Chapter 265: Fighting Two Great Experts Alone

"It is not that this old man has been hiding, but rather that I have already had thoughts of retiring and did not intend to show myself. But since Sect Leader Yu has called me out, naturally there is nothing left to hide."

Amidst the clear and resonant voice, a middle-aged man in green robes walked slowly out from the forest.

One could see that this man had a gaunt face, a few inches of sparse beard on his chin, and an ancient sword with a black scabbard in his hand. He looked like a down-and-out scholar traveling the world, yet every movement of his seemed to reveal an indescribable ease and detachment.

"So it is Benefactor Jian before me. Greetings."

Seeing the person who had arrived, whether it was the Shaolin Dharma Protector or the sect leaders of Wudang and Emei, all bowed in salute. This was because the person before them was none other than the highly respected and peerless swordsman, the World's Number One Swordsman, Jian Jingfeng.

This man had been famous in the Edo for several decades, and his swordsmanship had reached the pinnacle; only a few experts like Abbot Liaojie of Shaolin Temple, the Divine Marquis Zhu Wushi, and Cao Zhengchun of the Eastern Depot could contend with him.

And since ten years ago, he had already retired to the Number One Manor Under Heaven, long ago ceasing to concern himself with the affairs of the Edo.

But the reputation of the "World's Number One Swordsman" was simply too loud, and there were too many martial artists in the world who used swords.

Therefore, in the first five years after his retirement, there were still many Sword Dao experts who challenged his status as the World's Number One Swordsman, but his swordsmanship became increasingly exquisite and extraordinary, and very few could last ten moves in his hands.

In the latter five years, very few swordsmen went to challenge him and ask for humiliation; he was already the World's Number One Swordsman whom everyone was convinced by.

Jian Jingfeng returned the salute to Liaofan and the other two one by one, then turned his head to look at Yu Liancheng, twisted his beard, and said, "Ten days ago, you defeated the 'Two Elders of Heavenly Star' with a single broken sword. They sent me a message afterward, claiming that your swordsmanship has reached the pinnacle and is unparalleled in the world. This old man knows that those two would never lie about such a thing. So, as soon as I heard news of Sect Leader Yu, I rushed over immediately, wishing to receive your instruction."

He had stood at the peak of Sword Dao for too long and longed for an opponent.

"I have already said that I am the First Heavenly Venerable of Heaven Beyond Heaven, not the Demon Sect Leader. Why do you refuse to call me Heavenly Venerable Yu?"

Yu Liancheng covered his forehead, shook his head with a sigh, and then turned his gaze toward Jian Jingfeng, saying, "Since that is the case, why did you not show yourself to fight me, and instead claimed you had thoughts of retiring?"

Jian Jingfeng said indifferently, "Only because I have already withdrawn from the Edo and do not concern myself with its disputes; naturally, I could not join forces with them to deal with you. And after you fought them, even if you were to win, your True Qi, physical strength, and fighting spirit would all be diminished. This old man cannot do something as taking advantage of someone's precarious position, so naturally, I could only leave."

Yu Liancheng clapped his hands and said, "You do have a bit of a swordsman's pride. However, you have miscalculated one thing."

"Oh? What thing?"

A faint smile curled at the corners of Yu Liancheng's mouth as he said, "Dealing with those three would not take much effort at all; by then, having a match with you will still be more than enough."

As soon as these words were spoken, the three righteous experts all changed color. Yeyu Shitai's face was even as dark as water, and she snorted coldly, "Arrogant brat!"

As the words fell, her figure leaped, and the Sword in her palm suddenly left its scabbard, pouring forth like cold, sharp points of light.

Just as Yu Liancheng was about to strike, Liusheng Piaoxu, who was in his arms, had already drifted out like a Heavenly Maiden, shouting sharply, "You are not worthy of attacking him. Get past me first."

Her long saber turned into a streak of brilliance, suddenly clashing with Yeyu Shitai's long sword, sparks flying everywhere.

"Demon Sect enchantress, how dare you act so fiercely." Yeyu Shitai's face darkened further, and the Sword in her hand danced wildly. The sword light flashed like lightning, yet it was grim and disciplined, like streaks of startling brilliance, strangling toward Liusheng Piaoxu.

However, with her long saber in hand, Liusheng Piaoxu's footwork was like walking on waves, and her saber technique moved with great range, pulling out sharp, ear-piercing sounds of wind-breaking. Not only did she not lose to Yeyu Shitai, but she actually held the upper hand.

Liaofan and Yuzhen looked surprised. As the sect leader of Emei, Yeyu Shitai had few peers in the Edo in terms of both swordsmanship and Internal Force. Yet now, fighting this Demon Sect enchantress, she was actually at a disadvantage. If this battle were to spread, it would surely shock the martial arts world, and the reputation of the "Third Heavenly Maiden" would rise to an even higher level.

"The Master has already started fighting; you monk and Taoist should not just think about watching the fun." Yu Liancheng laughed, shook his arms, and swept toward the monk Liaofan and the old Taoist Yuzhen like a flying eagle. With a palm on each side, he struck toward the two of them.

"How arrogant!" Liaofan and Yuzhen were both renowned senior experts, their internal and external skills having reached the first-class level. This Yu Liancheng was actually attacking both of them at the same time, as if intending to fight them both simultaneously.

"Amitabha!" A loud Buddha's name rose into the air. The monk Liaofan stepped forward, and a large palm suddenly struck out from his robe sleeve. This strike was truly fierce and overbearing, yet it carried a sense of compassion; it was the famous Great Compassion Palm from the Seventy-Two Unique Skills.

The old Taoist Yuzhen also struck out with a palm, the palm force yin, soft, and continuous, as if containing countless follow-up moves, and as if endless like river waves; it was the Wudang Cotton Palm.

The four palms collided, and the force exploded. The monk Liaofan and the old Taoist Yuzhen both retreated a step at the same time, looks of astonishment flashing in their eyes. The opponent's palm strike looked simple and plain, but the force contained within was like a thunderbolt, like a collapsing mountain.

"Haha, the two of you need not be polite; bring out your best skills." Yu Liancheng laughed loudly and attacked the two again.

This time, the two no longer dared to be careless. The monk Liaofan danced his sleeves, struck out with a palm, and as his palm flickered, it instantly multiplied into hundreds and thousands, covering the sky and earth as it enveloped Yu Liancheng; it was the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Palm.

The Taoist Yuzhen used Wudang palm techniques with one hand, the palm force continuous and the moves light and agile. With his other hand, he drew the long sword at his waist and thrust out circles of all sizes, forward and reverse, straight and slanted. It looked like only one move, but this move was continuous and endless; it was the most exquisite part of the Wudang Sword Technique.

The two great experts joined forces and attacked with all their might, their power truly peerless. For a time, sand and stones flew, and the force whistled. But Yu Liancheng moved left and right, shifting and dodging within the offensive, actually dissolving all the moves and techniques into nothingness, breaking them with ease.

Jian Jingfeng watched from the side, secretly shocked. Two top experts of the Edo actually had no way to deal with this person. Even with his own peerless swordsmanship, he feared he might not necessarily be able to defeat the opponent.

"Good, worthy of being a Shaolin Dharma Elder and a Wudang Sect Leader. You have indeed cultivated the unique skills of the Shaolin and Wudang sects to a very profound level."

During the fight, Yu Liancheng's voice came out unhurriedly, which made the two people fighting him tremble: "I have also dabbled in the unique skills of these two sects; why not ask the two of you for some guidance and correction?"

After finishing his words, Yu Liancheng lowered his brows slightly, yet it seemed to carry an indescribable sense of compassion, just like a clay statue or stone carving in a temple looking down coldly at the masses.

The next moment, he had already struck a palm toward Liaofan.