Chapter 4, the city-conquering hero wields a long sword

He had once heard this phrase from his teacher in the private school: "Outwardly impressive, yet filled with decay within." Although he was not well-versed in literature, his demeanor was sincere. Zong Tianxing could not help but feel greatly pleased and said, "To be so humble is indeed rare. If I were not preoccupied with matters today, I would certainly drink three large cups with you." Suddenly, Zong Tianxing thought of the perilous journey to Tianling Peak, and a hint of gloom flashed across his face. However, he quickly revealed a resolute expression and said to Xiao Chengfeng, "Xiao Chengfeng? That is a fine name. I am the island master of Tianqu Island in the Meiqin Kingdom. Unfortunately, none of my sons have amounted to anything. If you do not mind, how about you take on the role of this island master for this term?"

Does Xue Haibin think of herself now? Is she angry because of her own absence?

My departure is akin to a battle between an egg and a pebble; I am merely fulfilling my duties and adhering to the path of a loyal minister. As I fly through the skies, I explain: "The Beiming family seeks to make the Meiqin Kingdom submit to them, and I do not know what means they have employed to compel the king to yield. Tomorrow, a contract will be signed at Tianling Peak, so we are prepared to persuade the king with a blood sacrifice. However, the Beiming family has always been ruthless and merciless..."

Subsequently, everyone simultaneously cast their spells, drawing the wine glasses from the table into their hands, drinking together, and then shattering the glasses at the same time

Beside him sat an elderly man with white hair, stroking his beard and smiling: "As you traverse the heavens, facing great enemies, you still maintain a compassionate heart, always eager to lend a helping hand to anyone. This habit may need to be changed."

At the moment each move is executed, infuse the Red Powder Heart Technique into the sword's body. With each arc drawn, remember not to exhaust your strength, lest the Red Powder Heart Technique dissipates. Only upon reaching the thirty-sixth form should you deliver a sweeping strike. This strike, aimed at the center of all arcs, will cause the Red Powder Heart Technique to erupt in an instant between heaven and earth, leaving the enemy with no means of escape. Once enveloped by the numerous Red Powder Heart Techniques, unless one possesses extraordinary cultivation, others will inevitably fall completely entranced. That moment will be a fatal blow

After he finished speaking, he did not wait for the white-haired elder to respond, but instead sat down to adjust his breathing. At this moment, with the great enemy approaching, he was determined not to waste a single bit of energy, while the elder had evidently grown accustomed to this, and everyone else also sat down cross-legged.

This is the hero

At this moment, the two individuals share a deep mutual appreciation; if others were to witness such a scene of merely "a fleeting encounter," they would truly be stirred with passion!

Xiao Chengfeng smiled faintly and said, "What use is it to have only an exterior, when inside it is merely a decorative pillow? Even ten Xiao Chengfengs cannot compare to the demeanor of a senior like you"

The Red Powder Sword Technique consists of a total of 8 moves. Each move must be executed while simultaneously practicing the Red Powder Heart Method. The moves are as follows:

This statement accurately reflects Xiao Chengfeng's innermost thoughts, prompting him to raise his head and assertively say: "Indeed."

Zong Tianxing laughed heartily and said, "Brother Xiao, they know that there is a hero like you, which is why they bow. You should pat your chest and say, 'We share the meat when there is food, and we share the hardships when there is trouble.'"

You are well aware that the odds are against us this time. I am unable to take care of myself, let alone look after you. Therefore, at this moment, I will quickly teach you the art of flight and other magical knowledge. Zong Tianxing, knowing that Xiao Chengfeng had made up his mind, smiled slightly and said, "I am surprised that you would accompany me without even asking about the matter, despite only having met me once."

Xiao Chengfeng quickly exclaimed, "Senior, you must not!" If it were someone else, they would undoubtedly be overjoyed to suddenly become the new island master. However, with this hot taro in hand, Xiao Chengfeng felt anxious and troubled. He hurriedly leaped to chase after Zong Tianxing, completely forgetting that he did not know how to fly.

Zong Tianxing held the young boy in his arms and immediately cast the wind magic flight spell to take off. He was both grand and generous, yet quite attentive; while flying, he maintained a steady posture, ensuring that the boy in his arms did not sense even the slightest bump. After flying continuously for half an hour, the boy in his arms finally began to awaken slowly

The sight of Xue Haibin gently biting her cherry lips made Xiao Chengfeng's heart race. ... He particularly remembered the moment hidden beneath her skirt, as he held tightly to her thigh, warm and fragrant.

The elder understood that Zong Tianxing was unwilling to delay his journey, and would certainly place the young man in a safe location before hastening his own journey. The elder knew Zong Tianxing's character; once he spoke, he would not change his mind. He nodded and said, "I will lead the way for the Seventeen Islands." The other sixteen individuals nodded in agreement to Zong Tianxing. Thus, under the leadership of the elder, they flew in formation like a flock of geese, centered around the elder, and soon disappeared into the sky ahead.

However, the senior is still... Xiao Chengfeng suddenly understood something and said: "The senior must have encountered trouble, hence the decision to write a final note." He suddenly tore the edict in his hand in half and then said: "Since the senior can entrust such an important task to me, how can I not assist the senior? If the senior is not afraid of death, how can I be afraid?"

Xiao Chengfeng felt a flush of embarrassment upon hearing Zong Tianxing's praise. He accepted the imperial edict, and while he remained unperturbed and coldly indifferent when others insulted him, he felt a sense of guilt when others treated him well

Zong Tianxing saw a flash on Xiao Chengfeng's hand, and to his astonishment, the woman's undergarments vanished without a trace. He was greatly surprised and at that moment noticed the storage ring. His emotions were clearly reflected on his face, and he burst into laughter, saying: "To possess such a precious item as a storage ring, it seems your magical skills are quite profound; I have indeed acted unnecessarily."

To the south of Changhong Mountain in the East China Sea, over a hundred miles away, lies a place known as Meiqin Island. Meiqin Island is a small nation, comprising over ten thousand interconnected islands, allowing one to traverse the entirety of Meiqin without the need for a boat. Meiqin is situated to the east of Longtian Kingdom, and what is most talked about is the annual event held in Meiqin.

Xiao Chengfeng's face immediately turned bright red, and in a fluster, he took off the woman's undergarment and put on the big man's outer clothing. Naturally, he was reluctant to throw away the undergarment, so he placed it into his storage ring

As he thought this, a faint smile appeared on his face. However, upon recalling that "Xue Haibin" would come to the lakeside that evening to find him, yet he had no idea how to reach the Holy Maiden's Heavenly City, a twinge of guilt arose within him. At this moment, would she be lingering by the lakeside, softly lamenting? ... A snowflake would fall from the sky and the books, gently landing on the hem of her skirt, before slowly sliding down...

Drunk beneath the spring flowers of the sea tower, the moon descends as the jade figure approaches. Most eagerly I await the butterflies' fragrance to age together on the boat, beauty blooms in longing that captivates the city.

Zong Tianxing noticed a troubled expression on Xiao Chengfeng's face, and with a hearty laugh, he chose not to mention it further. He took off his cloak and handed it to Xiao Chengfeng, saying, "You can make do with this for now." He deliberately cast a teasing glance at the women's undergarments on Xiao Chengfeng's lower body.

Zong Tianxing took out paper and pen from his pocket while saying, "A person's superficiality and steadiness are not only reflected in their words but can also be seen in their sincere gaze." He casually wrote on the edict: "Due to urgent matters, I hereby grant the position of island master to Xiao Chengfeng. Should there be any further disputes over the position of island master, those responsible will be executed without mercy! Written by Zong Tianxing." He suddenly burst into laughter, saying, "I wonder how furious those children will be when they see this order!" He stuffed the paper into Xiao Chengfeng's hand and then said, "It is indeed a pleasure to have the opportunity to resolve this significant matter in my heart today. I have other important matters to attend to, so I must take my leave now." Without waiting for Xiao Chengfeng to respond, he leaped away gracefully.

The people of Meijin worship the goddess of beauty. Every year during the Festival of Beauty, nearly all unmarried young women solemnly dance naked under candlelight, attracting countless individuals from Longtian Kingdom. However, despite their best efforts, no one is able to catch a glimpse. In the past, a king from Longtian Kingdom waited for eight consecutive years, exhausting countless amounts of money, only to leave in disappointment. Yet, it was precisely because of this that people from other nations became increasingly restless, yearning for a sight.

Xiao Chengfeng looked at the shapes below, flipping through the pages one by one, but the shadow of Xue Haibin kept appearing before her eyes. ... The place she envied the most was the Red Powder Academy, so she was determined to find the Red Powder Academy in the future, and then help her reach the place she had always dreamed of.

Soaring steadily through the sky, he slowly landed on an ancient towering tree, gently patting Xiao Chengfeng's shoulder, and said: "How did you end up adrift at sea?" His voice was cheerful, evoking a sense of familiarity in Xiao Chengfeng. However, Xiao Chengfeng was at a loss for how to respond to this question, leaving him momentarily stunned.

He forcibly brushed away the enchanting figure in his mind and focused on the swordsmanship. However, the more he did so, the more he yearned for the warmth of that time

At this moment, in the year 391 of the Longtian calendar, on a small island to the north of Meiqin, a group of robust men, each with a serious expression, seemed to harbor a belief in their inevitable death as they knelt together facing north. The leader, a middle-aged man in blue, had a thick beard and notably, his left hand was missing a little finger. At this moment, he spoke loudly: "The island masters of the eighteen islands of Meiqin will fight with all their might against the Beiming family, even at the cost of their lives for the sake of their country." The seventeen men behind him also echoed the same words, each enunciating them with fervor.

If there are two minds, it is like this cup

He still remembers the words of the Crimson Lotus Fairy: "The cultivation method must not be rushed; otherwise, one may fall into madness. Once a specific stage of the mental method is reached, a breakthrough to a new realm will occur automatically. The improvement of the mental method relies solely on the daily operation of magical true essence at https://www.hetushucomcom." At that moment, although he was overjoyed, he did not obsess over the seventh layer of the realm and instead opened the following Red Powder Sword Technique.

Xiao Chengfeng said in surprise: "How could you, senior, trust me so much? What if I were someone with ill intentions?"

Due to the influence of the Crimson Heart Technique, Xiao Chengfeng's stature has remarkably increased. At this moment, wearing the Zongtianxing cloak, it fits him perfectly. The cloak is made of black leopard skin and enhanced with luminous magic, causing it to shimmer with radiant colors. Now draped over Xiao Chengfeng, it instantly makes him appear exceptionally graceful and refined

Everyone couldn't help but smile, but suddenly, Zong Tianxing spoke in a deep voice to the crowd: "Although this time we are here for a blood sacrifice, we must not lightly speak of death until we are truly in a perilous situation. It is now noon, and we will rest for an hour before ascending Tianling Peak. To avoid being intercepted by the Beiming family along the way, I suggest we split into two teams." He cupped his fists towards the white-haired elder and said: "Elder Bai, please lead the eight island masters to sneak up the mountain from the south. We will take the main road from the east."

The Tian Islands are renowned in the Meiqin Kingdom as the Great Island, enjoying an extremely high reputation. The children of Zong Tianxing are almost unscrupulous in their struggle for position. However, at this moment, Zong Tianxing is effortlessly willing to entrust everything to Xiao Chengfeng, someone he has only met once. If others were to know, they would truly find it hard to believe

Xiao Chengfeng, upon seeing this wonderful poem, could not help but indulge in his thoughts: the beginning of the first four lines, if separated, reads: "The seaside is the most beautiful." He was reminded of the moment when he hid beneath the little princess's skirt in the Jade Lake—he had not even asked her name yet! Since he had learned the Red Powder Sword Technique, he might as well call her "Seaside," for she truly is the most beautiful.

He then took a blue jade pendant from his bosom and handed it to Xiao Chengfeng, saying: "This is the token of Tianqu Island. I will write you a letter, and with this, Tianqu Island will not fear its gradual decline." Noticing that Xiao Chengfeng possessed such a valuable storage ring, he inferred that he must come from a wealthy background; having extensive experience, he could tell from just a few words that Xiao Chengfeng was an exceptional person, thus he bestowed upon him the position of island master.

Xiao Chengfeng felt a surge of heat rising to his head. He said, "Senior, you risk your life solely for the country. Even in death, your noble spirit will surely be passed down through the ages!"

The man in blue, known as Zong Tianxing, let out a hearty laugh and said, "To do good is the way of humanity; moreover, this young man possesses such a remarkable demeanor. Even if it is merely a small effort on my part, why not do it with joy?" As he uttered the word "ah," an overwhelming aura suddenly surged forth. Zong Tianxing laughed heartily and declared, "We shall immediately head to Tianling Peak and engage in a decisive battle with the Beiming family!" Everyone responded in unison.

Zong Tianxing was taken aback for a moment, deliberately displaying a look of disdain: "If I hadn't supported you just now, you would probably have fallen to the ground half-dead. Although you possess magic within you, you are unable to wield it yourself, and instead, you have become a burden to me. Don't you realize that?"

What is a hero

At that moment, he took out an ancient book from his storage ring and began to flip through it. The earlier sections of the book recorded the Red Powder Heart Method. Xiao Chengfeng saw that on the second layer it was written: "If the second layer has been successfully cultivated, the Baihui acupoint will experience a fusion of two types of true essence, one hot and one cold." He probed within himself and discovered that he had indeed reached such a level, which filled him with surprise. He continued to read further and found that he had actually cultivated to the sixth layer!

This young man must be Xiao Chengfeng. At this moment, he moved his body slightly, and Zong Tianxing had already noticed. He then said to the white-haired elder not far away: "Senior Jun Tian, you may proceed; I will take care of this young man first."

This technique consists of forty-nine forms, aimed at the myriad of flowers, thus the swordplay must present a curved shape, continuously drawing arcs, with the body lightly inclined to the side

A breath of true energy has become turbid, and as Xiao Chengfeng is about to fall heavily, a figure flashes in the air, it is Zong Tianxing who catches him and then flies away to the distance. Zong Tianxing smiles slightly and says, "If you show any signs of arrogance or complacency at this moment, I will take back that imperial edict; this is also a test, as the position of island master is indeed important, so please do not take offense." Zong Tianxing pauses, then speaks in a deep voice, "If you insist on refusing this position of island master, the decline of the Tian Islands will likely become your responsibility."

After flying for more than an hour, the two arrived at the foot of a mountain. They beheld the mountain, tall and majestic, soaring into the clouds. From a distance, on the cliff beneath the clouds, the words "Tianling Peak" were boldly inscribed in a dragon-and-phoenix style, faintly glowing with a blue light, clearly visible within a hundred miles. Such grandeur could not help but leave one in awe.

Just then, he noticed more than ten people ahead slowly falling to the ground. Zong Tianxing let out a hearty laugh and said, "What a coincidence." Those in front were the other seventeen island masters. At this moment, seeing Zong Tianxing and the young man together, they couldn't help but feel curious. The white-haired elder, noticing the stern expression on Xiao Chengfeng's face, and recalling Zong Tianxing's character, assumed that Xiao Chengfeng was emotionally stirred by Zong Tianxing, which led him to come here in such a state. He couldn't help but say, "Young brother, this journey has been fraught with peril, you..."

Xiao Chengfeng's face remained resolute: "Since this is the case, will the senior not teach me?"

Moreover, when he first saw her, she reproached him with an icy and indifferent demeanor, akin to snow; mysteriously, his first impression of the little princess was "snow"—why not refer to her as "Snow Seaside"!

A hundred lamps dim for her, as a thousand dusts and myriad paths turn back. With a delicate brow and a fragrant sleeve, the flower rain intoxicates, turning into sorrow.

Although the young man was half-naked, it was still evident that he possessed an air of nobility, exuding a striking demeanor. He also occasionally radiated faint magical waves. The man in blue, unaware that this was a result of the Red Powder Heart Method, began to suspect that the young man might belong to the ranks of nobility or royalty.

Xiao Chengfeng, feeling helpless, quickly responded with a bow.

In the spring beneath the flowers of the sea tower, when this invitation is cast, countless blossoms will bloom, thus the trembling phantoms of the sword must be exceedingly strong

Zong Tianxing smiled and said: "Given your character, even if I do not take you with me at this moment, you will surely find another way to get there yourself."

My responsibility? Xiao Chengfeng looked utterly bewildered

Zong Tianxing smiled faintly upon hearing such praise from Xiao Chengfeng. Although he usually maintained a calm demeanor, he could not help but feel a hint of joy at this moment. He moved swiftly with Xiao Chengfeng, his figure like lightning, while simultaneously explaining the wind-based flying technique to him. Xiao Chengfeng had reached the sixth level of the Red Powder Heart Method through his adventures, equivalent to the magical cultivation of others over thirty to forty years. At this moment, he found this basic magic easy to grasp, and within just a short tea break, he was already adept at using it. Zong Tianxing could not help but express his admiration.

Xiao Chengfeng had just learned various spells such as Wind System Flight Technique, Fire System Fireball Technique, and Water System Water Protection Technique from Zong Tianxing on the way here. At this moment, he felt an overwhelming surge of magical essence within him and momentarily wanted to soar into the sky and sing aloud. However, seeing the heavy atmosphere before him, he could not help but suppress this impulse. At this moment, he was restless and unable to calm his mind to practice the Pink Heart Technique, which led him to recall the ancient book given to him by the Red Lotus Fairy in the past

Zong Tianxing couldn't help but pat Xiao Chengfeng on the shoulder, saying: "A dragon among men! This is the first time I have seen a young gentleman with such demeanor!" He suddenly sighed lightly and said: "It's a pity that on Tianqun Island, there is not a single person with your charm; otherwise, Tianqun Island would not have to worry about a lack of successors."

Xiao Chengfeng smiled and said, "Didn’t you also give me the position of island master after only meeting me once, senior?"

Regardless of whether you accept it or not, you are now the new island master of the Tianqu Islands. If you were to leave recklessly, the Tianqu Islands would inevitably fall into a struggle for the position of island master, potentially leading to armed conflict. Is this not your responsibility?

In fact, Xiao Chengfeng was unaware that if he were to practice the Red Powder Heart Technique, supplemented by the Flying Technique, he would be several minutes faster than Zong Tianxing. Zong Tianxing, fearing any delay in their journey, did not allow Xiao Chengfeng to fly alone; otherwise, the current situation would undoubtedly be astonishing

Zong Tianxing was almost clapping his hands in delight, laughing heartily. At that moment, still in flight, he supported Xiao Chengfeng with his left hand and extended his right thumb, saying: "I fear nothing even in death, excellent! I, Zong Tianxing, have rarely bowed to anyone in my life, but at this moment, I am truly in awe of you!" He then gently waved his right hand, and the torn imperial edict suddenly came together, remarkably intact. He then sincerely said: "Please accept this, Brother Xiao."

At that moment, the man in blue suddenly looked north in surprise, only to see a half-naked boy floating on the sea. The boy was wrapped in luxurious embroidered undergarments, presenting a rather incongruous appearance. The man in blue frowned slightly, then stepped onto the waves and swiftly reached the boy, pulling him back from ten zhang away, and with a leap, flew back to the small island

Zong Tianxing suddenly raised his thumb and said, "I have never been one to easily submit to others, but I truly admire this young brother." He then tore up the imperial edict, disregarding the reasons and resolutely decided to follow him, even jumping up to chase after him despite not knowing any flying magic. This stirred emotions among the other seventeen, who couldn't help but bow to Xiao Chengfeng.

Suddenly, he recalled the words of the Crimson Lotus Fairy before her departure: "The Red Powder Sword Technique, when transformed into a sword, represents the highest realm of swordsmanship." Although he had learned the Red Powder Heart Method, he was still completely ignorant of the Red Powder Sword Technique.