Chapter Forty-Seven: Silver Fine Arrows

If it were an ordinary martial apprentice facing a martial master, there would absolutely be no chance of victory. The greatest disparity between the two realms was not the strength of their elemental force, nor was it their basic physical prowess—it was divine sense.

With divine sense, one could perceive every move an opponent made. Thus, any subtle movement—a raised hand, a shifting step—could be detected and responded to in the very first instant.

It could be said that, compared to those without spiritual awareness or divine sense, those who possessed such abilities stood in an invincible position. This was precisely why martial masters often regarded apprentices and basic practitioners as little more than a joke.

However, Liu Pan was no ordinary martial apprentice. He had awakened his spiritual power—something even more formidable than divine sense!

Although Liu Pan’s current control over his spiritual power was limited to detecting his immediate surroundings, and its true might had yet to be fully unveiled, it was more than sufficient to allow him to evade most long-range attacks.

As Li Liao threw his punch, Liu Pan narrowed his eyes, his body shifting three feet to the side in an instant. The next moment, a fist shadow a foot in diameter, howling with force, swept past where Liu Pan had just stood, the wind from its passage making his clothes snap and flutter.

A dull thud sounded as the fist shadow struck the ground, leaving a three-inch depression in its wake. One could easily imagine that, had that blow landed on a person, it would have left bones broken and sinews snapped.

Liu Pan had evaded Li Liao’s punch—an unbelievable feat in the eyes of the watching outer disciples. Yet they were all so stunned that none uttered a word of amazement; at this moment, there was only a single thought in their minds: How could Liu Pan be so strong?

If any among the spectators remained clear-headed, it was only Liu Kuang. He alone understood why Liu Pan could dodge Li Liao’s attacks. Liu Kuang himself had not awakened spiritual power and did not know if he ever would, but now he fully sensed its terrifying potential.

He also realized that, unless he awakened spiritual power or advanced to the martial master realm to obtain divine sense, he would never be Liu Pan’s match.

Yet, despite recognizing Liu Pan’s strength, what occupied Liu Kuang’s mind was not when he might equal Liu Pan, but how he could help him.

In Liu Kuang’s eyes, setting aside the fact that Liu Pan had entrusted him with the Desolate Blade, he already owed Liu Pan a debt of gratitude for the assistance he received during the Liu clan competition. He was determined to help Liu Pan.

But how? He had neither awakened spiritual power nor attained divine sense, and his cultivation was only at the peak of the martial practitioner realm. If he charged forward, he would not even be able to dodge a random strike from Li Liao—such an act would be nothing short of courting death.

But if he did nothing, could he simply watch as Liu Pan died before his eyes? Liu Kuang could not be so cold to his benefactor.

Closing his eyes briefly, Liu Kuang sank his mind into the Desolate Blade within his dantian.

A heavy thud resounded as another fist shadow smashed into the ground. Li Liao’s face grew ever more sullen—this was already the third fist shadow that Liu Pan had dodged.

After three missed attacks, Li Liao suddenly realized that long-range assaults were useless against Liu Pan, who could foresee his every move the instant he raised his hand thanks to his spiritual power.

Understanding this, Li Liao immediately ceased his ranged attacks and, with a movement swift as a phantom, charged straight at Liu Pan.

Though divine sense was the key difference between martial masters and apprentices, the superior force and physical power of the higher realm could not be overlooked. In close combat, martial masters always held the advantage.

Yet when Liu Pan saw Li Liao abandon his ranged tactics for close quarters, a sharp light flashed in his eyes. Blue light flickered under his feet as he retreated, clearly trying to widen the distance between them.

Seeing Liu Pan fall back, Li Liao sneered coldly. For an apprentice to think he could outrun a martial master was the height of absurdity.

Indeed, just as Li Liao had expected, Liu Pan could not create any real gap. Within three breaths, Li Liao was upon him, a fist glowing with pale golden energy swinging toward Liu Pan’s chest.

But at that very moment, with no warning, a slender silver arrow, shining with cold radiance, shot out from nowhere, entering the range of Liu Pan’s spiritual perception, its target aimed squarely at Liu Pan.

Sensing the sudden appearance of the arrow, Liu Pan froze for a split second, then an inexplicable gleam flashed in his eyes. He had intended to take Li Liao’s blow head-on, gambling on exchanging injury for injury. But the instant the silver arrow appeared, he realized he might not need to take that risk after all.

As soon as his spiritual sense touched the silver arrow, Liu Pan unhesitatingly activated six force seals in his dantian. Instantly, his entire right hand was sheathed in water-blue light.

Li Liao, noticing Liu Pan employing a martial technique, was briefly startled. The moment he recognized the technique as the sixth stage of the Sevenfold Water Force Seal, his expression changed drastically. It was not just the technique that shocked him, but the sudden sweep of his divine sense over the silver arrow.

When Liu Pan’s spiritual power first detected the arrow, it had been aimed at him. But with the shifting positions as he retreated and Li Liao pursued, when the arrow entered Li Liao’s range of divine sense, its trajectory now pointed at Li Liao instead.

Sensing the silver arrow, Li Liao’s face darkened. Weighing the power of the sixth-stage force seal against the unknown threat of the arrow, he decisively withdrew his punch aimed at Liu Pan and dodged to evade the arrow.

This arrow was of unknown material, appearing so suddenly at such a critical moment—it could not be anything simple. The unknown is always terrifying, and the arrow now seemed to be targeting his head. Li Liao had no choice but to dodge.

The silver arrow forced Li Liao to evade, affording Liu Pan a precious opening. Almost simultaneously, as Li Liao dodged, Liu Pan halted his retreat—the sixth stage of the Water Force Seal erupted from his hand, striking directly at Li Liao.

With a swish, the arrow grazed Li Liao’s clothes with a faint whistle, and almost at the same moment, Liu Pan’s attack landed squarely on Li Liao.

A heavy impact sounded. Li Liao’s body shuddered and was flung backward, crashing with a loud thud into a tree more than ten meters away.

Yet despite blasting Li Liao away with the sixth force seal, Liu Pan’s expression showed little joy—the blow had not struck any of Li Liao’s vital areas.

One had to admit, Li Liao, though only at the martial master realm, was extremely experienced in combat. Dodging the arrow had forced him to break off his attack on Liu Pan, but it had also served to shield his vital points. Thanks to the arrow’s cover, Liu Pan’s strike was destined not to be fatal.

The instant he sent Li Liao flying, knowing the attack hadn’t hit a critical spot, Liu Pan acted again. Blue light flickered beneath his feet as he charged unhesitatingly toward Li Liao’s tumbling figure.

Take advantage when your opponent is weakened—when fighting someone from a higher realm, never let them catch their breath if you have the chance.

Yet Liu Pan was perhaps too optimistic. He had not even reached where Li Liao had fallen when Li Liao had already scrambled to his feet.

With a cough of blood, Li Liao rose unsteadily, evidently well-versed in the art of battle—never let an opponent gain the upper hand without recourse.

Seeing Li Liao get up so quickly, Liu Pan’s face shifted and he immediately halted, drawing back to maintain distance. He could only feel a touch of regret; missing the opportunity was a clear sign of the great disparity between their cultivations.

Li Liao’s expression was exceedingly grim. He could scarcely believe he had been so grievously injured by a mere martial apprentice—or that a silver arrow had appeared out of nowhere at such a moment.

Turning to look in the direction from which the arrow had flown, Li Liao’s face twisted even further. There was not a soul to be seen—only the Moonclear Peak, where he resided.

What was going on? Had someone betrayed them? The thought flashed through his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Even if there were a traitor, he knew of no one on Moonclear Peak with such skill in archery.

Had someone infiltrated the mountain? In an instant, Li Liao settled on this idea, and his gaze snapped back to Liu Pan. If there was an intruder, it was surely connected to Liu Pan. And if Liu Pan had come to the foot of Moonclear Peak, it brought to mind Wang the Blade, and then Elder Lin of the Medicine Hall...

Liu Pan, of course, was unaware of Li Liao’s wild speculations. He only knew that someone had indeed snuck onto Moonclear Peak, and that person did, in a way, have a connection to him. What puzzled Liu Pan was why help had come at this particular moment.

Both men harbored questions, but now was clearly not the time for doubt.

Li Liao’s gaze flickered as he felt his broken ribs, his expression growing ever darker. With another glance toward Moonclear Peak, he moved again, charging at Liu Pan even faster than before.