To harm another is a legal transgression; to wish harm upon another is a moral one.
Polaris had suffered three consecutive defeats, leaving everyone with a palpable sense of unease.
Compounding their discomfort, the members of the Southern Dipper faction wore expressions of utter triumph, a sight that only deepened the collective vexation.
Director Ji, however, possessed a clear understanding, knowing this was merely the prelude.
He foresaw many more individuals falling to the prowess of East Bamboo Immortal.
Observing the lingering hesitation, Chi Yiheng, the scholarly man, stepped forward the moment Director Ji called out ‘Next!’
He prepared to take the stage as the fourth contestant of the day.
“Hold on, Brother Chi! Allow me to take this round!”
Chi Yiheng turned, his gaze falling upon an elegant young man who was bowing respectfully to him.
The young man’s attire was rather incongruous, a soft armor worn beneath a flowing long robe, which initially displeased Chi Yiheng.
However, upon noticing the intricate script adorning the robe and discerning them to be passages from ancient classics, a sudden warmth of appreciation bloomed within Chi Yiheng’s heart.
“Very well! You may take the fourth bout then! May I inquire your name?”
“My surname is the same as Manager Ren’s here. Brother Chi can simply call me Little Ren.”
Ren Du observed from the sidelines with a cool gaze, feeling no sense of kinship merely because they shared a surname.
Meanwhile, Wan Ren’s expression betrayed a subtle hint of apprehension.
“You can do it!”
Just as before, Tian Qi rushed over, extending a hand still sticky with watermelon juice for a hearty shake, leaving the elegant young man visibly embarrassed.
The young man, whose surname was Ren, then took to the stage, sword in hand, and offered a polite, smiling bow to East Bamboo Immortal.
“‘Ren Xinzuo, of the ‘Returning Heart Sword’ style, requests guidance from East Bamboo Immortal.'”
As East Bamboo Immortal prepared to return the bow, two powerful gusts of wind suddenly swept across the arena.
They did not converge upon her, but instead surged outwards to either side.
The force of the wind was enough to make onlookers instinctively recoil, yet East Bamboo Immortal’s body remained entirely still.
She calmly completed her reciprocal bow to her opponent.
When Ren Xinzuo’s twin swords emerged from their sheaths, the attendees sensed the fierce gusts, their expressions subtly shifting as they recognized the extraordinary skill of this individual.
Ren Du, recognizing the unique form and style of the twin swords, instantly knew their origin.
He urgently called out to East Bamboo Immortal.
“East Bamboo Immortal! The two keen blades he wields can cut through iron as if it were mud and cleave steel like paper! You must not engage him bare-handed!”
The Polaris faction members, observing the two ancient swords, noted their heavy rust, as if unearthed from some ancient tomb, suggesting an age of at least a thousand years.
They found it hard to believe such blades could possibly cut iron like mud.
Yet, everyone present understood that a player’s weapon often defied conventional judgment.
Its true mysteries might simply be beyond their current comprehension, making premature conclusions unwise.
****
“Those are ‘Only Regret Remains’ and ‘Lingering Vexation’!”
Yu Wusheng, too, was utterly astonished to see the twin swords.
He had often seen this person carrying two swords wrapped in tattered cloth, but had never paid them much mind, considering it normal for many to keep their weapons concealed.
However, he had never imagined that beneath that humble cloth lay these legendary blades.
At this revelation, every head in the audience turned, and a flurry of whispers immediately erupted.
“Are these the ‘Unseen Twin Swords’?”
“What is the relationship between ‘Who Knows My Sorrow,’ He Zhibei, and him?”
“Could he be He Zhibei’s disciple?”
“He Zhibei taking a disciple? Preposterous!”
“Perhaps after his retirement, he had a sudden whim and took on a disciple; it’s not impossible!”
Observing Yu Wusheng’s astonished expression, Director Ji couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.
“‘Old friends depart through springs and autumns, yet the Unseen Twin Swords linger on.'”
Hearing Director Ji’s lament, Yu Wusheng, despite his surprise, voiced the doubt in his heart.
“Director Ji, where did you find these Unseen Twin Swords? To my knowledge, ever since He Zhibei retired, these two swords have never again…”
“I didn’t find them; he did.”
Director Ji watched Ren Xinzuo’s retreating figure, his face entirely devoid of a smile.
On the Southern Dipper faction’s side, Wan Ren’s gaze was like a burning torch, fixed intently on the Unseen Twin Swords without a flicker of distraction.
Fenghu and Yunlong, the two elders, shook their heads slightly, evidently regretting that the Unseen Twin Swords had fallen into Polaris’s hands.
Zhu Jifeng, for his part, let out a long sigh, as if reminiscing about some past event.
Mr. Ji, conversely, observed Ren Xinzuo with keen interest.
Yi Ranchén, however, wore an expression of confusion, clearly unfamiliar with the name He Zhibei.
“Esteemed seniors, who exactly is this He Zhibei? Your solemn expressions suggest he must be a renowned master from the martial world, famous for many years.”
“He Zhibei, courtesy name Kexi, known by his moniker ‘Who Knows My Sorrow,’ was a celebrated swordsman of the Eastern Continent over two hundred years ago.
‘I knew him for many years, and Brother Cheng Lixue also knew him.
‘It has been many years since we last met, and to think…”
Wan Ren’s tone was heavy, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.
With a sudden shift, he shouted towards East Bamboo Immortal.
“East Bamboo Immortal, your opponent presumes you are unarmed! Catch this sword!”
No sooner had the words left his lips than Wan Ren’s personal saber soared through the air towards East Bamboo Immortal.
The sword’s approach was swift and fierce, yet East Bamboo Immortal, with a practiced backhand grab, inverted the longsword, its hilt settling firmly into her grip.
“‘Retrieving objects from the air… what impressive skill.'”
Mr. Ji offered a compliment, but East Bamboo Immortal remained silent.
She merely swept the sword’s edge, poised to await Ren Xinzuo’s attack.
Ren Xinzuo’s twin swords overlapped, one leading the other, as he lunged directly at East Bamboo Immortal.
Immediately, three streaks of sword light intertwined in a dance of blades.
“I never imagined East Bamboo Immortal’s swordsmanship was this formidable; I thought she only excelled in hand-to-hand combat.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure! Her swordsmanship might not be as potent as this Brother Ren’s! He is, after all, He Zhibei’s successor!”
“Exactly! In my opinion, it’s more likely that Wan Ren’s ‘Vast Waves’ sword is the truly formidable one!”
Despite Ren Xinzuo never having stated any relation to He Zhibei, those present had already equated him with He Zhibei’s successor.
Yu Wusheng found this amusing, though he kept his expression neutral, watching silently.
Although Ren Xinzuo wielded He Zhibei’s swords, Yu Wusheng, knowing He Zhibei’s character, found it inconceivable that he would take on such an incompatible disciple.
He Zhibei was eccentric, always at odds with conventional personalities, whereas Ren Xinzuo’s demeanor and actions clearly bespoke a normal individual.
Yet, the swordsmanship Ren Xinzuo employed was undeniably He Zhibei’s ‘Melancholy Sword Art’.
Yu Wusheng could not fathom the reason, concluding only that Ren Xinzuo must have acquired He Zhibei’s swordsmanship and the twin blades through some unknown means.
At this thought, Yu Wusheng’s heart sank.
He Zhibei was likely no longer among the living; given his peculiar nature, it was not impossible he might have succumbed to a moment of despair.
‘Alas… what a pity…’
Though Yu Wusheng and He Zhibei were old acquaintances, their personalities had always clashed.
Yu Wusheng profoundly disliked He Zhibei’s eccentric nature, yet he deeply admired his peerless swordsmanship.
‘What a waste of his swordsmanship… why did it have to be this way…’
While Ren Xinzuo’s swordsmanship appeared identical to He Zhibei’s, Yu Wusheng could still discern subtle differences.
Swordsmanship, much like calligraphy, reveals unique nuances even when different individuals write the same character; no matter how similar, distinctions invariably remain, and swordsmanship is no different.
Ren Xinzuo had grasped the essence of the Melancholy Sword Art, yet some of his techniques and movements held a deceptive resemblance, akin to a copied handwriting.
Most strokes might be nearly identical to the original, but a few characters would deviate significantly.
His extraordinary skill, even now, was insufficient to overcome East Bamboo Immortal.
This fact precisely underscored East Bamboo Immortal’s equally profound mastery of swordsmanship.
Though Wan Ren had thrown East Bamboo Immortal a light sword, it was nonetheless his renowned blade, ‘Vast Waves,’ whose power was by no means inferior to the Unseen Twin Swords.
Yu Wusheng noticed a powerful sense of oppression emanating from East Bamboo Immortal’s sword strikes, like a surging river or a tempestuous tide.
To wield heavy as light is one skill, but to wield light as heavy is an entirely different caliber of mastery.
East Bamboo Immortal wielded the light sword in her hand as if it were a heavy blade.
While this certainly demonstrated her profound cultivation, it also revealed her remarkable insight into swordsmanship, even though her primary focus was on hand-to-hand combat, and her study of swordsmanship was not as dedicated as her pugilistic arts.
Ren Xinzuo stepped back, creating distance from East Bamboo Immortal.
However, East Bamboo Immortal pressed forward with her sword, granting him no opportunity to catch his breath.
He positioned his twin swords parallel, one above the other, then thrust them out in unison, parrying East Bamboo Immortal’s incoming strike.
The onlookers heard a distinct ‘whoosh,’ as if the myriad forces from East Bamboo Immortal’s sword dissipated through Ren Xinzuo’s blades, merging seamlessly with the surrounding air.
East Bamboo Immortal, recognizing a lethal move from her opponent, dared not be careless.
She instinctively brought her sword back to guard, intending to use her profound cultivation to defend against the attack.
Yet, in the next instant, she sensed her opponent’s power abruptly vanish, and her heart immediately tightened.
Knowing his cultivation was insufficient, she realized that if she continued her thrust, he would likely perish on the spot, and thus she swiftly reeled back the power in her sword.
However, no sooner had she withdrawn her power than she felt countless subtle forces converging on her sword from all directions.
These forces bypassed the protective aura encircling her blade, coalescing into a sharp, powerful thrust that pierced directly into her heart.
“Brilliant!”
Yu Wusheng couldn’t help but cheer, for the attack had come silently and without warning, leaving no chance to defend; it was truly a single strike to subdue an opponent.
“Damn it! They’re even resorting to sneak attacks! Can Polaris stoop any lower?”
Yunlong erupted in fury, having discerned that the opponent had merely feigned weakness, seizing the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on East Bamboo Immortal.
Under normal circumstances, with East Bamboo Immortal’s profound cultivation, such a sneak attack would never succeed.
However, this individual’s swordsmanship was exceptionally swift, withdrawing and unleashing power in a single, fluid motion far surpassing ordinary people, which had caught East Bamboo Immortal off guard.
“That’s incorrect! This is all part of the competition, just like the principles of military strategy!
‘Is luring the enemy deep considered retreating in fear, or a night raid on the enemy camp deemed despicable?’
‘What, do Fenghu and Yunlong, the two elders, intend to personally intervene?'”
Le Sishu looked at Yunlong, speaking with a triumphant air.
“Speaking of shamelessness, the Southern Dipper faction previously pledged to observe from the sidelines and not interfere with the contest.
‘Yet, just now, they threw ‘Vast Waves’ into the arena.’
‘You accuse Polaris of being shameless, but in my opinion, the Southern Dipper faction seems to have no face at all.'”
“Damn your insolence!”
Le Sishu felt a tremendous force assault his chest, his qi and blood churning so violently that he couldn’t evade in time.
Yunlong, though still dozens of meters away, had unleashed a punch whose power solidly struck Le Sishu’s chest.
He felt his body recoil as if bursting apart.
Immediately, Director Ji flashed to Le Sishu’s side, grabbing his right wrist with one hand and striking his left palm with the other.
Le Sishu felt a gentle surge of vital energy from his palm, and his tumultuous qi and blood rapidly subsided.
The onlookers were truly astonished.
Though Le Sishu’s life had been saved, his face was ashen, and his feet had sunk into the ground from the immense force, dragging two furrows several meters long and deep enough to bury his ankles.
‘What a formidable Earth-Shaking Divine Fist…’
Yu Wusheng was even more appalled by this sight.
Though he hadn’t taken the punch himself, comparing it to his understanding of Le Sishu’s strength and his own, cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.
He had originally believed Fenghu and Yunlong, the two elders, were merely on par with him.
Now, it was clear their strength vastly outstripped his own.
Had it been a normal exchange, Le Sishu would never have been unable to block even a single punch.
However, Yunlong’s strike was too sudden, and Le Sishu had not anticipated an actual physical attack, leaving him unprepared and leading to his instant defeat.
Had Director Ji not intervened promptly, lending his profound cultivation to aid Le Sishu, Le Sishu would undoubtedly be severely injured, possibly even critically.
As Yunlong prepared to deliver a second punch, Ren Du suddenly appeared beside him, grasping his fist.
“Brother Yunlong, there’s no need for anger.
‘We are guests from afar, and this is a contest between East Bamboo Immortal and Polaris.’
‘It would be truly inappropriate for us to rashly step in and interfere.'”
Ren Du calmly pulled Yunlong towards the Southern Dipper faction’s side.
“Although the opponent spoke disrespectfully, how can Brother Yunlong, as the Sect Master of Dragon Tiger Gate, stoop to arguing and fighting with such a scoundrel?
‘It would be better if I took care of it!'”
No sooner had the word ‘better’ left his lips than Director Ji’s expression drastically changed, and he swiftly pulled Le Sishu aside.
However, Ren Du’s movements were too fast; Le Sishu’s arm was still caught in his grasp.
Ren Du immediately struck Le Sishu’s palm with his own.
Director Ji hastily grabbed Le Sishu’s other arm, striking its palm with equal force.
Le Sishu, having just returned from the brink of death, was utterly devastated, like a heap of mud, unable to move, even though Director Ji had previously helped him absorb much of the damage from Yunlong’s punch.
Under Ren Du’s palm strike, Le Sishu immediately coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Had Director Ji not been on the other side, using an equal amount of cultivation to neutralize Ren Du’s strike, Le Sishu would have already met his demise.
The onlookers were utterly horrified by Ren Du’s intervention.
His palm force was no less potent than Yunlong’s Earth-Shaking Divine Fist; in fact, it even surpassed it.
The manager of the Southern Dipper faction’s Martial Establishment truly lived up to his reputation!
Director Ji dared not relax in the slightest, deeply aware of the formidable power of Ren Du’s palm.
Ordinary cultivation methods are rooted in the dual energies of Yin and Yang, which are harmonized and circulated in various proportions when executing a move, such as ‘three parts Yin, seven parts Yang’ or ‘six parts Yin, four parts Yang,’ being common.
Yin and Yang complement each other, with Yin flourishing when Yang is deficient, and vice versa.
While some can circulate and manifest these energies with ‘five parts Yin and five parts Yang’ at their core, this is ultimately just an average between the two.
Ren Du’s palm technique, however, was extraordinary, fundamentally based on profound cultivation.
This particular palm art possessed only one move: elevating both Yin and Yang energies to ‘ten parts Yin and ten parts Yang,’ unleashing a dual force of ultimate Yin and ultimate Yang upon the opponent.
This earth-shattering palm strike, in its circulation of Yin and Yang energies, could be said to have reached the transcendent state of both Yin and Yang flourishing, thus earning it the name ‘Twin Flourishing Palm’.