Chapter 339: The Ninth Pounce of the Eight Pounces of the Scattered Hand

Yu Liancheng injured Bi Xuan, one of the Three Great Grandmasters, with a single move; though the scene was not as shocking as his defeat of a hundred experts in one strike, it nonetheless left everyone feeling incredulous.

Since the Three Great Grandmasters became world-renowned, they had been three unshakable peaks, impossible to reach.

Yet today, above those three peaks, there stood an additional peerless myth who towered in the clouds, trod upon the summits, looked down upon all living beings, and was gazed upon with reverence by all martial artists under heaven.

"Now, can the three of you attack together?" Yu Liancheng said indifferently: "If you still fight alone, it is no different from seeking your own death."

His words were very plain, as if he were stating a simple truth as mundane as eating when hungry or drinking when thirsty.

After a moment of silent pause, "Yi Sword Master" Fu Cailin said: "Bi Xuan, can you still fight?"

Bi Xuan's complexion was slightly pale; he secretly circulated his "Flame Sun Extraordinary Technique," turning the True Qi within his body into clusters of flames to resist and dissolve the vast, boundless, and strange True Qi inside him, and his voice was heavy: "Rest assured, I won't die."

"The three of us have been equally famous for decades, regarding each other only as opponents. I never imagined there would come a day when we would join forces to face an enemy," Ning Daoqi sighed softly.

The Three Great Grandmasters occupied the Central Plains, Goguryeo, and the Turkic lands respectively, always looking down from the summit with an unshakable status.

I fear that even a few months ago, they would never have dreamed that a day would come when a formidable enemy worthy of their joint efforts would appear.

And the strength of this person was so formidable that even with the three of them joining forces, their chance of victory was at most only half.

"If we cannot defeat this person today and seize the opportunity to reach a more profound realm of Martial Dao, then it will be the moment our bodies die and our paths vanish. Regardless, it will not have been in vain to come here."

Fu Cailin slowly drew the long sword from his palm, and immediately, a force of indestructible energy erupted, wandering and extending in two directions, lingering around Ning Daoqi and Bi Xuan.

Although the martial arts of the Three Great Grandmasters were not much different, each had their own strengths.

The "Yi Sword Technique" created by Fu Cailin was a transcendent skill that integrated the logic of chess into swordsmanship; therefore, compared to the other two Grandmasters, he was more adept at planning and coordination. It was most appropriate for him to lead the energy of the three.

Ning Daoqi and Bi Xuan simultaneously released their own boundless energy, merging it with Bi Xuan's energy.

Under Bi Xuan's regulation, the three distinct energies firmly formed an inseparable whole. Even if a slight flaw appeared due to Bi Xuan's injury, it was quickly compensated for by the other two.

These three occupied three sides, presenting a stable triangle. And at the center of the triangle stood Yu Liancheng with his hands behind his back.

The three energies blended and surged back and forth within the triangle, making Yu Liancheng, who was placed in the middle, seem as if he were at the center of a storm, liable to be torn apart at any moment.

Yu Liancheng's expression remained unchanged; he merely let out a cold snort, and his energy suddenly soared. In an instant, he transformed into a perilous, towering peak that reached the sky, exerting pressure in all directions.

In an instant, the Three Great Grandmasters felt a mountain-like, boundless energy pressing down upon them; although it was formless and intangible, it weighed heavily on their hearts, causing them to consume their mental energy intensely, to the point that fine beads of sweat seeped from their temples.

"We cannot wait any longer, otherwise we will surely be exhausted and defeated without a fight."

With this thought, Fu Cailin guided the energy of the other two and surged wildly toward Yu Liancheng.

And from his entire body surged endless Sword Qi, enveloping Yu Liancheng like a net of heaven and earth. His eyes stared at the opponent without blinking, filled with gravity.

Fu Cailin was world-renowned for his "Yi Sword Technique," using people to play chess with the sword, and using the sword to play chess with people. It was ever-changing, emphasizing anticipating the enemy's moves and controlling the fleeting battle situation, never for a moment ceasing to discern the enemy's flaws.

Once an opponent revealed even the slightest flaw, his sword would display an unrivaled might, never missing any good opportunity.

Although he had not yet spotted a flaw in Yu Liancheng, the arrow was already on the string and had to be fired.

In an instant, the long sword thrust out like a swimming dragon, and in a flash, it shook out ten thousand points of cold light, dazzling the eyes. Each point of cold light was a chess piece on the board, enveloping Yu Liancheng with the momentum of a net of heaven and earth, determined to slaughter the opponent's "great dragon" in an instant.

Ning Daoqi let out a long whistle toward the sky, his toes tapped lightly, and the small boat instantly shattered into pieces.

And his whole body swept up like a Qingniao, his eyes revealing the innocent look of a mischievous child, his hands transforming into two birds chasing and playing, following an indescribably mysterious trajectory, conjuring layers of afterimages, pouring toward Yu Liancheng like mercury spilling onto the ground.

His moves were natural and heaven-sent, like flowing clouds and moving water; he had reached the realm of returning to simplicity, and no one could underestimate him.

"Kill!!"

Bi Xuan roared, his Flame Sun Aura instantly contracting and adhering to his skin, making his bronze-colored skin appear as if covered in a layer of pale golden light, imposing and domineering, like a Heavenly Human descending to earth. The Moon Wolf Spear in his hand ignited with a cluster of flames, attacking Yu Liancheng with the momentum of a comet strike.

If one were to speak of the magnitude of the momentum, this previously injured Martial Venerable was even more astonishing than the other two Grandmasters.

Yi Sword Technique!

Eight Pounces of the Scattered Hand!

Flame Sun Extraordinary Technique!

As soon as the Three Great Grandmasters made their move, they erupted with their full power, and even used the unique skills they were famous for.

If one were to speak of the strength of the momentum, the joint strike of the Three Great Grandmasters was not at all inferior to the simultaneous attack of the hundred experts earlier; it could be called the most powerful and exquisite strike in nearly a hundred years.

More importantly, the energy of the Three Great Grandmasters was condensed into a single beam, like an Iron plate.

Perhaps if Yu Liancheng had made contact with their bodies, the Great Art of Energy Absorption could have been effective. But now, wanting to absorb energy from a distance was absolutely impossible. Therefore, the scene of pushing away and defeating a hundred experts earlier could absolutely not be replicated.

"Well come!"

Yu Liancheng's handsome, peerless face revealed an unprecedented fighting spirit, and golden light shot from his eyes.

His body shook, and his boundless Qi and Blood surged into the sky, as if dyeing the river water with a layer of red light. Within a radius of several dozen zhang, under the impact of the Qi and Blood, the temperature rose, the air twisted, and even the water surface rippled with misty vapor.

Bi Xuan's Flame Sun Aura, in the face of the Qi and Blood that Yu Liancheng was fully unleashing, seemed to become insignificant and not worth mentioning.

At the same time, his five fingers rotated, and he suddenly clenched them into a fist; the force shooting out from between his fingers hit the long-trodden ground, and deep pits immediately appeared.

Boom—!

His fists suddenly whirled, the fist wind howling, kicking up a stormy sea; each punch seemed to have the force of ten thousand jun, crushing down like a mountain.

In an instant, Yu Liancheng engaged in a thrilling duel with the Three Great Grandmasters.

These four strongest people under heaven fought with extreme speed; even experts who ranked as first-class, such as Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, could not clearly capture the traces of their moves, and only a dazzling mass of afterimages remained before their eyes.

Bang! Bang! Bang!!

The roaring sounds of the force exploding connected into one, and almost every instant, there were thousands of clashes. It was continuous and incessant, like war drums beaten when two armies faced off, making people's eardrums tremble, and the water surface under Yue Ma Bridge was also shaken into ripples, with waves churning endlessly.

The group of experts watching was grave to the extreme; the vast majority of them could no longer see the battle situation before them, but they were unwilling to miss a single moment. A duel between experts sometimes lasts only an instant. And this battle before them could be called the most shocking martial arts event in nearly a hundred years.

"Whether it is Bi Xuan, or Ning Daoqi or Fu Cailin, they are all peerless experts standing at the pinnacle of the martial arts world. If they want to advance further, they need at least ten, or even several decades of effort. But under the pressure of Yu Liancheng, they have stimulated the most intense potential in their lives, and their strength will inevitably rise to a higher level, or even become the legendary existence of Shattering the Void..."

On the ridge of a high building, Shi Zhixuan stood with his hands behind his back, but he soon revealed a sneer; no matter who saw such a smile, they could not help but feel a chill in their hearts.

Without Shi Qingxuan by his side, his dark personality seemed to be about to crawl out again.

"Heh, but the prerequisite is being able to survive."

As one of the few experts who could see the moves of the four clearly, the Evil King naturally could see that although Yu Liancheng was being besieged by the Three Great Grandmasters, he was handling it with ease and not falling behind in the slightest.

And the three experts' energies were blended, appearing seamless. But they had no experience of joining forces before, and the martial arts they learned were worlds apart; they were merely relying on their extraordinary cultivation and rich martial arts experience to forcibly mix them together.

What's more, "Martial Venerable" Bi Xuan had been injured earlier, and his strength could only be exerted to seven or eight tenths at most, becoming the weakest link in this triangle.

Once Bi Xuan suffers a setback here, the other two will likely not be able to hold on for long.

By that time, there will be nothing left but death.

"I wonder if Song Que will make a move? That is indeed a variable."

Shi Zhixuan cast his gaze toward a small boat drifting on the river; standing tall on the boat was a handsome man, standing as majestic as a mountain, possessing an air of looking down upon the world—it was none other than the "Heavenly Blade" Song Que.

Song Que and Yu Liancheng had no grievances, but in order to ascend to a higher level of Martial Dao, he might not necessarily refrain from drawing his blade against Yu Liancheng.

And Song Que's strength was by no means inferior to the Three Great Grandmasters; he was a terrifying variable, and perhaps even the key to influencing the outcome of this battle.

Under the bombardment of the four top experts, Yue Ma Bridge was teetering, as if it could collapse at any moment. They fought from the bridge to the water's surface, and the river was subjected to continuous thunderous strikes; layers of water flew up, creating thick and vast walls of water. Carried by the force, water sprays and droplets filled the air, shooting out in all directions with terrifying power and momentum.

Fortunately, when Yu Liancheng had crushed hundreds of experts earlier, many had already been caught in the crossfire and had long since scattered in a roar, otherwise, there is no telling how many more would have suffered.

The Three Great Grandmasters facing Yu Liancheng's offensive were also feeling their scalps tingle; most of the time, the opponent used simple fist and foot attacks, yet they had reached the realm of returning to simplicity, and the profound subtlety contained within was beyond imagination and hard to describe. Even more terrifying was the immense, surging power carried by the opponent's strikes; even for top Grandmasters like them, there was a strange sensation of being on the verge of being physically blasted apart by the opponent.

Boom!!

Yu Liancheng's fist was like the ancient firmament, striking toward the Three Great Grandmasters. The point of impact was like heaven and earth turning upside down, stirring up a massive explosion that seemed to return the world to chaos. The river water churned and splashed, erecting a water wall over ten zhang high, which then surged out in all directions.

Although the Three Great Grandmasters joined forces to receive this blow, each of their faces turned pale, clearly feeling unwell. Yu Liancheng did not pursue the victory, but instead landed lightly on the battered Yue Ma Bridge.

"Eight Strikes of Dispersing Hands, Flame Sun Extraordinary Technique, Yi Sword art—all three are extraordinary supreme arts, and they have given this seat much inspiration and insight." Yu Liancheng's expression was indifferent: "Among these three extraordinary techniques, what this seat appreciates most is the Eight Strikes of Dispersing Hands. Attack and defense follow the heart and adapt, with no fixed form; using the void as reality, and reality as the void."

"The Imperial Tutor is too kind; compared to the Imperial Tutor's martial arts, this old man's Eight Strikes of Dispersing Hands still falls short." Ning Daoqi and the others were happy to stall for time to recover their True Qi and calm their Qi and Blood.

Yu Liancheng's topic suddenly shifted: "This seat once knew a swordsman who practiced a family-transmitted supreme art called the 'Thirteen Swords of Death,' but he discovered that the first thirteen forms were merely the stem, while the two forms that followed were the leaves and flowers of this sword technique."

Ning Daoqi's heart jumped: "What does the Imperial Tutor mean?"

Yu Liancheng said leisurely: "The Eight Strikes of Dispersing Hands are not actually eight rigid moves; the changes between void and reality are infinite. But you named it 'Eight Strikes' instead of 'Nine Strikes.' Nine is the ultimate number; the Eight Strikes of Dispersing Hands are, after all, a step short."

Ning Daoqi nodded, his expression slightly solemn as he said: "The Imperial Tutor's eyes are like torches."

Yu Liancheng said indifferently: "Have you finished adjusting your breath? Next, this seat will use a supreme technique just realized—the Ninth Strike of the Dispersing Hands. If you can receive it, you may leave today. If you cannot, then there is no need for further words."

Ning Daoqi's burly body trembled, and the pupils in his eyes suddenly constricted: "What did you say? The Ninth Strike?"

Yu Liancheng did not offer much explanation; his deep eyes simply became indifferent and tranquil, as if they were the vast, high heavens.

He shook his arms, his left hand transforming into a Qingniao flapping its wings to fly, the sky and earth filled with clear bird calls. His right hand transformed into a fish, and ripples seemed to emerge in the void.

The next moment, his hands merged. Two diametrically opposed energies converged, and at this moment, Yu Liancheng seemed to transform into a mythical giant bird that covered the sky and blocked the sun, cutting off the clouds and carrying the blue sky, pouncing toward the three of them.

The palm force was like a heavenly river, surging down mightily, pouring toward the Three Great Grandmasters.

Rumble!!

Because of this strike, a grand echo of a rushing torrent seemed to resound in the void. It was as if a mythical giant bird were flapping its wings to fly, spiraling up ninety thousand li.

Many experts on all sides, even those far away, could hear this sound, which caused their hearts to throb and tremble, as if they were about to jump out of their chests.

There were even experts with weaker cultivation whose bodies shook, stumbling and falling to the ground in a sorry state.

The range of this strike was extremely vast, its power encompassing heaven and earth, circulating through the universe, covering all three Grandmasters completely as if there were no fear that they could escape, and it struck down with a roar.