Chapter 83: Huashan Sword Debate

Atop Huashan, the winds and clouds changed color.

Although the people present had different personalities, they were all individuals with supreme martial talent, and their martial arts and vision were the best in this world.

But when they saw the sharp Sword Qi radiating from Lu Li, they could not help but feel secretly startled.

Clearly, just a moment ago, Lu Li was still a junior who chatted and laughed with everyone, but the moment his fighting spirit surged, everything changed.

His entire body radiated a lingering chill; this chill was not a physical drop in temperature, but pure Sword Qi, pure killing intent. This aura pierced through people's bodies and struck directly at everyone's heart.

They found it hard to imagine that a swordsman not yet twenty years of age could radiate such terrifying Sword Qi.

The current Lu Li seemed like an unsheathed sharp sword, radiating a cold, bright sword gleam.

This sword gleam suddenly appeared before everyone; those with insufficient martial arts or a weak will, even if they only took a single look, would be pierced by this sword gleam and retreat in fear.

This sword was a sword that only the strong could face.

And as for the Huashan Sword Debate, if one were not a supreme expert of the current age, how could one have a seat at the table?

Originally, Huang Yaoshi had a unique personality, and furthermore, having reached such an age, he had long since taken "fame" lightly.

Guo Jing placed his heart on his home and country, while Yang Guo and Xiaolongnü, after reuniting, had only each other in their hearts. Even Zhou Botong, though naturally fond of martial arts, had never had the intention to contend for fame or profit.

These peerless experts were now all good friends and had no desire to determine a ranking. In fact, in the original story, they did not hold a Huashan Sword Debate at all.

But at this moment, a fighting spirit instinctively erupted from all of them.

Especially Yang Guo, because he was a master of the sword himself.

Perhaps they did not want to contend for fame or profit, but without exception, they all wanted to fight Lu Li.

Simply because they were the strong!

The moment their gazes met, sharp swords were unsheathed!

Some fierce, some ethereal, some steady...

Atop Dashiping, a powerful aura no weaker than Lu Li's erupted simultaneously from Yang Guo, Guo Jing, Zhou Botong, and Huang Yaoshi.

Guo Xiang and the others' expressions changed drastically.

The pressure and aura radiated by these five people filled the entire Dashiping, making everyone's hair stand on end and their chests feel oppressed.

Huang Rong said in a low voice, "Let us retreat to the side!"

The crowd then seemed to wake from a dream and retreated one after another.

Guo Polu's eyes were bright as he asked in a low voice, "Mother, is this the Huashan Sword Debate? Why does it feel even more startling than defending Xiangyang?"

Huang Rong still wore a look of shock and said in a low voice, "I don't know why it is like this either. I participated in the last Huashan Sword Debate, and at that time, it was the Eastern Heretic, Western Venom, Southern Emperor, and Northern Beggar fighting against your father. I was on the scene then, but I didn't feel such terrifying pressure."

In her view, the sense of urgency on the Huashan Dashiping today far exceeded that of the past.

Was it because the martial arts of Brother Jing and Father and the others were higher than they were then? Or was it because of this suddenly appearing, handsome youth?

Guo Polu said, "Mother, then who can win?"

Guo Xiang smiled and said, "Silly brother, who do you hope wins?"

Guo Polu scratched his head and said, "I can't tell..."

Let alone him, even Huang Rong and Sishui Yuyin and the others could not tell.

And the five people on Dashiping were all in a stalemate, all looking for a flaw in the other.

But how could such experts easily reveal a flaw?

The heavy aura caused the thick clouds in the sky to gradually gather, pressing down motionlessly.

In fact, when the sky is covered in dark clouds, it gives people the feeling that the sky is very low.

And at this time, everyone was at the peak of Huashan, with thick clouds hanging low, as if the sky were within reach.

Unknowingly, a drop of water fell from the Old Urchin's forehead. It was unclear if it was his sweat or a drop of water condensed from the thick clouds.

But, he moved.

One saw Zhou Botong's body strike a punch with an extremely soft rhythm; it was precisely the fist technique he created himself, the Kongming Fist.

This Kongming Fist was the softest fist technique in the world, which Zhou Botong derived from the Daoist Canon.

"Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water, yet nothing can surpass it in attacking the hard and strong; there is nothing that can replace it. The weak overcome the strong, the soft overcome the hard; everyone in the world knows this, but no one can practice it."

One saw that his fist did not produce the slightest bit of wind; it seemed that every drop of air or water that came into contact with his fist could only feel a hint of softness.

Usually, fists without wind are very slow.

But, this punch was very fast.

In the blink of an eye, the shadow of the fist had already arrived before Lu Li.

Good fist technique!

Lu Li's gaze was bright and sharp, and his sword light was even more swift and keen. Unlike Zhou Botong's softness like water, his sword was sharp and fierce, breaking through the long sky, and the air emitted a sharp whistling sound.

The figures of Zhou Botong and Lu Li tangled in an instant, and one after another, the cloud-water fist curtains that offered no point of leverage surrounded Lu Li.

There is a rumor in the Jianghu of a fist technique that can place a swallow on the hand without it being able to fly away; the principle is that the fist energy is softer than water, and the swallow has nowhere to gain leverage.

And Zhou Botong's fist curtain was enough to trap sharp blades.

But Lu Li was Lu Li after all; how could his sword be an ordinary sword?

A brilliant sword light suddenly pierced through the fist curtain. The Sword Qi was fierce and lingered for a long time, separating the water curtain.

Cut Water!

Boom!!

The next moment, the water droplets in the air scattered like a rainstorm, landing on the surrounding mountain rocks and actually leaving spots of water marks.

Zhou Botong's figure leaped out abruptly, and he laughed, "Good sword technique, good sword technique! The Old Urchin's Kongming Fist cannot beat you!"

Lu Li laughed loudly, "Water does not contend for the lead; what it contends for is to be continuous and unending. Senior's fist technique is the softest in the world, empty and bright; my sword cannot yet achieve that."

Having said that, Lu Li's long sword drew a soft arc in the air, which actually carried a hint of softness as well.

This softness came half from what he had gained from embroidery, and half from Zhou Botong's Kongming Fist just now.

"Eh? You are very clever, much cleverer than my little brother Guo Jing! Back then when I taught him the Kongming Fist..."

Before Zhou Botong could finish his sentence, Huang Yaoshi suddenly stepped onto the Dashiping.

"Hmph! If you're done fighting, then get down; stop spouting nonsense!"

It was unclear whether he was impatient or simply disliked others talking about his son-in-law. Although he had not seen eye-to-eye with Guo Jing at the beginning, after so many years, Guo Jing's character was enough to move this Eastern Heretic.

One could see that Huang Yaoshi had a lean and refined appearance, looking elegant and detached, with his beard and hair already somewhat frosted with white. If this appearance were placed in later generations, one could only imagine how many fans who love older men it would attract.

Among the Five Greats, Lu Li also had the deepest impression of this Eastern Heretic.

Seven parts heretical within the righteous, and three parts righteous within the heretical—that is the Eastern Heretic.

And his martial arts were not like the other four of the Five Greats, who specialized in one or two martial arts.

"Peach Blossom Shadow Falls Flying Divine Sword, Blue Sea Tides Pressing Jade Flute" is the portrayal of his lifelong martial arts.

Not only that, Huang Yaoshi was also proficient in Five Elements Eight Trigrams and Strange Gates and Occult Arts.

Compared to others, the Eastern Heretic's martial arts were clearly more beautiful and more romantic.

His martial arts might not be the strongest among the Five Greats, but his artistic conception was surely the highest.

Huang Yaoshi slowly took out a jade-green flute; his flute was his sword.

"Senior, please!"

Lu Li's long sword vibrated slightly, emitting a joyful sword intent.

It was originally an ordinary iron sword in the hands of a mediocre person, yet it managed to be held in Lu Li's hand and appear in the Huashan Sword Debate.

As far as the sword itself was concerned, it no longer cared about anything else.

In other words, this sword was intoxicated.

"Use me to your heart's content! Hum!!"

Lu Li flicked his wrist and suddenly thrust out a sword.

Huang Yaoshi did not draw his sword immediately, but instead placed the jade flute gently against his lips, and the sound of the flute spread out in an instant.

A profound True Qi suddenly centered on Huang Yaoshi and expanded outward in all directions.

At this moment, the sea of clouds surged, just like the rising tides of a blue sea.

Huang Yaoshi swung the jade flute, and a peach branch suddenly blocked the path of Lu Li's long sword.

The Eastern Heretic stepped on a Strange Gates formation, yet while striking with his sword, the flute music never ceased; everyone felt as if the Huashan Dashiping before their eyes had suddenly transformed into a different world.

Peach blossoms shadow falls, blue sea tides rise.