Chapter 45: A Battle of Wits with the Innate Master

Atop the summit of Moon-Gazing Peak, before the Seven Absolutes Sect’s Scripture Pavilion, Qi Fei, relying on his cultivation at the Fifth Heaven of Martial Dao, sought to challenge Sima Yan, the Sect Master who had attained the Innate Realm.

Night enfolded the pavilion, and the confrontation between the old and the young seemed to render the very air heavy and oppressive.

Qi Fei spoke coldly, “Though I know I am not your match now, I am unwilling to miss the chance to pit myself against an Innate expert. Do not scorn a youth for his present poverty—though I may lose tonight, one day I shall return to Moon-Gazing Peak to settle this debt.”

The arrogance of the youth stirred a murderous intent in Sima Yan’s heart. In his fury, he laughed, “I wonder how your master taught you—daring to challenge an Innate expert with only the cultivation of Fifth Heaven. Such recklessness is utter ignorance.”

Though Qi Fei’s face remained unruffled, his mind was racing. Determined to provoke the Seven Absolutes Sect Master, he deliberately feigned confusion and said, “Sect Master Sima, you hesitate to strike—are you waiting for reinforcements?”

Repeatedly goaded, Sima Yan’s eyes flashed with ferocity, and at last, he could no longer contain his rage.

Seeing his plan succeed and Sima Yan truly angered, Qi Fei slowly shook his head, “Sect Master Sima, one must never lose composure in battle. Tonight, I sincerely wish to witness your Innate might. Though I have acted arrogantly, I do not wish to take advantage of your distraction. Compose yourself, and then we shall fight.”

Qi Fei’s words gave Sima Yan pause. Though the youth was arrogant, his conduct was forthright and honorable. Sima Yan gave a cold smile and said, “You have courage. Tonight, I shall at least leave you a whole corpse.”

Qi Fei’s face was set with resolve. “No need. All I ask tonight is to witness the Seven Absolutes’ supreme arts. Even if I die at your hand, I shall have no regrets.”

Both men warriors, Sima Yan found a measure of respect for him. “Since you wish it so, it cannot be said I bully the young. Before you die, I will allow you three moves.”

With Sima Yan ensnared and the three-move pact set, Qi Fei was greatly reassured. He slowly summoned the vast vital energy within his body, leaped into the air, and unleashed a ferocious killing fist at Sima Yan.

Qi Fei’s full strength erupted, his fist imbued with the chilling sword intent of the Proud Sword Art, tearing through the night with a shrill howl and crashing against the protective qi Sima Yan conjured.

Boom!

It was as if he were back in the mountain cave beneath the Cliff of Reflection, dueling with Guo Huai. This forceful punch, instead of breaking through Sima Yan’s casually summoned protective qi, rebounded with such power that it injured Qi Fei’s hand and meridians.

Qi Fei was deeply shaken. Elder Yang Hui had also conjured protective qi, but had still been defeated by Qi Fei’s peerless fists. Now, he realized just how formidable the Innate master’s defense was, no weaker than Guo Huai’s formidable body after forsaking his Daoist cultivation.

Since the three-move pact had been made, Qi Fei, after flexing his swollen hand, simply sat cross-legged before the pavilion.

Sima Yan was surprised. “What are you doing?”

Qi Fei replied with perfect composure, “You yourself said you’d allow me three moves. Are you going back on your word?”

Sima Yan paused, then understood—the boy dared to toy with him! Yet, having spoken, how could the master of Seven Absolutes lower himself to break his word?

Regret filled Sima Yan’s heart. Though he’d harbored murderous intent, he had also respected the youth’s forthrightness in facing Innate power. Confident in his own strength, he had made the three-move pact, never expecting to be caught in the youth’s cunning trap. The mighty Innate master was left speechless with anger at the youth’s slyness.

Qi Fei secretly wiped cold sweat from his brow, but seeing Sima Yan’s shifting expression and that he did not strike, was reassured.

Sima Yan had claimed he could kill Qi Fei in one move. Qi Fei knew the Innate power must be as overwhelming as described, far beyond what he could now withstand.

Though protected by a spiritual jade and possessing the miraculous Bloodshadow Escape, Qi Fei dared not be reckless. Thus he provoked Sima Yan and tricked him into the three-move pact, gaining the chance to witness Innate power and, perhaps, escape with his life.

Soon, a crowd of Seven Absolutes disciples arrived, drawn by the commotion.

Seeing their furious master and the calm, cross-legged youth, the elders and disciples were astonished.

This youth was clearly the one who had intruded upon Moon-Gazing Peak—but why this bizarre scene? Could the youth be an old acquaintance? Or was his cultivation so high that even the master dared not act rashly?

The mysterious tableau before the pavilion perplexed all. The master’s vigilant gaze, fixed on the relaxed youth, cowed the elders into silence.

Confused, the disciples whispered among themselves, but Sima Yan, whose spiritual senses were sharp, heard every word.

Sima Yan’s anger blazed; his face flushed red. “How long do you intend to drag this out? Where is your earlier arrogance?”

Qi Fei realized the master’s patience was at its limit and dared not provoke him further.

Having mended his injured meridians, Qi Fei stood, battle spirit burning as he faced the inscrutable Innate master.

With a thought, he summoned his vital energy, leaped before Sima Yan, and his fists blossomed into countless shadows.

With the three-move pact in place, Qi Fei used his full power, merging the myriad fist shadows into one. Veins bulged on his face as he shouted, unleashing the ultimate sword technique, the Heaven-Cleaving Strike from the Immortal Execution Sword Canon, in the form of a thunderous punch.

Sima Yan’s expression changed. This youth, with only the Fifth Heaven of Martial Dao, was so formidable that his punch faintly bore Innate power. Casting aside contempt, Sima Yan marshaled his true qi, conjuring an even mightier shield of protective qi.

With a deafening crash, Qi Fei’s mighty punch struck the shield.

A glow flared from the shield as Qi Fei’s battered hands fractured anew. Swallowing his blood, he stared with desperate resolve.

Protected by his spiritual jade, Qi Fei ignored his wounds. Sensing rare opportunity, he unleashed another storm of punches upon Sima Yan’s shield.

Even Sima Yan was shaken by the force of the blows, his blood roiling. He had expected Qi Fei to pause and heal after each attack, but the cunning youth, heedless of injury, pressed his assault with mad ferocity.

Was he truly unafraid of death? Sima Yan felt a sudden unease.

Though Qi Fei had attained the Fifth Heaven, he had never learned the secret of externalizing internal energy to form protective qi. His wild barrage was, in fact, a way to divine the mysteries of the Innate master’s defense.

Once, the Innate Sect Master had been an invincible figure among the Seven Absolutes. But now, seeing the boy’s sleeves burst, fists flying, pressing their master to the limit, the elders and disciples felt their awe waver.

Though they saw the youth’s cultivation was only at the Fifth Heaven and his form was battered and desperate, his manic battle spirit inspired fear.

The three moves spent, Sima Yan roared, his protective qi surging and dispersing Qi Fei’s onslaught.

With a thunderclap, Sima Yan unleashed the sect’s ultimate art, the Thunderclap Palm. Its power was worlds apart from the version used by Fang Yunhai.

With a shattering peal, the palm wind exploded before the pavilion. Unable to dodge, Qi Fei summoned all his vital energy to meet the attack head-on.

Eight-Armed Gale met Thunderclap.

With a tremendous boom, Qi Fei’s bloodied, fractured fists were obliterated by Sima Yan’s Innate-powered Thunderclap Palm.

Qi Fei, who had suppressed his blood for so long, used his remaining vital energy to spit a jet of blood at Sima Yan in a flash of insight.

Though an Innate master, Sima Yan, struck by Qi Fei’s insidious frost energy during the clash, found himself unable to muster fresh qi in time. With the two so close, he could only raise his hand to shield his face, and so was struck on the arm by the blood arrow.

Reeling from the Thunderclap Palm, Qi Fei was sent flying. He realized that, unable to break the shield, with his hands and meridians shattered, if he did not flee now, when would he?

Having glimpsed the secret of the protective qi, Qi Fei shouted in midair,

“Exhilarating!”

Before Sima Yan or the elders could act, Qi Fei summoned his last reserves of vital energy. With the Bloodshadow Escape, he became a blur and vanished from all their sight.