C14 Defeat Men Feng

The Azure Edge Sword Sect was home to many elders, but the most influential among them were the Nine Great Elders. Each one was a formidable force, their status within the sect second only to the Sect Master himself.

The elder with the white beard presiding over the main platform was none other than the Ninth Elder, the lowest-ranked among the Nine Great Elders. His actual name was unknown; he was simply recognized as the Ninth Elder of the Azure Edge Sword Sect.

The current Outer Sect Disciple Competition was graced by the presence of the Ninth Elder himself.

Hua Hsing, as a disciple of the sect, was well aware of the Ninth Elder and recognized his authority. He understood that today's events could be resolved with just a single word from him. This was why Hua Hsing specifically sought the Ninth Elder's judgment, sensing an underlying air of staunch righteousness about him.

"Hua Hsing, you've committed a grave sin, and to think you could seek the Ninth Elder's pardon is utterly preposterous," Elder Ma, Jiaang Xue's mentor, remarked with an icy tone.

Although Elder Ma's rank was below that of the Nine Great Elders, he held considerably more esteem than the rest of the elders.

Upon hearing the rebuke from the Sixth Elder, the other elders chimed in, all in agreement that Hua Hsing was at fault.

"Hua Hsing, you've slain a fellow disciple right before the Ninth Elder. For such an egregious offense, there's no way he will spare you."

"Indeed, Ninth Elder, this man deserves death."

"Ninth Elder, I suggest we strip Hua Hsing of his cultivation and banish him from the Azure Edge Sword Sect," Re Yunzheng suggested quietly.

Hua Hsing's brow creased at these words. Re Yunzheng was clearly out for blood.

"Re Yunzheng, how can you harbor such malice? To cripple Hua Hsing's cultivation would be tantamount to taking his life," Jiang He protested vehemently.

"Exactly. Hua Hsing may have inadvertently killed Qii Yongqi, but it was in self-defense. The fault lies with Qii Yongqi for wielding power that was not rightfully his," Hsu Feng added.

"Qii Yongqi was the one who fouled first; Hua Hsing is innocent."

Hsu Feng and Jiang He defended Hua Hsing before the assembly of elders, warming his heart.

Simultaneously, Hua Hsing etched the names of Elder Ma, Jiaang Xue, and Re Yunzheng into his memory—these three harbored lethal intentions towards him, seeking to use this chance to eliminate him.

"Ninth Elder, please, we need your input," Elder Ma urged, noting the Ninth Elder's silence.

The other elders turned their attention to the Ninth Elder, anticipating his verdict.

The competition had stalled due to the incident with Hua Hsing, and resolving the matter was essential before they could resume.

The Ninth Elder gave Hua Hsing a measured look, surveyed the crowd, and spoke deliberately, "Hua Hsing's act of killing Qii Yongqi is a breach of our sect's rules."

Re Yunzheng and others couldn't conceal their glee at the statement.

If the Ninth Elder found Hua Hsing guilty, there would be no reprieve for him.

Hua Hsing, taken aback, was about to respond when the Ninth Elder continued.

"However, I do not believe Hua Hsing is at fault."

The statement sent shockwaves through the crowd. The Ninth Elder appeared to be siding with Hua Hsing.

"Ninth Elder, about Hua Hsing..."

Elder Ma began, his face betraying his concern.

But the Ninth Elder cut him off.

"Qii Yongqi brought this upon himself, wielding a power that wasn't his. It's not for others to bear the blame," the Ninth Elder declared with a dismissive wave.

"How could our disciples of the Azure Edge Sword Sect stoop to such ignoble tactics?" he challenged.

"Enough. Let the competition proceed," the Ninth Elder commanded softly.

The other elders seemed poised to object, yet none dared to contest the Ninth Elder's authority.

Thus, the controversy was quelled by the Ninth Elder's decree, and the competition moved forward.

"Curse it, he's still alive," Re Yunzheng muttered darkly.

The third round of the competition wound down, and while the fourth round was on the horizon, it was postponed until the following day due to time constraints.

After the judge's declaration, the disciples gradually filed out of the Martial Arts Practice Hall, with the Ninth Elder and his entourage making a swift exit.

As Re Yunzheng departed, a glint of murderous intent flickered in his eyes when he glanced at Hua Hsing.

"You're truly impressive, Hua Hsing. Even the Ninth Elder is on your side," Hsu Feng remarked with a chuckle, playfully punching Hua Hsing's shoulder once the crowd had dispersed.

"I thought you'd face punishment for killing Qii Yongqi, but it turns out the Ninth Elder is quite reasonable," Jiang He added, sharing in Hua Hsing's joy.

As night fell, Hua Hsing finished his dinner and retreated to his room.

Despite possessing the power to confront Re Yunzheng, he resolutely committed himself to cultivation.

Over the past month, Hua Hsing had come to understand that the Ancient Sword Continent revered the strong. With enough power, one could take lives without consequence.

Conversely, without strength, even if one were slain, there would be no justice. Such was the harsh truth of their world.

"I must bolster my strength," Hua Hsing vowed silently.

The old Hua Hsing would never have harbored such ambition; he might have remained insignificant for life.

But with the Golden Heart, Hua Hsing sensed continuous transformations within his body and even his innate abilities.

He discovered that his strength was growing, and with it, his talent.

Seated in the lotus position in the courtyard, bathed in the glow of the moon, Hua Hsing was enveloped in cascading halos of light.

In an instant, his eyes snapped open, and he rose swiftly to his feet. Stepping forward, he clenched his fists, channeling all his power into a thunderous punch that rippled through the air.

The space before him seemed to warp as his fist's energy surged into the void, creating ripples that gently faded away.

"Body Refining Fist, ninth level," Hua Hsing said, a smile spreading across his face. Though a fundamental technique, the Body Refining Fist's potency was formidable at this advanced stage.

"Reaching the Perfection Stage of the Body Refining Fist has indeed amplified my strength," Hua Hsing mused.

Hua Hsing dedicated his time to mastering the Golden Light Sword Arts.

At the crack of dawn, the Outer Sect disciples reconvened at the Martial Arts Practice Field for another day of competition.

The fourth round commenced with twenty-five disciples remaining, twelve matches on the schedule, and one disciple receiving a bye.

The Ninth Elder quickly went over the rules before initiating the drawing of lots.

Hua Hsing, upon drawing his lot, was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't anticipated the fortune of receiving a bye.

Re Yunzheng's expression soured when he learned of Hua Hsing's luck.

"He's incredibly lucky," Re Yunzheng remarked icily.

Other dissatisfied disciples chimed in, begrudging Hua Hsing's good fortune.

"Hmph, you're bound to lose in the next round," one disciple declared.

With the drawing complete, the twenty-four disciples were paired off into twelve groups to battle it out.

Four hours later, the fourth round concluded with twelve disciples eliminated and thirteen advancing.

The eliminated disciples seethed with resentment towards Hua Hsing, convinced that they could have been the ones with the bye if not for him.

"That Hua Hsing, such a lucky guy, actually made it to the next round."

"He really does have luck on his side."

"Hmph, what does it matter if he's in the next round? Against Senior Brother Re, he's sure to lose."

As the fourth round wrapped up, the fifth round got underway.

To the astonishment of many, Hua Hsing lucked out with another bye.

"Damn it, how does Hua Hsing keep landing these byes?" grumbled many disciples.

Hua Hsing himself was astounded by his own luck. Drawing byes back-to-back, he could advance to the top ten without a single fight.

The fifth round proved fiercer than the fourth, yet Re Yunzheng dominated his opponent with overwhelming might.

The round featured only six matches, but they spanned four grueling hours.

By afternoon, the dust settled, and the fifth round was over.

The six remaining disciples were the cream of the Outer Sect crop, each at least at the late Third Level of the Qi Refining Stage.

Counting Hua Hsing, seven disciples remained, and once again, they faced the draw.

This time around, it was Re Yunzheng who lucked out with a bye, while Hua Hsing didn't draw one.

"Hmph, Hua Hsing, you've had your moments of glory for two rounds. This time, I'll be the one to end your streak," Men Feng declared, his eyes glinting with a cold light.

Among the six disciples who had advanced, Men Feng was considered the least powerful. Yet, he had reached the late phase of the Qi Refining Stage's third level.

Men Feng might not have been confident against another opponent, but the prospect of facing Hua Hsing filled him with glee.

"Hua Hsing, you're no match for me. Just concede," Men Feng boasted from the Martial Arena.

Hua Hsing simply shook his head and replied, "Let's see after we fight."

"So be it, I'll indulge you," Men Feng growled, unleashing his most formidable sword technique as blades of light danced across the heavens.

"Men Feng is formidable. Hua Hsing stands no chance against him."

"Men Feng has perfected his swordsmanship to the Perfection Stage."

"What an exhilarating duel."

On the Martial Arena, Hua Hsing stood calmly, observing Men Feng's display before executing the Golden Light Sword Arts.

The third strike of the Golden Light Sword Arts.

A resplendent streak of gold flashed, obliterating the myriad sword lights above, as a dominant presence enveloped the arena.

"Golden Light Sword Arts? Let's see how I dismantle it," Men Feng bellowed, launching his sword technique once more.

But in an unexpected turn, Hua Hsing stepped forward, closing the distance to Men Feng, who was preoccupied with countering the Golden Light Sword Arts. Men Feng hadn't anticipated a close-quarters confrontation.

"You're seeking your own demise."

Men Feng's words were cut short by a punch that met him head-on.

A straightforward punch that sent Men Feng hurtling through the air.

Men Feng crashed down outside the Martial Arena, conceding the match.

A hush fell over the Martial Arena as the crowd processed Hua Hsing's effortless victory over Men Feng, leaving them utterly astonished.