Volume 1: The True Purple Dragon – Chapter 20: Fighting Across Thousands of Miles

The originally scheduled three-day martial competition actually ended in just one day. During the previous match, when Xiao Zhenyue, the head of Qingtang and the first to enter the competition arena, calmly stepped out in less than five minutes, everyone rushed forward to ask what had happened. But Xiao Zhenyue only shook his head and hurriedly left with several deputy heads of his sect, claiming there was an urgent matter to attend to. The deputy heads, who wanted to show off their skills, reluctantly followed, wondering, “An urgent matter at the sect? How come I didn’t know about it, but the competition leader did? Could it be an order from the sect master?”

Xiao Zhenyue’s unexpected behavior led everyone to speculate. Most believed this new disciple was not very strong, after all, he was just a teenager. No matter how talented he might be, how advanced could his skills really be? After all, they were all influential figures in their own right. Perhaps Old Xiao was being polite to the sect master and didn’t want to speak ill of the new disciple. Well, they would need to be careful when facing him later and not go too far.

While everyone was discussing and speculating, one person was different—Qian Dao, one of the chamber of commerce presidents. Though he was actually over eighty years old, he appeared to be in his fifties at most. While others didn’t notice, he carefully observed Xiao Zhenyue’s hands, which he casually hid behind his back. The hands were not only red but also slightly trembling—something hard to detect without close attention. Everyone knew well about Xiao Zhenyue’s martial skills. Even if he fought himself, he couldn’t guarantee victory. This time, he was one of the main opponents Qian Dao intended to compete against.

Considering the aura he had sensed earlier, others thought it came from the four elders or the sect master practicing meditation. But having followed them for years, Qian Dao was all too familiar with their auras. This aura definitely wasn’t theirs. Could it be…?

At this thought, Qian Dao suddenly realized that this competition was far more complicated than they thought, and that new disciple was by no means as “easily handled” as they believed! He reached for the Coiling Dragon Soft Sword at his waist, feeling much more confident. He also made a plan: “Let Old Qiu learn his lesson the hard way. With this experience, he can’t be careless again. A sword fight is inevitable. If the sect master refuses, we’ll just find some excuse to back out. Better to avoid humiliation at such an advanced age.”

But Old Qian never expected that the second person the sect leader called in would be him. Logically, a mix of strong and weak fighters should have been arranged to give the new disciple a chance to catch their breath, but that’s not what happened. It seems his guess was correct—it wasn’t Old Qiu who “killed” that new disciple; quite possibly, the opposite was true.
Old Qian was thorough in his planning, but he missed one thing—the most crucial one…
It was when he proposed a sword duel that Tianyu appeared excited, while Kuangru looked unwilling to witness it. That’s when Old Qian felt a chill run down his back…
Kuangru was well aware of Tianyu’s skills in swordsmanship. Even though Tianyu had been practicing Yunmen’s legendary Qi Sword Technique every day since joining him, when asked why, Tianyu said that practicing swordsmanship gave him the feeling of being an ancient knight. Kuangru had seen it for himself—the incredible angles, the imaginative movements, and the concept of “no move being necessary” made him worry deeply for Old Qian!
…
Sitting in the first-class cabin of the luxury plane flying to Chengdu, Sichuan, Kuangru summarized for Tianyu the sparsely concluded duel from the previous day—mainly about experiencing various sects’ unique skills and things to pay attention to before battle. Although several key sect leaders from Xuanji Sect took turns competing later, their strength was still far too weak, so it didn’t serve as much of a training opportunity. Thus, Kuangru decided on the spot to cancel the originally planned three-day martial arts exhibition and shorten it to one day.
After analyzing the situation, Kuangru began deliberately imparting some experience to Tianyu. For example, he discussed the issue of the wealth gap that had been troubling Tianyu, as well as why Xuanji Sect emphasized grandeur so much—always traveling in luxury villas, hotels, or private jets. According to Kuangru, although Xuanji Sect’s mission was “to uphold justice and save all beings,” its members couldn’t live in isolation from the world. Simply put, to make others work hard to achieve this noble goal, they needed to ensure people had enough food and clothing to win their hearts and attract better talents. In modern terms, this is what’s called “benefits.” Indeed, Xuanji Sect valued grandeur and presence, but if that grandeur cost one million and brought in one hundred million in return, what was the harm?

The wealth gap is not the problem; the key lies in how to control its size. If it is too large, it leads to injustice and social unrest; if it is too small, it lacks motivation and hinders development. Since ancient times, the Xuanji Sect has been striving to regulate this gap. Although with limited success, they at least manage to control it within their capabilities, doing their best while leaving the rest to fate.

There are also many other aspects such as the art of leading subordinates, techniques of regulation, and principles of balance…

Chu Tianyu listened with great interest, learning a great deal.

“Hehe, Third Master, then your usual calmness and serious expression in front of your subordinates are just to maintain an image of being aloof and unfathomable, just as you said?”

“Tianyu, in this world, especially in China, one must grasp the concept of ‘measure.’ If you are a genius and add a bit of showiness, it will inevitably arouse jealousy. As the saying goes, ‘A tree that stands out in the forest is bound to be uprooted by the wind.’ But if that showiness is built on strong strength and brought to its extreme, making everyone feel they can’t match or reach you, then others will regard you as a god and revere you!”

“Oh, I understand now. Just like you, Third Master, right?”

“Hehe, Tianyu, don’t try to be like your Third Master. It’s too exhausting and lonely. Moreover, times have changed; it’s no longer a chaotic era. There’s no need to be feared by everyone like your master used to be.”

“Then what should Tianyu do?”

“Hehe, three words: ‘Keep it hidden!’”

“Keep it hidden! Keep it hidden…” Chu Tianyu murmured as if having an epiphany.

…

Since ancient times, Shu has been a place where swordsmen and extraordinary individuals have lived in seclusion to practice their arts. This was also the first stop the Mad Scholar arranged for Tianyu’s challenges.

Late at night, two figures swiftly flew across the sky—it was the legendary art of flying by controlling qi. The Mad Scholar and his disciple stopped atop a mountain. Following the direction the Mad Scholar pointed, Chu Tianyu focused his eyes and looked ahead. Sure enough, on the slope of the opposite mountain, there was a not-too-large Taoist temple, seemingly embedded in the mountain side, surrounded by mountains on three sides and a cliff on one. Tianyu knew this style of construction—his Second Master had told him about it. It was a typical Taoist design meant to gather vital energy and ward off impurities, according to legend.

While lost in his celestial reveries, Tianyu heard theThe Mad Scholar’s voice: “Tianyu, this is where the ‘Tian Dao Guan’ lies. Though it appears to be a small Taoist temple, it stands alongside your Yun Men as one of the two major Taoist centers. It has many disciples, most of whom have gone into the world; those who remain here are all tough old guys!”
Hearing this, Tianyu recalled carefully before asking in confusion, “It’s on par with our Yun Men and also part of the Taoist tradition. Then why didn’t my second master mention it when we passed through Sichuan last time?”
TheThe Mad Scholar thought Tianyu might be worried about something, then smiled and said, “Of course, your second master wouldn’t tell you. Although your Tian Dao and Yun Men both belong to Taoism, they are bitter rivals—neither side will admit defeat, each believing itself to be the true heir of Taoism. Tian Dao has the advantage of numbers, while Yun Men excels in profound skills and superior techniques. That’s why I chose this place as our first stop for practical training—to give your Yun Men a chance to prove themselves!”
At these words, Tianyu’s blood boiled with excitement. After all, he was still young and possessed extraordinary skills. Even with his Buddhist and Taoist insights, he couldn’t remain calm under such circumstances. He eagerly asked, “Then, third master, shall we go challenge them right now?”
“Hehe, no need for that. Just release your inner energy at the fifth level, and we’ll wait here for good news. Oh, Tianyu, take this with you. You must not reveal your true identity, or trouble will follow. Also, remember—we’re here to train and spar, not to risk our lives. Fight if you can, run if you can’t. Never lose control and hurt someone else; it won’t end well…” Saying this, theThe Mad Scholar took out a pair of human skin masks and handed one to Tianyu, putting on one himself as well.
They exchanged a knowing smile. The masks weren’t very delicate, giving both of them an awkward appearance.
“Third master, did you also challenge other sects back then? Were there any from Tian Dao Guan?” Tianyu asked as he released his inner energy.
“Mm, it’s something every descendant of the Xuanji Sect must go through. The temple master who fought me back then seems to have passed away; now it’s probably his great-grandchildren who run it!”
“Oh, third master, how many moves did you use to defeat them?”

“Defeat them in just a few moves? Back then, I encountered their former sect leader, and I almost lost my life. Fortunately, your grandmaster stepped in in time and managed to save me. I spent half a year recovering, but it allowed me to master the final move of the Yuqian Sword Technique. Once I was healed, I challenged them nine more times, and finally reached a draw in the last one. Although our Xuanji Sect has many martial arts secrets passed down through the ages, true masterpieces are forged through battle, often at great personal cost…” As he recalled those events, even the Mad Scholar couldn’t help but feel emotional.

The Mad Scholar gently stroked Chu Tianyu’s head and said, “Tianyu, you must work hard. Don’t let down the reputation of our Xuanji Sect! When facing enemies, remember to stay calm and composed. With your current skills, you can go all out without hesitation!”

Chu Tianyu nodded seriously and replied, “Mm, Third Master, Tianyu will remember!”

Suddenly, several loud howls interrupted the conversation between the master and disciple. Soon after, several dark figures emerged from the temple. A deep, resonant voice came from afar, “What brings you, friends, to Tian Dao Temple at this late hour? What is your purpose?”

Along with the voice, several figures appeared before them in an instant. The Mad Scholar frowned and whispered to Tianyu, “Hmm, I don’t know what’s going on. It turns out it’s their sect’s protectors who came, not even an elder. With your fifth-level strength, you shouldn’t have drawn just such people. Maybe there’s something going on in their temple. Let’s act according to the situation. If necessary, we can come back another day…”

“Mm, okay, Master!” Tianyu replied.

Among those who arrived, the leader was in his fifties, dressed in simple Taoist robes, holding a feather duster in his hand, with a jade-like sword hilt visible at his back. He spoke first. Seeing that the two of them remained silent and clearly wore masks, he grew angry and shouted again, “You two come here at night, using energy to signal your presence while hiding your identities. What is your purpose?”

The Mad Scholar suddenly lowered his voice and replied in a very deep tone, “Oh, are it just you guys? Where are your sect leader and elders?”

The leader snorted coldly and said, “What exactly do you want, friend? Our sect leader and elders are not people one can meet casually. If you’re a friend, Lingxu would have informed us and introduced you. If you’re an enemy, well, no one has dared to provoke us here in hundreds of years!”

Hearing this, the mad scholar also snorted coldly. First, he sent a message to Tianyu, saying, “Tianyu, once I’m done speaking, strike at the empty space to your right with 30% of your Purple Void Dragon Energy in a slashing strike. I’ll take care of the rest.” Then, in a calm tone, he spoke to the people of Tiandao, “Hundreds of years? Haikou is quite boastful. Yet I remember that a hundred years ago, someone came ten times in a row, fought ten battles, and still returned safely. Tonight, I’ve come with my disciple to experience Tiandao’s ultimate skill once again…” As expected, Tianyu followed his master’s instructions. After gathering his energy, he focused it at the tip of his sword on his right hand. The moment the mad scholar finished speaking, he unleashed his ultimate skill, “Sword Energy of Spring and Autumn,” striking out at the empty space to the right. A purple sword glow shot through the air, and more than a dozen sword energies streaked across the ground before vanishing into the distance with a howl… Just as the people of Tiandao were astonished, shouting, “Sword Energy!?” the figure of the mad scholar and Tianyu disappeared into the darkness after a few leaps. At the same time, a deep voice of the mad scholar echoed in the air, lingering around the mountains for a long time: “Tell your master that an old friend from a hundred years ago, bound by ten battles, has come with his disciple. See you here at the same time tomorrow…”