Chapter 335: Chapter 167: Steering with the Wind

Zhao Rui stood in mid-air as countless phantoms of Sword Qi erupted around him, like a host of transparent Treasure Swords swirling in his wake.

He formed a sword seal and pointed to the sky. Instantly, a clap of thunder exploded above.

A deafening BOOM echoed throughout the grand hall.

Everyone present was stunned.

’Is this the Martial Dao invoking the might of the heavens?’

"Thunder Light Soul Capturing, True Sword Qi, Void Transformation, Thunder Sword Evil Extermination!"

Zhao Rui let out a great shout. The Sword Qi swirling around him instantly solidified, transforming into Treasure Swords glinting with lightning. With a WHOOSH, they all shot toward the illusory giant tree before them.

A single strike was all it took to shatter the illusion. The light of the swords continued unabated, pressing on toward Cangsong.

Cangsong Taoist’s face fell in alarm. He clapped his palms together, and one giant tree after another manifested before him, taking the form of ancient, gnarled timbers to form a barrier.

’The Qingcheng Sword Sect actually has a Dharma Realm master! How is that possible?’

At this moment, the most horrified person of all was Director Wang, who was seated on the dais.

He had bet on the fact that the Qingcheng Sword Sect had no peerless masters at the Divine Void Realm, let alone the Dharma Realm, and was therefore destined to be picked clean.

That was why he had so readily agreed to the Qingcheng Sect’s demands.

If he had known the Qingcheng Sword Sect also had a Dharma Realm master, he wouldn’t have dared, not even if he’d been given a hundred times the courage!

’This is a disaster! What am I going to do now?’

Director Wang’s round face scrunched up like a bitter melon.

Unlike Director Wang, the many Martial Dao masters present were more astonished by Zhao Rui’s Thunder-Attracting Technique.

"That’s the Thunder-Invoking Exorcism Spell! He’s actually using a Daoist Technique to control a Thunder Sword Skill!"

As the crowd watched with narrowed eyes, each lost in their own thoughts, the scene on the floor unfolded.

The giant trees in the center of the hall had been reduced to nothing, obliterated by the sword light until not a trace remained.

Alarmed, Cangsong frantically channeled his True Essence. He slammed his hands on the ground, and with a great heave, yanked a massive vine out of the floor.

The vine grew larger and multiplied, quickly forming a barrier akin to a massive shield.

The lightning-infused sword light struck it, but for every layer it destroyed, a new one would sprout, seemingly without end.

"It looks like Cangsong Taoist intends to use his deep reserves of True Essence to wear down the manifestation of his opponent’s Sword Intent."

"Exactly. He must have realized that his opponent is young. Even if he’s reached the Dharma Realm, his Power can’t be that profound." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"So while Zhao Rui can’t break through the defense, Cangsong can’t withstand his lightning Sword Qi either. You could call it a draw, but the Qingcheng Sect is a massive, established entity..."

The crowd whispered amongst themselves, many shaking their heads.

Many of those present also had their own powerhouses who had returned from Gui Xu. Some were not merely fellow disciples of the same sect, but blood relatives from the same ancestral branch.

’But damn it, can two branches that split off more than five hundred years ago still be considered one family?!’

’If they weren’t outmatched in raw power, who would want to bow their heads and play the subordinate!’

’This exact situation had caused no shortage of disputes.’

’Sichuan Province had the Qingcheng Sword Sect standing up for itself, but did that mean the handovers in other provinces went smoothly?’

’No, in the end, it was because those returning sects, with the Court’s tacit approval, used their ridiculously overwhelming strength to crush all opposition.’

The onlookers sighed inwardly, all waiting with great anticipation to see what would become of the Qingcheng Sword Sect.

But from the looks of it, this was as far as the Qingcheng Sword Sect could go.

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Zhao Rui, in the center of the hall, suddenly withdrew his hand seal. His figure blurred as he leaped into the air. His hands moved through a Palm Technique like fluttering butterflies before coming together. Then, with a sudden, fierce motion, he shoved both palms forward.

Instantly, a lifelike Fire Dragon erupted from between his palms.

The Fire Dragon was crimson as flame. It opened its fearsome maw and lunged, its claws slamming into Cangsong’s Wooden Shield.

At the sight of the Fire Dragon, Zen Master Zhishan, who had been as immovable as Mount Taishan on the dais, suddenly snapped his eyes open, a sharp glint flashing within them.

"Dragon Subduing Palm!"

"No, wait... that flame..."

Just as he voiced his surprise, the dragon’s claws, with a sharp CRACK, shattered the vine shield to pieces. Simultaneously, the flames on its claws ignited all the True Qi-infused splinters.

In an instant, the entire mass of vines was burning from top to bottom.

Cangsong’s face paled in shock.

Before he could react, Zhao Rui attacked again with the Dragon Subduing Palm.

Cangsong scrambled to dodge, cutting a sorry figure.

"You’ve gone too far! This is outrageous! Where are the Qingcheng Disciples?"

Cangsong roared.

The seven or eight Qingcheng Disciples who had accompanied him leaped into the fray, swords in hand, and charged at Zhao Rui.

Alarmed, Yu Zhengnan moved to lead his own disciples forward to help.

But with a casual wave of his hand, Zhao Rui pushed them back out of the combat area.

"Can’t win so you’re relying on numbers?"

He gave a dashing smile and drew a long flute from an exquisite cloth pouch hanging at his waist.

"Allow me to play a tune, and let us dissolve ten thousand years of sorrow together!"

Suddenly, the sound of the flute rose from his lips. It was a lingering, graceful melody—now a soft cry, now a mournful sob, at times a soaring aria, at others a low chant.

Upon hearing the flute, the crowd felt their Divine Souls stir and their True Essence roil. They hastily performed Qi Gathering and focused their minds to shield themselves from the sonic assault.

The flute’s melody continued unabated as Zhao Rui’s figure drifted among the Qingcheng Disciples.

He moved among them as if taking a leisurely stroll through a garden. The disciples swayed on their feet as if drunk, their expressions dazed and vacant.

Seeing Zhao Rui approach, the Qingcheng Disciples swung their swords at him, but in their confused state, they could only strike at his afterimages.

As the afterimages passed, the longswords of the Qingcheng Disciples were torn from their grasp. They shot into the air and began to dance gracefully to the melody of the flute.

One sword, then two...

In the blink of an eye, all their swords were suspended in mid-air, twisting and turning like a troupe of dancers.

"Is that... Sword Intent?"

This time, Zhi Shan could no longer remain seated.

For the Emei Sword Sect’s primary cultivation was none other than Divine Sword Intent.

"Just as you say, Zen Master. What I cultivate is indeed Sword Intent. And for that, I must thank the Emei Sect for allowing me to meditate on your gate’s plaque. It is how I came to have this small achievement."

Zhao Rui let the melody fade and spoke in a clear voice.

"Amitabha Buddha. That is due to your own natural aptitude, benefactor. Nevertheless, it makes for a fine tale indeed."

Zhi Shan’s lips moved slightly, and an immense power suddenly erupted, sweeping through the grand hall like a tidal wave.

"Namo Amitabha Buddha!"

The Buddha’s Voice swelled, booming like a great bell. It was a deafening sound, yet it also carried the wondrous quality of enlightenment, instantly clearing the minds of all who heard it.

Upon hearing the holy chant, the Qingcheng Disciples in the arena all snapped out of their stupor.

"Everyone, this affair concerning the Qingcheng sects is, after all, an internal matter. The Court has its own regulations for such things. It would be best to let Director Wang report this to his superiors and await a formal policy."

"Director Wang, what are your thoughts?"

"Yes, yes! Zen Master Zhishan is absolutely right! The previous arrangement was merely the petitioner’s proposal. We at the Martial Arts Association have always upheld fairness and impartiality. This matter requires further negotiation between the two parties!"

Hearing this, Director Wang readily agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

’These waters run a little too deep,’ he thought. ’I don’t want any part of this anymore.’

Hearing their exchange, Cangsong’s expression turned grim. He knew that today, his Qingcheng Sect had been defeated.

To stay any longer would only be to invite further humiliation.

"We’re leaving. There are urgent matters to attend to back at the sect. We shall meet again some other day!"

Visibly displeased, Cangsong gave a perfunctory cupped-fist salute to Zen Master Zhishan and Director Wang at the head of the hall before turning on his heel and leading his disciples straight out the doors.

With his departure, the conference drew to a close.

The various guests exchanged pleasantries. Some politely declined the Emei Sect’s invitation to stay and left immediately, while others remained behind to further strengthen their ties with their hosts.

Regardless, all of them made a point of stopping by the Qingcheng Sword Sect’s delegation to exchange greetings before they departed.

Yu Zhengnan was rather overwhelmed by the sudden favor, having not enjoyed this kind of treatment for a very long time.

He knew, of course, that all of this respect had been hard-won by Zhao Rui’s sheer power.

After the return of the people from Gui Xu, many small sects and even minor families now had Divine Soul Realm Grandmasters in residence, to say nothing of the medium and large-sized sects and clans.

A sect like the Qingcheng Sword Sect, which previously only had True Essence Realm masters to its name, would have quickly faded into obscurity without someone from Gui Xu joining their ranks.

When all was said and done, the Martial Dao was a world where strength reigned supreme.

Now that the conference was over, Yu Zhengnan planned to return at once. However, Zen Master Zhishan had taken a keen interest in Zhao Rui and personally invited the Qingcheng Sword Sect delegation to stay the night and depart the next day.

Yu Zhengnan glanced at Zhao Rui before nodding in acceptance.

"I was wondering, is Master Zhisheng at the monastery?"

Zhao Rui asked casually.

"Junior Brother Zhisheng has gone to Shaolin to discuss Buddhist Teachings. I’m afraid it will be over a month before he returns. Are you an acquaintance of my junior brother, friend?"

"We’ve met once before."

Zhao Rui smiled but didn’t elaborate.

Since he didn’t wish to elaborate, Zen Master Zhishan naturally didn’t press the matter, instead changing the subject to things related to Martial Arts.

Zen Master Zhishan was particularly interested in the subjects of Sword Qi and Sword Intent, and he and Zhao Rui conversed for the better part of the day.

Yu Zhengnan was completely lost in the fog of their conversation and could only sit there and keep them company.