Chapter 87: The Might of “Formless Sword Qi”! Absorption!

In an instant, Jiumozhi’s pressure grew overwhelming!

He cursed inwardly: “Such Formless Sword Qi should be immensely draining of internal power, yet how is it that he…”

After dozens of blasts of Formless Sword Qi, his opponent’s face was not red, nor was his breath uneven. Could it be that his internal power is boundless!?”

But with the mounting pressure, Jiumozhi no longer dared to let his thoughts wander. He could only throw himself wholly into his Flame Sabers (Huoyan Dao), fending off the onslaught.

Sword qi and saber force clashed and intersected!

In the span of moments, they had already exchanged blows through the air more than twenty times.

Jiumozhi had already spent nearly two hours earlier in combat with Benyin and the others, consuming much of his internal energy. Now, with every use of his Flame Saber to repel the Formless Sword Qi, his consumption worsened, beads of sweat forming on his brow.

He was already at his limits, barely managing to cope.

If this continued, there could be only one outcome—defeat and death.

Suddenly, the Formless Sword Qi shifted.

From light and agile, it transformed into something weighty and ancient.

Though still powerful, even more so, its wielder was less familiar with this form. Once again, those gaps in circulation reappeared.

Jiumozhi found this strange, thinking: Why would he switch to another meridian’s sword qi now, when he was about to win?

But soon he realized why.

His face darkened.

The opponent was using him as a whetstone—to temper his sword qi!

Indeed, Fang Han was deliberately grinding his mastery against Jiumozhi.

Such a top-tier opponent was rare!

To waste such a chance would be far too regrettable.

With Formless Sword Qi so deadly that few could withstand it, finding someone who could survive within six zhang and still fight back was rarer than rare.

Fang Han cycled through all six meridians of the Six Meridian Divine Sword, unleashing their sword qi, gaining familiarity, and gradually reaching mastery!

As he quietly grasped the profound mysteries, Jiumozhi grew increasingly suffocated.

The opponent’s sword qi stretched a full six zhang!

His own Flame Saber reached no more than two zhang. Every time Fang Han launched Formless Sword Qi, Jiumozhi had to guard with full focus, never daring a single lapse—yet his Flame Saber couldn’t even touch the youth.

And even if it did, by the time it reached, the saber energy had already dissipated, little more than a breeze.

Worse yet, Fang Han’s internal strength was boundless, seemingly bottomless. If this continued, Jiumozhi would surely be exhausted to death!

Thinking this, fear stirred in his heart. Suddenly, he seized a fleeting chance to retreat violently!

He even abandoned the three Shaolin secret manuals in the treasure chest, not daring to take them.

Leaping free of the Formless Sword Qi’s range, he gathered his qi, vaulted, and fled.

Fang Han’s eyes narrowed slightly. Employing Lingbo Weibu (Graceful Step Upon Waves), he drifted like mist and followed close behind.

Both possessed extraordinary lightness skills.

In the blink of an eye, the two had vanished from Tianlong Temple’s sight.

Benyin and the others stared at one another in shock.

Looking back into the grand hall, they saw the stone tiles crisscrossed with countless fine marks—knowing well they were the scars of Formless Sword Qi. They inhaled sharply in dread.

“Elder Kurong, now this…”

Elder Kurong opened his eyes, finally turning to gaze outside the hall. After pondering a moment, he spoke:

“Let us quietly await the outcome. Benyin, go inform Zhengming of the situation.”

Then he looked toward the three Shaolin manuals Jiumozhi had sought to trade.

“You three, make copies of these manuals. When the time comes, deliver them to that layman Fang.”

Thus, the crisis of Tianlong Temple was resolved.

Since ties had already been made, Elder Kurong chose to commit fully. Having already let Fang Han view the Six Meridian Divine Sword, he naturally would not begrudge giving these three Shaolin skills as well.

The old are shrewd, and know how to conduct affairs.

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Whoosh!

Figures darted through the air. Jiumozhi’s palm blazed with Flame Saber energy as he slashed back!

Fang Han swayed lightly aside, fingers as swords, unleashing Shaochong Sword Qi that screamed through the air.

Jiumozhi, sweating profusely, fought desperately as he fled.

Reaching a place where a stream gurgled, he suddenly stopped. Composing himself, he restrained his loss of decorum, and with solemnity performed a Buddhist salutation:

“Amitabha! That Dali’s Duan clan could produce such a heaven-blessed genius as layman Fang—this little monk is in awe, in awe!”

Fang Han chuckled lightly:

“Great Wheel Ming King, you are mistaken. I am not of the Duan clan.”

Jiumozhi’s words froze in his throat. Stunned for a long moment, he asked in disbelief:

“Since the layman is not of the Duan clan, then how could you wield Tianlong Temple’s supreme art, the Six Meridian Divine Sword!?”

Fang Han’s smile was ambiguous:

“For that, I must thank you, Great Wheel Ming King. Had you not pressed Tianlong Temple so hard, how else would I have had the chance to study the Six Meridian Divine Sword?”

These words were true—when Fang Han had studied the sword earlier, he had faintly sensed Elder Kurong’s intent.

But without Jiumozhi’s pressure, there was no way the temple would have handed the sword manual to him.

Jiumozhi’s face stiffened. For no reason, a surge of fury welled in his heart.

Damn it!

I offered three Shaolin secret arts, yet still could not obtain the sword manual, blocked by their ancestral rule of never transmitting it beyond the clan.

And now, they simply gave it to a non-Duan outsider!

What twisted logic was this!?

Though enraged within, his face remained serene, smiling faintly:

“So that’s how it is. By this reasoning, I have contributed somewhat to the layman’s progress.”

Fang Han smiled but said nothing.

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