Chapter 13 Only Shark
Shushan, Qingluo Peak, the daily sword practice session.
"This is impossible!" After losing again within three moves, Guan Zhan finally couldn't help but blurt out, his entire being falling into a state of stunned self-doubt.
"There's nothing impossible about it," Ling Yunpo calmly sheathed the Green Duckweed Sword and said, "Overemphasizing offense, you have virtually no control over the rhythm, and your strategic changes are transparent at a glance. In short... I suggest you reflect on this."
With a dark face, Guan Zhan walked off to a distance to reflect.
An Zhisu, who had been watching the whole process, came over puzzled and said,
"Is this the top chief disciple of the Foundation Establishment Realm from Kunlun? He doesn't even have one-eighth of Qiu Changtian's strength."
"Heh," Ling Yunpo chuckled lightly and said, "Qiu Changtian is a once-in-a-millennium cultivation genius. How can ordinary cultivators with insufficient talent compare to him?"
"Junior Brother, why is it that when it comes to Qiu Changtian, you show no spirit at all?" An Zhisu said dissatisfied, "Qiu Changtian is indeed powerful, but you and I are not necessarily inferior to him. Now that everyone has formed their Golden Cores, we are back on an even starting line. Next time we meet, we should have a good competition."
Ling Yunpo didn't know what to say and could only give an awkward smile.
As for me and Qiu Changtian, it's less that we are back on an even starting line and more that we never really drifted apart... As for Senior Sister An, she truly isn't a match for Qiu Changtian, and I shall not elaborate on the reasons.
Seeing that her Junior Brother was unmoved, An Zhisu also felt somewhat irked inside and went into the pavilion to pour herself some monkey wine.
The noon had just passed when suddenly there came a Flying Sword Messaging, which was the official "Sword Flag Order" from Shushan, summoning Qing Heng and Jiao Xiao, two True People, to assemble quickly at Shushan's Welcoming Guests Peak.
The Welcoming Guests Peak is located to the northwest of Shushan, near Heavenly Gate Peak, and is also the frontline for Shushan's confrontation with the Demon Cult.
In the sky, countless streams of light shot toward the northwest, obviously the recipients of the message were not limited to Qingluo Peak.
The two of them immediately took to their swords, following the crowd to the vicinity of Welcoming Guests Peak. From a distance, they could see that the area was nearly covered in dark clouds, with an eerie Ghost Qi.
Clothed in white with enchanting beauty, the heavenly demons swirl in the air—a sight of the Heavenly Demon Path's position.
Robes of black with silver trim and a bizarre countenance, with ghostly spirits entwined—this marked the domain of the Nether Ghost Path.
Vibrant in color, a mixture of all kinds of different sects, all in complete disarray—these were the territories of the Mortal Life Path.
Additionally, there were foreign monks and Miao people scattered around, but their numbers were too few to form an array, so for the time being, they went unheeded.
Ling Yunpo and An Zhisu quickly blended into Shushan's formation, and soon they, along with the Sword Immortals, stared down their adversaries, with both sides glaring daggers at each other.
Another half an hour or so passed, and surprisingly, there were no moves made by either side... that is to say, everyone was waiting for the high-levels to give the word, and gradually, people became somewhat impatient.
No matter how irritable they were, however, they couldn't show it publicly and undermine their own momentum. They could only direct their rage toward the opposition, grinding their teeth in fury, filled with the intent to kill.
Finally, appearing to have received a message from the higher-ups, a green-clothed elder stepped forward on her sword, the Elder Biyun of Green Bamboo Peak, who sneered and said,
"You whore of a ghost mother, dare you come to battle?"
From the Heavenly Demon Path's camp, two shrill screams sounded, and two vengeful white-clad women charged out, engaging in a fierce fight with Elder Biyun.
Elder Biyun wielded an exceedingly sharp and slender Immortal Sword which, with every gesture, released trails of silver brilliance. With a casual sweep, a sword Qi of nearly a hundred zhang cut through the various sinister spells of the Ghost Mother sisters.
The elder of the Ghost Mothers waved her sleeve, and from it came thousands of demon heads that swarmed out, by rough count at least over ten thousand, surrounding Elder Biyun completely.
Elder Biyun sneered, her Immortal Sword suddenly bursting with light, infinite Sword Qi shooting out in all directions, annihilating all the demon heads and even leveling the mountains and forests below.
The elder Ghost Mother hastily summoned a brawny giant demon to use as a shield, bearing the brunt of the Sword Qi, its abdomen nearly cloven in half.
But little sister was unable to dodge in time, struck by the Sword Qi on her shoulder, her arm was immediately severed and flew off.
Elder Bixia had yet to follow up with another strike when she saw the elder Ghost Mother sister, with one hand grabbing the severed limb and the other clutching her sister, turn into a black mist and vanish like the wind, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Seeing a momentary victory on Shushan's side, the Sword Immortals were immediately buoyed, their morale and fighting spirit soaring.
Ling Yunpo, from the rear, saw things more clearly, knowing that the Ghost Mother sisters were by no means weak; once tens of thousands of Devil Heads came swarming over, if you had no countermeasure at the ready, you'd likely be devoured entirely.
It was only because Elder Bixia was too strong, her Immortal Sword's edge too fierce, that they were able to press and suppress the opposition... Looking at the devastated forest remains below, one could understand the terrifying power of those Sword Qi.
After a moment of silence from the Heavenly Demon Path, a beautiful woman moved through the crowd and flew forward, laughing coldly,
"Qingyan of the Heavenly Demon Path. I am eager to experience the superior skills of a Shushan Sword Immortal."
This was a Golden Core Realm True Person; Shushan's Nascent Soul Elders, naturally, wouldn't demean themselves to respond to the challenge, so another True Person flew out, declaring,
"Yangchang of the Shangqing Sect intends to eliminate demons and protect the Dao today!"
Ling Yunpo took a closer look and recognized this Yangchang True Person as a Golden Core official from the Administrative Hall, who also had a history of enmity with Su Jian.
In past years, when Qingluo Peak's monthly stipend was withheld, he was one of the main conspirators.
Therefore, while other disciples from Shushan hoped for Yangchang True Person's victory, Ling Yunpo secretly wished they would inflict mutual damage, or even better, perish together.
The two did not get along in conversation and quickly became entangled in combat.
Qingyan True Person, judging by appearance alone, seemed like a mature woman in her late twenties; not only was she stunningly gorgeous and enchantingly poised, she was also adept at casting the Heavenly Demon's Enchanting Melody, an incredibly potent charm.
However, Yangchang True Person's Ruthless Flow was also cultivated to an immensely deep level. No matter how enticing the melody, his heart was hard as steel, completely ignoring it, his Sword Control was decisive and merciless, without any hesitation.
After more than fifty exchanges, Qingyan True Person gracefully retreated with a faint smile.
As Yangchang True Person put distance between them, his expression subtly changed in the moment, suddenly a ghostly arm extended from his shoulder, grabbed his Life-bound Sword Artifact that had just returned to his side, and in a flash of lightning, stabbed it into his abdomen.
Qingyan True Person had someway used a Secret Technique, unnoticed by anybody, to surreptitiously plant a Heavenly Demon within Yangchang True Person!
Two streaks of Sword Light shot out rapidly from Shushan's main formation; they were Yangchang True Person's junior brothers and sisters, catching his falling body and bringing him back to their formation. A Shushan Elder rushed over as well, pressing two fingers to Yangchang's brow to extricate the Heart Demon from his Sea of Consciousness.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but Ling Yunpo at the back saw things clearly; the Flying Sword had directly pierced Yangchang True Person's Dantian, it was uncertain whether it also shattered his Golden Core.
If the Golden Core was not preserved, that would mean his Daoist Foundation was destroyed. Apart from a few incredibly rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures, there was really no way to save him, right?
While he was lost in thought, someone suddenly burst forth from the Nether Ghost Path formation opposite, a gaunt figure who eerily laughed,
Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire
"I, Kuzhu, an elder of the Nether Ghost Path, wish to experience the swordsmanship of Qing Heng True Person of Shushan!"
Ling Yunpo: ?
No, Elder Bixia had a personal vendetta with the Ghost Mother Sisters, clearly carrying a private grudge.
Do I know you? Who are you to specifically challenge me to a fight?
Under the watchful eyes of encouragement from the people around him, he could only fly out with a cold face, his heart secretly sneering several times.
Whoosh!