Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 164: Chapter 161: The Two Great Kings

The far northern reaches of the Cyan Cloud Country were a desolate, uninhabited wasteland.

The land was far too cold, covered in mountains of ice. The frigid wind cut like a blade, chilling to the bone. Even a Martial Artist whose Cultivation had reached the Innate Realm would be unable to endure it for more than a few days.

Forget an ordinary Innate Realm expert—even one at the Innate Limit would find their blood beginning to freeze if they stayed for several months.

Yet in this frozen hellscape, a bald, powerfully built man sat bare-chested, seemingly oblivious to the cold.

He was lean and muscular, his aura as steady as a mountain, and his entire body was forged like steel. Seated atop a giant bear with a leisurely expression, he resembled a Primordial Giant Beast, containing an incredibly terrifying Power within him.

The great bear beneath him was a Demon Beast unique to the Arctic Icefield. Its fur was exceptionally thick, allowing it to withstand the arctic cold and survive in such a place.

These great bears were known for their cruelty and bloodlust, infamous Demon Beasts of the Arctic Icefield, comparable to the Ice Pythons of the Qingjiang.

But now, this great bear—a creature powerful enough to rival Innate List Powerhouses—was as docile as a pet, letting out low growls.

Its gaze would occasionally sweep over the man on its back, its eyes filled with deep fear.

This man was terrifying. With his physical body alone, he could suppress it completely, leaving it with no power to resist.

To the bear, the man felt like a humanoid tyrannosaurus, his physical Power unbelievably immense.

At this moment, a tall young man stood respectfully beside him. The youth’s muscles rippled with explosive power, and his frame was a head taller than the bald man’s, built like a bear himself.

The aura of the Innate Limit emanated from him.

If any of the younger generation were to see him, they would surely recognize him as the fourth-ranked of the Cyan Cloud Country’s Nine Great Young Masters, a man of noble status, placed twenty-second on the Innate List.

”Master, are you coming out of seclusion?”

The young man stood by respectfully, asking cautiously.

”I haven’t made a move in ten years. I’m afraid the world has forgotten me. A mere junior has now surpassed us all. Is the title ’Unmatched Under Heaven’ so easily obtained?”

The bald man’s gaze sharpened, becoming almost tangible.

As the qi and blood in his body circulated, the sound of massive War Drums echoed forth, as if two armies were clashing and the drums shook the heavens.

Just hearing this sound made the young man’s heart pound in his chest. He was also a Body Refiner, and the only Body Refining Grandmaster among the Nine Great Young Masters, yet compared to his master, he was still leagues behind.

’Has Master’s Realm already reached Innate Invincibility?’

The young man asked respectfully.

”Innate Invincibility requires the Perfection of Essence, Qi, and Spirit. Only after the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top can one be considered to have truly achieved Innate Invincibility. Such a Realm only appears once a century. How could it be so easy to enter?”

”However, I am not far from Innate Invincibility now. I am only one final step away.”

As he spoke, two streams of qi—one red, one silver—suddenly shot up from the top of the bald man’s head. The two streams quickly transformed, forming two flowers.

A red flower and a silver flower.

’This is the Perfection of Essence and Qi! Only his Spirit is lacking!’

The young man was stunned, his face a mask of horror.

It is said that the heavens have three treasures: the sun, moon, and stars. The earth has three treasures: water, fire, and wind. And man has three treasures: Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

Of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, ”Essence” refers to the blood within the body.

And ”Qi” is the Energy that circulates the blood. The flow of blood in the body relies on Qi to move. Without Qi, the blood cannot flow, the body will necrotize, and the heart will stop beating.

As for ”Spirit,” it refers to one’s mind, will, and consciousness.

If the Three Flowers Gather at the Top, one achieves Innate Invincibility.

Now, his master had achieved Perfection of Essence and Qi, condensing two flowers. He was only half a step away from Innate Invincibility.

’With Master’s current strength, if he comes out of seclusion, he will surely be unstoppable.’

The young man’s eyes filled with even greater respect.

”Unstoppable? You’re being too naive. If I’m not mistaken, that old fellow Duan Wuya has probably cultivated his Qi and Spirit to Perfection in the last ten years. Besides...”

The bald man’s gaze tightened, and his expression grew unusually grave. ”Don’t forget Chu Bai. Ten years ago, Duan Wuya and I joined forces, and we both lost to him. Now that a decade has passed, who knows what level his Sword Dao has reached?”

The young man listened respectfully, not daring to interrupt.

Duan Wuya, formerly second on the Innate List, a Sword King of his generation.

Chu Bai, formerly first on the Innate List, a Sword King of his generation.

And his master was formerly third on the Innate List, the Vajra King, Meng Bubai.

The rankings of these three Kings had stood unshakable at the top of the Innate List for ten years, never changing.

But just recently, a Divine Demon-like youth had appeared out of nowhere. Rising like a comet, he suppressed the three Kings to claim the top spot on the Innate List, and was hailed as ”Unmatched Under Heaven”!

”I haven’t been out and about for ten years. Perhaps the Cyan Cloud Country has forgotten me?”

Meng Bubai slowly stood up. As he rose, the giant bear beneath his feet suddenly let out a mournful cry and its entire body slammed onto the ground.

SPLAT!

Blood burst outwards in all directions. The great bear, a beast of the Innate Limit, was instantly crushed into a paste of flesh and blood, as if a mountain had fallen on it.

’Master’s Vajra Unbreakable Body has broken through again!’

The young man stared, dumbfounded. Just by standing up, without any visible action, his master had turned the great bear into a meat patty in an instant.

One must know that this great bear’s power was comparable to a master on the Innate List.

What terrifying strength was this?

”That’s right. Ten years ago, my Vajra Unbreakable Body had only reached Great Success. Now, after a decade, I have brought this Body Refining Technique to Perfection!”

Meng Bubai let out a long laugh, the sound so powerful that the surrounding ice cracked layer by layer. ”So what if the master of the White Eyebrow Sword Sect broke through to Sword Qi Thunder Sound? If he stood before me, he would still be no match for me.”

With that, he clasped his hands behind his back, turned, and left without a second glance. ”Let’s go. I’m going to meet this ’Unmatched Under Heaven,’ Ning Jiang!”

...

「Western Cyan Cloud Country.」

This was a primordial mountain range filled with towering ancient trees.

In the deepest part of the mountains, there was a massive waterfall.

ROAR.

The sound of the crashing water was earth-shattering. The waterfall plummeted from a height of hundreds of yards, and its thunderous roar could be heard for miles, like the cry of a thousand soldiers and the stampede of ten thousand horses.

Beneath the waterfall.

An old man sat cross-legged. He had a full head of white hair, but his face was youthful. He sat perfectly still, like an ancient Buddha.

The fierce, rushing torrent crashed down but never touched his body.

His entire body seemed to be enveloped by a layer of Sword Qi. When the waterfall reached him, it split in two, flowing away to either side.

SWISH.

A figure flew through the air and landed nearby. His aura was sharp, like an unsheathed Treasure Blade.

He was a young man in his twenties, with handsome, chiseled features that were quite striking.

”Disciple Li Liushui pays his respects to Master.”

The young man walked before the elder and bowed respectfully.

Li Liushui, second of the Nine Great Young Masters, ranked eleventh on the Innate List!

”Liushui, your aura is too sharp. You have not yet cultivated it to a state of restraint. If one day you can retract your aura, holding it in perfect unity, as calm as still water, then you will be qualified to challenge Young Master Soaring Dragon.”

The old man’s eyes were closed; he did not look at Li Liushui, but he could sense his disciple’s sharp aura with his perception alone.

He himself was different. He sat there, placid and unremarkable, emanating nothing at all.

This was returning to the source, to a state of simplicity.

If Li Liushui was an unsheathed Treasure Blade, then the old man was one hidden deep within its scabbard. This Realm was far more terrifying—a killing blow could be struck without a sound, without the slightest warning.

”Thank you for your guidance, Master.”

Li Liushui said respectfully.

”Your mind is troubled. Has something happened?” the old man asked, his eyes still closed, as if he knew everything.

”Reporting to Master, the master of the White Eyebrow Sword Sect has broken through to Sword Qi Thunder Sound,” Li Liushui said.

”Mm.”

The old man just hummed faintly, not seeming to care much.

”He was defeated.”

”Oh?”

The old man finally showed some interest. ’In this Cyan Cloud Country, besides us three Kings, there’s someone else who can defeat the master of the White Eyebrow Sword Sect? And a master who has reached Sword Qi Thunder Sound, at that?’

”The one who defeated him was a sixteen-year-old boy!”

As these words were spoken, the old man’s tightly closed eyes finally snapped open.

CRACKLE.

A bolt of lightning seemed to flash through the empty air, and the waterfall in front of the old man blasted apart slightly.

Seeing this, Li Liushui’s eyes filled with profound shock.

’Generating lightning from the void!’

His heart trembled. He understood that this phenomenon was only possible because the old man’s spirit had reached the absolute peak of power.

And this Realm was a clear sign of having perfected ”Spirit,” one of the three treasures of Essence, Qi, and Spirit!

’His Master had already perfected his Qi. Now his Spirit has also reached Perfection. Compared to ten years ago, how much stronger has he become?’

”Continue.”

”The person who defeated him used only one sword strike! He has now been ranked first on the Innate List by Tianya Pavilion and is being called ’Unmatched Under Heaven’!”

Li Liushui’s voice trembled slightly as he spoke. When he first saw that Innate List, his initial reaction was also disbelief. ’How could such a powerful person exist in this world?’

And a boy so young, at that!

”Only one strike?”

The old man slowly stood up. The moment he rose, a heaven-piercing Sword Qi erupted from his body. Above his head, the entire waterfall was split in two by this aura.

”Ten years ago, it would have taken a bitter fight for me to defeat the master of the White Eyebrow Sword Sect after he reached Sword Qi Thunder Sound. But now, ten years later, I too would only need a single blow to defeat him!”

CLANG!

The Treasure Blade left its sheath. The old man gripped the long blade and slashed upwards.

WHOOSH.

In an instant, the waterfall—hundreds of yards high—reversed its flow and shot upwards, creating a heaven-defying spectacle!

”Let’s go. Take me to see this ’Unmatched Under Heaven’!”

”Yes, Master.”

A look of profound, joyful surprise appeared in Li Liushui’s eyes.

Ten years.

It had been ten years since his master was defeated by Sword King Chu Bai. Now, Duan Wuya, the Sword King of his generation from the Innate List, was finally returning to Cyan Cloud!