The Decaying World-Chapter 94 - 89: Testing the Sword 3

Xue Meng and his group’s actions had also drawn the attention of passersby in Fu’an Town.

Seeing some excitement, many people slowed down, stopping to ask what was going on.

For a time, the entrances of the shops surrounding the pharmacy were crowded with people.

"See, I told you! The Black Dragon Sect wouldn’t just let this go. Are you kidding me? Two of their good men were crippled in a row. There’s no way the sect’s experts would just pack up and leave. We’re definitely in for a good show!" In a nearby dry goods store, the owner, a portly, pale middle-aged man, whispered to someone while cracking melon seeds.

"Are those people the experts from the Black Dragon Sect?" a curious passerby asked.

"They should be, but they don’t seem to fit the Black Dragon Sect’s Hard Skills style," the chubby owner said, confused.

"That’s Xue Meng, the Sect Leader of the Intention Blade Sect. He’s an Inner Strength expert from Xingdiao. He made a name for himself as the Lianyun Blade back in Mengshan. His strength is formidable," a passerby carrying an odd-looking weapon, who also seemed to be a Martial Artist, explained upon hearing the question.

"An Inner Strength expert? The Intention Blade Sect? Why would the Intention Blade Sect get involved in the Black Dragon Sect’s business?" the chubby owner asked in confusion.

This was what everyone around was wondering. Hearing the question, they all pricked up their ears, waiting for the Martial Artist’s reply.

"Ha! The Intention Blade Sect, the Black Dragon Sect... that’s all in the past. They’ve all been absorbed by Qingfeng Temple now. To be precise, the three branches have become one. The current Observatory Master of Qingfeng Temple is a genius swordsman, not even twenty years old. They say he single-handedly saved Qingfeng Temple from the brink of collapse, then led his people to annex the Black Dragon Sect. After that, he invited the Intention Blade Sect to join, forming the current three-branch alliance. And not long ago, I heard they even reached a joint agreement with the Baihua Sect."

The Martial Artist passerby said with admiration.

"Someone like that, not even twenty years old... He’s truly a role model for our generation!"

"Then does that mean the real Observatory Master is the strongest of the three branches?" the chubby owner asked, voicing what everyone was thinking.

"But of course. That Observatory Master has fought in several major battles. One of them was at the Baihua Sect headquarters. He went in all by himself and suppressed the entire sect with his sword. He managed to snatch a juicy piece of meat from an already negotiated agreement, giving Qingfeng Temple a much-needed transfusion." The Martial Artist was clearly a well-informed man, speaking with a sigh of emotion.

"Does he have a title, then? This Observatory Master must be from one of the towns around here, right? To be able to subdue even experts from Xingdiao, what’s he like?" another young man, dressed like the son of a wealthy family, asked with interest.

"I haven’t actually heard of a title, but rumor has it his sword is incredibly fast. As fast as the wind, kicking up sand and stones, like a howling gale," the Martial Artist passerby said, shaking his head.

"Since he’s a genius expert from our own Tuyue, why don’t we give him a resounding title? To prevent others from slandering his name," the wealthy young man proposed.

"What right do we have? Only a person of great virtue and prestige is qualified to bestow a title and spread it," the Martial Artist passerby said with a chuckle.

"But we can’t just keep calling him ’Observatory Master, Observatory Master,’ can we?" said the wealthy young man. "How about this? Let’s call him the Invisible Sword. I’ve read in storybooks that experts with extreme Sword Speed can reach a state where you only see the weapon, not the person. At an even higher level, both the weapon and the person become invisible. So, Invisible Sword is the ultimate title."

"You’ve got a knack for naming things! I think that works!" the chubby owner said, slapping the table in approval.

"I think it works too. That title is plenty domineering."

"I think it sounds good too."

"Not bad, not bad at all! Come on, have some melon seeds, my treat!"

The people around all chimed in with praise.

Just then, a group of people emerged slowly from a distant street corner. Dressed in yellow clothes with black ropes tied around their heads, they were all tall and powerfully built, heading straight for the Black Dragon Pharmacy.

The one leading them was a tall woman wearing a straw raincoat and a conical hat.

Two scars on the woman’s face formed a cross. Her skin was dark, and she had a thick waist and broad shoulders. From a distance, she looked more like a man than a woman.

It wasn’t just her; the dozen or so people behind her all bore cross-shaped scars as well. The only difference was the location—some were on the backs of their hands, others on their necks. It seemed to be the symbol of their faction.

SWISH.

About ten meters from the Black Dragon Pharmacy, the group came to a halt.

The tall woman raised a hand, signaling for everyone to be silent. She then took two steps forward, threw back her raincoat, and drew a strange, serrated silver-and-black blade from her waist.

"Xue Meng of Qingfeng Temple?" Her voice was hoarse as if her throat had been injured by a sharp weapon.

"Who are you? State your name," Xue Meng said, opening his slightly narrowed eyes to gaze at her.

"Yao Huan of the Flying Stone Sect." The woman tossed her scabbard aside and strode forward. "Blade against blade. Let’s see if you’re stronger or if I am!"

SWISH!

Without another word, she slashed out with her blade.

The silver blade instantly swung out, creating an arc of light like a full moon. Strangely, the light wasn’t fast, yet it had a distorting quality that made it impossible to look away.

By the time Xue Meng reacted, the blade’s light was already at his forehead.

In that instant, he slapped the hilt of his own blade, bringing it up like lightning to block the attack.

CLANG!

With the crisp sound of impact, the chair beneath Xue Meng suddenly exploded into pieces.

"Decent Sword Technique, but to dare draw your blade before me, you’re far from good enough!"

Xue Meng said coldly as the light from his blade suddenly blasted his opponent’s away. He then chopped forward, unleashing a waterfall of blade gleams.

The gleams came one after another, continuous and unending, as if they could cycle on forever.

CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!

A similar barrage of clashing blades erupted wildly. The immense chopping force, infused with Inner Strength, forced the woman back step after step.

In less than two seconds, the woman was sent staggering backward by the terrifying, dense waterfall of blades.

She carelessly twisted her ankle and lost her balance for a split second. In the next instant, a blade waterfall far more terrifying than before erupted, washing toward her face.

CLANG!!

With a tremendous crash, the flesh between the woman’s thumb and forefinger split open, streaming blood. The immense force sent her flying, and she crashed to the ground.

"With just this much skill, you dare provoke my Qingfeng Temple?" Xue Meng said coldly, raising his blade to move forward and cripple her for good.

"Brother Xue, long time no see. Your temper is as fiery as ever. My disciple has only just broken through to the Inner Power Realm. She was a bit too quick to act, and her Sword Technique is still clumsy. I hope you’re not offended."

Suddenly, a tall, slender figure appeared like a phantom beside the woman, helping her up with one hand before looking at Xue Meng.

This man had a pale complexion and was dressed in a gray robe. On his head, he wore a square cap inlaid with a purple Ruyi.

But this somewhat bizarre attire made Xue Meng’s expression change slightly. He froze mid-stride, looking at the man with shock and uncertainty.

"You’re... Bai Feihan? Flying Stone Sect... Flying Stone Sect... Don’t tell me, you’re the Flying Sand Sect from Xingdiao!?" Xue Meng suddenly realized something, and his expression turned extremely ugly.

"What are you doing here? Weren’t you with the Martial Alliance in Xingdiao? How could you...!?"

He knew this man. This seemingly slender, middle-aged man was actually over seventy years old, a top-tier Martial Artist from the same generation as him.

In Xingdiao, he was also a member under the Elder Council of the Inner City Martial Alliance—a top expert whose Inner Strength had also reached the Perfection level!

Logically, he should have been doing well in Xingdiao. He was a victor in the last competition.

’But why??’

"It’s a long story. To put it simply, more and more people are constantly coming over from Xingdiao. The environment there has deteriorated too severely. Even we couldn’t stay. Large numbers of people are leaving every day. It’s just that some come here, while others go to the other city districts. That’s all," Bai Feihan said calmly.

"So you’re saying it was your Flying Sand Sect that injured my Qingfeng Temple disciples?" Xue Meng’s voice was heavy.

"You should call it the Flying Stone Sect. The former Flying Sand Sect has now been absorbed by the Flying Stone Sect," Bai Feihan said lightly.

"So you came here and set your sights on my Qingfeng Temple?" Xue Meng said coldly.

"Indeed. Old Xue, why don’t you come over as well? I’m well aware of your Sword Technique; you’re on par with me. If you and I join forces, we can go anywhere we please in this region," Bai Feihan said sincerely.

"Just you?" Xue Meng asked, stunned for a moment.

"I came over with Li Chi and founded the Flying Stone Sect a few months ago. We were planning to take Fu’an Town this time, but we didn’t expect Qingfeng Temple to occupy it first," Bai Feihan replied. "How about it? Come on, let’s join forces. We have connections in the Tuyue New Martial Alliance. You don’t have to worry about the Outer City getting involved."

"..." Xue Meng hesitated.

He had originally planned to live out his retirement at Qingfeng Temple, but then Bai Feihan appeared. This was an old acquaintance from Xingdiao. They had fought many times without a clear winner, and both knew what the other was capable of.

’In fact, looking at it this way, an old acquaintance from Xingdiao feels more familiar than following a young man like Lin Hui at Qingfeng Temple. And Li Chi... Li Chi of the Cyan Frost Palm is a top-tier Martial Artist renowned even in Xingdiao. To think even he came...’

’It seems something major must have happened back in Xingdiao.’

"Wait, you attacked deliberately... Don’t tell me it was to draw me out?" Xue Meng suddenly realized.

"What do you think? Old Xue, you should be well aware of Senior Li Chi’s strength. Come to our Flying Stone Sect. The New Martial Alliance is already approving our Elder positions. If all goes as expected, Brother Li should be able to serve as a New Martial Alliance Elder here as well."

"You’re getting senile in your old age, joining a local sect run by a junior. The Martial Artists of Tuyue are weak. Even if you were to join a sect here, you should be the one leading it," Bai Feihan said with a smile.

"..." Xue Meng calculated the pros and cons in his mind. "So, you’re just expanding your territory and happened to arrive at Fu’an Town?"

"That’s right. If you agree, we’ll go to that... what was it, Qingfeng Temple, together. We’ll coordinate from the inside and out, take it down directly, absorb it into the Flying Stone Sect, and be done with it," Bai Feihan said casually.

"Sorry." In the end, Xue Meng still shook his head. "It’s a pity you came a little too late. If you’d arrived a few months earlier, I might have actually agreed to join."

His voice trailed off as snow drifted down from the sky.

Instantly, the atmosphere between the two sides grew cold.

After a half-minute stalemate, Bai Feihan laughed out loud.

"Interesting. Oh, Old Xue, Old Xue... to think you’d reject old acquaintances like us for some so-called local genius. Now I’m genuinely curious what kind of person that Qingfeng Temple’s Observatory Master is to make you weigh the pros and cons and still choose him."

"Enough idle talk. We still have to fight," Xue Meng said, calmly tightening his grip on his blade’s hilt. "This is a good chance to see if you’ve improved at all over the years."

"Old Xue, you can’t possibly be that naive, can you? Since I already know we’re evenly matched and that I can’t take you down alone, how could I possibly come here by myself for no reason?" Bai Feihan chuckled.

Just then, from behind him, another short and stocky figure slowly walked out, emerging into the swirling snow.

"Luolin Peak of the Red Fox Fist?!?!" This time, Xue Meng’s expression truly changed.

’Two Inner Power Realm experts on my level have shown themselves. This is a trap!’

’If negotiations fail, they’ll immediately turn hostile and take me down. They were prepared for this all along.’

"Fall back, go now! Get back and report this!" Xue Meng immediately transmitted his voice in a low tone.

The three disciples behind him had ugly expressions, but they knew the situation was dire. One of them immediately split off, turned, and fled.