Chapter 50: A Finger Strike from the Air

In Zhou Qing's spiritual perception, whether it was Eastern Lord's Soul-Roaming Dragon or Gai Nie's Hundred-Step Flying Sword, both could be called the supreme secret arts of their respective schools. It was simply that neither of them unleashed lethal force, otherwise the people beneath the high platform would not have been able to endure it at all.

Praises flowed endlessly. Relying on such swordsmanship, within a hundred steps, Gai Nie of the Guigu school was unmatched across horizontal and vertical dimensions. Even existences at the Divine Transformation realm could not do anything to him in the short term.

At the Primordial Xiantian level, the aggressive force could reach its peak within a hundred steps. Though momentum remained, it was very weak. While ordinary people might feel it, to martial artists, it no longer posed a threat.

The Hundred-Step Flying Sword!

This was the supreme swordsmanship of the Guigu school. Observed at close range, it was a sword of a single instant. The force around Gai Nie converged, his essence, Qi, and spirit uniting into one, driven in a wondrous manner to transform into an unparalleled sword.

One could imagine that this method of condensing Qi to drive the blade was the profound mystery of the Hundred-Step Flying Sword. Though curious, Zhou Qing did not envy it; the teachings passed down by Taoism were by no means inferior to Guigu. Thus, what was there to envy?

As for Eastern Lord's Soul-Roaming Dragon, it was somewhat similar to Confucianism's vast and mighty Qi—vast yet flourishing, sharp yet peerless. Compared to the noble Qi, however, the Soul-Roaming Dragon possessed an extra touch of profound wonder.

Both individuals unleashed formidable offensives. With a single strike, they directly suppressed the fifty or sixty people from the various philosophical schools and factions beneath the high platform. Everyone slumped onto the ground, and some who were even weaker collapsed entirely, unable to get back up.

There were no agonizing screams of pain, no desolate sounds of deathly stillness. There was only the rhythm of a gentle breeze sweeping across heaven and earth. A few moments later, the dark golden mysterious light surrounding the Yin-Yang Family's Eastern Lord faded away. With a gentle closure of her delicate hands and an otherworldly posture, she took lotus steps backward, her pitch-black hair fluttering in the wind as she quietly overlooked the scene.

Guigu's Gai Nie sheathed his sword, the supreme aggressive swordsmanship vanishing. His dark green cloak fluttered, and he stood quietly in silence, as if he had merely done an insignificant chore. Meanwhile, Xin Sheng and Li Xin, who stood not far away, suddenly felt their bodies tighten.

"So this is the true strength of a Guigu disciple!"

The same thought arose in both of their minds simultaneously. If Master Gai Nie had used this sword against them that day, they probably would have long ceased to exist in this world. The fact that he had previously suppressed the two of them merely through military tactics and stratagems only made his formidable power all the more apparent.

"Haha, it seems the Yin-Yang Family's Eastern Lord and Master Gai Nie of Guigu have emerged victorious. Everyone, the outcome is decided. Are there any objections?"

The members of the various schools and factions beneath the entire high platform quickly gathered their wits and straightened their bodies. Gazes converged upon Eastern Lord and Gai Nie atop the platform, dense dread and fear welling up in the depths of their eyes.

The attack from those two moments ago had merely subjected their minds and souls to immense suppression without any accompanying lethal intent. Had it not been for this, they would have already perished. Hearing the words of Lord Changping, Xiong Qi, upon the high platform, murmurs persisted without cease.

Their gazes shifted back and forth across the high platform, scanning their targets. According to what Lord Changping Xiong Qi had previously stated, the left and right protectors of the palace had already been decided, and the chief palace swordsman had also been settled.

The one who had just attacked was merely the Eastern Lord protector of the Yin-Yang Family, while the other protector was Xuanqingzi of the Taoist Heavenly Sect. Rumored to be merely eight years old and possessing terrifyingly formidable strength—even driving the Yin-Yang Family to a disadvantageous position—it was clear to all that they no longer had any chance.

"I am Song Cong of the State of Yan. I have once discussed swordsmanship with Gao Jianli and Jing Ke, and I have often heard that Xuanqingzi of Taoism possesses peerless talent, rare in this world. I have specifically come to seek your guidance!"

Although most of those present wished to retreat, and though one of the palace's dual protectors had yet to fight, since even the Yin-Yang Family had settled for the position of Left Protector, one could imagine the strength of the other party.

Despite this, someone still seemed unwilling to resign themselves to defeat. Dressed in tight martial attire and holding a long sword, Xiantian Qi flickered around his body as intense glints surged from the depths of his eyes, staring directly at Zhou Qing on the high platform.

As his words fell, the entire high platform fell silent. Even beneath the platform, expressions of astonishment filled every face—someone actually dared to challenge Xuanqingzi of Taoism!

Could this person have never heard of Xuanqingzi's reputation, or did he hail from a remote corner of the State of Yan and utterly fail to understand the rules of Qin?

"Oh, you wish to challenge me? This is hardly good news for the two members of the Yin-Yang Family. The State of Qin upholds the law, thoroughly connecting the high and the low, and the palace protectors and palace swordsmen are no exception."

"To understand nothing of Qin yet dare to come to Xianyang to vie for the positions of palace protector and swordsman—that being the case, starting today, the State of Yan has one less swordsman!"

Zhou Qing shook his head with a sigh. According to the century-long heritage of Qin, anyone wishing to attain a lofty position must possess sufficient capability. Now, all the schools and factions that had arrived were eager to retreat, and only this person stepped forward.

Truly blind to current affairs and devoid of reason! Such a swordsman, if allowed to continue cultivating, would only become unable to distinguish black from white or truth from falsehood. What use was there in keeping him? His petite figure paced leisurely across the high platform, looking down at the man below.

With a flick of his finger, an invisible burst of Qi pierced through the air like a sword strike. Ignoring a distance of dozens of meters, it instantly pierced the glabella of the swordsman from Yan, snuffing out his life, burying his corpse. He deserved no pity.

"Lord Changping, I believe you may now announce the final result!"

The aura of the Yan swordsman from Yan had just reached its peak when he leisurely collapsed to the ground, his life force dissipating. Ignoring him further, Zhou Qing turned his body slightly to look at Lord Changping Xiong Qi, who was presiding over the event.

"Indeed, it is time to announce the final result!"

"Everyone, if anyone is still dissatisfied with the outcome, you may step forward again. If you are satisfied, Xiong Qi will now announce the candidates selected by Qin for the palace protectors and palace swordsmen this time!"

Lord Changping turned slightly and bowed with cupped hands toward Zhou Qing. Given the other party's strength in suppressing the two major protectors of the Yin-Yang Family single-handedly, this mere swordsman from Yan was ignorant of the times and deserved this fate—his death was well-deserved.

A gentle smile graced his refined face. Then, stepping forward, he returned a bow to the people beneath the high platform. Glancing left and right, achieving this outcome on this mission exceeded all expectations.

Since the hundred schools looked down upon Qin, then in the future, when Qin's grand momentum was forged and they wanted to crawl back to curry favor and reap benefits, it would be nothing more delusional than a pipe dream. His voice was sonorous and clear, transmitting distinctly to the ears of every member of the various schools and factions below.

As his voice trailed off, ten breaths passed without a single response. Seeing this, Lord Changping Xiong Qi neatly adjusted his garments, straightened his lofty crown, squared his waist and abdomen, and with a joyful expression, immediately turned his body toward the inner side of the high platform.

"On behalf of Our King, I, Lord Changping Xiong Qi, welcome Master Xuanqingzi of Taoism as the Right Protector of the Great Qin Palace, to safeguard Our King!"

"On behalf of Our King, I, Lord Changping Xiong Qi, welcome the Excellency Eastern Lord of the Yin-Yang Family as the Left Protector of the Great Qin Palace, to safeguard Our King!"

"On behalf of Our King, I, Lord Changping Xiong Qi, welcome Master Gai Nie of Guigu as the Chief Palace Swordsman of Great Qin, to guard Our King!"

Taking three steps forward, he bowed to Zhou Qing of the Taoist Heavenly Sect. Taking another three steps, he walked before the Yin-Yang Family's Eastern Lord and bowed. Taking three more steps, he proceeded before Guigu's Gai Nie and bowed. This was the courtesy Great Qin accorded to elite talents.