A journey through the world of martial arts

Chapter 396 A Sword Separates Worlds

Sword Master put down the flying book in his hand and said to Sword Xiong, "Xiong'er, go and invite the Wine Immortal and Mr. Huangfu here. Tell them I have important matters to discuss with them."

"Yes."

Jianxiong responded and left the Sword Hall, heading straight to the Bamboo Garden where the Wine Immortal was. At that moment, the Wine Immortal was talking with Huangfu Changhen in the Bamboo Garden.

"Brother Jiu, the carefree young man is exceptionally talented. I am also eager to learn from him and intend to impart all my skills to him. What do you think, Brother Jiu?"

Regardless, Xiaoyao Lang was still Jiu Zhongxian's disciple. To get Xiaoyao Lang to willingly acknowledge him as his master, Jiu Zhongxian's consent was required. To avoid Jiu Zhongxian thinking that he was taking advantage of Jiu Zhongxian's kindness, Huangfu Changhen patiently waited for two months until Jiu Zhongxian recovered before revealing the truth.

“Since Brother Huangfu has this intention, and Xiaoyaolang can have another master and learn another unique skill, how can I, as his master, refuse? To be honest, I haven’t spent much time instructing him since he became my disciple. If it weren’t for Brother Huangfu’s careful guidance, he wouldn’t have achieved what he has today. I should be very grateful.”

The Immortal of Wine did not refuse Huangfu Changhen's request in the slightest. If it were in the past, he would never have allowed his disciple to recognize someone else as his master. This would be an open admission that he was an unqualified master who needed outside guidance, and it would only make him a laughing stock in the martial arts world.

Moreover, the Immortal of Wine was grateful for Huangfu Changhen's help. If it weren't for Huangfu Changhen's long journey to the Sea Shark Palace, he probably wouldn't have lasted long before he died at the hands of Helian Ba.

His own death would have been extremely beneficial to Huangfu Changhen, but he chose not to do so, which greatly impressed Jiu Zhongxian. There was another reason as well. Although Jiu Zhongxian knew that he was known as the leader of the Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust, he was inferior to Huangfu Changhen in terms of martial arts and background. After all, Huangfu Changhen was a disciple of Tianjizi. For the sake of Xiaoyaolang's future, becoming Huangfu Changhen's disciple would be entirely beneficial. His disciple would have a bright future, and he himself would also have prestige. It was a win-win choice.

"Then I thank Brother Jiu for his generosity. In a few days, we will hold a formal apprenticeship ceremony. We invite Sword Master and Daoist Gu Xu to witness the ceremony. What do you think, Brother Jiu?"

"Very good, very good."

The Immortal of Wine chuckled, his face beaming. The Sword Master, needless to say, was the head of Sword Forging City, a figure on par with Guan Yutian and Helian Ba. With him as a witness, in the future, when the Carefree Gentleman roamed the martial world, others would have to give him some respect. As for that Daoist Gu Xu…

Thinking of this, Jiu Zhongxian's expression became solemn. He already knew some of the Taoist's deeds from Huangfu Changhen. Just the fact that he repelled Guan Yutian with a single move was enough to shock him. Moreover, the reason he was able to be rescued by Huangfu Changhen and Xiaoyao Lang was also due to the help of Taoist Gu Xu. Such a person, no matter what his purpose was, deserved his respect.

Huangfu Changhen felt relieved when he saw that Jiu Zhongxian had agreed. Just then, Xiaoyao Lang's voice came from outside.

"Master, Senior Huangfu, the young city lord has come to visit."

"Please come in quickly."

"Yes."

The Immortal of Wine called out to the outside room, then stood up and looked at Huangfu Changhen, who nodded to him. After tidying themselves up a bit, the two opened the door, and soon Xiaoyao Lang and Jianxiong came in together.

"Greetings to both of you seniors."

Jianxiong clasped his hands in a salute to the two men, and Jiu Zhongxian and Huangfu Changhen nodded slightly in return. Jiu Zhongxian said gently, "Young City Lord, please come inside and have a cup of tea."

"Thank you for your kindness, seniors. I have come here on my father's orders to invite you two to the Sword Hall for a chat, as there are important matters to discuss."

Upon hearing this, the Immortal of Wine nodded and said to the Sword Hero, "Alright, please inform the young city lord that we will go shortly."

Upon hearing this, Jianxiong bowed again, nodded to Xiaoyaolang, and turned to leave.

"The Sword Master's sudden visit to the two of us must mean something big is going on."

Huangfu Changhen agreed in his heart. Since they arrived in Sword Casting City, the Sword Master had only sent people to inquire about their well-being and send some medicinal herbs after the initial meeting. This time, however, he sent Sword Xiong, and they could easily understand the meaning behind this.

"Xiaoyao Lang, you wait here. If you're really bored, then practice all the martial arts you've learned." After instructing Xiaoyao Lang, Jiu Zhongxian nodded to Huangfu Changhen, and the two walked out of the garden.

Before long, the two arrived outside the Sword Hall, led by the disciples of Sword Forging City. Looking up, they saw the Sword Master standing on the steps, smiling at them.

Upon seeing this, Jiu Zhongxian and Huangfu Changhen quickly walked up the steps, and after exchanging greetings, the three of them entered the main hall together.

"The reason I invited you two here is to inform you of something. Recently, the Supreme Alliance and the Sea Shark Palace fought a decisive battle outside Tanxi City. Neither side gained an advantage in this battle. The Sea Shark Palace lost 90% of its fighting force, and Helian Ba ​​was seriously injured and unconscious. The Supreme Alliance fared slightly better, but the Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise Halls suffered heavy casualties. Most importantly, Guan Yutian was seriously injured. Although his life is not in danger, he will not be able to appear again for a while."

After the Sword Master finished speaking, the Wine Immortal's eyes lit up. If they weren't in the Sword Hall, he would have shouted with joy. He Lianba, that villain, has finally met his end. It's retribution. If it weren't inconvenient, he would have given him the final blow and sent him to his death to avenge his imprisonment.

Upon hearing this, Huangfu Changhen first frowned, then relaxed. Guan Yutian was seriously injured and would be unable to preside over the affairs of the alliance for a short time, which would definitely be handed over to Ren Qianxing. According to the information he had obtained, Ren Qianxing was quite disgusted with Ru Shen, and he might be able to take this opportunity to eliminate the scourge for his sect.

Without the protection of the Supreme Alliance, Eagle Fortress was severely damaged again. Huangfu Changhen was confident that he could deal with Rushen. However, Huangfu Changhen thought again and wondered if the Sword Master had some kind of plan in telling them the news at this time.

Thinking of this, Huangfu Changhen turned his gaze to the Sword Master at the head of the table, while the Wine Immortal beside him also turned his gaze to him. Upon seeing this, the Sword Master chuckled and said, "Gentlemen, I will not play riddles with you. Sword Forging City has the ambition to unify the martial world. This action is not for personal gain, but only to quell the chaos and bring blessings to the people. More than ten years of war and slaughter have left the people impoverished and the lives of the people miserable. Guan Yutian and Helian Ba ​​are both selfish and treacherous people. If they succeed, it will not be a blessing for the people."

Although the Wine Immortal and Huangfu Changhen were shocked by the Sword Master's words, their faces remained calm, revealing nothing of their thoughts.

Sword Master paused, glanced at the two, and continued, "In the present day, besides the Supreme Alliance and the Sea Shark Palace, only my Sword Forging City has the power to unify the martial world, and it is the most likely one. I do not deny that I have selfish motives, but no one is perfect. As long as selfish motives do not contradict public good, they are good. Both of you are grandmasters of your generation, and I believe you can make clear judgments about right and wrong."

Upon hearing this, Jiu Zhongxian and Huangfu Changhen exchanged a glance. Huangfu Changhen said solemnly, "We are already aware of the City Lord's determination. In that case, may the City Lord offer some guidance?" Huangfu Changhen had already made up his mind. Since the Sword Venerable was so determined, he might as well lend him a hand. Dealing with the Supreme Alliance did not conflict with his own goals, and they could even complement each other.

The Immortal of Wine clearly had the same idea. As long as Helian Ba ​​could be eliminated and the martial arts world stabilized, he would accept whatever schemes the Sword Master might have, as a way of repaying a favor.

"Since you two are both straightforward, I won't mince words either. Brother Jiu, the grudge between you and Helian Ba ​​will ultimately have to be resolved by you personally. As for the Supreme Alliance, Brother Huangfu, I'll leave Liao Rushen to you. Time is running out. In six months, the Frost Sword will be born. If we don't eliminate the variables before then, I'm afraid more trouble will arise. I'll leave everything to you two."

Sword Master stood up and walked down the steps, bowing respectfully to the two. Upon seeing this, the Wine Immortal and his companion quickly stepped aside and returned the bow.

"Lord, there's no need for that. We are grateful for your consideration. We will leave these matters to the two of us. Six months will be enough."

Upon hearing this, the Sword Master nodded and then said, "Cang Feng is unaware that his uncle is the head of Azure Eagle Fortress. I hope the two of you will not leak the news. When the time is right, I will personally explain it to him."

Both Jiu Zhongxian and Huangfu Changhen deeply agreed with these words. If Zang Feng knew that his respected uncle was the leader of a notorious assassin organization, who knew what he would do? Now that they had taken on the mission, they naturally hoped to resolve it smoothly. If he interfered, it might attract the attention of Ru Shen.

"Lord of the City, speaking of Ru Shen, this person learned from the Heavenly Mystery Sect, and his ability to calculate celestial secrets is truly outstanding. What if this person senses danger and goes into hiding?"

Huangfu Changhen suddenly remembered this amazing divination skill. He was not afraid of a one-on-one duel, but if his opponent deliberately avoided him and he could not find him, wouldn't that be a waste of time? He had been so focused on fighting him that he had overlooked this aspect.

“Brother Huangfu, there’s no need to worry. The Taoist priest has already considered this. He has used his magic to conceal the secrets of heaven for half a year. Brother Huangfu, you can keep it safe with you.”

Sword Master took out a five-colored brocade pouch from his bosom, and from the pouch he took out a golden copper coin. As soon as he took it out, a soft light illuminated an area of ​​about ten feet. Anyone who was exposed to this light felt a sense of relief, as if they had been freed from restraint. The light lasted for half a quarter of an hour before slowly receding and finally dimming. If it weren't for the extraordinary nature of the coin he had seen earlier, Huangfu Changhen would have thought it was just an ordinary copper coin that no one would pick up if it were thrown on the ground.

"What an amazing treasure."

A glint flashed in Huangfu Changhen's eyes. He had seen many treasures in the Tianji Sect, but none of them could compare to this copper coin. However, upon reflection, he realized that the coin came from the hands of Daoist Gu Xu, and he understood.

"Master Gu Xu is no ordinary person, so it is not surprising that he has such a treasure. Brother Huangfu, with such a treasure in your possession, I hope you can get what you want."

“That’s natural. If I still can’t kill Ru Shen after all this, then I, Huangfu Changhen, might as well stop living in this world.”

The Sword Forging City has already made all the preliminary preparations for itself; the rest is entirely up to it. The advantage lies with itself, and if it still cannot succeed, it can only be attributed to fate.

The Immortal of Wine looked enviously at the copper coin in Huangfu Changhen's hand. It was no exaggeration to call this a rare treasure, and its effects were even stronger than the Nine Dragon Stone of Sai Huatuo.

Seeing the expression on the Immortal of Wine's face, the Sword Master clapped his hands. A disciple walked in carrying a tray with an exquisite, transparent wine jar on it, about a palm's width and a hand's height. The Immortal of Wine's eyes lit up when he saw the clear wine in the jar. He looked at the Sword Master, who said calmly, "Brother Wine, this was specially prepared for you. It's Overlord Wine brewed with three golden toads. Daoist Gu Xu added a few medicinal herbs to it. I tasted it before, and it is indeed extremely potent. Brother Wine, please try it."

As soon as the Sword Master finished speaking, the Wine Immortal could no longer resist. He reached out and took down the wine jar, uncorked it, and a fragrant aroma wafted out. In just a few breaths, the hall was filled with the aroma of wine. Even Huangfu Changhen, who did not like wine, felt his mouth water and stared at the wine jar with shining eyes.

"Good wine!"

The Immortal of Wine took a careful sip and felt his internal energy instantly become active. He hurriedly circulated his inner energy cultivation technique to slowly gather the medicinal power into his dantian to make up for the previous loss. Sword Master and Huangfu Changhen looked at the Immortal of Wine who was resting with his eyes closed and exchanged glances. Not long after, the Immortal of Wine opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them. This small sip of Overlord Wine was equivalent to half a month of cultivation. The Immortal of Wine was confident that after finishing this jar of wine, he would not only recover his vitality but also take his Overlord Fist to the next level.

"With this precious wine, we are even more confident in dealing with Helian Ba."

The Immortal of Wine resealed the cap, held it in his arms, walked up to the Sword Master, and said in a solemn voice, "I won't say any more words. I will offer Helian Ba's head with both hands."

Sword Master was taken aback upon hearing this, then nodded. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the two, they left together.

Meanwhile, news of Guan Yutian's serious injury spread like wildfire within the Supreme Alliance. Coupled with the losses suffered by the Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise Halls, the alliance was thrown into turmoil. Some people even took the opportunity to jump out and, using the excuse that there was no one to lead the alliance, wanted to bring out the elders of the Azure Dragon Hall. However, such voices quickly fell silent.

In Tinglan Garden, Guan Yutian sat upright on a jade platform, his true energy condensing to form a transparent energy shield that continuously expanded and contracted. Ren Qianxing, the protector beside him, frowned upon seeing this. His master was seriously injured this time. Normally, the energy shield should maintain a certain point, instead of being unable to stabilize like this.

Ren Qianxing couldn't help but worry when he thought about the current situation within the alliance. He was still young and it was easy for him to subdue others, but he was far from being able to win the hearts of all the alliance members like his master. If something really happened to his master, the Supreme Alliance would definitely be in chaos.

Another half hour passed. Ren Qianxing watched as the energy shield gradually calmed down, continuously contracting inwards until it was finally absorbed into his body. Guan Yutian slowly opened his eyes, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and his originally pale face became slightly rosier.

"Master!"

Seeing this, Ren Qianxing hurriedly stepped forward to help Guan Yutian to his feet. The latter felt a warmth in his heart when he saw the worried look on Ren Qianxing's face.

"Qianxing, my injuries will not heal for a while, and I need you to take charge of the alliance's affairs for the next three months."

"Master, disciple..."

"I know your difficulties, so I will teach you the Sword of Separation from the World. With this skill in hand, I believe those people will not dare to cause any trouble."

"A sword that separates worlds?"

(End of this chapter)