Chapter 12

Feng Yi already had a plan in mind, but lacking experience and any systematic instruction from a renowned master, he simply didn't know where his own strength stood, nor could he gauge anyone else's depth.

Ding Dian

Ding Dian said he was barely first-rate, and Feng Yi realized he himself wasn't truly first-rate—just preserving his dignity—but in single combat, everyone here could take him down, which steadied his resolve.

Seeing Feng Yi defeat Geng Tianba and act so high-and-mighty, everyone sneered, thinking, 'What kind of first-rate are you?'

Feng Yi read their faces, knowing what they were thinking, but he insisted on doing it this way.

Not only to give them the air of a upstart, but also to refrain from using the Shadowless Divine Fist, so as to conceal his strength until they relaxed their guard—then he could overturn the situation in one stroke! Of course, he also truly felt lacking in experience and knowledge; if he could get away with Ding Dian, he would stick by his side as a third wheel for a year or so.

He needed to thoroughly study martial arts, mastering lightness skills, hidden weapons, and every aspect, before he could roam the jianghu.

In the jianghu, the knowledge he'd gained from books in his past life was ultimately somewhat hollow; what he'd learned from that night with Ding Dian was nowhere near enough!

Ling Tui Si's scheming was unfathomable, yet Feng Yi's actions and demeanor left him with a doubtful look; he coldly said, 'Feng Yi, hello! Well then, tell me—who are you secretly taking orders from, or else I could spare you from death?'

Ling Tui Si, Feng Yi

Although he knew Ding Dian cultivated the Divine Illumination Skill, he didn't dwell on it—after all, what kind of divine art could transform someone overnight? Even if some martial arts master had truly used the Grand Empowerment method to give Feng Yi internal energy, you'd still need such a person, wouldn't you?

Ding Dian, Ling Tui Si, Feng Yi

Feng Yi heard this, startled, but after a moment's thought he grasped about seventy or eighty percent of it, and replied calmly, 'You'd better not ask about that person—I'm afraid if I say it, nobody here could bear the blame.'

He remained unfazed, but Ling Tui Si's face suddenly flared with a fierce killing intent as he said coldly, 'You can't bear the blame? First you betrayed the Dragon Sand Gang, then you insulted this prefect—I'd like to see who can't bear the blame.'

Feng Yi, Ding Dian, Ling Tui Si

Feng Yi, Ding Dian, Ling Tui Si

Feng Yi, Ding Dian, Ling Tui Si

Ling Tui Si

None

Zhou Qi, Ling Tui Si

None

None

Zhou Qi, Geng Tianba, Ma Tianming, Wan Zhenshan, Divine Illumination Classic, Liancheng Secret

Ling Tui Si, Wan Zhenshan, Liancheng Sword Technique

Ling Tui Si, Wan Zhenshan, Zhou Qi, Jingzhou Prefecture Office

Zhou Qi, Ding Dian, Feng Yi

Ling Tui Si, Zhou Qi, Five Clouds Hand, Wan Zhenshan, Mei Niansheng, Liancheng Sword Technique

Ling Tui Si, Zhou Qi

Feng Yi, Five Clouds Hand, Wan Zhenshan

Feng Yi, Five Clouds Hand, Wan Zhenshan

Feng Yi

Feng Yi, Five Clouds Hand, Wan Zhenshan, Longsha Gang

Longsha Gang, Feng Yi

Zhou Qi, Feng Yi, Ling Tui Si

Zhou Qi, Feng Yi, Ling Tui Si

Zhou Qi, Ling Tui Si

Ling Tui Si, Feng Yi

Wan Zhenshan, Mei Niansheng, Liancheng Sword Technique

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Ling Tui Si, Zhou Qi

Ding Dian, Jingzhou

Zhou Qi, Feng Yi, Wan Zhenshan, Liancheng Treasure

Feng Yi, Zhou Qi

Ling Tui Si, Ling Long Head, Ling Prefect

Ling Long Head, Ling Prefect

Ling Tui Si, Ding Dian, Feng Yi

Ling Tui Si, Ding Dian, Feng Yi

Ling Tui Si

Zhou Qi, Ling Tui Si

Turning to face Feng Yi, he had already changed his expression, his face darkened like storm clouds, a hollow smile on his lips, and said, 'Draw your sword! Let me see your swordsmanship—is it as grand as your tone?'

Zhou Qi, Feng Yi

Feng Yi, Zhou Qi, Wan Zhenshan

Feng Yi, Zhou Qi, Wan Zhenshan

Zhou Qi, Opening Mountain Palm

Zhou Qi, Feng Yi

Zhou Qi, Feng Yi

Zhou Qi, Feng Yi

Feng Yi, Zhou Qi

Zhou Qi, Feng Yi

Zhou Qi, Feng Yi, Tang Poetry Sword Technique

Ling Tui Si clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Nephew Zhou's swordsmanship is indeed extraordinary—it truly shows the mighty prestige of Hero Mei of old!"

The so-called Tang Poetry Sword Method certainly has its origins; only because Mei Niansheng, nicknamed Iron Bone Ink Sepal, saw that his disciples' character was poor, did he add many useless variations to the Liancheng Sword Method before passing it on, naturally reducing its power.

But this also allowed the Five Clouds Hand Wan Zhenshan, the Earth Divine Dragon Yan Daping, and the Iron Chain Across River Qi Changfa to gain great fame in the martial world.

Wan Zhenshan, nicknamed Five Clouds Hand, took on eight disciples and passed down this sword method.

Qi Changfa, however, transformed it into the Lying Corpse Sword Method, which he taught to his daughter and disciples.

As Ling Tui Si spoke, Feng Yi only gave a faint smile, lightly shifted his step, and easily dodged the move, showing great agility.

Zhou Qi snorted, and before Feng Yi could steady his footing, he thrust his sword upward, the tip lunging straight at Feng Yi's throat.

Seeing his two moves, both extremely frivolous and vicious, Feng Yi remained expressionless, his body swaying with the momentum to evade, and again avoided the assault.

Seeing his two attacks miss, Zhou Qi grew even angrier, suddenly tightening his sword momentum; with a whooshing sound, a strong wind sliced the air as he swept horizontally toward Feng Yi.

This move is called 'Lone Goose Comes from the Sea, the Pond Does Not Dare to Heed.'

It means a lone, solitary goose flying from the sea sees a small pond on land and does not settle there.

These two lines of poetry were composed by the Tang dynasty chancellor Zhang Jiu Ling, who considered himself lofty and disliked contending for power and profit; turned into a sword method, its execution should carry an airy, proud spirit.

His 'does not dare to look' means 'he disdains to glance at it.'

When executed with Zhou Qi's skill, it is also quite formidable.

Although Feng Yi did not know the names of the sword moves, his use of the sword like a blade fully showed his contempt.

Feng Yi gave a cold snort and shouted sharply, 'Good lad, you really don't take me seriously!'

Before his words faded, he rushed like a gust of wind to Zhou Qi's right side, and with a 'hum', the edge of his palm struck the flat of the blade.

This palm neutralized Zhou Qi's powerful, forceful move, leaving him suddenly chilled, his arm numb, his sword almost slipping from his grasp, and he hastily retreated.

However, Feng Yi stepped forward eight feet, extended both palms, seized Zhou Qi's right arm, supported it with his left hand, pulled with his right, and with a 'crack' broke Zhou Qi's right arm outright.

Feng Yi knew that in the original plot, the honest man Di Yun had been beaten and framed by the Wan Sect's disciples, his right-hand fingers all cut off; thus breaking his arm was collecting interest, giving him peace of mind—after all, he too had stolen the honest man's opportunity! This Zhou Qi, a scion of a prestigious family, was also a stalwart fellow; although his arm was broken, he did not cry out, raised his left palm and viciously struck at Feng Yi, hoping to inflict mutual destruction.

Feng Yi saw his hardness, yet also felt some admiration, laughing, 'I underestimated you!' He sidestepped the palm, clenched his left fist, and struck squarely the sword hilt that Zhou Qi was about to lose grip of.

When this punch landed, it was precisely the Shadowless Divine Fist; even if Zhou Qi's arm were not broken, even if his arm were unharmed, he could not hold onto the sword.

In an instant, the sword turned into a white flash, like swift thunder and lightning shooting out, emitting a piercing sound as it tore through the air.

Amidst the crowd's shock, they suddenly discovered that the sword's flight path was aimed straight at Ling Tui Si.

Ling Tui Si only felt the wind in his ears, knew the incoming force was strong, slightly shrugged his shoulders, and had already flashed six or seven feet away; such reaction, occurring in an instant, showed his body technique to be very agile.

But the others lacked Ling Tui Si's skill; hearing a 'yah' cry, it was an outer-ring constable who had been pierced through the chest by this flying-thunder-swift sword.

But Feng Yi had long planned this; drawing his sword at an opportune moment, his aim was precisely this instant—while Ling Tui Si's body suddenly dodged, he raised his arm, tilted his shoulder, grabbed Zhou Qi's wrist with his left hand, and thrust forward with his right fist.

'Boom—' Zhou Qi's body resembled a huge concealed weapon, accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, as he lunged head-on at Ling Tui Si.

At that moment, as Ling Tui Si was withdrawing from the sword, he tried to dodge again but was too late; helplessly, he thrust his palms outward with a 'hu' sound, striking at Zhou Qi—his technique and force were both top-notch.

Feng Yi's tongue burst like spring thunder as he shouted, 'Let's get them!' Immediately pushing off the ground, he was already airborne, lunging at Ling Tui Si.

Even without mentioning that Ding Dian had received the order, seeing Feng Yi direct his sword at Ling Tui Si, he understood the opponent's intention.

Before Feng Yi's words had finished, Ding Dian suddenly launched an attack, pushing off the corridor rail, his body like a swift arrow, shooting forth like a hungry tiger leaping from the forest, crashing into the crowd; his fists were like a violent storm, and in the blink of an eye he had dealt heavy blows to the surrounding enemies, his qi surging in all directions.

Those who knew that Ding Dian had been imprisoned by Ling Tui Si naturally understood his condition, and thus had no guard against this 'cripple'.

Those who were on guard were precisely those unaware of the inner situation.

But those who were ignorant were the low-skilled; facing Ding Dian's all-out assault, they tried to dodge or block, but it was already too late—the foremost three or five were immediately struck by Ding Dian's Shadowless Fist.

Ding Dian hated to death the people of the Jing Prefecture Government Office and the Dragon Sand Gang; bursting out with rage, his advance was fierce and violent, accompanied by continual 'thuds' and 'yows'.

Those hit, after screaming in misery, were blasted outward and then crashed into the people behind; in an instant, over a dozen were dead or injured.

As for the archers on the periphery and the rooftop, and the Dragon Sand Gang's weapon-specialists who possessed hidden weapons, even if they reacted, they could only watch helplessly.

This was because Ding Dian was amidst the crowd while Feng Yi had already lunged at Ling Tui Si; they feared harming the enemy but ending up hurting their own side.

Everyone could only look at each other, not knowing what to do! (End of chapter)