Chapter 154

At that moment, a young man dressed in splendid brocade robes stepped forward from the crowd, a smile on his face, and said, “Your Majesty the Empress has arrived. Hongyu apologizes for not welcoming you sooner—please forgive my negligence!”

“Is Wang Tianlong ready?” Rao Zhirou asked.

“My father awaits everyone in the main hall. Please, this way—” Wang Hongyu bowed politely, gesturing to lead the way.

Feng Liyao didn’t even glance at him, striding directly inside. Rao Zhirou and Bai Liangang flanked her, clearing the path, while the rest followed behind.

Feng Jianqing looked at Wang Hongyu and laughed, “Kid, you’ve got some manners, huh.”

Wang Hongyu chuckled heartily, “Princess, you jest.”

Qi Fei stepped forward, patting Wang Hongyu on the shoulder, and said, “Brother Wang, we’ve shared some camaraderie. I truly don’t wish to be your enemy. Good luck to you.”

Wang Hongyu leaned in close, whispering coldly into his ear, “Brother Qi, I wish you luck as well!”

The two pulled apart simultaneously, locking eyes, each seeing the chill in the other’s gaze.

Qi Fei grinned slyly, then followed the group into the imperial palace.

Inside the grand hall, Wang Tianlong sat high upon the dragon throne. Bai Cuilan, Wang Hongfei, the Snow Mountain Divine Nun, and other experts from the Shaoyue Sect and the Great Zen Temple stood in two rows on either side, their faces solemn as they watched Feng Liyao and her entourage enter.

Feng Liyao’s phoenix-like eyes swept the room, landing on Wang Tianlong atop the dragon throne. At the same moment, his dragon-like gaze shot back at her, and both saw the unwavering resolve and determination in each other’s eyes.

Everyone knew that today, the feud between the Qian Dynasty and the Kun Kingdom—this struggle spanning three centuries—would finally be settled, with a victor emerging!

“Grant them seats,” Wang Tianlong said in a deep voice.

The words were clearly meant to elevate himself and assert dominance, but Feng Liyao wasn’t about to give him face. She sneered coldly, “Enough with the pointless chatter. Wang Tianlong, it’s time to settle the grudge between our two nations. Lay out your terms.”

Wang Tianlong replied, “Since ancient times, the victor becomes king, the loser a bandit. Everything is decided by strength. After all, we’re all people of the martial world! So, let’s handle this by the rules of the jianghu.”

Feng Liyao said, “Agreed. By jianghu rules, we’ll decide the outcome through martial contests. How about each side fields three fighters, best of three rounds?”

“Make it best of five,” Wang Tianlong countered.

Feng Liyao said, “Fine. If our side loses, I’ll immediately lead my people back to the Kun Kingdom and never set foot in the Qian Dynasty again. If your side loses, you’ll take your people and get out of the Qian Dynasty, and from then on, the Qian Dynasty will be absorbed into the Kun Kingdom’s territory!”

Wang Tianlong said, “That seems unfair. If you lose, then the Kun Kingdom becomes part of my Great Qian’s territory!” Feng Liyao sneered, “Wang Tianlong, get this straight—right now, I hold the initiative.”

Wang Tianlong thought for a moment, then said, “Fine, it’s settled then.”

With the rules set, tensions flared between the two sides, and the atmosphere grew charged.

“It’s too cramped in here. Let’s fight outside!” Feng Liyao declared, leading the Kun Kingdom’s top experts out of the hall and into the imperial city square.

Soon, Wang Tianlong also led the Qian Dynasty’s experts outside. In an instant, both sides staked out their positions, forming up and facing off from a distance.

Between them lay an open square, its ground paved with blue bricks and stone—perfectly suited as a battleground.

Once the experts from both sides were in place, they all rolled up their sleeves, eager to jump into action.

Qi Fei was about to step forward and issue a challenge when a tall figure suddenly leaped into the arena, taking the field ahead of him.

It was a woman with an ugly face, a thick waist, and a stout, towering build. She wore silver-scaled armor and carried a massive spiked club over her shoulder. Her legs were like elephant trunks, and when she landed, a dull “thud” echoed, shaking the entire ground and drawing gasps from the crowd.

The one who stepped forward was none other than the Grand Commander of the Kun Kingdom’s palace, Bai Liangang—one of the top ten martial experts in the world.

“Who dares to fight me?!” Bai Liangang’s voice boomed in all directions, making the air hum. Her tiny, rat-like eyes darted swiftly over the Qian Dynasty’s experts.

“Hmph, let me take you on!”

A red figure shot into the arena, trailing afterimages behind her—a testament to her incredible speed.

Qi Fei focused his gaze and saw that the opponent stepping up was the Red Lotus Granny.

His heart tightened, and he silently praised her cleverness.

Bai Liangang was born with divine strength, possessing boundless power. In a contest of internal energy or brute force, no one below the Heavenly Realm could best her. But the Red Lotus Granny was different—she was the leader of the Phantom Shadow Sect, which specialized in lightness skills and movement techniques. Her agility was unmatched in the world. Using dexterity to counter raw strength was undeniably a brilliant move.

Seeing the Red Lotus Granny enter the field, Zuo Meihong immediately lowered her head, glancing between the granny and Feng Liyao, momentarily torn.

The Red Lotus Granny sensed her gaze, glared at her, and snapped, “You rebellious disciple! I’ll deal with you after this is over!” Bai Liangang bellowed, “Don’t flaunt your seniority in front of me—I’m not buying it!”

“Fine, the young are fearless!” The Red Lotus Granny fixed her gaze on Bai Liangang, her willow-like brows furrowing, her sharp eyes flashing. “Then let this old woman see just how much the Kun Kingdom’s Grand Commander is worth!”

As she spoke, streams of red silk shot out from her body, spreading like a peacock’s tail and quickly enveloping Bai Liangang, sealing her in from above and all around.

“Hmph!” Bai Liangang despised this kind of soft-overcoming-hard fighting style. She roared angrily, swinging her spiked club like a rolling wheel around her body. The sharp spikes instantly tore through the Red Lotus Granny’s silk ribbons.

The Red Lotus Granny knew her opponent’s true energy was thick and her strength immense—direct confrontation was impossible. She flicked her ribbons, coiling them into countless red whips that filled the sky with a blur of strikes, all aimed at Bai Liangang’s vital points.

Bai Liangang felt dazzled by the onslaught. With a light shout, she surged her protective energy, shaking off the ribbon whips, then leaped high into the air, bringing her club down toward the Red Lotus Granny.

The Red Lotus Granny had no intention of clashing head-on. She shifted sideways, dodging the heavy blow. A thunderous “boom” echoed as Bai Liangang’s spiked club smashed a large crater into the ground, shattering blue bricks that flew in all directions.

“Now’s my chance!” The Red Lotus Granny seized the moment as Bai Liangang paused to catch her breath. Her figure shot forward like a red cloud, ribbons flying toward Bai Liangang.

As Bai Liangang turned, she found herself tightly wrapped up. Then, waves of red true energy surged along the ribbons, and the surrounding temperature immediately spiked!

“Look, it’s the Phantom Shadow Sect’s *Flame Art*!” someone in the crowd exclaimed.

Bai Liangang felt an intense heat around her, a burning sensation on her skin. She realized the ribbons binding her were blazing fiercely—not ordinary fire, but flames born of true energy, far more potent than common wood fires. An average expert caught in this would be burned to a crisp, unable to continue fighting.

Bai Liangang kept channeling her power to neutralize the scorching heat. The Red Lotus Granny smirked coldly, pushing the *Flame Art* to its limit, increasing the pressure on Bai Liangang.

Just then, a faint, thread-like voice whispered into the Red Lotus Granny’s ear: “Red Lotus Granny, your breasts are so round…”

The Red Lotus Granny’s expression changed, her true energy faltering abruptly. Then another whisper followed: “Granny, your butt is so big—I really want to touch it…”

“Who’s there?!” The Red Lotus Granny was furious. “Which little bastard dares to tease me?”

At that moment, her *Flame Art* rapidly weakened. Bai Liangang seized the opportunity, roaring as she stomped the ground, thrust her arms outward, and forcibly shattered the flaming ribbons. At the same time, she hurled her spiked club like lightning, hurtling it toward the Red Lotus Granny.

The Red Lotus Granny was shocked—she hadn’t expected such strong defensive capability. Even in that situation, her opponent could still fight back. Any other expert, even with innate protective energy, would’ve been half-dead by now.

Seeing the club flying at her, she immediately retreated while summoning her internal energy to block.

She crossed her hands and pushed forward. With a muffled thud, she struck the end of the club.

In an instant, a tremendous force surged through her. The Red Lotus Granny grunted, her entire body sent flying backward. Still in midair, she spat out a mouthful of blood with a “wah,” then crashed to the ground, already gravely injured.

“Hmph, how’s that?” Bai Liangang leaped over, grabbing her spiked club and standing firmly before the Red Lotus Granny. Though her clothes and hair were singed, leaving her somewhat disheveled, she still radiated authority.

“I was careless…” The Red Lotus Granny coughed resentfully.

It wasn’t just her saving face—she truly had been careless. She hadn’t anticipated that the club Bai Liangang hurled under those circumstances would still carry such immense force. Had she known, she would’ve blocked that strike with full strength, avoiding injury and at least lasting dozens more moves before a winner emerged.

“Master!”

Seeing the Red Lotus Granny injured, Zuo Meihong immediately flew out, landing beside her and gently helping her up.

“Get lost! I don’t have a disciple like you!” The Red Lotus Granny, seething with anger, shoved Zuo Meihong away and retreated to the Qian Dynasty’s formation.

Zuo Meihong returned dejectedly.

Without a doubt, the first round went to the Kun Kingdom.

The Red Lotus Granny’s gaze swept over the Kun Kingdom’s group, counting them one by one. Only Qi Fei was a man. She glared at him furiously, only to see him grinning broadly with an innocent, harmless expression. She itched to slap him hard across the face.

At that moment, Wang Tianlong’s expression soured. He glanced at the experts on his side, counting only a handful capable of fighting.

He fixed his eyes on the Snow Mountain Divine Nun and said, “Divine Nun, the second match rests on you!”

“Your Majesty, rest assured.” The Snow Mountain Divine Nun pressed her palms together, holding her prayer beads, and stepped lightly into the arena.

“Qing’er.” On the Kun Kingdom’s side, Feng Liyao signaled. Feng Jianqing immediately understood. With a flicker of movement, she entered the field, standing three zhang apart from the Snow Mountain Divine Nun, facing off.

“Please, senior, grant me your guidance.” Feng Jianqing bowed politely in salute.

The Snow Mountain Divine Nun looked at her with a cold, aloof expression, sizing her up from head to toe before nodding in admiration. “Excellent, truly excellent bone structure and stunning beauty—worthy of being the Princess of Kun Kingdom, not inferior to my disciple Wanru. But why must you invade another nation and commit such grave sins?”

Feng Jianqing had no desire to debate the issue of factional stances with her and simply smiled. “Senior, if you can defeat me, I will submit to your judgment. But if I am fortunate enough to win by a single move, I hope you will sever all ties with the Gan Dynasty and no longer be commanded by them.”

“I am not commanded by anyone, nor would I ever be. I only act for Wanru’s sake, with no other choice…” The Snow Mountain Divine Nun sighed. “But seeing your confidence, you must possess remarkable skill. Very well, I shall fight you. If I cannot defeat you, I will leave immediately!”

“Please, Senior, make your move!” Feng Jianqing stood gracefully, empty-handed.

The Snow Mountain Divine Nun nodded without hesitation, channeling her inner energy. She thrust both palms forward, and a pair of palm shadows materialized out of thin air, instantly transforming into two massive palms like giant doors. They moved with deceptive slowness yet incredible speed, hurtling toward Feng Jianqing’s chest.

The opponent’s palm force was immensely powerful, the fierce palm wind turning into a wave of energy. Feng Jianqing immediately countered, drawing a circle with each hand. A crimson sun descended from her left hand, while a blue moon soared from her right. The sun and moon appeared simultaneously before her, and with a surge of her strength, they shot forward, colliding head-on with the Divine Nun’s giant palms!

A thunderous “boom” echoed as the two mighty forces clashed. The palm shadows shattered, the sun and moon exploded, and the energy rippled outward.

Then came the cry of birds—a three-legged golden crow and a snow-white phoenix phantom emerged from the wreckage, speeding toward the Snow Mountain Divine Nun!

“The Crimson Sun Illuminates the World, the Bright Moon Soaring Phoenix… I never imagined these two extraordinary arts would appear in the same person!” The Snow Mountain Divine Nun, visibly shaken, thrust her palms again, shattering the golden crow and phoenix.

At that moment, Feng Jianqing’s next attack arrived. Closing the distance of several yards in an instant, she leaped and delivered a side kick toward the Divine Nun. A bright moon flared on her foot, its force incredibly sharp.

The Snow Mountain Divine Nun was no ordinary opponent. Unfazed, she struck out with one hand, summoning several palm shadows that merged into a single giant palm. Its surface radiated a chilling white aura, colliding with Feng Jianqing’s right foot. The moon and palm shadow shattered together, and a layer of frost spread, encasing the phoenix within and halting its momentum.

With a single finger strike, the Divine Nun shattered the phoenix.

The two clashed fiercely, foot shadows and palm shadows intertwining as the sound of exploding energy rang out incessantly. In mere moments, dozens of moves had passed, the battle locked in a stalemate.

“The Divine Nun fights well!” Wang Hongyu cheered from the sidelines.

But any discerning observer could see that the Snow Mountain Divine Nun was clearly at a disadvantage. Feng Jianqing was consistently on the offensive, while the Divine Nun struggled to defend, visibly strained.

Qi Fei, well-versed in his *Sun and Moon Divine Art*, knew that the Divine Nun’s “Thousand Palm Technique” combined with “Frost True Qi” was impressive but could never rival the *Sun and Moon Divine Art*.

He understood that Feng Jianqing could defeat the Snow Mountain Divine Nun in at most thirty moves. She was clearly holding back, giving her opponent face by not unleashing her full strength, allowing a more dignified loss.

In the blink of an eye, dozens more moves passed, and the two had exchanged over a hundred strikes. Figures flickered across the field as the Snow Mountain Divine Nun, enveloped in a chilling aura, unleashed waves of frost with every palm strike. The ground she tread was coated in frost, and the onlookers felt the biting cold from afar.

Feng Jianqing, meanwhile, had a crimson sun suspended behind her head, its dazzling red light shielding her entire body. Unaffected by the Divine Nun’s “Frost Palm,” she instead seemed to counter it, the red light melting the frost wherever it touched.

Using both hands and feet, she maneuvered the sun and moon with fluid grace, rotating them nimbly around her as she launched attacks at the Divine Nun.

“Go!”

After a few more moves, Feng Jianqing seized the moment. From her hands and feet, suns and moons shot forth, hurtling toward the Snow Mountain Divine Nun in a relentless barrage.

“A Thousand Palms Unleashed!” The Snow Mountain Divine Nun shouted, her hands transforming into countless palm shadows that filled the sky like mountains, carrying a bone-chilling aura. They struck the incoming suns and moons repeatedly, and with a series of explosive booms, the palm shadows, suns, moons, golden crow, and phoenix all dissipated in an instant.

Feng Jianqing stood her ground, slightly breathless, her exquisite oval face flushed, her beautiful eyes fixed on the Snow Mountain Divine Nun opposite her.

The Divine Nun, visibly exhausted, staggered back over ten steps, nearly stumbling before steadying herself.

Knowing that continuing would only bring further humiliation, she gazed at Feng Jianqing with boundless emotion and nodded. “Well done. The younger generation is truly formidable. Feng Liyao has raised an outstanding successor! This match is my loss. Farewell—”

Without a trace of hesitation, she honored her promise, turned, and walked away.

“Master…” Wang Wanru called out, trying to stop her.

“Wanru, I will seek you out in a few days.” The Snow Mountain Divine Nun did not look back.

“Divine Nun, don’t go! Divine Nun…” Wang Hongyu called after her several times, but she paid no heed and soon vanished beyond the palace gates.

Wang Tianlong’s expression grew even darker.

Of the three senior experts invited by the Great Gan court, Red Lotus Granny and the Snow Mountain Divine Nun had both been defeated, leaving only Master Suyin.

He turned to Master Suyin. “Master, for this third match, I hope you will not disappoint me.”

Master Suyin, holding her fly whisk, pressed her palms together toward Wang Tianlong and nodded. “This humble nun will give her all.” She walked slowly to the center of the field, faced the Kun Kingdom’s side, and asked, “Who is willing to fight me?”

Qi Fei was about to step forward when Feng Liyao grabbed him. Fang Huaxian leaped into the arena before Master Suyin and declared, “Let me test the master’s skills!”

“Then I shall humbly oblige.” Master Suyin spoke unhurriedly, holding her fly whisk in one hand and raising the other palm vertically before her chest, delivering a seemingly ordinary strike.

Fang Huaxian smiled lightly and countered with a palm of her own.

With a “slap,” their palms met and then parted, each retreating several steps.

At that moment, Master Suyin suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!” and looked at her palm. “This is bad—I’ve been poisoned! Fang Huaxian, you actually used poison…”

Everyone looked and saw that Master Suyin’s palm had turned pitch black, a clear sign of poisoning.

The Gan Dynasty’s side exchanged bewildered glances. After just one move, she was poisoned and unable to fight? What kind of outcome was this? Wang Hongyu said discontentedly, “Master, you were too careless. You knew what the Five Immortals Sect is capable of—how could you clash directly with them? You…”

Master Suyin sighed. “This humble nun did not expect the enemy to be so cunning, resorting to such despicable tactics… I am no longer able to fight. This match is my loss!” She shook her head with a look of remorse.

Wang Hongyu urgently interjected, “Master, you haven’t even fought properly—how can you admit defeat? This duel concerns the very foundation of our Great Gan’s realm. You absolutely cannot concede so casually!”

“But I have already lost.” Master Suyin spread her hands slightly.

At that moment, Feng Liyao’s voice rang out: “Enough. Best of five, three wins—our Kun Kingdom has won. Wang Tianlong, take your people and get out!”

Wang Tianlong, expressionless, said coldly, “That last match doesn’t count!”

Feng Liyao retorted, “What do you mean?”

Wang Tianlong replied, “Master Suyin cheated!”

Yan Ruoyou and Qi Tingqin exchanged a glance, silently lamenting the missed opportunity.

Master Suyin had always been inclined toward the Kun Kingdom, and they had indeed hoped she would lose this match outright. But now it seemed Wang Tianlong was no fool—he wasn’t easily deceived and clearly refused to acknowledge the outcome of that duel.

Master Suyin raised an eyebrow. “Your Majesty, the Gan Emperor, if you say I cheated, then so be it. Miaoyu, come with me—we shall join the Kun Kingdom. From this day forward, we have no ties to the Gan Dynasty!”

“Yes, Master!” Miaoyu swiftly flew over, standing alongside Master Suyin beside Fang Huaxian and the others, openly defecting on the spot.