Chapter 282

Those who dare to try to deal with Feng Yi this time are either masters of the great martial arts schools or the hegemonic leaders of a region; their courage and vision are naturally superior. Seeing Feng Yi's divine skill, almost godlike, and his ruthless decisiveness in taking lives with a smile, everyone feels terrified.

The Sun Moon Divine Sect has always acted arrogantly and domineeringly; when could they have imagined that someone would kill their elder without a greeting, and do so calmly, as if crushing an ant, as if nothing happened.

Even though the Sun Moon Sect members possessed this deadly poison water, they were all nervous. They believed that in such an open area, with Feng Yi's lightness skill, how could the poison be sprayed onto his body?

If everyone surrounded and blocked his movements, this poison water, having no eyes, would also injure themselves, wouldn't it?

As for Zuo Lengchan, the image of Feng Yi just killing Jia Bu still lingered in his mind; the more he thought about it, the more fearful he became, thinking: "His floating like fluff, moving like thunder technique—if used on me, how many moves could I block? Moreover, he also possesses the poison palm of cold yin energy, which he hasn't unleashed; otherwise my three junior brothers would likely follow the fate of Junior Brother Fei. Clearly he only wants to establish his prestige before the crowd, not to break with my Songshan Sect!"

But how could I agree to his demand?

Zuo Lengchan has seen many masters in his lifetime, but someone with Feng Yi's superhuman divine martial power he has never seen; he secretly reckons he is no match, and even if he could get the other Five Peaks Sect leaders to join forces against him, he likely could not secure victory.

Moreover, having others help him, they may not agree, and there may even be those who would laugh at him, such as Yue Buqun.

Zuo Lengchan's martial arts are strong, his sect powerful, roaming the jianghu, always gaining the upper hand; who would have thought that today's affair would leave him bound hand and foot, making him both frustrated and angry.

If he simply agreed to Feng Yi's terms, would that not be submitting to Feng Yi's mighty prestige? Feng Yi said it plainly; he would not want to bear the stigma of being suppressed by another's power. Does the Songshan Sect not care about its reputation?

But if he refuses, provoking such an adversary, the Songshan Sect will never have peace; how can it stand in the jianghu?

Thinking this, Zuo Lengchan's forehead beaded with sweat like beans.

Yue Buqun seemed offhand, smiling faintly: "In the martial world, when speaking of Hero Feng, everyone praises your peerless divine skill; the only thing criticized is your association with villains, which just ruined your reputation."

But today's matter is clear to all; how could a person like Hero Feng not know that the demonic cult's seductress deliberately feigned kindness to gain reputation, intentionally stirring up enmity between the orthodox martial world and him? His ability to slaughter demonic cult elders without mercy shows he is a righteous gentleman who hates evil as an enemy.

Feng Yi turned his gaze and fixed it on Yue Buqun.

Yue Buqun locking eyes with him felt the other's eyes like a deep pool, clear and bright, profound and unfathomable; it seemed his innermost thoughts were laid bare, his heart involuntarily stirred, thinking: "What is this person's background? How can his gaze be so formidable?"

Feng Yi smiled lightly and said: "From Master Yue's words, does that mean I have no reason to kill members of the demonic cult?"

Or perhaps, upon seeing demonic cult members, one should ask no questions, spare no age, and kill them all—that would be the proper conduct of the Huashan Sect's orthodox path?"

Yue Buqun said: "That is natural; the demonic cult is sinister, vicious, and full of deceit; my Huashan Sect strictly forbids mingling with riffraff and colluding with demons."

Feng Yi laughed: "If that is the case, can your entire sect uphold it uniformly?"

Yue Buqun let out a long sigh: "To speak of it is shameful. In our martial world, we ought to prioritize cultivating martial arts, yet in establishing ourselves we must not be unworthy of the teachings of our ancestors."

Our sect's disciple Linghu Chong, in distinguishing right from wrong, loyalty from treachery, is indeed very confused. He went down the mountain the day before yesterday and greatly damaged our sect's reputation; however, considering his brave rescue of Hengshan Sect's martial niece Yilin, I count it as a merit, offsetting the fault, thus I punish him with a year of facing the wall.

"A year of facing the wall?" Master Dingyi raised her eyebrows and said: "Master Yue, Linghu Chong is fine; he risked his life to save our sect's disciple, fiercely fighting Tian Boguang—this greatly boosts Huashan's prestige, so how could it damage reputation?"

Everyone also turned their gaze toward Yue Buqun.

The incident of Linghu Chong in Hengyang City with Tian Boguang had long been heard by people in the jianghu; initially they misunderstood him, but after Yilin personally explained the details, they all thought he had done nothing wrong.

Even if he called Tian Boguang brother in words, that is still the appraisal of a man who matches wits rather than strength, and there is no fault in it!

Yue Buqun lightly coughed and said: "Master Dingyi, I merely wanted to tell Chong'er that the line between righteousness and evil is a hair's breadth; at this moment it concerns his future establishment and livelihood, fearing he might stray and cause harm to others and himself, bringing misfortune upon himself."

Master Dingyi raised both brows, showing impatience; Yue Buqun knowing her temper was fierce, not wishing to argue, said: "Chong'er's actions, though forced upon him, are understandable, but his conduct ultimately stems from his usual frivolity; people behind his back will certainly say he is not a righteous gentleman, blaming me for lax discipline. This matter concerns the rise and fall, honor and disgrace of my Huashan Sect, as well as his lifelong safety and success; he ought to be punished."

"Exactly!" Feng Yi laughed: "Master Yue, your devotion to your disciple is truly painstaking, admirable indeed!"

Ning Zhongze had long known he had said in the Jade Pavilion that her husband coveted the Evil-Resisting Sword Manual; she thought: "Death is death, but I certainly cannot tolerate you insulting my husband." She spoke loudly: "Master Feng, you have shown enough prestige today; everyone is awed by your divine skill—what more do you want?"

Feng Yi gave a slight smile, glanced at her, then suddenly said: "Everyone awed? I don't think so; the Alliance Leader Zuo must surely be thinking now about how to kill me next, to relieve his hatred."

Zuo Lengchan, hearing this, was startled and said: "You jest, sir; your martial prowess seems like a celestial being's incarnation—let alone Dongfang Bubai, even if Bodhidharma and Zhang Sanfeng were resurrected, no one would dare claim certain victory over you; your humble servant's meager skill, how could he dare to have such a thought?"

Feng Yi laughed heartily: "Feng today is arrogant, uttering a phrase ignorant of heaven's height and earth's depth; Bodhidharma and Zhang Sanfeng founded their sects, their martial arts possessing unique accomplishments; in terms of establishment and influence, naturally none can compare."

But when discussing actual strength and martial arts, they may not necessarily surpass all ages; in the martial world, the Yangtze's later waves push the former, talents abound, and many are masters whose skill is not inferior to theirs.

Since you are wholeheartedly intent on praising me, you should also say that even if all martial arts masters of past and present gathered together, none would dare claim victory over Feng; then I would be even happier!

Everyone stared at him, a thought repeatedly turning in their minds: "This person is too arrogant; though his martial skill is high, have you seen many martial arts masters, yet you still speak of ancient and modern times here!"

Who would have thought Zuo Lengchan's expression remained unchanged; if there were no common affairs, he calmly said: "What you say is that your martial prowess is such that no single person can defeat you, already beyond ordinary reasoning; to win, aside from all the world's heroes swarming together, there is no other way."

However, we came today to rescue Junior Brother Fei; if we were to engage you in a life-and-death struggle, that would contradict our original intention.

Since you have issued the command, your humble servant would not dare disobey; I merely dare to ask for one thing.

Feng Yi nodded with a smile: "If you had said that earlier, it would have been fine; why all this fuss? What do you seek from me? Speak, let me hear."

Zuo Lengchan said: "Your divine skill is peerless; I and my Five Peaks Sword Sect have no one who can match you; we will not dare plot revenge in the future, only hoping you will not interfere in Five Peaks affairs thereafter—let each keep to their own water, not intruding on the other's."

Members of the Five Peaks Sword Sect felt aggrieved: "We have actually been forced by a single person to make such concessions!"

Yet there was also some joy, after all, martial people value trustworthiness; a single promise lasts a lifetime.

Feng Yi possesses the ability to penetrate heaven and earth; if he agrees not to meddle in Five Peaks affairs, he will thereafter have fewer troubles.

Feng Yi gave a slight smile and said: "You fear I will ruin your Five Peaks scheming? Actually you can rest assured; I am too lazy to manage your broken affairs, otherwise I would have already killed you and several of your junior brothers."

In fact, I sincerely hope you continue to plot the unification of the Five Peaks; first let each display their divine powers, see how you fight internally!

Once the Five Peaks Sect merges, its might will greatly increase, standing shoulder to shoulder with Shaolin and Wudang; whether first destroying the demonic cult, or you contending with Shaolin and Wudang to decide superiority, we shall see who is stronger.

If both sides suffer mutual destruction and perish together, that would truly be peace under heaven, splendid, splendid—whether the court or ordinary commoners, it would be a universal celebration; this too could be counted as Feng's meritorious deed!

"My title of martial world's judge, wielding the sword to decree life and death, is truly deserved!" Having said that, he laughed heartily, very pleased.

Upon hearing these words, everyone felt a chill and shock, all astonished, secretly thinking: "This person truly is lawless and heaven-defying; he dares to say such things!"

Zuo Lengchan and the Songshan guardians, the Sun Moon Divine Sect followers—though their chests were full of anger, they secretly restrained it, their sense of caution greatly increasing, thinking: "So he knows everything!"

Master Dingxian thought: "If Zuo Lengchan truly unites the Five Peaks, whether fighting the demonic cult or contending with Shaolin and Wudang for supremacy, it will inevitably result in mutual destruction, becoming a great calamity in the martial world."

Someone else thought: "Feng Yi is so unrestrained; if anyone offends him, who knows how he will plot revenge?"

Someone also thought: "His martial skill is high, yet he is so unwise; this is to make an enemy of the entire martial world."

Only then was heard a loud shout from within the Sun Moon Divine Sect: "Brothers, Feng Yi's nature is vicious; he fears the world will not be in chaos. If we do not kill him today, when will we get another chance? Let us surround him from all sides, all attack together, and see if he can wipe us out."

Feng Yi was invincible in all directions; the crowd felt both hatred and fear toward him. Suddenly someone voiced the collective sentiment, and at once they all cheered in unison; united against a common enemy, their courage grew, and more than twenty people surrounded Feng Yi, approaching from front, back, left, and right, their weapons flashing.

But unexpectedly, before these people came within one zhang of Feng Yi, he flicked both hands, and only a series of hissing sounds was heard.

Thud, thud, thud—bodies fell to the ground; in an instant, more than twenty people collapsed dead.

Hiss, hiss, hiss—sound of breaking air, a mass of dark light flew toward Feng Yi,

Feng Yi faintly smelled a stench in his nose, gave a snort; suddenly his clothes billowed, his hair flew wildly, and any hidden weapons approaching his body were all rebounded by invisible energy. These projectiles came unpredictably; Zuo Lengchan and other masters either blocked them with palm force or weapons, hearing only a series of tinkling sounds—the faint missiles dropping to the ground.

But hearing a few "ah" groans, many people with poor martial arts felt numb and collapsed instantly; the crowd only smelled a growing stench, as if thousands of dead fish were piled together.

"Eh!" Nun Dingxian's face changed, and she blurted out: "Black Blood Divine Needle?"

Zuo Lengchan's face darkened: "Preposterous!"

He didn't know whether he was scolding the Demonic Sect or Feng Yi.

Ordinary tiny poisoned needles merely wound the body, with poison spreading through the blood; the lethal ones seal the throat on sight and kill instantly. However, even smelling the Black Blood Divine Needle makes ordinary people dizzy; the renowned heroes, having long heard its fame, were all startled, retreating and dodging in chaos.

Qin Weibang, like Jia Bu, was a capable subordinate of Dongfang Bubai. After Jia Bu's death, he kept seeking a chance for revenge. First he duped others to step forward, then, while Feng Yi was engaged with the enemy, he shot a Black Blood Divine Needle as a sneak attack—unexpectedly, Feng Yi's invisible inner force could bounce it away, showing his martial prowess to be truly heavenly!

However, as he thought that, Feng Yi swayed, agile as a fish-dragon, squeezing into the crowd; in an instant, countless blades and spears of the Sun Moon Divine Sect surged toward him.

Feng Yi gave a cold snort, then thrust out his palms with fierce, unmatched force.

In an instant, icy wind overflowed, swirling into a vortex, faintly emitting thunderous sounds; the few in front were directly blown away, while those behind were shoved by the cold current, losing control, trembling, weapons and corpses clattering together as they fell.

Not a single mistake, not a single word, not a single stroke, not a single inner detail—everything is visible at a glance!

Feng Yi's yin cold qi, heavy as it is, is unmatched in the world; coupled with supreme inner strength, anyone facing it is overwhelmed.

"Shoot the poison water!"

Qin Weibang gave an order, and with a series of hisses, the poison water from the Sun Moon Sect's water cannons shot over; at this point they no longer cared about harming their own.

Feng Yi then heard a woman's voice transmit into his ear: "Be careful, this poison water can corrode anything!"

The sound was like a thin thread, coming from afar and seeping into his ear.

Feng Yi knew it was Ren Yingying sending a voice transmission; his eyes flashed with cold light, he pressed his palms, inner energy flowed through his yin meridians, forming an invisible barrier that shielded him—these poison waters, upon coming within a zhang of Feng Yi, instantly condensed into ice.

Feng Yi's yin cold qi, extreme yin and cold, freezes water on contact; the crowd stared, mouths agape.

Feng Yi laughed heartily, his true energy coursing through his yang meridians as he pushed his palms forward—with a splashing sound, the poison ice melted again into droplets that gushed out in all directions.

"Ah, ah"

This poison water is extremely corrosive; a single drop will rot flesh and dissolve bone, just like the corpse‑melting powder of the Western Poison Ouyang Feng.

Ren Yingying held this corpse‑melting poison powder; hearing the incessant screams, Qin Weibang was startled, then Feng Yi kicked out—with a clang, a long sword shot forth like a stream of light, piercing Qin Weibang through the heart.

Feng Yi gave a cold heh‑heh laugh, about to continue killing; today he wanted to finish it once and for all, slaying so that everyone would tremble and dare not scheme against him again.

Suddenly a soft hum was heard; Ren Yingying's clear, pleasant voice said: "Must you make things difficult for my sect? Can't you give me a little face?"

She sent another mental transmission; Feng Yi couldn't help but startle: "I'll give you a damn face!" But a thought flashed—he had just teased her, so he ought to return the favor, and he laughed loudly: "Jianghu small fry, not worth a smile—never mind, never mind!" He flicked his sleeve, turned, and walked toward Zuo Lengchan: "Is the matter settled?"

The Sun Moon Divine Sect disciples were already terrified; seeing this plague god cease his attack, none dared to step forward, hurriedly making way—if not for a few elders still silent, they would have fled outright.

Although Feng Yi had only just made a brief move, it made the winds and clouds change color, dimmed the sun and moon, and made everyone's hearts tremble.

Seeing Feng Yi approach, Zuo Lengchan's heart pounded, and only one phrase flashed in his mind: "A distance of a thousand li is insufficient to gauge its magnitude; a height of a thousand ren is insufficient to fathom its depth."

Although Zuo Lengchan's name contains "Chan", he is not Buddhist; his martial arts are Daoist, and every Daoist cultivator must read the Zhuangzi.

With a single gesture, Feng Yi could freeze the poison water and dispel it at will, showing that his internal cultivation has reached the supreme state of yin‑yang harmony, where anything is possible; such divine ability truly justifies calling him a heavenly incarnation.

Zuo Lengchan, stunned, said: "Today I have witnessed such divine skill; I am truly convinced, bowing with my whole body." He clapped his hands: "Just do as Hero Feng says—no, give each of those women two hundred taels; if the money runs out, borrow from a money shop."

"Yes!" Four Songshan disciples accepted the order and departed.

Even if there were a thousand prostitutes on the Qinhuai River, obtaining silver relying on the Songshan School's reputation would not be difficult.

Feng Yi smiled and said, "He who knows the times is a true hero—good, good." He then walked up to Fei Bin and struck him on the back with a palm.

Fei Bin suddenly felt a surge of hot current entering his meridians, vast and immense to the extreme; in an instant his chest churned, he felt himself growing hotter and hotter, as if plunged into a furnace, yet soon it felt like falling into an ice cellar.

Strangely, despite the extreme cold and heat, he felt extremely comfortable; Fei Bin realized Feng Yi was using superior internal energy to gradually expel the evil toxins from his body.

In fact, his guess was only half correct.

After a moment, Fei Bin's whole body shuddered; with a "kah", he spat out a large mouthful of dark black blood. His whole body then felt like being basked in winter sun—warm and indescribably comfortable, as if washed inside and out by spring water, clear, pure, and supremely pleasant. He thought: "Feng Yi, Feng Yi, just wait—I will surely make you pay the price!"

Feng Yi gave a hehe laugh: "Senior Fei, may you depart like a spring dream leaving no trace, henceforth enjoy the utmost beauty of life—you need not thank me."

"Thanks?" Fei Bin sneered in his heart: "Thanks to your mother!"

Feng Yi suddenly leapt up, soaring several zhang through the air; pressing his hand against a large tree, he twisted in mid‑air and instantly vanished like a wild goose disappearing into the mist.

Only his voice pierced the night, drilling into the ears: "I am interested in your Evil‑Repelling Sword Manual, Feng; I await you in the jianghu, but next time, no matter how you deal with me, be as light as Fei Bin or as heavy as this tree!"

The voice grew fainter and fainter, becoming ever softer, yet each word remained crystal clear, reaching everyone's ears.

At first everyone was puzzled, but suddenly Fei Bin rolled his eyes and wailed wildly; everyone turned to see him drooling, seeming to have become an idiot.

Zuo Lengchan rushed over and took Fei Bin's pulse, finding that the yin‑cold poison was gone from his meridians, but his channels were in disarray.

Evidently his life had been saved, but Feng Yi had used heavy force to shatter several of Fei Bin's meridians, turning him into an imbecile.

Zuo Lengchan was both shocked and angry, thinking: "Despicable!"

Yet he could say nothing, for Feng Yi had indeed kept his promise and detoxified him.

Suddenly someone shouted: "Look!"

Everyone turned and saw leaves drifting down from the sky, soon forming a thick layer on the ground.

It was late spring to early summer, the weather mild; just moments ago the tree was lush green, yet suddenly its leaves withered and branches dried, shedding everywhere.

Nun Dingxian and a few other masters stepped forward and touched the tree, feeling a chill—indeed, Feng Yi's palm had just frozen and withered the tree to death.

Zuo Lengchan let out an angry roar, leapt up, and with a clang and a flash of lightning, the thick‑trunked tree was snapped at the waist.

Everyone watched in shock, thinking he was venting his anger; who would have guessed that Zuo Lengchan, one hand on his waist, pointed his sword obliquely at the tavern and shouted sternly: "Everyone, today is the day to slay demons and eradicate evil!"

(End of chapter)