The sword was fast and ruthless, the very move of the "Thirteen Swords of the Divine Gate."
Golden Flower Granny was already amazed by the Hero Sword's extraordinary nature, but she never expected Gu Han Yuan to strike with such ferocity. She was almost struck by the sword at the Shenmen acupoint.
Fortunately, being a Grandmaster-level expert, she reacted in time, blocking Gu Han Yuan's thrusting Hero Sword with her coral cane.
However, she didn't expect Gu Han Yuan to bend the Hero Sword using his internal energy at the moment the sword tip was about to clash with the coral cane, performing the "Restrained Finger Sword Art."
The softened sword traced a bizarre arc, narrowly missing Golden Flower Granny's face.
Golden Flower Granny retreated a few steps, asking seriously:
"Who are you? What is that sword? I've never seen it before. When did the Wudang Sect have such a formidable disciple?"
Gu Han Yuan, who had already pulled Zhang Wu Ji back, said calmly:
"This one is Gu Han Yuan. The sword in my hand is called the Hero Sword, obtained by chance."
Gu Han Yuan, holding the Hero Sword, appeared upright and noble, majestic and extraordinary.
"So you're the Gu Han Yuan from Zhang San Feng's birthday celebration. A fine Hero Sword, indeed a heroic youth."
Golden Flower Granny finally had some reservations. After all, the news of Zhang San Feng's birthday celebration had spread throughout the Ming Dynasty, making Gu Han Yuan famous.
Whether it was his verbal battle against Kong Wen or his injury to Kong Zhi, not to mention being a Xiantian Realm expert at such a young age, all indicated that a new star was about to rise.
While the brief exchange just now didn't involve a head-on clash, the two short rounds of combat had made Golden Flower Granny believe that Gu Han Yuan had probably broken through again, and was definitely not just at the initial stage of the Primordial Realm.
Since learning the "Holy Spirit Sword Art," Gu Han Yuan had, through analogy, mastered several of the Wudang Sect's sword techniques. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to improvise such a change in tactics.
"Senior is too kind. This junior is merely slightly known. But I beg Senior to spare my junior brother Wu Ji."
Gu Han Yuan wasn't in a hurry at all and could casually chat with Golden Flower Granny.
Golden Flower Granny was obviously unwilling to give up Zhang Wu Ji so easily. After a moment's hesitation, she was about to attack Gu Han Yuan again.
At that moment, several figures barged in.
Leading them was Miejue Shitai, followed by Ding Minjun, Bei Jin Yi, and other Emei female disciples.
"Xiao Fu, I didn't expect you to be alive. Since you're not dead, why haven't you returned to Emei for more than a decade?"
Miejue Shitai didn't expect to encounter Ji Xiao Fu here and asked sternly.
Ji Xiao Fu also didn't expect to meet Miejue Shitai and was completely flustered, unable to speak.
"Gu Han Yuan of the Wudang Sect greets Miejue Shitai. A month has passed since our last meeting. You're still as elegant as ever. How is my junior sister Zhiruo doing in Emei?"
Gu Han Yuan directly stood in front of Ji Xiao Fu, facing Miejue Shitai.
Ji Xiao Fu, seeing Gu Han Yuan's broad back, protecting her once again, was even more moved, feeling a sense of security.
The annoyance from yesterday's antidote had been completely replaced by shyness.
She was just glad that the person who saw her was him.
Miejue Shitai, seeing Gu Han Yuan protecting Ji Xiao Fu, narrowed her eyes.
Although she didn't quite understand the situation, she had personally witnessed Gu Han Yuan's presence at Zhang San Feng's birthday celebration. She knew that this young man, despite his age, was not someone to be trifled with.
Moreover, he was using Zhou Zhiruo, her highly favored disciple, to appeal to her emotions.
Since becoming a disciple, Zhou Zhiruo had often mentioned Gu Han Yuan, making his name strangely famous in Emei.
Emei had always been on good terms with Wudang. In the past, they had even arranged a marriage between Miejue Shitai's favorite disciple, Ji Xiao Fu, and Yin Li Ting, the sixth of the Seven Wudang Heroes.
Although later, due to Ji Xiao Fu being abducted by Yang Xiao, her whereabouts became unknown, and the marriage was broken, the relationship between the two factions remained strong.
Otherwise, Zhang San Feng wouldn't have sent Zhou Zhiruo to Emei.
Moreover, looking at Zhou Zhiruo's attitude when she mentioned Gu Han Yuan, it was clear that she had fallen for him.
If, in the future, they could be married to the rising star of the Wudang Sect, Gu Han Yuan, it would be beneficial to the Emei Sect.
Therefore, Miejue Shitai was rather supportive of the two.
If possible, she didn't want to conflict with Gu Han Yuan.
Ding Minjun, seeing Gu Han Yuan, even more handsome and dashing after changing out of his Wudang disciple robes, developed a stronger liking for him.
However, she couldn't believe he was protecting Ji Xiao Fu, the one she had been most jealous of back then. She was resentful and her gaze towards Ji Xiao Fu became even more unkind.
Bei Jin Yi didn't have so many thoughts. She had always been close to Ji Xiao Fu.
She had also heard many good things about Gu Han Yuan recently while taking care of Zhou Zhiruo, and she already had a good impression of him.
Now, she was worried about him clashing with her master, Miejue Shitai.
After a brief stalemate, Miejue Shitai broke the awkward silence, shifting her target to Golden Flower Granny:
"Golden Flower Granny, you enjoy yourself on Snake Island, but you come to the Central Plains to cause trouble and even impersonate my Emei's secret markings. Should we settle this score?"
Golden Flower Granny, who was once the Purple-Shirt Dragon King, was almost adored by everyone in Mingjiao. Even the first among the Four Great Dharma Kings was ceded to her by the other three. She was very arrogant.
Seeing Miejue Shitai's impolite words, she immediately argued with her.
The two fought without a word.
The Heaven-Relying Sword, a rare divine weapon in the martial world, besides its sharpness, its greatest characteristic was its inherent sword energy.
This was unlike the situation against Wutian in Wudang, where she had to react hastily. The Heaven-Relying Sword's sword energy shot out, leaving the surrounding area in ruins.
Yin Li, at this time, was about the same age as Yang Bu Hui, both twelve or thirteen years old.
Because she trusted Golden Flower Granny, she didn't stand too far away to watch the fight.
If Yin Li had grabbed Zhang Wu Ji, then Miejue Shitai would have been hesitant. But now, because of Gu Han Yuan, Zhang Wu Ji wasn't captured, so Miejue Shitai naturally wouldn't care about Yin Li, and the sword energy didn't deliberately avoid her.
Soon, a stream of sword energy dodged by Golden Flower Granny shot towards Yin Li.
Seeing the sword energy coming towards her, and her own martial arts being poor, Yin Li was despairing when she found herself being held in someone's arms, dodging the sword energy.
It was Gu Han Yuan, seeing Yin Li about to be hit by the sword energy, who held her and moved away.
As they say, you win a girl's favor from a young age. Such a good opportunity couldn't be missed.
Although Yin Li's face had a poison scar due to the Thousand Spider Venomous Hand, turning her cheek black, swollen, and uneven, making her extremely ugly.
Of course, with Gu Han Yuan's vision, he could automatically filter out the effects of the poison scar. Indeed, she was another little beauty.
Once she grew up, she would be another 90-point beauty.
Gu Han Yuan looked at her gently and said:
"Little girl, are you alright?"
Yin Li looked up from Gu Han Yuan's arms, staring at the handsome brother who had captivated her attention from the start.