Starting With The Martial Arts Holy Fire Order

Chapter 026: Easily Defeating the Left and Right Guardians

At the training grounds, Ling Yihan noticed that it was time to halt the sparring session. He politely addressed Yin Tianzheng, “Eagle King, thank you for letting me win.”

Once Yin Tianzheng exited the arena, Yang Xiao and Fan Yao exchanged a glance before both leaping onto the training grounds.

“Sacred Son, the two of us know we aren’t your equals in martial skill, but we’d still like to learn from you,” Yang Xiao said, his usual arrogance replaced with a tone of respect.

Fan Yao remained silent, merely nodding in agreement with Yang Xiao’s words.

Ling Yihan smiled slightly. “In that case, please, Guardians, make your move.”

Having witnessed Ling Yihan’s impressive skills earlier, Yang Xiao and Fan Yao did not hold back. They immediately launched an all-out assault on him.

Standing calmly between the two, Ling Yihan redirected their attacks with ease. Though he appeared to be engaged in combat with both men, he was actually pitting them against each other.

It did not take long for Yang Xiao to sense something peculiar.

“Qiankun Great Shift… it’s Qiankun Great Shift!” he gasped.

Upon hearing this, Fan Yao understood why Ling Yihan was handling their combined assaults so effortlessly. He was employing the Ming Sect’s supreme skill, Qiankun Great Shift, to deflect their energy toward one another. Ling Yihan was not using his own strength at all.

“Did the Sect Leader teach Brother Ling the Qiankun Great Shift technique?” Daiqisi asked curiously, having never witnessed Ling Yihan use this skill before.

Yang Dingtian nodded. “Of course. Only the Sect Leaders of our Ming Sect are permitted to practice Qiankun Great Shift. After he defeated Han Qianye, I intended for him to succeed me as Sect Leader, so I saw no harm in teaching him. It seems, however, that he has already attained a very high level in the technique… Tell me, my good disciple, what level have you reached?”

While countering the Guardians’ attacks, Ling Yihan replied, “Not bad, Master. I’ve reached the seventh level, though there are still nineteen phrases I haven’t fully understood.”

At this, everyone was left astounded.

Yang Dingtian laughed helplessly. “You rascal! Do you know how difficult this technique is to master? The first level alone takes seven years for a quick learner and up to fourteen for others. The time needed for each subsequent level only increases. I’m considered a gifted martial artist, and I only reached the fourth level. Our eighth Sect Leader, who was the most skilled in history, barely managed to reach the fifth level but died the same day from inner turmoil. Yet you… you’ve reached the seventh level in less than two months…”

“Actually, I only needed one night to reach the seventh level,” Ling Yihan stated softly.

This revelation nearly caused everyone to choke on their disbelief. Yang Dingtian’s vision darkened, as if he might faint.

As he sparred with Ling Yihan, Yang Xiao pondered, “I always considered myself a martial arts prodigy. It took me five years to reach the first level of Qiankun Great Shift after the Sect Leader taught me. The second level would take even longer… But this Ling Yihan… Is he even human?”

Realising that his energy was futile, since it was merely being redirected, Yang Xiao stepped back.

He struck the ground with his palm, sending several pebbles flying before flicking them toward Ling Yihan’s acupoints.

“Finger Flick Technique? Very well, let’s see whose technique is stronger.”

Ling Yihan quickly countered with the same Finger Flick Technique, sending several stones back at Yang Xiao. Not only did he shatter Yang Xiao’s stones, but he also struck several of his acupoints, rendering him immobile.

With that, Yang Xiao was defeated. Only Fan Yao remained.

Fan Yao picked up a fallen branch and unleashed various techniques against Ling Yihan. Sword moves, sabre techniques, the Judge’s Pen technique, staff techniques—he showcased skills from numerous schools.

“Fan Yao has indeed mastered many different techniques, just as the tales say. If I keep relying on Qiankun Great Shift and Nine Yang Divine Skill, he may not be convinced. I’ll have to defeat him using techniques.”

Ling Yihan then abandoned Qiankun Great Shift, opting instead to employ techniques from Peach Blossom Island, such as the Orchid Point Striking Hand and Falling Petals Divine Sword Palm.

Next, he utilized the Demon-Subduing Fist from the Nine Yin Manual before finally incorporating the Sacred Flame Order techniques.

The longer the fight progressed, the more astonished Fan Yao became.

“I pride myself on knowing almost every martial art in the world, yet his techniques are entirely unfamiliar to me. Each move is extraordinarily refined. At first, I could barely parry his palm strikes, but his fierce punches and unusual techniques leave me completely helpless. This young man’s strength is terrifying… and he’s not even twenty…”

After exchanging several more moves with Ling Yihan, Fan Yao eventually retreated, sighing.

“I concede. The Sacred Son’s martial skills are unfathomable. I am no match for him.”

Ling Yihan smiled slightly. “Right Guardian, you’re too modest. In terms of knowledge, no one in our sect can match you, aside from Master and Left Guardian Yang. A duel is merely a test of skill; there’s no need to dwell on the outcome.”

Following these matches, no one in the Ming Sect dared challenge Ling Yihan again, and he earned even greater respect from them.

Three days later, at the Ming Sect’s main hall on Bright Summit, a grand ceremony was held to officially instate Ling Yihan as the new Sect Leader.

The Sacred Fire Hall was filled with celebratory tables, with all the prominent figures of the Ming Sect in attendance, creating a lively scene. The news spread throughout the martial world, and Ling Yihan’s name echoed across the Mongolian court, the Six Great Sects, and other factions.

As Yang Dingtian observed Ling Yihan’s duel with Fan Yao, he noted similarities between his techniques and Qiankun Great Shift, prompting him to inquire further.

Ling Yihan, now the official Sect Leader, shared everything without reservation. He informed Yang Dingtian about the six Sacred Flame Orders he had acquired from a Persian merchant, emphasizing that he had not realised they were holy relics of the Ming Sect.

Yang Dingtian was both shocked and delighted, repeatedly praising his decision to make Ling Yihan his disciple and to name him as his successor.

As for how to deal with Boyan’s nephew, Tuotuo, Yang Dingtian left the matter entirely in Ling Yihan’s hands.

Ling Yihan opted not to kill him, intending to use him as leverage to negotiate with the imperial court for greater benefits. Thus, he had Tuotuo imprisoned in the most secure dungeon on Bright Summit, with strict orders that no one except the Sect Leader was permitted to visit him.

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