Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 184: Chapter 181: Sword Control by Force

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Soon, the day of the decisive battle arrived.

The banks of the Qingjiang River teemed with a sea of people.

”I heard that back in the day, Sword King Chu Bai wasn’t very interested in Martial Arts. He preferred reading and studying literature. But after suffering injustice at the hands of the Chu Family, he abandoned his studies for martial arts and dedicated himself to the Sword Dao. He ended up revealing an astonishing talent, achieving Heart Sword Control by the age of twenty-three.”

”Since his debut, Sword King Chu Bai has never been defeated. He has been victorious in every battle, weaving a legend of invincibility.”

Many people in the Cyan Cloud Country knew Chu Bai’s story like the back of their hand.

To many, Chu Bai’s rise was an inspirational tale. He was an outcast, disregarded by his own family. He left the Chu Family, made a stunning debut, and had been unstoppable ever since.

”If we’re talking about undefeated records, Young Master Wushuang, Ning Jiang, hasn’t lost a single battle since his debut either, right?”

Two undefeated men—one a King of the older generation, the other a rising star of the younger. Who was truly stronger?

Today, they would see the answer.

Chu Bai stood with a sword on his back, dressed in elegant, traditional robes.

”Huh, why does he look so familiar? He looks just like my first mate.”

A boatman stared at Sword King Chu Bai in confusion.

”Elder Li, I think you’re getting senile! How could the great Sword King Chu Bai have anything to do with your first mate?”

Someone nearby overheard and burst out laughing.

They were all boatmen on the Qingjiang River, operating their own vessels, much like the Jiang Family.

Elder Li, however, was merely from an ordinary second-tier family and didn’t stand out among the crowd of boatmen.

”Who says I’m senile? He really looks like my first mate. My first mate’s name was Chu Fan, and he was on my boat for ten years. He just bid me farewell and left a few days ago.”

Elder Li spoke with a hint of regret. He had been quite fond of Chu Fan, which was why he had promoted him to first mate.

Unfortunately, Chu Fan had taken his leave just a few days ago.

”Alright, everyone, stop laughing at Elder Li,” someone interjected. ”I know him. He can be a bit stubborn, but he doesn’t lie. Maybe his first mate really did look a bit like the Sword King.”

”That’s possible. It’s not unheard of for people to look alike.”

Another person chimed in.

Beside Elder Li stood a beautiful woman in her twenties. She gazed doubtfully at Sword King Chu Bai and whispered, ”Grandpa, I also think the Sword King looks just like Brother Chu Fan.”

Elder Li froze for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile. ”Silly girl, I know you like Chu Fan, but it must just be a resemblance. After all, how could the great Sword King spend ten years in obscurity on our boat?”

The young woman was unconvinced. ”But didn’t Sword King Chu Bai disappear for ten years? And Brother Chu Fan happened to arrive exactly ten years ago.”

”It’s just a coincidence. Your Brother Chu Fan never used a sword,” Elder Li said, shaking his head.

It was true; the Sword King before him bore some resemblance to the Chu Fan from his memories.

But the Chu Fan he remembered was a simple, unassuming man, whereas the Sword King standing there possessed an extraordinary aura that towered over all others.

’Would such a peerless figure really hide his identity on our boat and stay for ten years?’

Besides, the Chu Fan he remembered had never used a sword.

”The people from Kunlun are here.”

Suddenly, a commotion swept through the crowd.

A group of people made their way into the area.

”It really is Sword King Chu Bai.”

Upon seeing Chu Bai, the sword on Wenhua City’s back began to tremble violently, as if it had encountered a great nemesis and yearned to be unsheathed to battle the Sword King.

Any true sword master would harbor the desire to challenge Chu Bai.

But in the end, Wenhua City shook his head and abandoned the idea.

’A Martial Artist must have the courage to take on challenges, but that doesn’t mean being a fool. There’s no point in a fight where the disparity in strength is too vast.’

”Today’s battle is destined to go down in history.”

Bai Yueru said slowly. She, too, had once admired Sword King Chu Bai, but deep down, she hoped Ning Jiang would win.

”The Pill King is peerless; he will definitely win. Don’t you worry, Miss Yanran.” The people from Pill King Valley had arrived as well, and Lu Changsheng spoke with confidence.

”Sword King Chu Bai... he must be the final obstacle on his path to invincibility, right?”

Li Shiyu murmured. In all of the Cyan Cloud Country, Chu Bai was the only opponent Ning Jiang had left.

She was in a bit of a daze.

Who could have imagined that the one who held sway over the Cyan Cloud Country would be such a young man?

The Nine Great Young Masters and the Four Great Sword Sects of the past had all been surpassed by him.

His rise was nothing short of legendary.

”Hm?”

Just then, countless gazes turned toward the sky.

A white-haired figure was seen treading on air, his robes billowing as he descended upon the scene.

At that moment, the hearts of countless Martial Artists skipped a beat.

’Is the great battle finally about to begin?’

Strolling beside the Qingjiang River, Sword King Chu Bai abruptly stopped, his gaze shooting toward Ning Jiang.

”This battle is not for personal grudges, nor for any other reason. It is only for the sake of the Sword Dao!”

Gazing at the white-robed, white-haired Ning Jiang, Sword King Chu Bai spoke slowly. At this moment, his aura surged, his green robes whipped in the wind, and his wild, untamed presence was on full display.

”I understand what you mean. A worthy opponent is hard to find. You’ve been undefeated in the Cyan Cloud Country for too long, so it’s inevitable you’d feel lonely,” Ning Jiang said with a nod.

He understood Chu Bai’s intentions.

The purpose of this battle was simple. It wasn’t born of hatred or grievances, but was purely for an exchange on the Sword Dao.

For a Sword Cultivator, the best way to discuss the Sword Dao is through battle.

Through combat, they could test each other’s Sword Daos, learn from each other’s strengths to compensate for their own weaknesses, and thus improve.

It was also about the rarity of finding a worthy opponent.

To be without a rival is a lonely existence.

”For a monster like you to appear in the Cyan Cloud Country, it’s truly a joyous occasion!” Sword King Chu Bai let out a long laugh.

Unlike many others who were jealous of Ning Jiang for his monstrous talent, Chu Bai was overjoyed. He craved the emergence of more people like Ning Jiang, for only then would he have rivals.

”Spoken like the true Sword King Chu Bai. He doesn’t fear a strong enemy, only the lack of one,” Duan Wuya remarked with a sigh of admiration.

”Come then. I will fight with all my strength. I hope you can give me a truly satisfying battle.”

Ning Jiang stood firm in the empty air. With a flash of red light and a sword cry that pierced the heavens, the Red Lotus Sword was unsheathed.

”Good.”

Chu Bai’s eyes gleamed. He did not underestimate this young prodigy in the slightest.

SWOOSH!

The Cyan Cry Sword transformed into a streak of green light and fell into his hand. With a single movement, he shot into the sky.

Everyone saw a beam of sword light soar upward, seeming to pierce the very heavens.

”Take this!”

The air parted like water, rolling aside at a speed visible to the naked eye. A beam of sword light shot across the sky, slashing forward.

Duan Wuya’s and Meng Bubai’s pupils contracted. It was a strike just like this that had defeated both of them simultaneously.

Ning Jiang’s long hair whipped around him as he brought the Red Lotus Sword slashing down.

One red, one green—the two Sword Auras collided in an instant.

BANG!

The air trembled as a brilliant light erupted.

The entire sky became a magnificent, churning sea of green and red.

WHOOSH!

From within the blinding light, Ning Jiang and Chu Bai shot out simultaneously, moving as one with their blades as they engaged in close-quarters combat.

A sword: a three-foot sliver of steel, perfect for both offense and defense.

CLANG!

Sparks flew as their blades clashed.

After that, the only thing filling the void was the metallic ring of Treasure Swords colliding.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Their speed was too great; the crowd could only see two beams of sword light colliding over and over.

”They’re too strong! This level of Sword Dao is terrifying.”

The many Martial Artists in the crowd gasped, their hearts filled with terror.

As the two exchanged blows, stray beams of light shot out, effortlessly slicing open the three-hundred-zhang-wide Qingjiang River. Other beams flew high into the sky, tearing massive gashes in the clouds.

Faced with such a battle, the spectators retreated again and again, not daring to get close.

”One hundred exchanges!”

The only people present who could still barely follow their moves were the two Kings, Duan Wuya and Meng Bubai.

Everyone else was completely dazzled, unable to keep up.

”Chu Bai is on the defensive!”

”This lad is a true prodigy of the Sword Dao!”

Duan Wuya and Meng Bubai were astonished. They could clearly see that Chu Bai’s Sword Technique held no advantage against Ning Jiang.

Ning Jiang’s Sword Technique had reached a realm where it could turn the mundane into the miraculous. His every casual strike was aimed at a vital point, a soul-stealing, life-ending blow.

BOOM!

With a tremendous roar, a violent gale swept out in all directions. The collision of the sharp Sword Auras transformed the gale into Wind Blades that shredded everything in their path.

Suddenly, everything stopped.

In the air.

Sword King Chu Bai and Ning Jiang faced each other from a distance. For them, the previous one hundred exchanges had been nothing more than a warm-up.

”Chu Bai, show me your true power. If this is all you’ve got, I’ll be sorely disappointed.”

Ning Jiang held the Red Lotus Sword, his sleeves fluttering, his bearing peerless.

”Indeed. If I don’t use my true abilities, my other techniques are useless against you.”

In the preceding battle, Chu Bai had used every technique at his disposal, yet he had been unable to overcome Ning Jiang. On the contrary, he had been the one on the defensive.

He now knew that without unleashing his full power, he was no match for Ning Jiang.

”Let’s see you take this next blow!”

Chu Bai’s hair flew wildly as he gripped the Cyan Cry Sword and slowly raised it.

FWOOSH!

Instantly, a boundless, imposing power emanated from him. The air currents surged, and a gale swept across the sky.

”Just as I thought!”

Countless Sword Cultivators looked on in horror, staring at Sword King Chu Bai in utter shock.

”No wonder we lost,” Duan Wuya and Meng Bubai said, shaking their heads with bitter smiles.

”Sword Control by Force... This is Sword Control by Force!” a master from the White Eyebrow Sword Sect murmured, his voice trembling.

”What is Sword Control by Force?”

Many in the surrounding crowd were confused.

”Sword Control by Force means commanding the great power of the world itself. Every move draws upon this power. A person who comprehends this Sword Technique is virtually invincible, because their blade wields the very Power of Heaven and Earth!”

”In that case, doesn’t this mean Ning Jiang is doomed to lose?”

”Now that Sword King Chu Bai has comprehended Sword Control by Force, his chances of winning are over ninety percent. Under these circumstances, victory is impossible unless Young Master Wushuang uses that Spiritual Artifact of his and fights with his Flying Sword technique. But even if he were to win that way, it wouldn’t be a fair victory.”

A master from the Gale Sword Sect lamented.

”It seems the title of the Cyan Cloud Country’s number one Sword Cultivator still belongs to Sword King Chu Bai.”

”The Sword King will win!”

Some of Chu Bai’s supporters shouted at the top of their lungs.

”Sword that Sunders the Wind and Clouds!”

A thunderous shout echoed as Chu Bai brought his sword down, and the immense power of heaven and earth came crashing forward!