Chapter 63: The Lofty Hermit

A dark figure loomed larger in the eyes of the crowd, its shadow swelling with every heartbeat.

Boom!

A thunderous crash resounded. Tremendous force surged forth, splintering the ground inch by inch, spreading a web of fissures across the earth. An aura of terror radiated from the figure, rippling outward in waves that grew ever more oppressive. Many present found themselves gasping for breath beneath this suffocating pressure.

Shi Qing and Min Rou, channeling their inner energy to its fullest, were forced three paces back before they managed to withstand the onslaught. Crane-in-the-Cloud’s gaze grew grave; standing closest to the mongrel, he could most acutely sense the terror exuding from the dark figure. There were fewer than ten in the martial world with such formidable power. Coupled with the fact that he would not wish the Black Iron Order to fall into another’s hands, the man’s identity was all but certain.

The Hermit of the Sky Tower—Xie Yan Ke.

Yet, though Xie Yan Ke’s martial prowess was legendary, if he thought a mere display of force would drive him back, he was sorely mistaken. As this thought settled, Crane-in-the-Cloud let his inner energy course through him, forming a translucent barrier at his skin. The oppressive aura crashed against this shield, sending violent ripples across its surface, but no matter how fierce the assault, it could not shatter his defense. He stood firm and unmoved, an embodiment of the adage: “Let the winds blow strong—the mountain remains unshaken.”

“Oh?” The shadow’s eyes flashed with a spark of genuine interest as he saw someone standing unscathed in the face of such pressure. With a flick of his will, the stifling force enveloping the crowd vanished as suddenly as it had come.

Those present exchanged shocked glances, their gazes fixed in awe and dread on the uninvited, mysterious master before them.

“Young man, who are you?” Under the scrutiny of every eye, Xie Yan Ke turned to the young man before him, his gaze sweeping over him with curiosity. “Whose disciple are you? So young, and yet your inner strength runs so deep!”

As Xie Yan Ke studied Crane-in-the-Cloud, Crane-in-the-Cloud was likewise appraising him: a blue-robed man with short beard, perhaps in his fifties, features lean and sharp, a faint bluish cast to his face, and an assessing gleam in his eyes.

“I am Crane-in-the-Cloud, senior. Your praise is far too generous.” Crane-in-the-Cloud offered a respectful salute.

Yet his modest demeanor struck Xie Yan Ke as disingenuous, even mocking. Few young men in the martial world had ever been worthy of his praise; to feign humility in front of him was, in his eyes, nothing less than provocation.

“Hmph!” A barely audible snort sounded, and with it, an even greater aura of power erupted from Xie Yan Ke.

The oppressive force became almost tangible, surging toward Crane-in-the-Cloud like a raging tide. Confronted with such might, Crane-in-the-Cloud’s expression grew even more serious. What a strange old man—one word of humility, and he was ready to strike.

The onlookers watched with barely concealed schadenfreude. So the mysterious master was here for Crane-in-the-Cloud after all! As this realization settled among them, Crane-in-the-Cloud focused his gaze on Xie Yan Ke, feeling the crushing weight of the latter’s aura. He dared not delay. His own energy soared in response.

Bang!

The two forces collided in an endless exchange. The power beneath Crane-in-the-Cloud’s feet caused the ground to cave in, his feet driven deep into the earth. Xie Yan Ke’s eyes grew ever more intent. Such ability at so young an age—truly astonishing.

“Let’s see how long you can endure,” Xie Yan Ke murmured, his aura peaking, pressing down on Crane-in-the-Cloud like a mountain, stealing his breath. Gasping, Crane-in-the-Cloud looked up, his eyes gradually reddening.

A man must live with honor, true to both heaven and earth!

“Rise!” With a roar from deep within, Crane-in-the-Cloud’s aura exploded, reaching its zenith. As his inner energy spun at ferocious speed, a small vortex appeared on his skin, erupting with a fierce suction. Suddenly, the crushing weight was gone.

“Well done, boy!” Xie Yan Ke had assumed Crane-in-the-Cloud would be rendered immobile by the full force of his pressure. To his astonishment, the young man still moved freely. To face his full force and yet remain unbowed—this was a first.

Paying no heed to Xie Yan Ke’s inner thoughts, Crane-in-the-Cloud’s vortex absorbed the oppressive force entirely. “Senior Xie, your reputation precedes you. It is my great fortune to meet you today. Might I request a few pointers?”

His manner was calm, unruffled by all that had passed. At this, the onlookers’ gazes turned strange.

“Has Crane-in-the-Cloud lost his mind, challenging Xie Yan Ke?”

Clearly, many had recognized the mysterious master’s identity.

“Who knows? Perhaps he’s mad with a death wish,” someone muttered nearby.

“Silence!” Xie Yan Ke’s displeasure was evident as he heard the chatter, his glare silencing the crowd. A swarm of ants, chattering endlessly—how tiresome. His voice, charged with inner strength, rattled their eardrums painfully. Under his stern gaze, silence fell, and fear flickered in their eyes.

Crane-in-the-Cloud looked on with contempt—cowards, every last one.

With the rabble silenced, Xie Yan Ke turned his gaze back to Crane-in-the-Cloud, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. “The younger generation is truly formidable, truly formidable, truly formidable!” he repeated three times, unable to conceal his delight. Since his rise to fame, Crane-in-the-Cloud was the first youth ever to challenge him openly.

“Very well. Should you defeat me, I will grant you a single request.”

“And if I lose?” Crane-in-the-Cloud pressed.

Xie Yan Ke stroked his beard in thought, then fixed his gaze on him. “If you lose, I will take you as my disciple and teach you all my martial arts—how does that sound?”

The crowd erupted before Crane-in-the-Cloud could reply.

“No matter how skilled Crane-in-the-Cloud is, he’s no match for Xie Yan Ke.”

“Clearly, Xie Yan Ke intends to take him as his disciple.”

“The martial world will have no peace after this…”

Their caution was hardly unwarranted; Crane-in-the-Cloud’s notorious misdeeds were common knowledge. If left unchecked, there might soon be no one in the martial world who could oppose him.

“Senior Xie, you mustn’t! Crane-in-the-Cloud is a villain, notorious for his misdeeds. If you take him as your disciple, your own reputation will suffer. Please reconsider!” At last, someone stepped forward to object.

Xie Yan Ke cast a glance at the speaker, then looked again to Crane-in-the-Cloud. “Is what he says true?”

Though his tone was light, the authority in his words was unmistakable, enough to strike fear into the hearts of all.

But Crane-in-the-Cloud was undaunted. Meeting Xie Yan Ke’s gaze, he replied without hesitation, “It is true.”

At his admission, the air itself seemed to freeze.