Chapter 184: Returned a Fart

**Across the Lands: Playing with Warlords**

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***

Before he began practicing his blade, Xu Fengnian was like a pauper living in a golden palace, eating, drinking, and relieving himself there every day, yet still complaining about poverty. His blade training, which involved moving books as if moving mountains, vastly broadened his horizons. Although he had heard the white-haired old man mention that flying swords severing heads were immortal abilities, he had always regarded it as mere legend. He never dared to hope to witness such a feat with his own eyes.

At this moment, the Crown Prince looked up at the two dense swarms of flying swords filling the sky. Gazing at the scene, his scalp tingled, his blood surged, and he stood dumbfounded. He muttered to himself, "Good heavens, this skill is beyond appreciation!"

The two guest masters who narrowly escaped death looked at each other in utter shock. Xuanyuan Jingcheng, who had entered the Confucian Saint realm through unconventional means, had just been annihilated into dust. How could another Sword Immortal appear? The old man, clad in a tattered sheepskin coat and fond of picking his ears, was indeed Li Chungang, the former foremost swordsman. However, since Deng Tai'a appeared and occasionally displayed his power in the martial world with a half-demon, half-immortal grandeur, who would still doubt that the old Sword God could not possibly defeat the new one?

Yet, the current scene was astonishing: it was one thing for hundreds of swords from Huishan to unsheathe and fly here, but those thousands of diverse peach wood swords from Longhu Mountain were miles away from Guniu Ridge, even the closest ones. Not to mention the swords carried by Taoist priests from remote temples, all summoned to Daxiueping with just two words, "Sword, come!" by that elder? Wasn't it said that Li Chungang's cultivation had plummeted after his sword broke and his arm was severed? Huang Fangfo and Hong Biao didn't even favor him to defeat Xuanyuan Dapan, let alone Wang Xianzhi. Yet, this old man, who had retired from the martial world for twenty years, had actually reached the realm of uttering prophecies? How could his profound power be so immense?!

There was once a secret in the martial world: at the pinnacle of the Three Teachings, a Confucian Saint's vast righteous aura connects with heaven and earth, allowing them to utter celestial decrees. Just now, Xuanyuan Jingcheng knelt before Heaven and Earth, uttering the words "seek death," which then drew down heavenly thunder as thick as a mountain peak—this was proof. A great Daoist Immortal could make a prophecy come true with a single word, thus enabling them to wield incantations to slay demons and eliminate evil, acting on behalf of Heaven. And many Bodhisattvas in Buddhism had made grand vows, whose utterances could shake the three thousand worlds. Li Chungang's methods were naturally similar; he truly deserved to be called a Sword Immortal.

Xu Fengnian, still holding the umbrella for Xuanyuan Qingfeng, muttered to himself, "This 'swords from the sky' display is really domineering. If he could send swords *to* Longhu Mountain, that would be truly impressive. Let's see if those old 'ox-nosed' Daoists dare to act arrogant then."

The old Sword God, his back to the Crown Prince and facing the Demon-Slaying Platform, seemed to hear Xu Fengnian's mumbling. His sky-piercing aura condensed, and over 1,300 flying swords instantly plummeted into the cliff. He turned around, annoyed, and said, "You brat, always showing off! You should know there are always greater heavens beyond and greater people beyond people! Longhu Mountain has been able to stand against Liangchan Temple for a thousand years, North and South; it should not be underestimated. It's possible there are Celestial Daoist Chiefs who chose not to ascend residing there. Besides, I'm long past the age of seeking fights. Now I just want to take that girl Jiang as a disciple. Alas, it's a pity she wasn't here, otherwise my chances of taking a disciple would have been even greater."

Xu Fengnian had intended to mock the old Sword God for being uninspired, for showing off such a grand display for nothing, but he truly lacked the courage. Xu Fengnian heard the term "Daoist Chief" for the first time and asked curiously, "What is a Daoist Chief?"

Li Chungang walked towards the Guniu Downfall Mansion, scratching his crotch. The rain had made him uncomfortably sticky. He said, "A Daoist Chief is the contemporary Patriarch of Daoism, equivalent in status to the Buddhist Head, the leader of Buddhism. However, this position is too 'hot' to hold. Those in both Buddhist and Daoist sects who are qualified to sit in this position usually have excellent character and are unwilling to be 'early birds' (i.e., stand out). Those who desperately seek to become a Daoist Chief or Buddhist Head are often petty individuals seeking fame, mostly too close to the imperial court, and lack public prestige. Therefore, for the past century, only Qi Xuanzhen's position as Daoist Chief was truly deserved; everyone else failed to win public respect.

"As for Buddhism, the white-robed monk Li Dangxin, who journeyed thousands of miles west to seek scriptures, once had the opportunity to become the Bodhisattva Head. Unfortunately, I heard he simply left to get married and have a daughter. Therefore, both the Daoist Chief and Buddhist Head positions are currently vacant. The reason I'm telling you this now is because when I was flying my sword over Daxiueping, I sensed that several peaks on Longhu Mountain had unfathomable aura. Among them, Taoists from the Celestial Master's Residence blocked me, and people from Zhenjun Temple also intervened to disrupt things. That's not strange. What's strange is that on Yunjin Mountain, there was an aura so potent it could be called 'qi luck' (destiny/providence), yet it refused to act."

Xu Fengnian, still holding the umbrella to shield Xuanyuan Qingfeng from the wind and rain, tightened his grip on the handle and said grimly, "It must be that strange Daoist named Zhao Huangchao! He claims to be a member of the Liyang imperial family who entered Longhu Mountain to cultivate. On that day at Jianya Cliff in Kuanglu Mountain, he performed the act of a Celestial being leaving his body, arriving on a dragon! He looked to be only between thirty and forty years old, but who knows if he's lived two or three 'jiazi' (a 'jiazi' is 60 years)? This Daoist constantly talks about acting on behalf of Heaven; he certainly has a grand air!"

Xu Fengnian naturally wouldn't elaborate on many details, as that dragon-python struggle was too obscure and mysterious, and Xuanyuan Qingfeng was present as an outsider.

Xuanyuan Qingfeng, her skirt hem soaked in water beneath the umbrella, slowly came back to her senses. With cold, emotionless eyes, she said, "Some time ago, I went to Yunjin Mountain with someone to search for Jiaoni (a mythical creature), and saw a middle-aged Daoist fishing in a deep pool. At the time, I thought his cultivation was mediocre, and he was merely pretending to be a reclusive master. At that time, this Daoist was discussing the scriptures of the Three Teachings with Song Keli, the Young Master of the Song family, speaking with great arrogance. From what he said, he directly referred to the Northern Sage Zhang as 'Master Zhang,' as if he had been born two thousand years earlier and dared to sit and discuss Dao with a Saint."

Li Chungang frowned and said, "Zhao Huangchao, who has mastered the Three Teachings? I haven't heard of him. I didn't hear Old Qi mention him either, though I met Qi Xuanzhen twice. However, with this Daoist's cultivation, becoming the Daoist Chief would be more than enough. Xu brat, how did you provoke this Celestial being? And even cause him to manifest his spirit and travel astrally, not hesitating to put on a show of riding a dragon? With this Daoist's power, he could clearly remain secluded on Longhu Mountain for at least a century without gaining any fame; he's obviously not the type who craves vainglory. The Zhao surname... imperial family. Haha, I understand! He's simply concerned about the gathering and dispersal of the world's qi luck. According to this, you brat should be grateful that Cao Changqing took Miss Jiang away early. Otherwise, if Zhao Huangchao had encountered her and seen through the mystery, you would have been in deep trouble. At Kuanglu Mountain, with my ability at the time, even opening the Heavenly Gate would likely have been useless."

Xu Fengnian said with a playful smile, "What about now?"

The old man cursed, "Am I so full I'd stick my neck out for you? Do you think fighting a Celestial being is a small skirmish?"

Celestial being leaving his body, astral travel on a dragon, profound qi luck. Hearing this, Xuanyuan Qingfeng felt a chill in her heart. She was originally a proud and stubborn woman, born into a top-tier martial arts noble family, the only daughter of the eldest legitimate branch. She could read widely and remember everything, making her a walking martial arts library. Only a scion from a top scholarly family like Song Keli, and one possessing true talent and learning, could slightly impress her. But ever since the one holding the umbrella entered Jianzhou, her entire life had been turned upside down. Her father had just displayed his immortal demeanor before dying. The three "Jing" generation members, who were supposed to uphold Huishan's prestige for the next fifty years, were all dead. The former stabilizing force, Xuanyuan Dapan, was killed. Her grandfather, Xuanyuan Guoqi, was forced to jump off the mountain. The two guest masters turned against them at Daxiueping. If her father had been alive, these fickle individuals might have remained obedient. But now, was there even half a grandmaster left at Guniu Ridge? How could she control that group of guest masters and deathsworn who were like monkeys when the tree stood, but turned into jackals the moment it fell?

Seeing that the woman had no intention of getting up, as if she was addicted to sitting on the ground, Xu Fengnian impatiently reminded her, "Xuanyuan Qingfeng, it's not right for you to keep me holding this umbrella forever. Now that Guniu Ridge is without a leader, it's a great opportunity for you to realize your ambitions. Don't waste it."

Xuanyuan Qingfeng struggled to stand up. Perhaps from sitting too long, her legs were sore, and she nearly stumbled back into the water. Xu Fengnian kindly offered a supporting hand, but she forcefully pushed him away with surprising strength. She sneered, "Am I realizing my ambitions, or is His Royal Highness trying to control Huishan Xuanyuan?"

Xu Fengnian sneered back shamelessly, "I like it when we speak frankly. Since you brought it up, why don't we have a good talk and sort things out?"

Xuanyuan Qingfeng, matching his bluntness, said, "Please speak."

The old Sword God ignored the conniving between the man and the woman. He walked directly to the gate of the Guniu Downfall Mansion, went up the steps, and bent down to pick up the wind chimes. Xu Fengnian, speaking clearly and systematically, said, "You're just worried that I, this Crown Prince, will usurp your position, treat you as a puppet, and only stop once I've emptied Huishan's centuries-old family fortune, right?"

Xuanyuan Qingfeng replied without hesitation, "Exactly. Your Highness comes from a good family, has lofty ambitions, and I believe your appetite won't be small either."

Xu Fengnian laughed heartily and said, "Oh, Xuanyuan Qingfeng, let me state this plainly: regarding Guniu Ridge, as long as the copies of those secret manuals are stored in Beiliang's Listening Tide Pavilion, I don't want anything else. Since we're doing a public business deal, and I've received benefits from you, I will naturally help you secure your position as the Huishan family head. If anyone is unconvinced, they can come and taste the flavor of a Beiliang blade. Besides, the old Sword God is now a Land Sword Immortal; whether it's 'the fox borrowing the tiger's might' or simply leveraging his influence, who would dare to say no? At worst, they won't stay in Huishan, but absolutely no one will openly confront you. This is a business deal. Whether you're comfortable or uncomfortable as the family head from now on depends on your own methods. If you need me to step in later, you'll have to provide additional benefits. In business, even brothers settle accounts clearly, let alone us, rivals whose enmity can be great or small, right?"

Xuanyuan Qingfeng said coldly, "Your Highness also said we are rivals, so why do business? At worst, Xuanyuan Qingfeng will give up and let things fall apart, leaving this mess to my elder brothers. What's it to me if I go down the mountain?"

Xu Fengnian tutted, "That's boring talk. Your father, Xuanyuan Jingcheng, fought to the death to create this current situation. With your stubborn personality, can you just let it go? Go fool a ghost! I'm not in the mood to beat around the bush with you. To put it bluntly, Huishan is in turmoil right now. If I didn't admire what your father did, I wouldn't be speaking politely to a narrow-minded woman like you, let alone standing here foolishly holding an umbrella for you! Besides being good at being stubborn, can you show me any other skills? If you really annoy me, would it be hard to support a puppet who's willing to be my lackey? The title of Prince of Beiliang isn't insignificant, right? And coincidentally, those few who couldn't be suppressed by this title are all dead!"

Xu Fengnian observed Xuanyuan Qingfeng's expression and gently persuaded her, "Guniu Ridge could never contend with Longhu Mountain of the Daoist Court to begin with. Without my backing now, wouldn't you be suffocated for decades? Besides, I am from Beiliang after all, and I'm leaving soon. Once I'm gone, are you still worried about what trouble might arise? Then you're truly incompetent. To be honest, the reason I'm helping you ascend despite past grievances is because of Wen Hua, that guy with the wooden sword. He once said that when he mastered superior swordsmanship, he'd definitely spank your noble backside with his sword until it was red. But once you leave your family, Wen Hua wouldn't bother with an ordinary woman with a tragic background, and then I wouldn't get to see the good show. How boring that would be."

Xuanyuan Qingfeng stepped out from under the oil-paper umbrella, ignoring the jibe about Wen Hua with the wooden sword. She just asked, "Tragic?"

Xu Fengnian retorted, "What did you think?"

Xuanyuan Qingfeng asked, "Are you pitying me?"

Xu Fengnian did not answer. He simply handed her the umbrella. Seeing her unmoving, he casually rested the umbrella diagonally on her shoulder. He himself looked up at the grey, rainy sky and said, "If Wen Hua were here, he would definitely say that old man Heaven is peeing again, truly mischievous."

Xuanyuan Qingfeng was momentarily stunned.

At this moment, Hong Biao took a few steps forward, knelt on one knee, and said in a deep voice, "Miss, from today forward, Hong Biao will obey your every command!"

Huang Fangfo smiled slightly and said, "I merely wish to continue quietly studying in Huishan, hoping one day to reach the realm of Brother Jingcheng. Whoever makes an enemy of Miss will be making an enemy of me."

Xuanyuan Qingfeng was dazed and remained silent.

A resonant, bell-like voice echoed from Longhu Mountain's Celestial Master's Residence, "Since Sword God Li borrowed swords and left, does he dare to return them?"

Li Chungang, who was examining the wind chimes, bothered to pay no mind.

Next, Xuanyuan Qingfeng inadvertently saw the Crown Prince winking and gesturing two words with his mouth towards the old Sword God. Upon seeing this, Li Chungang rolled his eyes and blurted out an extremely vulgar word towards Longhu Mountain, "Nonsense!" If it had just been limited to that, Xuanyuan Qingfeng wouldn't have reacted much. But what the old man, now a Land Sword Immortal, said next was truly domineering: "Xu Fengnian said that!"

Xuanyuan Qingfeng burst into laughter through her tears in an instant.