Chapter 425: Barefoot

In a narrow encounter within a rainy alley in Beimang, the blind zither player Xue Songguan once made the rain stop instantly. During the battle at the gates of Dunhuang City, Luoyang, the era's foremost grand demon, stomped his foot, sending countless raindrops flying as swords to challenge the new Sword God Deng Tai'a in swordsmanship. In terms of cultivation realm, Xu Fengnian could not compare to the blind zither player who had bypassed the Vajra realm to directly enter Zhixuan. Regarding his personal internal energy, he was vastly outmatched by Li Chungang of Daxueping and Luoyang outside Dunhuang. However, he was empowered by the vermilion-robed yin entity, Xu Ying—a two-faced, six-armed Heavenly Phenomenon expert—who lay dormant beneath his feet. Their minds were seamlessly connected, performing as effectively as Xu Fengnian directly controlling twelve flying swords. Xu Ying continuously channeled internal energy to Xu Fengnian, like a colossal flood surging into a lake, causing the water level to rise. This gave Xu Fengnian, the wielder, the natural appearance of a peerless sword immortal. Xu Fengnian, believing he understood his own capabilities, leveraged heavenly power to conjure tens of thousands of crooked snow swords, whose intimidating presence far exceeded their actual efficacy. He remained oblivious to a surprising development within him: a withered pond, resembling a decaying lotus leaf, contained a single purple-gold lotus seed that had broken through the soil, its tender sprout gently swaying, its aura reaching a profound state.

Above their heads, tens of thousands of white swords hovered over the lake, angled every which way, varying in thickness and length, without a fixed pattern. Yet, their sheer majestic aura was truly unparalleled. Xu Fengnian's unique understanding of swordsmanship, combined with the support of the yin entity Xu Ying's perfected Heavenly Phenomenon realm, ultimately forged this impressive spectacle over Fulong Lake.

The Jianghu, or martial world, inevitably carries a grassroots nature: where heroes, unable to afford weapons or acquire secret manuals, can be reduced to poverty, a single copper coin proving an insurmountable obstacle. It also harbors malevolence, where those who call each other brothers will readily betray one another. Yet, it also possesses courageous loyalty, where one might draw a blade for a swift end, upholding youthful honor. Furthermore, the Jianghu can exude an air of immortality: cultivators in flowing white robes, gliding gracefully over the lake, undoubtedly appear as immortals to commoners. Xu Fengnian, determined to block their path out of gratitude for old acquaintances, initially seemed to be undertaking a futile endeavor, a form of chivalry beyond common understanding. The sight of tens of thousands of snow swords suspended in the air amplified this immortal quality. Xu Fengnian, pressing his advantage, offered them no quarter, suddenly thrusting his hands downwards.

Tens of thousands of snow swords simultaneously pressed down upon the Guanyin Sect cultivators.

The barefoot young woman, who had seemed unremarkable until then, suddenly giggled, "Tens of thousands of swords in heaven and on earth; one sword in hand is enough."

She did not employ the talisman sword, which was more suited for exorcising demons. Instead, with a move reminiscent of Wang Xiaoping, she bent low and dashed forward between the lake's surface and the gaps in the snow swords, like a white feathered arrow. With one hand, she made a gesture as if scooping up water, and a column of water surged from the lake like a coiled dragon emerging from its lair. As she gripped it, it became a long, eerie green sword. Her clear intent was to capture the leader first, striking down the instigator; what did tens of thousands of swords above her matter?

"You conjure tens of thousands of snow swords; I shall break them with a single water sword."

It was unclear when a strange rumor began circulating in the Jianghu: that a dragon maiden from the South Sea possessed divine sword artistry. Amidst high winds and swift waves, she rode a toad, traveling thousands of miles with a single sword.

The last page of the sword manual mentioned a concept of telepathy. By sheer chance—or more precisely, having lost his Grand Vajra realm and dropped two cultivation levels—Xu Fengnian was forced to opt for a different strategy. He focused intently on close-quarters combat by wielding twelve flying swords within ten *zhang*, confidently asserting he could defeat anyone below the Zhixuan realm. Xu Fengnian remained unfazed, allowing the snow swords to continue pressing down.

There has always been a debate regarding swordsmanship and sword dao, akin to the difficulty of having both bear paws and shark fins—rarely can one master both. For centuries, Li Chungang was the most accomplished in this regard: "Two Sleeves Green Snake" represented the pinnacle of swordsmanship, while "Sword Opens Heavenly Gate" was the apex of sword dao. Before his fierce battle against Tuoba Pusa, the foremost expert in Beimang, Deng Tai'a gave the impression of being singularly focused on surpassing the Wu Family Sword Mound, achieving enlightenment through the extreme perfection of his swordsmanship. Only after borrowing a sword did he shift, beginning to integrate sword dao into his practice. This is not to say that the Peach Blossom Sword God's sword dao was inferior; it simply appeared less brilliant when compared to his astounding achievements in swordsmanship. To achieve maximum area damage with a sword, reaching the terrifying realm of 'enemy of a thousand,' demands exceptionally high mastery of both swordsmanship and sword dao. While piercing a soldier's armor with a single sword might not be difficult, armor is inanimate; the armored soldier is not a mere wooden dummy to passively endure sword energy. Furthermore, all power exerted in the world has a reciprocal rebound; in the battle at Guangling River years ago, the old man in sheepskin was self-injured by his own sword energy in three or four out of ten instances.

To hold fire without scorching one's fingers, the skill lies in divine speed. For a sharp nail to penetrate rock and metal, power must be concentrated at a single point. Wielding too many swords inevitably causes divided attention, which intrinsically compromises these two supreme tenets of martial arts. This is precisely why countless renowned swordsmen in the martial world disdain killing enemies with remotely controlled swords: an inch shorter, an inch riskier. To control a sword from a distance is inherently unwise, and to unleash a barrage of swords from the air is utterly uninspired. How could casting a wide net to catch fish across the sky compare to the precise ferocity of hooking a single fish with a rod?

After Patriarch Lü, Li Chungang was truly the sole champion of sword dao.

After commanding the momentum-heavy, rather than gravity-bound, snow swords downwards, Xu Fengnian had been anticipating this moment of life-or-death decision. However, events unfolded slightly differently than he imagined. He had originally been wary of the old woman, not the young woman charging directly at him. Xu Fengnian was by nature meticulous and cautious—to put it less kindly, he was afraid of death and always considered the worst possible outcome. He had always harbored a lingering doubt when confronting the South Sea cultivators: although cultivators were ethereal immortals unburdened by worldly affairs, these sixteen individuals, varying greatly in cultivation, having disembarked from the sea and ventured deep into the heartland of the Liyang Dynasty, surely wouldn't all be mere paper tigers in close-quarters combat. Initially, he feared that truly skilled swordsmen were lurking beneath the lake, poised to strike. However, Xu Ying's abundant vital energy, spreading like aquatic plant roots fifty *zhang* deep into the lakebed, revealed no anomalies. Since they weren't underwater, they naturally had to be among the sixteen present. He simply hadn't anticipated it would be the barefoot young woman before him who would deliver the decisive blow with a single sword.

Even though he knew the cultivators would have a hidden move, and after witnessing the beautiful immortal woman's finger-sword, Xu Fengnian had already quite highly estimated the Guanyin Sect. Yet, when he truly faced that seemingly effortless sword, he realized he had still underestimated them.

That water-forged sword, just three *zhang* away, dispersed and returned to the lake from which it came. Yet, the barefoot woman continued to charge directly, alerting Xu Fengnian, who had already formed a lightning pool array, that something was gravely wrong. And indeed, for some unknown reason, his twelve perfectly formed 'sword embryo' flying swords, at the very moment they were about to pierce the cultivator like a sieve, behaved like disloyal guards. Though they did not strike against him, they circled the woman as docile as butterflies, fluttering lightly and joyfully, utterly devoid of any sword energy or killing intent. This instantly horrified Xu Fengnian, who had never before lost control of his flying swords, and a bitter taste filled his mouth. This girl was truly cunning; her act of drawing water to create a sword was merely a decoy. She herself was the true secret sword. Her seemingly suicidal charge was made with a hidden reliance. Xu Fengnian had once heard the old man in sheepskin say that among all the swordsmen in the world, there were two types of true geniuses: one type, like Deng Tai'a, whose Daoist arts were extraordinary—a peach branch could be a sword, rotten wood a sword, rainwater a sword, nothing between heaven and earth could not serve as a sword. The other type was even rarer: those naturally attuned to swords and capable of subduing them, being themselves a supreme sword embryo. No matter how superior one's sword techniques or how fierce one's sword moves, unless one had achieved the realm of a true sword immortal, one risked, if not careful, having their drawn sword serve another's purpose.

Since he had 'asked the sword,' he would now 'ask the saber.' Xu Fengnian placed a hand on the hilt of his Beiliang saber at his waist.

The old woman suddenly said, "Charcoal girl, come back."

Unexpectedly, even after the respected cultivator, whose word held immense weight among the Southern cultivators, spoke, the barefoot woman with the strange nickname still giggled. Far from slowing down, she accelerated her charge, fully intent on 'asking the saber.'

Before Xu Fengnian could act, the vermilion-robed yin entity, seemingly defying his thoughts, silently leaped from the lakebed. It seized the young woman's delicate feet with both arms and dragged her into the icy water.

Both Xu Fengnian and the South Sea old woman displayed an unmistakable expression of exasperation. They seemed as helpless as parents unable to control a mischievous child.

Xu Fengnian conveyed a thought to the yin entity, then bowed slightly to the old woman, who had remained inactive. With utmost politeness, he said, "Xu Fengnian of Beiliang greets the esteemed senior of the Guanyin Sect."

The old woman smiled, her weathered face brightening like withered wood touched by spring. Deliberately ignoring the words 'Beiliang,' she said, "I never expected to meet the disciple of Sword God Li. It's a pleasure. The younger generation of swordsmen in the Central Plains is indeed rich in talent; it seems our sect has truly underestimated the world's heroes."

Xu Fengnian calmly asked, "Senior, might you consider stepping back for now? This junior will certainly do his best to compensate the Guanyin Sect. Regarding the delayed casting of talisman swords from the Dragon Rock Censer and your sect's matter of dealing with traitors, once I, Xu Fengnian, understand the situation clearly, I will certainly provide you with a satisfactory explanation."

The old woman hesitated, then waved her hand, saying, "It's not truly a concession. There's a Zhixuan-level master on Wohu Mountain, and Wang Xiaoping of Wudang is on the shore. If you had harbored killing intent, today would indeed have been a desolate end for our sect. Since you offered a concession first, I would be shameless to press my advantage. Our Sect Master is expected to emerge from seclusion in about three years. During this period, the fifteen disciples who came ashore will travel with me across the land, honing their minds and cultivating their noble spirit. As long as Youyan Manor can promise to provide seventy talisman swords three years from now, I can personally return to the sect and intercede for Zhang Dongling. As for the fate of our sect's traitors, that will still require the Sect Master's personal decision."

Xu Fengnian smiled, "May I be so bold as to ask, Senior, why is the casting of talisman swords so arduous?"

The old woman, surprisingly amenable, spoke candidly and thoroughly. "Firstly, the materials are exceedingly rare—like Li Chungang's Wooden Horse Ox, they are all meteoric stones. Secondly, forging talisman swords is vastly different from ordinary sword casting; not a single step can be amiss. The original agreement for eighty-one talisman swords was not our sect being overbearing. The Dragon Rock Censer of Youyan Manor contains materials accumulated by generations of ancestors, enough to craft over eighty talisman swords. It's simply that Zhang Dongling, while a master at forging ordinary swords, was unfortunately hampered by his negligible understanding of sword dao. He also worked in isolation, like a frog in a well, and concerning the talisman swords, he not only failed to make any progress but instead wasted much precious material."

Xu Fengnian gestured a specific size and asked, "A short sword of this dimension, how many of your sect's required talisman swords could it forge?"

The old woman replied calmly, "If there are no mishaps and it's entirely successful, it could yield eight."

Xu Fengnian bowed lightly once more, then looked up and earnestly stated, "Regarding the three-year agreement, this junior can accept it on behalf of Youyan Manor."

The graceful beautiful woman, who had comprehended the two-finger sword from the Zhixuan realm, smiled, "If you were to take the people from Youyan Manor back to Beiliang, and then later renege on your promise, are we, our sect far away in the South Sea, expected to contend with your Beiliang's 300,000 iron cavalry?"

Xu Fengnian's smile was genuinely captivating. As he raised a hand to tie his hair, he said, "Esteemed immortal sister, whose talismans integrated into swords are unparalleled in this world, you speak too harshly. How could this junior be such an untrustworthy person?"

The beautiful woman, whose true age was indistinguishable, was clearly flustered by his glib tongue. It was neither appropriate to bluntly speak harsh words nor wise to play along and fall into a trap. Yet, being called 'sister' was indeed pleasing to her ears and heart.

Xu Fengnian patted the Beiliang saber at his waist. "I should offer my saber as a token of trust, but it's truly inconvenient; someone back in Beiliang would be heartbroken. Senior, please feel free to make your demands. What would it take for you to trust me?"

The old woman pondered for a moment, then made an unexpected request: "In the future war between Liang and Mang, might our sect's cultivators be allowed to travel to the Beiliang border to observe the battle, without participating?"

Xu Fengnian smiled, "As long as you do not covertly harm my Beiliang, there will be absolutely no problem."

The old woman chuckled, "Then it's settled."

Xu Fengnian quickly fawned, "Senior, you are so forthright! This is truly an exalted master from beyond the mortal world! Far superior to that damned Dragon Tiger Mountain, by more than a hundred floors!"

The old woman accepted it calmly. The immortals behind her, who had previously been exhausted dealing with the myriad flying swords, significantly improved their impression of him. Especially the beautiful woman, who was the Guanyin Sect Master's most highly anticipated direct disciple, curved her lips into a charming smile. This young man was truly interesting; despite his terrifying skill in controlling countless flying swords, he remained so informal.

The old woman looked directly at Xu Fengnian. He blushed slightly, then called out, "Xu Ying!"

The lake's surface parted as if cloven by a sword, and the vermilion-robed yin entity was the first to emerge into the air. Its compassionate visage, with a pair of glittering purple-gold eyes, slowly rotated, sweeping over the fifteen overseas immortals.

Even the charming young female cultivator, after being gazed upon by it, could not suppress the surging tide of fear in her heart.

The old woman dismissed it with a smile, saying softly, "Young Master Xu's merits are immeasurable."

Then she turned and walked away over the lake. The fourteen cultivators followed one after another. After the woman who had comprehended the finger-sword, and the nominal 'Senior Grand-Uncle-Master,' surfaced, she pulled out the soaking wet young, yet incredibly high-ranking, barefoot woman, cast a backward glance with a smile, and then departed.

The barefoot woman turned her head, let out a cold snort, and gracefully drifted away.

Above the lake, a group of white butterflies fluttered.

The old woman slowed her pace and approached the barefoot woman, apologizing, "Senior Martial Aunt, this disciple was compelled to address you by name just now."

The barefoot woman twitched her delicate nose, waved her hand, and said, "It's fine, I just hold a grudge against that yin entity."

The old woman smiled, 'Mortals and immortals are but a paper's thickness apart, and heavenly devils and heavenly beings are separated by a mere thread. It is no longer merely a yin entity. Otherwise, even if it cost me my life, I would have intervened.'"

The young woman, not yet twenty, asked, "Why did you stop me from taking that man's saber strike?"

The old woman said gravely, "Since he is Li Chungang's disciple, he might just be able to 'open the Heavenly Gate' by borrowing power."

The young woman said resentfully, "Just you wait!"

The old woman said softly, "Senior Martial Aunt, the evil dragon in Difu Mountain was injured by Li Yufu of the martial dao. This is an excellent opportunity to gather the Ink Black Scales..."

At this point, the old woman showed a hint of embarrassment.

The barefoot woman gave a mischievous smile, lifted a foot, and from the bottom of the lake, a large 'school' of conveniently pilfered flying swords emerged. They leaped out of the water, then plunged back in, continuing to swim.

This intense battle on the lake, though more bluster than bloodshed, had nevertheless left the three or four hundred martial artists of Youyan Manor utterly stunned and deeply stirred.

Xu Fengnian, having initially borrowed the swords, intended to see the matter through and return them, perhaps even showing off a little flair. He hadn't expected that, by rough estimation, a full two hundred swords were missing, prompting him to turn and loudly curse at the lake.

Given this situation, how could he possibly broach the subject of enticing Youyan Manor to serve Beiliang?

Next time they meet, he vowed to beat her as brutally as the old man in sheepskin, making her cry and run barefoot back to the South Sea.