Chapter 473: The Renowned Master of Swords in the World

(This chapter is a bit late. The second chapter will be before 12 AM. The third chapter will be in the early morning.)

The formidable old man, who had been presiding over Wudi City for eighty years, glanced at the Great Liang Dragon Sparrow from the Wu Family Sword Mound and nodded. It was clear that this sword alone was enough to qualify its wielder to challenge him, Wang Xianzhi, to a duel.

Jiang Ni bit her lip; to claim she felt no nervousness at all would be self-deception. She could be impudent towards Old Man Li in the sheepskin coat because that senior, who taught her calligraphy but not swordplay, had no airs of a master and seemed more like a boastful old rascal. She wasn't afraid of Cao Changqing either, as in her heart, Cao Guanzi had always been the kind and amiable chess attendant uncle she often saw in the Western Chu imperial palace during her childhood. She viewed his fabled martial prowess, the 'dominating eight measures of celestial grandeur,' with indifference. But Wang Xianzhi was different. Even in the harsh, cold northern Liang's opulent confines, she had heard how this old monster, Wang, had suppressed all heroes under heaven, how he ridiculed the entire martial world by declaring himself the second greatest, with no one daring to claim the first. He had defeated Mu Maniu, Deng Tai'a, Cao Changqing, and Gu Jiantang; every Liyang master on the martial arts ranking had lost to this old man who never left the city. Old Monster Wang had become a whetstone for the entire martial arts world—to prove one's sharpness, one had to go to the East Sea and Wudi City to be tested and gain recognition. Countless martial arts talents dreamed of fighting Old Monster Wang, considering even a one-move loss a great honor. The most terrifying aspect was that during Wang Xianzhi's century, the martial world was replete with towering peaks and confronting giants, with an endless stream of martial geniuses far surpassing previous eras. Yet, Wang Xianzhi remained unshakeable, unparalleled. It was widely acknowledged that only Qi Xuanzhen, who had slain demons sixty years prior, could compare with him. Unfortunately, after Qi Xuanzhen, another Taoist immortal, Hong Xixiang, entered and then quickly left the martial world. Thus, Wang Xianzhi remained the undisputed master of his age. Even Li Chungang, with his exceptionally high standards, admitted that even if he re-entered the realm of Sword Immortals, he would still be no match for Old Monster Wang, and even elevated Wang Xianzhi to a level where he could fight Lü Zu with full power.

Jiang Ni hesitated for a moment before saying, "City Lord Wang, Uncle Cao told me you intend to kill Xu Fengnian."

Wang Xianzhi’s voice was clear and resonant as he calmly stated, "I have an oath with the late Emperor of Liyang: during my lifetime, regardless of whether Prince Jing'an Zhao Heng succeeds in his bid for the throne, I must ensure prosperity for his adopted son's lineage. Zhao Heng's death is strongly linked to Northern Liang. However, I haven't stooped so low as to endlessly pursue a junior; otherwise, when Xu Fengnian, the Prince of Northern Liang, ascended the tower with his bowl, it wouldn't have been so easy, even with Deng Tai'a personally protecting him. My reason for leaving the city this time is that I heard Xu Fengnian summoned the True Martial Emperor's divine manifestation at Spring God Lake, and a reclusive Taoist elder, a Celestial, had an out-of-body experience and brought a secret decree to Wudi City. I have always considered it a great regret in my life that I never fought Qi Xuanzhen. This is a perfect opportunity to witness the splendor of a Celestial."

Jiang Ni hesitated, but Wang Xianzhi smiled faintly and spoke amiably, "I know your true name is Jiang Si, and you are the fallen princess of Western Chu, burdened with the immense destiny that began with the Great Qin and ended with Western Chu. Your innate talent is excellent, and you have Li Chungang guiding you in the way of the sword, while Cao Changqing has spared no effort to help you cultivate your realm, leading to today's magnificent sight of a woman wielding a sword—a truly rare feat in the martial world. I have presided over Wudi City for many years, and apart from those unattached individuals seeking death, I have never destroyed any promising talents of the martial world. Cao Changqing dared to let you block my path alone, likely because he was sure I wouldn't trouble you. Let me be frank: my achievements today are greatly linked to Li Chungang's willingness to sacrifice his reputation and allow me to break his treasured sword, Mumanu. Furthermore, my initial entry into the martial world was out of admiration for Li Chungang's renowned sword prowess. Jiang Si, since you are his disciple, I will, under no circumstances, actively harm your life or damage your cultivation. You can rest assured about that. However, I am not so blind as to miss that your realm's foundation is unstable. Before truly entering the realm of a Land Immortal, each use of a Land Immortal's sword technique is a life-risking method that diminishes your lifespan. Therefore, I advise you: since you know you cannot stop me, do not foolishly engage in a pointless struggle. I have observed the martial world from the East Sea for over eighty years, and I have only truly encountered one female Sword Immortal, Wu Su. I truly do not wish for you to perish prematurely."

Jiang Ni shook her head.

Wang Xianzhi smiled. "I never force anyone's hand. The reason I've said so much is largely due to your connection with Li Chungang. If you were to retreat without drawing your sword, you certainly wouldn't be content, and it would be detrimental to the tempering of your sword-heart."

Jiang Ni said seriously, "I have two swords."

Wang Xianzhi burst into laughter, finding it amusing that someone in this world dared to bargain with him. He said in a clear voice, "Two swords are fine. Let me see if Li Chungang's and Cao Changqing's disciple, wielding a Great Liang Dragon Sparrow, will disappoint me."

Jiang Ni meticulously explained, "Uncle Cao secretly took me to the Wu Family Sword Mound and the East Yue Sword Pool this past year. I ascended the sword mountain of the Wu family, which is filled with famous swords from all generations, and also saw the deep pool holding hundreds of thousands of ancient swords."

With Wang Xianzhi's vast experience, he immediately understood with a single thought. "That is the superior sword dao of 'observing a thousand swords to recognize instruments.' Official Cao's spirit has always been rare; the sword dao he taught you is naturally extraordinary."

Jiang Ni shook her head. "Initially, Uncle Cao meant that, but I accidentally stirred up the Qi dynamics of both places and then stumbled upon a different sword technique, though it's currently only a rudimentary form. Uncle Cao said this move becomes stronger against stronger opponents. If the opponent weren't City Lord Wang, but an ordinary person, it wouldn't be as formidable."

Wang Xianzhi smiled. "Little girl, you don't need to explain so clearly to me. I'm practically hoping someone can severely wound me."

When Wang Xianzhi said this, there was not a trace of arrogant posturing, because to him, it was simply the natural order of things.

Jiang Ni blushed slightly and nodded.

Jiang Ni slowly closed her eyes. Her clasped hands, holding the hilt of the Great Liang Dragon Sparrow, floated up a few inches, and the famed sword appeared poised to be drawn.

Wang Xianzhi looked up at the sky, nodded, and praised, "Interesting."

Jiang Ni, who had just raised her hands, suddenly pressed them down. The Great Liang Dragon Sparrow returned to its sheath, and she lightly exclaimed, "Place the piece!"

A piece on the chessboard? Where was the chessboard? And what kind of piece would be placed on it?

The imposing old man's expression remained calm and composed, but a glint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He had underestimated this girl. If the initial move of drawing and sheathing the sword was merely a trivial display in his eyes, then what followed had profound implications.

The clear sky stretching for thousands of miles was instantly cut into countless crisscrossing ravines.

Sword energy!

Millions of incomparably sharp sword energies raged in the air.

Two vast waves of sword energy, one from the Wu Family Sword Mound and the other from the East Yue Sword Pool, crisscrossed like black and white lines outlining a chessboard. With sword energy as the lines and the sky as the board, it was a truly magnificent feat!

Wang Xianzhi instantly comprehended its subtlety. The 'stronger against stronger opponents' claim the little girl made was absolutely true. It was precisely because his opponent was Wang Xianzhi that those streams of resonant sword energy, borrowed from both the Sword Mound and the Sword Pool, arrived so swiftly and densely! Wang Xianzhi's smile deepened. She truly was an honest and adorable girl; no wonder Li Chungang held her in such high regard. As Jiang Ni uttered the words 'place the piece,' the sword energy in the sky descended like a torrential downpour, falling in unison. Their descent wasn't chaotic; every single sword tip pointed directly at Wang Xianzhi, creating a magnificent terrestrial vortex. Wang Xianzhi remained unmoving, allowing the sword energy to pour down upon him. Without exception, however, the sword energy was shattered several zhang above his head. When the last stream of sword energy dissipated, it had only managed to push to within one zhang of Wang Xianzhi's head. The old man in straw sandals and linen clothes remained completely still, simply relying on the formidable internal energy radiating from his body to withstand all the ancient sword energy that had traveled thousands of miles.

Wang Xianzhi looked at the pale young woman and calmly said, "It truly is still a rudimentary form. I eagerly await the day you can summon two genuine sword mountains, descending like a swarm of locusts."

Wang Xianzhi mused in his heart that this woman actually showed faint signs of becoming the co-master of all famed swords under heaven.

How many years had it been since he felt such awe for a junior?

Wang Xianzhi said in a deep voice, "Jiang Si, I am very curious about your second sword."

Xu Fengnian's phoenix eyes, originally slightly feminine, now gleamed with a bizarre golden light, and his entire demeanor suggested he was ruling the world. He reached out and grasped Luoyang, who was unstable in both form and spirit, and chuckled, "As long as I don't die and don't let you leave, where can you go? Eight hundred years ago, the alchemist who sought immortals at sea had already obtained an elixir of immortality, but you secretly destroyed it. Did you think I didn't know? I just didn't bother to hold it against you."

After speaking, disregarding the stunned Luoyang, Xu Fengnian turned his head and shook it at the red-robed shadowy figure on the wall. The latter instantly quieted down.

Xu Fengnian placed a hand on his forehead, closed his eyes, then opened them, clearing his thoughts. He smiled and uttered a contradictory remark: "I am indeed myself. Everything is inherited from the same line; I cannot escape the fate of a solitary king. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, will I still be me? Will you still be you?"

He pulled Luoyang, who was crying and laughing uncontrollably, and put her on his back. Then he strode forward, chasing after Master Liu Haoshi, who had slipped away at the first sign of trouble. After what seemed like a few blinks, he caught up to the Zhao family's "watchdog," who was said to have been in the Celestial Phenomenon realm for fifty years. Xu Fengnian soared almost alongside him and chuckled, "Master Liu Haoshi, your three questions earlier were quite impressive, weren't they?"

Master Liu Haoshi instantly floated sideways for dozens of feet and, startled and enraged, roared, "Who exactly are you?!"

Xu Fengnian, with his golden eyes, narrowed them slightly and chuckled, "The capital of the small kingdom where your ancestor, surnamed Liu, resided, was shot into a hedgehog by the Great Qin's powerful crossbows. Not a single Great Qin warrior died in wiping you out."

Master Liu Haoshi laughed in extreme anger. "Xu Fengnian, have you gone mad?!"

The reason why people in the martial world show deference to monks, nuns, and Taoist priestesses is their fear of "unfamiliar moves," which is similar to how a swordsman fears encountering an unknown sword style. Unless one is a top master on the martial arts ranking, no one dares to claim they won't unexpectedly suffer a setback. Master Liu Haoshi guarded the imperial palace for sixty years and had read countless martial arts manuals. While one might say he had a limited view, his 'well' was practically as vast as the world itself. Master Liu Haoshi had witnessed too many techniques that could be called astonishing and brilliant. He never dared to act with arrogance simply because he had lingered in the Celestial Phenomenon realm for decades. That year, when the young sect master of Wudang moved through Tai'an City as if it were unpopulated, he and Han Diaosi quietly observed from a distance and, after careful consideration, didn't even make a move. This year, Dragon Tiger Mountain produced Zhao Ningshen, said to be the reincarnation of their first patriarch, who also proved tricky for Master Liu Haoshi to handle. However, Master Liu Haoshi's cautious nature did not mean that this elderly Celestial Phenomenon expert was a pushover. Killing a first-rank master unwilling to fight to the death has always been as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Master Liu Haoshi returned empty-handed, feeling only humiliation. He thought that Xu Fengnian was surprisingly adept and familiar with unorthodox methods, making him difficult to deal with.

Xu Fengnian clung to him like a maggot to bone, constantly preventing Master Liu Haoshi from creating distance. He chuckled and asked, "They say great skill breeds great daring, so why is someone of your Celestial Phenomenon realm as timid as a mouse?"

The sky above, originally clear and blue, first saw clouds drift and disperse, then became densely covered with dark clouds.

Master Liu Haoshi continued to soar, not speaking.

Xu Fengnian glanced at the sky and stopped.

Master Liu Haoshi, who had previously seemed like a stray dog, also stopped. His face was grim. "I've heard of a sword formation called the Thunder Pool, but how could it compare to a real Thunder Pool? To deal with a sinister being like you, a targeted approach is quite effective!"