Chapter 432 - 38: Nothing More Than This
If Xia Yuanxian were merely an Opening Acupoints Realm Horizontal Body Training Martial Artist, people wouldn’t be surprised and would continue to question and mock.
But when he unleashed two Flying Swords, that silenced everyone!
The entire situation was completely under his control.
No one dared to question anymore.
Not even a single sarcastic remark could be spoken.
This battle, Xia Yuanxian not only won.
But it was an absolute show of dominance!
Let alone Shen Zhiyuan, if Xia Yuanxian had acted first, he could have taken on three with no suspense.
The image in everyone’s mind of him being a waste relying on Xia Daozi was shattered.
If Su Muzhe, Shen Zhiyuan, and others on the Wind and Cloud Ranking are geniuses, what is Xia Yuanxian then?
A genius among geniuses!
Yet before this, he was so low-key, almost never showing his face.
"Cousin!"
Zhiwei exclaimed and rushed down from her seat, supporting the pained Shen Zhiyuan, her face full of concern, asking tremulously, "You, how are you?"
Even though they hadn’t met for years, Cousin was injured for her sake.
Shen Zhiyuan trembled all over, wanting to speak, but his teeth chattered incessantly.
He felt unbearable pain in his Dantian, unable to gather a bit of Inner Qi!
Ye Taoyuan followed closely, came to Shen Zhiyuan’s side, transferred Inner Qi into him, checked a bit, and his face darkened, "Zhiyuan’s Dantian has been destroyed!"
Zhiwei suddenly turned her head, looked angrily at Xia Yuanxian on the Martial Arts Arena, and shouted, "Why are your actions so vicious!"
"Vicious?"
Xia Yuanxian smiled faintly, "Blades and swords have no eyes, once on the Martial Arts Arena, one must bear consequences. Don’t forget, in the first battle just now, someone from the Sword Pavilion killed one of my guards."
"Right, right!"
Xia Daozi, seeing the situation settled, couldn’t help but feel a bit proud, retorted, "If Yuanxian is considered vicious, then aren’t the Sword Pavilion disciples even more so?"
At first glance, these words seem fine.
But actually, during the battle of Ye Lingyun and Lu Gang, Lu Gang totally fought recklessly.
Rather than Ye Lingyun killing Lu Gang, it’s more like Lu Gang sacrificed his life to bring down Ye Lingyun.
And the battle between Xia Yuanxian and Shen Zhiyuan was clearly different.
Moreover, in Jianghu, crippling someone’s cultivation is considered the most malicious act, as it completely cuts off a martial artist’s path!
Henceforth, reduced to a cripple.
Such a huge fall is enough to destroy a person!
In Jianghu, relationships are emphasized, unless it involves betraying the master or has deep-seated hatred, generally Jianghu people wouldn’t be so cruel in fights.
Ye Taoyuan coldly asked, "What is your relationship with the Profound Celestial Sect, and who taught you the Mystic Skill?"
Before Xia Yuanxian could answer, Minister of the Secretariat Shen Guobao chuckled lightly, "Words should not be spoken lightly, understanding Mystic Skills doesn’t necessarily mean having ties with the Profound Celestial Sect."
"The Profound Celestial Sect is indeed the greatest calamity of this dynasty, but Mystic Skills themselves are not guilty."
That statement was indeed correct.
Blades and swords are lethal, but not guilty themselves, it depends on who uses them.
Some can use them for chivalrous deeds, others for wanton slaughter.
Xia Yuanxian calmly said, "I mastered Mystic Skills by capturing a Profound Celestial Demon Master alive years ago and forcing him to reveal the Cultivation Technique, any problem with that?"
Xia Daozi laughed out loud, "Right! You Jianghu folks can also go slay the Profound Celestial Bandits, naturally you’ll have chances to obtain the Mystic Skills Cultivation Technique."
"But, even if you obtain the Cultivation Technique, how many of you are qualified to cultivate it?"
After all, cultivating Mystic Skills has extremely high requirements, having a Spirit Root is a rarity among thousands.
"Zhiwei, help Zhiyuan back first."
Ye Taoyuan no longer wanted to argue, preparing to assist Shen Zhiyuan back for treatment.
With Ye Xuan present, there might be hope to preserve Shen Zhiyuan’s cultivation.
"Leaving already?"
Xia Yuanxian asked casually.
"What do you want?"
Ye Taoyuan paused, his tone unfriendly.
"I respect you as an elder, also as the ’Unrivaled Woman’ Female Knight Ye, hence I won’t argue with you."
After speaking, Xia Yuanxian pointed at Shen Zhiwei beside him, "But, I dislike her tone towards me, loud and disregarding feminine propriety."
Ye Taoyuan was so angry that he laughed, "What’s this, the marriage isn’t settled yet, and you are already eager to instruct my daughter?"
Madam Su, seeing her grandson crippled, suppressed her anger, stood up slowly leaning on the Dragon Head Staff, and said, "Young Xia kid, you only defeated people from the Langya Pavilion, but you are not the first in Martial Arts, not qualified to marry Zhiwei!"
Xia Yuanxian smiled, countering, "The first in Martial Arts at my age is the top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking, correct?"
"Naturally."
Shen Guobao laughed, "Those on the Heaven, Earth, and Man rankings, how old are they, and don’t match Miss Zhiwei’s age, do they? Should she marry an old man? Haha!"
Xia Yuanxian glanced around, fixing his gaze on the Jianghu guests, "I am not at the top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking simply because I am not in Jianghu."
"If I step into Jianghu, the top spot on the Wind and Cloud Ranking will be mine to take."
Xia Yuanxian’s tone was calm, yet his words were extremely arrogant, carrying an undeniable power!
Though the Jianghu people present were irritated, thinking of the means he just revealed, they didn’t know how to refute.
Xia Yuanxian smiled slightly, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, and said, "That’s why I say, you people of Jianghu only know how to guard this well mouth of Jianghu, sitting in the well and gazing at the sky, unaware of how vast the world truly is."
"What Wind and Cloud Ranking? It’s just your self-entertainment, like frogs at the bottom of a well."
This statement insulted all the people of Jianghu present!
The faces of the crowd turned unsightly.
Someone who couldn’t hold back any longer said, "Why are you being so arrogant? No matter what you say, you’re not the top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking! You just defeated Shen Zhiyuan, who was ranked eighth!"
"Oh? It seems someone’s not convinced."
Xia Yuanxian raised an eyebrow, extended a Sword Point, two Flying Swords circling around him, and said, "Today, I aim for the top spot on the Wind and Cloud Ranking. Anyone who disagrees can step up; I’ll take you all on."
"However, once you’re in the Martial Arts Arena, life and death are no longer considered!"
Initially, some were disgruntled and considered stepping into the arena for a try.
But upon hearing the last sentence, they dismissed the thought.
Not to mention that Xia Yuanxian himself was a Horizontal Martial Artist in the Opening Acupoints Realm, who could handle those two Flying Swords suspended in mid-air?
Among those present, perhaps only ’Thousand Shadows Sword’ Lin Mubai had a chance in a duel.
Moreover, Lin Mubai is currently the top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking.
If Xia Yuanxian wants to take the top spot, he will undoubtedly have to surpass Lin Mubai!
Many Jianghu individuals turned their gazes towards Lin Mubai.
The current situation was no longer a rivalry between the Prime Minister’s Mansion and Langya Pavilion.
Xia Yuanxian was challenging the entire Jianghu!
If he truly had his way, it would mean the entire Jianghu was under his feet.
The Wind and Cloud Ranking would become a joke.
The reputation of the East Mountain Sword Pavilion, which published the Wind and Cloud Ranking, would take a significant hit!
Ye Taoyuan subconsciously looked towards Lin Mubai.
If even Lin Mubai cannot stop Xia Yuanxian, then only Ye Xuan’s intervention, with the use of their father’s handwritten letter, can resolve the matter.
Under the watchful eyes of all, Lin Mubai slowly stepped forward, first looking towards Langya Pavilion, then glanced at Ye Taoyuan. He clasped his hands in salute and slowly said, "I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you all. This Young Master Xia practices Black Tortoise Dual Cultivation. I humbly admit defeat, willing to yield the top spot on the Wind and Cloud Ranking."
At this statement, the whole audience erupted!
Only Xia Yuanxian’s face held a faint smile, seemingly unsurprised.
Langya Pavilion’s members felt a heaviness in their hearts.
The weight of Lin Mubai’s words was immense!
Not only did it instantly elevate Xia Yuanxian’s prestige to the pinnacle, but it also invisibly dealt a heavy blow to Langya Pavilion!
If even the current top of the Wind and Cloud Ranking admits defeat, who can stand against Xia Yuanxian?
Among the younger generation, Xia Yuanxian is undoubtedly the foremost in Martial Arts!
Ye Taoyuan subconsciously clenched his fist, then released it.
Before this, Ye Xuan and she had given Lin Mubai and others a small lesson at Langya Pavilion.
How could he, at this moment, stand up to help Langya Pavilion?
She shouldn’t have had any expectations of this person from the start.
In fact, when Lin Mubai spoke, not only did the surrounding Jianghu guests frown inwardly, but also the other members of the Wind and Cloud Ranking.
Xia Yuanxian had clearly aimed his sword at Jianghu, yet, despite being the top, he avoided the battle. Many were greatly disappointed.
It was Yan Shu who couldn’t stand it any longer and shouted, "Xia Yuanxian, I’ll fight you!"
"Don’t go!"
Su Muzhe’s heart tightened. He quickly pulled Yan Shu back, shaking his head, "You’re not his match."
"Heh heh."
Xia Yuanxian chuckled lightly and said, "Young Hero Su is right; you still fall short."
"Your Huanhua Sword Sect’s Lightweight Skill ’Yan Guolai’, with its nimble Body Technique, moves swiftly, dodges and strikes with precision, but however fast it is, how can it be faster than my Flying Swords?"
"The Huanhua Swordsmanship needs to be complemented by the Heart-Cleansing Sword Technique to display some power, yet your Heart-Cleansing Sword Technique only attains the ’Washing Sword’ level, not yet reaching the ’Cleansing Heart’ level. To me, your Swordsmanship is full of flaws!"
Xia Yuanxian’s words were incredibly sharp, pointing directly at the crux!
Yan Shu initially intended to step forward for a try but turned blue and then red upon hearing this, frozen in place.
Everyone realized that before the battle had even begun, Yan Shu had already lost.
With just a few words, he subdued his opponent’s soldiers without a fight!
Xia Yuanxian stood on the Martial Arts Arena, conversing leisurely, saying, "Of course, I’m not targeting just you. In my eyes, the Martial Arts of all your major sects in Jianghu are unimpressive."
"What Ink Rhythm Martial Arts comprehended from calligraphy, what ’Riverside Preface’, they’re all just so-so, not worth mentioning!"
When Xia Yuanxian said this, others couldn’t refute it at all.
Because Shen Zhiyuan had just suffered a crushing defeat at his hands.
The entire Jianghu camp became lifeless at this moment.
Everyone could only watch Xia Yuanxian, calm and composed, standing in the Martial Arts Arena, pointing the way forward with ease, a sense of powerlessness rising in their hearts.
Is there really no one in Jianghu who can subdue him?
As Xia Yuanxian surveyed his surroundings, looking at the silent crowd, a trace of derision flashed in his eyes. With a wave of his hand, the two Flying Swords instantly shrank into a Sword Pill, returning to his sleeve.
"Such a vast Jianghu, yet no more than this."
Xia Yuanxian stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky.
At this moment, everyone’s attention was on Xia Yuanxian. No one noticed that in the far corner of the crowd, someone was making their way towards the scene.
