https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-525-The-True-Willowy-Sword-Technique/12536828/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-527-A-New-Nickname-Divine-Sword-of-the-Red-Flag/12536838/
Chapter 526: The Hainan Sword Sect Pays a Visit
Chapter 526: The Hainan Sword Sect Pays a Visit
The Red Flag Escort Agency had taken on a large escort mission to Qi Lu, and they would be passing by Mount Tai along the way.
Over a dozen escort carriages departed from Chen Zhou one after another. In the middle of the convoy was a simple horse-drawn carriage, and at the very front was a cargo wagon bearing a bright red flag, with a silver longsword and three white feathered arrows embroidered on it—the emblem of the Red Flag Escort Agency, indicating that the chief escort himself was leading the mission.
Of course, the one sitting in the carriage was none other than Tie Kaicheng.
Li Zhenzhen and Sun Xingyu sat on either side of him, with Sun Xingyu massaging his feet while Li Zhenzhen practiced the new Willow Swordplay technique that Tie Kaicheng had taught her, using her hands in place of a sword.
"I don't need to injure each and every one of them, or overpower them with sheer force," Tie Kaicheng said casually. "As long as you attain a rudimentary level of proficiency in the Willow Swordplay, you will be more than capable of defeating Ouyang Yunhe."
Li Zhenzhen acknowledged, "It's true that Ouyang Yunhe has learned the Two Extremes Divine Sword, but his mastery of it is actually quite mediocre. The power he can unleash may not necessarily surpass that of the Nine Palace Linked Ring Sword."
Having witnessed Tie Kaicheng's prowess with the Willow Swordplay, Li Zhenzhen now had a basic understanding of the Three Great Sword Arts of the Xuanmen. If Ouyang Yunhe's skill in the Two Extremes Divine Sword was only a third of Tie Kaicheng's, there was no way he could have fought her to a draw.
Thus, Li Zhenzhen was now brimming with confidence. "At the gathering on Mount Tai, I will definitely defeat Ouyang Yunhe fair and square."
At the assembly of the seven sects to discuss the appointment of a new alliance leader, they would not only compete in terms of influence, strategy, and contributions but also in martial arts prowess.
Tie Kaicheng nodded. The seven major sword sects and powers like Shaolin and the Beggar Gang had always had a large number of competent cultivators, but they lacked top-notch experts.
Hence, they were like helpless chickens when facing Ding Peng from The Curved Blade of the Crescent Moon, yet the immunity tokens they issued carried weight and gave Tie Yan and his wife a sense of security. It seemed contradictory.
Ouyang Yunhe was indeed a direct disciple of the current generation of Wudang, but his martial arts could only be considered that of a first-rate expert. He was slightly stronger than Mei Changhua, but he was no match for Li Zhenzhen, who had grasped the essence of the Willow Swordplay.
"Mei Changhua lacks heart and will, so he didn't learn the Clear Wind Thirteen Forms. Wu Tao lives a comfortable life, so his sword techniques lack sharpness," Li Zhenzhen counted off. "Qin Duxiu's swordplay is neither biased nor exceptional, lacking uniqueness. Tian Long and Mei Changhua share the same flaw."
"There used to be another troublesome fellow, Li Pingzi, but unfortunately, he went insane and challenged Yan Shisan..."
Li Zhenzhen couldn't help but marvel at his audacity. The Hainan Sword Sect was located too far away, and although their sword techniques were indeed remarkable, Li Pingzi had become somewhat narrow-minded and arrogant.
The same could be said for Li Pingzi. He believed that in a life-or-death duel, he could defeat both Li Zhenzhen and Ouyang Yunhe, who were already considered the cream of the crop among the new generation of swordsmen in the Central Plains. Few elders could defeat them, so he assumed he could challenge Yan Shisan as well.
"Please hold, Chief Tie!"
A sharp voice rang out from the left front, and by the time the last word was spoken, the speaker had already appeared before the escort convoy, displaying remarkable light work.
The members of the escort team immediately halted, and seven or eight escorts were ready to take action at any moment.
Tie Kaicheng lifted the carriage curtain and saw a black-robed elder wearing a tight-fitting long robe, with a narrow-mouthed longsword strapped to his back.
Tie Kaicheng was very familiar with the style of the sword's hilt. "The Hainan Sword Sect?"
"I am Wan Ningzi of the Hainan Sword Sect," the black-robed elder said indifferently.
Li Zhenzhen's eyes flickered, and she whispered, "The Hainan Sword Sect, with the surname 'Wan'. He is Li Pingzi's uncle and the junior brother of the current sect master, Wan Lingzi."
Tie Kaicheng continued, 'So, since you dare not challenge Yan Shisan, you've come to me instead?'
Wan Ningzi was taken aback, a cold smile playing on his lips as he said, 'With Xie Xiaofeng around, Yan Shisan won't live past the Double Ninth Festival. There's no need for me to lift a finger.'
'But ultimately, it's still through Xie Xiaofeng's hand. It doesn't showcase the might of the Hainan Sect, and people will still say that Yan Shisan killed your sect's carefully cultivated heir with a casual move,' Tie Kaicheng pointed out.
Wan Ningzi fell silent once more, then spoke, 'Has anyone ever told you that you have a very unpleasant way of speaking?'
Tie Kaicheng laughed, "If I were to say that you are a virtuous and respected elder, and that I've long admired you, would you then be willing to share a drink with me and let go of the grudge over Li Pingzi's death?"
'Of course not,' Wan Ningzi replied.
'Then I've never heard of your name either,' said Tie Kaicheng.
As Tie Kaicheng's words trailed off, the sound of rustling leaves came from the nearby forest, and soon, over a dozen swordsmen clad in the attire of the Hainan Sword Sect appeared at the forest's edge.
Wan Ningzi spoke calmly, 'At the gathering on Mount Tai, the seven sects will form an alliance. The Hainan Sect will be led by me, but unfortunately, Li Pingzi is already dead. Naturally, the position of the Alliance Leader of the Seven Great Sword Sects will not go to our sect.'
Tie Kaicheng chuckled, "Even if Li Pingzi were still alive, he wouldn't have been able to become the Alliance Leader."
'But this was our closest chance,' Wan Ningzi said.
Although the Hainan Sword Sect was counted among the Seven Great Sword Sects, it was the most remote, with the shallowest roots and weakest influence. Its power only extended as far as Lingnan, far inferior to the Pointing Peak Sect. They craved a reputation.
If they weren't included among the Seven Great Sword Sects, the Hainan Sword Sect would, at best, be considered a regional sect, perhaps not even comparable to the Bishan Daoist Temple or the Tian Shan Sword Sect in terms of fame within the Central Plains.
Thus, they were eager to be associated with the other six great sword sects, even offering their manpower and resources to join forces with them against the distant Demon Sect.
For over a hundred years, the Seven Great Sword Sects had been named together, but they had never formally allied. Although this gathering was aimed at countering the Heaven's Respect Sect, and it was the younger generation of disciples who were forming the alliance, it was still a historic moment for the seven sects.
So, this assembly of the seven sects was a valuable opportunity for the Hainan Sword Sect, as Li Pingzi's martial arts were indeed among the best of the seven sects' direct disciples. He was also aggressive and unafraid of confrontation.
However, fate had other plans, and Li Pingzi met his end at the hands of Yan Shisan before even reaching the gathering on Mount Tai.
Wan Ningzi, who led the sect's expedition into the Central Plains, was furious, but he wasn't Li Pingzi. He knew he was no match for Yan Shisan, yet the anger of the Hainan Sect needed an outlet.
And that's why he sought out Tie Kaicheng.
'Taking on the disciple after failing to defeat the master is a common occurrence in the martial world,' Wan Ningzi said.
In his eyes, Yan Shisan was destined to perish at Xie Xiaofeng's hands during the assembly on Mount Tai. By killing Tie Kaicheng beforehand, he might even weaken his opponent's resolve and fighting spirit. It was a tempting proposition.
'If I were to meet an unfortunate end at your hands, all these Hainan disciples heading north will follow Li Zhenzhen's orders and support her as the Alliance Leader of the Seven Sects,' Wan Ningzi said calmly.
(End of Chapter)
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