Boom—


    As thest vestige of Sword Intent struck the Sword Shield before Xia Fu Lan, sparking dazzling fireworks, the entire scene fell silent in the wake of the final thunderous roar.


    The few hundred square meters of the central area were ravaged by the striking power of the Sword Intent, with a third decimated—a spectacle that made the previous de Storm seem insignificant.


    In just a dozen seconds, the scene had the various Family Heads and chairmen on the special seats twitching at the corners of their eyes, far surpassing their expectations.


    After all, this was without the use of True Qi! It was merely a manifestation of the understanding of Sword Dao!


    Everyone couldn''t help but rise to a singr question in their hearts, that Young Master Fang''s mastery of Sword Dao was undeniable, which also meant that everything he had said before was true.


    Without a sword, could there indeed exist such a terrifying realm above Sword Dao?


    The crowded audience outside the venue, watching the scenes unfold on therge overhead screen, buzzed with constant noise and endless discussions.


    Only the students from Medical Academy ss Three were beyond excited. No one had expected Young Master Fang''s Sword Dao to be so formidable, even overwhelmingly pressuring the Tiandao Princess Xia Fu Lan!


    "This is impossible!"


    Fang Liqun from the Fang Family camp abruptly stood, ring intently at Young Master Fang on the field; the contrast to what he had envisioned was as wide as a chasm, an inconceivability he couldn''t ept in the moment.


    Fang Tong, still reeling in shock from Young Master Fang''s swordsmanship, heard Fang Liqun burst out in surprise,pounded by his previous ridicule of Young Master Fang, could no longer hold back.


    "Big Brother Liqun, can''t you just be happy to see someone from the same family doing well!" Fang Tong stood and turned back, shouting in anger.


    Fang Liqun didn''t even nce at Fang Tong. To them, the right faction of the family, Fang Tong was seen as nothing more than a young girl of no threat, not someone to be taken seriously.


    Seeing Fang Liqun ignore her, Fang Tong sat back down in exasperation. The more they belittled Young Master Fang, the more she anticipated him performing some shocking action to p their faces.


    Madame Xuan, sitting in the special seats, couldn''t help but smile at this turn of events. She had never thought that her husband, two years her junior, would also possess such an extraordinary talent for Sword Dao.


    The secrets and potential within this younger man couldn''t be judged by modern human cognition.


    "Despicable!"


    While most people in the venue were still struggling to react, Xia Fu Lan suddenly shouted with True Qi at the center of the field.


    Following her outcry, the Sword Shield before Xia Fu Lan vanished. With teeth clenched in anger, she stared at Young Master Fang surrounded by the continuous surge of True Qi, as if ready to unleash it and kill him at any moment.


    The Family Head, witnessing this, quickly set aside his shock, having no time to ponder where Young Master Fang''s technique had originated, and addressed the issue: "Princess Fn, no matter what, you have vited the rules by using True Qi. By the rules, this duel is Young Master Fang''s victory."


    Upon hearing this, Xia Fu Lan scoffed coldly, turning to look at the Family Head and said, "Family Head, do you not feel that it was he, Fang Ren, whomitted the first vition?"


    "Princess Fn, what do you mean by this?" the Family Head asked with a slight frown.


    The tens of thousands at the venue watched this scene unfold, once again bursting into discussion, shocked and incredulous at Young Master Fang''s Sword Dao, and unable toprehend Xia Fu Lan''s words.


    It was then that Song Mobei stood up from the special seats. His typically pleasant face now slightly serious, he looked at the Family Head and said, "In my humble opinion, based on my more than twenty years of experience in Sword Dao, the sword technique used by Young Master Fang was not entirely grounded in Sword Dao. Of course, it cannot be denied that it is also a kind of Sword Dao practice."


    Upon hearing his words, the crowd was instantly baffled.


    What exactly was Brother Song trying to convey?


    Xia Fu Lan, seeing that Song Mobei was speaking on her behalf, immediately called out, "That''s because although what he used was swordsmanship, such swordsmanship is in essence a Cultivation Technique! It is a technique that requires True Qi to activate!


    Sword Dao is based on Taoist principles, the foundation of all things, and on its own, it cannot wield such formidable power—it must be augmented by True Qi to reach such lengths!"


    "What? Powered by True Qi? But Young Master Fang doesn''t show any signs of True Qi fluctuations at all!"


    "Right, if that sword technique was driven by the overall True Qi, even if we couldn''t sense it, wouldn''t the family heads on the stage be able to feel it?"


    "Exactly! The words of Princess Fn seem far too far-fetched!"


    "But Brother Song has said so; there must be some reason. Don''t forget, Brother Song is the peak of the Human Sword Dao!"


    ...


    Seeing this, Song Mobei continued, "Indeed, during the process of Young Master Fang using his sword technique, including myself, I believe no one present could sense any usage of True Qi from Young Master Fang. So I specte, does Young Master Fang have some special cultivation technique that can conceal the fluctuations of his True Qi?


    Or perhaps, this technique is unique and doesn''t let True Qi reveal itself when activated?"


    Upon hearing Song Mobei''s words, the crowd looked at each other with renewed intrigue, feeling like they were learning about something new.


    "Is there really a cultivation technique that can conceal the fluctuations of True Qi when it''s activated?"


    "Although it''s said that the world is full of wonders, I''ve never heard of such a special cultivation technique!"


    "I think Brother Song makes some sense. Young Master Fang is only twenty-two years old, yet his mastery over medicinal pills is almost mythical. I can''t believe that someone with such a high level of mastery in pills can also reach a level in the Sword Dao that even Brother Song can''t match!"


    "Exactly, I think so too. Brother Song''s talent in the Sword Dao is universally recognized as the peak, and he has beenprehending it for more than twenty years! How could Young Master Fang, a student of medicine, possibly surpass him?"


    "Exactly, it''s like some guy sweeping the streets suddenly ps a Ninth-order Void Beast to death in front of Madame Xuan! It''s unbelievable!"


    ...


    The discussion inside the venue grew more and more intense, and rather than believing that Fang Ren, a genius in pill concoction, could possess a greater Sword Dao mastery than Song Mobei, they were more inclined to believe that Fang Ren was cheating using some cultivation technique.


    For, it had long been universally epted that no one could surpass Song Mobei in the Sword Dao, and this belief had been held for far too long.


    Xia Fu Lan, listening to the voices of the crowd and Song Mobei, immediately added, "Moreover, there''s a big problem with Young Master Fang himself. Despite being a Cultivator, we cannot feel the presence of True Qi in him, which I''m sure many have noticed. All of us Cultivators, even when not using True Qi, cannot help but emit its pressure—it''s uncontroble. But Young Master Fang can control it.


    I think this is also why we cannot observe any True Qi fluctuations when he activates his technique."


    Whirr—


    As the words fell, themotion escted further.


    "Right! Howe I didn''t think of that?"


    "Indeed very suspicious! Being a Cultivator but somehow able to conceal his True Qi pressure to appear like an ordinary person!"


    "So you''re saying that his sword technique was indeed powered by True Qi-driven cultivation technique! Just as he hides his presence, that''s why we can''t see anything suspicious when he activates his technique?"


    "I knew it! How could anyone surpass Brother Song in the Sword Dao! He''s beenprehending it for twenty-two years since he was four years old! Who can just surpass that at will?"


    "If all of this is true, then Young Master Fang is far too insidious! He set the rules himself, yet he intends to win through plots and schemes!"


    "That''s despicable!"


    ...


    Misgivings mounted, just as Fang Ren had expected, which was why he had asked Xia Fu Lan right at the start whether she wanted to use True Qi.


    Because with so many voices questioning him, he would have to settle the matter with Xia Fu Lan using True Qi after all.


    However, this was good too. The more they doubted him, the more they believed in Xia Fu Lan. By the end, when everything became clear, Xia Fu Lan''s reputation would crumble as spectacrly as if it were a pig sent flying by the wind, only to fall harder.


    The Chairman saw this, and with a frown, turned to Fang Ren, "Young Master Fang, do you have any exnation for this matter?"


    Fang Ren''s eyes, the white light within them slowly receding, answered amidst the doubtful murmurs, "If I remember correctly, before we began, I had mentioned to Princess Fn whether we should change the rules and directly use True Qi. But Princess Fn confidently said no. I gave Princess Fn the opportunity.


    If we were to use True Qi, then all the issues you are questioning now wouldn''t exist."


    After speaking, red dots of light began to emerge around Fang Ren''s body, the aura of the Nine Techniques of Lethal Combat.


    He continued, "Of course, I also said that Princess Fn had a chance to change her mind. Now, I am still willing to apany her in using True Qi for this duel."


    What he wanted now wasn''t just to embarrass Xia Fu Lan, for back then, without the strength, all he could do was make her ufortable. But now things were different.


    He wanted to inflict upon her all the suffering that Mu Huanqing had endured.