Chapter 62 Revealing the True Colors of a Hero

On the other side, Zhang Kuanglong was knocked out cold upon impact. It took him about ten seconds to slowly regain consciousness, only to realize the bitter truth that he had been defeated in a single move.

He looked at the surrounding crowd and felt the various complex gazes fixed upon him. Suddenly, a rush of blood surged to his head, his face flushed with humiliation, and overcome with fury, he passed out once more.

He had intended to break Li Qi’s mental defense, but instead, his own fighting spirit was completely shattered by that single strike from Li Qi.

Had the gap been narrow, Zhang Kuanglong might have still harbored the drive to catch up. Yet, in that instantaneous clash, he had truly felt an insurmountable chasm.

Even before losing consciousness, a thought flashed through his mind: "That old immortal Li Changqing said someone like this lacks deep foundations?! If this is called lacking foundations, then what the hell am I?!"

...

"A-Qi, that strike of yours seemed to be the Eighteen Tiger Fiend Sabers. Was that a ultimate technique you comprehended from the saber art?!"

As Li Qi sheathed his blade, Li Zheng hurried over, tugging at Li Qi’s sleeve and asking with intense curiosity.

Since he practiced the Eighteen Tiger Fiend Sabers himself, he naturally felt a profound resonance and knew that supreme techniques existed within saber arts.

Much like Li Changqing’s three legendary moves: Mountains Hard to Cross! Meeting by Chance! and Time Flashing By!

"I did comprehend a supreme technique, but I was afraid of beating him to death, so I didn't use it. Strictly speaking, what I just used was a basic attack at seventy percent power."

Li Qi made no attempt to conceal it, speaking slowly as he reverted to his previous gentle demeanor, forming a striking contrast with the formidable person who had just drawn his saber.

However, those who truly understood martial arts knew this wasn't some form of split personality, but rather the sign of a saber art practiced deep into one's bones.

When not drawing the blade, it was as if the saber remained tucked within its scabbard, withholding every trace of sharpness—all so that the moment it was finally drawn, its edge would be dazzlingly exposed.

Much like a spring, it had to be compressed before it could unleash its explosive power.

Drawing and sheathing the blade worked precisely the same way.

To display one's sharpness at all times merely proved that one's martial arts had not reached mastery, unable to be freely restrained or released.

Of course, had Li Qi not displayed that fierce brilliance earlier, no one would have thought this way; they would have simply assumed he had failed to temper any edge into his blade.

"Good grief! What do you mean you were afraid of beating him to death, so you didn't use it?!"

"Arrogant! Arrogant! Arrogant!"

"Simply too arrogant!"

"A-Qi, I think you might as well change your name to Li Kuangqi. You're the one whose arrogance is carved into your very bones. Zhang Kuanglong isn't even in the same league..."

At this moment, Li Zheng's state of mental equilibrium was completely ruined.

A moment later, several of Li Qi’s cousins and relatives also gathered around, every single one of them filled with astonishment.

In truth, they had already witnessed Li Qi executing that miraculous saber strike with a pair of chopsticks yesterday. Yet, everything had happened so fast back then; it lacked the overwhelming shock of Li Qi fully unleashing his stance just now!

In that fleeting instant, their overwhelming impression was that of a heavenly demon king descending from the heavens, resembling a supreme deity of the mortal realm!

Imposing! Mighty! Truly formidable!

Following that, Mu Yao and her companions also gathered around, all of them brimming with enthusiasm. Strangely enough, among the group of five, the two boys were even more enthusiastic than the three girls, and even expressed a desire to follow Li Qi and learn saber arts.

However, Li Qi had no time for such pursuits right now, so naturally, he declined.

In this world, as long as one was strong enough, power could be readily converted into wealth. With Li Qi’s current skill set, whether he chose to enter competitions or become a coach, money would never be an issue.

...

"Strong, strong, strong!"

"Simply too strong!"

"Compared to him, Zhang Kuanglong is practically made of paper. No wonder the family wanted you to be with him, Qingqing..."

"I originally thought the elders in the family had gone senile..."

In a corner, several girls gathered together in whispered conversation, one of them muttering softly.

"Judging by his martial arts and character, this person is indeed an ideal match..."

"It's just that by now, he has already conquered the trial of romance and is single-mindedly devoted to his blade. I doubt he will easily stir his heart for anyone again..."

Among the girls, the leading one—whose classical temperament and aura clearly marked her as the center—spoke calmly and deliberately.

"In this world, after all, very few people can recognize a precious pearl hidden within the earth and stones before it begins to shine!"

This girl was none other than Mu Qingqing.

Though she was only a year older than Li Qi, she enjoyed a formidable reputation among the student generation in Tiannan.

About a year ago, some idle students in Tiannan, modeling after the Heavenly, Earthly, and Human Rankings, compiled a list of the Ten Great Beauties of Tiannan.

In the end, because the votes for the bottom seven fell far short of the top three, the list was whittled down to just three.

Although that student had long since graduated and the Tiannan Beauties had become a thing of the past with no further updates, the Three Peerless Beauties of Tiannan remained like an urban legend, widely circulated throughout academic circles.

Mu Qingqing's poetic description was: "Like light clouds shrouding the moon, or swirling winds driving the snow," owing entirely to her cool and ethereal temperament.

As for the other two, one was the notorious female tyrant of Tiannan High School, Shen Yue, whose nicknames were the Chaotic Battle Mad Saber and the Blood-Clad Asura.

The remaining one had already graduated and left to study in another city.

Yet these Three Peerless Beauties of Tiannan were far from being mere vases; every single one of them had crossed the threshold of mastery, excelling equally in both martial arts and academics. They were genuinely formidable in combat and top-tier in grades, relying on far more than just their looks.

Though Mu Qingqing was only a year older than Li Qi, her ability to read people was truly exceptional. Relying on the partial file about Li Qi provided by her family earlier, coupled with this face-to-face encounter, she had accurately grasped the crucial core.

"So, Qingqing, what are your plans..."

A girl asked with curiosity.

"Let fate take its course! If there's an opportunity, forging a benevolent connection is always a good thing."

"This person will not be confined to a tiny Tiannan. I only wonder how far he will be able to walk..."

"The world is vast, and there are far too many heroic figures. Until the very end, no one can know who the true hero is..."

"Reflecting on our Xuan Patriarch back in the day, he was merely a child in a village. Who could have foreseen that he would carve out the heavens and open the earth..."

Mu Qingqing spoke rationally yet with a touch of sentimentality—a personality that was undoubtedly immensely charming.

...

"This boy..."

"Should we..."

In a dark corner, whispered consultations took place.

"While Li Changqing lives, who dares?!"

"If he were truly provoked into a frenzy, our two clans would undoubtedly face extermination."

"Back when the three clans were purged, it was effectively five clans. Our branch managed to stand on the right side, which is why we became the main lineage. Otherwise, how would the Mu and Zhang clans of today even exist?!"

"Li Changqing is merely old, not dead!"

"Although you know of that bloody era, you never experienced it firsthand, and thus you do not understand the terror within."

"During his peak, that Li Changqing was known as the Mad Tiger. The moment he entered the Dao, he dared to lead an encirclement and slaughter against a True Immortal—granted, that True Immortal was flawed and heavily battered by formidable enemies, left with only half a breath..."

"Yet what kind of audacity was that?!"

Even in these times of peace, should he go mad, he would still dare to slaughter clans and eradicate families, beyond the reach of the law...