Chapter 56: Land Immortal

Xu Fengnian mounted the large red horse originally assigned to Yu Youwei. He looked up at the overcast sky, expecting a heavy rain tonight. At their current speed, they should be able to reach Hengshui City by dusk and avoid traveling in the rain. Lu Qiantang, who carried the great sword Chixia, led the way. Shu Xiu and Yang Qingfeng, who didn't carry weapons openly, brought up the rear. The old Taoist priest Wei Shuyang, positioned in the middle, urged his horse forward to ride alongside Xu Fengnian. These four personal retainers were all of roughly second-rank strength. Even against demi-immortal figures like Deng Tai'a and Cao Guanzi, who held positions among the top-tier masters, they could still put up a fight. At worst, they could stall long enough for the squinting old man in the carriage to finish picking his toes and nose.

Xu Fengnian asked softly, "Grandpa Wei, what exactly is the strength of these Ten Grand Masters? Could you explain it in simpler terms?"

The old Taoist priest of Nine Dou Rice pondered for a moment before slowly replying, "This old Taoist once heard a Great Master of our sect reveal some details. Setting aside Wang Xianzhi, who cannot be judged by conventional wisdom, the remaining nine—specifically the new generation's Sword Dao leader Deng Tai'a, Wang Mao with his broken curved spear, and Cao Guanzi—are clearly a level above the other six. This old Taoist speculates that the so-called 'Ten Grand Masters of the World' are merely more famous, and there are likely many others whose true strength is comparable to those six. This group can probably be further divided into two realms. Following this deduction, it aligns with the 'Four Levels of the First Rank' concept from our Great Master: Vajra, Zhixuan, and Tianxiang. Only at the Vajra realm does one truly enter the inner sanctum of martial arts, possessing an indestructible physique. Liu Pu, who serves as Li Yuanying's guardian in the Tide-Listening Pavilion, and Chu Kuangnu, can probably be counted among this rank. The Zhixuan realm is already indescribably subtle. As for the deeper Tianxiang realm, this old Taoist dares not speak rashly. It seems that Sword Nine Huang, who protected the young master during his six-thousand-mile journey, falls between these two. In the battle atop Wudi City, his final move, 'Sword Nine,' firmly reached the Tianxiang realm. Deng Tai'a, Wang Mao, and Cao Guanzi likely entered the Tianxiang realm at different times. Only Wang Xianzhi has been firmly seated in this realm for half a lifetime, truly unapproachable, utterly unapproachable."

Xu Fengnian quietly asked, "Grandpa Wei, did you miss the last realm?"

Wei Shuyang chuckled, "That year, the Great Master only reached this realm, which is that of an Earth Immortal. This old Taoist believes that if anyone truly possesses such divine powers in the human world today, it would only be Wang Xianzhi. Tracing further back, perhaps Qi Xuanzhen of Longhu Mountain and Old Master Zhao, who changed the former emperor's fate against the heavens, could be included. However, the Wu family's Sword Tomb always produces a Land Sword Immortal every century, and it's about time for one to emerge. As for Liangchan Temple, oh no, that's a Buddhist holy land; who knows where a Golden Arhat might be sitting. But when this old Taoist was as young as the Young Master, there were a few other eminent figures renowned across the land, collectively known as the Four Grandmasters. They were even more worthy of the title than today's Ten Grand Masters. In the south was the Talisman General, the Red Armored Man, whose entire body was encased in scarlet armor, his face never seen. In the west was the Old Ancestor of Fengdu, a woman in a green robe. The third was right here in Beiliang, the Spear Immortal Wang Xiu."

Xu Fengnian sneered, "I've heard a bit about that. Chen Zhibao learned his spear techniques from him, and in the end, this master of spear arts still died by his apprentice's hand."

Wei Shuyang stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "The last one was the most famous. No matter how many people in the world learned swordsmanship, back then, they simply couldn't bypass or avoid this mountain. As long as he was there, no one dared to claim their swordsmanship was unparalleled. It's just like how Wang Xianzhi claims to be second and no one dares to claim first today. Young Master already knows who it is, right?"

Xu Fengnian nodded, "The Sword God Li Chungang. After Wang Xianzhi broke his Wooden Ox sword with two fingers, he completely vanished without a trace."

Wei Shuyang, who had also experienced his youth, said with infinite emotion, "The jianghu always produces new talents, and he stood alone at the peak for fifty years. It is said that when Sword God Li traversed the jianghu, his swordsmanship was unmatched in the world, and his demeanor was peerless. At that time, there wasn't a woman under heaven who wasn't infatuated with Sword God Li. Even the Green-Robed Maiden of Fengdu willingly allowed herself to be pierced by the Wooden Ox sword. When I was young, I dreamt of encountering Sword God Li someday and would have been immensely satisfied just to exchange a single word with him. When I learned that Wang Xianzhi had defeated him, I was indignant for a very long time, wishing I could fight Wang Xianzhi to the death. I had already been studying swordsmanship for over ten years then, and a big reason I later abandoned the sword for Taoist cultivation was Sword God Li's retirement. Any young man who doesn't dream of roaming the jianghu with a green robe and a sword is not a young man with ambition."

Xu Fengnian was amused by Grandpa Wei's rare display of youthful sentiment. The gloom that had settled in the carriage earlier faded somewhat, and he couldn't help but chuckle, "Grandpa Wei, when you were young, did you also dream of becoming a dashing swordsman?"

The old Taoist priest of Nine Dou Rice squinted and smiled, "Who hasn't been young? Let me tell you the truth, Young Master, this old Taoist also admired several female martial artists back then. Once, when I finally got a chance to meet one of them, I was so useless that I just blushed and trembled, unable to say a word. In this regard, compared to the Young Master, it's like one is in the Vajra realm and the other in the Tianxiang realm – five of me combined wouldn't measure up."

Xu Fengnian and Wei Shuyang could be called friends despite their age difference. When Xu Fengnian was young, he had mischievously urinated while riding on the old Taoist priest's neck. In his youth, when he entered the Tide-Listening Pavilion, he was also willing to listen to Grandpa Wei's tales of mountain spirits and immortals. If not for this bond, given Xu Fengnian's shrewdness and occasional stinginess in certain matters, would he have immediately handed over the Wudang 'Cantong Qi' manuscript to Wei Shuyang of Nine Dou Rice the moment he acquired it? And allowed him to transcribe it for later detailed annotation? Did Xu Fengnian truly not know the preciousness of that 'Cantong Qi'? With the 'Great Yellow Court' as a precedent, the seemingly thin 'Cantong Qi' manuscript was likely even more profound.

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Grandpa Wei, even if I have to dig three feet deep into the jianghu, I'll help you dig up that Li Chungang."

The old Taoist priest shook his head, saying, "This old Taoist is already about to enter his coffin. Who knows, perhaps the old immortal Li has already passed away. I don't dare to hope, I don't dare to hope."

In the carriage, Jiang Ni's ears were sharp, catching the words "Wooden Ox." Her particular sensitivity to this name stemmed from another absurd, yet beautiful, tale involving her imperial uncle. Before the downfall of Western Chu, her imperial uncle had purchased half of the Wooden Ox for a hefty sum—specifically, two inches of the sword tip. He intended to forge this tip into a dagger comparable to a divine talisman, even naming it "Innocence," to gift to his most beloved niece, Princess Taiping, completing a pair with the talisman. Unfortunately, before the dagger could be completed, Western Chu suffered a devastating defeat at Xilei Wall, and the entire nation lost heart. Jiang Ni scrutinized the scruffy old man dozing off, then quietly asked, "Did you mention 'Wooden Ox'?"

The old man seemed a bit dispirited, and his tone was indifferent as he said, "No."

Jiang Ni pouted, "I know, it's Li Chungang, the Sword God or whatever."

The old man opened his eyes, surprised. "Even that shrewd boy Xu Fengnian didn't dare to think along those lines. Girl, you hear three words and you've decided this old man is that... Sword God thing? Do I look like him?"

Jiang Ni's legs were numb from squatting, so she stretched one slender leg out at a time. She replied flatly, "What if you don't look like him? Are you saying you're not?"

The old man sat up, looking at the slender girl before him. "Since you think I'm Li Chungang, you're still not willing to learn swordsmanship from me?"

Jiang Ni shook her head. "That's two different matters. I've already stated my reason. The more powerful you are, the faster I'll die."

The old man was exasperated beyond words. He emphasized, "Even if this old man isn't Li Chungang, I still retain at least fifty to sixty percent of my peak abilities. Believe it or not, if I wanted to kill Xu Fengnian, I could go out right now and casually take the boy's head."

Jiang Ni scoffed, "See? You're all talk. Go on, kill him. I don't believe Xu Xiao would let you act recklessly."

The old man wore a thoughtful expression.

Jiang Ni picked up the 'Thousand Swords Compendium of Materia Medica', which she had barely read a few thousand characters of, and said, "Who you are is none of my business. Also, Xu Fengnian, whether I can kill him or not, I won't stop you, nor would I be able to stop you. Besides, perhaps you've made a deal with Xu Fengnian and are deliberately testing me."

The old man shook his head, smiling helplessly. "This girl, she bears a resemblance to that princess whose sword intent was truly magnificent. Why do fascinating women like you always get tangled up with men from the Xu family? This old man just can't understand it. If it weren't for that scoundrel Xu Xiao back then, causing that woman's sword—which was meant to transcend the world—to become entangled in it, and had she been given ten more years to hone her profound sword intent, even this old man and Wang Xianzhi, who fortunately won the Wooden Ox, wouldn't have dared to claim a certain victory over her. Now that woman is gone, and here you are again. Just thinking about it makes me feel stifled and unwell. Since you don't want to learn swordsmanship, this old man won't force you. In truth, if one cannot let go of obsessions, even learning swordsmanship might not lead to mastery. Instead, I might end up ruining a piece of uncut jade. Killing, after all, cannot compare to saving. That Taoist named Qi once debated with me; I spoke of my sword, he spoke of his Heavenly Dao. Neither could convince the other. Later, he ascended to immortality by slaying demons on the Demon-Slaying Platform, while I lost to Wang Xianzhi. Only then did I realize a truth: to reach the realm of immortals or Buddhas, one's actions must always be to save others."

The old man let out a surprised "Hmm," and his perpetually cloudy eyes suddenly sparkled with an unusual brilliance, like magnificent sword energy. He silently repeated the words "killing people, saving people" a few times, then fixed his gaze on the bewildered Jiang Ni and chuckled, "Girl, it's truly a pity you don't want to learn swordsmanship. If you ever change your mind, come back and find this old man."

Jiang Ni simply continued reading her book, dismissing the old man with a glance.

This old fellow seemed to be the Sword God Li Chungang.

She suddenly poked her head out and quietly asked, "You all say Xu Fengnian has half the talent, and that he started practicing sabre too late, so he's destined for nothing. So what's the point of me secretly learning swordsmanship from you?"

For a moment, the old man couldn't grasp the meaning of her words. He finally sorted out his thoughts, realizing that the girl had grown accustomed to being teased by Xu Fengnian and had begun to inwardly concede that she wasn't as clever as him. Understanding this, the old man, who really didn't resemble the Sword God Li Chungang, patiently coaxed her, "Your talent is no worse than that boy's, what are you afraid of?"

Jiang Ni's eyes brightened for a moment, but quickly returned to their indifferent state. She said with a pained expression, "Never mind. Practicing sabre or learning sword is very tough. I'd rather just read."

Well, the "mud figure" who cherished the vegetable garden most on Wudang Mountain was probably secretly intimidated by Xu Fengnian's crazed sabre practice.

Poor old Sword God Li. It was a shame there was an elderly admirer not far outside the carriage.

The old man, who had never asked anyone for anything in his life but had countless people bow to him, wished he could just bash his head in. What kind of reason was that?

The old man steadied himself, telling himself that this was actually good. This girl's unreasonable spirit was exactly what he liked. When had Li Chungang ever reasoned with people or the ways of the world back then?

Easy matters, difficult matters, matters of wind and rain, matters of the jianghu, matters of dynasties, matters of the world.

All were just a matter of one sword stroke.

Jiang Ni rolled up her sleeve and gently untied the ribbon wrapped around the divine talisman dagger.

The old man watched, stunned. What? Not only would she not learn swordsmanship, but she was also going to fight him, an old man who rarely showed kindness?

This muddled world, he truly didn't understand it.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Ni, who admitted she wasn't very clever and feared hardship, extended the divine talisman, saying softly, "Here, it's not a gift for you, it's a loan."

The old man slowly took the divine talisman, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He quietly asked, "Why?"

The girl hid her head behind the manual again and whispered, "No one in this world is good to me anymore, but you seem pretty good."

The old man, with only one arm and no Wooden Ox, showed no change in expression. He simply sat down silently.

Jiang Ni, still hiding behind the book, repeated, "I won't learn swordsmanship."