Only the thought of the Fifth Senior Brother standing behind him dispelled that brief terror. He straightened his chest and declared, “Yes, and what of it?”

“Forgot the pain as soon as the wound healed, did you?” Long Yun’s voice spread calmly, and before the words faded, his figure flashed ahead, instantly appearing before Pei Yue.

Such speed! Even Quan Guanxin’s expression changed abruptly; with his sharp eyes, he saw only a blur. Instinctively, he struck out with a palm to block Long Yun’s advance.

Pei Yue felt a chilling murderous intent seep into his body, his throat tightened—an enormous hand gripped him, and his body was shifted aside, right between Quan Guanxin and Long Yun.

“Not good!” Quan Guanxin saw his palm about to strike Pei Yue’s back, twisted his body, turned the palm into a fist, and redirected it toward Long Yun’s head.

Long Yun sneered, true energy surging through his arm, instantly sealing Pei Yue’s cultivation and tossing him aside. At the same time, his left hand rose, meeting Quan Guanxin’s fist with his own.

“Boom—” A muffled thud sounded as both were thrown backward, but Long Yun retreated seven or eight steps farther than Quan Guanxin.

Quan Guanxin’s expression shifted—Cultivation Gathering Realm? How long had it been? A month? He broke through again! Was this kid human or monster?

“Good! Now you are qualified to fight me!” Quan Guanxin’s eyes narrowed, his longsword ringing as it was drawn.

Long Yun smiled disdainfully, “No qualification? Yet you challenge me just the same. Senior Brother, sword—”

At his word, Yuan Chen tossed the longsword to Long Yun. Gripping it, Long Yun’s vast sword intent erupted, sword energy humming, instantly entering a tranquil sword domain!

Quan Guanxin flicked his wrist, the sword became a streak of light, feet advancing, blade twisting, unleashing the ultimate Sword of Man Sect technique, ‘Boundless Ocean Sword.’

Layers upon layers of sword energy surged like advancing waves—dense, endless, rushing wildly toward Long Yun!

Long Yun’s expression remained unchanged. With a flick of his sword, energy shot forth, his immense sword intent transforming into a unique realm.

In that instant, a sense of compassion and sorrow spread, containing great mercy, as though seeking to save all under heaven—a sword to awaken the world.

One of the five ultimate killing sword techniques—the Sword of Great Compassion and Joy!

The two streams of sword energy collided with a roar, ripples expanding from their intersection, power raging!

The Sword of Great Compassion and Joy—the legendary supreme sword technique of the Jade Sword Sect, said to have been created by a famed elder who once practiced Buddhism, later entered the Jade Sword Sect by fate, blending Buddhist and Daoist swordsmanship, and forged this earth-shattering, soul-stirring supreme technique that was all the rage.

With the help of the Sword Stone’s soul, Long Yun had fully grasped the essence of this technique. Now, wielding it, his mastery was effortless and its power greatly enhanced.

Though ‘Boundless Ocean Sword’ was a superior technique as well, it was still several grades beneath the Sword of Great Compassion and Joy. Thus, this collision ended in an even match.

“As expected, just using the Sword of Great Compassion and Joy allows me to cross a level and draw even with Quan Guanxin. If I add sword intent, even a seventh-tier Bone Refining expert would be a match for me!” Long Yun thought silently.

Quan Guanxin was shocked by Long Yun’s sword, but more than anything, he harbored hatred. As the Fifth Senior Brother of the Sword of Man Sect, idolized by countless junior brothers and sisters, to be matched in a single move by a Heart Sword Sect disciple who had barely been here a year—what a humiliation. He had to win, and not just win, but utterly cripple Long Yun.

His sword thrust forward, sword energy swelling to over ten feet, cultivation at the Spirit Concealing Realm pushed to the limit, space rippling where the energy passed.

The sword energy slashed through the air—pale blue, like rushing seawater, dazzlingly beautiful under the sunlight.

Long Yun smiled lightly, the Sword of Great Compassion and Joy thrust out once more. The longsword seemed alive; as its blade swept by, golden runes drifted forth.

The sky seemed infected, resonating with countless celestial chants, soothing the soul. Amidst talismans and Buddhist words, the ordinary longsword became fully coated in gold.

In that moment, Quan Guanxin was dazed, his emotions affected by the sword energy—hatred vanished completely.

“Clang—” Long Yun’s sword energy pierced straight through Quan Guanxin’s blue sword energy, the compassion within bursting forth and shredding Quan Guanxin’s energy, then the sword sliced across his wrist.

“Ah—” Quan Guanxin screamed, his sword clattering to the ground, crisp and clear, while a fine wound slowly spread across his wrist.

Long Yun, after all, showed mercy, not severing his tendons, but the wound would prevent him from wielding a sword for ten days—a punishment for his previous attitude!

“Boom—” A kick landed squarely on Quan Guanxin’s chest. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground!

Long Yun ignored Quan Guanxin’s stunned, disbelieving gaze and instead grabbed the petrified Pei Yue, raising him high overhead!

“Long Yun! What are you going to do?” Feeling the icy murderous intent in Long Yun’s eyes, Pei Yue’s face twisted with terror.

“Slap! Slap!” More than a dozen crisp slaps rang out. Though Long Yun used no true energy, he put all his strength into them!

After the barrage, Pei Yue’s cheeks were swollen high.

“Now I am the victor. This is your punishment—my humiliation of you. If you dare bully Heart Sword Sect disciples again, I’ll break your arm! The third time, I’ll take your life!” Long Yun said coldly.

With one hand, he tossed the starry-eyed Pei Yue, sending him flying to land in front of the Sword of Man Sect disciples.

They were long used to arrogance, to bullying Heart Sword Sect disciples, never imagining a day like this would come. All of them stood stunned.

“Long Yun, how dare you humiliate Sword of Man Sect disciples like this! You truly have courage beyond measure!” Seeing Pei Yue’s misery, Quan Guanxin was filled with humiliation.

“Hmph! So only officials can light fires, but commoners can’t even light a lamp?” Long Yun snorted. “From now on, any Sword of Man Sect disciple who dares make trouble in Heart Sword Sect—I’ll beat each one I see!”

“Oh? Is that so? Then, should you beat me as well?” A calm voice sounded, and soon, Duan Tianyi’s figure appeared quietly before the crowd.