Chapter 74: Killing the Immortal in Qingyang Palace (Part 2)

The Beacon Fire Incident

Lu Qiantang dismounted, drew his Chixia Sword, and walked towards the Jade Heaven Sword Formation, composed of eighteen people. Heavy swords largely belong to the domineering style of swordsmanship, aiming to sweep through thousands of troops and break countless armors, like the Wu Family Sword Mound. Regardless of whether the Wu Family Sword truly annihilated ten thousand Beiman Ghost-Riding Heavy Cavalry two years ago, this legend alone was enough to stir the blood of every heavy sword practitioner. Lu Qiantang had studied swordsmanship for ten years by observing the great tides of Guangling River. Every year on the eighteenth day of the eighth month, he would float against the surging current, hacking at the tidal bore until exhaustion caused him to fall into the river. Several times he nearly drowned, but fortunately, someone was watching from the riverbank and rescued him back to his hut. Each time he practiced his great sword against the tide, Lu Qiantang's swordsmanship, martial arts, and physical constitution improved. Therefore, today, facing the eighteen swords of the Jade Heaven Sword Formation, he showed no fear.

Wu Shizhen frowned. "Are they really going to break the formation? Where did that arrogant and frivolous fop get such audacity? The four characters 'Princes Dismount' were personally written by His Imperial Majesty, which was tantamount to a silent imperial decree for Qingyang Palace. His father, Wu Lingsu, was granted the title of King, so even the Prefect of Yongzhou wouldn't dare presume on his status here. With the reputation of their two great sword formations, were these people short-sighted or simply fearless? Could it be that today they truly intended to alarm his father, the King of Qingcheng?" Wu Shizhen stepped onto the main hall's threshold, allowing him a clear view of the battle, as if observing a fire. He had grown up on the mountain since childhood, but he was far from naive. He had good connections with the influential scions of Yongzhou, and when he descended the mountain to enter the city, he was always treated with respect as a descendant of immortals and a princely noble. He had heard that the fops from Beiliang were unruly, crude, and lawless, and seeing them today confirmed it. Wu Shizhen twirled a sword-tie from his headscarf between two fingers and muttered to himself, "It seems I must find an opportunity to meet the eldest son of that King of Beiliang."

Little Hawthorn had long since returned the Xiudong blade to Xu Fengnian, and looking up, he asked worriedly, "Xu Fengnian, are you really going to fight these immortals?"

Xu Fengnian chuckled, "Just playing. If we can win, great. If not, we run. Didn't Old Man Meng teach you that?"

Little Hawthorn made a bitter face and said helplessly, "He did teach me, but Liu Luweiganzi said that as roadside bandits, we're a bit different from our accomplices. It's better to let someone go mistakenly than to rob the wrong person. Otherwise, if we can't beat them and get caught, how embarrassing! We'd be dragged to the marketplace and have our heads chopped off. Old Man Meng and the others can say 'I'll be a good man again in eighteen years,' but I haven't even lived to eighteen in this life. Who knows about the next life? I just want to take Que'er to see the outside world. Didn't you always say how beautiful it was down the mountain, almost luring Que'er and me away? I don't want to be a petty thief my whole life. I was thinking of finding a job with Que'er that doesn't involve getting beheaded. Although I always tease her about being dark-skinned, she's like my own sister. I'll have to help her find a good family to marry into someday. I can't just abduct a scholar for Que'er's husband, can I? Besides, Que'er wouldn't like that. Sigh, she just likes you, Xu Fengnian. How could she like you? It was fine back then, but now you have so many immortal-like ladies around you. How could she ever stand a chance?"

Xu Fengnian lightly tapped Little Hawthorn's head with Xiudong and chuckled, "You really have grown up, kid. How about you go to a non-border region in Beiliang and become a stable low-ranking soldier? At least you could earn some dowry for Que'er. Being a soldier is better than being a thief; you don't have to live in constant fear."

Little Hawthorn lowered his head, bent over, and stroked the warhorse's mane. Old Man Meng couldn't even raise horses, let alone having no weapons; he was a good-for-nothing bandit. Little Hawthorn absolutely adored Xu Fengnian's mount, sighing, "I'd like to, but what about Old Man Meng, Kong Bozi, Liu Luweiganzi, and those old men? If I just leave, they'll starve to death in a few years. Old Man Meng, the leader, is so stubborn. He says life down the mountain isn't pleasant, that people are worse than dogs, and he absolutely refuses to go down and work in any legitimate professions. I'm practically dying of worry."

Xu Fengnian murmured, "It is indeed worrying."

Yu Youwei, holding Wu Meiniang's Que'er, gazed blankly at the terrifying formation the "immortals" had arranged. Yet Xu Fengnian had sent the burly uncle with the huge sword to fight. Like Little Hawthorn, she was worried sick. She turned and looked pleadingly at the older sister, who was even prettier than the Daoist priestesses on the mountain, and asked anxiously, "Immortal Fish Sister, can you make Xu Fengnian not fight?"

Yu Youwei glanced at Xu Fengnian's arrogant back, then gently tapped Que'er's nose with her fingertip and softly said, "He wouldn't listen to me. Your Elder Brother Xu is only especially easygoing with you and Little Hawthorn; otherwise, he doesn't give anyone a pleasant look. Little Que'er, there aren't many girls in this world he'd carry on his back. Your older sister is far less favored than you."

The little girl gasped in surprise, her small mind truly unable to comprehend. The immortal-like sister was so beautiful; didn't Xu Fengnian know to like her wholeheartedly?

Seeing that the sword formation and the attempt to break it were about to set everything in motion, Xu Fengnian nudged his horse's flanks. With light hooves, he handed Little Hawthorn to Wei Shuyang, then softly called to Yu Youwei, "Take Que'er down the steps too. The square will be quite bloody, not a sight you'd enjoy. Stay far away, by the carriage, and only come up when I call for you."

Yu Youwei and Wei Shuyang, each with one child, rode out of the square.

A lone warrior breaking a formation must strike decisively and kill first, avoiding any hesitation or prolonged struggle, which often leads to being worn down by the formation. This is similar to the military principle of "capture the leader first to capture the bandits." Lu Qiantang swept into the square, trapped by the eighteen revolving Qinggang swords of the formation. His first strike with Chixia was unleashed without any reservation. His sword momentum was like a long rainbow piercing the sun.

To an outsider, the sword's momentum merely looked intimidating. Unless it truly terrified someone into submission, it was just a visually impressive display. But the sword techniques beneath that momentum were lethal. Lu Qiantang's Chixia Sword collided with a meticulously crafted Qinggang sword from Qingyang Palace, sending the Daoist of the sword formation flying backward. However, before he even landed, his back was stopped by the blades of three other swords. The three swords bent into a graceful arc, firmly steadying the Daoist. As the three swords withdrew, the Daoist floated gently to the ground, his expression unchanged.

Lu Qiantang's mind was as still as water. To defeat an enemy with a single sword strike was the essence of the heavy sword's domineering style, but among countless swordsmen in the world, how many could reach the realm of a Land Sword Immortal? Since he had not yet reached that level of swordsmanship, he ought to possess a resilient sword heart that feared no perilous peak. Lu Qiantang, his body following his sword, advanced like a dragon, aiming directly for a Daoist's head. The Daoist didn't need to draw his sword; he simply retreated repeatedly, as several nearby Daoist companions from the formation naturally came to his rescue. The marvel of the sword formation lay in its ability to integrate every swordsman into a single entity. The swords in the formation sang like cranes crying out, and instantly three swords sprang forth: one blocked Chixia, one struck at Lu Qiantang's sword-wielding arm, and the third menacingly thrust straight for Lu Qiantang's back. Several Daoists leaped into the air, circling like cranes, and swooped towards Lu Qiantang in the formation, a truly beautiful sight.

Xu Fengnian squinted, admiring the eighteen Daoists' agile movements and the dazzling whirl of eighteen sword lights. He said with genuine envy, "This sword formation thing is quite good. If I get the chance later, I must acquire a set like it, perhaps inspired by 'King's Grace'. I'll gather all the sword masters in my princely estate. I just wonder if Li Chungang would be willing to instruct them, or if I should learn from Wu Lingsu by secretly observing the three great sword formations? The 'Sword Army of 108 Swords' from Dragon Tiger Mountain sounds incredibly formidable, but it might be a bit too exaggerated. The Wu Family Sword Mound has fewer people, but where can one find renowned sword grandmasters all at once? Only the Wudang Mountain Tai Chi Sword Formation of eighty-one people seems attainable. I'll ask that ox-rider if it can be refined and scaled down to twenty or thirty people."

Lu Qiantang's sword techniques were violent, but unfortunately, the Jade Heaven Sword Formation used softness to overcome hardness, winning with agility. Lu Qiantang didn't want to expend too much energy, yet he couldn't kill one or two people first, or even severely injure one.

Xu Fengnian muttered, "This sword formation is unbeatable by anyone below the first rank. It seems that Big Boaster Wu rarely tells a tall tale."

Lu Qiantang alone couldn't defeat the sword formation. No matter, Xu Fengnian wasn't a stubborn fool who cared only about saving face. He immediately called out, "Shuxiu, Yang Qingfeng, go assist them!"

Wu Shizhen watched Lu Qiantang's solo attempt to break the formation fall short and breathed a sigh of relief. This was reasonable. Otherwise, if the Jade Heaven Sword Formation were so easily broken by one person, it would be like smashing Qingyang Palace's imperial golden signboard right at their own doorstep. If one person couldn't break it, what about two more? Wu Shizhen wasn't afraid at all. The Jade Heaven Sword Formation, with its eighteen swords, couldn't originally achieve the overwhelming "ten thousand swords appearing simultaneously" realm; that was a profound ability of the two great sword formations of Dragon Tiger Mountain and Wudang Mountain. Every disadvantage has an advantage. With two more people, the sword formation would simply divide into three parts, complementing each other. One sword against one person—this would perfectly unleash the full power of the Jade Heaven Sword Formation.

Qingyang Palace wasn't proficient in conjuring clouds and rain through burning talismans and chanting spells, but trapping and killing enemies with sword formations was their specialty.

Wu Shizhen, with one hand twirling the sword-tie at his ear and the other encircling a young female Daoist's slender waist, gently kneaded it. His eyes were fixed on Madam Shu in the formation. She had such astonishingly ample breasts, yet such a slender, delicate waist—truly captivating! The young Daoist nun's waist next to him felt quite comfortable to touch, but what if he could touch Madam Shu's waist? Wouldn't that be...? Especially when Wu Shizhen saw Shuxiu enter the formation and, with her abundant internal energy, bend a Qinggang sword aimed at her chest—had the sword not been withdrawn, it would have been violently broken. Wu Shizhen clicked his tongue in wonder, his Adam's apple involuntarily bobbing as he swallowed. He quipped, "Goodness gracious, this seductive woman's internal energy is remarkably outstanding, worthy of her magnificent peaks! Just as spectacular. This is excellent! In bed, she would be my equal! The ancient saying goes, 'an instant is worth a thousand gold.' If a day has a hundred such 'instants,' wouldn't I earn a hundred thousand gold in one day and night? So what's that arrogant kid talking about with a mere thousand taels of gold?!"

Wu Shizhen's patience, carefully cultivated by the King of Qingcheng who had only one son, was quite remarkable. However, Xu Fengnian at this moment lacked such patience. He said in a deep voice, "Shuxiu, if you don't break the formation now, do you believe I'll let someone else break it and then truly send you out to be toyed with?!"

Upon hearing this, Shuxiu's delicate body trembled, her breasts jiggling along. This undulating, quivering allure caused even the Daoists of the sword formation to stare in a slight daze.

Before Shuxiu could exert her full strength, Lu Qiantang, who had entered the formation earlier and familiarized himself with its general layout, suddenly unleashed a surge of sword intent. His sword strikes abruptly increased in power, forcing two swords out of the formation's predetermined trajectory. Seizing this instant, Lu Qiantang didn't take the opportunity to injure an enemy. Instead, he broke through an eight-person sub-formation, charging towards Shuxiu's side and tearing open a gap. Almost simultaneously, Shuxiu and Yang Qingfeng, who had developed some tacit understanding from their battle with the Talisman-General Red Armored Man, understood instantly, and both unleashed their killing intent. Lu Qiantang ignored the twelve swords simultaneously sweeping in from behind him. He brought down Chixia heavily on a Daoist. This great swordsman slightly disrupted two smaller sword formations, immediately drawing most of the attention. Yang Qingfeng attacked fiercely, pulling at a stable sword formation from behind, seemingly to rescue Lu Qiantang, who had exposed his back. All of this created a huge opening for Shuxiu. She bent her knees, sprang powerfully into the air, and bare-handed grabbed a Qinggang sword, flinging the Daoist, along with his sword, to the ground. Using the momentum, she lunged towards another Daoist suspended in mid-air. With one hand, she swatted away the Daoist's hurried sword strike, and with the other, she pressed down on his forehead. With a muffled "thump," she viciously crushed the Daoist's skull, splattering blood all over her.

With one person falling to the ground and another dead, the Jade Heaven Sword Formation—which was never as intricate and perfect as the Divine Heaven Sword Formation—immediately disintegrated. Lu Qiantang's Chixia Sword was finally free from restrictions from all sides. With one strike, he sliced off a Daoist's sword-wielding arm. Yang Qingfeng seized the opportunity to ghost-like close in. With his "Frost Snow" hands spread open, he placed one hand on each of two people's chests. Without a sound, the two sword formation Daoists collapsed like mud. Defeat came like an avalanche. The three retainers from Beiliang, carefully chosen by the Grand Chancellor to serve as the Crown Prince's henchmen, were not merely theorists. They knew well the principle of "beating a dog while it's down." The three of them pierced into the formation, then stood back-to-back, forming a small impromptu group. They fearlessly split up to kill, contracting and expanding their movements, taking four more lives in quick succession.

Xu Fengnian pressed his hands on his Xiudong and Chunlei twin blades and laughed loudly, "That's a skillful job! They deserve rewards!"

Xu Fengnian added, "Kill them all!"

Whether to kill the King of Qingcheng, personally bestowed by the Emperor, required careful consideration. But killing a dozen or so Daoists? What did that matter?

Wu Shizhen was naturally cold-hearted and felt no pain for the deaths of the few in the sword formation. He only regretted the sudden collapse of the Jade Heaven Sword Formation. Gritting his teeth, he whispered, "Deploy the Divine Heaven Sword Formation."

The so-called Divine Heaven refers to the highest divine realm, the pure land of elevated Daoist immortals, ten thousand li from the earth. There, clouds gather to form the sky, sustained by robust *qi*, capable of supporting immense weight. Immortals use heavenly thunder as swords, and sword rain descends for ten thousand li, unstoppable by mortals!

This was the Divine Heaven Sword Formation that Qingyang Palace relied upon! It was the guardian sword formation that had once displayed a formidable aura within the imperial palace.

By the time the Divine Heaven Sword Formation was completed, all eighteen members of the previous sword formation lay dead on the spot. The bluestone plaza outside the hall was covered in blood.

All the female Daoist priestesses turned pale.

There was no longer any trace of the relaxed idleness they had shown when they first emerged from the hall to watch the spectacle!

On the peak of Qingyang Mountain, horse hooves suddenly thundered, growing clearer and more terrifying as they approached.

Countless cavalrymen, wielding crossbows and drawing sabers, galloped up the stone steps, appearing before everyone's eyes. They lined up across the square like the tidal bore of the Guangling River.

Were they actually using iron cavalry and fierce soldiers to break a sword formation?

This elite light cavalry consisted of white horses, each rider equipped with a Beiliang saber.

Leading them was a heavily armored general holding a great halberd, its tip pointed directly at the main gate of Qingyang Palace.

Behind the halberd-wielding general was the light cavalry unit, one of Beiliang's fourteen named battalions, known for its bravery and combat prowess, capable of ranking among the top three: the Phoenix Battalion!

There were eight riders in total.

Also known as the Eight White-Horse Retainers of the Xu Family!