Chapter 23: Guangzhi, Save Me!
“How… how is this possible?!!”
The two guards beside Wang Quanzui were equally incredulous.
What they had just witnessed was unbelievable: a child no older than eight, relying solely on his own physical strength, had blocked an attack from a minor demon king with his bare hands!
What was even more astonishing was that this child was not even from the Mu family, known for their physical cultivation!
“That brat must be using some sort of magical artifact. Hmph, I want to see how long you can hold out!” Guang Yu snorted coldly, swinging his claws as he lunged at Yang Qingyuan once more.
To be honest, Yang Qingyuan was completely unversed in swordsmanship. Aside from his prior training in the Eight-Nine Profound Art, he had scarcely practiced anything else.
So even though he wielded Wang Quanzui’s sword, the Phantom Dream Sword, he could only treat it like a broad blade—simply slashing and blocking with it.
From this, Yang Qingyuan gradually recognized his own shortcoming: a lack of practical combat experience.
At this point, the only spell he could summon effectively was the Five Thunder Technique.
But if the Five Thunder Technique proved ineffective, his only option was to rely on raw fists in a primal battle.
Now, he finally understood why the True Lord, despite possessing many divine abilities, usually relied on basic physical techniques and spear skills in combat.
Magic was ultimately meant to complement physical skills or serve as a last-resort finishing move.
The technique most frequently used and most practical in daily life was, in fact, the most fundamental physical skill.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Below, the continuous clash of metal rang out repeatedly.
Facing Guang Yu’s increasingly ferocious attacks, Yang Qingyuan initially managed to hold his ground, but over time, the vibration reverberating from the sword blade into his hand became almost numbing.
He bore injuries in several places, and the image of a proud young man in fine clothes on a spirited horse was completely replaced by one of utter dishevelment.
However, despite the wounds, under the relentless “training” of “Blade Wolf Instructor” Guang Yu, Yang Qingyuan’s initially stiff combat moves visibly became more agile.
Some moves he couldn’t even react to before, he now executed perfectly through instinctive muscle memory.
“Indeed, only in life-and-death combat does the adrenal burst enable the body to quickly adapt to such intense fighting,” Yang Qingyuan thought silently, his gaze toward the wolf demon gradually shifting.
What was this feeling? Why did it suddenly feel like the boss training stage in a video game when you’re getting beaten up for the first time?
---
Speaking of which, Guang Yu’s name seemed vaguely familiar…
At that moment, Yang Qingyuan suddenly recalled a “living Bodhisattva” who had saved monkeys from countless perils before!
Could it be you? Guang Zhi!
After a prolonged session of “imparting teachings,” Guang Yu finally sensed something was off.
Despite fighting for so long, this child of the Yang family showed no sign of fatigue; in fact, he grew stronger and fiercer with each exchange!
From being firmly subdued at the start, sometimes even bleeding from claw scratches, to now, Guang Yu’s claws barely reached the edge of Yang Qingyuan’s robe!
“What kind of monster is this?!!!”
The more Guang Yu fought, the more alarmed he became. He abruptly withdrew a step, eyes wide with fear as he stared at Yang Qingyuan—bloodied but now with eyes far brighter than before.
“Who exactly are you?!!”
“I told you—I’m Yang Qingyuan of the Yang family!”
Yang Qingyuan stood firm, sword pointed straight at the wolf demon.
“What? You’re Yang Qingyuan?”
Upon hearing the name, Guang Yu’s pupils constricted sharply, then a trace of delight appeared on his face.
“You know me?”
Yang Qingyuan looked at Guang Yu with some puzzlement.
“I…”
Guang Yu was about to speak when suddenly a solemn voice rang out from the sky.
“Impudent fiend! How dare you commit such heinous acts near Dao City! You shall die!”
At the sound of this voice, Yang Qingyuan finally felt a surge of relief.
It seemed reinforcements from Dao City had arrived at last…
No sooner had the words fallen than a purple heavenly thunder, as thick as a water bucket, struck down toward Guang Yu below.
At the same time, a Taiji symbol quietly appeared on the wolf demon’s body, rendering him utterly immobile, forced to watch helplessly as the purple thunder struck him.
Boom!
---
With a sudden rise of a purple thunder pillar several meters wide on the ground, after several seconds and the dissipation of smoke and clouds, the once lively wolf demon Guang Yu was now reduced to a charred husk, utterly lifeless.
“Just like that, he’s dead?”
Yang Qingyuan blinked, feeling a twinge of regret.
The wolf demon seemed as if he was about to say something before dying, but now, it was clear he wouldn’t speak again...
“Yang Qingyuan, greetings to the family head and Elder Wen,” Yang Qingyuan bowed slightly, clasping his fists respectfully toward Yang Yifang and the Wen family patriarch, Wen Tianlei, both hovering in the sky.
“Yang Qingyuan!”
Elsewhere, seeing the wolf demon defeated, Wang Quanzui finally broke through the two guards’ blockade and rushed to Yang Qingyuan’s side.
“Are you alright?”
Seeing Yang Qingyuan covered in blood, Wang Quanzui’s eyes reddened instantly, tears welling up in her large, moist eyes.
She had been right there but could only watch as Yang Qingyuan faced the wolf demon alone.
The thought filled her heart with guilt.
“I’m sorry, I…”
“It’s alright. I know you were forced by circumstances. Besides, you lent me your sword just now. Thanks to it, I managed to hold on. Thanks, here it is,” Yang Qingyuan smiled gently, showing no blame as he handed back the Phantom Dream Sword to Wang Quanzui.
As for the two guards, they were merely fulfilling their duty.
Protecting Wang Quanzui was their mission—more important to them than their own lives.
Though it might sound rigid, for a great family like the Wang clan, such utterly loyal warriors were the most reliable. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have assigned these two to guard her.
Moreover, this time the decision to save the village was purely Yang Qingyuan’s spontaneous choice.
Whatever the outcome, he would bear it alone, so he did not impose on others or expect them to abandon their responsibilities for his sake.