On the twentieth day of the ninth month, near the Huangshan Palace, the Eastern Great Monastery welcomed a grand martial contest. It was early autumn—cold winds swept the ground, leaves whirled through the air, and the spirit of the season hung heavy. One leaf after another drifted downward when, at that same moment, the monastery plaza was already packed with people who had all come for this long-awaited duel.Half a year ago, at this very location, Stone-Breaking Demon PalmYin Li suffered ill fortune and fell to the Black-Eating KingSima Lun. Now, six months later, Yin Li once again stood proudly upon the Eastern Great Monastery's square.
Just then, loud shouts rose from the front as a path was cleared—those shouting were none other than the Three Devils of the Black Wind, followed by their underlings. They pushed forward arrogantly, making way for their master. Sima Lun swaggered in, one hand clasping the graceful Jade Guanyin, Gao Siyao, flaunting every ounce of his arrogance.
The three judges of the Life-and-Death Magistrate Sect were already seated:
Magistrate Cui, the Chief Adjudicator of the Jianghu
Li Yan, the Brush of the Magistrates
Sun Tian, the Blade of Judgment
Magistrate Cui raised his voice:"Brothers of the martial world! We three—Chief Adjudicator Cui, Magistrate's Brush Li Yan, and Magistrate's Blade Sun Tian—are here today to preside over this duel between Stone-Breaking Demon Palm Yin Li and the Black-Eating King Sima Lun."Both of you—whatever grievance you bear, speak of it openly before all heroes present, so the Jianghu may understand why today's duel has been arranged!"
Magistrate's Blade Sun Tian then called loudly:"Let both parties come forth!"
Yin Li stepped out first. Half a year ago he had challenged Sima Lun for love and lost; today he mentioned nothing of that shame, only the duel itself."Six months ago," he said, "Brother Sima's skill surpassed mine. Now half a year has passed—let us see whose skill stands higher."
Sima Lun replied,"The Jianghu whispers that you journeyed to Tibet to obtain the Snow Lotus, and that after consuming it your power increased beyond measure."
Yin Li snorted."Oh? Is that so? Then why do I know nothing of it?"
Sima Lun said coldly,"You were no match for me then. You are even less of a match today."
The words stung Yin Li. His face tightened and he barked,"Today's contest is a man's battle—let us see who is the true man!"
Sima Lun sneered,"You said the same last time—yet you still lost. Why not lose again today?"
Yin Li's expression darkened."Enough nonsense! Chief Magistrate, you may announce the duel!"
Both men had come with different intentions. Yin Li sought to regain his lost honor; he had even paid the Magistrate Sect to arrange the formal duel, knowing full well he could not afford another humiliation.Sima Lun had not wished to accept, wary of rumors that Yin Li's power had grown after eating the Snow Lotus. But when the Magistrate Sect formally summoned him, he could not refuse without ruining his name. Sima Lun, proud and already famed across the land, judged that with his unmatched skills, defeating a former loser posed no threat. Thus he agreed.
The crowd's attention focused upon the judges. Magistrate Cui exchanged glances with Li Yan and Sun Tian; the latter two nodded. They saluted both contestants and gestured toward the marked positions.
Once Yin Li and Sima Lun stood in their places, Magistrate Cui proclaimed:
"Begin the duel!"
Under the clear sky and cold autumn sun, a sudden long howl split the air. Yin Li leapt skyward—rising five or six zhang like a hidden dragon ascending the heavens.In midair he unleashed several palm strikes. The force roared downward, tearing through wind and cloud.
Sima Lun studied Yin Li's attack. The palm force was indeed stronger than before; doubt flickered in his eyes."Could he truly have eaten the Snow Lotus?" he wondered.
He shouted, "Good! Come then!"
Before his shout had faded, Sima Lun's body moved like lightning. He lifted his sleeves, stepped with his palms, and met the attack head-on. Fierce gusts swept their robes. His Sixteen Tempest Palms, famed throughout the Jianghu, began with the move Swift as the Wind—a strike that flew through the air like a bolt of electricity.
But Yin Li slipped aside with astonishing speed. Sima Lun threw out four punches in rapid succession, while Yin Li twisted and glided like a startled swan. His Sixteen Stone-Breaking Palms were each filled with crushing strength yet executed with exquisite agility.
A fierce cry cut the air. Yin Li spun, vaulted upward, and launched the move Heaven-Shattering Stonefall, descending from above with tremendous might. Sima Lun saw the terrifying force bearing down and quickly angled his body aside, immediately executing Hidden Trace, Vanished Step—his figure grew elusive, drifting like wind, appearing and disappearing without a trace.
Each exchange was the distilled essence of both men's lifetime of cultivation.The spectators watched, stunned speechless, hearts pounding. In the blink of an eye their vision blurred—the two combatants seemed multiplied into countless mirages. In truth, their movements were simply too fast, striking and evading in dizzying patterns.
Palm winds raged across the square, whipping sand and debris in all directions. The sheer momentum of their strikes was terrifying. In the time it takes to drink a small cup of tea, the two men had already exchanged more than a hundred blows.