Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Red Sky Nine Styles

Shenxiao Sect!

It is not just any martial arts sect, but one that was inherited from a Tao Lord of the Middle Ancient Era.

Even now, it has Celestial Men among its ranks.

It’s one of the top ten Great Sects in Da Qi, no weaker than the Five Elements Sect.

Best known for their thunderous martial arts.

Thus, as soon as Chu Qingchuan introduced himself, he attracted the attention of many, with pedestrians on both sides of the street and people in the restaurant stores all looking over.

This golden-robed youth was actually a disciple of a top-tier Martial Dao Sect!

Then the one he’s challenging is…

“Zhou Heng! This person is Zhou Heng, the Purple Lightning Thunder Blade, the Zhou Heng who alone suppresses an entire sect!”

“Damn! This is going to be good!”

“A match between true inheritors of the Shenxiao Sect and Pure Yang Palace, wow!”

“Awesome!”

“Fight! Fight!!”

Shouts rose from the crowd, everyone extremely excited.

In fact, such street challenges were quite common in Wujiang Prefecture City nowadays.

As more and more martial artists were drawn to the city by rumors of a grandmaster’s treasure, the number of martial artists in Wujiang Prefecture City had ballooned, and it was inevitable that some would try to make a name for themselves or polish their martial arts talents.

However, most challenges were ordinary sparring matches between common martial artists.

After all, famed martial artists and disciples of great sects and prominent families were few and far between everywhere.

Challenges of this level are quite rare.

Now a match was about to begin that involved the status of both parties, how could people here not get excited?

Yun Xiu’s inn, where she and He Mengqiu were staying, was also nearby. She heard the shouting outside, quickly opened the window to look, and exclaimed joyfully, “Is it really Brother Heng?”

“Sigh.” Seeing her like this, He Mengqiu couldn’t help but sigh and said, “Xiu’er, if you keep watching, your newly learned Three Dreams Dharma will regress.”

“Um…” Yun Xiu pouted, closed the window and came back, stuck out her tongue and said, “I was just… taking a quick look.”

“If you could remain a mere spectator upon seeing him, or if you had reached the second realm of the great dream ‘Bubble Shadow’, then you could watch as long as you like,” He Mengqiu said seriously,

“Xiu’er, I’ve told you before, the Three Dreams Dharma observes all sorts of mortal affairs, penetrates human nature, enters dreams with it, and uses the myriad lives as one’s own – while certainly powerful, it is also dangerous.

“If you can’t maintain the status of a mere spectator when you first start learning, you’ll inevitably be tainted by the myriad lives of others later in the dream, and you might even be bewildered by the dreamland and sink into a state beyond redemption.”

“Yes, I understand,” said Yun Xiu seriously, nodding, “The Three Dreams Dharma is what I asked you to teach me, Master. I shouldn’t be so negligent, troubling you with such concerns.”

“Being lively and cheerful isn’t a bad thing in itself. You have a carefree nature; you don’t have to blame yourself. This is precisely why I hesitated before teaching you the Three Dreams Dharma,” He Mengqiu said with a smile as she gently stroked Yun Xiu’s hair to comfort her, “Just be an onlooker this time. If Zhou Heng is in danger, your teacher can step in… Well, maybe he can handle it himself.”

This was her recalling the incident that happened previously in Yuanhe Prefecture City.

Zhou Heng, someone who might be the reincarnation of a Tao Lord or even a higher being, could unleash methods far stronger than her own when faced with great danger, despite being merely of the Sixth Rank Innate.

“Thank you, Master,” said Yun Xiu with a smile.

…

The news that Zhou Heng was going to fight a true inheritor of the Shenxiao Sect, Chu Qingchuan, spread quickly throughout Wujiang Prefecture City.

Wang Xiuye, of course, had also heard about it.

He had originally planned to find Zhou Heng for a visit after he settled down in Wujiang Prefecture City, but he wasn’t sure of Zhou Heng’s whereabouts and thought of inquiring later.

Now, hearing that Zhou Heng was about to fight someone, he would not miss it. He left his luggage at the inn and headed straight out the door.

Towards the city center.

Fighting in the streets of Wujiang Prefecture City was not allowed.

Therefore, even though Chu Qingchuan challenged Zhou Heng on the street, the actual fight had to take place in the city’s arena.

This was a control measure set by the Wujiang Prefecture City government to deal with the increasing number of jianghu martial artists in the jurisdiction, to prevent these martial artists from disturbing the lives of ordinary people.

If violated, there would be one warning. A repeat offense would result in immediate expulsion from the city, with no re-entry into Wujiang Prefecture for three years.

This punishment, aside from anything else, meant great shame to many. Being expelled would make it hard for them to lift their heads in the martial community in the future if mentioned.

Therefore, this rule was quite effective and gradually became an unwritten law that everyone consciously abided by.

…

In the southern district of Wujiang Prefecture City.

In a spacious mansion, Li Wuwang was in the courtyard wielding a large spear. His spear, glowing bright silver and reaching ten feet long, seemed blindingly sharp. As it danced in his hands, it resembled a silver dragon in flight.

“Young Master!” A servant-like figure hurried over and said, “Young Master, that Zhou Heng has come to Wujiang Prefecture City, and Chu Qingchuan of the Shenxiao Sect is about to challenge him. They have both gone to the city’s arena. Would you like to go and watch?”

Li Wuwang, of course, was not some “young master”. His background was actually very common, with no notable lineage, and it was only now that he had money and status, having bought a mansion and servants, that he had others call him “young master”.

“Zhou Heng?” Li Wuwang stopped his spear work and looked at the servant, replying indifferently, “I’m not interested. I heard Wang Xiuye is also here; lead me to him.”

“Ah, you’re not going to see Zhou Heng?” The servant was taken aback, clearly not expecting such a response, but he did not dare to ask too much and quickly nodded, “Alright, I’ll take you to find that Wang Xiuye.”

“That Zhou Heng, his strength lies in being the reincarnation of a powerful being and a true disciple of the Pure Yang Palace. As for his martial arts… what’s the significance of being merely Eighth Rank? Even if he’s strong, what of it?”

Li Wuwang shook his head and chuckled, “Tales spread, rumors abound, much is often distorted. The idea of an Eighth Rank martial artist suppressing a sect sounds more far-fetched than fiction.”

“`

“Before he has truly proven his strength with a genuine record of combat, he doesn’t have the qualifications to catch my eye,”

“Let’s go, take me to Wang Xiuye, I want to see if his Mountain-Shaking Palms can shake my Dragon Spear.”

…

In the arena of Wujiang Prefectural City.

Zhou Heng and Chu Qingchuan stood atop the stage while the area below was packed with people.

There were others dueling at several other arenas, but none attracted as much attention as this one.

To many spectators, this was to be a fierce battle between dragons and tigers.

Both Pure Yang Palace and Shenxiao Sect were among the great sects of the contemporary Martial Dao, and the martial arts they imparted to their direct disciples were of far higher ranks than those of ordinary martial artists, with mere observation being a feast for the eyes.

Moreover, Zhou Heng was one of the most prominent martial artists recently, known for his deeds of suppressing an entire sect all by himself. Many were extremely curious about the extent of his ability.

How had an Eighth Rank Martial Artist reached such heights?

On the stage.

“You said you wanted to experience my Thunder Blade, so today I will fight you with my blade,” Zhou Heng cheerfully drew a saber that crackled with purple lightning, “The saber’s name is ‘Purple Lightning,’ a sharp weapon.”

“Then today, I will meet your Thunder Blade with my ‘Red Sky Nine Styles’!” Chu Qingchuan pulled out a golden iron whip, not a flexible one but a nine-section iron whip, “The whip’s name is ‘Nine Extinguishers,’ a sharp weapon grade.”

As soon as these words were spoken, a wave of gasps rose from the crowd below the stage, with many looking incredulously at Chu Qingchuan, their faces filled with shock.

Red Sky Nine Styles!

This was not an ordinary martial arts technique, but a genuine Absolute Fourth Rank technique from Shenxiao Sect, part of the “Red Sky” of the eighty-one styles of the Nine Heavens.

Channeling the whip into thunder, its strength peerless, a single strike intended to fill the skies with thunder, leveling all in its path, claiming the power to sever gods above and extinguish all beings below, supremely fierce and unpredictable.

Chu Qingchuan had actually mastered this secret technique?

He was only a Seventh Rank Martial Artist!

How had he mastered an Absolute Fourth Rank technique?

What level had he achieved?

How many of the techniques could he use?

The crowd below was initially shocked, then filled with excitement, eager to witness the clash between Chu Qingchuan and Zhou Heng.

It was said that Zhou Heng’s Purple Thunder Blade Skill was also an Absolute Fourth Rank technique.

Which would prove stronger, the Purple Thunder or the Red Sky?

…

At that time, in a tavern not far from the stage.

“Disease-Following Wind” Ma Quan watched Zhou Heng and Chu Qingchuan on the stage with interest, chuckling, “This little guy from Shenxiao Sect has actually mastered the Red Sky Nine Styles, impressive indeed.”

He was the Plague Emperor Sect expert who previously talked about finding the right opportunity to personally take Zhou Heng’s life, a Sixth Rank Innate, with the ability to kill imperceptibly, as if by illness borne by the wind.

“Elder, do you think this Chu Qingchuan has a chance to defeat Zhou Heng?” the young man next to Ma Quan asked softly.

“Why think about such things? They’re meaningless,” Ma Quan shook his head and tapping on the table, smiled, “I’m wondering if I should just take care of this kid along with Zhou Heng when I make my move.

“Shenxiao Sect and their bunch have been thwarting our sect’s plans a lot lately, killing a genius disciple of theirs today would certainly be a breath of relief.”

“Is, is, is that okay??” the young man felt overwhelmingly anxious. His Elder Ma Quan truly had audacity beyond measure. “A genius who has mastered the Red Sky Nine Styles… If you kill him, Shenxiao Sect will be enraged.”

Smack!

The young man was immediately knocked to the ground by a slap from Ma Quan.

“Idiot,” Ma Quan coldly laughed, “Do you even know that we from Plague Emperor Sect are considered villains, universally execrated devils? And yet, you’re afraid of angering those righteous sects. Has your brain been eaten clean by bugs?

“If we were afraid of this and that, the four great villainous sects of Da Qi would have been wiped out long ago, can’t you understand that? Besides, if Zhou Heng can be killed, why worry about one more Chu Qingchuan?

“When your mother gave birth to you, did she throw the baby away and raise a placenta instead? How else could you be as stupid as a donkey?”

“Disciple understands,” the young man prostrated on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing, “Disciple knows his mistake. Thank you, Elder, for your guidance, thank you.”

“Stop kneeling. Talk is cheap. Bring me the Plague Box,” Ma Quan snorted coldly and said, “Watch and learn how a disease can be silent and tasteless, imperceptible until it takes effect!”

…

Boom!

Loud explosions, like rolling thunder, erupted from the stage.

The saber wrapped in purple lightning and the whip flickering with red electricity collided violently, their fearsome energies scattering wildly, stirring up howling gales and screams, causing some ordinary people below the stage to lose their balance.

But suddenly, the intense clash of powers vanished as Purple Lightning and Red Lightning separated, each retreating to a distance.

Just now, it was merely a preliminary exchange of moves between Zhou Heng and Chu Qingchuan, as they hadn’t even used their real techniques.

“The fame of Purple Lightning Thunder Blade is well-deserved; indeed, what great strength, what a formidable physique!” Chu Qingchuan looked at Zhou Heng with a mix of shock and doubt, his wrist numbing from the brief clash.

That an Eighth Rank Martial Artist possessed such terrifying power was simply inconceivable!

“It’s just brute force,”

Zhou Heng smiled and pointed his long saber at his opponent, “What about your Red Sky Nine Styles?”

Hurry up and use it,

I’m eager to learn!

“`