Chapter 237 - 235: Third on the Celestial List, Fairy Yaoguang!
"M-Master, have mercy..."
Zhang De fell to the ground begging for mercy, but as soon as the sound escaped, it was torn apart by the raging wind.
By the time he could clearly see Song Changming’s appearance, the surrounding strong wind had turned into a small tornado, sweeping everyone, including the entire desolate village, into the sky.
When they fell again, only ruins and wreckage were left on the ground.
The strong wind subsided, and the world became peaceful.
"Young Master, Qingqing has disappointed you." Su Qingqing hung her head, feeling somewhat dejected.
She felt guilty for not seeing through the trap and had to rely on Song Changming to rescue her.
"Not disappointed." Song Changming looked down at the girl he had known for five years.
"You’re only thirteen. When I was your age, I wasn’t even a martial artist. You’re already far ahead of many, so there’s no need to rush.
This experience is actually good for you, at least it helps you understand the dangers of Jianghu..."
Song Changming comforted her with a few words, improving the girl’s mood significantly.
As for Zhang De and his group, after eradicating them, Song Changming didn’t spare another glance.
At most, he’ll have Song Ping’an investigate further to see if there are any remaining remnants that need to be completely eradicated.
"Let’s go back."
"Yes, Young Master!"
The mountain pass was not too far from Wangyue County City, and it didn’t take long for them to return to the main road, with the distant silhouette of Wangyue County City faintly visible.
Suddenly, Song Changming glanced out of the corner of his eye and stopped.
On the main road, a person rode a black horse, approaching slowly.
This person was none other than the Young Master Jianya, Nan Chen Guang.
There were many stories in Jianghu about the grievances and rivalries between the two of them. The accounts were vivid and lifelike, in all sorts of versions.
It seemed as if they were peerless talents of their generation.
But in fact, they only had a brief encounter five years ago during the Outer Domain’s invasion.
Other than that, there were no stories between them, and the many rumors were just hearsay in Jianghu.
Song Changming had an impression of this Young Master Jianya.
Speaking of which, Su Qingqing next to him also remembered Nan Chen Guang, as she had once used her pupil technique on him when forced by the Corpse Refining Sect members, putting Nan Chen Guang in danger.
Seeing Nan Chen Guang again, Su Qingqing shrunk a bit, her eyes evasive.
After all, she indeed almost got Nan Chen Guang killed back then and worried that he, like Zhao De, came seeking revenge this time.
However, this time, Nan Chen Guang did not spare the girl a glance, all his attention was on Song Changming.
"I came today to challenge you," Nan Chen Guang stated calmly, straightforwardly declaring his purpose.
He had come to Wangyue County City and, upon learning that Song Changming happened to be out, simply waited outside the city.
Both were masters on the Celestial List, too impactful to duel within the city.
To set a battleground, it had to be outside the city.
"A challenge?"
Song Changming wasn’t pleased, shaking his head. "I refuse."
It wasn’t that he was afraid, just that he had no interest in dueling with Nan Chen Guang.
If it were five years ago, he might’ve been interested.
But now, five years later, his strength had improved too much. No disrespect to Nan Chen Guang, but it felt like bullying.
Now, Nan Chen Guang was not even thirty, while Song Changming was over forty.
Their age difference was over ten years.
If Nan Chen Guang had another decade of cultivation, with his martial arts talent, perhaps they could be more evenly matched.
But now?
Not to mention, with his terrifying physical strength from body tempering and the Eight Elephant Giant Power, even ten Nan Chen Guangs together couldn’t withstand him!
Nan Chen Guang didn’t seem surprised by Song Changming’s refusal. He retrieved something from the saddlebag at his horse’s side and tossed it to Song Changming.
"Oh!" Song Changming, seeing what was thrown, felt a stir in his heart.
"I know your rules, this is the wager," Nan Chen Guang said lightly.
Obviously, he didn’t just challenge Song Changming on a whim.
Before coming, he had learned of Song Changming’s past dislikes of ordinary sparring. Only with stakes to satisfy him would he be interested in agreeing to duel.
So he came prepared, with a wager Song Changming couldn’t refuse.
To this, Song Changming could only muse that the young man had judged correctly!
The object thrown was a scroll!
It was very similar to the scroll Liang Zhao Long had retrieved for him, and upon opening, inside was a scene of a starry river and bright moon, displaying the universe’s mysteries and vastness.
The Chu Family’s Third Grade True Yang Technique was hidden within these two scrolls.
Mountain and River Painting as the Earth Scroll, Star River Painting as the Heaven Scroll.
During a palace upheaval, the two scrolls were lost outside.
Unexpectedly, the Heaven Scroll was in Young Master Jianya’s possession!
Even more unexpectedly, Nan Chen Guang would simply turn this scroll over as a wager, placing it before Song Changming.
Offering Song Changming the chance to unite the two scrolls and learn the Third Grade True Yang Technique!
"You know I have the other scroll?" After confirming the authenticity of the Star River Painting, Song Changming couldn’t help but ask.
"I have the Star River Painting. By asking the Golden Pavilion Sect, I knew of the Mountain and River Painting’s whereabouts. I’m not interested in this Martial Technique, but I thought you might want it..." Nan Chen Guang slowly explained.
For him, uncovering this information was not difficult.
As a descendant of Nan Wuji, inheriting all of Sword Cliff and his father’s teachings, the Chu Family’s martial arts inheritance seemed insignificant to him.
Practicing this True Yang Technique would actually waste time and divert him from his true path.
"Do you know how to unlock the Martial Technique in the scroll?" Finding Nan Chen Guang well-informed, Song Changming couldn’t help but ask.
"The scroll is no ordinary item, originating from the Ancient Abyss Country thousands of years ago. With fire refining, the Martial Technique will appear." Nan Chen Guang openly shared the scroll’s secret, the key to unlocking this treasure trove, with Song Changming.
To him, these were trivial matters.
Song Changming inhaled deeply and stored away the scroll.
At this moment, Nan Chen Guang looked much more pleasing to his eye.
In the future, no matter when, if this young man wanted to spar, he would accept.
After all, the gift was too precious.
Seeing Song Changming’s expression change, Nan Chen Guang frowned slightly, displeased. "Do you think you’ll surely win?"
"Not necessarily, as winning or losing would only be known after the match." For the sake of the scroll, Song Changming refrained from dashing his opponent’s hopes.
"Since you’ve agreed, let’s find a place to begin." Saying this, Nan Chen Guang rode his horse toward the mountains on either side of the main road.
"Take this scroll back into the city," Song Changming handed the newly acquired scroll to Su Qingqing, asking her to take it back first.
Having used it as a wager, Nan Chen Guang seemingly cared little for the scroll’s ownership and had no intention of taking it back.
His current descent from the mountain was just to confront Song Changming.
Everything else was trivial.
They casually chose a spot in the mountains, standing opposite each other.
The mountains were lush with vegetation, towering trees standing tall, and a small stream flowing down from the mountain, weaving through the rocky streambed.
The scenery here was quite beautiful, so much so that Song Changming thought it would be a pity to destroy it.
The two horses, grazing leisurely in the distance, were unconcerned about their owners’ duel.
Meanwhile, on a peak nearly a kilometer away, unnoticed by both, a composed man sat, quietly observing the two in the mountain below.
He held a wine gourd, opening the lid, letting the wine’s fragrance fill the air.
That man was none other than Nan Chen Guang’s father, Sword Venerable Nan Wuji!
As he surveyed Song Changming, his eyes seemed filled with interest.
"When did a dignified Sword Venerable also start caring about the juniors’ duels?"
A female voice suddenly echoed from the mountaintop.
"Long time no see, Fairy Yaoguang..." Nan Wuji slowly spoke.
"Indeed, it’s been ten years." The female voice replied in response.
In the next moment, beside Nan Wuji, a woman in celestial robes appeared, as if descending from the heavens.
The woman bore some resemblance to Fairy Yuehan.
But Fairy Yuehan appeared more coldly glamorous, whereas the woman in front of him exuded warmth and gentleness.
She was the current Pavilion Master of Wangyue Pavilion, Su Yaoguang, known as Fairy Yaoguang.
On the Celestial List, she was ranked third!