The commotion caused by Xue Meng and his group quickly drew the attention of passersby in Fu’an Town. Sensing a spectacle, people slowed their pace or stopped altogether to inquire about the situation. Before long, the shop entrances surrounding the apothecary were crowded with onlookers.

"I told you, the Black Dragon Gate wouldn't let this slide. Are you kidding? Two of their experts crippled, one after another? There’s no way they’d just retreat. We’re definitely in for a good show!"

Inside a nearby dry goods store, the owner—a chubby, fair-skinned middle-aged man—cracked melon seeds as he whispered conspiratorially to the others.

"Are those experts from the Black Dragon Gate?" a curious passerby asked.

"They ought to be, but they don't seem to fit the Black Dragon Gate's Hard-Body Discipline style, do they?" The fat owner looked puzzled.

"That is Xue Meng, Sect Master of the Intent Blade Sect," a passerby carrying a strange weapon, evidently a martial artist himself, explained. "He’s an Internal Force expert from Xingdao. He earned the nickname 'Cloud-Linking Saber' in the Mengshan area and possesses extreme strength."

"Internal Force expert? Intent Blade Sect? Why would the Intent Blade Sect care about the Black Dragon Gate's business?" the fat owner asked.

This question was on everyone's mind. Hearing it voiced, the crowd pricked up their ears, awaiting the martial artist's reply.

"Hah, Intent Blade Sect, Black Dragon Gate... that's all in the past. They’ve all been merged into Clear Wind Temple now," the martial artist exclaimed with admiration. "To be precise, it is a union of three branches. The current Temple Master of Clear Wind Temple is a genius swordsman, barely twenty years old. It is said he single-handedly saved the temple from the brink of bankruptcy, led the absorption of the Black Dragon Gate, and invited the Intent Blade Sect to join, creating the current alliance. I even heard recently that they reached a joint agreement with the Hundred Flowers Sect."

"Then is this Temple Master truly the strongest among the three branches?" The fat owner voiced everyone's inner thoughts.

"Naturally. That Temple Master has fought several great battles in succession. In one instance at the Hundred Flowers Sect headquarters, he entered the fray alone, suppressed the sect with his sword, and forcibly snatched a piece of fat meat from an already settled agreement, breathing new life into Clear Wind Temple." The martial artist was clearly well-informed and spoke with emotion.

"Does he have a title? This Temple Master is a native of our local towns, right? To be able to subdue strongmen from Xingdao... does he have any distinguishing characteristics?" A young man dressed as a wealthy scion asked with interest.

"I haven't heard of a title," the martial artist admitted. "However, rumors say his sword is extremely fast—fast as the wind, stirring up sand and rocks with a howling gale."

"Since he is a genius expert born in our Tuyue, why don't we give him a resounding title before others stick him with a bad one?" the wealthy scion proposed.

"How would we have the qualification? Such titles must be bestowed and spread by people of high prestige," the martial artist laughed involuntarily.

"But we can't always just call him Temple Master, right?" the wealthy scion insisted. "In my opinion, how about 'Formless Sword'? I've read in novels that experts with extremely fast sword speed can reach a realm where one sees the weapon but not the person. If they are even higher, then both the weapon and the person are formless. Thus, 'Formless Sword' would be the ultimate description."

"You certainly know how to pick names. I think it works!" The fat owner slapped the table in praise.

"I agree. The title is domineering enough."

"I also think it sounds good."

"Not bad, not bad! Come, have some melon seeds, my treat!"

As the crowd chimed in with praise, a squad slowly walked out from a distant street corner. Dressed in yellow clothes with black ropes tied around their heads, each member was tall and burly, heading straight for the Black Dragon Apothecary.

The leader was a tall woman wearing a straw rain cape and a conical bamboo hat. She had two scars forming a cross on her face, dark skin, a thick waist, and round shoulders. From a distance, she looked more like a man than a woman.

She wasn't alone; the dozen or so people behind her also bore cross-shaped scars on their bodies—some on the backs of their hands, others on their necks. It seemed to be the symbol of their faction.

Shua.

The squad stopped more than ten meters away from the Black Dragon Apothecary.

The tall woman raised her hand, signaling for silence. She took two steps forward, threw off her straw cape, and drew a strange silver-black blade with serrated edges from her waist.

"Clear Wind Temple's Xue Meng?" Her voice was hoarse, as if her throat had been damaged by a sharp weapon.

"Who goes there? State your name." Xue Meng opened his slightly narrowed eyes and stared at the opponent.

"Flying Stone Sect, Yao Huan." The woman threw away her scabbard and strode forward quickly. "Blade against blade. Let's see who is stronger!"

Shua!

Without another word, she slashed out.

The silver blade instantly unleashed a light resembling a full moon. Strangely, the speed of the blade light wasn't fast, yet it gave a distorted sensation, making it impossible to look away.

By the time Xue Meng reacted, the blade light was already approaching his forehead. In that instant, he slapped his blade hilt, blocking the light with lightning speed.

Clang!

Under the crisp sound of impact, the chair beneath Xue Meng abruptly exploded, shattering into pieces.

"The blade technique is decent, but drawing a blade in front of me? Far from enough!"

Xue Meng said coldly. His blade suddenly jarred the opponent away, then chopped forward with a waterfall-like cascade of radiance. The radiance came wave after wave, continuous and unending, as if cycling infinitely.

Clang clang clang clang!

Continuous blade clashes exploded madly. Huge chopping force, infused with Internal Force, forced the woman to retreat again and again.

In less than two seconds, the woman was forced to stagger backward by the terrifying, dense cascade of blades. In a moment of carelessness, she twisted her foot and lost her balance. In the next instant, a blade waterfall far more terrifying than before suddenly bloomed, washing toward her face.

Clang!

With a loud bang, the webbing between the woman's thumb and forefinger split open, blood flowing freely. She was sent flying by the immense force and crashed to the ground.

"With just this little ability, you dare provoke my Clear Wind Temple?" Xue Meng said coldly, holding his blade upright as he prepared to completely cripple the opponent.

"Brother Xue, long time no see. Your temper is still so hot. My disciple has only just broken through to Internal Force; she acted in haste, and her blade technique is still raw. Please, excuse the poor display."

Suddenly, a tall, thin figure appeared beside the woman like a ghost, helped her up with one hand, and looked at Xue Meng. This person had a pale face and wore a gray robe and a square hat inlaid with a purple ruyi.

This strange attire caused Xue Meng's expression to shift slightly. His forward movement halted abruptly as he looked at the other party with bewilderment and uncertainty.

"You are... Bai Feihan? Flying Stone Sect... Flying Stone Sect... Could it be the Flying Sand Sect from Xingdao?!" Xue Meng suddenly realized something, and his face became extremely unsightly. "Why are you here? Aren't you in the Xingdao Martial Alliance? How could...?"

He knew this person. This seemingly tall and thin middle-aged man was actually over seventy years old—a top-tier martial artist of his generation. In Xingdao, he was a subordinate member of the Inner City Martial Alliance's Council of Elders, a top expert whose Internal Force had reached Perfection!

Logically speaking, he should have been living quite well in Xingdao, being a victor of the last competition. But why?

"It's a long story. Simply put, newcomers keep flooding Xingdao. The environment has deteriorated too severely. We can't stay there anymore; people are leaving in droves every day. Some go this way, some go to other districts, that's all," Bai Feihan said calmly.

"So, the one who injured my Clear Wind Temple disciple was your Flying Sand Sect?" Xue Meng asked in a deep voice.

"It should be called the Flying Stone Sect. The former Flying Sand Sect has been merged into the Flying Stone Sect," Bai Feihan corrected indifferently.

"So you came over and set your sights on my Clear Wind Temple?" Xue Meng said coldly.

"Indeed. Old Xue, why don't you join us? I know your blade technique; it is neck and neck with mine. If you and I join hands, we can go anywhere in this region," Bai Feihan said sincerely.

"Just you alone?" Xue Meng paused for a moment and asked.

"I came over with Li Chi and founded the Flying Stone Sect. It has been a few months. We planned to take Fu'an Town this time, but I didn't expect Clear Wind Temple to occupy it beforehand," Bai Feihan replied. "How about it? Come. Let us join forces. We also have connections in the Tuyue New Martial Alliance. No need to worry about the Outer City getting involved."

Xue Meng hesitated.

He had originally planned to retire at Clear Wind Temple, but then Bai Feihan appeared. This was an old acquaintance from Xingdao; they had fought many times with no clear victor, and both knew the other's weight. In fact, compared to following the young Lin Hui at Clear Wind Temple, his old acquaintance from Xingdao seemed more familiar. And Li Chi... Green Frost Palm Li Chi... he was a famous top-tier martial artist in Xingdao too. Even he had come...

It seemed something major really must have happened in Xingdao.

"Wait, you acted deliberately. Was it just to draw me out?" Xue Meng suddenly realized.

"What do you think? Old Xue, you should be clear about Senior Li Chi's strength. Come to our Flying Stone Sect. The New Martial Alliance is already approving Elder positions for us. If nothing unexpected happens, Big Brother Li should also serve as an Elder of the New Martial Alliance here."

Bai Feihan laughed. "You are getting old and senile, joining a local sect presided over by a junior. The martial artists of Tuyue are weak and powerless. Even if you join, you should be the one leading it."

Xue Meng calculated the gains and losses repeatedly in his mind. "So, you are just expanding your territory and happened to arrive at Fu'an Town?"

"Correct. If you agree, we can go to that whatever-Clear Wind Temple together. With coordination from inside and outside, we can take it down directly, absorb it into the Flying Stone Sect, and merge them all," Bai Feihan said casually.

"Sorry." Xue Meng ultimately shook his head. "It's a pity you came a bit late. If you had come a few months earlier, perhaps I really would have agreed."

His voice paused as wind and snow scattered down.

Suddenly, the atmosphere between them turned cold.

After a stalemate of half a minute, Bai Feihan laughed out loud.

"Interesting. Old Xue, oh Old Xue, you actually rejected us old acquaintances for a local so-called genius. Now I'm truly curious about what kind of person that Clear Wind Temple Master is, to make you choose this way after weighing the pros and cons."

"Enough idle talk. We still have to fight a round." Xue Meng calmly gripped his blade hilt. "Just right to see if you've made any progress over the years."

"Old Xue, you wouldn't really be this naive, would you? Since I know we are neck and neck, and I can't take you down alone, why would I come here alone for no reason?" Bai Feihan laughed involuntarily.

Just then, another short and stout figure walked out slowly from behind him, revealing his form in the wind and snow.

"Red Fox Fist, Luo Linfeng?!" This time, Xue Meng's expression truly changed.

Two Internal Force experts of his level appearing—this was simply a trap! Since negotiation failed, they would immediately turn hostile and take him down. They had prepared for this long ago.

"You guys fall back. Leave first. Go back and report the news!" Xue Meng immediately transmitted his voice in a low tone.

The three disciples behind him had grim expressions, but they knew the situation was dire. Immediately, one of them broke away, turned around, and ran.