The Decaying World-Chapter 126 - 118: Learned, Part 2

Qingfeng Temple.

"I am the itinerant Tao Xuehai, here today to challenge Observatory Master Lin Hui, the Invisible Sword of Qingfeng Temple. I ask that the Observatory Master not hold back in his instruction. These three Heart-Focusing Red Sun Pills will serve as the stake. Regardless of victory or defeat, these elixirs will be gifted to Qingfeng Temple."

On the training grounds, a man in a dark blue cloak, a curved saber in hand, was followed by a medicine boy. Despite being surrounded and watched by several hundred people from Qingfeng Temple, he didn’t bat an eye, boldly declaring his challenge to Lin Hui.

The surrounding disciples crowded in to watch the spectacle. Ever since Lin Hui had demonstrated his strength on several occasions, the reputation of his Invisible Sword had grown, spreading throughout the nearby Outer Cities.

As a result, more and more challengers were drawn to him.

Many of them were New Martial Artists trying to make a name for themselves by using the Invisible Sword as a stepping stone. A few, however, possessed genuine skill. As a show of goodwill, and to cater to Lin Hui’s known preference, they would even offer precious aphrodisiacs as a stake.

This had led some to privately dub the name of his Invisible Sword the "Invisible Yang-Enhancing Sword."

Now, Tao Xuehai’s challenge had instantly drawn in the many disciples who were already bored and looking for entertainment.

"What’s your cultivation level? How dare you challenge our Observatory Master? Don’t you know that even Circulation Martial Artists can only fight our Observatory Master to a draw?" a loud-voiced female disciple called out.

"My master has naturally reached Inner Power Perfection. He has traveled from a distant town, hoping to use the pressure of this trial by combat to break through to the Circulation Realm!" Tao Xuehai didn’t speak, but the boy behind him announced proudly.

Inner Power Perfection!?

Upon the announcement of this realm, the crowd grew much quieter.

After all, within the entire Qingfeng Temple, only Xue Meng had reached such a level.

This was certainly not someone they could afford to mock.

Having stated his cultivation, Tao Xuehai closed his eyes to rest his mind, standing quietly in the middle of the training grounds to wait.

Meanwhile, one of the disciples had already gone to report to Lin Hui.

Chen Sui, Wang Hongshi, and the others were also in the crowd, watching the man.

"What do you think the Observatory Master’s current strength is? This guy knows the Observatory Master fought a Circulation Martial Artist to a draw, yet he still dares to challenge him. He must have something up his sleeve," Chen Sui said in a low voice.

"He’s likely comparable to the Circulation level. He wants to break through but doesn’t dare to challenge an actual Circulation Martial Artist, so he came for our Observatory Master. He must have honed in on that fact—not a Circulation Martial Artist, but just as strong. It’s the perfect opportunity for someone like him to temper himself, needing pressure without wanting to be utterly crushed," Wang Hongshi whispered.

"The key thing is, this guy is a bit young..." Huang Shan said, narrowing her eyes. As a genius herself, she was sensitive to matters of age. She could tell at a glance that this Tao Xuehai seemed quite young.

"He is young. I’d guess he’s not over thirty," chimed in Zhao Jiang’an, the former Second Senior Brother of Qingfeng Temple who had been laying low for a long time.

He had hidden away at home for a long time, but seeing Qingfeng Temple grow stronger and stronger, he eventually gave in to his family elders’ persuasion. He came to Qingfeng Temple, admitted his mistake to Lin Hui, and was thus considered to have returned to the sect.

"You’re all guessing way off. My master just turned twenty this year." The medicine boy had apparently overheard their conversation and turned his head to shout.

Just turned twenty!!?

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone’s heart skipped a beat.

There had been other challengers before, but none were as outrageous as this one.

Sixth Layer of Inner Power Perfection at just twenty!? What did that even mean? His aptitude was almost comparable to that of the Liu Wu Jun siblings.

Back then, Liu Xiao had broken through to Inner Power Perfection at twenty, and then spent several years before breaking through to the Circulation Realm. Now, this Tao Xuehai was in the same position. Those who understood the implications of this all felt a chill run through them.

SWISH.

Suddenly, Xue Meng appeared on the training grounds, his brows furrowed as he looked at Tao Xuehai.

"If you wish to challenge the Observatory Master, you’ll have to get past this old man first."

Lin Hui was the public face of Qingfeng Temple, as well as their final trump card. If just anyone could challenge him whenever they pleased, it would cheapen his status, and Lin Hui himself would be annoyed.

Therefore, it was necessary for him, as the gatekeeper, to step forward and screen them.

He had turned away many challengers before, but this time, as Xue Meng sized up Tao Xuehai, he felt uncertain.

"Very well. I am aware of Senior Xue Meng, the number two figure of Qingfeng Temple," Tao Xuehai said with a gentle smile and a calm demeanor.

"Everyone, make way! Clear an area to avoid any accidental injuries." Xue Meng waved his hand, signaling for everyone to retreat to a safe distance.

As everyone backed away, a circular area was cleared for the two to fight.

Xue Meng and Tao Xuehai each took a step forward. Facing each other, one drew a saber and the other a sword.

Seeing that Xue Meng also drew a sword, Tao Xuehai’s brow furrowed.

"Senior Xue Meng founded the Intention Blade Sect. Your saber techniques are extraordinary. Why...?"

"That was before I met the Observatory Master. I have long since abandoned the saber to study the sword, following the Observatory Master’s great path," Xue Meng said solemnly. He didn’t seem to care at all that he was several decades older than Lin Hui.

But this attitude, in turn, earned him Tao Xuehai’s respect.

The two stood in a standoff, weapons in hand, for several breaths.

"Senior, be careful. The Martial Art I practice is called the Nine Appearances of Clouds and Mist. It shifts between illusion and reality, with every technique a killing blow. It is extremely dangerous," Tao Xuehai explained earnestly.

"You must also be careful. The swordsmanship I use is the Perfect Clear Wind Sword, refined by the Observatory Master. The explosive power of its techniques is immense," Xue Meng replied, reciprocating the gesture. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

After another few seconds of silence.

Tao Xuehai suddenly stepped forward.

PUFF!

A cloud of white vapor exploded from his body, like a real fog, instantly enveloping an area of more than ten meters and swallowing Xue Meng within it.

For a moment, the crowd on the outside couldn’t see what was happening at all. They could only hear the rapid, dense ringing of a thousand blades and swords clashing.

It was clear that both were fighting speed with speed, the rhythm incredibly fast.

After about a dozen breaths, a muffled grunt was suddenly heard.

Xue Meng flew backward, shooting out of the mist and landing at the edge of the training grounds, where he stood firm.

On the wrist of his right hand, which gripped his sword, an extremely fine cut had appeared.

His expression was grim, his gaze fixed with shock and doubt on Tao Xuehai, who was slowly walking out of the mist.

"No wonder you dare to challenge the Observatory Master. With a saber technique that fast... you must be from the Inner City, right?"

"This is indeed an Extreme Martial Art," Tao Xuehai replied with a smile and a nod.

Only the Inner City would have such a formidable saber technique, one that could even contend with the Perfect Clear Wind Sword.

It was obvious this fellow was some kind of martial arts fanatic who had simply stumbled upon Qingfeng Temple in his quest for challenges.

"I have lost... Thank you, sir, for showing mercy..." Xue Meng said with difficulty after a moment of silence.

"Now, I should be qualified to challenge the Observatory Master, shouldn’t I?" Tao Xuehai smiled.

"...Of course," Xue Meng said, his voice dry.

"The Observatory Master is here!!"

"Make way!"

"Look, does the Observatory Master seem even more handsome than before? Or is it just my imagination!?"

"Why do I feel like the Observatory Master’s aura is even stronger than before!?"

"I feel it too..."

The disciples, students, and even the elders all parted to form a path.

At the end of the path, Lin Hui approached at a leisurely pace, a black longsword in his hand and a calm expression on his face.

He wasn’t in a very good mood. This person’s challenge had interrupted his practice of the Body Tempering Gale Swordsmanship. However, the man had defeated Xue Meng and had politely offered an aphrodisiac elixir beforehand.

So, no matter what, he had to treat him with courtesy and deal with the situation.

’I really need to train a disciple who can handle these things for me...’ The thought arose in his mind.

He walked up to Xue Meng and Tao Xuehai, stopping about seven or eight meters away. He glanced at the wound on Xue Meng’s hand.

"You’ve worked hard, Elder Xue. Go and rest for now."

"Alright." Xue Meng’s heart settled. Seeing Lin Hui appear, a smile spread across his face.

He didn’t go to rest completely, but instead flashed over to the side, joining a few disciples in the crowd to watch.

Everyone firmly believed that Lin Hui would win; the only questions were how and in what manner.

Lin Hui sized up Tao Xuehai.

The man had average features, with a heroic air and not a hint of effeminacy. Beneath his cloak, he wore purple-black martial attire.

There was a saying in Tuyue: to gauge a man’s background, identity, and status, the first thing to look at was his belt.

For commoners of ordinary status, this belt was usually a strip of cloth or woven straw. Those with a little money used pigskin.

Better ones were made of tanned cowhide, deerskin, rabbit fur, or mink. Cowhide was the most common of these.

But the most important part of the belt, the buckle, was an even greater indicator of a man’s aesthetic taste, wealth, and status.

Tao Xuehai’s belt was made of crimson cowhide, fastened with a monster-shaped buckle resembling a bat, crafted from gold-inlaid black jade.

Hanging from the side and back of the leather belt were a jade pendant, a coin pouch, a dart pouch, an elixir pouch, and more. Each was exquisitely patterned, making it clear at a glance that he was not from an ordinary family.

Lin Hui recalled that not even Wang Yueheng’s belt was this exquisite and elaborate.

And what was Wang Yueheng’s status? An Upper-Grade Summoning!

Yet the man before him was only at Inner Power Realm Perfection.

"In truth, challenging me won’t help you at all," Lin Hui said softly after finishing his observation.

"Why is that?" Tao Xuehai’s smile faded. He gripped his saber with both hands, bowed his body, lowered his head, and assumed a ready stance.

"Because," Lin Hui paused, "if you cannot suppress me with pure cultivation, then you will inevitably be drawn into a duel of finding each other’s flaws."

"And so?" Tao Xuehai frowned.

Lin Hui watched him, said no more, and turned to leave, sword in hand.

"Wait!!" Tao Xuehai froze for a second, then shouted and started to give chase.

But he had only taken a single step with his right foot.

PFFT!

A faint cracking sound came from his hair.

The coronet holding his hair in place instantly split in two. With it, his long hair burst free, sent flying back by a strong gust of air.

"!!!?" Tao Xuehai was completely stunned.

Xue Meng was stunned, too.

It wasn’t just them. Among the hundreds of pairs of eyes in the crowd, not a single person had seen when Lin Hui drew his sword, nor when he had returned to his original spot.

No one had perceived the sword strike at all!!!

Standing rooted to the spot for a moment, Tao Xuehai stared at Lin Hui’s retreating back, the expression on his face twisting and changing.

Seeing that the man was about to disappear from his line of sight.

He suddenly broke into a run to catch up.

"I want to learn! What is this swordsmanship? Observatory Master Lin!?"

Even now, he couldn’t recall a single detail or outline of that sword strike.

It was as if his coronet had split on its own, leaving behind an impossibly smooth and clean cut.

That one strike had overturned all his knowledge and perception of the Martial Dao since he began his training!

’So, Martial Arts can be pursued this way!?’

In that instant, the shock and doubt in Tao Xuehai’s eyes transformed into a fervent, an absolute, fanaticism.

"I don’t want to teach you. If you truly wish to learn, you can just sign up to join the temple," Lin Hui replied without turning his head after a slight pause.

"Sign up??! A swordsmanship like this... Surely the Observatory Master doesn’t teach it to everyone in the temple?" Tao Xuehai was stunned again.

Shouldn’t a high-speed swordsmanship like this be kept secret, passed down from generation to generation as a legacy martial art?

How...

"My sword is perfect. Besides me, no one can match it. Even if I taught it to others, no one could reach my level," Lin Hui said casually. "Or do you think I’m afraid someone will learn my swordsmanship and then surpass me?"

He glanced back at him, his figure flickered, and he vanished from the spot.

Tao Xuehai stood where he was. Seeing a Body Technique so fast he could barely follow it, the fanaticism in his eyes grew even more intense.

"Indeed... I was right to come out of the city on this trip!!"