Chapter 15: The Sword Strike!
Chapter 15: The Sword Strike!
"An ordinary disciple like you, when meeting a senior uncle, should you not kneel and pay respects?" Ling Feng stood with pride, his aura imposing, akin to a sword piercing through the clouds and soaring to the heavens.
With this statement, everyone became silent.
Senior uncle?
Ling Feng is a disciple of the Duanmu Qingshan. In terms of seniority, he is indeed considered a senior uncle to Shi Tailong and the others.
However, hierarchical distinctions lose their significance when compared to strength. The Duanmu Qingshan branch had long become a laughingstock, and for Ling Feng to naively bring up such a ludicrous seniority was simply an extreme display of foolishness.
After a brief moment of silence, a burst of uproarious laughter ensued.
"Hahaha, what a fool!"
"What a simpleton! Does he genuinely believe that merely by having a supposedly esteemed master, he can sit on an equal footing with the other peak leaders?"
"Haha... After spending seven or eight years in the inner sect, I, Zhao Ritian, have never encountered someone so foolish. You're the first one to earn my admiration for sheer stupidity!"
"Kneel and pay respect?" The laughter erupted from both Shi Tailong and the disciples surrounding him at Feixing Peak. "Kid, your level of foolishness has reached new heights. You almost had me entertained!"
"I'm just amusing my son[1], it's perfectly justified. Go ahead and laugh," Ling Feng squinted his eyes, speaking with indifference.
"Ridiculous!" The laughter immediately ceased, and Shi Tailong's expression turned icy. He coldly remarked, "Stop boasting with words. The debt from last time should be settled properly today!"
"It's time to settle the score!" Ling Feng's eyes gleamed with a hint of coldness. If it weren't for Duanmu Qingshan's timely intervention last time, he might have ended up severely injured or even faced a life-threatening situation at the hands of Shi Tailong.
Ling Feng would not hesitate to be ruthless towards anyone attempting to take his life.
"It's over... this kid's temperament is too stubborn! Provoking Shi Tailong like this is no different from seeking death!" Wang Danfeng tightened his fist, finding it difficult to continue watching.
Clang!
The resonance of blades filled the air as Shi Tailong instantly unsheathed the sword from his waist. He harbored a determination to eliminate Ling Feng, and his swordplay displayed absolute ruthlessness.
"Kill!"
Shi Tailong roared and swiftly moved with calculated precision, closing in on Ling Feng. Like a fast gust of wind, he charged toward Ling Feng with lethal intent.
"The finishing move of the Galewind Thirteen Swords! I never expected Senior Brother Shi to have perfected this sword technique to such an extraordinary level!"
"He's done for!"
"With this sword strike, it's likely to cost a life!"
The surrounding disciples shook their heads; what followed was undoubtedly a scene of blood splattering everywhere.
"Ah... It's all my fault!" Wang Danfeng's face displayed a momentary expression of self blame. If only he had kept Ling Feng in the outer sect under his care, perhaps Ling Feng wouldn't have lost his life just days after joining the Wenxian Sect.
"Countless flaws! You consider this to be swordsmanship?"
A chilly smile played on Ling Feng's lips.
Over the past few days, he diligently practiced the Starshatter Sword Technique passed down by Duanmu Qingshan. His understanding had far surpassed what could have been compared to the earlier days.
In a twinkling moment!
The crowd only heard the clang of metal accompanied by a striking shower of sparks. In the next instant, a glaring sword radiance burst forth, as if a sword deity descended. Amidst a moment of dizziness, Ling Feng made his move with the sword!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
During the exchange, a spectacle unfolded, unlike anything witnessed before. Ling Feng's rapid and cunning swordplay appeared to anticipate every one of Shi Tailong's moves. No matter where Shi Tailong directed his attacks, Ling Feng effortlessly parried with his sword, responding swiftly and leaving Shi Tailong consistently caught off guard.
"Shatter!"
With a low shout, Ling Feng vibrated the three-foot Qingfeng Sword. A streak of sword qi cleaved through the sky, piercing Shi Tailong's right eye.
"No! Ah..."
A cry of agony echoed through the heavens, followed by a resounding "clang." Shi Tailong's long sword slipped from his grasp, and above his right eye, a barely noticeable sword puncture appeared. The sword qi had shattered his eyeball, leaving him with only half of his vision.
This is just a minor warning. Should there be a next time, what will crack open is his skull!
"Ah!" Shi Tailong, clutching his right eye, rolled on the ground without respite. Blood sprayed out, leaving him drenched, and the intensity of the pain caused his entire body to tremble.
"What... What just happened?"
"Shi Tailong actually lost? I didn't even see how Ling Feng made his move!"
The surrounding disciples stared in disbelief, swallowing hard. Never in their wildest dreams did they expect that Little Bamboo Peak would produce such an extraordinary and astonishing disciple.
"Senior Brother Shi!" The two disciples walking alongside Shi Tailong were visibly shaken, both in body and spirit. They swiftly assisted Shi Tailong, who was rolling on the ground, and directed their gaze sternly toward Ling Feng. One of them, with a quiver in his voice, accused, "Ling Feng, you unruly fellow, how dare you resort to such violence against Senior Brother Shi?"
"Violence?" Ling Feng's eyes chilled, and he gave the disciple a cold, hard stare. "If you don't step back this instant, I'll lay an even more severe hand on you!"
"You!" The disciple, trembling under Ling Feng's intense stare, quivered uncontrollably. Without daring to linger any longer, he hastily joined another junior brother, both supporting Shi Tailong, and fled back to Feixing Peak.
Ling Feng emitted a disdainful snort. Dealing with a few small fry was hardly a concern for him; he dismissed it entirely.
Under the protection of Duanmu Qingshan, he felt invulnerable to trouble. Anyone daring to provoke him would face swift and decisive retaliation!
"Though delayed for a moment by Shi Tailong, I'll head to the scripture depository first to explore any worthwhile cultivation techniques and martial skills."
Sheathing his sword, Ling Feng ignored the rest of the disciples and walked away confidently. He seemed unworried about the possible repercussions of injuring disciples from Feixing Peak.
"Is this... is this really the young man I brought here?"
As Wang Danfeng watched Ling Feng depart, he stood frozen in place. He had thought Ling Feng was bound to die, yet now he was shocked by the unexpected turnaround.
The sword strike was not only swift but also incredibly dazzling!
...
At Feixing Peak.
"Outrageous, absolutely outrageous!" Yang Wei seethed, his anger exploding like thunder. "This troublemaker is unbelievably audacious, daring to act recklessly and causing a scene at the martial arts square!"
"Master, that youngster insists he's a disciple of Duanmu Qingshan, placing himself on equal footing with the sect leader in terms of seniority. He shows no regard even for you, Master!" Shi Tailong, covering his blinded right eye, cried out in anguish, "Master, you must seek vengeance for me. We can't let that youngster continue his audacity unchecked."
"Damn it, does he truly believe he can stand on equal ground with the sect leader? Who does he think he is?" Yang Wei seethed, unable to contain his anger. "This rascal, relying on old geezer Duanmu's support, has begun to act tyrannically within the Wenxian Sect?"
"Alright, let's see what this kid is made of, thinking he can lay hands on someone under my authority, Yang Wei!"
"Brother Yang, let's not lose our temper," Li Liang squinted thoughtfully." Have you overlooked the fact that we rely on that kid to acquire Duanmu's Sword Scripture? Doesn't the increasing strength he exhibits imply that Duanmu is generously sharing his knowledge with him? Let's wait until he masters the Sword Scripture, and then we can act!"
Yang Wei tightened his fist. "Yet, that kid dared to attack my disciple. If I don't intervene, others might think I'm afraid of that old geezer, Duanmu Qingshan."
"As the saying goes, Enduring minor challenges leads to greater success in grand endeavors. Handling that kid is as straightforward as crushing an ant. Enduring for a while and securing the Sword Scripture hidden by Duanmu is the most crucial matter at hand."
"Hmph!" A glint of coldness flickered in Yang Wei's eyes. However, as he contemplated the fact that even the previous sect leader had succumbed to the power of the Sword Scripture, he could only suppress his discontent.
"For the time being, that young man retains some usefulness; spare his meager life. However, he shouldn't think he can have an easy time in Wenxian Sect!" Yang Wei snorted coldly, instructing, "Spread the word: the sect is to cease all provisions for Ling Feng. The scripture depository, medicinal pavilion, divine arsenal, and any cultivation sanctuaries are off-limits to him!"
1. Ling Feng mocks them in a way like saying "I'm your father" ☜