Chapter 726: A Mad Invitation

Qi Honglei returned to the resting hall and was greeted by a round of enthusiastic applause. There was not yet a particularly distinct divide between superpowered individuals and ancient martial artists in Great Xia. The social class barriers within Great Xia were not as rigidly stratified as those in Jiepeng.

Qi Honglei was cool. He merely gave a slight nod to the crowd before taking a seat to the side, crossing his arms in silence. A sense of disappointment filled his heart.

The reason he had come to this exchange event was to challenge Oniba Henzō, the strongest Sword Saint of Jiepeng. He had hoped that he could make a breakthrough through their battle, glimpse the mysteries of the Sky People and take another step forward on the path of martial arts.

However, due to the sudden change in the event's restrictions, precautions had to be taken to prevent casualties among their ancient martial artists. As a result, he had stepped into the ring in the previous match.

To his dismay, the one who faced him was not Oniba Henzō but a mere disciple of the Sword Sect, someone who was not even worth mentioning.

How exactly could I break through the limits of martial arts and reach the legendary Realm of the Sky People?

Qi Honglei sank into deep thought. Still, Li Xiaofei’s display had shocked him immensely. At the same time, he began to suspect that this overly young regiment leader might actually hold the answers he sought.

The unbelievable abilities he demonstrated, reviving the dead and restoring flesh to bones, weren't these the very miracles that the so-called celestial beings, who had unraveled the mysteries of the Sky People, were said to perform?

Meanwhile, the terrifying display of lightning energy from the young man named Li Guorui in the arena had also caught Qi Honglei’s attention. This aligned with his theory. Perhaps what people called the awakening of superpowers was merely mortals unintentionally touching upon the laws of heaven and earth, thereby gaining a fragment of the Great Dao’s power.

If explained through the cultivation system he practiced, these superpowered individuals were likely beings with unique bloodlines, who were naturally attuned to different laws of the universe.

When the tidal surge of the Great Dao’s spiritual energy was at its peak, these individuals would gain abilities beyond those of ordinary people. These superpowered beings were also a subject of Qi Honglei’s attention.

He wanted to find the answer to his ultimate pursuit by studying everything and everyone that might be related to the mystery of the Sky People. Li Guorui possessed the most formidable superpower he had ever seen, so perhaps he was the best research subject.

Qi Honglei fell into deep contemplation, as if he had completely isolated himself from the outside world. Suddenly, another wave of enthusiastic applause erupted.

Qi Honglei was drawn out of his thoughts. He turned to look, and found that the third round of the superpowered combatants’ final match had just concluded. Zhang Hongjing, known as the number one expert of the Dragon Group, had personally taken action. She had defeated Tōan Ritsu, the superpowered representative of the Jiepeng exchange delegation, in six minutes and fifty-five seconds, securing the sixth victory for Great Xia.

However, Zhang Hongjing had not killed Tōan Ritsu. She had merely established superiority, without deciding life or death.

Next was another match between ancient martial artists. The video feed showed a lean, white-bearded old man standing in the arena. He was clad in a swordsman’s robe and waited silently for his opponent.

Qi Honglei’s eyes suddenly ignited with a burning flame.

Oniba Henzō!

The strongest martial artist of Jiepeng. The pinnacle of Jiepeng’s sacred swordsmanship, a man said to have truly surpassed the limits of humanity in the way of the sword. Under the bright spotlight, the Sword Saint of Jiepeng appeared no different from an ordinary seventy-year-old man.

His eyebrows and beard were completely white. His slightly hunched figure was frail and thin. His skin was wrinkled and weathered, with deep creases and age spots on his face. It resembled the parched, eroded surface of a desolate land.

He was leaning on a 1.8-meter-long sword, taller than his own frame, like a walking stick. His expression was weak and aged, his eyes vacant, as if he were suffering from senility. It seemed as if a mere gust of wind could easily knock him over.

At that moment, Qi Honglei suddenly stood up. A fierce desire for battle surged within him. Others might not have noticed, but he could clearly sense that Oniba Henzō’s seemingly frail appearance perfectly embodied the Great Xia classical martial principle of ‘still as a wooden chicken’. It was a state of absolute stillness masking boundless strength.

Just as he was about to speak, the young Celestial Master could no longer hold back and eagerly volunteered to fight. After a brief moment of thought, Li Xiaofei agreed. Qi Honglei frowned slightly. He almost blurted something out but ultimately held his tongue.

However, what followed was almost exactly as he had predicted. The young master was no match for Oniba Henzō.

The aged Sword Saint of Jiepeng did not even move from his spot. He unsheathed his sword once and shattered the young master's true martial stance, sending him flying out of the arena.

Fortunately, the young master was indeed formidable in his own right, and had honed his own defense. Though he spat out a mouthful of blood, he only suffered a minor injury and was in no danger of losing his life.

He lost?!

The word flashed through many people’s minds in an instant. The Jiepeng delegation erupted into wild cheers. They had been waiting for this moment. Yet, those cheers were the most unbearable humiliation in the world to the young master. His entire body trembled as he clambered to his feet beneath the arena.

"I can still fight." The young master lifted his head, staring at the aged yet formidable old man. Gritting his teeth, he declared with unwavering determination, "According to the rules of the duel, victory or defeat is determined by life or death. Falling out of the ring does not count as a loss."

In the arena, Oniba Henzō remained calm and serene. "When I was your age, I was not even half as strong as you."

To everyone's surprise, he spoke in fluent, impeccable Great Xia dialect. "Ninety years ago, I visited Great Xia, sought out countless martial masters and learned deeply from their teachings. You are the most gifted young talent I have ever encountered. You may step back into this ring, but I advise you not to. As you are now, you are absolutely no match for me. If you come up again, you will only face death. This time, I will not hold back. You still have time to grow, to refine your martial path, and catch up. The great era is upon us, this is your time."

His words were sincere and spoken with complete tranquility. They carried the weight of undeniable truth.

Yet, without hesitation, the young master leaped back onto the stage and said, "I can die, but Great Xia’s martial path must not retreat."

He removed his Celestial Master's robe, revealing the close-fitting combat attire underneath, his expression more serious than ever before. At this moment, the prodigy from Wudang Mountain had already embraced the resolve of a moth flying into the flame, prepared to perish for his belief.

Oniba Henzō, despite his unshakable composure, felt a faint trace of pity. He had devoted his life to the sword and harbored no hatred toward Great Xia. On the contrary, he felt a deep affinity for the land and its warriors.

"You have made the wrong choice, but you have done the right thing." He then turned his gaze toward Great Xia’s resting hall and said, "And that Daoist over there, as well as the Sword Master Qi Honglei. Why don’t you both join in? I shall grant you all a chance to witness the true pinnacle of the sword within this fleeting mortal world."

It was an invitation, a proud, yet utterly insane challenge from someone who stood at the very peak. In an instant, several people’s expressions changed drastically.