526 Ancient Qi Practitioners (1/2)
”Did he just use his hand to flick a flying sword away just like that?”
”Could he still be considered human?”
These thoughts crossed the minds of everyone who had seen the scene unfold earlier.
It was widely recognized that a flying sword was the sharpest and most unyielding object in its class, yet the sword ball was able to force Chang Huan, the Earl, as well as the Taoist nun from the Soaring Spark Sect, who was capable of swallowing sword balls, into retreating. Its Nth Order was evident for everyone to see.
”There's no undulation of Taoism...” The thought suddenly occurred to the Taoist nun, who took a sharp breath.
His right hand was bursting with such vitality that it was evidently not a mechanism. Chang Huan held his breath.
They met each other's eyes and understood the idea written in them. The green-robed young man with an amiable smile had relied on his physical strength alone to flick the fierce, decently-ranked flying sword. There was no hint of injury on his fingers as if the heavy sword had been the lightest thing ever. He made it seem as though the heavy sword was truly that light!
”Could he still be considered human?”
The master, who had previously seemed so noble in the eyes of the two ordinary folks, wore a blank expression appearing stunned. He looked as if he was staring down a wild beast wrapped in human skin!
How could the human tribe have gained the strength to contend with flying swords without relying on external objects or Taoism? No, they had merely used one finger alone to shatter the ray of light!
The passengers looked at Meng Qi, who was smiling, and Jiang Zhiwei, who was suppressing hers, before turning to the scarlet sword ball lying miserably on the ground. They felt as if they had been dropped right in the middle of a fairy tale.
Meng Qi patted the lapel of his robe and said with a smile, ”Lord Chang, please keep the sword ball. A vicious item like this has to be properly sealed.”
He thought that the best plan was to follow Xie Xuan and enter Yongzhou City discreetly, then find the underground powers. He could then fake an identity and blend with the locals to clarify the situation. He would also resell the items specific to the region and start bringing in rare items into the county, slowly gaining a foothold in this place and making enough of a profit to buy exotic minerals and produce. There was no need to 'rob' like the impatient Ze Luoju and so incur the wrath of the influential in this world. That would just be just a pure waste of an opportunity.
This was a sophisticated way to scheme, but Meng Qi had not expected the murderous aura that was plaguing the young man with the sword scabbard as being due to the flying sword. If he had not acted, Xie Xuan would have died on the spot. In the end, he had decided to flick the flying sword and test the waters!
”How can I trouble Zhiwei to do something this conspicuous?”
”That's just how considerate I am!”
His smile and serene words shattered the frozen atmosphere. The Taoist nun from the Soaring Spark Sect instantly put away the overweening, vicious sword ball and resealed it.
The others seemed as if they were jolted awake from a dream. Yet the more awake they were, the more unbelievable they had found the scene earlier. They could not help wondering:
”Could he still be considered human?”
Chang Huan's expression faded and he lifted his hands in a salute. ”How do I address you, my friend? I'm Chang Huan of Yongzhou.”
His left hand appeared to have luster in it as if it was a wood carving.
”I'm Su Meng and this is my cousin, Jiang Zhiwei. We're South Sea islanders but our ancestors have ties to Yongzhou. Several years ago, I happened to receive the impartation of ancient Qi Practitioners and turn it into my life-long training. Out of my admiration of the bustling Middle Kingdom, the mystical Darkness Palace, and the free and unfettered immortal sects, I've come here to seek honor and riches,” Meng Qi said.
”Ancient Qi Practitioners?”
”Impartation of Qi Practitioners!”
Cries of exclamation rang out one after another as shock swept all the passengers. Most of them had just learned about Qi Practitioners from Ouyang Zheng's explanation earlier yet they had now encountered one in the flesh!
Was this a symbol of a martial artist achieving the Heaven-connecting realm?
No wonder he could fight the flying sword with his physical body alone!
Though they were stunned, they were suspicious as well. The swordsmen sitting at the back of the compartment appeared particularly thrilled. Yet, in their delight and excitement there was also hesitation and doubt.
The group consisted of three men and one woman all in their twenties. They were spirited, ordinary-looking folks who appeared to have suffered hardships in their lives.
”Qi Practitioners? Could they really be ancient Qi Practitioners?”
They had just felt disappointment over the loss of the impartation of Qi Practitioners creating havoc on earth, yet things had suddenly taken a turn for the better!
Chang Huan and the Taoist nun from the Soaring Spark Sect clearly had some knowledge of the ancient Qi Practitioners, so it was not an odd thing for there to be someone to inherit a long-lost impartation. From his words, Meng Qi seemed to be a talent who was looking for a worthy patron among the great powers here. Not one of those lunatics who attempts to overthrow Darkness Palace and the Divine Sect for the sake of gaining some adventure.
Which family would not want him as a Guardian after the strength he had displayed from flicking the flying sword?
The astonishment faded from Chang Huan's expression. ”So, you've received the impartation of ancient Qi Practitioners. It's no wonder your physical body is powerful enough to contend with a flying sword. Since Yongzhou isn't far from here, may I have the honor of having you as my guest?”
”That's my intention,” Meng Qi said, chuckling.
Xie Xuan and Ouyang Zheng had remained in a perpetual state of shock as they stared at the handsome, confident-looking young man. They only just snapped out of it.
No wonder he dared to call himself the nemesis of evil spirits!
Not even a flying sword could touch a hair on his head!
Ouyang Zheng seemed to be grappling with embarrassed anger. The scene of the fair and powerful hand flicking the flying sword appeared to have left a deep impression on him. He felt that it was only right for a true man to display his skills!
The Qi Practitioners of the ancient times truly deserved their reputation!
For a moment, he felt a thrill run through him.
Like him, Xie Xuan felt Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei to be intermediaries between humans and immortals.
Chang Huan fished an object out of his pouch. The object transformed into a tortoise-shaped mechanism with a creak and he sat on the back of its shell, indicating Meng Qi and Jiang Zhiwei to follow suit. He started an idle chatter with them and purposefully mentioned the isles of the South Sea.
The other martial artists behind them did not dare to approach because of him and the Taoist nun. They could only watch and listen from a distance, their expressions darting between excitement and worry.
Meng Qi spoke frankly, describing the island he was from as being deep into the South Sea. The words just came naturally to him as he spoke about it all, of the ocean, the view, and all strange creatures there. Jiang Zhiwei could not help from feeling dragged in as she listened.
”Since when did the little monk go out to sea?”