Ling Tian Sword God

”Too reckless!” Luo Xian’er couldn’t help but worry for Ling Chen. Although Mei Fangzhi wouldn’t kill Ling Chen, if he directly bore the brunt of this sword strike, he might suffer severe injuries.

Just as everyone was whispering about Ling Chen’s seemingly reckless action, a piercing sword cry tore through the air. Then, everyone saw the Twin Swords in Ling Chen’s hand erupt with an extremely dazzling light. The two Treasure Swords, one gold and one red, intertwined like thunder and Flames, forming a Cross Sword Aura.

The astonishing Cross Sword Aura slashed out, surging upwards. Amidst the shocked gazes, it met the galaxy-like Sword Light head-on.

SHRED!

The galaxy-like sword qi was torn apart like a bolt of cloth, finally colliding with a deafening roar.

Invisible sword qi exploded madly in all directions.

In that instant, everyone felt goosebumps rise on their skin, and a sharp, needle-pricking pain welled up.

CRACK!

Suddenly, a large nearby tree fractured, then abruptly split in half. The break was incredibly smooth, as if cleanly severed by a single sword strike.

The exchange ended with surprising speed. The Sword Light in the sky, which had just been dazzlingly brilliant, suddenly dimmed until it finally vanished. The once-potent sword qi also quietly dispersed.

Gazing at the now-silent sky, countless eyes shifted almost in unison towards the two figures who had landed on the eaves of a building.

”Who won?”

Looking at the two figures, urgent voices swiftly spread throughout the mountain villa. The previous Sword Light had been too dazzling, and they hadn’t clearly seen who had won or lost.

At this moment, Ling Chen’s white robes were tattered and torn, riddled with countless small cuts. But because neither of them had used True Qi, the sword marks on him were very shallow, merely insignificant superficial wounds.

In contrast, Mei Fangzhi still wore his flowing white robes, without a single mark on him.

The victor was clear. Ling Chen was slightly outmatched.

Xuan Yu was astonished. Ling Chen actually blocked that last sword strike! Although Ling Chen has many sword wounds, they are all superficial. It seems his earlier proactive attack broke Mei Fangzhi’s sword technique! Besides, Mei Fangzhi already said that if Ling Chen blocked four of his moves, he would consider it his loss.

According to what Mei Fangzhi had said, Ling Chen had, in fact, already won.

If it had been anyone else from the younger generation, they probably couldn’t have emerged as relatively unscathed as Ling Chen. To reach this stage was already incredibly difficult.

RIP!

Just as everyone was secretly marveling, the clothing on Mei Fangzhi’s chest suddenly tore open, revealing a cross-shaped gash.

This sudden turn of events caused the atmosphere in the courtyard to tense abruptly. Even Mei Fangzhi himself was taken aback for a moment.

He hadn’t even realized when Ling Chen’s sword strike had connected. He had thought he’d shattered Ling Chen’s sword technique and was completely untouched by his opponent’s sword qi.

At this point, Mei Fangzhi’s robes were tattered, the clothes on his chest slashed open in a cross shape, making him look like a beggar. Where was the grace of a Villa Owner?

Miaoyin, Xuan Yu, and the other disciples of Hanmei Villa stared at each other in disbelief. This was the first time they had ever seen Mei Fangzhi in such a disheveled state.

The shock on Mei Fangzhi’s face lasted only for an instant before he burst into hearty laughter. ”To think that I, Mei Fangzhi, would find myself in such a sorry state at the hands of a young man!”

”I was impolite and overstepped. Please forgive me, Villa Owner,” Ling Chen said, feeling somewhat awkward. During their exchange just now, he hadn’t been able to fully control the power of his move. After all, if he hadn’t gone all out, he wouldn’t have been able to take Mei Fangzhi’s final sword strike. Not only would he have been thoroughly defeated, but he likely would have suffered serious injuries.

”No harm, no harm.” Mei Fangzhi quickly waved his hand, clearly not minding at all. On the contrary, he seemed quite pleased, looking at Ling Chen with considerable admiration. ”That final sword technique you just displayed—what is its name?”

Ling Chen shook his head. ”It has no name.”

This made Mei Fangzhi pause again. Such a powerful technique, and it has no name?

”This sword technique was something I had a flash of inspiration for while sparring with you, Villa Owner. It never had a name.”

This sword technique was a profound move Ling Chen had comprehended mid-battle, primarily incorporating the True Essence of Fire with a trace of Thunder Intent.

Suddenly, Ling Chen’s eyes lit up. ”Thunder-Flame Double Sword Slash,” he declared. ”That is its name.”

”An epiphany in the heat of battle! TSK TSK! No wonder you’re a sword genius; you have the air of the Taibai Sword Immortal in his youth,” Mei Fangzhi said, shaking his head in admiration. ”Legend says the Taibai Sword Immortal was the greatest sword prodigy under the heavens. He left behind countless poems and many forms of swordsmanship. He traveled the Continent, and whenever he encountered a beautiful vista, he would sip fine wine, compose poetry, and practice his sword.”

”His Sword Dao Realm was profound and unfathomable. His poems concealed sword moves, and his sword techniques were implied in his poetry. By a stroke of luck, I obtained one of his poems and from it, comprehended the Nine Sky Flowing Swords Technique. The Taibai Sword Immortal is truly the foremost figure in the Sword Way throughout the ages!”

Ling Chen nodded in agreement. The Taibai Sword Immortal, one of the few Supreme Experts in the Continent’s history, had achievements comparable to the Human Emperor. His title as the foremost figure in the Sword Way through the ages was thoroughly deserved.

The swordsmanship Mei Fangzhi had displayed earlier was indeed astonishingly powerful. However, considering it originated from the Taibai Sword Immortal, it was hardly surprising.

If Mei Fangzhi, with his Half-Saint level cultivation, were to execute it, its might would surely be extraordinary.

”Little friend Ling Chen, your Sword Dao talent is astounding, something I’ve rarely seen in my entire life,” Mei Fangzhi suddenly said, looking at Ling Chen. ”Perhaps you can glean even more from the Taibai Sword Immortal’s poetry. Memorize these four lines. It is said the Taibai Sword Immortal composed them when passing through Immeasurable Gorge: ’Sunlight on Incense Burner Peak creates purple smoke; from afar, a waterfall hangs before the river. The torrent plunges straight down three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way falls from the nine highest heavens.’”

Ling Chen murmured the lines, committing them to memory.

Mulling over its poetic intent and linking it to the Nine Sky Flowing Swords Technique Mei Fangzhi had demonstrated, the embryonic form of a sword technique rapidly took shape in Ling Chen’s mind.

However, poems are ultimately ambiguous. The sword techniques comprehended from them can also be open to interpretation. If Mei Fangzhi could distill the Nine Sky Flowing Swords Technique from it, then Ling Chen might also glean something entirely different.

”Wait a moment.” Suddenly, Ling Chen’s eyes lit up. He looked directly at Mei Fangzhi and asked, ”Master Mei, did you say this poem was composed by the Taibai Sword Immortal when he passed through Immeasurable Gorge?”

”Yes,” Mei Fangzhi nodded. ”Immeasurable Gorge is by the Clear Water River. There’s an Incense Burner Peak there that emits purple smoke when bathed in sunlight. The Taibai Sword Immortal composed this poem while admiring the Great Waterfall of Immeasurable Gorge amidst that purple smoke. It’s a very peculiar place.”

”Clear Water River? Isn’t it called the Big River?” Ling Chen pressed.

”The Big River is indeed the Clear Water River,” Mei Fangzhi explained. ”The Clear Water River was renamed just three hundred years ago. In many ancient records, it’s referred to as the ’Big River’. However, many people… Why do you suddenly ask about this?”

I finally understand! Ling Chen’s eyes lit up instantly, a smile spreading across his lips. He finally understood what the eight words, ”The water of the Big River, the purple smoke from the Incense Burner,” truly signified.