Chapter 27: Martial Arts Reign Supreme

As the hour of the Rat approached, the four brothers—Sanzi and his kin—grew increasingly anxious. They were not worried about their own lives, but rather about Yang Zhan’s duel. From the day they began following Yang Zhan, they had disregarded their own mortality, serving as his personal guard. Under his guidance, the four of them had achieved the realm of second-rank martial artists. With such strength and battlefield experience, they could have easily served as commanding generals had they been deployed elsewhere. Yet, they preferred to stay with Yang Zhan, even if it meant being mere prison guards.

Chen Shu, however, did not understand this. Naturally, he felt that these four men were far too talented for such a menial position. He knew that Yang Zhan only held his post because he was the jailer of the Celestial Prison appointed by the Emperor himself, and that they had no need to suffer in such a place. Chen Shu had once asked Zhang San about it. Zhang San’s answer was simple: "Once you have followed the Second Master long enough, you will realize that entrusting your life to a commander with the prowess of a god is your greatest fortune. Conversely, should you become the Second Master’s enemy, that would be your greatest misfortune!"

Though Chen Shu did not fully grasp the meaning, he did not doubt Yang Zhan’s strength. After all, it was the Divine Martial Army that had reversed the Great Xia Dynasty’s centuries-long disadvantage against the Barbarian Kingdom. In the past, the Barbarians had raided the Great Xia at will, leaving the frontier in ruins while the dynasty could only mount a passive defense. But ever since Yang Zhan rose through the ranks of the Divine Martial Army, the situation shifted; the Great Xia took the offensive, and the Barbarians were forced into passive defense. It had been three years since Yang Zhan returned under imperial decree, and in those three years, the Barbarians had not dared to invade even once. Such was the lingering terror inspired by the Divine Martial Army under Yang Zhan’s command.

Just then, Chen Shu’s ears twitched. Two guards of the Eastern Palace were whispering nearby.

"Who did you hear that from?"

"It’s true. I heard the Sixth Master say it just now. He said not to worry; no matter how many enemies come to break into the prison, it will be useless, because the Northern Garrison and the Martial Strategy Army will arrive to assist at the appropriate time!"

"Really?"

"The Sixth Master said it—could it be false? He is General Yang’s personal guard; he surely knows more than we do!"

Chen Shu walked over and scolded them: "What are you whispering about? Keep a proper watch, and whatever you hear, do not spread it!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

At the stroke of midnight, Yang Zhan looked toward the eastern night sky. Luo Jianyi arrived, riding his sword; his voice carried from afar: "I have kept you waiting!"

Yang Zhan watched the figure descending from the distance. This fellow really loved to put on a show. Although those in the Profound Mastery Realm could traverse the air by manipulating qi, it was a costly endeavor. It was clear how much this man looked down upon him, a mere martial artist.

However, that was fine.

The reason martial artists were said to be at a disadvantage against Qi Practitioners was that once a practitioner reached the Profound Mastery Realm, they could fly. Even if those at the ninth level of Qi Refining could not fly, they could manipulate qi at will, making them impossible to guard against. They could strike at a martial artist’s vital points at will; one might block a single blow, but not dozens. Usually, a duel between a martial artist and a Qi Practitioner required extreme close-quarters combat to secure a chance of victory. Qi Practitioners were not fools; even if they could not fly below the Profound Mastery Realm, their speed under the influence of qi was far greater than the raw physical strength and blood-energy of a martial artist. Thus, martial artists were often left in a sorry state.

However, Qi Practitioners had a weakness: their energy was not infinite. The endurance of a martial artist was often superior to that of a practitioner, which prevented the martial artist from being entirely helpless.

Now, Yang Zhan was facing someone in the Profound Mastery Realm. According to the equivalent levels, a first-rank martial artist was comparable to the ninth level of Qi Refining, meaning the Profound Mastery Realm was one level higher than his own peak first-rank state. A martial artist would need to reach the Saint Martial Realm to be on equal footing. Naturally, even at the same level, a martial artist was usually at a disadvantage.

Like an immortal descending from the heavens, Luo Jianyi landed gracefully directly in front of Yang Zhan. He looked around in surprise, seeing only Yang Zhan with no signs of an ambush.

"You accepted the challenge so readily; I thought you might be planning some trick."

Yang Zhan laughed: "You issued a formal challenge, and I accepted it; naturally, I keep my word."

Luo Jianyi frowned: "You are unarmed?"

"Yes, I am unarmed. I would hate to bully you."

Hearing this, Luo Jianyi paused, then could not help but sneer. "Overestimating yourself, or simply arrogant?"

"You may use your weapon, otherwise I fear my victory would be dishonorable!"

Luo Jianyi’s expression turned cold: "What arrogant words. You, a mere martial artist, what do you count for in the presence of a Qi Practitioner?"

*Clang!*

Luo Jianyi suddenly flicked his wrist, and his sword shot into the wall of the prison, burying itself deep within the stone.

"Since you do not use a weapon, neither shall I, lest I be accused of bullying you!"

Yang Zhan nodded: "Fair enough. In that case, for the sake of the effort you put into your cultivation, I shall spare your life!"

At this, Luo Jianyi was enraged by his own humiliation. "How dare you look down on me so! Today, I will let you see the methods of a high-level Qi Practitioner and broaden your horizons!"

"Very well, I shall wait and see."

Yang Zhan nodded lightly, as if he did not take Luo Jianyi seriously at all. This only angered Luo Jianyi further. Not to mention a martial artist like Yang Zhan, even his peers among high-level practitioners would not dare speak to him in such a way. In that moment, he only wanted to make this martial artist pay the price for his arrogance!

Immediately, Luo Jianyi formed a seal with his hands and shouted!

"Heavenly Sword Technique!"

*Boom...*

A fierce wind suddenly whipped up. At the same time, Yang Zhan keenly felt that the withered leaves and debris caught in the gale were imbued with sharp sword qi. Indeed! A master of sword technique could treat all things as a blade! Compared to a martial artist, their methods were truly mysterious and unpredictable.

The four brothers watching from the side held their breath, their toes curled tight, fearing that even the slightest noise might disturb Yang Zhan’s duel.

But in the next moment, Sanzi’s eyes widened: "Oh no, has the General lost his mind?"

Chen Shu’s expression also changed drastically: "Why is General Yang not dodging? He is charging straight forward!"

At this, Luo Jianyi also noticed Yang Zhan’s movements and could not help but mock: "A martial artist is indeed a brute; besides charging recklessly, he has no sophisticated methods at all!"

Just then, Yang Zhan’s blood-energy surged, his speed skyrocketed, and in an instant, he kicked up a sky full of swirling snow, making his figure difficult to track. At the same time, the snowflakes he disturbed merged completely with the snow in the gale.

"To withstand the power of my Heavenly Sword head-on is pure suicide, even for a first-rank martial artist!"

Suddenly, Luo Jianyi felt something and hurriedly formed a seal: "Sever!"

The wind intensified, and the sword qi became terrifying. Yet, in the blink of an eye, Yang Zhan’s figure appeared right before him.

Yang Zhan’s clothes were shredded by countless cuts, and blood began to seep out. His face and neck were marked with streaks of red, the blood dispersing into the fierce wind. Luo Jianyi, who should have been pleased that his first strike had caused such heavy injury to Yang Zhan, was instead struck with terror!

He attempted to ascend into the air, but it was too late!

A hand suddenly clamped onto his ankle. A terrifying strength surged through his leg, filling Luo Jianyi with utter horror, leaving his mind a blank slate.

*Boom!*

An irresistible, terrifying force erupted from his leg. In the blink of an eye, Luo Jianyi was slammed to the ground, kicking up a storm of snow.

*Thud!*

Yang Zhan’s fist landed squarely on Luo Jianyi’s chest.

*Pfft...*

Blood sprayed from Luo Jianyi’s mouth, reddening the flying snow. At this moment, Yang Zhan spoke with cold indifference: "Have you never heard that the best defense is a good offense?"

Yang Zhan kicked Luo Jianyi away. Luo Jianyi’s eyes bulged, and before he could even let out a scream, he fainted.

The scene fell into absolute silence. The group of martial artists watching from the prison were dumbfounded, unable to believe their eyes. So, a Qi Practitioner of the Profound Mastery Realm... was actually this weak!

Yang Zhan turned toward the prison, his voice rolling out like thunder:

"Remember this: The Martial Way is King!"