Chapter 101: The Art of Punching
The descendants of the Jilong spent all their lives cultivating in Thunder conjuration. Naturally, Zi Que would be able to tell the good from the bad. He knew that the thunder lightning that erupted before his eyes were not conjured from a spell, but rather, it was the spiritual primordial energy that was released from a rare mineral that was refined over millennials. Even though his disciple brother Qing Niao’s cultivation base was rather profound, there was no way he could resist such an unparalleled power.
After the lightning that was conjured by the Thunder Heart Sand slashed through the sky, it would soon strike onto the enlightened sword-bearer Qing Niao of Jilong!
Wen Leyang was still standing on the side of the court. His expression was slightly unwilling as he looked towards the priest Qing Niao. Yet, unexpectedly, a million rays of lightning shook once in a ghastly manner, the lighting suddenly circled around and surged towards himself altogether. He was so startled that his entire body broke out in goosebumps. He did not even have the opportunity to turn around and flee. The silver-colored lightning shone before his eyes. He only had the time to squall once before a gust of lightning formed from the Thunder Heart Sand, completely bore into the scarlet jade knife hanging on his chest.
A million rays of lightning flashed past and were immediately extinguished, dispersing off abruptly.
Wen Leyang was unharmed but he almost startled to death. He stayed rooted for a moment before he looked towards Wen Buzuo. His lips were trembling when he spoke, “Good…good shot.” He had finally understood by now, that the scarlet jade knife hanging around his neck was not some treasured weapon capable of warding off Thunder conjuration, but it was a monster that could absorb lightning.
All the other people were stunned by the Thunder Heart Sand as well.
The sword-bearing enlightened person Qing Niao’s face appeared dull while his lips were ghastly pale. Obviously, his eyesight had already recovered but his visual field was in an utter mess such that he could not focus at all. He kept asking himself in his heart. ‘Am I dead? Was that the god’s punishment earlier? Is my cultivation base done already?’
Zi Que, who was standing in the middle of the field, did not even wipe off the blood stains on his lips. He stared at Wen Leyang with a panic-stricken look, if it was not for Wen Leyang’s absolutely terrified appearance now, Zi Que would surely think that Wen Leyang had intentionally and sincerely drawn away from the Thunder Heart Sand, saving Qing Niao’s live.
Wen Buzuo did not understand what happened, but he reacted extremely fast. He lifted the big-muzzled weapon on his shoulder and pointed to the dazed Taoist priest Qing Niao, with his arm outstretched, “Bastard, I am the one who showed mercy in your life earlier. Why don’t you admit defeat quick?”
Only then Qing Niao recovered from his startle. He gave a howling sound that was in between a raging roar and a wail, as he tossed the huge sword in his cradle high up into the air. His expression savage as he shouted, “Bring it on!”
“Then I shall admit defeat!” Wen Buzuo turned around and fled. The Thunder Heart Sand and gunpowder were all in Wen Xiaoyi’s possession. Depending only on Wen Buzuo’s ability, he was only like a cucumber in Qing Niao’s hands.
The faces of everyone within Wen Bucao were coated with a layer of frost. No one had expected that the sure-fire Thunder Heart Sand could miss the shot. The two rounds of battle that was supposed to be an easy win for the Wen family, turned into a win and a lost for them, leaving the final round for Wen Leyang to go up against the enlightened Zi Que, who was the universally acknowledged oldest and with the most powerful treasured weapon in the right path of cultivation and Five Blessings of the world.
The old demon monk Bu Le returned to the side where the disciple of Wen Bucao stood and said to Grand Elder Wen in a low tone, “Wen Leyang will be alright.”
Grand Elder Wen nodded his head towards Bu Le, “Deeply appreciated.” Upon saying that, he turned around and gave the First Uncle Wen Tunhai an instruction, “Afterwards, if Wen Leyang is defeated, please grant them the lives of forty-two people but don’t allow any of this group of Taoist priests to leave the Nine Peaks Mountain! Once they have taken their revenge, it is our turn to take revenge on them.”
Ever since the first sword-bearing enlightened person of Jilong entered the court, he had already circled around the gate of hell once. Following that, in the second round, the enemy admitted defeat and fled. He won the match so easily that it made him felt extremely frightened and incredulous. He had to take a moment to calm his state of mind after he got out of the court. He said to the supreme leader of his school, “Senior brother disciple, there is something odd about that young chap, the last time I summoned the Ninth Heaven Thunder Conjuration, all the lightning were completely absorbed by him, this time again…you ought to be extra cautious around him.”
Zi Que of Jilong nodded. He walked into the open ground slowly with his body bent. He did not speak but looked towards Wen Leyang.
The little demon rabbit Shan Duan and First Brother Xia of One Word Palace took a step forward casually. They had the same thoughts as the old demon rabbit Bu Le, Wen Leyang could lose but he should not be left to die. All the life vitality within their bodies started circulating around in preparation for the match later. Once Wen Leyang was in danger, they would not hesitate to offer reinforcement.
The enlightened San Wei of Eyang, who had a close-knitted relationship with Zi Que of the Jilong, made a heavy desolated humph from his nose, he walked over the side of the court with his arms crossed. His eyes were glimmering as he stared at Shan Duan and First Brother Xia.
Kunlun’s little supreme leader Liu Zheng had a distressed expression, he looked to the left then to the right, as if he was unsure what to do. A moment later, he was suddenly enlightened and his expression turned relaxed. He turned around and laughed towards the disciples of his sect, “It is not related to us, there is no need to be anxious.”
The atmosphere within the village became tensed up all of a sudden.
On the other hand, Wen Leyang was not impatient for his turn to enter the court. He winked and gave a forced smile to the enlightened person Zi Que, “The enlightened person, please give me a moment, I will return in another one to two minutes!”
All the Taoist priests of Jilong broke out in an uproar. Yet, Zi Que nodded and gave a faint smile, “Hurry on and come back quick.”
Wen Leyang answered in response. He turned around and pulled along the old demon rabbit Bu Le as they dove into a house that was nearest to them. He plucked off the jade knife from his neck, his expression was beyond eccentric, as if he was still slightly frightened, “Divine monk, please help me take a look at this, this object is haunted!”
In the beginning, when Wen Leyang first picked up the jade knife it was scarlet-red. After the first time it absorbed the Thunder-conjuration spell summoned by Qing Niao, there was a faint layer of thunder stripes on it. The second time it absorbed the god’s punishment Heaven’s Thunder that was crashing onto Ah Dan, it turned into mostly silvery-white color, but still mottled with strands of red stripes. This time, after it swallowed the thunderstruck by the Thunder Heart Sand, it completely changed to a silvery-white color.
Wen Leyang swallowed a gulp of saliva, he continued, “I think I…h-h-heard that…”
The old demon rabbit Bu Le frowned with impatience, “Do you want me to call forth the little stutterer Hope Voice so he can talk to you. Both of you sound like a match now.”
Wen Leyang waved his hand in denial as he gave a forced smile, he took a deep breath to regulate his speech, “After it swallowed the Thunder Heart Sand, I heard the sound of movements in the jade knife!”
The old demon rabbit was startled, he dared not procrastinate and launched the ‘insight’ cultivation skill. He examined the jade knife attentively. After a moment he laughed, “Stop imagining all sorts of things, there is nothing in the jade knife. I think it is best for you to bring along the knife. At least, it can resist Zi Que’s thunder spell, be careful of his ‘Unmovable Sun and Moon’s Disasters’, but do not worry too much, you can count on me on everything!” As he was saying that he hung the jade knife once again onto Wen Leyang’s neck.
Wen Leyang looked towards the old demon rabbit with a slightly suspicious manner, “Are you sure it is fine? In the past, the old monk Hope Sense self-declared that he had the ‘Wisdom of the Spiritual Eye’, yet he could not tell the demon body of the grand master Chang Li.
The old demon rabbit Bu Le stared in dissatisfaction, “That little fellow cultivated in the ‘Wisdom of the Spiritual Eye’, mine is the ‘insight’ of the spiritual eye! It is only different by one word, but the difference is like the sky and the earth. Off you go, quick!” Only then Wen Leyang heaved a long sigh. After all, the old demon rabbit Bu Le had been professionally trained. If he declared that it was fine then it would be fine, he carefully concealed the jade knife underneath his clothing. The skin on his entire body contracted and relaxed. The Poison of Life and Death surged around joyously in his body. He also checked the precious poison he carried around on his body before walking in great strides as he returned to the open ground.
Wen Leyang gave a junior generation salute to the aged Zi Que, who was so old that he could barely breathe. He courteously said, “This is an important matter that involves forty-two lives of the Wen family. The junior will risk his life to win this match.”
Zi Que raised his head. His squinting eyes were still filled with a murky gaze, “To risk one’s life or not to risk and the matter of winning and losing, are not related at all.” Upon saying that, he halted for a moment as if he had recalled something, “That bug of yours, do not let it out this time, that bug of unusual species is not easy to breed, it will not harm me but it might lose its life.” Upon saying that, he suddenly gave a bright smile to Wen Leyang, his body moved once and vanished into thin air!
Wen Leyang squalled. He swung his arms and legs as he leaped outwards by a few meters. His feet had only lifted off the ground when the ground erupted into a loud bang. Zi Que’s punch missed. Zi Que returned to his prior spot as if he had never moved at all, he had a spurious smile on his face, “You have a rather quick reaction.” The open ground in front of the Wen family village was paved with thick layers of loose soil. It was unusually soft and loose that a child’s tiny fist could punch a hole through the loose soil. However, after Zi Que threw a punch, the ground remained flat and smooth. Even the footprints left behind by Wen Leyang remained without a mess.
After Zi Que finished his speech, his aged and bent body moved again. A series of loud eruption noises echoed from within the loose soil. Wen Leyang was like a convulsing toad as he squalled repeatedly, leaping around in extreme speed. These two persons were so fast there was no way a naked eye could catch their movements!
Due to Wen Leyang’s peculiar ability to absorb thunder and lightning, Zi Que did not launch the thunder conjuration spell. However, he exerted all his power from his life vitality. He shuttled back and forth as fast as lightning, his punches connected into frightful billows and terrible waves as he punched onto Wen Leyang! Everyone was puzzled that a master cultivator of Zi Que’s level did not need to depend on cultivation method and did not need to release his treasured weapon, but he utilized the art of attack and defense from close range. Only the old demon monk Bu Le gave a faint smile. He muttered in a voice that only he, himself, could hear, “Why? Are the ‘Unmovable Sun and Moon’s Disasters’ not useful anymore?”
The disciples of the Wen family started training in martial arts the moment they started walking as a toddler. Every one of them was an extremely good fighter in the mortal world, especially the few of the four family elders and Wen Tunhai. Nonetheless, all of them watched Zi Que with heartfelt admiration.
‘Attack the enemy in the highest speed possible to exhaust and render him incapable of defending himself, leaving the enemy too weak to strike back and reveal his weak point, then proceed to defeat the enemy.’ Zi Que’s speed was unimaginably fast. It was as if there were almost dozens of Zi Que simultaneously jumping up and down, swinging his fists in the court, so fast such that philosophy of adjusting oneself to the ever-changing matters in the world or philosophy of nurturing and focusing on basic foundation rather than emphasizing on outlook all became nonsensical talk.
Zi Que’s punching method was also odd and eccentric. No matter where he attacked, his final punch would certainly hit from top to bottom. His final missed punch would certainly slam into the ground.
Ever since the enlightened Tian Yi founded the Jilong over a thousand years ago, generations of supreme leaders had been defending against the enemies with the Thunder conjuration spell and the ‘Unmovable Sun and Moon’s Disasters’, the moment they brandished their treasured weapons, they were always successful in their endeavors. Yet, no one would expect that Zi Que, who was so old and his breathing was strenuous, could have such great attainments in his martial art skills. Even First Brother Xia, who used martial arts as his sole method of cultivation, subconsciously tightened his fists as if he were in the face of an enemy. Facing an enemy as fast as lightning-like Zi Que, one could only confront the tough with toughness and fight speed with speed to strive for an attack.
What was even more surprising in the eyes of every spectator of the battle was that Wen Leyang, who seemed to be running and jumping about nonstop, was able to sustain his effort for such a long period. He did not even receive a punch once.
The leader of Eyang, the extremely strong-built enlightened San Wei, stood outside the court. He chuckled twice as he said to the disciples following closely behind him, “This young fellow’s state of mind is distracted already. He will not last any longer!”
Whether it was a cultivator or a normal martial arts practitioner, the harder it was for one to defend against the enemy, the sturdier his state of mind would need to be. Otherwise, the moment his state of mind was distracted, he could only fail. Wen Leyang was indeed running very quickly. However, the expression of panic and anger appeared on his face every once in a while. It seemed like he was going to cry.
As the enlightened San Wei finished talking, he totally did not expect Wen Leyang to turn around and look at him in the midst of the pressing affair. Wen Leyang replied with a distressed expression, “You better don’t talk rubbish there…”
Wen Leyang’s cultivation method followed the typical path of external martial art. There was almost no such thing as the state of mind. Between the punches that were a thousand folds more vigorous than a storm, Wen Leyang’s pores opened and closed. The Poison of Life and Death rushed in his body at high speed. He dodged around under the guidance of his instincts. His brain only knew how to make him anxious and was of no help to him.
More than ten minutes passed in the blink of an eye, the two persons continued to dash around on the ground. Zi Que’s punches had no pause in between. On the contrary, his punches gradually merged with the surrounding world, his speed became even more agile. The sonic boom sound of his punches gradually combined and turned into the booming sound of wind and thunder.
On the other hand, Wen Leyang became clumsier with time. His body was struck by the rippling wind from the punches. Screaming in agony, he tumbled to the side. He quickly leaped up in an awkward stagger.
First Brother Xia of One Word Palace suddenly spoke, “The elder brother Zi Que’s punch power is wonderful!” He was filled with admiration.
The open ground in front of Wen family village was bigger than half a soccer field and it was paved with a thick layer of loose soil. Hence, as compared to the surrounding ground surface, it was slightly higher by a few inches. Nonetheless, under the speed punch of Zi Que, it became unexpectedly lower and lower. As compared to the dark brown-colored soil ground in the surrounding, it seemed to be deeper by half a foot!
It was not a challenging ordeal for a cultivator’s treasured weapon to blast a huge hole in the ground. However, for someone like Zi Que to use nothing but his punch power to forcefully smash a stretch of spacious loose soil ground into sinking, leaving no clear distinction between the connecting point of the yellow-colored soil and the black-colored soil, so much so that the footprints that densely covered the loose soil was not blurred out by the constant vibration. Zi Que’s skill truly startled all the audiences!
The few elders of the Wen family gazed at one another. Their expressions were hazy. So far, in the battle, Wen Leyang had utterly no opportunity to counter-attack at all. Anyone would understand what the consequence was should Wen Leyang be struck by Zi Que’s frightening punch power. After a moment, the few old men nodded in unison. Grand Elder Wen coughed once in preparation to speak, when Wen Leyang suddenly screamed, “Don’t admit defeat!” As he was saying that his body suddenly turned at an awkward angle in mid-air. He suddenly turned around. His body shook rapidly as he pounced towards Zi Que!
Zi Que made a gasp that was akin to a laugh but sounded even more like a sigh. The two figures overlapped one another and the dull air popping noise echoed in the blink of an eye. The booming noise abruptly covered Grand Elder Wen’s voice!
The moment the two persons charged at one another, Wen Leyang rippled continuously with hundred slaps of Faulty Punch, from the top to the bottom, akin to a curtain of rainwater. He swept across the enemy, whether it was the enemy’s fists, shoulders, elbows or knees, every blow was rippling with the Poison of Life and Death from his body.
On the other hand, Zi Que only stretched out a hand and swept his palm once across his chest! With only one sweep, he had already smoothened the attacks that were like mighty waves beating the shore. With that sweep, he had already smoothened out Wen Leyang’s hundred slaps of continuous hits, capable of cracking gold and splitting stones!
Simultaneously, Zi Que’s returned two lightning-like punches, which struck onto Wen Leyang’s chest and back!
Wen Leyang’s body was lifted by the immense strength of the first punch. As the second punch hit his back, his entire body was rammed ferociously into the soft ground.
Ever since Wen Leyang became an inner disciple, he had been bitten by a snake and stung by insects, he had been swallowed by the giant toad and hugged by the Taoist priest. However, he had never been in so much agony as he was in now. Zi Que’s domineering punching power was akin to two huge wooden clubs that were shaven sharp, penetrating mercilessly into his body from his chest and back simultaneously. He had only understood Zi Que that was so old that it felt like he could die any moment before his eyes, was so much stronger compared to his junior disciple sword-bearing enlightened Qing Niao!
They were all top master cultivators of the cultivation world. Why was there such a huge difference between their cultivation base?
Zi Que finally stopped his movements, yet his stance had not relaxed at all. He placed his feet in tandem with his knees slightly flexed, his left fist guarded his heart while his right fist positioned right in front of Wen Leyang’s head, as he spoke dully, “Admit defeat to live!”
Wen Leyang turned around with difficulty. He opened his mouth in preparation to speak but he could only spurt out a mouthful of fresh blood. After a long while, he shook his head, “The lives of forty-two people…” As he was saying that, he tried to stand up with his limp limbs. He staggered before finally managing to stand up.
Within his body, the power of the huge wooden clubs tried to destroy him. However, after a while, the Poison of Life and Death that was shattered and dispersed earlier converged into small streams of poison again and started flowing slowly within his body. The poison streams attempted to dissolve the power from the punch.
Seeing that Wen Leyang stood up once again, an ounce of surprise flowed past Zi Que’s murky gaze, “You can still fight?”
Wen Leyang shook his head. He panted for a few times. Instantly, it seemed like his energy had recovered slightly.
It was as if Zi Que was too lazy to talk nonsense. He waved his fist once in preparation to fight once more/ Wen Leyang squalled once before he turned around and staggered, about to run. However, in his current situation, let alone Zi Que, even a turkey could catch up to him.
As Zi Que leaped up, his body suddenly stiffened in an unnatural manner in mid-air. He staggered as he leaped back onto the ground. His old face was convulsing into a ball. He managed to squeeze out a few words from his clenched teeth, “Poison? Which poison?”
Not only the disciples of the two Taoism schools but all the cultivators present on the scene could not believe their ears. The probability for a person of Zi Que’s cultivation base to be poisoned was lower than a fish being drowned. Only the Rainbow’s seven fat men, answered merrily from under Tuo Xie’s flag banner, “Szechuan Cuisine!”
The spiciness sensation penetrated into the bone marrow. It weakened Zi Que such that he could not gather an ounce of energy. He was both startled and deranged in his heart, while the primordial energy within his body boiled into a mess. It was impossible for him to locate the source of the poison.
Wen Leyang knew that his fancy trick would not sustain for a long period of time. After a while, the opposing party would complete the nourishing process. He wanted to leap forward, yet it was beyond his power. He started bluffing in terror, “The strong poison is merciless. I will detoxify for you if you admit defeat, I will forget about the bet of two arms…”
Before he could complete his sentence, the priest Zi Que abruptly broke out in a shout, “You must be dreaming!” When he was speaking, his agonizing expression intertwined with the hesitated look. After a while, it was as if he had finally made up his mind, his hesitation turned into determination. Accompanied by a thick panting, he gave a forceful roar from the depth of his lungs, “Chop!”
The old demon monk Bu Le’s countenance suddenly changed. He shouted, “You vile spawn!” His body flashed past and immediately appeared in front of Zi Que. He raised his palm and pressed down mercilessly to the top of Zi Que’s head!
No one would have thought that the old demon rabbit would suddenly launch such ruthless method. No one could react to the incident happening before one’s eyes. No one even had the time to scream in surprise!
With a loud crash, a golden light erupted!
A golden ball the size of a fist jumped out of Zi Que’s body without a sign and sturdily blocked against Bu Le’s palm that was as hard as iron.
As the Sun’s Disaster appeared, Wen Leyang could feel a gust of chill urging directly to the gods in the heaven. The Moon’s Disaster also descended from the sky, accompanied by a light whining sound, stabbing towards his direction as fast as lightning! The Moon’s Disaster had yet to arrive but the peculiar cold draft it summoned had suddenly pierced ferociously onto the top of his head akin to a sharp blade! Both his blood and the Poison of Life and Death that was still slowly flowing in his body were frozen due to the extreme coldness!
After Zi Que was poisoned with the poison ‘Szechuan Cuisine’, it was impossible for him to locate the source of the poison. The effect of the poison power within his body was domineering and incisive. For a person of Zi Que’s status, it did not matter whether he surrendered or lost. both decisions were utterly unacceptable. Only by perishing both parties altogether, the battle could be even. He had no time to ponder the matter in great detail and launched the ‘Unmovable Sun and Moon’s Disaster’ that he refused to use all along.
The old demon rabbit Bu Le responded quick, the moment he saw Zi Que launched the treasured weapon he immediately approached voluntarily, without a care for rules and regulations. His only concern was Wen Leyang’s life. However, he was still late for half a second. As he was about to strike Zi Que to the ground, he was blocked by the Sun’s Disaster weapon.
A crisp sound of gold and jade being knocked together echoed, the ‘Unmovable Sun and Moon’s Disasters’ was a pair of universally-established incisive weapon in the cultivation world. Even with Bu Le’s cultivation base of over two thousand years, he found it difficult to breach it with speed. As Zi Que was still alive, he would never make it and rush over and rescue Wen Leyang!
The old demon rabbit Bu Le’s strike failed. In his heart, he thought that Wen Leyang was dead by now. A strong murder intent could be seen on his deranged face. He disregarded the Sun’s Disaster that was still whining and vibrating on its own, turned over his hands and assumed the posture. The power of the Buddhism sect of the Great Mercy Temple and the outstanding demon flames entangled and surged skywards. As he spoke, it sounded like the sound of metal grinding surging from all directions squeezing into the small mountain village, “You must all die…huh?”
The brazing flame ignited by the old demon rabbit Bu Le was enough to greatly startle any cultivator. However, there was no one that was looking straight into him. Everyone’s eyes were staring straight into Wen Leyang, not batting an eyelid.
The Moon’s Disaster was swift and fierce. It seemed like it would split Wen Leyang into two. Suddenly, It halted and slowly changed its direction, circling around Wen Leyang. It would probe close to him sometimes and then retreated away cautiously, akin to a giant python that bumped into a hedgehog, pondering whether the hedgehog was edible, or perhaps how to eat it.
The hedgehog Wen Leyang was watching the Moon’s Disaster in absolute fear. He stood at the same spot and did not dare to move. The inner edge and outer edge of the Moon’s Disaster glimmered with sharp radiance. Even a fool would never doubt that it was made of highest grade steel.
After the Sun’s Disaster shielded Zi Que against Bu Le’s palm, it no longer cared about its master’s safety. It clumsily next to the Moon’s Disaster, and joined it to circle around Wen Leyang.
The old demon rabbit Bu Le attempted to advance forward in one step. Yet, unexpectedly, the Sun’s Disaster suddenly leaped up and made a whining sound. The Moon’s Disaster started spinning round Wen Leyang as fast as lightning. Bu Le was so startled he immediately halted his footsteps.
The priest Zi Que had a profound cultivation base. His body could absorb nourishing medicines extremely fast. As such, when ‘Szechuan Cuisine’ burst out vigorously, he thought that he was already poisoned beyond salvage. Nevertheless, similar to the outburst, the ‘Szechuan Cuisine’s’ diffusion rate too was faster than usual. He started to straighten his body. He completely disregarded the old demon rabbit Bu Le, who could die at any time. His murky gaze was completely focused on staring at the Sun and Moon’s Disasters. The dense wrinkles on his old face were in the solemnity, preparing to face a formidable enemy. After he inhaled a deep breath, he used an unbelievably clear voice to pronounce four crystal clear words, “Endless Happiness and Longevity’!”
The Jilong disciples standing outside the court shook their bodies once. They were shocked by the supreme leader’s Taoism Endless incantation. They immediately crossed their legs and sat on the ground with their chest, palms, and soles facing skywards. They held their breath and focused on following the enlightened Zi Que. They chanted the incantation loudly over and over again. Similar to before, the chanting of ‘Endless Happiness and Longevity’ incantation echoed within the mountain range and turned into a loud noise in between the heaven and the earth.
The little demon rabbit Shan Duan frowned. He was preparing to speak when he stopped at the sight of his master teacher Bu Le’s glance. Bu Le stood in the same spot and dared not make a move, He was afraid he might startle the Sun and Moon’s Disasters. The disciples of Jilong were chanting the Endless Incantation loudly not to urge the Double Disasters to start killing, but they were trying hard to summon the return of the pair of treasured weapons.
Bu Le finally understood. This pair of the most powerful treasured weapon within the right path of cultivation, Five Blessings, were slowly losing control.
At the moment, the Unmovable Sun and Moon’s Disasters seemed to have taken fancy of Wen Leyang.
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