Best Young Master
Chapter 301 - 267 [When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it with earth]

Chapter 301: Chapter 267 [When soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it with earth]

Since the revival of the Martial Arts World at the end of the last century, various martial arts sects and families have established martial arts halls in major cities to handle secular affairs while helping the sects and families to recruit outer disciples and select talented prospects.

As the root of the Inner Sect, Wudang Sect was founded by Zhang Sanfeng, a Song Dynasty figure, according to Huang Zongxi’s "Wang Zhengnan’s Tombstone Inscription" dating from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. It began in the Song Dynasty and flourished in the Ming Dynasty, and has been passed down for thousands of years up to this day.

Today, the Wudang Sect is one of the representatives of the Huaxia Martial Arts World, with martial arts halls in major cities.

The Dong Hai Wudang Martial Arts Hall is one of the largest in Huaxia, located in Pudong New District of Dong Hai. It consists of a twelve-story office building, two annex buildings, and a courtyard as large as two football fields.

In the early morning, sunlight showered the Dong Hai Wudang Martial Arts Hall. Murong Sheng, clad in a dark blue Taoist robe and wearing a Taoist crown, practiced the sect’s supreme Taiyin Xuanmen Sword Technique behind the forest of the large yard, using his hand as a sword.

Under the morning light, Murong Sheng moved as the sword went with him, leading the sword with his body. Hiding the Ba Gua within, stepping through the Nine Palaces, moving like a serpent dragon emerging from water and as quiet as a spirit cat hunting mice, his figure was like the wind, elusive to the eye.

Suddenly—

Murong Sheng’s figure flashed, like a swift breeze, brushing past a tree as thick as a bowl.

"Whoosh!"

In a spark of flint, Murong Sheng suddenly looked back, turned his hand into a sword, and struck the nearby tree with a backhanded sword strike!

—Yellow Dragon Tail!

This move, seemingly casual, was actually the last technique of the Taiyin Xuanmen Sword Technique, Yellow Dragon Tail.

"Crack—"

As he struck with the hand-sword, power burst forth, all of it hammering into the thick tree.

"Crack—"

An audible snap sounded, the tree trunk broke, and fell with a crash, raising a cloud of dust.

"Clap clap!"

Seeing this scene, Zhang Qian, the master of the martial hall, applauded as he walked toward Murong Sheng, full of envy, "Little junior brother has practiced the Taiyin Xuanmen Sword Technique to a level where form and intent, intent and energy, energy and spirit are all unified. It truly broadens your senior brother’s horizons."

"According to what father said, I have merely mastered the technique thoroughly, far from reaching its ultimate level."

In response to Zhang Qian’s envy, Murong Sheng replied with a smile, "To reach the ultimate level, you must perform the martial arts, understand the theories of the sword, exhaust the possibilities of the sword, and unite man and sword. When striking, birds scatter in the sky, rolling on the ground without raising dust, the sword unseen in a gentle breeze, the man invisible amidst countless changes."

"With little junior brother’s talent, as long as you practice diligently, one day you will surely master this supreme skill to its ultimate level," Zhang Qian flattered.

Murong Sheng smiled appreciatively, enjoying Zhang Qian’s flattery, and arrogantly said, "Of course."

"Just now, little junior brother, when you manifested the hand as a sword using this supreme technique, it was so powerful. If you were to use the sect’s magical weapon, the Taiyin Xuan Sword, I reckon that Ye lad wouldn’t even stand a chance to withstand a single move," Zhang Qian continued to compliment.

Murong Sheng arrogantly smiled, offering no reply, but his silence was more expressive than words.

"Little junior brother, when shall we depart for Ao Xiang Villa?"

After flattering him, Zhang Qian brought up the serious matter. According to the challenge letter, Murong Sheng was originally supposed to duel Ye Fan in the courtyard of the Wudang Martial Arts Hall, but Ye Fan changed the location to Ao Xiang Villa. Hence, Murong Sheng had to reach Ao Xiang Villa before nine o’clock, otherwise, it would amount to admitting defeat directly.

"Just let my father know and we’ll leave; the sooner, the better," Murong Sheng waved dismissively, as if he was not about to participate in a brutal duel to the death, but rather in a trivial task.

Ten minutes later, accompanied by Zhang Qian, Murong Sheng returned to a villa in the backyard.

In the villa’s living room, Murong Gu, who had spent the night in meditation practice, wearing a Taoist robe and crown, was sitting on a sofa, having been waiting for a while.

"Dad, Great Elder!"

Upon entering the villa’s living room, Murong Sheng and Zhang Qian bowed and greeted him simultaneously. Murong Sheng appeared completely calm and composed, while Zhang Qian could not help but cast his eyes toward the Taiyin Xuan Sword resting on the coffee table in front of Murong Gu.

As one of the magical weapons of the Wudang Sect, the Taiyin Xuan Sword, reportedly the personal sword of Wudang’s founder Zhang Sanfeng, has a dark green hilt with exquisitely carved patterns, a three-foot blade, one-inch width, and a two-point thickness, shimmering with white light and twinkling radiance.

"My boy, pack up; we shall head to Ao Xiang Villa immediately to avoid being falsely accused of conceding by Ye Wenhao’s illegitimate son due to lateness," Murong Gu nodded slightly, giving instructions.

Upon hearing this, Murong Sheng was startled, "Dad, are you going as well?"

"Yes."

"Dad, with my strength and wielding the Taiyin Xuan Sword, I am not afraid of that boy’s magic. The outcome is inevitable; you might as well wait here for my news instead of making another trip," Murong Sheng suggested.

"I’m going with you."

Murong Gu shook his head and explained, "Since our arrival in Dong Hai, people from the Yanhuang Organization have been like persistent spirits around the martial hall, monitoring our every move. Since the Ye Family is the number one power in the secular world, I worry the Yanhuang Organization might interfere on their behalf to your disadvantage."

"Zhao Meng, the person-in-charge of the Yanhuang Organization in Dong Hai, only has the strength of the Peak stage of Innate. If he interferes, I will strike him down as well!" Murong Sheng spoke coldly, with a menacing tone.

"Do not be rash! Yanhuang Fist is renowned as one of the most famous martial arts in the Huaxia Martial Arts World, enabling practitioners to easily challenge others beyond their level. Although Zhao Meng is only at the Peak of Innate Realm, his true strength is on par with someone in the Great Perfection," Murong Gu raised his eyebrows and said.

"If you were there and Zhao Meng still interferes, what then?" Murong Sheng asked somewhat resentfully.

Murong Gu smiled confidently, "I have been on the threshold of the Half-step Gang Qi realm for over half a year, having stabilized my realm not to mention being very likely to breakthrough and become a Gang Qi realm strongman soon. Even if Zhao Meng had ten times the courage, he would not dare to interfere openly in front of me!"

"Little junior brother, what the Great Elder said is absolutely right."

Zhang Qian nodded hurriedly and agreed, "Although the Yanhuang Organization represents Huaxia in managing the Martial Arts World, once a martial artist reaches the Gang Qi Realm and becomes a Supreme Strongman, they not only no longer fear the Yanhuang Organization but they don’t even have to follow its rules anymore. As long as they don’t do anything disastrous to the nation, most of those old folks in the Yanhuang Organization tend to turn a blind eye!"

"The Sect Leader once said that as long as I become a warrior in the Gang Qi Realm, he would grant me the Taiyin Xuan Sword."

Upon hearing this, Murong Sheng’s eyes lit up, then he walked forward a few steps, grabbed the Taiyin Xuan Sword, surrounded by Pure Yang Qi, and said arrogantly, "One day, I will become a warrior of the Gang Qi Realm! Today, I will sharpen this sword with the blood of Ye Wenhao’s illegitimate son!"

"Er..."

Hearing Murong Sheng’s words, Zhang Qian was astonished, as he had never imagined that the Wudang Sect Leader would promise to grant the Taiyin Xuan Sword to Murong Sheng.

Murong Gu smiled silently. His son was his own protege, and in his view, with his son’s talent, reaching the Gang Qi Realm was only a matter of time through diligent cultivation.

Meanwhile.

Ye Fan was unaware that he was the target for Murong Sheng’s sword sharpening.

In the central villa courtyard of Ao Xiang Villa, Ye Fan was, as usual, seated cross-legged on a jade stone, placing the Ghostly Gourd in front of him, using the Nine Star Gathering Spirit Array to attract the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi around him, engaging in meditation cultivation.

Little Wolf lay lazily beside Ye Fan, while Su Yuxin, Su Liuli, Situ Ruoshui, and Su Jindi, all stood at the front door of the main building, quietly watching Ye Fan, not daring to disturb his cultivation.

Among them, Su Jindi had learned just last night of Ye Fan’s impending life-and-death battle with Murong Sheng and had immediately returned to Ao Xiang Villa from school.

"Buzz... Buzz..."

A few minutes later, Su Yuxin felt her pocket vibrate and took out Ye Fan’s phone only to see it was a call from Sister Chu.

After thinking for a moment, Su Yuxin quickly walked towards Ye Fan with the phone.

Whoosh!

Just as Su Yuxin was about to approach, Ye Fan suddenly opened his eyes, his brows and eyes flickering with faint golden light, and the Mind Power Seed appearing and disappearing, making him seem almost divine, emitting an unfathomable aura.

"It’s Sister Chu calling." Seeing this, Su Yuxin was startled at first, then handed the phone to Ye Fan.

Ye Fan took the phone and directly pressed the answer button.

"I’ve inquired through various channels and learned that Murong Gu has successfully broken through to the Half-step Gang Qi realm, ranking him as the second strongest in Wudang next to Heavenly Master Zhang. His son, Murong Sheng, is a leading figure among the younger generation of Wudang, with formidable strength, stepping into Innate Great Success Realm before the age of twenty and mastering Taiyin Xuanmen Sword Technique. In terms of strength, he’s comparable to an average Peak of Innate Realm martial artist,"

As soon as the call connected, Chu Ji immediately relayed the information she had gathered to Ye Fan and then made her assessment, "With your Dual Cultivation of Magic and Martial Arts strength, since you were able to kill the Black Dragon Guard members Shi Feng and Shi Ling, killing Murong Sheng should be straightforward. But there’s a condition."

"What is it?" asked Ye Fan.

"Murong Sheng must not use the Taiyin Xuan Sword."

Chu Ji’s tone became slightly grave, "The Taiyin Xuan Sword is one of Wudang Sect’s treasures and was rumored to be the personal sword of Wudang’s founder, Zhang Sanfeng. It is a highly rare High-level Pure Yang Magical Artifact, known as the bane of magicians."

Ye Fan fell silent. He once heard from Chu Xuanji about the Taiyin Xuan Sword and knew that martial artists using it would trigger the Pure Yang Qi accumulated in the sword.

This Pure Yang Qi, formed by the accumulated Blood Qi of each generation’s Sect Leader of Wudang, was overwhelmingly powerful. Once activated, the sword user appeared as if enshrouded by the blazing sun, and Evil Yin Qi would not only fail to penetrate the user’s body but couldn’t even come within three steps of the swordsman.

"If Murong Sheng uses the Taiyin Xuan Sword, your magic would be almost useless, and the chance of winning would be slim."

Seeing that Ye Fan remained silent, Chu Ji warned, "In that case, you can choose to accept the challenge, but you must specify it to be a bare-handed duel, without using any magical artifact!"

"I have already accepted the challenge," Ye Fan sighed softly.

"W... What?" Chu Ji was shocked, "Didn’t I tell you to wait for my call before deciding whether to accept the challenge depending on the situation?"

"Murong Sheng tried to clear his father’s dishonor from that past battle in the challenge letter and arrogantly stated that considering Su Liuli’s face, he would spare my life. How could I act the coward?" Ye Fan retorted, his face showing not a trace of fear, only a determined resolve to march forward.

Hearing Ye Fan’s words, Chu Ji didn’t ask about the relationship between Murong Sheng and Su Liuli but was unusually silent.

The silence stemmed from her knowledge that not only did Ye Fan inherit Ye Wenhao’s blood, but also Chu Xuanji’s pride!

That pride had enabled Ye Fan to face difficulties and advance fearlessly time and again!

Now, this battle not only represented Ye Fan himself but also stood for Ye Wenhao and even Chu Xuanji behind him!

With Ye Fan’s steel-like pride, how could he possibly choose to retreat and be a coward?

"What if Murong Sheng uses the High-level Pure Yang Magical Artifact, the Taiyin Xuan Sword?" Chu Ji asked worriedly after the silence.

"I’ll block when the enemy attacks and cover when the water flows,"

Ye Fan clenched his fists tightly and said resolutely, "This battle, I cannot lose, nor will I lose!!"

...

...

PS: Tonight there’ll be only one update.

.

. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)