Chapter 143: Heavenly River (Additional chapter for Guild Leader Long Guihun, second update, seeking monthly votes)

The autumn wind is biting, and the grass beneath one's feet has already withered to yellow.

Yu Liancheng's expression is calm and composed, a smile still lingering on his face.

In contrast, Guo Songyang's expression is increasingly grave.

Before the fight, he had already gauged the other's cultivation, perhaps not beneath that of Shangguan Jinhong. Only upon facing him in person did he realize the other was even more formidable than he had imagined.

The mere state of "emptiness" was enough to make it difficult for him to strike.

But regardless, he had to make his move.

"Be careful."

The wind blows, whipping up a sky full of red Hong Ye.

Sword Qi strikes at people; the world is filled with a sense of desolation and killing intent.

With a single "clang," Guo Songyang draws his sword backhanded; the sword light flies up suddenly, not only as fast as lightning but also full of unstoppable power.

His "Songyang Iron Sword" was already nearly peerless under heaven, and now, unleashed with accumulated force, how many in the world could withstand it?

In reality, as this sword was thrust out, Guo Songyang's sword momentum and energy had not yet reached their peak.

He still needed to take at least ten more steps to adjust himself to a state of absolute perfection.

But Guo Songyang did not.

This was by no means because he was panicked or blindly arrogant.

It was the pride of a swordsman.

Yu Liancheng waited composedly and dispersed that state of harmonious, ethereal energy.

Yet he, in turn, adjusted himself to his peak.

As a proud and aloof swordsman, he could never do such a thing.

Because even if he won, he would lose face.

Therefore, long before reaching his peak, he had already thrust a sword at Yu Liancheng.

What a fast sword.

What a heavy sword.

In the blink of an eye, the cold, sharp Sword Qi rushed toward his face, actually causing a chill to rise all over Yu Liancheng's body.

The tip of the sword pointed straight at his brow, as if to bloom a flower between his eyebrows.

A flower of blood.

Yu Liancheng praised, "Good swordsmanship."

As he spoke, his wide robes and large sleeves rolled out like a black cloud, actually wrapping around the black longsword, then with a gentle shake, the cold Sword Qi shattered inch by inch.

Guo Songyang's face sank, and he retreated two steps.

He had always prided himself on his composure, but at this moment, he was secretly startled.

This person actually received his full-force sword strike relying solely on the skill of his sleeves?

Although Guo Songyang was astonished, his movements were not the least bit slow.

He stomped hard on the ground, sending mud flying and leaving a deep footprint. Carrying the black longsword, he transformed into a black bolt of lightning and attacked Yu Liancheng.

Yu Liancheng curled his left hand into a claw and reached forward, like a dragon extending its claws, carrying a gust of wind as he grabbed at the incoming black light; faintly, the sound of a dragon's roar emerged, shaking the spirit.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

In an instant, the two exchanged blows over a dozen times.

Yu Liancheng struck the sword body with his claw-fingers, actually sparking flames. The moves were not varied, but they were sharp, ruthless, swift, and fierce, causing the air to hiss as it was clawed.

It was just that he was not proficient in this claw technique, and he was forced back several steps by the Songyang Iron Sword.

But in a blink, he changed from claw to palm; the palm force was vigorous and surging, with the power of a thousand jun, and filled with a majestic momentum. When the palm struck the sword body, it sounded like a rolling thunderclap, as if a Vajra were subduing a Demon.

Yu Liancheng's martial arts changed too quickly—one moment waving sleeves, one moment curling claws, one moment striking palms...

Guo Songyang was caught off guard at first, but as a top-tier swordsman famous for decades with rich combat experience, he quickly adapted to Yu Liancheng's moves and launched a counterattack; his sword was like a thunderbolt, carrying a melancholy wind.

"Grandfather, look, Yu Liancheng is actually being forced back," Sun Xiaohong said in surprise.

Sun Baifa's eyes showed even more astonishment as he muttered, "He truly is a martial arts prodigy."

Sun Xiaohong blinked and asked, "Grandfather, what do you mean?"

Sun Baifa's expression was slightly grave: "For the past half year, Yu Liancheng has stayed in the Cangjingge of the Shaolin Temple, reading all of the Seventy-Two Unique Skills. Each of the Seventy-Two Unique Skills is profound and vast; an ordinary person can only learn one or two in a lifetime, and even high monks only master five or six. I originally thought he was only using the Seventy-Two Unique Skills as reference material, but I didn't expect..."

Sun Xiaohong already understood his meaning and said in disbelief, "Grandfather, do you mean that what Yu Liancheng is using now is the Seventy-Two Unique Skills?"

Sun Baifa nodded: "Iron Sleeve Technique, Shaolinlongzhuashou, Great Demon-Subduing Palm, Formless Finger... although he doesn't seem proficient, he already has three parts of the essence. This person is indeed a martial arts prodigy."

Sun Xiaohong said, "Is he using Guo Songyang to practice now?"

Sun Baifa said, "Correct. Originally, Guo Songyang still had a sliver of a chance to win, but now he has none at all."

Sun Xiaohong asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Sun Baifa said, "Because after this exchange, Yu Liancheng is already familiar with the moves and patterns of the 'Songyang Iron Sword'. No matter what moves Guo Songyang uses, he has anticipated them. But until now, Guo Songyang has not yet seen Yu Liancheng's sword."

"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles" is a classic truth.

Conversely, if one does not understand the opponent at all and does not know their background, then defeat is not far off.

"I did not come to see Shaolin martial arts; I want to see your sword, your swordsmanship," Guo Songyang frowned.

Things having reached this point, how could he not understand that the other was merely using him to test moves?

But at the same time, he also understood that the other had only learned Shaolin martial arts for at most half a year and already possessed such power, and his true martial arts prowess was likely far above his own.

Yu Liancheng nodded and said, "Fine, first unleash your most proud swordsmanship, and then you will naturally be able to see my swordsmanship. Regardless, you are a worthy opponent, and an opponent worthy of me drawing my sword."

"Watch closely."

Guo Songyang let out a long whistle, and his entire being erupted with a daunting aura.

At this moment, his spirit, energy, and intent had completely fused with the long sword in his hand, becoming an inseparable whole, giving one a strange feeling of natural perfection, as if man and sword were one.

The next moment, following a sharp shout from Guo Songyang, he moved with his sword; the long sword suddenly bloomed with a brilliant, piercing light, striking like lightning and erupting like a volcano, his killing intent fully unleashed and poured into the long sword at full speed, the black blade seemingly stained a blood-red by that intent.

As this sword thrust out, the fallen leaves in the surroundings were shaken by the Sword Qi, rustling down, and in an instant, they were ground into powder. The air was involuntarily pushed aside to both sides, forming a vacuum zone.

This sword pointed straight at Yu Liancheng's heart.

"Good."

With a word of praise and a sound like a dragon's roar, the Duoqing Sword finally left its sheath.

At the very instant the long sword was unsheathed.

An incomparably majestic and vast aura descended with a boom.

In Guo Songyang's perception, he seemed to see an ancient mountain that had existed since the dawn of time rising from the ground, its pressure weighing down on all directions.

As the Duoqing Sword approached, that mountain-like, majestic power immediately covered him, and the surrounding space seemed to be pressed by this force, becoming as difficult to traverse as a swamp.

——"City-Toppling."

This move was neither elegant nor swift, but based solely on the terrifying power carried by the sword, it was already one of the world's top-tier sword moves.

A "City-Toppling" sword strike could indeed defeat Guo Songyang.

But Yu Liancheng did not intend to use this move.

He wanted to test a new move he had researched over the past half-year, a sword move that would be comparable to the "Three Flawless Forms."

The sword momentum of "City-Toppling" continued to rise, and this sword already filled Guo Songyang's entire field of vision.

And when it rose to its extreme, it seemed to pierce the firmament; the Milky Way poured down, infinite waves rolled, cascading from the nine heavens, continuous and endless, surging toward Guo Songyang.

The power of this form might not be as terrifying as "City-Toppling," but it surged in wave after wave, the Sword Qi constantly lashing out like wolves, endless and incessant.

At this moment, Guo Songyang felt as if he had become a small boat on the vast sea.

Waves crashed, and hidden currents surged.

Clang, clang, clang!!

The sword lights clashed, and sparks flew in all directions. Guo Songyang had only blocked five waves of the surging tide when the Duoqing Sword was already pressed against his throat. The encroaching Sword Qi made his whole body feel cold.

Not only was his arm trembling from the impact of the immense force during the clash, but his heart seemed to be trembling as well.

What astonishing swordsmanship this was.

Yu Liancheng had already sheathed his sword.

Guo Songyang, however, remained dazed for a long time, as if still immersed in the artistic conception of Yu Liancheng's sword strike.

He finally came to his senses, his eyes shining: "What was the name of that sword strike just now?"

Yu Liancheng spat out two words indifferently: "Heavenly River."

Guo Songyang said: "The Heavenly River pours down, inexhaustible; it is truly a fine sword technique. But I can tell that once the sword momentum that condenses like a mountain is unleashed, it will also be an extremely magnificent sword strike."

Yu Liancheng spoke two more words: "City-Toppling."

"City-Toppling, City-Toppling." Guo Songyang seemed as if intoxicated.

Yu Liancheng had used "Heavenly River" to defeat him, but "Heavenly River" was, after all, a rough draft; although it had the potential to become the "Fourth Flawless Form," it was still a step short.

Furthermore, only "City-Toppling" could fully unleash the power of a heavy sword; it was the move most suited for a heavy sword.

Therefore, Guo Songyang's appreciation for "City-Toppling" was even higher than for "Heavenly River."

Yu Liancheng suddenly said: "Want to learn it?"

Guo Songyang was startled: "Ah?"

"I can teach you 'City-Toppling'." Yu Liancheng smiled and said: "However, there is a price for this."

Guo Songyang said: "What price?"

Yu Liancheng said: "The price is very simple, it is..."

……

The clash between these two peerless swordsmen, Yu Liancheng and Guo Songyang, ended with Guo Songyang's defeat by a single sword strike.

In the distance, Tianji Laoren and the girl with the long braids also walked over.

Tianji Laoren looked at Yu Liancheng and exclaimed: "If I am not mistaken, that previous sword strike is the greatest harvest you have made over the past half-year."

Yu Liancheng nodded and sighed: "Pity, it is still just a rough draft, there are many actual flaws, and it needs to be catalyzed by the sword momentum of 'City-Toppling'; it is far from reaching the level of being flawless."

Tianji Laoren praised: "Even so, it is already quite remarkable."

"The old gentleman is too kind with his praise."

Tianji Laoren changed the subject and said: "Last night you forced Shangguan Jinhong to retreat; now he is already setting out to deal with you, issuing two orders in succession, both related to you."

Yu Liancheng raised an eyebrow: "Oh? He has always been a man who leaves nothing to chance; I wonder what means he is using now?"

"This person does indeed leave nothing to chance." Tianji Laoren said: "His first order is to collect information about you, including your martial arts style, background, and identity."

Speaking to this point, he looked at Yu Liancheng again.

In reality, Tianji Laoren had also sent people to secretly investigate Yu Liancheng's identity and background.

Tianji Laoren came from a martial arts family with deep-rooted influence and a long history.

When he was determined to find someone, that person's ancestors back eight generations would be dug up.

Yet Yu Liancheng seemed truly like a visitor from beyond the heavens; apart from finding that he had suddenly appeared at a tavern near the pass more than half a year ago, it was impossible to trace him any further back.

"When you obtained the Golden Silk Armor, countless experts rushed to find trouble with you. Although you killed many people, there were also quite a few who slipped through the net. The Money Gang is spending great effort to find these people, likely wanting to glimpse your martial arts moves from their mouths and then find a way to cope."

Yu Liancheng laughed: "That is of no concern; those people can at most only see some superficial skills and cannot probe the true spirit within. Moreover, over the past half-year, I have also improved quite a bit."

"That is for the best."

Tianji Laoren nodded and added: "As for the second order, he has let the people of the Money Gang announce to the Edo that you have appeared in Baoding City, and claimed that you are currently in possession of the Shaolin Seventy-Two Ultimate Arts, as well as secret manuals left behind by the hero Shen Lang, which is why you have your current skill. Once this news spreads, I fear the people coming to trouble you will be no fewer than the storm caused by the Golden Silk Armor back then."

Yu Liancheng said indifferently: "They are all just small fry; I can dismiss them with a wave of my hand."

Tianji Laoren said, "But this is also Shangguan Jinhong's idea; those people might not pose a great threat to you, but they will constantly cause you trouble, leaving you no time to cultivate. If anyone manages to escape from your hands, they are immediately recruited by the Money Gang to inquire about your current martial arts moves."

"Oh, looking at it this way, it is indeed somewhat troublesome." Yu Liancheng raised his eyebrows, a smile curling the corners of his mouth: "Fortunately, I already have a way to deal with it."

Tianji Laoren said, "Oh?"

Yu Liancheng said, "Just find a bodyguard and let him block these small fry for me."

Tianji Laoren said, "Such a person, I fear, is not easy to find."

"It is indeed not easy to find." Yu Liancheng's gaze turned toward Guo Songyang, who was to the side.

Guo Songyang carried a black sword on his back; seemingly sensing his gaze, he let out a cold snort and turned his body slightly.

"Fortunately, I have already found one."

"It seems this old man was overthinking." Tianji Laoren smiled, then suddenly his expression turned solemn: "However, I have one more piece of news to tell you."

"What news?"

"Da Huanxi Nu Pusa is arriving soon."