Chapter Fifty-Three: Xing Wuqie

A thunderous crash resounded, as if the earth and mountains trembled. In the instant that the massive boulder collided with Shen Qingyun’s fist, the entire stone was instantly covered in spiderweb-like cracks, then exploded into fragments, scattering shards in all directions.

Fang Ge’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the scene before him. What had just transpired was simply too astonishing. Faced with the enormous stone, Shen Qingyun seemed as insignificant as an ant. Yet this very “ant” had shattered, before their very eyes, a boulder that to him was utterly immovable—with a single punch!

A shard struck Fang Ge’s forehead, the sharp pain snapping him back to reality. When he looked again at Shen Qingyun, the disdain in his gaze had vanished, replaced by gravity and awe—an awe for Shen Qingyun’s unfathomable strength.

Shi Yan’s expression was grave; his heart felt as though it had sunk to the bottom of a lake. The “Falling Stone” technique was a spell he had discovered in the Hall of Scriptures after spending five hundred sect points. Its power was not to be underestimated, and he had often found it effective in battle.

But now, it had been smashed apart in one blow by a mere Qi Refining cultivator whom he had considered easy prey!

Little did he know that, in Shen Qingyun’s eyes, this so-called “Falling Stone” was barely a tickle, not even worthy of notice.

A hint of contempt flashed in Shen Qingyun’s eyes. With a mocking smile, he said, “That move just now wasn’t bad.”

His disdain was undisguised, easily seen by both Fang Ge and Shi Yan. Fang Ge managed to keep his composure, but Shi Yan’s face turned alternately blue and purple, his expression shifting in a most peculiar way.

Shen Qingyun continued, “If you two don’t plan to make a move, I’ll head over there myself. After all, I don’t have time to play around with you all day!”

Fury flickered in both Fang Ge’s and Shi Yan’s eyes at his words. Something they took so seriously, Shen Qingyun dismissed as nothing but a game!

“Shi Yan, let’s join forces! Wind and Stone Assault!” Fang Ge shouted.

“Alright!”

Shi Yan nodded decisively. Brown spiritual energy burst from his body as three earthen blades formed and shot toward Shen Qingyun in a slanting arc. Fang Ge was not to be outdone; with a tap of his toes, he leapt onto the stone beam, unleashing three sword beams that followed the trajectory of the earthen blades.

The earthen and sword blades, six in all, advanced in orderly succession. Layer by layer, they dazzled with brilliance, their power intensifying with each step.

Shen Qingyun’s face remained impassive as he stepped forward, spiritual energy surging in his fists. He threw a punch, meeting the combined assault head-on.

Fang Ge and Shi Yan held their breath, focusing intently, hoping to see Shen Qingyun sent flying by their combined attack. After witnessing his strength earlier, they no longer expected him to be instantly defeated and sent fleeing down the mountain in disgrace, but they still hoped for some sign of their advantage.

However, their hopes were dashed. When the clash exploded, all they could see was Shen Qingyun’s silhouette enveloped in a cloud of dust. Yet he remained unmoved. Soon, a whirlwind of spiritual energy swirled out from him, clearing the dust and debris.

Shen Qingyun chuckled lightly at them. “Not bad.”

Then, he took another step forward, and his figure vanished in a blur.

Fang Ge and Shi Yan saw only a flicker before a gust of wind swept by—Shen Qingyun now stood directly before them.

“So fast!”

Both were inwardly shocked. Only now did they truly understand what Chen Weijie meant when he said Shen Qingyun’s speed was astonishing—this was swiftness beyond imagination!

Shen Qingyun fought them barehanded, not employing any spells, relying solely on his fists. Even so, they were relentlessly suppressed, forced to retreat step by step.

But this was understandable. Who was Shen Qingyun? The combat experience he possessed was in no way comparable to that of these two young men.

In this respect, Shen Qingyun was naturally superior. Not to mention, he hadn’t even used any techniques—if he had, their defeat would have been swifter still.

Fang Ge and Shi Yan’s expressions darkened. Shen Qingyun’s unpredictable moves kept them on the defensive. For such a prolonged exchange, they hadn’t even found an opening to counterattack—always pressed back by him. This stifling sensation was truly hard to bear!

If word got out, how would they ever show their faces again?

“Not good!”

Suddenly, Fang Ge’s foot missed its mark, and he fell from the stone beam. Noticing this, Shi Yan’s movements hesitated for a split second, and he was immediately struck by Shen Qingyun’s palm.

He staggered backward, nearly stepping off the edge himself. Mind blank, he could think of no way to save himself.

Just as he was about to fall, a hand reached out and seized his robe, hauling him back onto the beam.

Catching his breath after regaining his balance, Shi Yan turned to thank his rescuer—only to freeze, his mouth half open in surprise. It was Shen Qingyun standing there before him.

“Senior Brother, are you alright?” Shen Qingyun asked with a harmless, gentle smile.

“I’m… I’m fine,” Shi Yan replied, shaking his head.

Only then did Shen Qingyun walk to the edge of the beam and look down.

Seeing this, Shi Yan suddenly remembered—Fang Ge had fallen! He hurried over, peering down to find Fang Ge standing below, completely unharmed. With a sigh of relief, Shi Yan realized that, given their cultivation at the Spirit Aspect level, a fall from this height was no real threat at all.

Fang Ge patted his chest in lingering fear. That sudden sensation of weightlessness had caught him completely off guard.

He looked gratefully at the person who stood before him, bowing repeatedly. “Thank you for saving me, Senior Brother Xing!”

Xing Wuqie gave him a gentle smile. “Think nothing of it—it was just a small matter. Besides, even if I hadn’t helped, you would have been fine after the fall.”

Fang Ge scratched his head, looking rather sheepish. “Even so, I owe you my thanks, Senior Brother Xing!”

Xing Wuqie smiled indifferently, then looked up at the two still standing on the stone beam. In a clear voice, he called, “Aren’t you coming down?”

Shen Qingyun raised an eyebrow and stepped forward, dropping straight down. Just before landing, a whirl of spiritual energy appeared and gently lowered him to the ground.

Shi Yan grunted, unwilling to be left behind, and leapt down as well. With a thud, the ground seemed to shake beneath him, and two distinct footprints were left where he landed.

Shen Qingyun clasped his hands and addressed Xing Wuqie respectfully: “Senior Brother, may I go through now?”

“No!” The answer came not from Xing Wuqie, but from Shi Yan, who cut in with an unyielding glare, as if to say, “Again! You haven’t truly defeated me yet!”

“That’s enough,” Xing Wuqie interjected sternly. “Do you still think you haven’t lost? If Shen Qingyun hadn’t held back, do you really believe you’d still be standing here?”

Beside him, Shen Qingyun regarded Xing Wuqie with a trace of surprise.

This young man was no ordinary person.

After chiding Shi Yan until he hung his head in shame, Xing Wuqie finally relented. Turning back to Shen Qingyun, he offered a warm, friendly smile. “Pianzhu Peak, Xing Wuqie.”