Chapter 813 - 424: No Road Out of the Impoverished Mountains
Actually, the principle is very simple.
As long as your sword is fast enough and your vision precise, you can instantly see where the meridian is and where the weakness lies. Strike immediately, react after observing, counter with patience—this way, you naturally place yourself in an invincible position.
Of course, if you truly possess such skill, rushing forward to stab someone with one sword directly would be faster, but that’s called the Lightning Style.
Now, isn’t Tie Dan playing with the elder? Naturally, whatever moves you unleash, I’ll just imitate them, and if you break them, so be it.
However, Xuan Yue did not take kindly to this gesture.
"Ga! Golden Slaughter Mountain Splitting Palm! Mountain-Crushing Darksteel Palm! Icy Pursuit Leg! Wave Treading Foot! Ohohoho!"
Suddenly, earth, water, metal, and Daoist energy all converged; fists, palms, and legs—everything burst forth vividly, platinum and green light flashed brightly.
The dignified Sect Leader of the Three Elements Extreme Truth Sect revealed his treasured skills, and there’s no way he would let them be broken completely!
Divine Monarch Xuan Yue truly went all out, using every bit of his lifelong learning, turning himself into a whirl of light and shadow amidst a fierce gust, sand and rocks swirling, leaping left and right, soaring up and down, the momentum formidable yet unable to extend his fists and kicks effectively. His sword light forced him back midway, leading him into wobbly, chaotic gestures, much like those high on drugs or electrified, dancing erratically in the streets.
Of course, Tie Dan was also performing his sword dance, wielding dual swords, one purple and one vermilion, fusing together. Each move and technique directed at the weaknesses of Xuan Yue, targeting the critical points. The dual sword blades, seemingly locked, only swung between the Divine Court, Heart Core, and Dantian, successfully breaking through each of Xuan Yue’s moves cleanly.
Honestly, Tie Dan’s martial arts weren’t superior by much. In fact, even if the style was disrupted, what difference would it make? They’d still fight the same way, wouldn’t they?
If Xuan Yue gritted his teeth, gambling that his Three Elements Return to Truth Dao Body could withstand the sword power, if his Escape Skill was swift enough to outrun the sword light, then if he went all out for a decisive battle, victory could go either way. After all, as evident from some others, jumping straight ahead for a basic attack can still result in beating Tie Dan like a baseball.
But, again, it’s all about discussion, just for a demonstration, no need to risk life and limb.
Thus, Xuan Yue followed the rules; as soon as one of his moves was seen through, he admitted losing the move, retreated quietly and switched tactics accordingly. Yet, who would have thought Tie Dan was so keen-eyed and swift-handed, forcing Xuan Yue to consistently launch and then withdraw attacks, back and forth in a maddening cycle, exhausting himself almost to death.
Moreover, the longer they fought, the more anxious and worried Xuan Yue grew, trapped in self-doubt about whether his inadequacy stemmed from himself or the Way. Despairingly painful.
Luckily, Tie Dan also didn’t intend to torment the elder much longer; perceiving the essence of the Three Elements Returning to Truth Technique was enough.
Indeed, nobody could argue—whether I refine the Nine Qi while you refine San’er, whether I build up while you pull back, who cares? Cultivating Mystic Sect’s martial arts to this level, truly dominant across the world, qualifies one as a patriarch defending the Wang Family.
Certainly, Xuan Yue borrowed someone else’s reincarnated son, refining the Three Qi, uncertain how much Tribute he consumed from others, how much filial piety he amassed, owing immense karma burdens, which is why despite being the sect leader, he, having aged considerably, doesn’t sit quietly on the mountain but rather runs around actively.
At present, Tie Dan understood, unwilling to reveal all secrets of the Sky Covering Mountain Technique and cause embarrassment, so he shouted aloud,
"Fellow Daoist, witness my move! Lightning Style!"
Before the words faded, with a flash of Thunder Light, Tie Dan pursued the retreating Xuan Yue, a whirlwind charge, striking his face with a tornado!
Xuan Yue, realizing this fellow was playing by unconventional means, suffered a hidden loss, too late to withdraw but unable to evade, simply stood motionless, gathering his fists, raising both hands.
Of course, Tie Dan knew it wasn’t surrender but rather a challenge to confront the full depth in a palm exchange, so naturally, he didn’t thrust a sword into the brows or jab eyes to strike the face. He also retracted the sword finger, extended both palms, delivering a "BANG!" to match.
Now truly measuring real kung fu, revealing the disparity in cultivation power.
Tie Dan only felt his opponent’s power incredibly thick, unprecedented, surpassing even those reluctant to exert force, fearing knocking someone dead or himself dead like Xuan Du! It’s like with full exertion, one slaps the earth, unmoved like a majestic mountain, followed by surging tides, palm strength abundant, humming with monstrous power! Blasting Tie Dan backward!
Rolling over tens of times, Tie Dan had to use Escape Technique, weaving through branches and treetops, to dissipate the Power, disperse the Hand Wind, maintain composure and stand steadily, avoiding a disgraceful fall.
No shame in admitting—turbocharging and advancing how impressive acceleration and quick-shifting response, crashing head-on with a BMW wouldn’t surpass a long-run vehicle like a Chenglong. Tie Dan’s cultivation, not exceeding four years collectively; his entire power derived from consuming Medicine couldn’t compare in Inner Strength.
The current Tie Dan, unlike a certain timeline of the Great Transformation Tai Chi Ancestor, though capable of cheating with sword energy, evading courses and plug-ins, freeloading insights from the dream closure at Xuantian, benefitting from all by Dao fate comprehension. Nevertheless, hard work of sixty years honing the sword wasn’t achieved, recently exhausting sword energy in the skirmish, hence indeed conceding a strike.
Indeed, the Three Elements Returning to Truth Path is genuinely formidable, providing significant boosts to Inner Strength, at a baseline of 300%, such that when Xuan Yue transforms, absolute mastery as an ancient spirit creature, with just one transformation reaching the stature of a grand sect leader with three thousand years worth of Dao Power, able to challenge indeed opposing Xuan Du, hence certified eligibility to join the grand scheme of fate.