Kong Zhi's attack was both swift and unexpected.
Not only did Kong Wen fail to react in time to stop him, but even few of the Wudang faction could respond.
They could only shout out a few scattered warnings of "Be careful."
Yin Su Su was one of those who alerted others. It wasn't because of her high martial arts skills, but because she had been observing Gu Han Yuan, instinctively shouting out a warning.
Unfortunately, she could only offer a concerned warning and couldn't step forward to help.
The Wooden Daoist had concealed his true cultivation realm for years, naturally, he wouldn't choose to reveal it in such a public setting.
Zhang San Feng intended to assist. However, upon seeing Gu Han Yuan's initial stance, he decided to observe a little longer, perhaps there would be a pleasant surprise.
Gu Han Yuan saw Kong Zhi charging at him with a ferocious expression, his face calm, his hand holding the sword hilt.
Kong Zhi noticed Gu Han Yuan's actions, but he didn't care about his resistance.
After all, he was just a junior disciple. How much strength could a young man possess?
He focused more on Zhang San Feng in the corner of his eye, worried that he would suddenly intervene. Maybe others wouldn't be in time, but could Zhang San Feng really be unable to catch up?
Although provoked by Gu Han Yuan, Kong Zhi, despite his aggressive words and actions, hadn't completely lost his composure.
Simply looking at how he paid more attention to Zhang San Feng's movements reveals that he had considered the consequences before attacking.
He wasn't foolish enough to believe he could kill a Wudang disciple in front of Zhang San Feng.
He merely wanted to capture Gu Han Yuan and vent his anger.
Therefore, Kong Zhi didn't use any advanced martial arts, just a simple palm strike towards Gu Han Yuan.
He was confident that even if Gu Han Yuan resisted, he wouldn't be able to withstand his palm.
Gu Han Yuan had already anticipated that Kong Zhi would be careless.
After all, his age spoke for itself. Throughout the Wudang faction, it was rumored that the most skilled third-generation disciple, Song Qing Shu, was only at the peak of the Houtian realm.
While Kong Zhi was at the peak of the Xiantian realm. A difference of an entire major realm and three minor realms. He had never heard of Gu Han Yuan's reputation, so it would be strange if he wasn't careless.
Furthermore, Kong Zhi's personality was inherently impulsive and prone to anger, and he was arrogant about his martial arts, believing he could easily manipulate Gu Han Yuan.
In a flash, Kong Zhi had reached Gu Han Yuan, but nine out of ten of his attention was focused on Zhang San Feng, who seemed indifferent to the situation.
He was no longer just glancing over, his head had even tilted towards Zhang San Feng.
This clearly demonstrates that the non-interfering Zhang San Feng was indeed diverting a significant portion of Kong Zhi's attention, aiding Gu Han Yuan.
Gu Han Yuan, who was prepared, naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity.
His long sword unsheathed, the sound of breaking air reached Kong Zhi's ears.
The exquisite sword technique, "Divine Gate Thirteen Swords," was already in Gu Han Yuan's hands, striking with a sharp and swift speed towards Kong Zhi's Shenmen acupoint on his wrist.
"Divine Gate Thirteen Swords" was after all meticulously created by Zhang San Feng. Although not comparable to the "Tai Chi Sword Technique" and "Two-Yi Divine Sword" such peerless skills, it wasn't something that ordinary martial artists on the rivers and lakes could handle.
Moreover, the "Divine Gate Thirteen Swords" was extremely difficult. Among the Seven Wudang Heroes, only Yu Lian Zhou and Yin Li Ting knew how to use it.
By the time Kong Zhi's face turned pale and he wanted to change his move, it was already too late. He could only grit his teeth and continue to strike with his palm, attempting to strike the sword's edge.
However, the "Divine Gate Thirteen Swords" was inherently fierce and sharp, emphasizing speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness.
If Gu Han Yuan hadn't reached the Xiantian realm yet, he might have been able to dodge, but now he was at the initial stage of the Xiantian realm.
What's more, it was impossible for the hasty Kong Zhi to dodge anymore.
When the two separated, Gu Han Yuan remained expressionless, as if he hadn't been the one who just made the move.
While Kong Zhi tightly grasped his wrist, blood continuously dripping from the gaps between his fingers onto the ground.
If Kong Zhi hadn't retracted in time at the last moment, his wrist would have been broken in half at least.
Kong Zhi looked at Gu Han Yuan with a solemn expression, uttering two words:
"Xiantian!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar.
Things happened too quickly, many with weaker martial arts skills didn't even see clearly before Kong Zhi was already injured.
Leaders and disciples from various factions started to whisper amongst themselves.
The Xiantian realm was a hurdle for the vast majority. Those with insufficient martial arts aptitude couldn't overcome it throughout their lives, holding back most of those who aspired to martial arts.
In recent years, due to the prosperity of the Ming dynasty, the talented individuals within the Ming Dynasty mostly chose to join the forces established by the court.
Although there were many among the disciples of various factions in the Jianghu who were of Gu Han Yuan's generation and had broken through to the Xiantian realm, the vast majority of them were about the same age as the Seven Wudang Heroes, or even older, their potential exhausted, with no possibility of further advancement.
Disciples comparable in age to Gu Han Yuan who had broken through to the Xiantian realm were extremely rare, each one a famous young talent.
Some declining factions didn't even have a single Xiantian disciple.
Prior to Gu Han Yuan's arrival, the most talented among the third-generation disciples of the Wudang faction was Song Qing Shu. But he was only slightly above average, and now he was merely at the peak of the Houtian realm. Without a special opportunity, his achievements were limited, becoming a Grandmaster was practically hopeless.
Song Qing Shu, now in his early twenties, hadn't yet earned the title of "Jade-faced Meng Chang," his expression grim as he looked at Gu Han Yuan standing in the center, feeling that that position should have been his. Envy gnawed at him, he couldn't help but clench his fists.
Top-tier factions or forces in the Jianghu require at least one Grandmaster to be in charge.
First-rate factions require at least one Grandmaster, and in many factions, the position of leader requires one to reach the Grandmaster realm before taking over.
Second-rate factions usually have their strongest individual as the leader, typically at the peak of the Xiantian realm.
Gu Han Yuan, with his initial stage of the Xiantian realm, injured Kong Zhi, who was at the peak of the Xiantian realm.
While it's true that Kong Zhi was careless during the process and was also distracted by Zhang San Feng, those couldn't serve as excuses.
Coupled with Gu Han Yuan's age of seventeen or eighteen, people would only believe he had exceptional talent, becoming a Grandmaster was certain, and a Great Grandmaster was possible.
That's why Gu Han Yuan, knowing all these rules, chose to provoke Kong Zhi to attack him.
Using Kong Zhi's lifetime reputation to boost his own fame.
Looking at Kong Zhi's current expression reveals how angry he is.
He wanted to attack Gu Han Yuan several times. However, he was now being closely watched by the Seven Wudang Heroes, and Kong Wen wouldn't allow him to continue acting recklessly.
Retrieving his lost face was no longer possible.
With Gu Han Yuan, the Wudang faction would not face a decline, even if the older generation passed away, he could still uphold the Wudang faction's reputation.
Shangguan Hai Tang opened her folding fan to gently cover her slightly parted sandalwood lips, surprised.
She was about the same age as Gu Han Yuan, and her master was Wuhen Gongzi, her talent also incredibly high, with the potential to break through to the Xiantian realm anytime soon, but she was still at the peak of the Houtian realm.
As for injuring Kong Zhi, who was at the late stage of the Xiantian realm, with the initial stage of the Xiantian realm, it was simply a pipe dream to her.
Although Shangguan Hai Tang and Gu Han Yuan were only nodding acquaintances now, she had always admired him. Now, she even felt a little bit of admiration for him.