Gods of Destruction

Chapter 20 Abbas Takes Action

Zayd was startled. Upon hearing Nasser Reza call out "Abbas," he immediately realized that the person before him was none other than Abbas, who had joined the sect alongside Nasser Reza and was accepted as a disciple by Sect Master Amir. In a cold voice, Zayd demanded, "Junior Brother Abbas, why have you come to our Qingzhu Hall so stealthily, speaking such vile words? What exactly are your intentions?"Abbas burst into laughter and said, "Hahaha, I originally came to your hall to visit my brother, but I didn't expect to witness something quite amusing. Someone here became envious upon seeing the Tongmai Juqi Pill, but in order to flatter his master and win the favor of his junior sister, he reluctantly claimed he would give the pill to her. Yet, he never expected that this would benefit my brother instead. This person, filled with jealousy, forced his internal energy to flow backward, spat out a mouthful of blood, pretending to have overextended himself in cultivation, and seized the pill. However, he was caught off guard when the head of the hall gifted my brother the Tianling Elixir. Now, this same person, burning with jealousy, wants to trade the Tongmai Juqi Pill for my brother's Tianling Elixir. Hahaha, what a laughable clown! Truly amusing, truly amusing!"Hearing Abbas expose his lies and mock him as a "laughable clown," Zayd was overcome with anger and humiliation. His face turned the color of a pig's liver as he roared in fury, "You insolent fool! How dare you act so recklessly in my Qingzhu Hall? I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your master and senior brother!"Suddenly, a surge of green true energy erupted from Zayd's body, condensing in his palms. It was the Qinggang Technique of Qingzhu Hall. In an instant, he unleashed a fierce palm strike at Abbas, the force of which caused the bamboo leaves to whirl and cut like blades.Nasser Reza's expression turned cold as he was about to intervene, but he suddenly heard Abbas roar in anger."Bring it on!"Abbas shouted, his eyes wide with fury. A violent gust of wind arose out of nowhere, causing the countless bamboo leaves in the air to swirl and dance, rustling loudly. Amidst the fierce wind, there was the faint sound of thunder rumbling.Whoosh, whooshOver a dozen sharp blades of energy tore through the air, slicing through the wind with a sharp, whistling sound as they flew straight towards Zayd.Abbas was already filled with anger and resentment upon seeing Zayd's schemes against Nasser Reza. He had been holding back since this was, after all, Qingzhu Hall. However, now that Zayd had made the first move, Abbas found it exactly what he wanted. No longer holding back, he unleashed his full force in a ferocious attack.At that moment, the fierce wind swept through, and countless bamboo leaves swirled wildly in the air. The two figures were obscured within the storm of leaves, making it difficult for Nasser Reza to see them clearly. Suddenly, dozens of sharp energy blades cut through the leaves, their piercing whistles echoing sharply.Zayd, now enveloped in a sphere of green qi, stood unscathed as the energy blades struck him. The protective qi vibrated violently, creating ripples, but it shielded Zayd completely from harm.A cold smile played on Zayd's lips as a glint of malice flashed in his eyes. The green light around him intensified as he surged forward, breaking through the oncoming wind. In a chilling tone, he said, "Such petty tricks. Let me teach you how to properly respect your senior brother."Abbas thought to himself, This despicable man actually has some skill.Abbas felt a sudden chill in his heart and immediately muttered in a low voice, "Wind and Thunder Palm."In a flash, Abbas darted out from the swirling wind and falling leaves, appearing right in front of Zayd in the blink of an eye. With a palm strike fueled by his anger, the air around them surged, as if filled with lightning flashes and thunderclaps, exuding immense power."A Fourth-Rank Martial Master!"Zayd's face paled with fear, realizing the true extent of Abbas's strength. The speed and ferocity of Abbas's palm strike left him no room to evade. All he could do was muster all his strength to counter the blow.At the moment their palms collided, an invisible shockwave of energy erupted outward, sending fallen leaves swirling into the air before scattering in all directions. Zayd's face flushed red as his blood surged, and he spat out a mist of blood. His body was thrown backward, crashing through several bamboo stalks before finally coming to a stop.The once-proud second disciple of Qingzhu Hall had been utterly defeated by Abbas in a single strike, left in a humiliating and pitiful state.Nasser Reza was taken aback, shocked by the terrifying improvement in Abbas's strength after just a few days apart.As the whirlwind of leaves finally settled, Zayd sat slumped beneath the bamboo, his face pale and his heart still racing with fear. The shame and anger of being defeated by Abbas, a newcomer to the sect, burned far more intensely than the physical pain he felt."Get lost," Abbas commanded coldly.Abbas spoke indifferently, not sparing him another glance.Zayd, covered in blood, his hair disheveled, and his eyes filled with deep-seated hatred, eventually stood up and chose to leave. Knowing that his strength was inferior, staying any longer would only bring further humiliation."Abbas, why did you suddenly come here?"Nasser Reza was delighted. After many days apart, he missed Abbas, Hina, and Shirin deeply. Abbas's sudden appearance filled him with joy.Seeing Nasser Reza's question, the coldness on Abbas's face melted away. He smiled sincerely and said, "It's been a long time since we last met, and I couldn't help but come to see you. I didn't expect to witness such an interesting scene. I see you've been quite comfortable in Qingzhu Hall these days. Head of the Hall Hassan seems to value you highly, and with the junior sister taking such good care of you, you must be quite content."With Zayd gone and seeing Nasser Reza, Abbas was in high spirits and couldn't help but tease him.Nasser Reza felt a bit embarrassed, his face flushing slightly. In his heart, he thought, Dina is lively and kind, and she's quite attractive, but in my heart, she doesn't compare to Hina in the slightest.Seeing Nasser Reza blush, Abbas burst into hearty laughter. He put his arm around Nasser Reza's shoulder, and the two sat down on the ground. Once his laughter subsided, Abbas asked, "So, how has your strength progressed these past few days?""It's going well. I've reached the Third-Rank Martial Master level," Nasser Reza replied. "But I'm not sure how Hina and Shirin are doing.""I've checked on them," Abbas said. "Both of them are receiving a lot of attention from Master and are thriving."Afterward, the two of them lay on the ground with their hands behind their heads, gazing up at the endless blue sky, inhaling the fresh scent of the earth, and chatting intermittently. Their hearty laughter occasionally echoed through the bamboo forest.Before they knew it, evening had arrived. Abbas needed to return to Qingyun Hall. Before leaving, he advised Nasser Reza to be cautious of Zayd, warning that after suffering such a major defeat today, Zayd would likely seek revenge.Shortly after Abbas left, the night enveloped the entire forest. Under the moonlight, Nasser Reza made his way toward the ancient pavilion.The moonlight was enchanting, and a gentle breeze rustled the trees. In the moonlit pavilion, a figure could be seen holding a cup and toasting to the moon, seemingly content and at ease. It was Ibrahim. For some unknown reason, Mahmoud was not present.Ibrahim looked back and saw Nasser Reza. He immediately laughed and said, "Come, have a drink with me."Nasser Reza didn't hesitate, walking straight into the pavilion. He took a cup of thick wine and drank it heartily. After finishing the cup, he exclaimed, "Good wine!""Indeed, refreshing," Ibrahim agreed, filling the cup again. The clinking of their cups sounded clear and pleasant. The two drank their fill, thoroughly enjoying the moment, and exchanged smiles. Their laughter echoed through the night, even startling some of the resting insects and birds.Before long, after downing another couple of cups of wine, Nasser Reza felt incredibly relaxed and couldn't help but let out a long, contented howl.At that moment, Ibrahim noticed the blood-stained sword wrapped in cloth that Nasser Reza carried on his back. He asked, "Do you also use a sword?"Nasser Reza nodded, then shook his head. He was deeply attached to the longsword, never parting with it, but he didn't understand swordsmanship at all, unsure of how to respond.Seeing Nasser Reza both nod and shake his head, Ibrahim could guess a bit of what was on his mind and said, "May I have a look at your sword?"Nasser Reza didn't answer, simply handing the longsword over to Ibrahim and then pouring himself another cup of wine, savoring it slowly.Ibrahim took the sword, unwrapping the cloth. The blood-red sword gleamed suddenly, carrying a hint of icy killing intent that cast a red hue over the pavilion and sent a chill down his spine."What a magnificent blood sword!" Ibrahim exclaimed, running his hand along the blade's edge. His astonishment was palpable. Having immersed himself in swordsmanship for decades and seen countless blades, including many renowned swords from the Underworld Sect—some fierce and domineering, others filled with righteous energy or wicked and eerie—none had impressed him like this one."Do you know the three schools of swordsmanship?" Ibrahim asked.Nasser Reza's heart tightened slightly. "Please enlighten me," he replied.Ibrahim, examining the blood sword, spoke slowly, "The art of sword control is divided into three schools. The first is where the person moves with the sword, allowing the sword to lead. Although this method is extremely powerful, it is the most prone to leading one into obsession, becoming controlled by the sword. The second is where the sword moves with the person, which is the method most swordsmen follow. The third is to control the sword with the mind. There are no specific techniques; rather, it surpasses all techniques. The sword moves as the mind directs, with no pretense or interval. It strikes with absolute precision, making it almost unbeatable."Nasser Reza felt a jolt of realization. Controlling the sword with the mind means discarding complex techniques and moving as freely as the wind. Although it seems chaotic and unpredictable, it is profoundly elusive and surpasses any fixed technique. The sword follows the mind's intent, striking without warning, making it nearly impossible to block.Controlling the sword with the mind sounds straightforward, but achieving it is extremely challenging. The more skilled a swordsman becomes, the more powerful their techniques are, and the greater their reliance on those techniques. To give up those techniques is no small feat.Since Nasser Reza had never practiced any sword techniques and was unfamiliar with sword forms, he found it easier to understand the concept of controlling the sword with the mind.Ibrahim gently caressed the blade with his hand, clearly enamored with it. After a moment, he sighed and said, "This is indeed a fine sword, but it lacks a sheath. Leave it with me for now, and in three days, I'll return both the sword and a sheath to you. Will that be alright?"