Chapter 1154: Not a Phoenix, but Still Receives Homage

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In the viewing stands, Helian Yunyun sat gracefully.

At this moment, she exuded an air of nobility and authority, watching the battle on the martial arts stage without a word.

In truth, she was pinching herself fiercely with her fingernails to keep herself from jumping up and cheering – after all, her mother, the great Empress of Mu, had her Dharma Aspect manifested here.

Chasing Zhao Rucheng in private was her own business.

But to be shameless in front of the entire world…

Her beloved pearl might just become a lump of mud underfoot.

So she was dignified, she sat steady and unmoving, undisturbed by the eight winds.

Sitting beside her was a… nun, wearing a bamboo hat with a black veil hanging down.

Her coarse black hemp monk's robe was very wide, making it impossible to discern her figure.

Yesterday, Helian Yunyun had sat alone in dignified solitude, so this heavily veiled black-robed nun was a newcomer today.

She hadn't spoken from the start of the match until now, only expressing a touch of surprise upon seeing Deng Qi's sword-finger technique: "Your Mu Kingdom, still has such a killing method deeply infused with Buddhist charm?"

It was no wonder she was surprised.

In a divine kingdom like Mu, there was strong resistance to external transcendent forces.

Confucianism couldn't establish academies in Mu, let alone Buddhism, which also carried strong religious significance.

"My Great Mu Empire is vast and rich, with countless strong individuals and geniuses like rain. What killing method is there that we don't possess?"

Helian Yunyun waved her hand with a nonchalant expression. "It's nothing remarkable."

Across the viewing stand, Chen Siwu of the Song Kingdom was also frowning deeply.

The geniuses who could represent Mu in the Yellow River Assembly were bound to be extraordinary. However strong they were, it was acceptable.

Jin Ge, from the renowned Jin family, was already known for his fierce killing power. The fact that Deng Qi could replace Jin Ge right before the main competition began meant his strength was definitely only stronger, not weaker.

He would never underestimate him.

Nor did the Song Kingdom have the qualifications to underestimate the Mu Kingdom.

The reason for his frown was that Deng Qi's learning was truly杂驳 (zá bó - mixed and diverse). Up to now, he had neither revealed the power of the Divine Sect nor showcased any of the peerless techniques of the Mu Kingdom's true blood families. Even the well-known secret arts of the Mu Kingdom's royal court were nowhere to be seen.

What he used were some obscure, little-known, or even never-heard-of secret arts and killing methods.

Like the Geng Metal Sword Qi, many people recognized it. There were also quite a few killing methods based on the Geng Metal Sword Qi in circulation.

But to be so pure and sharp, and to be wielded to such an extent of gathering and scattering at will, ever-changing… the killing method displayed by Deng Qi was terrifying. It was just unknown by what name it was called and who was its inheritor.

And the Little Non-Phase Flower-Nipping Sword Finger he was now using combined the wonders of both Buddhism and Daoism. It was created by a powerful individual who had entered the Dao from Buddhism, but that was already a thousand-year-old inheritance.

Chen Siwu had also seen records of it in an ancient text, which was how he was able to recognize it.

How many such trump cards did Deng Qi have?

He himself was skilled in all six arts, attaining the Dao through the five archery rituals: "White Arrow, Consecutive Shots, Penetrating Shot, Assisted Measurement, and Well-Formed Mark."

He could be considered well-read, with a diverse range of cultivation.

But this Deng Qi, he couldn't see through him at all…

He couldn't see through his lineage, couldn't see through his reliance. It was as if everything about this person was hidden beneath that strange bronze mask…

And there were infinite possibilities.

He shook his head.

Facing such a genius, Yin Wenhua had no chance whatsoever.

The Song Kingdom's Outer Building event had not entered the top eight, and now the Inner Mansion event would also fall in the first round of the main competition.

The pressure on him suddenly intensified…

The strongest genius of the Song Kingdom had made his judgment from outside the arena, but Yin Wenhua himself certainly disagreed.

Or rather, no matter who denied him, he only sought answers from his Zhumin Sword.

As soon as Deng Qi's Little Non-Phase Flower-Nipping Sword Finger was unleashed, it instantly swept across the martial arts stage.

Yin Wenhua no longer had time to continue the second phase of the Qingming Sword's transformation. He directly reversed the grip on the Zhumin Sword!

The so-called "Dark Room and Bright Candle," this sword was the sword of burying oneself in ancient texts, seeking knowledge and understanding. Of course, it was also銳意進取 (ruìyì jìnqǔ - determined to make progress) and steadfast.

It was listed among the famous weapons of the Song Kingdom.

He had used this sword to defend himself since he was a child, and they were already connected in spirit.

As the long blade was held in reverse, a burst of radiant light suddenly soared into the air, directly approaching Deng Qi.

The sword qi was like a long rainbow!

The Qingming Sword has three phases.

First phase: The phoenix tree begins to bloom; second phase: The field mouse transforms into a quail; third phase: The rainbow first appears!

Now was the third phase.

The setting sun obscured by rosy clouds, a long rainbow piercing the top!

The sky opened up, distance ceased to exist, the air was penetrated. This sword descended like divine light from heaven. In the eyes of the onlookers, only a brilliant, astonishing rainbow was visible! Extremely dazzling and eye-catching!

But…

Deng Qi's five fingers, blooming like a flower, were like playing the guqin on a summer night, striking the瑟 (sè - a stringed instrument) in autumn, picking flowers in spring morning, possessing extreme beauty. Full of leisure. With a slight shift, he somehow pinched that long rainbow in his hand!

Five fingers nipping a flower, holding a long rainbow.

This scene was too beautiful, like a poem.

Intoxicating, astonishing!

Flowers bloom and wither, karma arises and perishes.

The Little Non-Phase Flower-Nipping Sword Finger, forcibly crushed the sword qi long rainbow!

And at this moment.

The leisurely advancing Deng Qi, and the striding Yin Wenhua, met in the very center of the martial arts stage!

Since the start of the battle, they had exchanged several blows. But this was the first time they had closed in on each other to such a distance.

This distance was very subtle.

The Zhumin Sword, three and a half feet long.

This was the distance at which one sword could kill!

Therefore, as soon as the sword qi long rainbow of the Qingming Sword was shattered, Yin Wenhua's sword posture changed again. He directly turned his step and swung his body, slashing out with a single sword!

The sword rose like a wild goose, the sword cried out like a profound bird.

The air whistled, sword qi crisscrossed.

Wild geese cried out, profound birds cried, and a hundred birds chirped!

The supernatural ability of Empty Mind Sword Heart was not only of great help to sword technique cultivation, but its effect in offense was also immediate. Each move was pure and executed at will.

The White Dew Sword also has three phases.

First phase: Wild geese arrive, second phase: Profound birds return, third phase: Flock of birds store up nourishment.

Yin Wenhua unleashed three phases with one sword, directly pushing this sword to its peak!

For a time, a hundred birds chirped in unison, circling Deng Qi. They pecked and fell, showering down like rain.

The entire martial arts stage was filled with the sword light of the Zhumin Sword. The sky and the ground were full of the sword qi of the White Dew Sword.

This sword simply destroyed vision and obliterated the senses. One could only see white dew, only await the hundred birds.

The crisscrossing sword qi was like a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix.

One who is not a phoenix but receives homage will surely die!

The terrifying sword intent, sword qi, and sword light had completely enveloped Deng Qi.

But this was not the end.

The true meaning of this sword lay in…

"The flock of birds stores food to await the winter solstice!"

So the real killing move was actually in another sword of the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword -

The Winter Solstice Sword!

Yin Wenhua used the White Dew Sword to build momentum, and the Winter Solstice Sword as the decisive blow. This perfectly aligned with the principle of autumn and winter succeeding each other, and also the way of natural rotation.

Unless one had thoroughly mastered the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Sword Canon, this was absolutely impossible.

When the White Dew Sword had built up to its peak, the power of that Winter Solstice Sword would be terrifyingly strong!

Truly achieving "one sword brings the winter solstice, and all things wither."

The famous battle of Yao Fu, the Lord of Dragon Gate Mountain, was one where he changed the sky and sun with a single sword, turning midsummer into winter, and killing all his opponents.

Yin Wenhua certainly couldn't reach that level, but he felt that killing within three steps, with snow falling from heaven and earth, should not be a problem.

This was a killing blow in the making.

However…

Deng Qi's leisurely steps suddenly shifted.

He walked very strangely. He clearly took a step to the right, but when his foot landed, he had avoided the surging sword qi and sword light, stepping within three feet of Yin Wenhua!

What kind of footwork was this?

Just as this thought arose in Yin Wenhua's mind, he suddenly saw a golden-winged great roc's phantom image扑面而来 (pūmiàn érlái - rushing towards him)!

This bird fed on dragons. Although not a phoenix, it could still receive homage from a hundred birds without harm.

Looking closely, it was a saintly, radiant golden sword-finger technique!

Fast, too fast!

His eyes had just captured the finger, and this sword-finger technique had already landed on his forehead!

The white dew had not yet cleared, the winter solstice had not yet arrived.

The timing of this finger's insertion was exquisite. It forcefully interrupted the continuation of summer and winter, and halted the momentum of the killing blow.

Intense pain spread instantly.

Yin Wenhua had just felt the pain when a ball of clear light already enveloped him.

Yu Xi had taken action…

Yu Xi judged that he had encountered a death crisis!

Yin Wenhua instantly lost all his strength, only watching with his eyes wide open as those two fingers, joined in a sword form, like cast gold… slowly withdrew from the wound in his brow.

How could I lose?

He thought.

I cultivate all twenty-four solar terms swords. Within the same realm, I have no equal.

Dou Zhao can sweep the world with his seven battle forms. The Mountain Lord's twenty-four solar terms sword is also one of the best in the world.

How could I…

Fall in the first round of the main competition.

Leaving home since childhood, abandoning a life of luxury, studying at Dragon Gate Academy. Practicing in the morning and working in the evening every day, never daring to be slack.

From a stumbling child, all the way to today, becoming the pride of the family, representing the Song Kingdom to step onto the River Viewing Platform.

Those cold nights practicing the sword, those early mornings studying hard…

Is that only enough to get here?

My twenty-four solar terms sword, I've only unleashed four swords.

The Mountain Lord always said, among geniuses, there are even greater geniuses. Beyond the tall mountains, there are mountains even taller.

I've reached my limit…

Yin Wenhua had a very cool feeling.

For some reason, the blood flowing from his brow…

Was not warm.

Perhaps because…

Regret.