Chapter 254: Martial Commoner, Kill the Legend!!

The Master Jiankuang Murong Longtu fought the Green Robe Longlife Guest.

Ji Chengfeng?

Is he of the imperial clan?!

Li Guanyi's heart stirred, yet his hand remained steady as he flipped through the scrolls of the Tower of the World's Number One, learning that Tu Shengyuan had originally been in the Imperial Academy's School of Names, relying on his glib tongue to mooch meals and lodging.

He suddenly learned that the Master Jiankuang and the Longlife Guest were locked in battle outside.

Tu Shengyuan could not suppress his curiosity to watch the spectacle; he ran out, tracking the battle's path from afar, recording every exchange, and sending the details via falcon-letter back to the Tower, which then spread the news far and wide.

Li Guanyi realized this battle had already taken place long ago.

The Tower of the World's Number One merely compiled the battle's details and disseminated them.

The scroll recorded what Tu Shengyuan, this reckless guest of the Tower of the World's Number One, had witnessed at the extreme limit of his reach—

The Master Jiankuang and the Longlife Guest clashed outside, their qi surging to the heavens, turning all directions pale with horror.

【Their decisive battle occurred in the Western Regions; the Master Jiankuang's sword was ruthless and terrifying—no swordsman since ancient times could surpass him, and he slew the Longlife Guest outside, yet the Longlife Guest's cultivation was endless, his breath unbroken, fearsome as god or demon】

【The Longlife Guest's blood lured desert wolf packs, all of which the Master Jiankuang swept away with a single sword stroke】

【The Longlife Guest stained the Master Jiankuang's cultivation with his blood, shaking his spirit】

【The Master Jiankuang's sword intent purged all evil; the Longlife Guest's blood could not move him an inch】

【The Longlife Guest's cultivation struck any expert who harbored a desire for immortality, causing their spirit to tremble as if the object of their deepest longing beckoned before their eyes—the Master Jiankuang's heart remained unmoved】

【The clash of their qi summoned a desert storm, transforming into a colossal tornado stretching from earth to sky; nomadic tribes of the Western Regions, witnessing this grandeur, believed it to be the work of immortals and gods, and all knelt in worship】

【The Longlife Guest took the Master Jiankuang's blade directly; his arm's flesh and muscle tore away, his limb seemingly newly grown and unrefined, crushed by sword qi until flesh and blood scattered and fell to the ground】

【The earth shook, mountains trembled!】

【The Living Buddha of the Western Regions, ranked third on the Master List, appeared to protect the region, uprooting an entire mountain and hurling it downward upon the Green Robe Longlife Guest with the power of Shakyamuni's Throwing Elephant】

【He cried: "Sword God, this monk comes to assist!"】

【The Master Jiankuang said nothing and beat the monk too】

【Holy shit, this old bastard is truly insane】

【Tu Gong's note: I hid myself. That old man once used a mere branch and, together with his son-in-law, fought his way to the Tower of the World's Number One—not just him, but his entire family, even the youngest, all had problems. Among our kind, we avoid him at all costs】

【The Living Buddha of the Western Regions and the Longlife Guest both faced the Master Jiankuang's blade, and the Living Buddha and Longlife Guest also fought each other】

【The Longlife Guest Ji Chengfeng's vitality was endless, seemingly boundless】

【He began to evade the Master Jiankuang's sword—I understand now: Ji Chengfeng memorized the Master Jiankuang's techniques through his own body. Sigh—after being slashed hundreds of times, he developed instinct; gradually, he could counterattack Murong Longtu】

【So that's it: among the younger generation, if you fight Ji Chengfeng, do not prolong the battle, or he will forcibly memorize all your techniques through his flesh and bone】

【But surely no one would ever dare to fight a martial legend】

【I heard Ji Chengfeng had no foundation at all—only unyielding will. He lost a thousand battles, yet never fell, inching his way to his current realm】

【His torn arm was a bloody mess, yet Ji Chengfeng ripped it off himself, threw it into the sand, and beasts rushed to devour it—all forgot it, yet Ji Chengfeng's arm regrew fully within thirteen breaths】

【How many times has this happened to him? I've lost count】

【I only feel the Master Jiankuang's ferocity and the Longlife Guest's endurance as the ultimate limits of martial cultivation】

【Ji Chengfeng's temples had only a few more white hairs; otherwise, he was unchanged, his expression as always—death itself could not stir even a ripple in his heart】

Tu Gong's note: The Master Jiankuang's killing intent is the fiercest I've ever seen, yet martial combat is not merely about killing. The Buddhist Diamond Indestructible Body, the Confucian Everlasting Noble Spirit, and the Military School's Deadly Formation all have their strengths. The Master Jiankuang's offensive power is unmatched, yet in endurance and boundless vitality, he falls far short of the Longlife Guest.

【The Master Jiankuang seemed to laugh loudly, then drew his sword】

【He channeled the desert tornado into a sword】

【The Master Jiankuang unleashed his ultimate technique, the Nine Yang Divine Art: Twelve Layers of Jiangnan Mist and Rain, filling the storm with sword qi】

【With the desert storm as his blade, he slashed down—the residual sword qi reached as far as one hundred and thirty li, splitting a red willow tree in two, sand swirling wildly, the sword intent lingering unextinguished】

【Ji Chengfeng was beheaded, bisected, lost arms, became a cripple, pierced by over ten thousand swords, his body like slow dismemberment, flesh peeled to reveal bone—Murong Longtu's strikes were swift and clean, the moves of an old veteran, astonishingly precise】

【No young upstart could match this】

【Never expected the first martial legend to die in centuries would be the immortal man】

【It should be over… no, holy shit?】

【Ji Chengfeng, bisected, healed】

【His pierced brow and heart were regenerating】

【His neck severed, Ji Chengfeng picked up his head with both hands, placed it back on his neck, and within three breaths, healed completely—his gaze turned toward me—holy shit, he saw me!】

【The Master Jiankuang swept his sword toward me】

【Ji Chengfeng said: "This body is immortal and indestructible."】

【Murong Longtu replied coldly: "Cannot be killed?"】

【"I shall sever all your limbs, bind you in iron, and cast you into a volcanic furnace, forcing you to eternally endure the cycle of regeneration and death—how does that sound?"】

【Ji Chengfeng remained silent for a long while, then said: "Try it."】

【After one sword stroke, Ji Chengfeng vanished within the storm; the Master Jiankuang chased after him, yet Ji Chengfeng's qi remained as boundless as at the start—the Master Jiankuang likely could not immediately overtake him in speed】

【Tu Gong's note: I nearly died of fright】

【Martial legends are truly terrifying. Ordinary masters can shatter mountains and shoot arrows over dozens of li, yet compared to such beings, they fall far short—they are the so-called ten-thousand-man adversaries】

【Tu Gong's note: All martial legends have their specialties】

【If commanding a million troops, armored soldiers linked in unbroken qi, then Jiang Su, the War God, is invincible—even if the other four legends joined forces, they could not defeat him】

【If manipulating heaven, earth, and all things, weaving endless arrays, then the Whale Fisher is unmatched】

【The Daoist Sect is ethereal, cannot be bound】

【In ancient times, he merged the Daoist sect into the Imperial Academy, becoming its revitalizing master, then departed naturally. Later disciples' life and death are all governed by fate—the Daoist Supreme One forgets emotion; in these past centuries, some received his teachings, yet their connection ended there】

【The Daoist Sect is the most comprehensive of the five legends】

【The Longlife cannot be killed】

As for the Master Jiankuang, if he draws his sword, no one within three feet of its blade can stand against him.

Unless it is the Great Array of the Whale Fisher or Jiang Su's battle formation, no one can defeat him. In that sense, he is not truly invincible—but to ask the Whale Fisher, a man of such wild arrogance, to prepare an elaborate array in advance, or to have Jiang Su lead an entire army just to kill one swordsman—

The two sons of the martial world are now both gone.

How many young martial artists in this generation can be so elegant?

Raising his sword, he looks down with disdain—his path leads alone, unmatched in single combat.

The record of the Tianxia Diyi Lou of the World ended here.

Li Guanyi felt the battle was terrifying just by watching, but the fact that Ji Chengfeng could recover even after decapitation, waist-cutting, and lingchi still made Li Guanyi unable to imagine it.

Gong Sun Feixue beside him was equally affected, her expression shifting.

"Is this the legend of martial arts?"

Li Guanyi replied: "Yes. A martial artist who has reached the extreme of the Dao of 【Life】, like the Whale Fisher at 【Arrays】 and Jiang Su at 【Armies】, Ji Chengfeng must have pushed 【Vitality】 to an unprecedented level."

"Decapitated and still alive. Waist-cut and still unkillable…"

"All I seek in this life, beyond immortality, is nothing else."

Li Guanyi took a deep breath, feeling a chill at the thought of such a monster—could such overwhelming vitality still be called human? He thought: "My great-grandfather's offensive power far exceeds his."

"But this man's vitality and lightness skill seem unmatched among all martial legends—he fears death so intensely, he became immortal. Yet he abandoned my great-grandfather… was he chasing Master Siming to reclaim his arm?"

Li Guanyi reviewed the battle records written by Tu Shengyuan.

He found a note stating that Ji Chengfeng had taken one of his arms directly against his great-grandfather's sword—flesh and bone were shredded. Clearly, Ji Chengfeng could regenerate his body, but the regenerated flesh could not compare to his cultivated physique.

"Could Master Siming have guessed this all along?"

"That's why, the moment he saw my great-grandfather cut off his arm, he immediately grabbed it and fled…"

"Ji Chengfeng was used to being severed—so when my great-grandfather cut off his arm, he remained calm. He simply never expected Master Siming to do such a thing."

Only now, after reviewing the past, did Li Guanyi understand the events of that day.

At that moment, chaos erupted. Li Guanyi and Gong Sun Feixue exchanged glances and headed toward the Gong Sun clan's main hall. Li Guanyi had assumed it was the Motian Sect arriving, but he saw Gong Sun Wuyue's grim expression.

Li Guanyi followed Gong Sun Wuyue's gaze—and his own face changed slightly.

It was a swordsman with a severed arm. Li Guanyi saw he wore Motian Sect robes, clutching a letter. The paper was plain. Li Guanyi took the letter—and saw its faint script:

"Tomorrow I shall come for the pill. I inform you in advance, to observe proper etiquette."

Li Guanyi instantly knew who it was.

"The Green Robe Immortal, Ji Chengfeng!"

He understood why Ji Chengfeng had come. He seized the Motian Sect disciple's severed arm, poured his internal Qi into it, sensed the disciple's chaotic internal energy, suppressed it, and said: "Focus your mind. Circulate your Qi!"

But the Motian Sect disciple only clenched his teeth, pulling Li Guanyi by the sleeve:

"Young master, we came here and encountered a man who killed over thirty of our brothers. When they died, their hair turned white, their faces wrinkled—no one knew why."

"Our sect master went to fight him—and was defeated in just a few strikes."

"That man said he would come here to take a pill."

"He made me deliver this letter."

"I know I'm going to die. I came here only to warn you—if you can run, run!"

"Don't throw away your lives!"

"He's not even human… not human at all…"

Li Guanyi exhaled, about to ask more—but saw the warrior's face suddenly twist. His meridians swelled, thudding violently. The once-stoic young man burst into tears: "I don't want to die! I don't want to die!"

Boom!!!

The warrior, seemingly only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, exploded into a burst of blood and flesh.

Li Guanyi erupted with internal Qi, deflecting the flying gore—he feared it was poisoned. The letter floated down through the air, white paper stained with black ink and crimson sludge, terrifyingly grim—yet the words upon it remained serene.

"Tomorrow I shall come for the pill. I inform you in advance."

"To observe proper etiquette."

A crushing pressure filled the air.

Gong Sun Wuyue, Gong Sun Feixue, and others turned pale.

Only Li Guanyi took a deep breath.

Just moments ago, he was in the distant western deserts—how could he have arrived here so quickly?

In the Tianxia Diyi Lou's records, Ji Chengfeng, suppressed by the Master Jiankuang yet sustained by endless vitality, had vanished from the account. Now that he had arrived here, he carried an instinctive, terrifying aura.

A fearsome powerhouse even the Master Jiankuang could not fully kill.

The martial legend—the ultimate of 【Vitality】.

Li Guanyi's mind raced, calm and steady:

"Auntie, gather all Gong Sun clan disciples and prepare to evacuate this place…"

"Send your fastest disciples to scatter the nearby civilians and households—prevent them from falling victim to this man."

"I know of a peculiar man who might turn this crisis around."

Without hesitation, after explaining to Gong Sun Wuyue, Li Guanyi summoned the Fire Qilin. The Fire Qilin trod flames and raced toward the previous village, pounding on Hou Zhongyu's ancestral door. The old alchemist opened it, puzzled, asking what had happened.

Li Guanyi told him everything.

The old alchemist's expression froze—then settled into profound calm. No rage, no murderous aura—only the quiet resignation of one who had long awaited this moment, as if relieved, as if ready to sacrifice himself. He said: "Good."

The alchemist turned, gathered several items from his home, and said: "I am no match for that man. But I can at least break his immortality—sever this curse of endless life. Then the Master Jiankuang will surely be able to kill him."

He turned, closed and locked the small courtyard gate, gazing at the place—still seeing the gentle face of the young man he once was. The old alchemist whispered:

"I lived this long only for this."

"My teacher has gone out."

Li Guanyi brought the old alchemist back to the Gong Sun clan on the Fire Qilin.

His thoughts were clear.

First, the arrival of the Green Robe Guest means the Master Jiankuang is no longer far away; second, the Wu Dao legend is hunting, and Li Guanyi, this living elixir, cannot escape.

So why not gamble on buying time, waiting for the Master Jiankuang?

After bringing back the old alchemist, the Gongsun family is gathering and organizing disciples to evacuate this place, since Ji Chengfeng will arrive here tomorrow—this is no longer a safe location.

Li Guanyi went to the Xue family's merchant guild in a nearby city and had them send a message via flying eagle to the Xuegong's Gongyang Su Wang and the Daoist sect—Li Guanyi was not the type to sit idle.

At this moment, the Daoist priest finally picked up his full title—

The rightful heir of Confucian Master Wang Tong, the last disciple of Daoist Sacrificial Libationer Zu Wenyuan, the Marquis of War of Zhongzhou, Jiangnan's Fire Qilin, the one who can draw the Chi Xiao Sword, commander of the Fire Qilin Army—and then he began frantically summoning allies.

Li Guanyi, as a disciple, wrote a letter to the Xuegong's head seeking aid, detailing the matter thoroughly.

And Ji Chengfeng's actions.

No exaggeration needed—just writing the details was enough to provoke fury.

"Ji Chengfeng is coming; I humbly beg the elder to lend aid."

Li Guanyi was a disciple of Wang Tong, and also a disciple of Master Zu Wenyuan.

Both held considerable weight within the Xuegong's Confucian and Daoist circles.

Added to that, Ji Chengfeng's nature as a Wu Dao legend.

Li Guanyi could only hope that the upright Gongyang Su Wang, the Daoist Primordial who reveres nature, and even the Mohists might lend aid—the Six Palace Masters do not enter the Jianghu, but all martial cultivators know these six's Wu Gong subtly surpasses ordinary Grand Masters.

He hoped the Xuegong truly lived up to its reputation of hating evil.

Li Guanyi sighed inwardly.

The Xue family bred a special beast, the flying eagle, and from here to the Xuegong, it could arrive tonight.

If those elders were willing to lend aid, they could arrive in time.

The Xue family's letter sped with utmost efficiency to the Changfeng Tower in Zhongzhou, where the tower's lord there received it; he had been indifferent until he saw a strand of golden feather—his face instantly changed, he leapt to his feet, and rushed to the Xuegong.

The lords of the Changfeng Tower were all renowned scholars, permitted direct entry.

He directly visited each of the Xuegong's schools, spoke a few words, then went to pay respects to the Xuegong's many Palace Masters.

Gongyang Su Wang was playing chess with the Mohist Grand Master, chatting idly.

Seeing the Changfeng Tower lord, he smiled: "Oh? You're not sipping tea in your Changfeng Tower—what brings you to our Xuegong? Don't go corrupting my disciples, your fellow students."

The Changfeng Tower lord was a shrewd man and knew urgency: "If not for a grave matter, I would not dare disturb the two Palace Masters—do either of you know of 'Ji Chengfeng'?"

Gongyang Su Wang paused, then spoke slowly: "A royal scion from over three hundred years ago, the direct heir of the lineage overthrown by Chen Wu Di and Ying Wu Di… later vanished into the world, becoming a Wu Dao legend, lost to sight."

"Where is he?!"

The great chaos over three hundred years ago shaped today's world—back then, the Chi Emperor of that line was tyrannical, murdered in broad daylight; Chen Wu Di seized control of court, deposed the Chi Emperor's line, and slaughtered hundreds of imperial princes and maternal relatives.

Rumor says Chen Wu Di rode a war chariot studded with spikes, rolling over these nobles' backs upon the imperial road of Tianjie, crushing the noblest bloodlines to death, leaving no old or young, blood flowing in torrents, the rain washing for days yet still leaving a stench of blood.

At the time, royal elders cursed in despair, saying Chen Wu Di's descendants would lose their martial spirit and meet the same fate—overthrown by their ministers.

Chen Wu Di merely sneered and whipped the man alive to death.

He spat: "Parasites of the realm—deserve to be whipped to death!"

That purge eventually implicated ten thousand people; how many were innocent, no one knew—it was the very beginning of Chen Wu Di's final rupture with Master Siming.

Chen Wu Di held court power, installed a collateral branch of the royal family as emperor, and Ji Chengfeng was the last surviving remnant of the main line—he was four years old when he witnessed all his elders and kin crushed into pulp beneath war chariot wheels; a minister hid him away.

Then he sent his own son to be crushed in Ji Chengfeng's place, thus saving Ji Chengfeng's life; when Ji Chengfeng reappeared a century later, his Wu Gong had reached the pinnacle of creation, his vitality unceasing, his actions extreme and obsessive, leaving countless bloodshed.

His lightness skill was absurdly high, his whereabouts unknown—otherwise, all these people would have captured him long ago.

The Changfeng Tower lord replied:

"Allow me to inform you both: Qin Wu Hou Li has set a trap, luring the Green Robe Immortal to appear—he will go to the Gongsun family tomorrow. But as a former royal, he still clings to royal etiquette."

"He sent a formal invitation in advance."

Gongyang Su Wang said:

"After being beaten by the Master Jiankuang, Ji Chengfeng still lives?"

He placed a stone, solemnly: "Grand Master, interested in taking a trip?"

The Mohist Grand Master asked: "To kill?"

Gongyang Su Wang replied: "If you do not know life, how can you know death?"

"Seeking life through death—that is folly."

"Though I swore not to enter the Jianghu, I cannot ignore Ji Chengfeng's matter—previously, we could not find him; now he has appeared himself."

"The Master Jiankuang challenges the Jianghu—how could he come slowly, fight slowly?"

"He must come unannounced, draw his sword, and fight."

"Let this be the first battle!"

The Mohist Grand Master placed a stone: "Within ancient Confucian ways, Gongyang Su Wang is peerless—outside them, how strong are you?"

He looked at the Changfeng Tower lord: "The Fire Qilin is the one our Mohists have long awaited—Mo Support backed Jiang Wanxiang; part of our lineage is in Zhongzhou, part in Jiangzhou—we have waited for this man a long time."

"This man, the Mohists will protect."

The Changfeng Tower lord's heart swelled with joy—if two Palace Masters intervened, even if the opponent was a Jianghu legend, they could surely ensure Li Guanyi's safety, the true controller of the Changfeng Tower.

After all, Ji Chengfeng had already been gravely wounded by the Master Jiankuang,

Just then, a faint voice came to his ear: "Zu Wenyuan's last disciple."

"The Daoist sect will participate."

A qi gathered, and a woman with white hair, wearing a Daoist robe, aura like jade, cradling an ancient zither, stepped forward, ethereal as a celestial being: "This humble Daoist pays her respects."

"My elder brother is in deep meditation—this matter, the Daoist sect is represented by me."

Gongyang Su Wang and the Mohist Grand Master returned the bow.

This female Primordial said: "That child has not reached out to the Xuegong on his own for over a year—he must have been driven to the brink."

The Changfeng Lady of Zhongzhou was overjoyed to the point of disbelief.

"I never expected that Lord Li Guanyi has such connections!"

His heart surged—after the battle between Master Jiankuang and Changsheng, were it the several Palace Masters of the Academy who intervened?

In a daze, he seemed to sense the surging waves of this great upheaval in the Jianghu!

Half of the six Palace Masters have already emerged!

The great gate swung open, and an old monk with white beard stepped in, his aura majestic as he walked slowly forward, saying: "All forms are non-forms; dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows. Fellow cultivators, may I count this matter as mine?"

The old monk clasped his hands together, his eyes filled with compassion, bitterness, and more.

The Changfeng Lady was frozen in utter shock.

The Palace Masters of Confucianism, Mohism, Buddhism, and Daoism have all come forth—to kill one man.

For one man.

This man deserves to die, and this man deserves to be saved.

The Jianghu is in turmoil!

Li Guanyi did not know how great a wave his letter—sent after his disciple, nominally wandering outside the Academy, had finally broken his silence—had stirred, nor how many ripples it had unleashed.

Unlike the Buddhist sect and the Mohists, for the Daoists and Confucians—

Li Guanyi's disciples, Wang Tong and Zu Wenyuan, were the core rightful heirs of their respective schools; they had traveled abroad for over a year, earning widespread renown for their benevolence and aid to the common folk, yet never came to the Academy to speak—until now, after holding back so long, they finally sent a letter. Good heavens.

When he opened it, it was a child crying for help.

The boy was still a legendary figure stained with countless blood debts.

Legitimate and justifiable.

The Confucian Gongyang lineage was steeped in grand vengeance.

He laughed loudly, drew his sword, and stepped out.

………………

Li Guanyi did not know the effect of his letter.

When he returned from the Xue family, the villagers and townsfolk around had all been sent away by the Xue and Gongsun families; the area was eerily quiet. As he thought of tomorrow, his heart grew heavy and gloomy. Passing a river, he suddenly heard a lazy, murmured chant:

"When the Canglang River runs clear, it can wash my tassels; when the Canglang River runs muddy, it can wash my feet."

Li Guanyi froze, followed the voice, and saw a fisherman.

Sitting on a green stone, he fished with a bamboo rod, his posture utterly graceful.

For some reason, Li Guanyi felt an uncanny familiarity with him, a sense of closeness—he could not help but walk forward and speak: "Elder, fishing alone—what a fine mood."

The "fisherman," wearing a straw hat that hid his hair, looked at Li Guanyi.

Beneath his sleeves, the veins on his palms bulged.

This very boy had once rested his head on his daughter's knees; for years he had hidden outside, secretly watching over her. When he finally revealed himself, she had said, "No father, no mother"—it had shattered his heart.

Now he longed to smash this brat's skull with his fishing rod—but he had appeared now to confront the Green Robe Changsheng Guest, to protect both his daughter and this boy. Torn between two emotions, his heart was deeply vexed.

After a long silence, the fisherman said: "You, too, are like this."

"Why not come, sit! fish! together?"

The fisherman smiled brightly.

"Would it not be, beautiful?!"

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