Chapter 294

On the Piaoxiang.

The famous Abbess of Cihang Jingzhai, Fan Qinghui, sat in Gu Qing's lap. The "Cihang Sword Canon," one of the four great strange books, was displayed before Gu Qing. Also here reading the sword techniques were Dugu Feng and Shan Wanjing. The two women were overjoyed as they looked at the thirty sword techniques recorded in the Cihang Sword Canon.

"This Sword Canon was created by Dini, the founder of the Jingzhai. It is Heaven, it is Dao, it is Buddha, it is Heart."

Fan Qinghui explained to Dugu Feng and Shan Wanjing, saying, "However, this sword technique requires an Immortal Fetus to wield it."

As Fan Qinghui spoke, she could not stop herself from sizing up Gu Qing.

It is well known that there is a highly secretive matter in the current Jianghu: Ning Daoqi, the head of the three great grandmasters, snuck into Cihang Jingzhai to discuss martial arts, was invited to view the Cihang Sword Canon, and then vomited blood!

But now, Gu Qing's gaze swept over the Cihang Sword Canon, treating it as something ordinary and recording all its contents in his mind.

"The martial arts of Cihang Jingzhai are meant for women to reach the Heavenly Dao from the Sword Dao. The pinnacle of their cultivation is approximately the Ultimate Yin Void."

Gu Qing looked at Shan Wanjing and Dugu Feng, saying, "This set of 'Other Shore Sword Techniques' can be wielded by an Immortal Fetus, and it can also be wielded by the Yin-attribute Longevity Art."

As Gu Qing spoke, he adjusted the true Qi for Dugu Feng and Shan Wanjing. As they looked at the sword techniques before them, they suddenly became vivid.

Fan Qinghui looked at Gu Qing in amazement, knowing that the various true Qi within Gu Qing's body returned to the sea like ten thousand rivers, and that the Dao Heart Demon-Seeding Art was merely one change within Gu Qing's entire repertoire of martial arts.

"Gu Qing."

Fan Qinghui leaned into Gu Qing's embrace and murmured, "You must slow your galloping pace, wait for this Jianghu, wait for the heaven and earth's primordial Qi..."

Gu Qing was at least sixty years ahead of the Jianghu, having already reached a prosperous era of martial arts, capable of peeking into the changes of the Heavenly Dao and comprehending the supreme Shattered Void.

Shan Wanjing and Dugu Feng looked at Fan Qinghui's appearance and exchanged a glance, sighing at how this famous Abbess of the Jingzhai was actually so attached to Gu Qing.

Yet for Fan Qinghui, what she was grasping was the "Heavenly Dao."

Gu Qing abandoned the ship at Nanyang and left the Piaoxiang.

Shan Wanjing, in her skirt and with her long sword, followed Gu Qing as a matter of course, preparing to head to the Jingnian Zen Temple in Luoyang.

"Shan Wanjing."

Shang Ming suddenly called out her full name.

Shan Wanjing turned her head silently, looking over with a hint of surprise.

"I am preparing to return to the Dongming Sect."

Shang Ming called out.

Ever since Fan Qinghui came aboard, Shan Wanjing had begun studying the "Cihang Sword Canon" again, mixing with Gu Qing every day. When she left her room, her hairpins were askew, and her eyes and brows held a unique charm. Shang Ming saw all of this in his eyes and felt the pain in his heart.

"Then go back."

Shan Wanjing said as a matter of course.

Seeing Shan Wanjing so indifferent to his feelings, Shang Ming turned away resolutely... Shan Wanjing, this time I do not love you anymore!

"What is wrong with him?"

Li Xiuning asked curiously.

"It is irrelevant."

Shan Wanjing shook her head.

Upon hearing this, Shang Ming felt another pang of pain in his heart. Shan Wanjing, I really do not love you anymore... After that, Shang Ming turned and walked a few steps. When he could not help but look back, he saw that Shan Wanjing had already mounted her horse and was saying something beside Gu Qing, which made Shang Ming's eyes turn red.

The Jingnian Zen Temple is located south of Luoyang City.

Gu Qing set out from Nanyang on horseback. After arriving outside the Jingnian Zen Temple, the sky was already dark. However, outside the temple sat a Daoist priest with a high crown, elegant in demeanor, with childlike eyes, carrying a hint of a reclusive master's aura. As their gazes met, both knew the other's identity.

"The Vagabond Ning Daoqi?"

Gu Qing called out the man's name.

This person could be considered the number one enforcer for Cihang Jingzhai in the Jianghu.

"Grand Tutor Gu."

Ning Daoqi stood up, his gaze carrying an extraordinary interest, and said, "Grand Tutor Gu beheaded Fu Cailin, defeated Song Que, and even taught the Demon Empress martial arts, allowing her to defeat Qinghui. You are truly the number one expert in the world."

Ning Daoqi spoke of Gu Qing's combat power, as well as Gu Qing's ability to grant others combat power.

Gu Qing smiled lightly. Being able to let Zhu Yuyan defeat Fan Qinghui was partly due to the magic of the Dao Heart Demon-Seeding Art, and partly because the Demon Seed carried many of Gu Qing's martial arts. These things combined were equivalent to Gu Qing giving the Demon Empress a sniper rifle; the boost was too great, and Fan Qinghui could not withstand it.

"Are you here to test the gold content of my 'number one in the world' title?"

Gu Qing asked with a smile.

Ning Daoqi's gaze narrowed slightly. Many people said that Ning Daoqi was a man who did not contend with the world, but if one flipped through his resume, this grandmaster was constantly stirring up trouble—sneaking into Cihang Jingzhai to fight Fan Qinghui, or sneaking into the place where Bi Xiuxin lived in seclusion to beat up Shi Zhixuan...

"Ever since the four great holy monks rescued Qinghui, this Jingnian Zen Temple has been targeted by the Demon Empress."

Ning Daoqi explained, "I am at the Jingnian Zen Temple today to protect them while they heal... But if the Grand Tutor truly wants to have a fight, Ning Daoqi is willing to accompany you."

As he spoke, Ning Daoqi slightly extended his hands.

Gu Qing looked at Ning Daoqi's hands and then slowly extended his own.

Seeing this, Ning Daoqi leaped forward, arriving before Gu Qing. He flicked his hand, his gestures changing; his fists, palms, and fingers all transformed in that instant, striking toward multiple acupoints on Gu Qing's body.

Gu Qing stepped forward, leaning his body, and collided squarely with Ning Daoqi. Seeing Gu Qing's moves and timing, Ning Daoqi waved his hands, forming two fingers, and collided head-on with Gu Qing.

Ning Daoqi used a point to break a surface.

But Gu Qing took a step, his right hand hooked out while his left hand circled back—one attacking, one defending. The changes before their moves met forced Ning Daoqi to adopt a strategy; he leaned back, raised his hands to return to the void, using defensive moves to receive this strike, and then his fingers linked in a series, crossing back and forth, changing unpredictably.

"Strike, strike, strike!!!"

Their fists and feet collided, and their power overflowed.

Watching them exchange moves, Shi Feixuan asked in surprise, "Master, Gu Qing is fighting back and forth, why is he only using basic fist techniques?"

The Vagabond Ning Daoqi used the famous "Eight Pounces of the Scattered Hand," which was the essence of his lifelong martial arts. But at this moment, the moves Gu Qing applied were all basic martial arts—either a bow-stance punch, a "Kui Star Kicking the Dipper," or kicking left and right... Every move and every stance was something any Jianghu person who had practiced martial arts would know at least a few of. Yet Gu Qing used these basic Jianghu skills, repeating them over and over to counter, causing Ning Daoqi's Eight Pounces to return empty-handed many times. Ning Daoqi's palm momentum changed, his hands like two birds, coming and going, fighting for fun, using the fastest methods to force Gu Qing to use his trump card moves. But even with such moves, Gu Qing used a bow-stance punch, timing it perfectly, which actually forced Ning Daoqi to change his hands and feet, turning from attack to defense, and once again opening up the distance.

"In the martial arts of the world, the lowest rely on brute force, the middle use speed and strategy, and the highest use spirit and momentum, leaving no stone unturned."

Fan Qinghui watched these moves and explained to Shi Feixuan, "Gu Qing can use these most basic fist and foot techniques because his spiritual power is all-pervading, suppressing everything about Ning Daoqi and seeing through all of Ning Daoqi's martial arts changes. Furthermore, Gu Qing's vast combat experience is enough for him to face any situation of fists and feet..."

This match between Gu Qing and Ning Daoqi was no longer about spirit and momentum; for Ning Daoqi, it had become a form of mental torture.

The Eight Pounces of the Scattered Hand of Ning Daoqi, one of the three great grandmasters, was the essence of the world's martial arts. But now, these complex fist and foot techniques were being dismantled by the most basic martial arts in the world. No matter how Ning Daoqi changed, Gu Qing remained the same, advancing and retreating, opening his fists in a bow stance. Every time Gu Qing countered with his fists and feet, Ning Daoqi's brewing offensive vanished instantly.

Ning Daoqi flashed and moved, his speed already unimaginably fast. His robes fluttered without wind, and he looked fierce and unparalleled. As the Eight Pounces continued to operate, they began to turn fierce, the continuous changes making it impossible to keep up.

"Fierce Tiger Crouching on the Desk."

Gu Qing performed a sliding tackle. Ning Daoqi, who was in the middle of executing his technique, had no choice but to kick, entangling with Gu Qing's leg techniques.

In the *Heavenly Dragon* world, Gu Qing had read through all the martial arts of the world and had fought a fierce battle against the heroes of the world in front of the Shaolin Temple. Combined with his complex combat experience from other worlds, his fist and foot techniques were already the best in the world. After the Dao Heart Demon-Seeding Art compensated for his flaws in spiritual operation, Gu Qing was the number one person in the world, even without using the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art or the Energy-Absorbing Art.

Ning Daoqi's movement changed, his hands mysterious and unpredictable, merging Daoist basic martial arts moves and Daoist concepts into one—void and real, just right. The changes in his technique were like opening a net, enveloping Gu Qing entirely.

!

"Bow-stance punch!"

It was amidst these dense martial arts changes that Gu Qing punched out, striking squarely on Ning Daoqi's chest, causing Ning Daoqi to stumble and retreat many steps.

"Grand Tutor Gu..."

Ning Daoqi's gaze was dazed. At this moment, the image of Shi Zhixuan from back then suddenly flashed before him.

At that time, Shi Zhixuan and Bi Xiuxin were already living in seclusion. Ning Daoqi had snuck over, fought Shi Zhixuan, and defeated him. At that time, Shi Zhixuan had revealed this same look of disbelief.

It was just that back then, Shi Zhixuan was astonished by his own martial arts regression.

But Ning Daoqi was astonished by his own frailty.

This famous Eight Pounces of the Scattered Hand was defeated by ordinary Jianghu moves just like that?

"Grand Tutor, Ning Daoqi still has moves."

Ning Daoqi flashed forward. At this moment, his entire fist and foot technique merged into one, and his aura climbed step by step. After leaping, he paused in the sky and then crashed down toward Gu Qing, spinning like a top. His fist and foot techniques merged into a ball, and his hands and feet struck toward Gu Qing together.

Facing such a move from Ning Daoqi, Gu Qing was unhurried, his steps retreating. Only when the opponent's moves were extremely fast and he was forced into a corner would he intervene to block. Thus, Gu Qing retreated thirty zhang. In these thirty zhang, Gu Qing only struck nine times. Yet, when Ning Daoqi's top-like spin finished, he actually braced his hands, and at the moment that should have been his weakest, he erupted with the most terrifying power.

Gu Qing threw a punch casually and retreated again. After Ning Daoqi's pounce failed to injure Gu Qing, Gu Qing performed an "Iron Mountain Lean." Ning Daoqi immediately spat blood, stumbled several steps, and the stone steps in front of the Jingnian Zen Temple crumbled inch by inch.

"..."

Ning Daoqi looked at Gu Qing.

This was already his second defeat. At this moment, Ning Daoqi also knew where he had truly failed: it was Gu Qing's all-pervading spiritual suppression, which saw Ning Daoqi's moves—both void and real—clearly. Their battle was not a game of moves, but Gu Qing targeting him after seeing his cards.

"Grand Tutor Gu."

Ning Daoqi said, "Ning Daoqi has never killed anyone in his life. My martial arts moves are not primarily for attack, but for defense. If possible, I would like to invite Grand Tutor Gu to make a move, and let me defend..."

"I want to see Grand Tutor Gu's true fist and foot techniques."

After being defeated by Gu Qing, not even seeing Gu Qing's true fist and foot techniques was a humiliation for Ning Daoqi. Ning Daoqi simply laid his cards on the table, wanting to see exactly where the gap between them lay during the battle with Gu Qing.

"Very well."

Gu Qing appreciated Ning Daoqi's attitude. He leaped up and arrived before Ning Daoqi. At this moment, his entire martial arts repertoire merged half into the "Tianshan Folding Plum Hand" and half into the "Hundred Flower Wrong Fist" created by Gu Qing. He drew his hands back and forth, letting Ning Daoqi witness the true strength of his fist and foot techniques.

"Swish, swish, swish, swish..."

Ning Daoqi's hand gestures changed, and he was surprised to see Gu Qing unleash two types of fist styles—one vicious and ruthless, known for its speed. Ning Daoqi's hand gestures changed, pointing and chopping, and he managed to respond, but the endless stream of moves made it impossible for him to keep up. On the other hand, Gu Qing's fists and feet were similar to many techniques in the current Jianghu, but at critical moments, they were immediately "seemingly correct but actually wrong." This dual struggle made Ning Daoqi's mental energy unable to keep up.

"Slap!"

After one hundred and thirty moves, Ning Daoqi's arm was lightly tapped by Gu Qing.

"Hit!"

After one hundred and ninety moves, Ning Daoqi's shoulder was struck by Gu Qing.

"Bang!"

After two hundred and seventy moves, Ning Daoqi's forehead was tapped by Gu Qing.

"Slap, slap, slap, slap, slap..."

After three hundred and fifty moves, Ning Daoqi felt that his martial arts changes had reached their limit. Gu Qing's fists and feet were like mercury pouring onto the ground—every move was perfect and all-pervading. All of Ning Daoqi's fist and foot changes were seen through by Gu Qing. His entire body crackled like firecrackers, and he retreated many steps, sitting on the ground once again.

Completely defeated!

Ning Daoqi looked at Gu Qing in a daze. He had seen many such crushing defeats in his life, but Ning Daoqi had never been beaten by someone like this. Especially after becoming one of the three great grandmasters, Ning Daoqi had never suffered such a thorough defeat.

"Grand Tutor Gu..."

Ning Daoqi cupped his hands, no longer having any grace.

"Victory and defeat are common occurrences for a soldier."

Gu Qing looked at Ning Daoqi and said with a smile, "I won't go up to the Jingnian Zen Temple. Liaokong has practiced the Closed-Mouth Zen and cannot speak. You go and take down the He Shi Bi."

Ning Daoqi shook his head and said, "Liaokong has already been beaten by Zhu Yuyan until he screamed out loud; he no longer has the Closed-Mouth Zen."

"..."

"..."

Liaokong: "..."

(End of chapter)