The pinnacle of martial arts is when even plucked flowers and fallen leaves can harm a person.
Ling Yunxiao went even further.
He didn’t employ flowers but snowflakes.
Those snowflakes, light as fluff, thin as cicada wings, and melting upon touch, under the guidance of his Yin Yang Qi, arranged themselves into formations, becoming the world’s sharpest weapons.
With a point of his long sword, those snowflakes, as if receiving the command to attack, immediately enveloped Tang Fei in a blanket of death.
Tang Fei’s expression was taut, his eyes dark and brooding.
He knew he was facing his most dangerous trial,
a hundredfold, a thousandfold more perilous than the White Crane Academy’s new student assessment...
Because everyone was clear, White Crane Academy’s assessment was virtual combat, where even if one’s head was chopped off or heart pierced in the virtual world, upon exiting, it would merely result in some physiological or physical discomfort, while the person remained alive and well.
This time was different; it was a battle with real swords and spears, a fight where lives were on the line.
A single thought could mean life or death.
One mistake, and all was lost.
Tang Fei neither wanted nor could afford to die.
Though the sword wound on his chest no longer bled, the wound itself persisted.
He knew that any slight movement could tear it open, resulting in a renewed state of blood spraying.
But at this moment of life and death, how could one not act? How could one not fight?
Tang Fei’s body soared, his clothes billowing with no wind, like a ball puffed full of air.
This was the manifestation of True Qi coursing to its utmost, spilling outside to form a wall of cyan Yuan Qi that could effectively fend off the damage from some snowflake silver arrows.
Should one manage to block them all, countless arrows could launch without scratching him in the slightest—an ideal outcome.
But Tang Fei understood that his Cultivation Realm was not on par with the long-established Ling Yunxiao, the depth of their Yin Yang Qi even more disparate...
At least, he should be able to ward off some of the injury.
Tang Fei’s Dog Leg Knife glinted with a silver radiance, acting as a sword, then he swung it in the sky to create a full moon.
With one stroke, he cut through.
Enemy exists, self does not; self exists, no enemy stands.
The second sword of "Netherworld Scroll":
A giant silver moon descended from the skies, enveloping everything within its reach.
The vigorous energy whistled, the light enduring through the ages.
Wherever the silver moon passed, those snowflake silver arrows, as if scorched by intense heat, were repelled back with crackling sounds.
But the real killer move was Ling Yunxiao’s sword strike.
That dark, cold, silent sword.
As the strike approached like a thunderbolt, it shattered Tang Fei’s surrounding True Qi barrier, directly targeting his body.
With the force of destroying decay and dragging along the rot, the silver moon swept through everything, shaking the ground and mountains.
Ling Yunxiao’s body was sent flying...
As Tang Fei’s blade cleaved, his Yin Yang Qi was exhausted.
The wound on his chest tore open again, spewing a large amount of blood.
Not only that, but most of the sword Qi from Ling Yunxiao’s sword had been blocked by the defensive barrier, yet the persisting sword Qi still carved a giant gash across Tang Fei’s body.
Blood spurted from Tang Fei’s mouth as he plummeted rapidly from the sky.
Before losing consciousness, he felt a dark silhouette rush towards him.
Then, just before hitting the ground, he was caught and held in the shadow’s embrace.
His head tilted to rest upon something soft and comfortable.
Imperial Maritime Hospital.
One of the best hospitals in the Empire, essential because the Empire’s soldiers, when conquering the stars and oceans, often face unknown dangers, powerful enemies, or terrifying mutant beasts, thus necessitating an excellent medical team and high-tech medical equipment to serve them.
Moreover, the Imperial Navy was the wealthiest legion, returning from each expedition with a bounty of expensive ores or rare treasures. A military branch unburdened by financial constraints naturally invested more in their logistical support.
Whether it was optimizing education or improving medical services, it all came down to one thing: no shortage of money.
Today, the Imperial Maritime Hospital was under strict guard, with sentries stationed at three-step intervals and guards at five. Security robots patrolled every floor and corner, ready to eliminate any threat at a moment’s notice.
Outside the Imperial Maritime Hospital, countless vehicles with special license plates surged towards the entrance.
Alas, they were all stopped by the Royal Guards stationed at the hospital doors.
"I am Zhang Jingtiao, deputy minister of agriculture, let me through..."
"I am Li Yu, Phoenix City Mayor, I have urgent matters for the King...."
"Please convey a message, Deputy Commander Tang Chao of the Undying Army...."
Countless people came, and countless were refused.
Yet, this did not diminish everyone’s eagerness.
People continued to attempt, to communicate, to make calls...
The hospital plaza was filled with all sorts of vehicles.
Zhao Xiaoman came with her father, sitting in the back of a luxury car, chewing bubblegum and saying, "Dad, no one can get in, so why are we still waiting here? Let’s go home for hot pot. Mom said it’s ready, I’m starving..."
Zhao Xinran, a director at the Monitoring Bureau, glanced at his daughter, speaking softly, "Doesn’t everyone here know they can’t get in? Why then has not a single car left?"