Chapter 63

Hong Qigong heard the shout, his expression suddenly changed, he leapt into the air, quickly flashed to beside the Beggar Clan people, gathering his inner power, secretly on guard.

Han Xiao Ying heard the shout, her pretty face could not hide her excitement, she abruptly turned to look, seeing the distant figure, her eyes slightly reddened, she actually felt an urge to cry.

When the crowd first saw that person, his figure was still over a hundred zhang away, yet his movement was like a ghost—silent, light as a feather, swift as lightning; in an instant he had darted to before everyone's eyes.

The comer was none other than Niu Dingtian; after flashing to ten steps away from the crowd, he planted his feet and stopped, wearing a blue robe whose sleeves fluttered, snapping in the wind; with a raise of his hand his aura was intimidating, and though snow fell heavily, not a flake could come near him.

Seeing the beauty unharmed, Niu Dingtian's heart eased somewhat; after a gentle glance, his eyes like lightning swept over the Beggar Clan crowd, finally fixing firmly on Hong Qigong's face, he said in a low, contemptuous tone:

How does she conduct herself?

What need is there for you to intervene?

Huh? Northern Beggar Hong Seven?

Having said that, his face was full of provocation.

Han Xiao Ying seeing the two about to draw swords, although she knew Niu Dingtian's martial arts were high, she could not guarantee defeating the Five Absolutes; worried for his safety, she hastily stepped forward and explained in a sweet voice:

Chief Hong, that day your clan's Peng Zhanglao, in the ruined temple, rashly schemed to.

No need to explain!

Before he could finish, Niu Dingtian interrupted him with a shout, then coldly snorted:

Hmph! Two blind dogs, daring to defecate on this old man's head—if I don't take their lives, should I keep them for the New Year?

My beloved is being bullied, and yet I'm supposed to go explain to him?

Where am I to put the face of Niu Dingtian?

To hell with the Five Absolutes and Eight Absolutes! Let's first have a fight to vent our anger, then talk!

As soon as those words left his mouth, Ke Zhen'e's face already looked somewhat unpleasant.

Blind?

Dog thing?

Hmph!

Out of consideration for Seventh Sister, he forcibly turned his head and endured it.

What an arrogant brat! At your young age, how can you be so murderous!

Hong Qigong shouted in fury; hearing such arrogant words, his face turned ashen and his hair stood on end with anger.

Immediately after, not knowing what he thought of, his square face grew stern, he slowly tightened his grip on the dog-beating staff, pointed it at Niu Dingtian from afar, and said in a low voice:

You brat, your moves are so vicious! Sooner or later you'll become a scourge of the martial world!

This old beggar I never slaughter the innocent; those who die by my hands are nothing but great villains and evildoers. Although you killed my Beggar Clan elder, considering your youth and impulsiveness, today I will abolish your martial arts, so you may become an ordinary person—better than later bringing calamity to the martial world and continuing to slaughter the innocent.

He saw that although Niu Dingtian was young, his cultivation was unfathomable, yet he killed without remorse; such a violent nature will surely bring chaos to the martial world sooner or later, and given his hatred of evil like an enemy, he naturally could not tolerate it.

Having said that, he immediately leapt into the air, activating the Dog-Beating Staff technique, thrusting a 'Staff Strikes Dog's Head' fiercely at Niu Dingtian.

Dog-Beating Staff?

Niu Dingtian's face instantly darkened.

Seeing that green oily staff coming to strike, he flashed his body away, unwilling to touch it even a bit.

Damn it!

Sword, come!

Immediately he gathered palm power in his right hand, let out a violent shout, only to hear a 'clang'—Han Xiao Ying's treasure sword leapt from its sheath and shot forth.

Looking again, the sword hilt was already firmly gripped in Niu Dingtian's hand; he waved the sword in a move to block it, and the ringing of the drawn sword lingered in the wind without ceasing.

Capture Dragon Skill?

Hong Qigong's face could not hide his astonishment; he couldn't help uttering a sound.

As he attacked with the staff, seeing the opponent's ability to take objects from afar, he even paused slightly in his own technique.

Could it be the Lost Dragon-Capturing Skill, the secret art lost from our clan over a hundred years ago?

How could it be used by this person?

Hehe. This world is not limited to the Capture Dragon Skill for taking objects from afar!

Niu Dingtian wore a look of disdain.

Yet his hand movements were not delayed; he gathered inner power to drive the treasure sword, instantly the sword hummed, the blade arched, and once again he executed the 'Xiao Shi Riding the Dragon' from the Jade Flute Sword Technique; body and sword became one, turning into a wisp of afterimage, swift as lightning, mighty as a dragon riding, shooting toward Hong Qigong.

Seeing the opponent's fierce assault, hard to resist, Hong Qigong retreated swiftly, employing the eight principles of the Dog-Beating Staff technique—entangling, splitting, winding, thrusting, lifting, drawing, sealing, turning—in rotation, using force against force while blocking and retreating.

For a moment the 'ding-ding' sound pierced the wind and snow; green and white shadows crisscrossed, a blue and a gray afterimage sped rapidly away across the snowy plain.

The remaining people could not clearly see the two's moves, only perceiving two figures coming and going, gradually disappearing; but after they vanished, at the place where heaven and snow met, the continuous clashing of weapons still rang out.

After another few dozen breaths, the two again carried wind and momentum, from far to near, finally engaging in combat back and forth at a distance of over a hundred zhang, causing the distant onlookers' hearts to surge.

Staff Lifts Mangy Dog!

Press Shoulder Dog's Back!

Stir Dog's Claw!

Reverse Cut Dog's Butt!

Hong Qigong exerted all his strength, the thirty-six paths and twelve techniques of the Dog-Beating Staff rose and fell in succession; when Niu Dingtian's swordsmanship came with fierce momentum, his shouted techniques also burst out.

Hearing Hong Qigong shout out his techniques, Niu Dingtian's inner anger grew; he felt that this damned old beggar was striking while cursing, a double output.

In the blink of an eye, another move 'Golden Sound Jade Vibration' pressed down heavily, then he turned his hand and executed 'Phoenix Melody Long Cry'; instantly the sword's roar boomed, directly shaking Hong Qigong with a sensation of dizziness and blurred vision; once his eyes barely cleared, Niu Dingtian followed with a move 'Oar Song Midstream', the intimidating sword tip already thrusting before his eyes.

Divine Dragon Swings Tail!

Seeing the Dog-Beating Staff unable to block in time, Hong Qigong directly unleashed the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, the move 'Divine Dragon Swings Tail' bursting forth with force; after his palm power blocked the sword's blade, he swiftly flipped aside.

This is.

Jade Flute Sword Technique!

Are you Huang Lao Xie's disciple?

Hong Qigong seemed to recall something, a hint of surprise flickered across his face; he stood to the side, staff in hand, and asked in a low voice.

He recalled the dizzy sensation just now; back when they debated swords on Mount Hua, Huang Yaoshi had used this on him—it was the Phoenix Song Long Cry from the Jade Flute Sword Technique, which induces dizziness and bewilderment.

"What? Do you think I'm Huang Yaoshi's disciple, so you, Gang Leader Hong, no longer plan to abolish my martial arts?"

Niu Dingtian stood sword in hand; hearing that, a sneer crossed his face, he curled his lip and jeered at Hong Qigong.

That old bastard just scolded me plenty.

Hong Qigong ignored the mockery; as a beggar he had endured untold amounts, but hearing these words he fell silent.

"Heh heh heh, you're just another hypocrite, Beggar Gang chief—aren't you supposed to abolish my martial arts? Or how about you get a taste of the Beggar Gang's Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms?"

Having said that, he cast aside his sword, planting it in the ground, then activated the Arhat Subduing Demon Skill and lunged forward with a palm strike.

At this moment Niu Dingtian's tongue was venomous; before striking, he didn't forget to vent verbally, he still held a grudge over that Dog-Beating Staff Technique just now.

Hong Qigong saw the palm attack, hastily cleared his mind, unleashed the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms and met it with a wave of his palm; upon contact, fierce energy burst forth, faintly accompanied by dragon roars and tiger howls, sweeping across the snowy plain.

After ten breaths of palm clash, both were shaken apart by internal force; Niu Dingtian, seeing the opening, hesitated not, opened and closed his palms, and lunged forward.

Hong Qigong struggled to block, fighting while retreating, alternating left and right palm forces; in an instant, the two had fought their way to the front of the crowd.

At that moment, after Niu Dingtian leapt into the air and pressed down with his legs, he fully channeled the yin-yang energy within his body, sprang up, and thrust both palms forward simultaneously.

"The Proud Dragon Has Regret!"

Seeing the incoming palm, Hong Qigong's face changed; without hesitation he unleashed his strongest move, the Proud Dragon Has Regret, his palms thrust forward with a dragon's roar.

When the four palms met, their internal forces exploded outward; the fierce energy swept across, and in an instant the snow layers flew up.

Niu Dingtian's robes burst with sound, his black hair flew wildly; after a surge of ruthless energy, he again churned his internal energy and pushed forward madly.

Pfft~

Hong Qigong couldn't withstand it; he spat a mouthful of blood, his body flew out, and finally landed beside the Beggar Gang members.

"Chief!"

"Chief!"

After gathering his strength, Niu Dingtian leapt up, landing ten steps away from Hong Qigong; his aura unfolded, he pressed forward directly, his eyes like lightning, and he called out in a low voice.

"The Five Top Martial Arts of the World—Wang Chongyang is dead; I, Niu Dingtian, take this vacant position!"

"You, Hong Qigong, aren't you going to accept this?"

(End of chapter)