Chapter 23: Confronting the Heavenly Stars

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Watching the sunset?
"Chu Linfeng, were you two just up there in the sky slaying demonic beasts or flirting?"
Tang Xie pinched Chu Linfeng hard again, yanking him back from his trance.
That's right, I have two... wives with me, I carry the burden of the Hundred Flowers Valley, and I was just up there with her... How could I be such a scumbag!
"No, I'm sorry, Teacher Shen! Just now I thought my time was up, so I spoke some heart-to-heart words. Please don't take it to heart; consider it water under the bridge!" Chu Linfeng forced a playful laugh.
"Linfeng, those heart-to-heart words are enough! What I, Shen Luoxi, say, I will certainly do!"
Chu Linfeng couldn't keep his composure anymore! Good heavens! What was this? It turns out Shen Luoxi wasn't the submissive type; she was a queen!
After speaking, Shen Luoxi took another step forward, and the two women carrying Chu Linfeng jumped back like zombies. Thus, one stepped forward, three jumped back, repeating the process several times.
Li Chenqian, behind them, finally couldn't hold back anymore. He had too many administrative duties at the academy to waste time playing along with these four children.
"Ahem! This is an airport, a public place, people are watching. Besides, the demonic beasts have been cleared; we need to restore order quickly."
Prompted by Li Chenqian, Shen Luoxi remembered something and quickly pressed her walkie-talkie: "Demonic beasts cleared! Flights can resume as normal."
"Teacher Shen, since the flights are resuming, we shall take our leave. Goodbye!"
Chu Linfeng said this while grabbing the two women, turning to slip away.
"Stop! Chu Linfeng, you cannot leave!" Li Chenqian shouted.
"Hahaha! What a great 'Heavenly Steel,' you really are overbearing!" Chu Linfeng mocked, his back to them.
"No matter what, you are coming back with me! I am doing this to protect you! Do you know how many cultivators would give anything to enter Kunlun Academy..."
"I don't care!" Chu Linfeng interrupted Li Chenqian directly, turning around with a glare.
"If I still had my cultivation, I doubt your Kunlun Academy could even invite me in!"
Chu Linfeng wasn't lying. If his Qi sea were still intact, his innate talent would have had the entire nation, including the military, courting him.
"What? No words? You say you're taking me back! Is it out of pity that you're opening this back door? I really want to thank you!"
Li Chenqian felt in the wrong and couldn't say much, forced to endure Chu Linfeng's sarcasm.
The two women, shocked, looked at their heroic and domineering husband with admiration. They were impressed by his guts; Tang Xie even secretly gave a thumbs-up behind Chu Linfeng’s back.
"Why are you poking my butt! If you two are afraid of him, go first; I’ll keep scolding him for a while!"
"You can leave if you want!"
Li Chenqian suddenly remembered what Shen Luoxi said earlier—that Chu Linfeng had slain the demonic beast. Since that was the case, he wanted to see for himself what ability Chu Linfeng had used.
"As long as you can take three of my palms, you are free to roam the world!"
The three were stunned. Look at that! Is that even human? Who are you, Li Chenqian? You were already a world-renowned Diamond Realm expert over a decade ago! Take three of your palms? Isn't that just saying: either come with me or die?
"Master! How could Chu Linfeng possibly take three of your palms!"
Shen Luoxi was also shocked. Even she, having broken through her realm, couldn't take three of Li Chenqian's palms now!
Although both were in the Diamond Realm, Li Chenqian’s power had been solidified for over a decade. He was now at the fourth level of the Diamond Realm, pushing toward the fifth. Even the beast that had nearly killed them earlier was no match for him.
"Didn't you just tell me that he slew a sixth-tier demonic beast? With that ability, surely he can take three of my palms?"
Li Chenqian asked skeptically, knowing Shen Luoxi wouldn't lie to him.
"Master, the process is a bit complicated. I'll explain it to you later. In any case, the current Chu Linfeng has no cultivation at all!"
Li Chenqian was confused, but since Shen Luoxi said so, Chu Linfeng couldn't leave the academy alone.
"If that's the case, Chu Linfeng, you are coming back with me!"
"Li Chenqian, don't force me!"
Chu Linfeng was like a rebellious teenager; he wouldn't even listen to his parents, let alone someone he considered an enemy. He was grinding his teeth in anger.
But he was trying his best to restrain himself. He knew Li Chenqian too well. If it had been the super-charge from Shen Luoxi earlier, he might have dared to fight, but now, with these two little electric motors, could the energy input compare?
That 'Thunder Rumbles Nine Heavens' from before—if he used it with these two girls, it would at most be a 'startling thunder'; the vortex wouldn't even form before it fizzled out.
"I am not forcing you. No matter what you say, I am doing this for your own good! It is too dangerous for you to be outside without cultivation!"
Chu Linfeng just wanted to shout: *I'm not listening, I'm not listening, I don't want to hear your turtle-chanting!* He grabbed the two women and walked away.
Seeing Chu Linfeng ignoring him and walking straight ahead, Li Chenqian shook his head. Since that was the case, he had to use force. Even if the boy ended up with broken bones lying in the academy for ten days or half a month, it would be better than leaving him outside.
"CLANG!"
A piercing bell toll rang out. The air around Chu Linfeng swirled and tore, as if being drawn into a massive vortex, slowly dragging the three of them back from afar.
"Li Chenqian! Don't bully people too much! I... advise you... to be kind!"
Chu Linfeng roared. The howling wind was no less intense than falling from ten thousand meters. Actually, they were still at the airport; Li Chenqian didn't want to show off his heroism and destroy public infrastructure in front of everyone, or the entire concrete ground and nearby planes would have been swept up.
In just a moment, the three were pinned before Li Chenqian. The saddest thing in the world of martial arts is being unable to beat someone and being unable to run from them.

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Chu Linfeng was furious to the extreme, his fingernails digging into the ground until they bled.
"Fine! Fine! Fine!"
Chu Linfeng called out three times and pulled Tang Cai and Tang Xie up.
"Since you, Heavenly Steel, have such refined interests, I will accompany you! Tang Cai, Tang Xie!"
"Here!" The two women answered in unison, understanding his intent.
Though they didn't know what grudge the two men had, Li Chenqian's aggressive demeanor from the moment he appeared was unbearable. So much for a righteous sect member—just another bully.
"Didn't you admire Teacher Shen's cross-realm promotion? Let's sort out our meridians properly; we're going to promote too!"
The two women had shown signs of improvement during their fight at the Hundred Flowers Valley entrance at noon. He estimated that once he cleared their paths, they would hit the fourth level, and he could then push them to the fifth, and straight into the Mountain-Shaking Realm.
"I've never seen such an explosive cultivation method. Husband, if others knew, they would be worshipping you as an ancestor." Tang Xie was thrilled at the prospect of raising her realm, determined to let Chu Linfeng drain her dry without resistance!
"It must be hard on you, husband, having to fight three battles in one afternoon."
Tang Cai was more thoughtful than her sister, and she felt a pang of pity for him.
Indeed, three battles in one afternoon without even a sip of water—you couldn't write such a tightly packed, action-filled plot even in a novel!
(Smoke and Rain Pavilion: As long as the audience loves it, I can turn you into a little fighting rooster.)
"Bring the electricity!"
Chu Linfeng didn't waste a word; he went straight for it. Three palms, right? Today, I’ll see what kind of bird you are, Li Chenqian!
The two women felt their Qi seas surge toward their dantian, and they struck out with their palms.
"Master! This move is what he and I used... These two are two realms lower in cultivation than me, so please hold back!"
Seeing that the battle was unavoidable, Shen Luoxi cupped her hands, hoping Li Chenqian would show mercy.
Li Chenqian replied, "I have my own measure."
With a wave of his hand, the air currents flowed again, enveloping the four of them.
"Chu Linfeng, the airport is crowded. You’d better watch the sunset!"
Saying this, he lifted the four of them straight into the sky.
Laymen watch the spectacle, experts watch the technique. Shen Luoxi saw at a glance that Li Chenqian had already held back fifty percent of his power.
The reason was simple: none of the three had reached the Void-Crossing Realm; they couldn't fly. Even with the girls channeling spiritual energy, Chu Linfeng could at most lift his feet off the ground, not fly while carrying two people.
That Li Chenqian could levitate three people in mid-air required both spiritual energy and focus. Never mind whether Chu Linfeng could take three palms; if Li Chenqian withdrew his power, they would fall, and the victory would be decided.
The sunset shimmered on the horizon, about to dip below. The four didn't fight immediately because...
"Can you focus? We're in a fight!"
"You're allowed to enjoy the view with a beauty, but I'm not? It's my first time flying! I want to see the sunset above the clouds too!"
Tang Xie was curious and couldn't help but admire the scenery. Even Tang Cai was looking around.
"Fine, if that's the case, I'll surrender and let him take me to the academy! We'll go our separate ways!"
At these words, the two women were so nervous they nearly pushed Chu Linfeng away with their true energy.
Li Chenqian stood at a distance, holding the air with one hand and his other behind his back, carefully observing the trio's combination technique. He thought:
"How did this Chu Linfeng figure out this move? To be able to use people as a Qi sea... it seems the academy's textbooks on the Qi sea need to be revised."
"Come! Strike!"
While Li Chenqian was deep in thought, Chu Linfeng was ready. Li Chenqian nodded and slowly reached out his hand.
Spiritual energy condensed in his palm, and six golden rays flickered—it was one of Li Chenqian’s signature techniques: the Diamond Six-Harmony Palm.
The palm's energy was as solid as gold, the six angles interlocking, its internal spiritual energy as steady as Mount Tai, capable of crushing ten mountains without dispersing.
"Chu Linfeng, don't let me down. Get ready!"
Li Chenqian couldn't gauge Chu Linfeng's current strength. This palm was a true Diamond Realm strike; even a Void-Crossing Realm expert would be injured. He only hoped their combination technique reached that level.
Seeing the palm wind rushing toward him, Chu Linfeng pointed his two fingers, and the Sword Soul descended.
"Flying Rainbow! Wind-Flow! Rivers and Mountains! Annihilation!"
Chu Linfeng didn't dare to be careless, launching all four swords at once. These four swords had previously shattered the ultimate skills of the Misty Peak, which were comparable to the Diamond Realm.
Red, pink, green, and gray sword beams flew out, sweeping away like a storm!
They collided with the palm wind, vaporizing the surrounding clouds and exploding with a thunderous roar. Soon, the sword energy dissipated, but the palm wind remained, rushing toward them!
Chu Linfeng was horrified. He had miscalculated. How could he compare the inferior techniques of those Misty Peak hillbillies to the authentic Diamond Realm power of Li Chenqian? This was like bringing a locksmith to fix a boiler—wrong tool for the job!
Chu Linfeng slashed out two more fingers!
"Peerless! Asking Heaven!"

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Blue and purple sword beams shot out, colliding with the palm wind again. This time, both the sword beams and the palm wind vanished into nothingness.
Li Chenqian felt a secret sense of satisfaction: *Hmm, not bad indeed!*
Chu Linfeng was in a state of shock: *Damn, one palm broke six swords!*
How the hell was he supposed to fight? He could probably only take two more. While Chu Linfeng was scratching his head, Li Chenqian had already prepared the second palm!
"Heaven and Earth Creation Palm!"
One of Li Chenqian's finishing moves, which had once slain a fifth-tier demonic beast in a single strike.
The palm struck! A rumbling sound tore through the air!
Seeing that Chu Linfeng's six swords could rival the Diamond Realm, Li Chenqian felt confident enough to use a move that truly counted as a Great Diamond Realm strike. A normal Void-Crossing Realm expert hit by this would be severely injured or killed.
This time, Chu Linfeng didn't dare to be careless. He unleashed six swords in one breath, followed by the seventh sword, "Ghost Destroyer," and the eighth, "God Slayer," with black and yellow sword beams slashing out.
As the eight sword auras made contact with the Creation Palm, a deafening explosion distorted space and time. Li Chenqian, who was holding the air, had to exert more force to stay steady.
After a long while, the sword energy dissipated, but the palm wind persisted, continuing to sweep forward!
Chu Linfeng felt hopeless. He finally understood why Li Chenqian was called 'Heavenly Steel.' This man was a killing machine; he was too fierce!
"Sword Nine: Setting Sun!"
As Sword Nine was unleashed, it collided with the Creation Palm, and finally, both dissipated!
One palm broke nine swords!
Li Chenqian was overjoyed. *Great sword technique, great sword energy!* He knew the power of his palm; there were definitely fewer than fifty people in all of China who could take it head-on!
Chu Linfeng was in despair! Eighteen years of hard work, finally mastering these nine swords, only for them to be wiped out by one palm! To hell with this, he thought. *Surrender, give up, I'll just be a salted fish in the academy!*
"Good! Chu Linfeng, take this palm!"
Li Chenqian hesitated, feeling he should give a warning so the boy wouldn't be killed out of ignorance.
"I must warn you, I have used this palm to slay a sixth-tier demonic beast. Even an ordinary Diamond Realm expert might die from one strike."
Li Chenqian was right; there were fewer than twenty people in China who could survive this palm. "Great Desolation Annihilation Palm!"
As the name suggested, it could annihilate everything within the same realm!
"Fine, no need to say more, I, Chu Linfeng, surr—"
Before the word 'surrender' could leave his mouth, he felt his spiritual energy surge. *Damn, these two little electric motors really did upgrade! Mountain-Shaking Realm! Electric Motors Plus!*
It was all thanks to Sword Nine: Setting Sun!
*Don't bully the setting sun for having nowhere to rest; the Hundred Flowers still have those who cherish them in this world.*
*Mo Youqian! It has to be you!*
"Hmph! You old bastard! My head can be broken, my blood can flow, but don't you talk down to me—bring it on!"
"Good lad! Then hold steady!"
Li Chenqian gathered his strength, the palm wind taking shape. Even from a distance, the three felt their souls trembling!
"Tang Cai, Tang Xie, get ready! The electricity you just charged is about to be drained in one go!"
"Bring it on! We're ready!" the two women replied.
Chu Linfeng calculated that the combined Qi sea of two Mountain-Shaking Realm experts was roughly half that of a Void-Crossing Realm expert. But since Shen Luoxi had used it earlier, she had already consumed some energy. Now that these two were at 100% battery, it shouldn't be too far off! *Give it everything!*
"THUNDER! RUMBLES! NINE! HEAVENS!"
Nine massive black vortexes suddenly appeared in the sky! Crackling, flashing with lightning!
Li Chenqian was secretly shocked. That sixth-tier beast must have perished under this move. *Strange, where did this sword cultivator learn lightning-summoning arts?*
He didn't dare to think too much. Li Chenqian struck out with his gathered palm wind; he didn't want to lose because of a moment of distraction and get injured by this boy.
Shen Luoxi, on the ground, saw it was the same move as before, summoning nine bolts of lightning, and felt a surge of panic! She flew straight into the sky!
She had seen the power that killed the demonic beast with her own eyes. If her master went all out, it wouldn't be a problem, but he was still holding the three of them up and conserving his energy!
After the nine bolts of lightning were drawn from the vortexes, Chu Linfeng clasped his hands together, condensing them into a silver waterfall.
Seeing the incoming palm wind, Chu Linfeng smiled.
It was time for revenge!
"You old bastard! Go to hell!"
"Chu Linfeng, stop!!! NO!!!"