Chapter Sixty-Six: Fierce Battle

On the main hall atop Qingyang Peak within the Danxia Sect, under the gaze of all present, Sima Yan—harboring a grudge against Qi Fei—pressed him relentlessly with words. Forced into the fray, Qi Fei had no choice but to face Cheng Feng, a master of the Mysterious Gate from Xuanzhen Temple at the Out-of-Body stage.

Qi Fei’s calm composure puzzled the onlookers. This seemingly unremarkable disciple of Danxia Sect—could he truly, as Sima Yan claimed, stand against Cheng Feng, the prodigy who slew Huo Zhongmou and distinguished himself among the Mysterious Gate?

Nearby, Chu Qingyun’s eyes flickered with intrigue. Since Xuanzhen Temple had pledged allegiance to that wretched bloodline, if this youth was as formidable as Sima Yan claimed, capable of overcoming Cheng Feng, then Chu Qingyun resolved to recruit him into his own ranks.

Having made up his mind, Chu Qingyun spoke loudly, “Master Cangsong, since this Danxia disciple seeks to contest Elder Mo’s claim to the sect leader’s seat, why not let him and Cheng Feng settle it with a duel?”

Though Master Cangsong harbored doubts, he was confident in Cheng Feng’s abilities. He smiled and said, “Very well, let these two determine who prevails. But to avoid missing the auspicious hour, if Cheng Feng wins again, the Danxia Sect leader’s position shall pass to Elder Yang Zheng. How does the young marquis feel about this?”

Chu Qingyun refused to yield and countered, “And if Qi Fei prevails?”

Master Cangsong hesitated, then, secure in his disciples’ prowess—beyond the reach of mere innate martial experts—laughed, “Should Qi Fei defeat Cheng Feng, Elder Mo shall succeed as Danxia Sect leader, and Xuanzhen Temple will no longer interfere in matters on Qingyang Peak.”

Chu Qingyun surveyed the envoys from the major sects and declared, “Let us all bear witness. With so many eyes upon them, surely Xuanzhen Temple will not renege on its word.”

Cheng Feng, a genius deeply valued by his sect, was not cowed by the young marquis of the Mighty Marquis’s Estate. He coldly replied, “Young marquis, I will soon send this boy to join Huo Zhongmou. You need not worry about Xuanzhen Temple meddling in Danxia’s affairs.”

Chu Qingyun was unperturbed, leading his retinue of masters to stand aside by the hall, their eyes fixed upon the composed Qi Fei.

Curiosity filled everyone’s hearts—they were eager to witness this Danxia disciple’s abilities. Before long, a wide space was cleared in the hall’s center, leaving Qi Fei and Cheng Feng facing each other.

Cheng Feng, confident and proud, believed himself capable of contending even with innate martial experts. Qi Fei's reputation seemed middling; how could he possibly be a match? Thus, Cheng Feng was unwilling to seize the initiative, lest he diminish the prestige he had so painstakingly earned.

Qi Fei raised his hand to take the four-foot blade from his back, gazing down at the bloodstains beneath his feet. He sighed, “I had hoped to settle my feud with Elder Huo myself, but you beat me to it today. If I slay you now, it will be vengeance for Elder Huo. Should he know from the afterlife, he would surely share my sense of fate’s caprice.”

“Enough talk. Come at me,” Cheng Feng snarled, eyes aflame with murderous intent. His internal energy surged, his palms radiating streams of light as he awaited Qi Fei’s attack.

Under the watchful eyes of all, Qi Fei gripped his blade with one hand and stepped forward.

With that single step, it was as if a muffled thunderclap shattered the tranquility of the hall. The ground beneath Qi Fei’s foot splintered in layers. Exercising the Reverse Flow of the Spirit’s Insight, immense and fierce energy erupted from his meridians and acupoints. To the astonishment of all, Qi Fei’s cultivation soared dramatically.

Just as Cheng Feng’s previous step had stunned the crowd, Qi Fei’s move now shook everyone present. The Danxia Sect youth, previously thought mediocre, revealed a martial prowess bordering on the innate realm with just one step.

Sima Yan was deeply shocked. He had never imagined that Qi Fei, previously at the fifth tier of martial arts, could—within such a short time—not only break through to the sixth tier but also approach the threshold of the innate realm. Killing intent flared within Sima Yan; once Xuanzhen Temple was dealt with, the Seven Absolutes Sect would not let this youth escape.

Master Cangsong and the other Xuanzhen Temple masters’ expressions changed drastically. None had expected that among Danxia Sect’s outer disciples, there would be such a dazzling martial talent.

The Danxia disciples themselves were stunned. Elder Mo Zhanpeng, Elder Sun, and their followers, after their initial shock, were overjoyed. Their earlier worries that Qi Fei might be no match for Cheng Feng now seemed unfounded—Qi Fei had a real chance.

Yang Zheng and the Qingyang Peak disciples were dumbfounded by Qi Fei’s sudden surge of power. How could such a formidable figure appear within their sect? Hadn’t Qi Fei only become an inner disciple six months ago?

Masters from Frost Valley, Grand Luo Sword Sect, and Lianxia Sword Sect exchanged bewildered looks, inwardly marveling that Sima Yan’s words were indeed true. By martial arts alone, this youth was a rare prodigy. Yet how had no one seen through Qi Fei’s cultivation before?

Facing Qi Fei, Cheng Feng was equally stunned. This unremarkable Danxia disciple had, with a single step, elevated his strength enormously. But Cheng Feng, confident in his mastery of Mysterious Gate arts at the Out-of-Body stage, remained calm, his gaze fixed on Qi Fei, a hint of malice on his face. He must eliminate this threat today.

Qi Fei, too, had no intention of sparing this prodigy from Xuanzhen Temple. Though victory was not assured, he knew that hesitation would doom him. Forced into battle, he resolved to cast aside all worries and fight with everything he had.

Summoning his energy, spirit, and focus to their peak, Qi Fei let out a roar and sprang into the air. His blade sliced through the hall, radiating a chilling, bone-deep cold as it swept toward Cheng Feng.

Cheng Feng dared not be careless. His internal energy surged, summoning a tangible protective barrier formed by Mysterious Gate techniques.

The perfected Seven Absolutes Sect’s art—the Yin Fiend Blade Formula—struck Cheng Feng’s barrier, and, in a clash of energies, the hall exploded with dazzling streams of light.

With so many watching, Qi Fei could not employ the supreme sword arts of the Heart Sword Sect, relying instead on the Yin Fiend Blade Formula against Cheng Feng. Even so, the power of his blade awed all the martial artists present.

Sima Yan could hardly believe it. When Zhuo Jin’er had once demanded the Yin Fiend Blade Formula, he had begun to suspect Qi Fei. Yet he never imagined that within mere days, Qi Fei would master the Seven Absolutes Sect’s signature technique to such a degree.

“Seven Absolutes Sect’s Yin Fiend Blade Formula? But this martial energy feels odd. Could the gift Sima Yan mentioned be the Seven Absolutes Sect’s martial classic, ‘The Creation Martial Canon’?” The Frost Valley elder wondered, privately speculating about Qi Fei’s connection to the Seven Absolutes Sect.

Qi Fei channeled the energies of heaven and earth, his blade’s force shattering Cheng Feng’s protective barrier. Cheng Feng was furious, forced so quickly to employ his Out-of-Body technique.

The overwhelming strike dismantled his opponent’s defenses. Qi Fei pressed his advantage, his blade slicing with icy murderous intent toward Cheng Feng’s face.

Afraid of being wounded by Qi Fei’s chilling energy, Cheng Feng hastily deployed the Mysterious Gate’s supreme Out-of-Body technique. His internal energy erupted, and his spiritual soul transformed into a pure yang avatar—a spectral image wielding a sword, which swept aside Qi Fei’s icy blade aura.

Qi Fei, not yet at the innate stage, though his internal energy had reached its peak, found himself outmatched by the supernatural avatar.

Cheng Feng’s spectral form, wielding immense power, clashed with Qi Fei’s blade. Qi Fei felt his meridians burn, and were it not for the extraordinary energy from the Spirit Jade, he would have suffered grave injuries.

In the hall, Qi Fei was forced back step by step under the relentless assault of Cheng Feng’s avatar.

Cheng Feng, now confident, was seized with killing intent. Suddenly, the avatar’s sword summoned two blazing crimson flames, which crashed down upon Qi Fei’s blade.

Struck heavily, Qi Fei spat blood, his blade shattering.

Cheng Feng was overjoyed and moved to finish Qi Fei. But in that instant, Qi Fei’s figure blurred into a shadow, vanishing from Cheng Feng’s sight. Appearing suddenly at the side of the hall, Qi Fei unleashed a fierce punch toward Cheng Feng’s back.

Had it been Huo Zhongmou at the Out-of-Body stage, he would not have escaped defeat under Qi Fei’s sudden Blood Shadow Escape. Yet Cheng Feng, relying on his unique, demonic talent, found his physical body still capable of fighting.

A flash of light flickered from Cheng Feng’s hand; a prepared spirit talisman transformed into a shield, barely blocking Qi Fei’s powerful, murderous punch.

Boom!

Though Qi Fei, empowered by the Eight-Armed Thunder Fist and the energies of heaven and earth, shattered Cheng Feng’s hastily formed barrier, the next moment, Cheng Feng’s spectral avatar chased him down.

(P.S.: Three chapters today! I humbly ask for a few votes for the Three Rivers rankings; I don’t ask for much, just not to be at the bottom. Thank you!)

End of chapter.