Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 430: Chapter 426: Kunwu Mountain Peak, The Battle of Prodigies

”It’s been a month. Is Ning Jiang planning to hide in the King’s Tomb for the rest of his life?”

These days, the Ancient Forbidden Land was bustling with activity.

Ever since Ning Jiang defeated numerous prodigies within and his victory shook the world, people had been flocking here daily.

Everyone knew that the moment Ning Jiang emerged, the Celestial Pill in his possession would become the center of a maelstrom, sure to stir up a tempest.

”Do you think those Kings who reign over the Six Eastern Provinces might have already arrived?”

Someone couldn’t help but speculate as his gaze swept in all directions.

”Don’t bother looking. Even if a King had truly arrived, we wouldn’t be able to detect them with our level of Cultivation. Even if a King were standing right before us, we wouldn’t notice a thing if they didn’t wish it.”

A True Monarch of the Heaven-Reaching Realm said faintly.

”Indeed. Kings are lofty and remote, elusive as divine dragons. You can’t just see one whenever you please.”

”If I were fortunate enough to see what one of the Celestial Martial Realm Kings looks like with my own eyes, I could die without regrets.”

A Martial Artist sighed.

To many of the people here, Celestial Martial Realm Kings were figures of distant legend. They had grown up hearing tales of these Kings, but had never once laid eyes on one.

It was only natural, then, that many would yearn for a glimpse of a true King.

”Even if we can’t see a Celestial Martial Realm King, so what? Don’t we have a future King right before our very eyes?”

Someone commented.

The crowd’s expression grew solemn.

”Sword King Body Ling Tianxu... Indeed, he is destined to become a King. And once he does, he will surely become the strongest King in the Six Eastern Provinces.”

someone exclaimed in awe.

Following the crowd’s gaze, one could see a young man seated atop a towering mountain peak ahead.

He had sword-like brows and was dressed in fine brocade, a Purple Gold Dragon Crown upon his head. He naturally possessed the grand aura of a sovereign who could command the world.

Before him lay a game board. The black and white stones upon it were interlocked in a fierce, complex pattern. The game was intense, like two great dragons locked in a battle to the death, and a brutal atmosphere emanated from the board.

However, there was no one sitting opposite him.

He was the only one playing.

He controlled both the black and white pieces, his focus divided as he played a game against himself.

On the vast mountain peak, he was utterly alone.

It was as if no one else was worthy of being there; he was the sole king of this peak!

”Kunwu Mountain... a remarkable peak where prodigies have vied for supremacy for generations. Yet now, only Ling Tianxu has ascended it. With him there, no one else from the younger generation dares set foot on that mountain. What a display of dominance!”

Someone sighed, marveling at Ling Tianxu’s stunning prowess.

Kunwu Mountain, a remarkable peak within the Ancient Forbidden Land, was a mountain of long-standing fame throughout the Six Eastern Provinces.

The mountain was a thousand zhang tall, straight as a sword piercing the heavens. From the halfway point, it was wreathed in clouds and mist. It was said that from the summit, one could even touch the layer of astral wind, as if dwelling in the sky itself.

”Grandpa, what’s the story behind Kunwu Mountain?”

”A thousand years ago, Kunwu Mountain was just a tall mountain, nothing worth mentioning. But in those days, a peerless Celestial King, Golden Cicada, preached upon this very mountain for three days. After that, the Celestial King entered the Ancient Forbidden Land and was never seen again.”

An old-timer in the know explained with gusto, ”From then on, Kunwu Mountain became the subject of endless legends, its fame spreading throughout the Six Provinces. Gradually, this place became a battleground where generations of prodigies would clash. Prodigies of the past loved to compete here to determine who was number one!”

”Now, a thousand years later, countless prodigies have made their name on Kunwu Mountain, leaving behind a great many stories. For instance, Extreme Heaven Monarch of the Extreme Heaven Sect once stood upon this mountain and overpowered all the other prodigies of his era to claim the top spot.”

”Or take Su Yuying, the Vice Palace Master of the Moon God Palace—she was the undisputed number one of her generation.”

”Wow, I had no idea this place had such an incredible history.” The young man beside the elder was stunned after hearing the tale.

”But never in the past has it been like this, with one person ascending and no one else daring to follow. This Ling Tianxu... he is truly fearsome,” the old man marveled.

Ling Tianxu was there alone; no other prodigy dared to go up. What an absolute show of power!

”If only I could go up there one day... how amazing would that be?” The young man’s eyes were filled with yearning.

He wasn’t the only one present with such thoughts. Countless young people in the crowd had the same fervent look in their eyes.

Every single one of them wanted to be in Ling Tianxu’s position!

To stand on that peak was to claim the title of the number one prodigy of the Six Eastern Provinces.

WHOOSH.

Just then, a figure shot up from the crowd and soared toward Kunwu Mountain Peak.

”Kunwu Mountain has always been a battleground for prodigies! Since no one dares to be the first to ascend, then I will be that person!”

It was a young man, his voice booming.

”Eh? Isn’t that Bai Zongping from the Black Water Sect, a Middle Grade Sect?”

”Why is Bai Zongping’s aura so powerful? It seems we’ve all underestimated him. With power like that, he could probably rank in the top thirty among the younger generation of the Six Eastern Provinces!”

Many people cried out in shock.

For a mere Middle Grade Sect to produce such a figure was practically a miracle.

”Sect Leader, Senior Brother Bai is making his move... He’ll be alright, won’t he?”

The members of the Black Water Sect were also in the crowd.

”Relax. Zongping’s strength is indeed far inferior to Ling Tianxu’s, but he never planned on winning. As long as he can withstand a move or two, it will be enough for his name to be known across the land,” said the Sect Leader of the Black Water Sect.

”How perceptive, Sect Leader. This way, our Black water Sect will also become more widely known,” someone beside him quickly added with flattery.

’He’s biting off more than he can chew.’

However, many in the crowd simply shook their heads.

This was especially true for Jian Jiuge and Xia Tianyu, whose faces were masks of open scorn.

”Ling Tianxu, I have come for your guidance!”

With a long cry, Bai Zongping’s aura erupted. Like a white rainbow, he shot toward Ling Tianxu.

The powerful ripples of his aura made countless people gasp.

In the blink of an eye, he reached the summit and closed in on Ling Tianxu.

But Ling Tianxu didn’t even spare him a glance. His eyes remained fixed on the game board. As he placed a stone, a single word escaped his lips: ”Kneel.”

Bai Zongping’s body instantly froze. He felt an overwhelming pressure crash down on him from Ling Tianxu, and his knees buckled, forcing him to kneel.

”What?!”

Countless onlookers were left dumbfounded by the scene.

”He didn’t even have to lift a finger? He forced an expert like that to his knees with his sheer presence alone?” Even the experts of the Heaven-Reaching Realm found it incredible.

”No wonder none of the prodigies from the Seven Great Super Sects have gone up. It seems they are all keenly aware of the gap between themselves and Ling Tianxu.”

”He’s too powerful. Even that Ning Jiang couldn’t be this freakishly strong, could he?”