It so happened that Wu Tong and his companion, while in Huangshan Palace, chanced upon the Two Marvels of the Rivers and Lakes, who had come to pay respects to Daoist Master Danyang Zhenren. By coincidence they learned that the Judges of Life and Death Sect had agreed to arbitrate a fair duel between Long Zhentian, the Divine Lord of Jiuxiao Palace, and Tuoba Xinge, Lord of the True God Palace.
At that time, the many temples of Huangshan Palace were struggling with poverty, their halls on the verge of decline. The quick-witted Zhao Rou's mind flashed with an idea: she suggested that Huangshan Palace charge each person who entered to watch the duel a fee of one hundred coins, to be distributed for the upkeep of the temples. Danyang Zhenren reported the proposal to Senior Daoist Danqing, who summoned the temple masters. All agreed, and the matter was settled. The Two Marvels of the Rivers and Lakes were appointed as guardians at the gates, to prevent black-path or white-path troublemakers from stirring discord, while Wu Tong was tasked to notify the Judges of Life and Death Sect. With matters decided, the Two Marvels remained at the palace, while Wu Tong and Zhao Rou departed, intending to return to Lingwu, for ten days still remained before the appointed duel.
Descending the mountain, they passed through Mawei Slope, where crowds still thronged, paying homage to past sorrows. Riding along a mountain path, they suddenly beheld two gray shadows flashing like lightning, striking at a lone man. Before the attackers even arrived, the cutting wind of their palms rushed ahead. Wu Tong narrowed his gaze—the man under siege was none other than Yin Li, the "Demon Palm that Splits Stone." His assailants: Lin Ping, the Kirin Elder of Jiuxiao Palace, and Shen Er, the Xuanwu Elder. But there was no trace of Yin Li's beloved, Gao Siyao, the "Jade Guanyin."
Elder Lin Ping's voice rang out:
"Yin Li, your task was a failure! The Tibetan snow lotus has fallen into the hands of the True God Palace. Our Divine Lord asked only for its retrieval, and we paid you in advance. Yet you hide from us and dare not return the deposit!"
Yin Li barked back:
"Money I have none, life I have but one! If you want it, come take it!"
Shen Er sneered:
"And where is your sweetheart, the 'Jade Guanyin' Gao Siyao?"
At these words, Yin Li's face paled. With a sigh he said:
"Say no more. All my fortune, she swindled away!"
Lin Ping's eyes hardened.
"So—you truly will not return the deposit? In the martial world, to pocket another's silver is the road to death."
But Yin Li stood firm:
"Money I have none, life I have but one!"
"Then you will repay in flesh and blood!" Lin Ping snarled. His hands shot forth, releasing a gale like a crashing mountain. Shen Er too struck, his palms roaring with force. Their powers clashed with Yin Li's demonic palm arts, winds colliding, advancing and retreating, earth shaking with their struggle.
It was March, yet snow still lingered on the peaks. With each sweep of Yin Li's palms, the snow hardened into ice-clods, which he hurled like missiles. Shen Er and Lin Ping shattered them with thunderous strikes, the valley echoing like charging cavalry and crashing waves. Yin Li's strength was monstrous; the two elders' inner force waned under the endless barrage. Suddenly, Yin Li leapt high, one palm crashing down. Shen Er, too slow to dodge, was forced to take it head-on. With a loud crash, he staggered back four or five steps. Lin Ping rushed to strike, but Yin Li met him palm for palm, forcing him back as well.
Coldly, Yin Li declared:
"Blame not me if my palms show no mercy. Press me further, and you'll find even a cornered tiger will kill!"
Shen Er and Lin Ping exchanged a glance. Could they retreat now? Never. Shen Er shouted:
"Thunder and Wind Envoys! We cannot allow Jiuxiao Palace to be shamed. All of you, forward!"
"Yes!" came the response. The Four Envoys of Heaven and Earth, Wind and Thunder—Zhou Da, Xu Er, Sun San, and Ma Si—stepped forth. Lin Ping hissed:
"Yin Li! Unless we grind your bones to dust, what face has Jiuxiao Palace left?"
Yin Li roared back:
"Though I wronged your Palace, I say this with shame. Yet if you force the tiger to kill, I will fight to the end!"
The four gray shadows lunged like arrows. Yin Li vaulted skyward nine zhang, his long howl echoing to the heavens, his palms and feet whirling like an eagle descending. The Envoys blanched—none of them his equal—but pressed on at Shen Er's command.
Yin Li shouted:
"Ignorant whelps! If you've skill, come and taste my Sixteen Palms that Split Stone!"
Lin Ping cried:
"All of you, strike together!"
The Envoys attacked. But Yin Li's body folded low, darting left and right. With two crisp cracks, Zhou Da and Xu Er were sent flying. Sun San and Ma Si pressed in, but Yin Li spun, his palms lashing out—two more strikes, and they too fell back, gasping.
At once Shen Er and Lin Ping struck from left and right. Yin Li's brows flared, his stance shifted, his movements flowing like cloud and thunder. With a long roar, his palms rose and fell, fierce as a storm. Dust and snow whirled, stones clattered. The elders knew they faced no ordinary foe and summoned their deepest reserves, their footwork darting, seeking to press him without respite.
But Yin Li had already read their moves. Soaring like an eagle, he descended with palms crashing down like Mount Tai itself.
The Envoys quailed but dared not retreat. Zhou Da unleashed his "Whirlwind Legs," spinning toward Yin Li's waist. Yin Li brushed it aside with a circular palm, then thrust lightning-swift at Zhou Da's chest. A dull crash—Zhou Da spat blood, hurled back five steps, eyes wide with shock.
Xu Er and Sun San struck together, one aiming for his face, the other his legs. Yin Li tapped the ground, flipping behind them like drifting clouds. Before they could turn, two palms smashed into their backs, sending them sprawling.
Ma Si, desperate, roared and launched his "Breaking Wind Fist," mighty and brutal. Yin Li only smiled, reversing his palm to meet it. The clash resounded like thunder; Ma Si was hurled into a stone pillar, vomiting blood, his strength spent.
Shen Er, enraged, gathered all his life's cultivation into one palm.
"Disciples of Jiuxiao Palace cannot fall so low! Die!"
He struck with heaven-rending force at Yin Li's chest. Yin Li sneered, stomped once, spun, and unleashed a counter-palm.
The explosion rocked the mountainside, dust flying. Shen Er's chest heaved, blood surging within—he stumbled back, nearly collapsing. Lin Ping leapt to aid him, but Yin Li had already advanced. With a cry, his twin palms lashed out again. Two sharp cracks resounded—both Shen Er and Lin Ping staggered back, reeling from his blows…