Chapter 263: One Move
“Catch Sun Yuanlang, don’t let him escape!”
Hearing the shouts from afar, the Saintess’s expression turned stern. Finally unable to continue tangling with Lu Yun, she hurriedly stood up and gazed toward the opposite bank.
On the wide river’s opposite shore, hundreds of people had Sun Yuanlang completely surrounded. Among those hundreds were warriors of the Xiahou Clan in black armor, Daoist Priests of the Heavenly Master Dao in white robes, and warriors from various clans mixed in…
Although he couldn’t see clearly who else was in the encirclement, Lu Yun was certain there must be a Grandmaster among them. Otherwise, even if Sun Yuanlang had only half his cultivation left, these ordinary warriors couldn’t hold him.
Su Yingxiu grew anxious and was about to cross the river to rendezvous with Sun Yuanlang, but Lu Yun pulled her back and reminded her in a low voice: “Don’t make trouble…”
Upon hearing this, Su Yingxiu came to her senses, her body halting as she gazed worriedly toward the opposite bank…
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On the opposite bank, Sun Yuanlang’s whisk was nowhere to be seen. He wore only tattered clothes, with long and disheveled hair and beard, looking practically like a wild man. It was no wonder those people could recognize him.
Sect Leader Sun’s aloof and proud demeanor remained, but paired with his current appearance, it looked somewhat comical.
However, Sun Yuanlang didn’t care about such things. He still gazed disdainfully at a middle-aged Daoist Priest in an apricot-yellow robe opposite him and laughed casually: “Little Xu, why didn’t your Senior Brother come?”
Beside Xu Xuanji stood the Xiahou Brothers, Xiahou Bubai and Bumie, with fierce glares. Hearing Sun Yuanlang’s address for him, odd expressions appeared on their faces.
“Hah!” Xu Xuanji was furious. He was the Heavenly Master of this generation, revered deeply even by the Initial Emperor and Xiahou Ba. Yet now Sun Yuanlang called him “Little Xu” repeatedly. Even with his excellent self-control, he couldn’t help but snap angrily: “To kill a chicken, why use a butcher’s knife? To deal with you, Sun Yuanlang, there’s no need for my Senior Brother to act!”
“Hahaha!” Sun Yuanlang laughed as if he’d heard the greatest joke, throwing his head back in long laughter: “The Heavenly Master Dao truly declines with each generation!” With a smile on his face, he proudly extended one finger and said: “One move, and this Daoist will make you concede defeat.”
“Nonsense!” Thoroughly belittled by Sun Yuanlang, Xu Xuanji flew into a rage: “This Daoist will experience your masterful move!”
Before the words finished, Heavenly Master Xu turned into a mass of yellow cloud, arriving before Sun Yuanlang in an instant. Burning with hatred, he unleashed his trump card right away—the famed ultimate technique of Zhang Xuanyi, the Heavenly Master Dao’s foundational divine skill, the Purple Firmament Divine Palm—slamming toward Sun Yuanlang’s face.
Seeing that palm filled with Thunder-Gale and swirling Purple Qi, the Xiahou Brothers were moved. Everyone knew of Heavenly Master Zhang but not Heavenly Master Xu. Xu Xuanji had always been overshadowed by Zhang Xuanyi’s brilliance, leading people to habitually underestimate this Heavenly Master of the current generation—even though Xu Xuanji’s name ranked first on the Investigative Bureau’s Heavenly Rank List.
Even the martial fanatic Xiahou Bumie admitted he wouldn’t dare take this palm head-on and would have to dodge the omnipresent Divine Thunder filling the sky to protect himself… The brothers exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other’s eyes.
These arrogant brothers had to admit they were probably no match for Heavenly Master Xu.
This single palm was enough to make everyone dispel their contempt and feel deep respect! Xu Xuanji’s top ranking on the Heavenly Rank List was not just due to the Heavenly Master Dao’s prestige!
.
At the Luo River Bank, a biting cold wind blew, but everyone’s hearts burned hot.
All stared wide-eyed, unblinking, ready to witness this earth-shattering clash between the Heavenly Master and the Taiping Cult’s Sect Leaders! This was a once-in-a-lifetime golden opportunity!
In everyone’s view, facing Heavenly Master Xu’s Purple Firmament Divine Palm, Sun Yuanlang should either dodge quickly or muster all his strength for a head-on clash!
However, there was no sign of Sun Yuanlang circulating Qi. Facing Xu Xuanji’s Purple Firmament Divine Palm, he simply smiled, extended both hands in a welcoming pull, like embracing a gentle breeze and bright moon, effortlessly absorbing Xu Xuanji’s terrifying palm force—overwhelming as a divine prison—into his body.
Xu Xuanji never imagined anyone would dare actively draw the demon-subduing Purple Firmament True Qi into their body. Was he not afraid of his meridians being instantly destroyed?
In utmost shock, Xu Xuanji tried to change moves, but Sun Yuanlang gave a eerie smile, pushed with both hands, sending a mass of True Qi filled with Thunder-Gale and swirling Purple Qi blasting toward Xu Xuanji’s chest!
“What?!” The Xiahou Brothers’ eyes nearly popped out.
“How does Sun Yuanlang know the Purple Firmament Divine Palm?!” Xiahou Bubai cried out in shock.
“No, he doesn’t know the Purple Firmament Divine Palm!” Though Xiahou Bumie was usually oblivious to mundane affairs, his insight into the Martial Arts Path was unmatched. He immediately saw through it. “He’s rebounding Xu Xuanji’s move back at him!”
“Bring it!” Though shocked, Xu Xuanji remained calm. No one knew Purple Firmament True Qi better than he, except Zhang Xuanyi. Trying to rebound his move to harm him was sheer delusion!
Xu Xuanji immediately formed a virtual embrace with both hands, planning to absorb, neutralize, and return that mass of Purple Thunder-Gale Qi to origin. But as the True Qi touched the Purple Gale, his expression changed drastically. He hurriedly tried to shift to a solid block to protect his chest.
But that originally fierce and domineering Purple Thunder-Gale Qi had thoroughly mutated. Beyond its dominance, it was filled with Soft Strength, generating powerful suction that immobilized Xu Xuanji’s arms. He could only watch helplessly as the mass of Divine Thunder struck his chest!
Helpless, Xu Xuanji could only circulate his body’s Purple Firmament Gale Qi to fully protect his chest and take this unavoidable strike head-on—At once, with a bang and a burst of purple light, Xu Xuanji flew back to his original spot, retreating seven more steps before barely steadying himself…
All this happened in a flash, faster than sparks and flint. Those Earth Rank, Black Rank, and Yellow Rank warriors only saw Xu Xuanji unleash a dazzlingly brilliant move. Without seeing Sun Yuanlang exert much effort, he lightly absorbed and released it, rebounding the move and sending Xu Xuanji flying…
The riverbank fell deathly silent at once, everyone shocked beyond measure.
One move—indeed, just one move. Sun Yuanlang defeated Xu Xuanji. He hadn’t been boasting; the Taiping Cult Sect Leader was actually this powerful!
Powerful, powerful to a terrifying degree, terrifying to the point of despair.
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In truth, Xu Xuanji wasn’t seriously injured, but his earlier appearance was utterly wretched. Moreover, his luxurious apricot-yellow Daoist robe now had a huge tear, revealing the white undergarment inside and a faintly visible patch of chest hair… For a Heavenly Master of his stature to be so disheveled was an utter humiliation.
Murderous intent burst from Xu Xuanji’s eyes as he glared hatefully at Sun Yuanlang, yet he dared not act rashly again—He had thought Sun Yuanlang, after breaking free at death’s door, was at the end of his strength, and wanted to take advantage for a cheap win and establish his prestige. Who knew he’d be defeated in one move? Attacking again would just be desperate entanglement—what of the Heavenly Master Dao’s face?!
“He didn’t rebound it with technique!” Xiahou Bumie finally broke the awkward silence, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he said sharply: “He absorbed the Heavenly Master’s True Force into his body, added something to it, then sent it back out. It looks the same but is entirely different!”
With that, Xiahou Bumie flashed before Sun Yuanlang and said in a deep voice: “Allow me to experience the Sect Leader’s masterful move!”
Before the words finished, a furious shout came from afar: “Stop!”
