Yue Ru said with a hint of doubt, "Master, why did Elder Zhang admit defeat?"

"He can't fight against Master Zhao. This fellow has always been thick-skinned and adaptive." Bai Feng waved her arm. "Alright, you may go now."

"The fight had only just begun and he knew he couldn't defeat him?" Yue Ru asked.

Bai Feng stared at her curiously and shook her head.

Deep down, she mused, 'This is fate and it can't be changed.'

"Master?" Yue Ru spoke.

Bai Feng sighed. "Zhao Dahe has attained the ninth level for his Light Blade, so it's only wise for Elder Zhang to admit defeat."

"What's so special about the ninth level of the Light Blade?" Yue Ru asked.

"It uses Chi as a blade," Bai Feng explained. "The damage dealt by it is invisible, and this is the boundary mentioned in the legend of the Light Blade. But I did not expect him to attain this level, which is wondrous, of course."

"Using Chi as a blade…" Yue Ru muttered to herself. "Is there anything terrifying about is?"

"It's quick," Bai Feng replied. "Even one's eyes can't evade the attack."

Yue Ru nodded slowly.

She also noticed that Zhang Junrui had been propelled outwards despite not witnessing any attacks by Zhao Dahe. 

"Zhao Dahe is considered to be invincible in Gale City." Bai Feng shook her head. "But since the Construction of Radiance Clan has begun, he'll probably leave soon."

"Will Master Zhao really leave Gale City?"

"He's a disciple of the Holy Church of Light. As an inner mountain disciple, he must return. This place is just a training ground for him. At this point, the Radiance Clan can support itself and it's likely that no one will dare to disturb them again. Then in less than a year, he'll have to partic.i.p.ate in a martial arts compet.i.tion and enter the Great Light Peak."

Yue Ru nodded gently. "Will there be more powerful masters from the White Tiger Sect?"

"Only Clan Leader Hu of the White Tiger Sect would stand a chance against him," Bai Feng replied. "But he won't make a move."

Yue Ru was puzzled. "Why won't he do anything if he could defeat Master Zhao?"

"If he dares to come here, the bishop of the Holy Church of Light will attack him," Bai Feng said. "The Holy Church's bishop is an Enlightened Master and is bound by the Heavenly Rules, so he can't just attack anyone. If Clan Leader Hu dares to fight with a disciple of the Holy Church, the bishop can then attack the former."

Yue Ru grinned. "Then it can be said that Master Zhao has successfully overcome his challenge."

"Mm, just one stage." Bai Feng nodded. "However, the disciples of the Holy Church of Light have pa.s.sed through many stages, and the ones who can make it to the final stage are few and far between."

She glanced at Yue Ru. "Alright, you may go now."

Yue Ru curtsied and left.

Bai Feng shook her head helplessly.

…

As nightfall enveloped Gale City, the moon and stars looked dull against the pitch-black sky.

Chu Li stayed around in his courtyard for a while before he vanished and reappeared at Tianshu Courtyard in King An's Imperial Residence.

Tianshu Courtyard was brightly lit, so much that it felt like daytime which made the moon lose its radiance.

Xiao Qi was in the midst of practicing with her sword. As she was clad in white, when her blade waved and quivered in the air, flashes of blinding light were cast around the perimeter of the courtyard.

Xiao s.h.i.+, who was dressed in a light pink gown, was sitting by the stone table. Her fingers were pressed on the strings of her musical instrument in which the sounds varied in volume, harmonizing with the swis.h.i.+ng of the blades.

All of a sudden, Chu Li appeared right in front of Xiao Qi the moment she plunged her sword forward. So, she involved him in the fight.

All Chu Li did was raise a finger and flicked.

"Ting…" The long sword was pushed away.

"Ting ting…"Again, the sword was. .h.i.t twice before it finally flew out of Xiao Qi's hand and somersaulted in the air.

Chu Li stretched out an arm and the long sword fell into his grasp.

He smiled as he returned it to Xiao Qi. "Good swordsmans.h.i.+p, Miss."

Xiao Qi glanced at him nonchalantly. "You're just praising yourself!"

Chu Li chuckled.

Then, the sounds of the musical instrument ceased. Xiao s.h.i.+ spoke up, "It isn't every day that you come here. Are you worried about things on our side?"

Chu Li sat by the stone table. "Things have quietened down over there, so I'm free to come here."

"Are you about to enter the Great Light Peak?" Xiao s.h.i.+ was surprised.

Chu Li replied, "There's still half a year to go. Now, the situation has been set."

"It will be more dangerous," Xiao s.h.i.+ remarked.

Chu Li nodded in agreement.

"Right, I have something interesting to share with you," Xiao s.h.i.+ said. "Recently, the martial arts world of the Ji Dynasty has been rather eventful."

Chu Li looked at Xiao Qi.

As Xiao Qi came over to sit by the stone table, he could smell a whiff of her perfume.

Xiao s.h.i.+ said, "I'll let my younger sister speak."

Xiao Qi relayed, "A female prodigy hailing from Feng Huang Mountain has defeated all masters of Feng Huang Mountain and Green Hill. Her martial arts prowess is exceptional and she'll probably challenge Snow Lunar Pavilion very soon."

Chu Li asked, "How exceptional is she?"

"She has managed to master the most difficult Feng Fei Ninth Heaven Technique of Feng Huang Mountain. It's an arcane technique that no one has mastered for hundreds of years. Not only has she defeated all masters of Feng Huang Mountain and became its first master, but she has also challenged Green Hill too. She's invincible and no one can compete against her," Xiao Qi explained. 

Chu Li frowned. "Feng Fei Ninth Heaven…"

Xiao Qi added, "I heard that it's a special technique created by the ancestors of Feng Huang Mountain. Whoever masters this technique will acquire lightning-fast speed and fiery inner strength. No other martial art in the world can resist this technique. Apart from the founder, no one else managed to master it. Yet, she has managed to and has been regarded as a reincarnation of the founder by the members of Feng Huang Mountain."

"I must have a look if I get the chance," Chu Li commented.

Xiao Qi said wryly, "You're no match for her."

Chu Li smiled. "Why do you think so?"

"You're just a youth champion," Xiao Qi replied. "I think this Feng Xue is a champion under Heaven and G.o.d."

Chu Li furrowed his brows. "Is she that amazing?"

"Her mastery of Feng Fei Ninth Heaven is incredible," Xiao Qi responded. "More so, she came out of nowhere and is now more well-known than you."

Chu Li nodded. "That's good news. I don't want a mob to remember me because I'm too famous."

Xiao Qi said, "I heard she's heading to Snow Lunar Pavilion because of White Shroud Shendao."

Chu Li grimaced. "She does hold high regard towards me."

"If you don't respond to her challenge," Xiao Qi spoke, "she'll a.s.sume you're afraid of her. Do you want a first-hand experience of how powerful she is?"

Chu Li shook his head. "Forget it."

"Why don't you take it up? Your cultivation level has improved by leaps and bounds," Xiao Qi enquired.

Chu Li replied, "I'm swamped with work. Furthermore, she can have all the fame."

"Are you sure?" Xiao Qi stared at him with a cold, hard gaze.

Chu Li laughed. "I'll look for her again when I have the opportunity."

"Feng Xue." Xiao s.h.i.+ let out a short laugh. "She's the ideal figure for female representation — she defeated Green Hill effortlessly! If this goes on, the leading sects can't do anything to her. Her next target will be the Four Major Sects."

Chu Li remarked, "She probably won't be able to overpower the Four Major Sects."

At this point, he was more familiar with the concrete foundation of the Four Major Sects.

It was just like how he had killed the five Elders of the White Tiger Sect, yet he did not underestimate the sect itself. Tan Jin and the gang were about a hundred years old, whereas Grandmasters were approximately three hundred years old. Where had the two-hundred-year-old masters gone? And what about the three-hundred-year-old ones?

These old men often isolated themselves from society and pursued greater boundaries. The fights and bickerings that went on in the ordinary world did not interest them and there was simply no need for them to get involved. It was only when the sect was in danger that they would do something about it.

By conversing normally and talking about the martial arts world, they somewhat remembered the time when they first moved into the Public House. At that time, both of them were not familiar with each other, but they had understood each other tacitly.

It was already late at night. Chu Li bode farewell to both women and returned to Gale City in a flash.

Them, Chu Li left his courtyard and arrived at Phoenix G.o.ddess Brothel.

Phoenix G.o.ddess Brothel was at its most boisterous hour. The chimes of musical instruments and seductive laughter of women resounded within the building as if there was a huge silver bell hanging in the sky. The sounds calmed one's senses and beckoned one to step inside the brothel.