Lu Bai, standing nearby, watched Alex perform the so-called initiation method to teach Linghu Chong a sword skill. His eyes narrowed, and his hand slowly crept to his sword's hilt.
Alex was at a crucial moment, and the legendary initiation method was said to drain true energy. This could be the perfect chance to strike down the Ghost Hand Sword Saint. Killing him would avenge Ding Mian's injury and rid the world of a Sun Moon Sect menace.
"Brother Lu, care to spar with me?" Yue Buqun said, stepping forward to block Lu Bai's path, his voice calm but firm.
Yue Buqun had spotted Lu Bai's move. If the skill transfer finished, he wouldn't care if Alex lived or died—he might even join an attack. But right now, the transfer was at its peak. Yue Buqun was set on securing the qi-controlled sword skill. He and Linghu Chong were still on good terms, and he was sure he could learn the skill from his disciple later.
Alex noticed the tension but stayed calm. He couldn't stop the copying progress bar, but as long as his fingers stayed on Linghu Chong's forehead, he could use Magneto's ability to fight without issue.
Luckily, Yue Buqun stepped in, so Alex didn't need to act. Seven or eight minutes passed quickly, and Alex felt the Dugu Nine Swords settle into his mind, sharp and clear.
Keeping a straight face, Alex copied the blocking skill from his D drive—originally taken from Claire —and pasted it into Linghu Chong's D drive. The blocking skill, a single move at 3G, let the user block any attack up to ten times stronger than their own power.
Alex didn't see himself as a saint, but he didn't want to be a villain either. He'd tricked Linghu Chong to get the Dugu Nine Swords, but giving him the blocking skill in return felt fair. It was a powerful move, like a rule of nature, useful in tight spots.
Copying the Dugu Nine Swords and then the blocking skill took about ten minutes total. When the process finished, Alex pulled his fingers back.
"What an amazing technique! I—I learned a sword skill out of nowhere!" Linghu Chong said, his face full of wonder as he felt the new move in his mind.
Whoosh!
As Linghu Chong spoke, a flash of cold steel cut through the air. Yue Buqun's sword slid from its sheath without warning, aimed straight at Alex. A faint purple glow shimmered on the blade—Zixia Divine Art, a deadly strike meant to kill.
"Master, watch out!" Lin Pingzhi yelled, his voice sharp with panic as he saw the attack.
Who could've guessed the Huashan Sect's leader would stoop to a sneak attack?
Ding!
But right then, a sword appeared in Alex's hand like it came from nowhere, blocking Yue Buqun's deadly strike. The Zixia Divine Art's power surged through Yue Buqun's blade, but it couldn't budge the fine steel sword in Alex's grip.
"Gentleman Sword? Some gentleman," Alex said, a mocking grin on his face.
Yue Buqun's sudden attack didn't surprise Alex one bit.
"What a strong inner energy!" Yue Buqun thought, shocked. He'd put all his strength into that sneak attack, catching Alex right after the skill transfer. Yet, it was like hitting a mountain—unmoving. Was Alex's inner energy that powerful?
"I'm grateful you taught my disciple a skill," Yue Buqun said, standing tall. "But good and evil can't mix. I didn't attack during your skill transfer—that's my honor. Now, that's done, and it's time for justice. The righteous sects can't let you leave Huashan alive."
His sneak attack wasn't noble, but Yue Buqun's words sounded high and mighty, like he was on the right side.
"Brother Lu, are you just gonna watch? Help me take down this Sun Moon Sect villain!" Yue Buqun called to Lu Bai. He wasn't sure he could beat Alex alone, even after that strike.
"What a fake!" Lu Bai thought, cursing Yue Buqun's act. But he couldn't just stand there, not when it was about defeating a Sun Moon Sect enemy. After a brief pause, Lu Bai charged in.
The Ghost Hand Sword Saint, Alex, was nearly as feared as Dongfang Bubai. If he was weak from the skill transfer, this was a rare chance to take him out.
"Master, stop it!" Linghu Chong shouted, feeling torn as he watched the fight break out. Alex had just taught him a skill, and now his master was attacking? Even knowing Alex was from the Sun Moon Sect, Linghu Chong couldn't stomach it.
"Chong'er, stay out of this," Ning Zhongze said, grabbing his arm and shaking her head. She didn't like Yue Buqun's actions either, but good and evil didn't mix. No one could argue with that. Linghu Chong was stuck between loyalty to his master and what felt right, so doing nothing was his only option.
"Master's wife, I…" Linghu Chong started, but sighed and fell silent. She was right. He couldn't fight his master, but helping against Alex felt wrong too. All he could do was watch.
"Bring it on! I need a good fight to test the Dugu Nine Swords!" Alex thought, his heart racing as Yue Buqun and Lu Bai teamed up. As long as Linghu Chong stayed out of it, Alex was eager to try his new moves on these two.
A faint purple glow spread across Yue Buqun's face, a sign his Zixia Divine Art was pushed to its limit. Beside him, Lu Bai, one of the Songshan Sect's Thirteen Guardians, matched Yue Buqun's skill level. Their swords slashed through the air, fierce and unstoppable.
Alex, the Ghost Hand Sword Saint, knew his limits. The Small Huandan had given him ten years of inner energy, but it was weaker than Linghu Chong's, let alone Yue Buqun's or Lu Bai's.
Still, Alex raised his sword, its tip darting like a snake's tongue, zeroing in on flaws in Yue Buqun and Lu Bai's moves. His strikes forced them to pull back their half-finished attacks. No matter how strong their inner energy, they weren't immune to steel. Flesh couldn't stop a sharp blade.
Ding, ding, ding!
Alex wielded the Dugu Nine Swords with ease, each swing targeting Yue Buqun and Lu Bai's weak spots. His inner energy was no match for theirs, but his flawless swordplay gave him the edge.
It was Alex's first time using the Dugu Nine Swords, so his moves were a bit rusty. But as the fight went on, he got smoother, his blade dancing with growing confidence.
Soon, Yue Buqun and Lu Bai were on the defensive, barely able to keep up. Alex's strikes pinned them down.
"How's he still going? He's got so much energy!" Lu Bai gasped, blood seeping from sword cuts on his arms. After the skill transfer, Alex should've been drained.
"Don't fall for it! He's faking," Yue Buqun shouted. "If he's so strong, why isn't he using his qi-controlled sword move?"
Lu Bai nodded, catching on. Yue Buqun's words made sense—Alex was bluffing.
"Dugu Nine Swords?" Linghu Chong muttered, shocked as he watched Alex's moves. Did the Ghost Hand Sword Saint know the same technique? Where'd he learn it?
Alex ignored the crowd's whispers. After fighting for so long , his Dugu Nine Swords grew sharper, each strike more precise.
Alex's long sword felt like an extension of his arm, each move flowing like water. His strikes were wild and free, slicing through the air. In a flash, his fine steel blade carved a deep gash in Lu Bai's arm, blood welling up to the bone.
Lu Bai cried out, his sword clattering to the ground. Clutching his arm, he stumbled back.
Alex's sword flashed like a shooting star, cutting through a gap in Yue Buqun's defense, aiming straight for his heart.
"Master!" Linghu Chong, who'd been watching from the sidelines, couldn't stay out of it anymore. Seeing Yue Buqun in danger, he drew his sword.
Ding!
His blade blocked Alex's strike. Alex glanced at Linghu Chong, shook his head, and said, "Guess we're done for today." He stepped back, turned, and left with Lin Pingzhi, who'd been watching, wide-eyed. Alex walked away without hesitation.
With Linghu Chong stepping in, the fight was pointless. Alex had already copied the Dugu Nine Swords—his mission was complete.
Yue Buqun and the others scowled as Alex vanished. Chasing him was useless. The Ghost Hand Sword Saint's swordplay was just too good.
"Master, you okay?" Linghu Chong asked, feeling bad about Alex's exit but more worried about Yue Buqun.
"I'm fine," Yue Buqun said, unharmed. "Did Alex teach you that qi-controlled sword skill just now?"
"No, Master," Linghu Chong said, shaking his head. "It wasn't the qi-controlled sword skill. He taught me a blocking move to stop attacks with a weapon. I used it to block his sword."
"Blocking? That's a sword skill?" Yue Buqun's eyes narrowed, staring at Linghu Chong with doubt. Was Linghu Chong hiding the qi-controlled sword skill for himself?
"Master Yue, you're lucky," Lu Bai said, his voice sharp as he held his bleeding wrist. "Your disciple's got amazing sword skills and now Alex's teaching. Bet you can't even keep up with him anymore. We're leaving."
Lu Bai led the Songshan Sect group out of Huashan, his tone bitter.
"You disgraceful disciple! Kneel!" Yue Buqun barked at Linghu Chong, his face dark with anger, once the Songshan group was gone.
"Master, I—I don't know what I did wrong," Linghu Chong said, kneeling, totally confused.
Ning Zhongze and the other Huashan disciples tried to speak up for Linghu Chong, but Yue Buqun's fury didn't budge.
"You think I'm blind?" Yue Buqun shouted. "The sword moves you used to beat Feng Buping and his crew were the same as Alex's today. He came to Huashan just to teach you. You've been dealing with the Sun Moon Sect behind my back, haven't you? Stealing their skills—are you betraying me?"
"Master, my sword skills didn't come from Alex," Linghu Chong said, still kneeling, feeling trapped with no way to explain.
…