C11 Hidden Dragon Mace

The moment the golden light streaked across the sky, both men in black breathed their last. Though the light vanished in a flash, Guu Tianyi's Purple Polar Dragon Eye caught a glimpse of the object within it.

It wasn't flat like a sword, but squarely shaped, about three feet in length, adorned with a golden dragon and seven star-like points.

"A Golden Mace!" Guu Tianyi realized silently.

"Brother Gu, I owe you thanks for today. This isn't the time for long talks. I'll come find you again at midnight." With those words, the Merciless Swordsman leapt gracefully into the night and was gone.

Guu Tianyi dispelled his Flame Dragon Transformation and quickly made his way back to Guu Linger. The recent attack hadn't harmed her, but it had left her shaken, her appetite for the flower pastry gone. With no other choice, Guu Tianyi escorted her back to the Guu family home.

The image of the Merciless Swordsman lingered in his mind. The figure bore a striking resemblance to someone he knew, and the mace was clearly no ordinary item. It appeared and disappeared into thin air, much like a Martial Soul.

Back at the Purple Flame House, Guu Tianyi opted to stay in Guu Linger's room, focusing on refining his Void Discerning technique while keeping her company.

With Void Discerning, he could penetrate any illusion, making his opponent's every move transparent to him. It lacked offensive power, but its strategic value in combat was undeniable.

Yet, Guu Tianyi was only at the Entry Level.

"Mastering Void Discerning is tougher than the Flame Dragon Transformation," he mused.

Night deepened, and as Guu Linger slept, moonlight spilled onto the floor, casting a serene chill over the room.

"Brother Gu!" A soft voice called from outside, belonging to the Merciless Swordsman.

In the moonlit night, he stood in his white robe and masked visage, slender with a treasured sword in hand.

"Brother Gu, I'm grateful for your assistance today," Merciless Swordsman said, bowing his fists in respect.

Guu Tianyi dismissed the thanks with a wave of his hand, "Enough. Even without my intervention, those three were no match for you. Besides, you can drop the act with me. I've seen through your disguise, Lo Chenfeng!"

Caught off guard, Merciless Swordsman locked eyes with Guu Tianyi, falling silent before bursting into laughter. His voice, now noticeably younger, was a stark contrast to before.

He removed the white cloth from his face, revealing a visage both youthful and refined, his gaze betraying a resolve and maturity beyond his years.

"Brother Gu, you truly are formidable. But tell me, how did you deduce that I was the Merciless Swordsman? My voice and my killing methods were all carefully altered."

Guu Tianyi had little interaction with Lo Chenfeng, but he admired his free-spirited nature. He hadn't forgotten the support he'd received from him at the martial arts platform.

"Apologies, but I have a keen eye. Today, when you wielded your Martial Soul against your foes, I caught sight of it. That's the Weapon Martial Soul of the Lo family, the Hidden Dragon Mace!" Guu Tianyi revealed, not one to mince words.

Even after the formidable Guu Zhantian had perished, the Azure Nether Country Royal Family remained deeply concerned that the Guu family might stage a rebellion. Therefore, they strategically placed the Guu family within Heavenly Fire City.

For generations, the Lo family had been the steadfast guardians of Heavenly Fire City, passing down the legacy of the Hidden Dragon Mace. The Guu family, on the other hand, had been the inheritors of a fire-attribute Dragon-type Beast Martial Soul, a fact that spoke volumes. Clearly, the royal family intended for the Lo family's influence to keep the Guu family in check.

"Did you come tonight just to thank me, and nothing more?" Guu Tianyi inquired, his interest piqued. He doubted Lo Chenfeng would engage in such a pointless gesture.

"Of course not, Brother Guu. Today, as we fought side by side in the streets, I noticed you've likely achieved a new breakthrough, and your Flame Dragon Transformation is incredibly profound. I've come tonight for a friendly exchange. Regardless of the outcome at the Heavenly Fire Competition in six days, we'll remain friends," Lo Chenfeng said, rising to his feet with a smile.

"By issuing a challenge, if I were to decline, it would indeed paint me as a coward," Guu Tianyi responded as his Purple Fire surged and the Purple Polar Heavenly Flame Dragon Martial Soul materialized.

In the darkness of the night, the Purple Polar Dragon Eye glinted conspicuously.

With a flick of his wrist, Lo Chenfeng tossed his sword aside and summoned a brilliant golden light in his palm, revealing an imposing weapon entwined by a golden dragon, its Seven Stars gleaming. The might of the Hidden Dragon Mace was on par with that of the Purple Polar Heavenly Flame Dragon.

"You're a fascinating man. You bear a sword, yet you choose not to wield it," Guu Tianyi remarked.

"Swords are for dandies. A real man wields a weapon like this!"

Guu Tianyi couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed. Lo Chenfeng hardly seemed like a mere sixteen-year-old.

Beneath the moonlit sky, a standoff ensued between a dragon and a Hidden Dragon Mace.

Golden light flickered as Lo Chenfeng's wrist vibrated, propelling the Hidden Dragon Mace at Guu Tianyi like a leaping flood dragon, laden with immense power.

As soon as the Hidden Dragon Mace was revealed, Guu Tianyi channeled his Genuine Qi, enveloping himself. To the onlooker, he appeared to be bathed in purple flames, becoming one with the fire.

His hands shot out like phantoms, his Genuine Qi transforming into dragon claws, batting the Hidden Dragon Mace aside.

Guu Tianyi leaped with exceptional agility. Without even invoking his Flame Dragon Transformation, his Genuine Qi-enveloped palms were as potent as dragon claws, capable of effortlessly cleaving mountains and shattering boulders.

"Army Obliteration!"

The golden light swirled, and the Hidden Dragon Mace, though seemingly cumbersome, spun in Lo Chenfeng's hands like a swift wheel, using the momentum from Guu Tianyi's deflection to strike back.

"Fire Palm!"

As the Hidden Dragon Mace bore down on his face, Guu Tianyi couldn't afford to take it lightly. He altered his stance, causing the flames to whirl through the air.

A dull thud echoed as purple flames scattered, and Guu Tianyi staggered back several steps from the impact, a tingling sensation spreading through his arms.

"Not bad, let's go again!"

Lo Chenfeng, invigorated by the battle, readied the Hidden Dragon Mace once more. The golden dragon coiled around the mace seemed to roar to life, emitting a resounding dragon cry.

He swung the Hidden Dragon Mace, the golden dragon ascending, and launched a direct assault on Guu Tianyi.

"Purple Fire Dragon Seal."

Guu Tianyi clasped his hands together, summoning a purple divine dragon that spiraled into the air, clashing with a golden dragon.

Two divine dragons—one purple, one gold—battled fiercely, their strengths evenly matched.

"Flame Dragon Transformation!"

"Purple Polar Dragon Eye, Void Discerning!"

Seizing the moment, Guu Tianyi unleashed the Flame Dragon Transformation. With Void Discerning activated, any slip in Lo Chenfeng's defense would be greatly amplified in Guu Tianyi's gaze.

"Flame Dragon Transformation? If I don't respond with my own Bloodline Thaumaturgy, it would be an insult to your prowess."

The first star on the Hidden Dragon Mace glowed intensely as Lo Chenfeng hoisted it skyward. The mace, initially three feet in length, stretched to an imposing five meters.

"Suppressing Mountains and Rivers."

The mace plummeted down, its descent marked by a brilliant golden glow and the resounding cry of a dragon.

"Shatter!"

The bloodline of the Purple Polar Heavenly Flame Dragon ignited, its razor-sharp claws grappling with the descending Hidden Dragon Mace.

The Purple Polar Dragon Eye swept the area, finally pinpointing a target.

"Right there. Purple Fire Dragon Seal, shatter!"

Lo Chenfeng, a mere Level Eight Martial Cultivator, couldn't fully harness his Martial Soul Manifestation. Spotting the slightest flaw in his opponent's offense, he could concentrate his power and shatter their attack.

In a flash, golden light and purple fire clashed, forcing Guu Tianyi to retreat. The resulting shockwave scattered the waters of a nearby decorative pond, leaving the Purple Flame House in disarray.

Had Guu Tianyi not shielded the buildings, they might have sustained damage.

"This fight has invigorated me. I've never battled someone from the younger generation to this extent. Let's keep going!" Lo Chenfeng exclaimed, his eyes alight with fervor.

Just then, Guu Linger's murmur drifted from the room, "Brother Tianyi."

Guu Tianyi's gaze sharpened, and he quickly approached Lo Chenfeng, motioning for silence. In a hushed tone, he warned, "Keep it down. I almost forgot Linger was asleep inside. If you wake her, I'll challenge you to a duel to the death!"

"Brother Gu, we should call it a day," Lo Chenfeng said with a smile. "It's a shame I didn't go all out just now and failed to defeat you. But the fact that you could withstand my Suppressing Mountains and Rivers speaks volumes about your strength."

"I held back as well. How about we test our mettle at the Heavenly Fire Competition in six days? We'll see who comes out on top."

"That's exactly what I was thinking."

Lo Chenfeng gestured and donned the attire of the Merciless Swordsman.

"By the way, why did you kill those three black-clad men yesterday without leaving one alive to question about their ringleader?" Guu Tianyi inquired.

Lo Chenfeng chuckled, "They were merciless, each strike lethal. Once they take on a mission, they never return alive, success or failure, to prevent exposing their employer."

"You seem unfazed," Guu Tianyi observed. "When I clashed with the men in black, one of them recognized me. I'm no big shot. They had no reason to know about me specifically, so they must be from Heavenly Fire City."

"Thanks for the heads-up, Brother Guu. I'll be taking my leave now," Lo Chenfeng said, bowing his fists in gratitude.

"Hold on a second, Lo Chenfeng. My sister holds you in high regard. Wouldn't you like to reveal your true identity to her?" Guu Tianyi inquired, his lips curling into a smile.

Lo Chenfeng halted, replying hastily, "Better not. I fear if she learns who I really am, she might just throw herself at me. Then you'd surely be livid enough to hunt me down."

"Well, if she looks up to me that much, I suppose I should gift her something." Guu Tianyi gestured with his hand and a refined, graceful bracelet appeared in his grasp.

"Behold the Purple Jade Ice Spirit Bracelet, a Grade One Spirit Treasure. It serves as a guardian charm."