Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 978: Old Wang and the Neighboring Old Song

Previously, because Wang Chongyang deliberately concealed his identity, coupled with the fact that the five Quanzhen disciples thought their revered master had long since passed away, they didn’t think much of it. But now that Wang Chongyang was forced by Song Qingshu to reveal his true martial arts skills, if they still couldn’t recognize him, then they must truly be blind.

However, they didn’t loudly proclaim this either. First, they were worried about affecting their master’s duel, and second, since their master had faked his death back then, it indicated there must be a reason behind it. If news of his resurrection spread, it might interfere with their master’s major affairs.

Thinking of their master’s peerless divine skill, the five Quanzhen disciples all became spirited, knowing that with him present, any enemy who dared to attack, no matter how high their martial prowess, would only be destined to retreat in defeat.

The five Quanzhen disciples knew that their master’s opportunity to take action was rare, so they all focused intently on observing the battlefield, hoping to learn a move or two and benefit immensely.

Wang Chongyang’s footwork was extremely profound, vastly different from the usual Heavenly Big Dipper Formation. Initially, Qiuchu Ji and others thought this was a new formation their master had developed later. But upon reflection, they realized that the Heavenly Big Dipper Formation required seven people to operate. If their master still used ordinary footwork, how could he possibly deploy the Heavenly Big Dipper Formation with just one person?

Seeing Wang Chongyang’s figure weaving back and forth, as if transformed into seven people, Song Qingshu, who had been calm and composed, suddenly found himself in a state of disarray. The five Quanzhen disciples were deeply impressed: only someone as astonishingly talented as their master could wield the Heavenly Big Dipper Formation with such mastery alone.

It’s known that seven people working together, no matter how coordinated, can never match the unity of one person’s intent. This is also why the combined sword techniques of Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu are still not as fluid and seamless as Xiao Longnu’s solo dual-wielding.

Of course, with gains come losses. Xiao Longnu’s single-handed Jade Maiden Pure Heart Sword Technique is faster and more exquisite, but its power is not as great as when she wields dual swords with Yang Guo.

Wang Chongyang’s solo deployment of the Heavenly Big Dipper Formation is far more harmonious than seven people working together, but the attack power certainly can’t compare to seven Wang Chongyang united.

But the laws of heaven do not favor brute strength alone. The wild ox’s strength far surpasses that of a lion or tiger, yet it can only become a meal for them.

Martial arts follow the same principle. Xiao Longnu’s internal energy is far inferior to the Golden Wheel King, Xiao Xiangzi, Nimo Xing, and others, yet when she wields dual swords, she can defeat her opponents soundly.

Wang Chongyang’s solo use of the Heavenly Big Dipper Formation, although less powerful in attack than seven Wang Chongyang, might not necessarily be easier for enemies to deal with.

At this moment, Song Qingshu was suffering terribly. Just now, he had exchanged several swords with Wang Chongyang at the “Tianquan,” “Yuheng,” and other points, when suddenly Wang Chongyang appeared beside him at “Tianji” and “Kaiyang,” striking with palms. Song Qingshu blocked the attacks with the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms, feeling a numbness in his hands. Then, behind him, “Yaoguang” and “Tianxuan” had two more Wang Chongyang wielding swords, turning around swiftly. The five Quanzhen disciples’s sword techniques, when used by them, seemed ordinary and unimpressive, but in Wang Chongyang’s hands, they became subtle and intricate, with the dual swords striking in unison, formidable in power. After a few exchanges, Song Qingshu’s internal true Qi was somewhat sluggish, and he dared not harden his defenses.

He hurriedly flickered his body, relying on the Snake Form Swift Evasion skill from the Nine Yin Scripture to dart around chaotically in the formation, agile and swift, with sword shadows flying. Unfortunately, Wang Chongyang personally deployed the Heavenly Big Dipper Formation, making it impossible for him to escape. No matter how he flipped and dodged, he was firmly enclosed within the formation.

Everyone in the hall had never seen such a master fight so fiercely. Not only the disciples of the Quanzhen Sect were breathless, but even Ouyang Feng, with his martial prowess, looked pale.

In fact, Ouyang Feng was also quite puzzled. After reversing the practice of the Nine Yin, his martial arts had become incomparable to what they were back then. Plus, with his strange moves, even against Song Qingshu, he might have a chance of victory. But why did he feel a deep fear when facing Wang Chongyang?

After pondering, he could only blame the deep shadow left by the scene where he was defeated by the other party’s Toad Style Martial Art at Chongyang Palace. Only after carefully observing the sword duel between Song Qingshu and Wang Chongyang just now did Ouyang Feng slowly regain confidence. Although he was not Wang Chongyang’s match, it didn’t mean he had no chance to fight.

However, when he saw Wang Chongyang unleash the Heavenly Big Dipper Formation again, his newly regained confidence wavered. Some lower-level disciples in the hall, seeing the scene, probably guessed that Wang Chongyang was fast enough to leave seven residual images, but Ouyang Feng, with his martial skill, could naturally sense that these residual images were real, not illusions—meaning, there were indeed seven Wang Chongyang attacking Song Qingshu!

Wang Chongyang’s level was the top among the Five Greats of Central Plains, and even across the entire world, he was a figure of the top tier. Seven Wang Chongyangs working together—Ouyang Feng simply couldn’t imagine anyone else in the world who could rival him!

He thought to himself that if he were in Song Qingshu’s position, he would have been defeated long ago. Yet, the opponent had managed to hold on until now! And only in a state of embarrassment, without showing obvious signs of defeat, which made Ouyang Feng admire him even more.

Inside the formation, Song Qingshu was like a leaf in a raging sea, persistently holding on. He knew that if he continued with this tactic, he would surely be defeated. So he decisively let go of his long sword, using the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms to counter Wang Chongyang’s attack, then manipulated his Qi to control the sword, circling around himself three chi away to disrupt the enemy’s formation.

Ouyang Feng, watching from the side, brightened his eyes: “The Flying Sword Technique of Sword and Fist!” Back when Song Qingshu’s martial arts were not as strong as his, he had been thrown into chaos by this move.

A soft cry, Xiao Longnu woke from semi-consciousness. Daiqisi hurriedly apologized: “Sorry, I accidentally pinched you just now.” She had been watching the battlefield, seeing Song Qingshu gradually fall into disadvantage, and was so nervous her palms were sweaty. When she saw Song Qingshu suddenly use this move to turn the tide, she was so excited that her hand moved instinctively, forgetting that Xiao Longnu was still in her arms.

“It’s okay,” Xiao Longnu showed a faint smile, her gaze drifting to the battlefield, and she was stunned. “There are truly such miraculous martial arts in the world.”

Daiqisi thought she was praising Song Qingshu’s Flying Sword Technique, and her impression of her improved greatly. But she didn’t know that Xiao Longnu was actually praising both sides in the scene—and comparatively, Wang Chongyang’s use of the Heavenly Big Dipper Formation alone was even more astonishing to her.

“You’re quite clever with this move!” Wang Chongyang, after initially being flustered, quickly adapted. He seized an opportunity, thrusting his sword at a flying sword darting around.

Wang Chongyang’s martial prowess was extraordinary. Song Qingshu could no longer control the flying swords, and could only watch helplessly as they were knocked aside, effortlessly embedded into the marble floor as if cutting tofu.

That sword was merely an ordinary weapon of the Quanzhen Sect disciples, but infused with the inner power of two top masters, it was no less formidable than those divine weapons in the wulin that could split hair and break stone.

“You break one sword, so what?” Song Qingshu remained calm, casually waving his hand. The scattered long swords floated in midair, then from various angles, attacked Wang Chongyang’s seven figures.

Wang Chongyang’s gaze sharpened, not intending to block the flying swords, but instead, all seven figures simultaneously charged toward Song Qingshu himself. He knew these flying swords were all controlled by Song Qingshu. As long as he defeated the main body, these terrifying flying swords would automatically vanish.

Song Qingshu smiled bitterly. With Wang Chongyang’s martial prowess, it was actually quite difficult for him to be hurt by such aerial swordsmanship. That’s why he initially didn’t use it, choosing instead to duel with a single sword.

At this moment, his plan was to use the barrage of flying swords to influence Wang Chongyang’s footwork. After all, Wang Chongyang aimed to complete the Heavenly Big Dipper Formation alone, and every step was meticulously calculated. If he could successfully disrupt Wang Chongyang’s steps, the Heavenly Big Dipper Formation would naturally fall apart. But Wang Chongyang took advantage of his control of the flying swords, exposing a flaw, and suddenly activated the Heavenly Big Dipper Formation to attack him, creating a deadly trap.

“Ah!”

Daiqisi exclaimed in shock. She knew the current situation well. Although the flying swords were about to strike Wang Chongyang, before that, his seven figures had already sealed off all of Song Qingshu’s retreat routes, leaving him no escape. Once Song Qingshu was subdued, the flying swords would become like kites with broken strings—no longer threatening.

Xiao Longnu, despite her spirit being waning, watched nervously as well. She didn’t know why, but even though she had never seen that big bearded man before, she always felt a strange sense of familiarity from him. Moreover, he had just saved her.

Although Daiqisi didn’t speak, her trembling body revealed her true feelings—constantly watching the hall entrance, wondering when the three thousand elite soldiers below would come up. Once this matter was settled, she would definitely punish that general severely!

Ouyang Feng clenched his fists tightly, the Toad Style Martial Art poised to strike. He knew that if Song Qingshu lost, given his grudge with Wang Chongyang and the Quanzhen Sect, he would have no good end. He was about to disregard the martial world’s morality and join the fight to help Song Qingshu, but Wang Chongyang’s Heavenly Big Dipper Formation was just too tight. He simply couldn’t find an opening.

He could only wait for the moment when the two sides decided the outcome, then suddenly strike. Even if Wang Chongyang’s martial arts were superior, defeating Song Qingshu would surely leave him severely injured. He believed he had about a fifty percent chance with his strike.

The seven figures, some wielding the Quanzhen sword, some using the Three Flowers Gathering Top Palm, some employing the Heart Destruction Palm, the Great Demonic Suppression Fist, the Nine Yin White Bone Claw, leg techniques with the White Python Whip, and one using innate skill with a Yang Finger, all attacked Song Qingshu from seven different angles.

At this point, even if Song Qingshu had three heads and six arms, he couldn’t fully defend against them all. Any hit from any of these figures, combined with Wang Chongyang’s martial prowess, would leave him either dead or severely wounded.

Daiqisi’s expression changed. She pushed Xiao Longnu into Pucha Qiucao’s arms and herself grabbed a long sword rushing forward.