Chapter 241: Defeating the Old Witch and Li Qiushui

The Old Witch of Tian Shan wore a brilliant red skirt, while Li Qiushui floated in a flowing white robe.

The two women stood on either side of Gu Qing, each fixed in silent gaze.

Gu Qing intended to fight both at once, which infuriated the two of them.

"The day we met at the Manuo Villa, Old Witch lost to you—that was merely due to my inferior skill."

The Old Witch of Tian Shan spoke clearly: "But now I have mastered the Eternal Youth and Evergreen Art—my skill has vastly improved, unlike before."

As she spoke, her figure flashed like lightning, closing in on Gu Qing with the subtle and profound Tian Shan Plucking Plum Hand.

"Shocking for a Hundred Li!"

Gu Qing casually slapped forward, unleashing the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms—the palm force condensed, heavy, and relentless. As the Old Witch drew near, the force pressed against her, swelling her internal Qi until she was flung backward, feeling as if flames burned within the palm strike; after the wind passed, her face stung.

Li Qiushui raised her hand lightly, sending swirling palm forces that curved and circled toward Gu Qing.

"Divine Dragon Swings Tail!"

Gu Qing stood firm, slapped once, and the Dragon Subduing Palm force extended forward—there came a roaring crash as the air exploded, gales surging in all directions. At this moment, Li Qiushui drew closer, her Boddhisattva's Light Steps spinning gracefully; she arched her upper body backward to evade Gu Qing's palm, then kicked upward, her icy sleeve brushing acupoints in a dual assault.

Gu Qing drifted aside, then turned to strike the Old Witch of Tian Shan. Li Qiushui felt the residual palm wind sting painfully—Gu Qing's internal Qi could not be neutralized by the Northern Dark Divine Art; she could only rub her front torso to restore circulation.

In just these three moves, both the Old Witch of Tian Shan and Li Qiushui realized: Gu Qing's internal Qi was immune to the Northern Dark Divine Art, and his palm force was condensed, immensely powerful.

Yet, excess cannot last.

Almost simultaneously, Li Qiushui and the Old Witch changed tactics, their bodies swaying as they struck empty air, sending forth a flurry of fingertip forces that enveloped Gu Qing—the Old Witch wielded the Marvelous Arts of the Immortal Sect, Li Qiushui deployed a hundred martial styles, each astonishing and profound, leaving the scene dizzying.

Amidst it all, Gu Qing remained unmoved, his hand sweeping once—every force reversed direction, forcing both women to retreat.

Mei, Lan, Ju, Zhu, and the lovely maidens of the Spirit Eagle Palace felt icy winds like blades and hastily stepped back, fearing collateral damage from the battle.

"Excellent technique!"

Seeing this skill, the Old Witch of Tian Shan was awed and humbled. After fully cultivating the Eternal Youth and Evergreen Art, her internal Qi rose another notch; the Immortal Sect's techniques flowed freely—her form grew light, her moves cruel and swift, wrists spinning, palms stabbing, fingers thrusting, everywhere she reached.

"Hit! Hit! Hit! Hit!!!!"

Gu Qing split his attention, one hand forward, one behind, parrying the Old Witch and Li Qiushui simultaneously.

In this exchange, Gu Qing, one against two, was no longer as calm and effortless as when he fought the Old Witch at the Manuo Villa. The Tian Shan Plucking Plum Hand now drew upon countless refined techniques—the Shattering Iron Claw, Great Subduing Demon Fist, Empty Clarity Fist, One Yang Finger, Returning Phoenix Willow Sword, Dragon and Phoenix Twin Rings, Du Gu's Sword Momentum…

With one hand, Gu Qing countered a move that required both the Old Witch and Li Qiushui to use multiple hands to neutralize. The spilled Qi surged like gales from all sides; disciples of the Spirit Eagle Palace with weaker cultivation stood far away, leaning against walls, while those standing in the arena could not help but activate their internal Qi to resist.

The female disciples of Piaomiao Peak had resented the news that the Old Witch had brought a new sect master, one even above her—but out of respect for the Old Witch, they obeyed. Now, seeing Gu Qing dominate two opponents, they were both astonished and awed, their feelings toward this master entirely different.

"Hummm… hummmm…"

Gu Qing shifted his fingertips—Li Qiushui felt a terrifying blade force forming at his fingertips, as if a flying dagger hovered, ready to strike. She instinctively turned aside—but Gu Qing suddenly changed his technique, striking downward then upward; as he clashed with the Old Witch, he suddenly seized Li Qiushui's arm, channeling force to spin her around until she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the Old Witch.

Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens!

Ximen Sword Art!

Gu Qing, barehanded, channeled sword techniques—his left and right hands complemented each other, doubling his power instantly. His hands interwove unpredictably, left here right there, left there right here—so unpredictable that the Old Witch and Li Qiushui were forced to retreat repeatedly within the palm strikes. "Dense Clouds, No Rain!"

"Crossing the Great River!"

The mighty palm force of the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms pressed relentlessly against the Old Witch and Li Qiushui—by this point, their internal Qi was directly clashing.

The Old Witch and Li Qiushui countered with the Six Yang Palms of Tian Shan, matching Gu Qing's full strength—but instantly they sensed something wrong: Gu Qing moved like a wild ox, every motion radiating uncanny power; the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms were peerless, his internal Qi unyielding… and most deadly of all, Gu Qing could redirect their palm forces.

Thus, two Immortal Sect elders, nearly two hundred years old combined, were subdued by Gu Qing alone through sheer force.

Gu Qing swung his palm—they retreated. Amidst the dense palm winds, neither could escape, and without realizing it, they were backed against the cliff, their fists and palms making contact once more with Gu Qing.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!!!"

In the first dozen exchanges, they clashed wrists; in the next dozen, they struck elbows. Gu Qing pressed forward relentlessly, his face nearly touching Li Qiushui's and the Old Witch's—each could hear the other's breath; their limbs were bent, elbows drawn in, no room to extend.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!!!"

Gu Qing stepped forward again; they clashed a hundred more moves—until the Old Witch and Li Qiushui were both embedded deep into the cliff face, trapped by Gu Qing with no room left to strike.

"Enough now?"

!

Gu Qing stepped back two paces, gazing at the Old Witch and Li Qiushui, both fully sunk into the cliff.

The women of the Spirit Eagle Palace gathered, staring at the cliff—unchanged, save for two deep indentations where the Old Witch and Li Qiushui lay.

"Master!"

Mei, Lan, Ju, Zhu hurried to lift the Old Witch out.

Wang Yuyan supported Li Qiushui, watching both women slump in silence, utterly stripped of their former masterly dignity.

"I've lost again."

The Old Witch sighed deeply. At over ninety, she should have cared little for victory or defeat—but she had mastered the supreme arts of the Immortal Sect, over a century of cultivation—and still, before Gu Qing, she was outmaneuvered at every turn. She could not help but sigh.

Martial arts have no limit.

Gu Qing's martial realm—the Old Witch would need many more years of cultivation to reach.

"Did you use your full strength this time?"

The Old Witch asked.

Gu Qing thought, then said: "About nine-tenths."

"Impossible!"

Li Qiushui could accept defeat—but not that Gu Qing had not used his full strength. She and the Old Witch were among the top two in the world—who could subdue them both with only nine-tenths of his power?

"I used seven-tenths on you."

Gu Qing spoke plainly.

Li Qiushui's face froze.

Nine-tenths with one arm? Seven-tenths with one arm?

(End of Chapter)