Ling Xian'er gave a light, tinkling laugh. "With skills like those of the Five Immortals, you dare block the road? You truly overestimate yourselves!"
At this moment, snow-laden pines stood all around. Clumps of snow slid from the branches and fell in pieces, scattering like shattered jade. Fine snow drifted down from the sky, while the distant imperial road faded into mist.
Peach Blossom, the personal maid of the Western Sacred Matron Chen Jinfeng, stepped forward and said, "Do not be impatient. A senior master is on his way."
Ling Xian'er asked, "What sort of senior master might that be? Could you tell us?"
Almost at once, the sound of someone moving swiftly through the forest—branches snapping, leaves struck—came rushing closer. The crowd stiffened and turned to look. Suddenly, a long howl rang out, shaking the mountains and stirring the woods. Such a startling display of skill instantly stunned not only the followers of the Western Sacred Sect and the Five Immortals of the White Lotus Sect, but even Ling Xian'er and Wu Tong themselves. Everyone was shocked, exchanging startled glances. Whoever this was, his martial prowess was clearly extraordinary.
In the blink of an eye, the figure vanished again. He seemed to have arrived nearby, yet did not reveal himself.
Wu Tong had already dismounted. His eyes gleamed as he fixed his gaze on the pine forest ahead. He cupped his fists in salute and called out clearly, "May I ask which senior has arrived? Please reveal yourself so that we may meet."
Wu Tong had barely finished speaking when a figure suddenly burst from the forest, leaping through the air and diving straight at him. It was a tall, gaunt old man, moving as fast as lightning and flint. Wu Tong caught sight of the ambush at once. As he sprang backward, he struck out with fist and palm in rapid succession, dismantling the incoming moves without the slightest hesitation.
Suddenly, their palms met—bang! The impact rang out loudly. Wu Tong staggered, retreating several unsteady steps. He thought to himself, This man's palm power is viciously sinister! The force swept away the snow beneath Wu Tong's feet, revealing the bluestone road below.
Wu Tong had treated him with courtesy, yet was met with a sneak attack. Fury surged within him. His sword-like brows shot upward as he sneered coldly. "Sir attacks from the shadows—clearly you are cut from the same cloth as the Western Sacred Sect!"
The old man burst into wild laughter. "All that talk of benevolence and righteousness—what use is it? In the martial world, strength is all that matters!"
At this moment, Peach Blossom of the Western Sacred Sect strode forward, cupped her fists, and said, "Elder of the Five Supremes, you have arrived rather late!"
This man's martial arts were extraordinarily high. He was proficient in five disciplines—claw, fist, palm, saber, and sword—and thus was known as the Five Supreme Elder.
Wu Tong snorted disdainfully. "I've seen no shortage of experts in my time, yet I've never even heard of someone like you."
In the martial world, anyone who encountered the Five Supreme Elder feared him by three parts. Now, being so lightly dismissed by Wu Tong, his expression darkened at once. He snarled viciously, "You court death—don't blame this old man for being ruthless!" With that, he launched the move 'Black Tiger Steals the Heart,' his claw shooting straight for Wu Tong's chest.
Seeing how swift the technique was, Wu Tong felt a flicker of alarm. But he did not hesitate. He planted himself like a mounted archer drawing a bow, swung his right arm, and struck back with a combination of fist and palm, his palm rigid as a blade.
The Five Supreme Elder flicked his sleeve, sank both palms, spread his ten fingers wide, and suddenly clawed viciously toward Wu Tong's left chest. Hiss, hiss! His finger force tore through the air. His right claw raked toward Wu Tong's left shoulder, striking twice in rapid succession at the Quepen acupoint.
Wu Tong instantly changed his stance, unleashing the Six Illusory Palm Forms. With the move "Palm within the Fist," his left hand feinted while his right fist shot forward. As the elder reached out to seize him, Wu Tong abruptly twisted his fist and transformed it into a palm strike. The Five Supreme Elder was greatly startled and hurriedly retreated, exclaiming, "Good boy—you've got skill!"
The residual palm winds from their exchange swept the snow along the ground. The Five Supreme Elder fixed Wu Tong with a cold, piercing gaze; his presence alone was deeply intimidating.
Suddenly, the elder's movements changed. His claws turned into palms—fast as the wind, fierce as thunder. Each strike targeted Wu Tong's vital points. The force of his chopping palms was enough to split stone and shatter steles. Wu Tong was forced to retreat again and again, leaping several feet into the air. The elder pursued relentlessly.
Startled, Wu Tong raised his palms to parry. The elder's twin palms flew like a storm, their power astonishing—and within that power lurked an incomparably venomous inner force. Bang! One palm struck Wu Tong without warning. With a muffled groan, Wu Tong was hit squarely in the abdomen and hurled backward.
At this critical moment, a silent palm wind struck in from the right. The two attackers met palms—bang!—and instantly separated.
The Five Supreme Elder said, "Western Madman—long time no see."
"'Western Madman' Situ Kong replied, "You old brute! Attacking when someone is unprepared—how is that the conduct of a hero?"
The Five Supreme Elder sneered. "I have no interest in being a hero. I was entrusted today to take this boy's life! Stand aside!"
Situ Kong said firmly, "This young man is loyal to the heavens and earth, a true hero of our age. He once saved my life. As long as I am here, you won't touch a single hair on his head!"
As they spoke, Ling Xian'er hurried forward. Wu Tong felt his qi and blood surging chaotically in his chest, but he smiled faintly and waved his right hand to show that it was nothing serious. He immediately sat down cross-legged, activating his Northern Abyss Inner Art to force the elder's venomous energy out of his body.
Seeing the situation tilt in his favor, the Five Supreme Elder's spirits rose. Seizing the moment, he shouted, "So this is the famed Loyalty Hall? Nothing special! Out of the way!" He pushed with palm and attacked with fist.
Situ Kong, bold and supremely skilled, did not retreat. The two immediately clashed. The elder raised his left palm and struck straight for Situ Kong's chest. Situ Kong sealed with both palms and countered with a forceful strike. But the elder followed with his right palm, swift and heavy—elbows crashing, fists striking, palms chopping, feet kicking. Situ Kong dared not slacken and countered blow for blow.
Their inner energies collided, fists and feet flying. For a time, the battle was utterly deadlocked.
Meanwhile, wisps of white vapor rose continuously from the top of Wu Tong's head, as though from a steaming cauldron. In less than half a quarter-hour, he had completely expelled the Five Supreme Elder's venomous palm energy.
When Wu Tong was struck earlier, the danger had been extreme. Fortunately, Situ Kong had arrived in time. Now recovered and brimming with inner power, Wu Tong rose to his feet. With a single thought, he leapt to his horse, seized the Crouching Dragon Blade, and vaulted back to his original position.
He called out loudly, "Senior Situ, please rest for now. I treated this man as a senior and showed restraint at every turn, yet he proves utterly venomous and treacherous. Since that is the case, I can only wield the Crouching Dragon Blade and carry out justice on Heaven's behalf!"
Situ Kong laughed. "Five Supreme old man, I'm done playing with you. Take care of yourself. Once the Crouching Dragon Blade is drawn, this is no child's game. You'd best think twice!"
With that, he shook his arms and struck out with both palms through the air. His palm force burst forth like two invisible blades. The Five Supreme Elder hastily dodged. Bang! The twin unseen forces smashed into a pine by the roadside, toppling it instantly—a terrifying sight.
Seeing Situ Kong unleash such power with empty palms alone, everyone present was struck pale with shock.