Chapter 146: From the End of the Alley to the Head of the Alley

“Grandmaster, my foot!”

Yue Qinghong sneered, her foot resting on Wolf Slave’s shoulder. Wolf Slave strode toward Qin Mu, his hands grasping two demonic sabers that spun wildly. Yue Qinghong’s body trembled, and dozens of swords flew out in unison from the scabbard on her back. She sneered, “In a narrow path, the brave prevail. In this narrow path, Wolf Slave and I are invincible! Junior Brother Qin, your flaw has appeared; you’d best obediently return to the Great Ruins!”

The two attacked in tandem, one above, one below. Wolf Slave’s two demonic sabers whirled like a black cyclone, rushing at Qin Mu. Behind Yue Qinghong, thirty-one sword tips pointed outwards: one in front, then two behind it, then four, then eight, then sixteen, forming a massive drilling sword formation! The swords spun, thrusting toward Qin Mu.

“Senior Sister Yue’s sword art is not bad!” Qin Mu praised, smiling. “However, I’ve already mastered Qi Filaments; you’re not my opponent!”

“Qi Filaments?” Yue Qinghong was furious. “Are you trying to humiliate me?”

Qin Mu pointed his finger, and qi filaments burst from his fingertip. Hundreds of qi filaments, shaped like sharp swords connected end-to-end, formed a drilling sword formation. Yet, it was much thicker, like a sword pillar the size of a water vat, with a sharp tip that grew progressively wider toward the back. It pierced directly toward Wolf Slave!

Wolf Slave’s demonic sabers, like black light and black lightning, intertwined and clashed with Qin Mu’s drilling sword formation. Instantly, sparks flew in all directions in the alley. Despite his immense strength, Wolf Slave’s arms went numb from the impact, and he lost control of his two demonic sabers, leaving his center wide open.

Yue Qinghong was startled. Her drilling sword formation aimed for Qin Mu’s shoulder, attacking a vital point to force him to defend and relieve Wolf Slave’s predicament.

Qin Mu chuckled softly, his fingertip gently flicking, transforming into a picking sword art. The drilling sword formation that had just attacked Wolf Slave abruptly changed. Countless sword lights from the drilling formation instantly became a coiling sword art, yet he was still performing the picking sword art. He had perfectly fused the two sword moves without any hindrance.

His countless qi filaments wrapped around Yue Qinghong’s drilling sword formation. There was a continuous series of clanging explosions, and the drilling sword formation made of flying swords was immediately shattered. In an instant, the thirty-one sharp swords were pierced by countless qi swords, turning them into broken sieves riddled with holes.

Yue Qinghong shouted. Wolf Slave, beneath her feet, immediately dropped his sabers and launched a kick at Qin Mu. Qin Mu met it with his own kick, and with a thunderous boom, Wolf Slave’s tall body was sent flying backwards. Yue Qinghong, on Wolf Slave’s back, seized the opportunity to leap up, pointing her finger like a sword at Qin Mu’s shoulder.

Qi burst from her fingertip, transforming into a sword qi that was about to strike Qin Mu’s shoulder, when suddenly a demonic sound echoed: “Mayasata!”

Yue Qinghong’s mind reeled, then she lost control of her senses. Music swelled, causing her sword qi to disperse, and she began to giggle, singing and dancing in front of Qin Mu.

However, Yue Qinghong’s cultivation was profound. She quickly regained her composure, stabilized her mind, and retreated. Then she felt a warmth on her back and inwardly cursed.

Boom!

Qin Mu was back-to-back with her. He suddenly exerted force, leaning back and slamming her into the adjacent wall.

Behind that wall was Monk Yun Que’s residence. The wall suddenly collapsed, and Monk Yun Que, surrounded by radiant Buddhist light, sent Yue Qinghong flying out of the wall. He laughed loudly, “Senior Sister Yue, let me handle this!”

Yue Qinghong, suspended in mid-air, fumed, “Monk, you’re no good. You’ll just get beaten!”

“I’m no good?” Monk Yun Que was enraged. His techniques were fierce and domineering, like a dragon and elephant charging. He attacked Qin Mu, causing碎stone to fly from beneath his feet as his violent power shattered the green bricks!

“Senior Sister, don’t say this monk is no good! This monk is good!”

A deep, astonishing thud echoed between Qin Mu’s and Yun Que’s colliding palms. Monk Yun Que laughed, “Qin, you didn’t expect this, did you? I’ve integrated the Imperial Master’s sword art into my palm strength! My Mighty Five Platforms Seal…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he suddenly felt an overwhelming power crush him. The power was incredibly violent, effortlessly shattering his qi and his Mighty Five Platforms Seal.

Monk Yun Que grunted, stepping back and employing the Dragon Elephant Subduing Demon Seal. With a thunderous boom, Monk Yun Que’s clothes billowed, fluttering like white butterflies scattering in the sky.

He was almost completely naked, with no clothing to cover him except a tattered pair of white shorts.

Monk Yun Que saw Qin Mu launch another punch. This punch actually broke the air, emitting an earth-shattering thunderous roar. The fist carried electricity, like lightning. As it struck, a round cloud of white mist erupted around it, spreading outwards.

“Oh no…”

That was the only thought left in his mind. He took Qin Mu’s punch head-on, and as he expected, his white shorts disintegrated, scattering like white butterflies. He was now completely unclothed.

Monk Yun Que was sent flying backwards by the unmatched power. Yet, being a monk of profound cultivation, he immediately turned in mid-air to face the wall.

*Splat!*

He stuck to the wall, face-first, his rear exposed.

“Good thing I didn’t hit the wall back-first…” Monk Yun Que thought with relief before joyfully fainting.

Qin Mu shook his clothes, dusting off the dirt. At that moment, a timid, trembling voice came from behind him: “Brother Qin…”

Qin Mu turned to see Wei Yong cautiously approaching from the end of the alley, his legs still shaking, carrying a sword scabbard on his back.

“Brother Wei, what’s wrong?” Qin Mu asked, puzzled.

Wei Yong opened his sword scabbard, his voice trembling with a hint of a sob, “You’re going against the natural order; I must deliver justice and spar with you, to show you the immensity of heaven and earth… That’s too harsh. I can’t say that…”

Qin Mu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He said, “Brother Wei, you want to spar with me? It’s common for fellow disciples to spar, especially since we’ve shared life-and-death moments. How about this, we stop before anyone gets seriously hurt.”

Wei Yong then relaxed. His flying swords came out of their scabbards, and he steadied himself, saying, “Brother Qin, just don’t beat me up like that monk.”

His sword began to coil, performing the Coiling Sword Art taught by the Imperial Master. Since the Imperial Master lectured on swords, many scholars had been practicing the three basic sword forms he taught, and it was clear Wei Yong had gained some insights.

The scholars of the Imperial College were not foolish; more or less, they could grasp some profound aspects. Although Wei Yong was a bit plump, his comprehension and aptitude were not low, and his understanding of the three sword forms was quite deep.

He had a profound family background, and his own strength was considerable, not inferior to Qin Yu. Qin Mu also wanted to see his skill, so he did not strike ruthlessly as he did with Qin Yu. Instead, he likewise engaged him with the Coiling Sword Art.

Their sword arts intertwined, each changing and displaying the subtle sword techniques they had comprehended. The nearby scholars, despite their injuries, watched intently, their gazes fixed on their sword arts.

Wei Yong’s sword art was already extraordinary. He hailed from the Wei family of Jiangling, which had a highly esteemed elder, the current first-rank official, Duke Wei.

Duke Wei was a sect master-level existence, with brilliant military achievements. He once annihilated a nation in a single battle, wiping out the Tianyu Kingdom in the northern frontier, and incorporated the entire Tianyu Kingdom into the Yan Kang territory, thus earning him the title of Duke.

Wei Yong’s status in the Wei family was not high, but he had been diligent since childhood. The Wei family’s knowledge was profound, and his skill was outstanding and among the top among the Wei family’s disciples.

However, Qin Mu’s version of the Coiling Sword Art had even more variations. It was not just pure sword art; it also incorporated the profundities of fist techniques.

When Qin Mu sparred with him, it was more like a senior brother teaching a junior, guiding Wei Yong to comprehend the subtleties of the sword art. Once Wei Yong had mostly grasped it, Qin Mu would transition to the next move.

Soon after, after only three exchanges, Wei Yong breathed a sigh of relief, his confidence greatly boosted. He smiled, “Brother Qin, you can go all out now! I want to see how big the gap between us is!”

Qin Mu smiled slightly, then suddenly changed his move. As his sword struck out, he simultaneously used a move called "Sun Illumination, Yang Soul Refinement in the Air," which instantly made Wei Yong disoriented, though he quickly stabilized his mind.

Qin Mu then used another move, the Heavenly Devil’s Heavenly Freedom Seal, with a backhand. Wei Yong’s soul immediately lost control, and he was knocked to the ground by Qin Mu’s sword.

Qin Mu dispelled his qi, helped him up, and smiled, “Brother Wei, my apologies.”

Wei Yong picked himself up and looked around. Half the scholars in the Scholar’s Residence were defeated, and the other half dared not step forward. He smiled, “Compared to everyone else, my situation is pretty good. Oh, by the way, I just heard someone say you have a flaw in your shoulder. Why, even knowing about your flaw, were they unable to injure you?”

“Knowing a flaw is one thing; being able to exploit it is another,” Qin Mu replied. “If it were a confrontation at the same realm, only two or three people in the entire Imperial College, including the Directorate of Education, could find an opportunity to hit my flaw.”

Wei Yong gasped in astonishment.

Qin Mu looked around, seeing the Scholar’s Residence again in ruins. The few servants glared at him angrily.

He quickly apologized to the servants and said, “Brother Wei, I still need to go to the Heavenly Records Tower. Senior brothers and sisters, I cannot accompany you any longer. Farewell.” With that, he walked out.

Within the Scholar’s Residence, no one dared to stop him again.

Yue Qinghong rose from the rubble, watched Qin Mu walk out of the Scholar’s Residence, and sighed softly, “He is truly the Senior Disciple of our Scholar’s Residence…”

*Crash!*

A wall suddenly collapsed, filling the air with dust. From the dust, Monk Yun Que sprinted, one hand covering his front, the other his rear, running back to his courtyard, rushing into the main hall, and slamming the door shut.

Many scholars wanted to laugh but dared not. After a moment, Monk Yun Que’s voice came from inside: “Um, senior brothers outside, this humble monk has no spare clothes. The only set I had was taken by a fox and won’t be returned. Does anyone have any spare clothes to send to this humble monk? I’d be eternally grateful.”

Wei Yong chuckled, “Brother Yun, please wait. I have a few spare sets, though they might be a bit loose.”

Yun Que replied, “No matter. For a monk, clothes are external possessions.”

Libationer Ba Shan emerged from Wei Yong’s room, pondering silently: “Wan Yun is one, Junior Brother Qin is one, and then there’s Qin Yu from the Qin family, and the little fatty is also quite good. Yue Qinghong and Yun Que are also skilled practitioners. That makes six people as candidates for Imperial College Doctors. Guiding their cultivation should not be difficult. However, besides the Scholar’s Residence, there are also scholars in the Five Luminaries Realm in the Prince’s Garden. I cannot show favoritism, so I must also select a few scholars from the Prince’s Garden, lest the Emperor makes things difficult for me.”

He chose to instruct only those scholars who had not yet reached the Sixfold Realm. If they had already reached the Sixfold Realm, they would be divine practitioners, their paths largely fixed, making it impossible to teach them according to their individual needs.

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