Chapter 8: The Five Great Hurricanes

This was the Wind’s Mouth, the most dangerous part of the Water Lord’s treasure. “Everyone, be cautious. The place we’re standing in is called the Wind’s Mouth, also known as the Wind Cavern. Here, five hurricanes can arise simultaneously. Only by passing through this place can we truly enter the Water Lord’s treasure. It’s said that the Wind Lord stumbled upon this place by chance long ago. The five hurricanes are named Cold Soul, Fiery Shatter, Gold Sever, Blackwater, and Needle Rain. What you see now is Cold Soul. It emits a terrifying chill—can any of you pass through unscathed? I think not.” Though Fu Yuzhen had never set foot in the Water Lord’s treasure, she knew well the hurricanes of the Wind’s Mouth.

Scattered around Cold Soul were several white skeletons, their weapons abandoned beside them. “This is the third-generation ancestor of my Wangchuan sect, Ancestor Ming. His iron sword once swept through heroes, yet both sword and hero found their end here. There lies the fifth-generation Ancestor Chen, distinguished by his purple stone ring. Chen was born a merchant, and though he became a peerless expert, he could never shed his merchant’s air. That he met his end here is unsurprising.”

“It’s said that the Water Lord’s treasure holds not only all the ancestral manuals, but also vast stores of primal crystals. Ancestor Chen cared nothing for the manuals—his interest was always in the crystals. In his youth, he wished only to be the world’s richest man. Now, dying amidst such treasures, it could be said his wish is fulfilled.” A trace of melancholy flitted through Fu Yuzhen’s heart. If time allowed, she would have gladly retrieved the ancestors’ bones.

For now, all she could do was bow three times toward those bones. As everyone stood at a loss, Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen stepped forward with a smile. “Seniors, there’s no need for concern. Why not let the two of us test the way ahead? Should danger arise, we will be prepared.”

Ji Anran, Gu Zhenzhen, and Li Moqing, upon hearing this, immediately turned pale and almost spoke in unison: “No! It’s too dangerous. Now that we’ve found the entrance, we should return and discuss our plans. Even though you two are skilled, this is the Wind’s Mouth—there must be no carelessness. The slightest misstep means certain death.”

“Very well. If we cannot change your minds, then the only thing left for us three is to go with you—advance and retreat together. Otherwise, we’ll return and reconsider.” This declaration surprised everyone. Zhuang Yunzhen was one thing, but Liang Xi truly had ability—to have two women worry for him at once, he was indeed remarkable!

Since entering the treasure, Gu Zhenzhen had not wavered once. If Ji Anran could do it, so could she. She knew that if she hesitated now, she might never have a chance to get close to Brother Liang Xi again. This was a result she welcomed.

But Liang Xi had made up his mind and would not be swayed. “Nonsense. Besides my senior brother and me, can anyone here pass safely through the Wind’s Mouth? As you all can see, these five hurricanes are set by human hands. Thus, working together, the two of us can cross safely.” With that, he and Zhuang Yunzhen stepped into the Wind Cavern. In an instant, biting cold swallowed them.

“Anran,” said someone, “didn’t you say Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen have trained in the Cloud Ascension Manual since childhood? That’s said to be the world’s supreme internal art. If so, perhaps only they can hope to accomplish this. Doing nothing is best for now.”

Gu Chuan had long known about their training and was not surprised. Yuan Minghe, however, was different. He delighted in collecting the world’s supreme arts and had long heard of the Cloud Ascension Manual but never seen it. Now, learning that Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen were heirs to this art, he would not allow them to perish.

“Rest assured, Senior Sister. I’ll follow in secret and guarantee no harm comes to those boys! Hmph, what’s a mere Cold Soul hurricane to me? Watch my Mountain Shifting technique!” Originally, the Mountain Shifting Realm used boulders as weapons, but Yuan Minghe now applied it to himself, as if a light reed gained the weight of a mountain in an instant. No matter how the winds howled, he was undaunted.

Each of his steps left a finger-deep imprint in the stone. Cold Soul’s power was not to be underestimated—even a peerless master would perish here. Yet Yuan Minghe strode in, unguarded. “Junior Brother’s Water Manipulation is even more formidable than before. He just used his own blood as water, combining it with the mountain-shifting force—no wonder. Now you three girls can rest easy. With Yuan Minghe behind them, there’ll be no trouble. Let’s simply wait.”

Seeing this, the three women had nothing more to say. Ji Anran originally had no wish to rival Gu Zhenzhen—just a lovesick girl, hardly worth scheming against. But just now, Gu Zhenzhen had clearly tried to make her look bad. Hmph, she would let it go for now, but once out, Gu Zhenzhen would pay.

Ji Anran’s temper was not good; if left alone, all was well, but if provoked, she would always retaliate. Now, with someone openly vying for her man, how could she remain indifferent?

The Cold Soul wind was truly formidable; the chill penetrated to the bone. Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen, both trained since childhood in the Cloud Ascension Manual, moved like drifting feathers through the hurricane. Though the cold was intense, Liang Xi’s body was insubstantial and thus not threatened. The Earth Scroll of the Cloud Ascension Manual used the energy of heaven and earth to supplement one’s own, making him as a fish in the sea, perfectly attuned to the gentle power of the earth. As for his senior brother Zhuang Yunzhen, a golden light enveloped him—this was the power of Profound Steel, enough to resist the chill of Cold Soul.

“Junior Brother, do you sense someone behind us? Judging by the aura, it’s Yuan Minghe of the White Dew line. But why would he come in alone?”

“Why? He’s said to love collecting supreme martial arts. What else could he be after but our Cloud Ascension Manual? Still, he’s a decent sort—brave enough to forge ahead, knowing the risk. Once he catches up, together we three will surely pass the five hurricanes.”

The approaching footsteps grew heavier. “Ha ha! You two are truly impressive—one as light as a swallow, untouched by Cold Soul, the other wielding such force that the hurricane avoids him. As for me, I’m the least useful, forced to bear the cold winds head-on.”

“Senior Yuan, you flatter us. We’ve always admired the White Dew’s Water Manipulation. If not for the circumstances, we’d beg to learn from you. Surely you’ve noticed these five hurricanes are artificially set. Now that we’ve passed Cold Soul, we should seek the mechanism to shut it off!”

By now, a visible layer of frost had coated the three, their breath misting as they spoke. Yuan Minghe, a man of great experience, nodded in agreement. The three began searching for the mechanism, but it was not so simple. The five hurricanes of the Wind Cavern were one entity. Even as they overcame Cold Soul, Fiery Shatter roared to life—a blast of hot wind forced them to dodge hastily.

The surroundings transformed astoundingly; bitter cold turned suddenly to blazing heat. “Gentlemen, do you know the origin of this Wind Cavern and the five hurricanes? Legend says the Wind Cavern was where the Water Lord trained, and these five hurricanes were his signature techniques in youth. Though Water Lord became renowned for his mastery of water in middle age, as a youth he relied on these five hurricanes.”

“Over the years, the hurricanes gained a will of their own. Even after the master’s death, they refused to leave. Thus, all we need do is let them dissipate—we need not fight to the death.” That martial skills could gain sentience was new to Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen, but they trusted the tales of the Four Great Water Lines. “We understand,” they replied.

The heat of Fiery Shatter grew ever more intense. Suddenly, a fire dragon roared forth. Liang Xi dared not be careless—he unleashed the Whale-Swallowing stance from the Reverse Sea set, followed in quick succession by Overwhelming Waves, Mountains and Rivers, and Calm Sea. In a flash, he revealed all his skills, holding nothing back. The four Reverse Sea moves were designed to counter superior strength, seeking a sliver of survival in adversity.

“Ha! That’s the Water Command technique of the Yunjiang line—I thought it lost to time. You’re impressive, boy.”

“Your Water Command is much like my Water Manipulation—the key is water. Yours, though, blends hardness and softness, which is unusual. Why is that?”

Water Command was the Water Lord’s proud creation, passed only to the Yunjiang ancestor. Since his passing, it had been lost. “I recognized the technique at a glance, but not its subtleties.”

“Senior, these four moves come from the second stage of Water Command—Reverse Current—called Whale-Swallowing, Overwhelming Waves, Calm Sea, and Mountains and Rivers. Using them now is ideal, though I’m still a novice in their use.”

The Fiery Shatter hurricane, surprised by its own master’s art, snorted coldly. “Bold boy. You know only a fraction of our master’s skills, yet dare to behave so arrogantly?”

“If so, let us five brothers test you!” As the wind calmed, five plainly dressed men appeared before the trio. That the hurricanes could take human form was astonishing indeed.

“Foolish children, we have always been men—unchanged through the years. As youths, our master relied on us. Though he knew nothing of martial arts at first, his chivalrous heart led him to risk his life to save us. That kindness we have never forgotten.”

“We chose to follow him, solving his troubles, until he learned supreme methods from a sea of books. Then we ceased using our powers but remained by his side. In those days, he, Madman Jun Daoxing, and Sword God Xi Tongshen were the three supreme masters of the world. What a time that was!” Fiery Shatter’s eyes grew wistful. But then his tone sharpened. “Yet our master never imagined that his four favored disciples would, in the end, sever all ties for the sake of his treasure.”

“Old ghost, judging by your aura, you’re from the White Dew line, aren’t you? You’re not bad. You’ve reached the Hundred Weapons level of Water Manipulation. For you to come here today, you must be truly fortunate. Now, I propose this: each side chooses one person; we’ll fight five bouts. If you win all five, you may enter the treasure. Lose all five, and you must turn back.”

As the hurricanes vanished, every word was clearly heard by Fu Yuzhen and the others. “You two boys practice the Cloud Ascension Manual, don’t you? Without it, how could you withstand my Cold Soul? So, the heirs of all four water lines have gathered. I never thought I’d see this day, but you are impressive. The four lines are united—a thing unimaginable in the past.”

“The rules remain unchanged. If you refuse, you may leave the way you came. The opening of this treasure was never a good thing—if you go, it will sink back into history,” said Fiery Shatter.

“How laughable! We struggled to get here—if we leave now, the world will think we feared you. But that’s not the case. Think carefully, everyone—we didn’t come all this way to give up over five battles, did we?”

Ji Anran stepped forward first. Though she could act coy before Liang Xi, in battle—especially one that concerned his life—she grew deadly serious, a fierce glint in her eyes. “You set the rules, but we’ll choose our fighters.”

“That’s fine. But there’s one condition: the masters of the four water lines must not fight. Our master forbade it. No matter what happens, we are not to battle the four lines’ heirs. But so many juniors are here today—this is different. As long as you keep to this rule, anything goes,” said Blackwater, clad in dark robes.

“Agreed. As heads of the four lines, we should not intervene. The future belongs to the young. Let’s see what they can do,” said a Wangchuan elder. “We have twelve disciples; let the juniors show their strength.”

Liang Xi and Zhuang Yunzhen were bound to fight, as was Ji Anran. Two places remained. “Ha! As the senior brother, I, Lu Jingdi, must fight now or never. Gu Zhenzhen, will you fight?” he called.

“We five brothers meant for each line to send one disciple, but seeing Wangchuan’s numbers and the decline of the others, your side may simply field five fighters. The prize, of course, is the Water Lord’s treasure. Since the hurricanes have awakened, some commotion is only natural after so many years.”

“Cold Soul, as one of the five, I’ll fight Liang Xi first!” Clad in white, Cold Soul’s chill was overwhelming. Without further words, he unleashed a fierce sword strike. Cold Soul’s swordsmanship had once been unrivaled; now, his skill was even deeper. With a single strike, the air froze—Liang Xi saw only a deadly sword force before him.

This move was the “Three Feet of Ice” from the Cold Soul Sword—within three feet, all techniques were invalid. Twisting his body, Liang Xi evaded the attack. “Trying to escape? Within three feet, nothing can get away!” Instantly, sword energy filled the area, engulfing Liang Xi.

“What a move, Three Feet of Ice! Cold Soul, your sword is even more formidable now. That boy barely dodged by luck—he’s no match for you in a true duel,” someone remarked.

Cold Soul’s sword was not grand or overpowering, but the most agile and precise, every inch of force perfectly used. “But if you underestimate Liang Xi for that, you’re mistaken,” Zhuang Yunzhen murmured. He knew his junior brother’s abilities; though Three Feet of Ice was clever, it could not truly harm him.

Suddenly, the air grew colder—a snowflake drifted down. At the bottom of Wangchuan, snow could never fall, so this must be Liang Xi’s doing. “Cold Soul, withdraw your technique!” someone called.

But it was too late. The snowflake seemed to carry immense force; before Cold Soul could react, he was struck down. Even more shocking, a powerful punch assailed him from all directions. The Three Feet of Ice, meant to trap Liang Xi, now ensnared Cold Soul himself, leaving him gravely wounded.

“Senior, what do you think of my ‘Falling Snow’ technique?” Liang Xi stepped forth unexpectedly—how? He’d been suppressed by Three Feet of Ice! The others could not know he’d used the peerless “Bird in Flight, Trace Unseen” lightness skill. However fast the sword, it couldn’t match that movement. Thus, with a single move, he defeated Cold Soul.

“Senior, don’t move. My ‘Falling Snow’ can injure the meridians—if you force it, you may ruin your cultivation. You’ve worked too hard for such power; letting it be wasted would be a pity.”

Cold Soul had always been proud of his yin power, but today, this youth had defeated him with a single blow—something inconceivable until now. He was beaten, and had nothing to say.

“Well done, boy—fine footwork and fist. I truly concede!” Cold Soul admitted. “Brothers, you see—I’m beaten, and my meridians are injured; I can’t fight further.”

“Hmph, impressive. Then let me take the second bout!” Gold Sever, missing one eye but handsome and crisp in his practice garb, was clearly adept in fierce techniques. Only Zhuang Yunzhen was fit to face him.

“Brat, are you hurt?” Ji Anran called as Liang Xi withdrew. She never voiced concern directly; though her heart worried, she had to call him a brat to feel comfortable.

“Ha! Does it look like anything’s wrong with me? Don’t worry; Cold Soul’s technique is deadly, but hurting me isn’t so easy. The first bout is won.”

Zhuang Yunzhen gathered his force, and Gold Sever, seeing his youthful face and calm demeanor, set aside any disdain. Again, a snowflake drifted down, and the two moved simultaneously. In the narrow space, leg shadows swept through the air.

“My Gold Sever brother excels at leg techniques—the Blade Edge Legs. Zhuang Yunzhen, prepare yourself.”

Each of the five hurricanes had their specialties. Gold Sever’s Blade Edge Legs were adapted from his ancestral swordsmanship. Born with blocked arm meridians, he could not use a sword, so he transformed sword techniques into leg techniques, creating nine moves—supreme among leg arts. Each move embodied a legendary beast; the leg shadows overwhelmed Zhuang Yunzhen, who could only defend.

“What a move—Kunpeng!” The great wings of Kunpeng formed a cage around Zhuang Yunzhen.

Kunpeng shifted, becoming the Phoenix—Phoenix Soaring to Heaven! “Bang, bang, bang!” Zhuang Yunzhen took three hits, his blood surging. Moqing turned pale, shocked by Gold Sever’s might.

“Well? How can you withstand my Blade Edge Legs? I hear you’re Liang Xi’s senior brother, but you’re not up to the task!”

“Is that so? Your kicks are fierce, but do you know who I am?” Zhuang Yunzhen’s body glowed gold—he used the Immovable Golden Body, a supreme defensive art. He had combined the Profound Steel power from the Cloud Ascension’s Heaven Scroll with the Golden Body, rendering himself nearly impervious.

“So this is the Immovable Golden Body? Excellent! I’ve heard of its might, but never seen it. My Blade Edge Legs are the ultimate offensive art—let’s see if they can break your defense!”

Both cultivated the most forceful techniques. In moments, they exchanged hundreds of moves, still without a victor.

“Zhuang Yunzhen is truly strong. Gold Sever’s legs are formidable, but Zhuang Yunzhen matches him. This is a fine contest!”

“Ha! This fight is exhilarating. I thought I had no equal left in the world, but you—what other tricks do you have? I look forward to it!”

Seeing Zhuang Yunzhen hold his own, Moqing’s face brightened. That’s more like it—his skill should be this great. She had never imagined his Golden Body could be so powerful.

“Senior, your skill is outstanding. Frankly, I’m barely keeping up. But don’t be fooled by my appearance—even if I fight to the bitter end, I won’t concede!”

One defending, one attacking—their contest was fierce beyond compare. Three incense sticks’ time passed, and they had exchanged over a thousand moves, still without resolution.

“If this goes on, it’s pointless. Shall we call it a draw?”

“A draw? Impossible! To me, battle means life or death—no draws. Don’t stop me now. This is my last fight; after today, I’ll retire. I must win!”

“Gold Sever, can’t you see? Zhuang Yunzhen has been defending from the start. He’s skilled in the Twin Radiance Palm, but hasn’t used it. That means he’s holding back—his power is above yours. You’ve always been proud, but I say a draw is for your sake. We brothers always stand together—I’ve never harmed you, have I?” Blackwater’s sharp eyes saw at a glance that Zhuang Yunzhen was Gold Sever’s superior.

If not for Gold Sever’s blocked meridians, the outcome might be different, but that was impossible now.

Gold Sever trusted his brother, but having come this far, he could not simply give up.

At that moment, Liang Xi suddenly intervened, channeling his vast true energy into Gold Sever. “What are you doing, boy? This is a fair fight—why strike secretly?”

“Don’t move. I’m using Moon Cold energy to open Gold Sever’s meridians. We only seek the treasure, not to fight you to the death. Senior’s leg art is exquisite. If his meridians were clear, how long could you last, Senior Brother?”

“Perhaps not even ten moves. Are you using Moon Cold energy to help him?” Zhuang Yunzhen immediately understood Liang Xi’s intent.

“Of course. It’d be a pity to let such power go to waste. We fight for sport, not for life.”

Blackwater, Needle Rain, Cold Soul, and the others looked uncomfortable. They had misjudged Liang Xi, thinking him a fool for helping an opponent. But this was Liang Xi—unless it was a fight to the death, he’d help others if he could.

Ji Anran knew this was the Liang Xi she loved—always quick-tongued, but with a kind heart. Yet everyone forgot that Liang Xi was born to a merchant family, always seeking advantage.

“Seniors, I’ve spent my energy to help your brother. If you still want to fight, you’d be ungrateful beasts. I have many ways to deal with beasts. But if you think I’ve done well, you should know what I truly want—to pass through!”

Everyone was amazed. Liang Xi, soft-hearted by nature? Impossible! Gold Sever and his brothers cursed, “Brat, you’re quite the schemer. But right—you’ve saved my brother. Now that his meridians are clear, if I keep fighting, I really am no better than a beast!”

“Gold Sever, now that you’re healed, you must rest. You’ve lost all your strength for now. When your meridians recover, your power will return. As for needing help in the future, forget it. I’m clear about these things. Today, I help to enter the treasure—if I ask for your help, that’s another matter. Rest well; perhaps we’ll meet again.”

Ling Yun was seething with rage. He wanted Ji Anran, Liang Xi, and everyone else dead, so the treasure would be his alone. But who could have foreseen this outcome? It seemed that, in the end, he would have to rely on himself.