Martial Arts: After ten years of sword-drawing, the Sword God must bow his head when he sees me

Chapter 158: From this day forward, the Divine Sword Manor will cease to exist in the world.

Now, in Shen Ping'an's eyes, martial artists at the Heavenly Gang Realm, such as Dongfang Bubai, are not much different from those at the Meridian Opening Realm.

Only a master like Zhang Sanfeng could fight without being defeated without engaging in a life-or-death battle.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Shen Ping'an has no weaknesses.

Although the Earth Sword Realm is powerful, its consumption of true energy is also extremely terrifying.

Shen Ping'an's cultivation level was only at the first level of the Heavenly Gang Realm.

Even considering his natural talent, he's only one in a thousand.

Shen Ping'an's total amount of true energy was insufficient to support him in the Earth Sword Realm state for an extended period of time.

Shen Ping'an had tried it himself, and found that under full force, a quarter of an hour was the limit he could endure.

To solve this, you either need to take a drug during the battle or use the two character trial cards in your system inventory.

But for Shen Ping'an to reach that level, he would first need the strength of Zhang Sanfeng.

Or, like the Northern Shaolin and Southern Shaolin, a group of masters at the Celestial Realm simultaneously attacked Shen Ping'an.

Unfortunately, none of the conditions were met by the Divine Sword Manor in front of them.

However, since his sword cultivation reached the Earth Sword Realm, Shen Ping'an has never used his true strength.

Shen Ping'an also wanted to see how much of his strength Xie Wangsun, the current master of Shenjian Manor, could make him use.

As Shen Ping'an sized up the people from Divine Sword Manor, Xie Wangsun also sized them up, his face as gloomy as the others.

Just then, another figure rushed over from the back mountain of Divine Sword Manor.

Upon seeing the newcomers, the members of the Xie family spoke one by one.

"Young Master."

"The young master has arrived."

A few breaths later, a figure descended diagonally from the sky and stood beside Xie Wangsun.

It was Xie Xiaofeng, who had fought Yan Shisan in the Maple Leaf River in Beijing a year ago.

Xie Xiaofeng's expression froze slightly as his gaze fell on Shen Ping'an.

"It's you?"

In response to Xie Xiaofeng's words, Shen Ping'an slowly said, "It's been a year. I hope you've been well, Senior Xie."

Xie Xiaofeng glanced at Xie Wanshan, who was clearly seriously injured and breathing heavily beside Xie Wangsun, and said with a hint of displeasure, "My Divine Sword Manor has no grudges with Young Master Shen. I don't know why Young Master Shen forced his way into my Divine Sword Manor today and injured my Xie family members?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Ping'an said calmly, "That's a question for your Divine Sword Manor."

Shen Ping'an shifted his gaze slightly to Xie Wangsun beside him.

"Last year, when my Shen family hosted a banquet for people from all directions, a martial artist at the third level of the Human Realm broke into the Shen family under cover of night and attacked me."

"Afterwards, I asked someone to inquire and learned about this person's identity."

"Why don't you, Master Xie, try to guess this person's identity?"

A slightly indifferent voice echoed in the front courtyard, causing the Xie family members present to freeze for a moment, somewhat puzzled, and all looked at Xie Wangsun.

Only the elders of the Xie family behind Xie Wangsun looked somewhat uneasy.

Our gaze returned to Xie Wangsun.

Xie Wangsun remained unmoved under Shen Ping'an's gaze.

The Xie family elders behind Xie Wangsun spoke up indignantly.

"Nonsense. I had no prior dealings with the Shen family or you, so why would I suddenly arrange for someone to break into the Shen family at night and attack you?"

"Indeed! My Divine Sword Manor has stood tall in the martial world for hundreds of years, and has always acted with integrity and uprightness. How could we do such a thing as harming people in secret?"

"If you want to gain fame by stepping on my Divine Sword Manor, just say so. Why bother throwing mud at my Divine Sword Manor?"

"Although you are a sword prodigy who is ranked on both lists, you are only at the ninth level of the Heavenly Gang Realm. Do you think you are worthy of my Divine Sword Manor to send a master at the third level of the Heavenly Human Realm to take action? Such words are too much of an exaggeration for you."

Shen Ping'an noticed that the first few Xie family elders to speak were the ones whose expressions had been somewhat unnatural just now.

Shen Ping'an was not surprised by this.

For a martial arts family to generate sufficient cohesion and a sense of belonging, in addition to bloodline, it often needs two other things.

Family honor and interests.

The latter needs no further explanation.

The former, on the other hand, requires a respectable and upright identity.

Only in this way can the descendants of the family be proud of the family and thus be willing to go through fire and water for the family.

Therefore, the Xie family must also ensure the upright and prestigious image and status of Shenjian Villa.

If other members of the Xie family were to learn that the Divine Sword Manor, which appears to be a family of sword masters, is actually engaging in despicable acts to maintain its status in the martial arts world, it would cause much of the Xie family's sense of honor to crumble.

Cohesion will also be greatly damaged.

Therefore, no matter what, the Xie family would not voluntarily admit to this matter.

Hearing the words of these Xie family elders, the other Xie family members in the room also came to their senses.

They all glared angrily at Shen Ping'an.

Even Xie Xiaofeng frowned slightly, clearly not believing that someone of the Divine Sword Manor's status and position would attack Shen Ping'an without reason.

After a moment of contemplation, Xie Xiaofeng suddenly spoke up: "Young Master Shen has no prior grudge against my Divine Sword Manor, and my Divine Sword Manor would not attack Young Master Shen without reason. Perhaps there is some misunderstanding. If Young Master Shen trusts me, please give me some time to investigate the truth of the matter."

Upon hearing this, the Xie family members around frowned, even the younger members of the Xie family showed displeasure.

Some hot-blooded members of the Xie family couldn't help but speak up.

"Not only did they force their way into my Divine Sword Manor, but they also dared to attack. If we let this go, how can my Divine Sword Manor have any face to stand in the martial world?"

"Dare to trespass into my Divine Sword Manor and act so violently? What can even Young Master Yu do?"

"Cripple him, and let the martial arts world see the consequences of offending the Xie family."

"Good, cripple him."

At first, only a few people spoke up.

But as these young members of the Xie family spoke up, the other members of the Xie family around them echoed their sentiments.

In an instant, this once serene front courtyard became as noisy as a vegetable market.

Listening to the conversation of the Xie family members behind him, Xie Xiaofeng's face showed some struggle, and the worry between his brows deepened at this moment.

This scene prompted Zhang San Niang to sigh softly.

Facing the Xie family members in the front courtyard who were filled with indignation, Shen Ping'an seemed to have expected it, and his expression did not change in the slightest.

After a few breaths, Shen Ping'an suddenly shook his head and slowly spoke.

"Perhaps, you have all misunderstood."

As soon as Shen Ping'an spoke, the Xie family members in the front hall fell silent and stared at him.

Facing the gazes of the crowd, Shen Ping'an continued, "I have come here today only to ask for an explanation, not to demand one."

"In other words, it doesn't matter what your Divine Sword Manor's reaction or attitude is."

Upon hearing this, Xie Wangsun, who had remained silent until now, narrowed his eyes slightly.

"It seems that you have come with ill intentions today."

Shen Ping'an said casually, "Master Xie and I know the details of the matter perfectly well. Since you insist on pretending to be ignorant, why waste your breath?"

At this point, Shen Ping'an paused before continuing, "Moreover, I prefer direct confrontation to verbal disputes."

At this moment, Xie Wangsun seemed to have become interested because of Shen Ping'an's attitude, and asked with great interest, "I am curious, what kind of explanation do you mean?"

Shen Ping'an said softly, "It's not difficult. It's just a matter of ensuring that after today, there will be no more Divine Sword Manor in the world."

A gentle voice, with a soft tone, traveled on the lake breeze to everyone's ears.

But this seemingly casual remark instantly plunged the room into an eerie silence.

Even Xie Wangsun, who had just asked the question, did not expect Shen Ping'an to dare to say such a thing.

A few breaths later, Xie Wangsun, having regained his senses, took a deep breath.

Looking at Shen Ping'an again, even Xie Wangsun found it difficult to maintain his previous amiable demeanor.

Gradually, all the Xie family members around looked at Shen Ping'an as if he were a madman.

As a top-tier power, even the Northern Shaolin and Wudang sects wouldn't dare to utter a word about destroying the Divine Sword Manor in the entire martial arts world.

Although Shen Ping'an is indeed a sword prodigy who is equally renowned on both lists, in the end, he is only at the ninth level of the Heavenly Gang Realm.

The Shen family was nothing more than a ninth-rate aristocratic family that rose to prominence by relying on Shen Ping'an, and its foundation was beyond description.

But now, this very person dares to stand in the Divine Sword Manor and tell everyone that he will remove the Divine Sword Manor from the martial arts world today.

For a moment, everyone looked at Shen Ping'an as if he were a madman.

"Good, for so many years, my Divine Sword Manor has never met anyone who dares to say such a thing. He truly deserves to be the only peerless genius in the past hundred years to be ranked on both lists." At this moment, Xie Xiaofeng also came back to his senses from Shen Ping'an's words.

When she looked at Shen Ping'an, her eyes were no longer calm as before, but instead revealed a cold glint.

Looking at Xie Xiaofeng beside him, Xie Wangsun said in a deep voice, "Xiaofeng, since you know him, I'll leave him to you."

Hearing Xie Wangsun's words, Xie Xiaofeng took a deep breath and then stepped forward to look at Shen Ping'an.

Although Xie Xiaofeng was tired of the martial arts world, Shen Ping'an's reputation this year was simply too great.

Even though Xie Xiaofeng stayed at Shenjian Manor, he still heard about Shen Ping'an's deeds over the past year from other members of the Xie family.

But Xie Xiaofeng never expected that when he met Shen Ping'an again a year later, they would be on opposite sides.

However, looking at Xie Wangsun and the Xie family members around him, Xie Xiaofeng suddenly spoke up.

"If you leave now, it's not too late."

Faced with Xie Xiaofeng's words, Shen Ping'an remained calm, but he always carried that calm and confident air about him.

Xie Xiaofeng was really curious about where Shen Ping'an got his confidence from, and how he could still be so relaxed and calm even now.
However, Shen Ping'an's silence was enough to show his attitude.

Seeing this, Xie Xiaofeng slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, and his internal energy began to circulate.

The moment Zhang Sanniang sensed the fluctuations in Xie Xiaofeng's internal energy, she exclaimed in surprise, "First level of the Celestial Realm?"

Not only Zhang San Niang, but even Yao Yue and Lian Xing looked at Xie Xiaofeng with some surprise.

Clearly, no one expected that after a year apart, Xie Xiaofeng would actually cross the final barrier of the Heavenly Gang Realm and enter the Celestial Human Realm.

Then, everyone looked at Bai Xiaosheng standing to the side.

Knowing the meaning behind the way Zhang San Niang and the other two women were looking at him, Bai Xiaosheng shook his head and said, "He began his seclusion three months ago, and according to the news, he had not yet emerged from seclusion this morning."

"Looking at his internal energy, it's clear that it hasn't been fully stabilized yet, so he must have just broken through."

Only then did the group turn their gaze away.

Inside the arena, as Xie Xiaofeng circulated his internal energy, he slowly spoke: "It seems that today's battle is inevitable. Perfect, I also want to see what your sword is like."

As soon as he finished speaking, the worry in Xie Xiaofeng's eyes dissipated somewhat, replaced by a renewed fighting spirit.

Although he had broken through to the first level of the Celestial Realm, Xie Xiaofeng was still stuck in the way of swordsmanship.

To this day, he has not been able to advance from the second stage of swordsmanship to the third stage, the state of perfect harmony between man and sword.

Therefore, Xie Xiaofeng also wanted to see what the mystery was about the third realm, the realm of man and sword as one.

However, in response to Xie Xiaofeng's words, Shen Ping'an shook his head slightly and then stepped forward.

Xie Xiaofeng glanced at the sword in Qu Feiyan's arms in the distance and frowned slightly.

"You don't use a sword?"

Amid Xie Xiaofeng's confusion, Shen Ping'an slowly spoke, "Last year in the capital, I told Yan Shisan that if one day he could reach the state of oneness with the sword, he could take a sword strike from me."

"I said the same thing to Ximen Chuixue, and not long ago to Dongfang Bubai of the Sun Moon Cult, but I have never said it to you."

Xie Xiaofeng asked, "Why?"

Shen Ping'an said softly, "Because in my eyes, you are not qualified."

"It was the same last year, and it is the same now."

If it were anyone else, they would probably be furious after hearing Shen Ping'an's words.

But Xie Xiaofeng felt little anger; instead, he asked again, "Why?"

Shen Ping'an didn't speak, but simply lifted his foot and walked step by step toward Xie Xiaofeng.

Xie Xiaofeng frowned again at this.

Even a clay figure has some temper, let alone Xie Xiaofeng, whose mental state is not as strong as Yan Shisan's.

Otherwise, how could the third young master of Shenjian Villa have become a "useless Aji" and wasted his days in a daze?
Naturally, even Xie Xiaofeng felt anger rising in his heart at the sight of Shen Ping'an's arrogant and contemptuous attitude.

"excuse me!"

As he finished speaking, Xie Xiaofeng's true energy surged.

"Yan!"

In an instant, a breathtaking sword cry rang out.

The moment Xie Xiaofeng drew his longsword, a sword aura, seemingly tangible, swept out along with the blade he pulled out.

The condensed sword energy, mixed with sword intent, rushed rapidly towards Shen Ping'an.

However, just as the sword aura pierced the air and rushed into Shen Ping'an's front three zhang, the true qi of the first level of the Heavenly Gang Realm within Shen Ping'an's body swelled slightly, and the originally condensed sword aura dissipated without a trace like a gentle breeze.

In contrast, Shen Ping'an continued to approach Xie Xiaofeng with light and slow steps.

This scene, witnessed by everyone present, caused a change in their minds.

Especially Xie Wangsun, Gongzi Yu, and Bai Xiaosheng, all experts at the Celestial Realm.

Just a moment ago, they all felt a brief surge of true energy within Shen Ping'an's body, and a momentary sharpness throughout his entire being.

However, none of them could see how Shen Ping'an had managed to break through Xie Xiaofeng's sword aura with just his true energy in an instant.

For a moment, Xie Wangsun's underestimation of Shen Ping'an lessened.

When he looked at Shen Ping'an, his expression became more solemn.

Inside the arena, Xie Xiaofeng was surprised to see how easily Shen Ping'an had broken through his sword energy.

But Xie Xiaofeng's expression darkened as he sensed the fluctuations of true qi at the first level of the Heavenly Gang Realm within Shen Ping'an's body.

With a soft shout, Xie Xiaofeng leaped up like an arrow, his sword moving with him. As he pierced the air, the sword's edge flashed with a seven-foot-long cold light. The "Stealing the Sky and Changing the Sun" technique, accompanied by a dragon's roar, tore through the air as it approached.

Facing Xie Xiaofeng's lightning-fast sword strike, Shen Ping'an still stood with his hands behind his back, but the true energy and sword energy within his body poured out like flowing water, instantly condensing into nine sword shadows around Shen Ping'an.

"Buzz!"

As the nine sword shadows trembled, the sounds of swords echoed in the melody of "Guangling San".

As the lingering sound faded, an invisible sonic blade quietly condensed and instantly rushed to Xie Xiaofeng's front.

The sound blade, which should have been invisible, seemed to solidify into form, easily shredding the sword energy on Xie Xiaofeng's blade—enough to split rocks and shatter gold—as well as the sword intent contained within the strike. The remaining force caused Xie Xiaofeng to pause, then take a half-step back, crushing the fine bluestone bricks beneath his feet before finally dissipating the force that had attacked him.

"Is this really the power that someone at the first level of the Heavenly Gang Realm can unleash?"

It was just one move, but it was enough to easily dismantle his sword momentum, and the remaining force even forced him to take a half step back.

Even Xie Xiaofeng was somewhat taken aback at this moment.

But seeing Shen Ping'an continue forward, Xie Xiaofeng raised his longsword again.

The ancient sword traced the path of the Big Dipper, and Xie Xiaofeng thrust it out, stepping on the star positions.

The sword light appeared gentle, but it was extremely fast, transforming into nine sword beams carrying killing intent in an instant.

However, as the sounds from the sword shadows surrounding Shen Ping'an changed slightly, a ripple-like sword aura emanated from the nine sword shadows around Shen Ping'an.

This caused the sword energy unleashed by Xie Xiaofeng in nine consecutive sword strikes to melt away like snow being splashed with boiling water the moment it touched the sword qi.

Thirty-six deep sword marks appeared on the bluestone slab, but they all stopped abruptly half a foot away from the sole of Shen Ping'an's boot.

Zhang San Niang and Yao Yue then realized that although Xie Xiaofeng seemed to have only used nine swords, these nine swords actually contained a variety of variations and internal energy.

If it were them, even if they were at the same level, this move would have been enough to cause Zhang San Niang and her companions a great loss.

"impossible!"

Seeing that his attack couldn't even penetrate the three-zhang radius around Shen Ping'an, Xie Xiaofeng's eyes narrowed.

It should be noted that Shen Ping'an is currently suppressing his cultivation level to the first level of the Heavenly Gang Realm.

Even with his cultivation level suppressed to such a low level, Shen Ping'an was still able to easily neutralize his sword moves and attacks.

This bizarre scene caused beads of sweat to form on Xie Xiaofeng's forehead from his astonishment.

With another low growl, Xie Xiaofeng rose up like a shadow.

When his figure appeared in mid-air, less than two zhang away from Shen Ping'an, he raised his ancient sword and thrust it towards Shen Ping'an.

Xie Xiaofeng's sword strike was extremely slow, yet extremely natural.

In the eyes of Zhang San Niang and the others, Xie Xiaofeng's sword strike was as natural as the wind.

But when the wind blows, who can stop it? And who knows where the wind comes from?
While everyone was still stunned, Xie Xiaofeng's sword slowly, very slowly, pierced out.

It was stabbed out from the most unbelievable part, and then suddenly there was another unbelievable change.

However, there is a flaw in this change.

When a strong wind sweeps across the land, are there bound to be places it misses?
But when the wind blows, who will notice these places?
But that flaw was merely a change within the change of this sword strike itself.

In the eyes of Yaoyue and the others, Xie Xiaofeng's sword strike was like a mountain stream flowing down. When it flowed down, you could clearly see gaps in it, but by the time you reached out your hand, the stream had already filled those gaps.

There is no way to avoid it, and no way to break it.

However, at that very moment, the resounding sounds of the nine sword shadows surrounding Shen Ping'an suddenly intensified.

(End of this chapter)