The Twin Blade Assassin Hu Mao, sensing that he had met his match, finally unleashed both of his blades. With a flick of both hands, dazzling arcs of steel danced in the air. His strikes were vicious and unrelenting. Suddenly, Wu Tong gave a light flick of his paper fan and tossed it into the air. His steps shifted swiftly, body gliding effortlessly through the storm of blades. With a graceful turn, he caught the falling fan mid-spin.
Hu Mao's twin sabers hacked like mountain-splitting axes, each blow carrying immense weight. He roared and struck with all his might. Wu Tong raised his fan and blocked—not off by a hair's breadth—the weapons met with a loud clang!
Hu Mao pressed harder, pouring strength into his blades. Wu Tong was forced back, flipping through the air, landing over twenty feet away.
Hu Mao's expression changed. His eyes narrowed as he growled:
"Hmph! When I, the Twin Blade Assassin Hu Mao, draw both blades, my technique is unmatched. Once unleashed, it's never ordinary!"
With that, he shot forward like lightning. His feet pushed off the ground, launching himself through the air. Blades gleaming, he slashed downward toward Wu Tong with fierce determination.
Driven by a burning desire to win, Hu Mao's attacks were ferocious. But Wu Tong, with just a paper fan in hand, was calm and composed. He borrowed momentum rather than resisting it, skillfully avoiding each strike.
In an instant, Hu Mao unleashed six rapid slashes, each aimed at vital points. Though his technique wasn't top-tier, his strikes were brutal and relentless—few in the martial world could match such savagery.
But Wu Tong handled it with ease. Every step and motion of his seemed effortless, yet each was laced with incredible skill. The Baihuo Cult disciples erupted in cheers and admiration, the sound rising like waves.
Seeing Wu Tong's calm in the face of his flurry of attacks only enraged Hu Mao further. But the truth was undeniable—Wu Tong was extraordinary.
Then Wu Tong smiled faintly and said:
"Your twin blades are indeed formidable. But now it's my turn. Keep your eyes open!"
As he spoke, he suddenly lunged, unleashing three moves in a single breath—swift, elusive, and masterful in both attack and defense. His body flickered like a phantom.
Closing in, his left palm lashed out—BAM!—Hu Mao staggered, forced backward, nearly losing his footing.
Suddenly, a piercing whistle rang out—Qin He leapt into the fray, his Judge's Twin Pens stabbing straight at Wu Tong. It was a classic "rescue by attacking elsewhere" tactic.
Wu Tong sidestepped and greeted the ambush with bold spirit:
"A fine pair of Judge's Pens!"
The two clashed—attack and defense exchanged rapidly. Wu Tong then executed a swift fan technique called "Starry Sky Burst". The fan snapped forward, striking the twin pens—CLANG CLANG!—they were knocked from Qin He's hands and embedded more than a foot into the earth.
Disarmed, Qin He retreated in haste.
Wu Tong stood tall, radiant and commanding without rage. He shouted:
"This Sacred Flame Hall of the Baihuo Cult is no place for your lawless rampage!"
Dharma King Shi Ming sneered coldly and snapped:
"These people are traitors to the cult. We're cleansing our own house. What right do you have to interfere?"
At that moment, Cult Master Li Ning stepped forward boldly, unyielding, a figure of righteous fury. He pointed directly at Shi Ming and shouted:
"Among us of the Baihuo Cult, we honor gratitude and vengeance alike. You, Shi Ming, were granted great favor by our cult and rose to Dharma King. Yet today, you lead outsiders to attack us? What face do you have to call yourself a Dharma King?!"
By now, the other Dharma Kings and the Cult Master had been untied by Zhao Rou and Ling Xian'er.
Beneath the starlit sky, surrounded by blazing sacred flames and countless cult followers, Li Ning's righteous speech moved all who heard it, even Wu Tong and his companions.
Shi Ming had long plotted this night. He thought with the Yan court's support and mercenaries bought with heavy gold, he could take advantage of internal strife and seize the leadership of the Baihuo Cult.
He had planned everything—until a "Messenger of Light" appeared and shattered all his schemes. Now, his ambitions lay in ruins.
But with things as they were, Shi Ming could not back down. Enraged and humiliated, he roared:
"Enough talk! Black and White Duo! Twin Blade Assassin! Long-Browed Eyes! Silver-Hook Judge! Kill the cult master now!"
Wu Tong stepped forward, eyes blazing:
"Who dares make a move?!"
The Black and White Duo—"White Piece" He Qian and "Black Piece" Xie Guo—leapt out, each brandishing a broadsword.
He Qian shouted:
"Move aside, brat!"
Hu Mao snarled:
"Five of us together? Let's see if he's a god now!"
The Silver-Hook Judge, having lost his twin pens, grabbed a broadsword and laughed grimly:
"This time, even wings won't save you!"
The situation turned dire.
From behind, Ling Xian'er cried:
"Brother Tong, why not use your sword for this?"
At the same time, Zhao Rou shouted:
"Catch!"
In a flash, Wu Tong reached out and caught a gleaming sword thrown through the air. It was the very sword given to him by his master, the Immortal Baiyun, when he first descended the mountain.
Emotion surged within him. He said firmly:
"The cult master stands for righteousness. Yet you side with evil tyrants. This cannot be tolerated!"
He Qian sneered:
"Since ancient times, scholars have ruined kingdoms. You pedantic fool—death is upon you, and you still spout proverbs!"
Xie Guo barked:
"Enough blabber—kill him!"
With a fierce cry, a blade flashed toward Wu Tong...