Although not needing help from Changxian Sect disciples, Luo Huaijing and Ying Muqing voluntarily stayed to assist Fatty, Zhou Yuanjiang and company. The two did not feel it compromised their status as Sect disciples.
Luo Huaijing already knew Zhou Yuanjiang, and many others too, having escaped the Blood Forest together and fought side by side. Both sides had changed tremendously. Seeing Zhou Yuanjiang and company's transformations, Luo Huaijing and Ying Muqing sincerely rejoiced for them.
Soon, Tianlin Town was completed with the grand defensive formation undergoing initial trial operation. Some further adjustments and it would be ready. Everyone celebrated wildly.
Zhou Yuanjiang and his men were the happiest. This place was built by their own hands. Since returning to the mainland, they felt like rootless drifting weeds without any sense of belonging. At this moment, their hearts finally settled - this place was their home, their root. In the future, no matter life or death, no matter where they went, they would proclaim they came from Tianlin Town.
Amidst the celebrations, Tianlin Array's warning formations suddenly activated with alarm sounds. Guyao and Chi Changye looked up to see a figure standing in midair. Luo Huaijing and Ying Muqing were greatly shocked, quickly getting to their feet. "Uncle Yan, why are you here? Who told you about this place?"
The visitor was Yan Yuanging who deliberately triggered the warning formations to notify the town's occupants of his arrival.
Zhou Yuanjiang and company became wary. Yan Yuanging's alignment with Chi Changye was unclear - allies or opponents? Last time, Yan wanted to take Pill Master Guyao away but was intercepted by Chi Changye. What was his intention this time? Furthermore, he seemed to have an appointment to duel Chi Changye. To them, his sudden appearance meant no good!
However, Guyao waved his hand to calm Zhou Yuanjiang and company, calling out to the figure in mid-air, "Senior Yan, why not come down for a drink?"
Yan Yuanging descended with an expressionless face. "I came to take a look after hearing you were here."
If there was a chance, I could consult you on one or two things - he kept those words to himself. But his slightly brightened eyes had already conveyed them.
Luo Huaijing and Ying Muqing wanted to cover their eyes. Their former Senior Brother, now Junior Uncle, still only had cultivation and combat in his eyes and heart.
Chi Changye smirked and extended his hand. "Please, have a seat."
Yan Yuanging obediently sat down. Someone immediately served him wine, dishes and spirit fruits. Tian Feirong and Fatty also whispered to each other, deeply feeling that with this guy's single-minded stare at Brother Chi, wouldn't he get thrown out one day by the intolerant Guyao?
"Peng peng" - two fruit pits accurately struck their heads as Guyao mercilessly punished their backbiting.
Despite the unexpected guest, he was very quiet - sitting there tasting wine and food without making a peep. If not for his innately powerful aura, one might even overlook there was an extra person.
This bizarre atmosphere persisted for some time. Midway, Luo Huaijing and Ying Muqing returned to their Sect for a period, but Yan Yuanging remained, with Guyao arranging lodging for him.
To maximize Zhou Yuanjiang and company's combat strength, Chi Changye took over their training with Fatty to determine the most suitable formations, drilling them until instinctive. Meanwhile, Cheng Xin also earnestly sought pointers from Chi Changye on swordsmanship, who readily imparted guidance without reservation, even allowing observers at a safe distance during his own practice to avoid injury by sword qi. At such times, Yan Yuanging would undoubtedly stand the closest.
Chi Changye executed the most ordinary movements - grasping his sword and swinging forward repeatedly at a slow pace without difficulty, looking like even a 3-year-old could mimic. Yet no observers left, instead watching with fascination.
The commotion attracted Guyao and company over to watch as well. With their cultivation, anomalies were apparent after a few glances.
Guyao's eyes lit up brightly, same with Tian Feirong. "Brother Chi is truly formidable. Though seemingly mundane motions, this single chop resonated the surrounding space into turmoil. Note how Yan Yuanging previously stood so close yet kept much further distance this time."
Fatty also exclaimed, "The classics state the Great Dao tends towards simplicity in the end. Isn't Brother Chi demonstrating this principle?"
Guyao contemplated, "Although not to that extent yet, what he's doing now should be integrating and condensing complex techniques into this single simple move. I heard Senior Brother Chi speak of a few stages in swordsmanship - after sword qi comes sword intent, and an even higher layer of sword intent is coalescing sword momentum. Grasping sword momentum is where a swordsman's true prowess lies."
The rest vaguely comprehended that reaching such a stage was exceptionally difficult, but if Chi Changye attained it, he would become an extraordinarily formidable swordsman.
After Chi Changye finished practice and left, the rest immediately rushed over to inspect. The previously intact rocks crumbled into powder with a light touch, eliciting gasps as their veneration for Chi Changye rose another level.
After this session ended, Yan Yuanging departed, returning to his sect and shutting himself in seclusion with just the word "Closed Door Cultivation." Even Patriarch Luo and Luo Huaijing could do nothing as he vanished. Later, Luo Huaijing learned of the circumstances in Tianlin Town and guessed Yan Yuanging had gained insights after watching Chi Changye's sword practice, thus secluding himself to digest and absorb.
However, Luo Huaijing worried - would Uncle Master still accept the duel invitation? What were his odds of winning? If defeat was certain, how might it impact him?
On the eve of the appointed battle, Yan Yuanging punctually emerged from seclusion. One look revealed his posture of accepting the duel. Examining his cultivation...Luo Patriarch and company were struck speechless outside his cave abode.
Although his aura had stabilized somewhat, he was still at the Initial Yuan Ying Stage! Advancing within the Yuan Ying Stage grew exponentially more difficult - breaking through from Initial to Intermediate was no easy feat. Patriarch Luo himself required centuries of accumulation back then, while leaping from Intermediate to Late Yuan Ying demanded even longer.
In truth, Patriarch Luo and the Sect Elders also wished to dissuade Yan Yuanging from this duel, holding no confidence in his odds against the similarly Yuan Ying Stage Chi Changye.
"Can Junior Brother Yan not go?" One elder nervously ventured. Small wonder at their timidity - most present elders were later promotions. Despite sharing the Yuan Ying Stage, their combat strength paled before Yan Yuanging.
Yan Yuanging coldly glanced at the elder, cupped fists towards Patriarch Luo, then marched off.
Knowing his decision wouldn't change, Patriarch Luo resigned himself. "Very well, I shall personally accompany you on this trip."
Yan Yuanging did not object. Patriarch Luo arranged sect affairs then brought two disciples and some key younger generation he was grooming. Together they set off with Yan Yuanging for the previously agreed duel location - the boundary between righteous and demonic cultivators, where the two had clashed before.
Word of the duel had long spread across the continent, so quite a few cultivators had already gathered upon their arrival. In particular, the ravine left behind last time was crowded along both sides. The residual sword qi of both combatants still lingered within, remaining a coveted site for swordsmen. Comprehending even one strand could rapidly boost their sword arts.
These swordsmen included demonic cultivators - who said demons couldn't practice swordsmanship? However, demonic sword arts tended to be sinister and ever-changing, confounding opponents. When mastered, they were formidable too, though that didn't prevent these demon sword cultivators from venerating Chi Changye. Even their most bizarre swordplay seemed crude before his skills.
Quite a few demonic cultivators came, and the mere mention of Chi Changye and Guyao now elicited intense love and hate - word of their Hundred Merchants City incident had long spread internally, further battering that alluring female's standing for failing to entice Guyao. Her words of rejection had truly humiliated demonic cultivators.
Some even secretly complained to Old Demon Tianzhug hoping he would teach the arrogant Guyao a lesson on the demons' behalf. Unexpectedly, Old Demon Tianzhu just laughed loudly, praising Guyao for his outstanding character unlike ordinary cultivators.
As for this duel itself, Old Demon Tianzhu didn't even attend - to him the outcome was already clear, so what was there to watch?
Likewise, righteous sect leaders like Alliance Chief Meng and Elder Zhu of the Silver Clan were absent. Unless Yan Yuanging managed to break through to Intermediate Yuan Ying Stage these past days, they saw no chance of victory either.
Still, many cultivators came to observe the battle, hoping to gain insights from watching two experts fight. Even a bit would be a huge harvest.
Not long after Yan Yuanging arrived, Chi Changye and Guyao also came, accompanied by Yin Huadangren who was there to protect his nephew, not Chi Changye - yes, that's right.
However, many noticed Guyao had come from the same direction as Yan Yuanging. So where had Guyao and Chi Changye been previously?
Guyao's whereabouts were always a mystery. After leaving Hundred Merchants City, countless cultivators had searched for him seeking pills, especially demonic forces who were turned away there. Surely after Hundred Merchants City they would have better luck? Yet his location remained unknown.
Could it be...Guyao had been staying near demonic territory all this time? Were they secretly associates?
"Fellow Daoist Chi, let us begin." Upon seeing Chi Changye arrive, Yan Yuanging drew his sword without another word.
"Very well."
No sooner had Chi Changye replied than both figures flashed into the air, exchanging ringing blows. The cultivators below swiftly dispersed to avoid any stray energy.
And so the two fought fiercely for three days and nights. Unlike last time's quick decisive battle to establish superiority and dissuade Yan Yuanging, now it was purely to compare swordsmanship. Victory or defeat mattered little to either party.
Chi Changye had to admit Yan Yuanging's talent for the sword was no less than his own. It was just that Chi Changye's foundations were extremely solid and deeply-rooted, having received the most authentic comprehensive sword instruction in Ascension Sect since childhood. Then at his peak he suffered a crushing setback, winding up in Tianlin Continent where he persevered in starting over from scratch, thus refining his swordsmanship another layer.
Later at Tianfu Academy, further aid and inheritance from Sword Pavilion advanced his skills another great leap. Without all these opportune circumstances, he dared not claim absolute superiority over Yan Yuanging in swordsmanship.
This was their third crossing of swords. Chi Changye noticed after every exchange, Yan Yuanging's sword skills markedly improved - already at Ten Directions City there had been an earth-shattering change from their first bout. And now there was additional progress, making him a formidable opponent not to be underestimated.
For three days and nights no cultivator voluntarily left, from the simplest sword techniques vying intensely, to the climax of sword qi and finally a contest of sword intent, utterly free and unrestrained, shaking heaven and earth. Even observing cultivators were intoxicated by this feast of swordsmanship.
The swordsmen cultivators left extremely excited, having witnessed far too much from this battle to digest and absorb quickly. Their strength was sure to increase substantially afterwards.
Recordings in image spheres were also in high demand across the continent, allowing those in the business to earn hand over fist.
Initially thinking there was nothing worthwhile in a battle with a foregone conclusion, many didn't attend. Upon seeing the footage though, they regretted endlessly. Just the information conveyed through the image spheres was shocking enough, let alone witnessing the intense fight firsthand.
This battle reached an apex of brilliance, with victory or defeat becoming secondary. Even if Yan Yuanging ultimately lost, no cultivator who saw it in person mocked his inferior skills. Through his swordsmanship, Yan Yuanging had earned everyone's deep respect - none could deny his exceptional ability.
Many seniors analyzed this fight to assess their true strength.
After watching, City Lord Liu said: "I am inferior to them. Initially they held back somewhat, only unveiling full power at the end. If present, one could likely see their surrounding spirit qi space shattered and chaotic. Under such conditions even ambushing them would be impossible, as their aura would pulverize any attacker first."
Alliance Chief Meng watched and mused: "The younger generation is formidable."
Elder Zhu's eyes flashed: "Demonic beasts can surpass many human cultivators relying on innate advantages, yet some exceptional individuals through perseverance can still reign supreme. Humans must never be underestimated."