23: Chapter 23 seems more like a revenge story?

Years ago, when he challenged the Ascending Heaven Pavilion, it was for the sake of becoming a Disciple under that City Lord, who was hailed as the best in the world.

Unfortunately, that City Lord did not accept him.

This had been a knot in his heart for many years.

Now that the Sacred Sect was taking action, they must have already taken the City Lord into consideration and surely had a plan to deal with him.

Thinking of this, Song Jinyang tidied his clothes, took down the jinyang saber from the weapon rack, and strode out the door.

He wanted to see just what this Li Hanyi was capable of!

...

At the entrance of Snow Moon City.

A young girl draped in green gauze slowly stepped into the city.

Her emerald-green gauze dress fluttered lightly in the wind, exuding a sense of nimbleness.

Her jet-black long hair fell like a waterfall, tied up only with a simple wooden hairpin, yet it made her appear even more elegant and otherworldly.

Strangely, she was barefoot and wore no shoes.

With every step she took, a faint Internal Energy seemed to circulate, preventing her toes from touching the ground, making her as light as a feather.

This scene naturally drew the attention of many passersby.

However, the girl seemed accustomed to it and didn't care at all.

She looked up at the distant Ascending Heaven Pavilion and the scenery of snow, moon, wind, and flowers behind it.

“They say the scenery of Snow Moon City is unparalleled in the world, and only after passing the Ascending Heaven Pavilion can one see the true face of the wind, flowers, snow, and moon. Today, I shall come and see it with my own eyes!”

Looking at the Ascending Heaven Pavilion, the girl's eyes were full of expectation.

Just as she was about to step forward, her figure suddenly paused.

“Look, look! I heard a little girl broke into the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall and injured a lot of people!”

“For real? That Jinyang Martial Arts Hall is the number one martial arts hall in the city, and even the hall master is about to step into the Heaven Realm!”

“How could I lie to you? Even the Head Instructor of the martial arts hall was injured!”

“Let's go and have a look!”

Several people carrying weapons chatted as they walked, hurrying past her.

The girl was startled.

A little girl challenging the largest martial arts hall in Snow Moon City?

“This is quite interesting. I might as well take a look since it's on the way!”

With that thought, her toes tapped lightly, and her figure leapt onto the eaves like the wind. With a sweep of her gaze, she locked onto the direction those people were running, then lightly sped away, like a Fairy treading on clouds, silent and graceful.

...

In front of the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall.

A group of Disciples fled from the hall in a wretched state, every one of them injured.

Li Hanyi still stood gracefully in place, her figure unmoving, as if nothing had ever happened.

The people who were originally watching the excitement were now all dumbstruck, standing there in a daze.

Inevitably, this girl was simply too outstanding.

It was one thing to have a face that could topple cities, but her skills were also far too astonishing.

Among the Disciples from the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall, very few could block her second sword strike.

Now, the crowd couldn't help but wonder if the reputation of the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall was merely superficial.

“The Elders are coming out!”

Suddenly, the Disciples at the entrance of the martial arts hall moved aside one after another, and several old men with white hair and beards walked out slowly.

Looking at their ages, their combined years were likely over three hundred.

...

These were the Enshrined Elders of the martial arts hall. In their youth, they had all traveled the Jianghu for many years, and most of their cultivation had reached the Zizai Earth Realm.

However, they were advanced in years or had old injuries.

Now, they received generous stipends and spent their remaining years in the martial arts hall.

One must know that this Realm was already considered that of a top-tier expert in the Jianghu.

Having so many Zizai Realm experts in residence was also an invisible boost to the martial arts hall.

Occasionally, they could also deal with some sudden incidents.

For many years, no one had come to the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall to challenge them, and these people had almost forgotten what it felt like to take action.

But in any case, their Realm remained.

After several Elders came out and saw the outstanding Li Hanyi, their expressions couldn't help but freeze.

To have such poise at such a young age, and most precious of all was that steady and deep cultivation.

They clearly perceived that the girl before them had already stepped into the Diamond Realm, and her aura was stable, obviously not having just achieved a Breakthrough.

Moreover, she possessed a sharp Sword Intent, as if it would burst out of her body at any moment.

How could such a heavenly talent come to their martial arts hall to ask for a sword duel? If one were to discuss where she should go, it should be the Ascending Heaven Pavilion!

With her Aptitude, she might be able to break into the sixteenth floor of the Ascending Heaven Pavilion and leap to the heavens in one bound.

These Elders had long since become idle old men in the martial arts hall, enjoying wealth and honor, with little interest in the major affairs of the Jianghu.

In addition, Song Jinyang had not let too many people know about the cooperation with the demonic cult.

They were still unaware of the turmoil at the Su Rui Martial Arts Hall over the past few days.

On top of the restaurant, across from the martial arts hall, Sikong Qianluo watched the several people walking out of the hall.

“Teacher, what Realm are these people in?”

Seeing the respectful manner of the martial arts hall Disciples, could they be experts?

“They are just a few old fellows in the Zizai Realm!”

Su Rui saw at a glance that the auras of these people were unstable.

Clearly, they had not Cultivated seriously for many years.

They only had the name of the Realm; their strength was likely inferior even to someone who had just entered the Zizai Realm.

“Ah? Then Senior Sister Hanyi, she...”

Sikong Qianluo couldn't help but be a little worried.

Although Su Rui said that her Senior Sister could handle it, she still couldn't help but worry.

Mu Liangyue and Su Hongxi also watched the situation below with full concentration.

Li Hanyi's previous sword strike had amazed everyone, making the three of them extremely envious.

They also understood even better that Su Rui held this Senior Sister Hanyi in particularly high regard.

While watching the situation in the field, they were thinking about how to curry favor with their teacher.

Their teacher was like a banished immortal; how could he lack ordinary things?

Sending money probably wasn't appropriate.

Thinking about how their teacher had said before that the martial arts hall was poor, they had thought he was joking.

Mu Liangyue's thoughts shifted, and her cheeks turned slightly red.

Recalling her teacher's handsome and elegant face, her mind unconsciously drifted away.

The more she thought about it, the more she became a bit dazed.

“Mu Liangyue, what's wrong with you?”

Su Hongxi suddenly noticed that the temperature beside her was a bit abnormal. Turning her head, she saw Mu Liangyue's face was flushed red, as if she had a fever. She was startled, thinking Mu Liangyue had been poisoned by something.

“Ah?”

Being suddenly called out, Mu Liangyue felt as if her secret thoughts had been seen through, and she became flustered for a moment.

“I'm fine!”

She hurriedly waved her hand, stole a glance at her teacher, and quickly withdrew her gaze, forcing herself to stay calm and change the subject.

“Look quickly, Senior Sister Hanyi is about to make a move!”

Sure enough, one sentence pulled Su Hongxi's attention back to the field.

Mu Liangyue quietly fanned herself by her cheek and let out a long breath.

In front of the martial arts hall.

“Little girl, you are indeed remarkable, and you've made a name for yourself now.

Why not leave now, so people won't say we are taking advantage of our seniority.”

A white-haired old man stood with his hands behind his back and spoke, trying his best to put on the appearance of a master.

If it weren't for that slightly protruding belly, he really would have had some Grandmaster air.

After hearing this, the martial arts hall Disciples were all stunned.

Hadn't they agreed to stand up for them?

Now that the plaque had been smashed by someone, he actually wanted to let her go?

However, the Elder who spoke understood in his heart that the hall master only said to drive the person away, not how to do it.

As long as the person left, it would be considered a completed task.

After all, to have such ability at such a young age, she was very likely the successor of some hidden expert or a Disciple of a major faction.

It was better not to offend such a character if possible.

Commotion also began to appear among the onlookers.

This Jinyang Martial Arts Hall is too spineless!

The sounds of discussion gradually spread.

And there was no intention of hiding it at all.

The faces of the several Elders and the members of the martial arts hall turned green upon hearing this.

If it weren't for the many people present, they probably would have already taken action to teach these loose-tongued fellows a lesson.

Li Hanyi looked at the several people who came out, already feeling a bit annoyed in her heart.

“Call out the person in charge of your martial arts hall. Can it be that the grand master of a hall is a shrinking turtle?”

The person in charge?

The Elder who had spoken laughed.

“Our hall master is only half a step away from entering the Heaven Realm. How can a young junior like you compare to him? Listen to a piece of advice and leave quickly, lest you bring suffering upon yourself.”

Only one step away from the Heaven Realm?

After hearing this, the surrounding crowd all gasped.

Such strength was absolutely a rare expert in the Northern Li Jianghu.

If he truly crossed that threshold, he could stand shoulder to shoulder with the high-level figures of those major powers in the Jianghu.

Thinking of this, everyone also began to feel less optimistic about the outcome of Li Hanyi's challenge this time.

...

“What a big talker!”

A low shout rang out, and the crowd at the entrance immediately backed away to both sides as a burly middle-aged man walked out.

He held a saber in each hand, and their length was quite rare.

The blades were wide and long, looking to be five or six feet in length.

“Greetings, Hall Master!”

As soon as the martial arts hall Disciples saw this person appear, they immediately bowed respectfully.

Song Jinyang passed through the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the bloodstains on the ground and the plaque broken into several pieces, his face full of anger.

Although he had already cooperated with the Sacred Sect.

The Jinyang Martial Arts Hall was established by him single-handedly; it was a foundation he had fought for with his own saber and sword.

Even though there were many helpless aspects, the scene before him still made his anger soar.

He stared at Li Hanyi, who was holding an old longsword not far away, his tone cold.

“You are Li Hanyi?”

Although someone had previously suggested dealing with Li Hanyi.

Song Jinyang himself had not seen her with his own eyes and naturally did not know what she looked like.

He only knew she was not old.

But he didn't expect her to be so young!

The Cheng Ying Sword in Li Hanyi's hand pointed at Song Jinyang, her eyes as cold as frost.

“Haven't you all been looking for me? You even used methods like drugging, and now I've come in person!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present immediately changed.

What was going on?

Wasn't she here to kick the hall and challenge them?

Why did this tone sound more like she was here for revenge?

Drugging? Could it be kidnapping, or some other despicable business?

Everyone's gaze became strange, and they all turned toward Song Jinyang.

If it were really so, the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall, along with this hall master, would probably have their reputations completely ruined.

In the Jianghu, face was more important than life.

If they were truly people of the Evil Path, then so be it; they would already be like mud Buddhas, and it wouldn't matter if more dirty water was splashed on them.

But if the Jinyang Martial Arts Hall wanted to gain a firm foothold in Snow Moon City, this matter had to be thoroughly investigated and properly handled.

Song Jinyang's heart sank, almost to the bottom.

But his face didn't show it at all; instead, it showed a bit of anger.

“Nonsense! What kind of place is my Jinyang Martial Arts Hall? How could we use such methods against a little girl?”

The several Elders and Disciples beside him also spoke up in agreement, accusing Li Hanyi of talking nonsense.