Chapter 1031: Chapter 586: Establishing the Rules (Double-Length) (Part 2)

This strike was like a thunderbolt, forcing Qian Anning to withdraw his sword to block. In that split second, Chen Yi had already closed in, drawing his saber for a slash.

"Bring it on!"

Qian Anning let out a long howl, the bamboo sword spinning in his palm like a wheel. Green and yellow sword shadows wove a skyward net, each Sword Qi cracking like bamboo joints.

Chen Yi’s saber light clashed with the sword net, ringing with a metallic clang. As their figures intertwined, dozens of sword marks appeared on the green tiles below.

Suddenly, Qian Anning’s sword momentum changed, like a spring river tide sweeping in. This move, "Xiao Xiang Night Rain," was best at overcoming strength with gentleness, the sword light enveloping like a rain curtain, enough to slice three inches even from iron-hard skin.

Chen Yi’s robe instantly split open with several slashes, his figure flickering rapidly, nimbly dodging the rain-like sword light,

"Now it’s my turn!"

Chen Yi suddenly reached out to catch the returning longsword, the blade grazing the ground, sparking fire. With a twist of the sword flower, a storm of sword shadows flew like a gale, snapping Qian Anning’s hairpin with a resounding crack.

There was no escaping the storm of sword shadows, one could only respond with a sword.

Amidst the scattered hair, a sharp brilliance burst in Qian Anning’s eyes. Seizing the flaw, the bamboo sword abruptly shifted from vertical to horizontal, striking the longsword’s side with the sword’s spine.

"Buzz—"

Amidst the strange vibrating sound, Chen Yi’s sword veered uncontrollably to the right. After diverting this sword, the bamboo sword’s green glow charged straight for the throat.

Chen Yi roared, Sword Qi flaring from his grip, vibrating outwards. As Qian Anning tilted sideways to evade, the longsword descended like Taishan crashing down. At the instant the bamboo sword struck the heavy sword, the green tiles beneath Qian Anning’s feet shattered with a roar.

The two were deadlocked for a mere moment. Qian Anning suddenly withdrew force, leaning back, the bamboo sword drawing a semicircle on the ground. Chen Yi staggered forward, unable to halt, as Qian Anning turned and returned, seizing victory from danger, the sword point whistling through the air.

Life and death hung by a thread,

In the moment of sidestepping, Sword Qi brushed past Qian Anning’s hair, the longsword plunged three inches into flesh but went no further, while his bamboo sword had already reached Chen Yi’s throat.

"Ssss—"

Blood splattered, Chen Yi fell backward against the wall, barely managing to support himself. Qian Anning staggered to his knees,

"I concede."

Qian Anning slowly stood up, gracefully cupped his fists in salute, tilting his face to see Chen Yi cold as iron, finally showing a trace of astonishment and shock in his eyes.

The exhausting duel had finally come to a close.

It’s unknown how the heroes and brave men perceived it, how shocked they were... He imagined the scene filled with gasps of astonishment.

Qian Anning still cupped his fists, but after waiting for a long time, he didn’t hear the expected gasps within the hall. Confused, he glanced around and immediately realized, to his shock, the scene before him began to dissolve like paint. He froze in place, slowly moving his head back, his pupils shrinking!

"Go ahead, come."

The defeated Chen Yi was still sitting leisurely on his chair, cradling a teacup, gently blowing the air.

Wasn’t I the one who won just now... Qian Anning suddenly felt a chill down his spine, instinctively reaching for the bamboo sword at his waist, only to draw back his hand as if shocked by electricity.

There was a trace of Sword Intent there...

"Why not make a move?" Chen Yi asked with a smile.

Qian Anning stood stiffly, the clash of blades and swords, the explosions of sparks from a moment ago all seemed like an illusion that shattered upon touch.

The opponent he’d just dueled with was solely a strand of Sword Intent from the beginning...

He couldn’t speak, looking at Chen Yi still sitting placidly, he retreated two trembling steps and collapsed.

"This, is this a loss for Master Qian?!"

At this moment,

finally, the amazed gasps Qian Anning had long awaited echoed within the hall.

......

The hall was filled with bewilderment, no one knew what had happened, no one could understand how Qian Anning had fallen like that.

A fight that wasn’t even seen clearly had ended in the blink of an eye.

Chen Yi put down the teacup, slowly stood up, and at that moment, the entire hall fell silent, as quiet as a pin drop.

"I don’t care who among you sets the rules of the Jianghu, but whoever wants to use me to establish their power...

Chen Yi glanced at the crowd and calmly said:

"Then I am the rules."

After a long wait, when Chen Yi sat back down, the hall remained silent, with no one responding,

as if they quietly accepted it.

....

Others may not understand, but the Old Heavenly Master, with his vast experience, saw the intricacies within.

Chen Yi’s Sword Intent was very... strange. The Old Heavenly Master, having lived so long, couldn’t find any other word to describe it.

It seemed like the Living Sword, yet also had the taste of the Murder Sword. Life and death were all within a moment’s thought. In just an instant in the recent exchange, he enveloped Qian Anning in a world of Sword Intent...

In the instant he perceived the nuance, the Old Heavenly Master knew who the victor would be.

This Mansion Master of the Yellow Bamboo Sword Mansion was certainly a young hero, exuberant, wishing to showcase his talents in this Hero Conference. It’s good to be eager to advance, but this also made him overly focused on his own interests.

It was precisely this lapse in vigilance that made him utterly exposed in the Sword Intent World, resulting in a humiliating defeat.

Qian Anning, unaware of the depth of the situation, wanted to use Chen Yi to establish his dominance, but instead was used by Chen Yi to establish his dominance.

Qian Anning, who fell to the ground in dismay, made no move to rise. His eyes were vacant, his mouth mumbling something unintelligible. Immediately, someone strode forward to carry him back to his original seat.

Glancing at the person accompanying Qian Anning, the Old Heavenly Master gained a deeper impression. Five or six years ago, this man with the saber attended Dragon and Tiger Mountain with his master. At the time, he was like a wild weed in the mud, born into a butcher’s family, fatherless at seven, secretly learning the bone-cutting saber at the docks. At twelve, he stabbed through the throat of the Cao Bang leader with a chopper, at fifteen gained half a scroll of Saber Manual, became self-taught, and integrated the butcher’s techniques. At nineteen, he was taken as a disciple by a saber technique Grandmaster. Six months later, his master’s sect was destroyed, and while escaping with his master’s body, a saber scar was branded on his left face as he bore three years of shame to avenge his master, but couldn’t withstand two bouts against his master’s killer — who, noting him as a man of gratitude, spared his life.

In a twist of fate, he did not fade into the crowd afterward. Instead, he knelt on the spot to become a disciple. After being refused, he stayed at Grinding Blade Cliff, practicing his saber against the waterfall, where the chopper split, Sword Qi shattered the waterfall, and ultimately he was taken in as a direct disciple by his master’s killer.

His name is Zhao Hong, and his teacher is none other than Yang Yuankui, ranked eighth in the world.

Years have passed, Zhao Hong shed the youthful vigor fearless of tigers when he climbed Dragon and Tiger Mountain, becoming calm and reserved, yet still retaining that rebellious wild aura.

The hall continued in silence until there was a muted commotion, during which no one dared to question Chen Yi’s ascent of the mountain. The Old Heavenly Master also cleared his throat and stepped forward to smooth things over, concluding this segment.

From the center of the prior turmoil, Chen Yi serenely departed, continuing with an emphasis on participating rather than leading.

He found little interest in many discussions within the hall. The so-called rule-setting—Jianghu already had established traditions, how much could be defined here? In the end, aside from some additions, it came down to negotiations between various sects, their petty wrangling never held much interest, moreover, Chen Yi had always been indifferent to sect affiliations, unaffected by their rules and uninvolved in their affairs.

What he cared more about was how Dragon and Tiger Mountain intended to deal with the Immortals who had gone mad.

Once the rules were set, a fresh cup of tea was served at each seat, and the Old Heavenly Master rose and spoke again,

"Today’s gathering has slighted many of you,

but Dragon and Tiger Mountain urgently requires something, which cannot be accomplished without the world’s heroes."

........

The sound of voices boiled within Qilin Hall, and even as the heroes and knights left their seats, discussions continued ceaselessly, the Old Heavenly Master’s request was nothing short of shocking.

Chen Yi, who had long anticipated, remained calm, regardless of how earnest the Old Heavenly Master was at the time, he made no expression of approval, and the most important matter discussed in the hall matched exactly what he had thought beforehand.

The Hero Conference at Dragon and Tiger Mountain, while dealing with the White Lotus Sect was important, was merely a smokescreen, the greater concern was the Immortals gone mad.

Zhou Yitang had previously mentioned that the karma of killing an Immortal—whether by heaven or earth—brought different consequences. When humans kill Immortals, no matter how great the karma, it doesn’t exceed that "one," yet even the smallest consequence for a mortal remains as overwhelming as Taishan pressing down.

Thus, Dragon and Tiger Mountain invited Heavenly Official to weigh good and evil to select heroes with great virtues, allowing their virtues to counteract the karmic consequences as much as possible, to minimize the harm.

The whole plan was flawless; even if Chen Yi were in charge, it would be no different.

However, what confounded Chen Yi was that this benefit for both Heavenly Court and Dragon and Tiger, was scorned by the Fox Fairy, an old member of Dragon and Tiger Mountain.

Chen Yi couldn’t figure out the reason, so he decided not to get involved.

Since it’s a brief intermission for heroes to carefully consider, Chen Yi didn’t linger in the hall and rose to leave his seat.

When he had just passed the screen in the corridor, a silhouette naturally walked over from the opposite side, prompting Chen Yi to halt.

The Old Heavenly Master offered a courteous bow and said, "Battalion Commander Chen, I have some words I think we should discuss privately."

Chen Yi slightly curled his lips and lowered his eyes.

Here it comes.

The merits that force Heavenly Officials to their knees are merely intriguing tales of wonder. Yet placed in the sky, they are meat to the hungry wolves.