Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 561, Section 563. The Three Thousand Great Daos: The Radiant Primordial Sword Scripture

The sword light in the arena slowly dissipated, followed by a clear, resonant sword cry.

The green sword slowly returned to its sheath.

As the smoke and dust dissipated, the ten-zhang-long black python was revealed to have been cut into three pieces. Its dark scales twitched and writhed, and its scarlet tongue flickered weakly, emitting wisps of pale, chilling air.

[The Thunderhawk crashed to the ground with a broken wing; half of its golden wing was severed at the root, its feathers scattering like rain, and it let out a broken, mournful cry.]

Although the mountain demon shielded Cang Song with its battered body, his black robes were soaked with cold sweat. His pupils trembled violently, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief.

The primordial energy of heaven and earth remained restless and turbulent, flowing like tides around Feng Qingge's sword sheath.

Sensing its master's fighting spirit, the spirit-infused longsword emitted a clear, resonant sound from its sheath, like the roar of a dragon or the cry of a phoenix.

[It seems he's about to draw his sword again!]

The presiding elder is ready to make his move.

[The three main spirit beasts of Cangsong have suffered a crushing defeat; continuing will only lead to further losses.]

Cang Song stared blankly at the large black snake on the ground, then silently lowered his head. "I lost."

The intense energy that had surged on the arena gradually dissipated.

A red-haired girl's voice rang out, "Senior brother, you flatter me."

Tian Ru, who was watching from the sidelines, was naturally all smiles.

Chu Qiu of Dragon Scale Peak shook his head and sighed as he looked at the mangled body of the black python in the arena: "It was still just a hair's breadth short."

Although this black snake possesses purified true blood that has been refined into its body, it is ultimately not a true dragon.

He wasn't worried. As long as the three strange beasts' cores remained intact, they could recover after being nurtured in the spiritual spring of Dragon Scale Peak for a month.

You watch as the girl walks off the stage with a cold expression, leaving behind only wreckage.

[Feng Qingge's "Heaven-Slaying Sword Technique" was several levels more powerful than when she used it for the first time.]

[He even held back; otherwise, Cang Song wouldn't have left the arena standing.]

As you gaze at her receding figure, your mind momentarily overlaps with that of Xiao Qingfeng and Qi Ling from your memories.

There seemed to be a certain determination hidden in the eyes of the two women.

The elderly man on the viewing platform withdrew his gaze. "Elder Chu, you don't need to worry. At least your peak's path is correct."

Chu Qiu merely nodded, his tone tinged with melancholy, "Even peaks like our Dragon Scale Peak, Fire Cloud Peak (skilled in weapon crafting), and Crane Pill Peak (excelled in alchemy) can't compare to mountain ranges like Qi Yun Peak and Yao Hua Peak."

The elder comforted them, saying, "The Great Dao may take many paths, but all lead to the same destination; all three thousand methods can lead to enlightenment."

However, this statement ultimately seems somewhat weak. Since its founding, Fangcun Mountain, a branch that has established itself on weapon crafting and alchemy, has never produced a grandmaster who has reached the pinnacle of the realm.

[The same applies to heretical sects and unorthodox paths. Ultimately, human strength has its limits. Crafting weapons requires time, and alchemy consumes countless years. Even if one's skills are divine, how can they compare to those who are single-minded and directly seek the Great Dao?]

Talent, innate abilities, bloodline, lifespan... these layers of shackles ultimately confine all beings within a cage.

[To seek answers from the boundless universe with the body of a mayfly, born in the morning and dying at dusk, how dare one's mind be distracted?]

Chu Qiu's expression shifted slightly, his gaze suddenly falling on the young man behind Nie Qingzhu—this young Qingfeng disciple had just made a prediction before the outcome was even decided, and the result was exactly as he had said: victory or defeat was decided in a single move.

Below the arena, the disciples of Yaohua Peak cheered thunderously, their voices shaking the heavens, while the people of Longlin Peak remained as silent as still water.

Their top senior brother's defeat means he is completely out of the running for the Star-Picking Grand Gathering, which also means that Dragon Scale Peak is at a disadvantage in the competition for rankings at this year's Dharma Assembly.

Tian Ru approached with a light step and a smile, saying, "Senior Brother Chu, Yaohua Peak is too kind."

"I am inferior in skill, and I humbly admit defeat."

Chu Qiu remained calm, showing no sign of dejection.

[Dragon Scale Peak holds a special position, being a place conducive to raising spirit beasts. Even if one loses in a competition, the mountain gate will surely take care of them, unlike Little Green Peak and Dragon Tooth Peak, where resources must be won based on ranking.]

Seeing his composure, Tian Ru couldn't bring herself to be sarcastic. Instead, she looked at Nie Qingzhu and said in a relaxed tone, "Senior Brother Chu, why be so modest? Even if you lose Cang Song as a disciple, it's still much better than the situation at Xiao Qing Peak."

Nie Qingzhu seemed not to hear, and said directly to Elder Nian, "Senior Brother Nian, let's go watch the next match."

Having said that, he turned and left without looking back.

Seeing this, Chu Qiu quickly followed the two.

Tian Ru stared at Nie Qingzhu's departing figure, a cold glint in her eyes: "Nie Qingzhu, let you be smug."

[“If Xiao Qingfeng ranks last this time, failing to even make the top 100, all the other branches will join forces to strip it of its right to establish its own lineage.”]

Tian Ru turned her head and said coldly to Feng Qingge, whose red hair was fluttering behind her, "Next time you encounter a disciple of Xiaoqing Peak, you don't need to show any mercy."

Feng Qingge's gaze swept over the group of people on Xiaoqing Peak, but the scene of the competition four years ago surfaced in her mind—that new disciple who possessed the bloodline of the True Spirit Fire Phoenix.

"I understand," she replied, bowing her head.

As the disciples from the previous match left the arena, the crowd surged towards the adjacent arena like a tidal wave.

[On the "Bing Chou" stage, arranged according to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.]

The area was already packed with disciples from all the peaks, far exceeding the number from before—with the Dragon Head Peak and Flying Peak having the largest number of followers.

Above the arena, two jade tablets floated in mid-air, each engraved with an inscription.

[“Dragon Head Peak – Yuan Shujian”, “Flying Peak – Chen Shichen”.]

Both are top disciples of their respective lineages and are considered strong contenders for the top ten in this Star-Picking Competition.

Who would have thought that the preliminary draw would bring these two formidable rivals together?

[Nie Qingzhu and the other two also moved here with the crowd. You silently followed; only the elders on the second floor of the arena could ascend to the viewing platform.]

A large number of people had already gathered on the stage, mostly elders from both factions.

A glint flashed in your eyes as you spotted two familiar auras in the crowd. They were two of the ten Dragon Court Realm elders who had appeared at the back of Little Green Peak years ago.

Those two also noticed you, their gazes lingering particularly on Nian Wubei, their eyes filled with a mixture of fear and hostility.

[Nian Wubei seemed to sense something, and a look of doubt crossed his face.]

You sighed inwardly: "Ah, I'm getting old. You still have eight 'good friends' like this."

At this moment, the two competitors have taken to the stage.

Standing on the east side was Yuan Shujian, his figure as slender as a pine tree, accentuated by a moon-white Daoist robe. This chief disciple of Dragon Head Peak had been a disciple for over ten years and had already reached the early stage of the Heavenly Gate realm.

Not only was he highly skilled in martial arts, but he was also respected for his fair and impartial conduct. The name "Yuan Gongming" was widely known throughout the various sects.

[Chen Shichen, who was facing off on the west side, was not tall and had an ordinary appearance, with a hint of effeminacy in his eyes and brows. His cultivation had also reached the early stage of the Heavenly Gate realm.]

The two stood facing each other, exchanging greetings with proper etiquette.

"Dragon Head Peak, Yuan Shujian." "Chen Shichen."

[As the presiding elder announced from mid-air, "The competition begins."]

The previously noisy spectators suddenly fell silent, and the entire arena was enveloped in a tense, tense silence.

Chu Qiu chimed in, "Junior Sister Nie, Elder Nian, what are your thoughts on the outcome of this battle?"

"Chen Shichen possesses an invisible sword body, comes from a family of cultivators, has a clear sword mind, and after entering the mountains, he received the true teachings of the *Han Guang Yuan Lu Sword Scripture*—this technique was practically tailor-made for him."

"Back then, Feilai Peak sacrificed the opportunity to recruit this young man, even giving up the spots of ten of its most talented disciples."

"The Han Guang Yuan Lu Sword Scripture!"

A glint flashed in Nian Wubei's eyes. "I never imagined this sword technique would reappear in the world. This is... the signature move of Patriarch Hanguang of Feilai Peak."

The old man suddenly smiled meaningfully, "It's interesting, this Patriarch Hanguang has a deep connection with my Little Green Peak."

Chu Qiu looked surprised: "Elder Nian, what do you mean by that?"

"This Patriarch Hanguang is truly extraordinary; he's comparable even to the Crown Prince Fuhai of Yaohua Peak."

"Back then, this Patriarch Hanguang had already reached the Golden Core stage of the Great Dao, survived the Twenty-Nine Heavenly Tribulations, and even personally killed several demonic giants of the same realm."

"His self-created 'Han Guang Yuan Lu Sword Scripture' was renowned throughout the world, its fame no less than that of the Heaven-Slaying Sword Technique."

[Upon hearing this, your eyes flickered. In the records of Fangcun Mountain, this patriarch is highly regarded, especially among female cultivators of the time, who greatly admire him, for he is a female Daoist.]

[If he hadn't perished in that great battle between good and evil, with his talent and comprehension, he would very likely have reached the realm of a supreme grandmaster.]

This also shows how many exceptionally talented people there are in the world, but how difficult it is to overcome the Tribulation of the Three Nine Heavens and become a supreme grandmaster.

Only a handful of people exist in each lifetime.

[You are so familiar with this person not because of her reputation, but because in the daily records of "Taiyuan Yiyang Sword," the Han Guang Ancestor of Feilai Peak and the Di Xiang Ancestor had a brief affair, though they never formally became Daoist partners.]

This Patriarch Hanguang once wished to leave behind a bloodline in the Imperial Capital, but was naturally refused.

The Imperial Ancestor only sought ascension to immortality; he saw romantic love as an obstacle, a test from Heaven.

The old man winked and said, "This Patriarch Hanguang is the lover of one of our Little Green Peak's patriarchs!"

Chu Qiu's expression was strange. "That's unlikely. Patriarch Hanguang was only one step away from surviving the Tribulation of the Three Nines."

He lowered his voice, "Senior Brother Nian, you can't just say things like that. Feilai Peak is something that Patriarch Hanguang greatly admires."

"Those who dwell on Feilai Peak regard Patriarch Hanguang as a deity. If it weren't for his miraculous intervention, the Feilai Peak lineage would have long since perished. Over the years, they have repeatedly petitioned to change the peak's name to 'Hanguang Peak,' but their requests have been denied."

"If this gets back to them, they won't let it go easily."

[Nie Qingzhu sighed softly, rubbing her forehead: "Senior Brother Nian, be careful what you say."]

She glanced around and whispered, "Flying Peak is one of the few branches that are on friendly terms with my Little Green Peak."

Nian Wubei chuckled awkwardly, "Just casual conversation, just casual conversation."

Seeing that the topic had been changed, Chu Qiu asked seriously again, "In your opinion, Senior Brother Nian, what is the outcome of this battle?"

[Nian Wubei pondered for a moment: "The true transmission of the Han Guang Yuan Lu Sword Scripture has been unlearned for nearly a thousand years... If Chen Shichen truly learns it, he might not be inferior to that girl who just used the Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique."]

He didn't finish his sentence, but his brows furrowed involuntarily. "What about Yuan Shujian from Dragon Head Peak?"

Chu Qiu pondered, "Yuan Shujian keeps a low profile among the various factions, and his reputation is largely due to his fair dealings, but few know the true extent of his strength."

[Nian Wubei suddenly turned to look at you: "Jing boy, what do you think?"]

A hint of surprise flashed in Nie Qingzhu's eyes—why was Senior Brother Nian asking you so many questions?

Chu Qiu also turned his probing gaze to you, after all, you had just hit the nail on the head.

You hesitated for a moment, then said, "This disciple's knowledge is too shallow to make a judgment."

After a brief pause, he continued, "If I were to speak presumptuously, the outcome of this battle will likely not be known until after a hundred moves."

"After a hundred moves?" Chu Qiu raised an eyebrow, a look of surprise on his face.

He mostly believed that Chen Shichen would win.

At that moment, the match on the arena had already begun.

[Yuan Shujian's two fingers suddenly glowed with a golden light, bursting forth with dazzling brilliance like the rising sun.]

In an instant, the temperature on the arena soared, and the air became thick with suffocating heat.

The onlookers immediately recognized it—this was none other than the Dragon Head Peak's signature martial art, the "Yang Dragon Finger"!

A dragon's roar suddenly rose from the void, and a golden dragon head phantom materialized before Yuan Shujian, its scales and claws flashing, lifelike.

In the blink of an eye!

The dragon's head shot out like an arrow, engulfing Yuan Shujian and transforming him into a golden streak of light.

[The dragon's shadow surged and instantly covered the entire arena.]

【"Whoosh—"

Yuan Shujian's golden fingers pierced through Chen Shichen's body, but it was as if he were seeing an illusion.

As if he had anticipated this, he slowly turned around and withdrew his finger; the dragon's shadow had already vanished.

Behind him appeared three identical Chen Shichens.

Chen Shichen's lips curled slightly, and the smile on his effeminate face, amidst the interplay of light and shadow, revealed a strange, androgynous allure.

Even more chilling is that the three clones simultaneously displayed the exact same expression, down to the exact curve of their lips.

[In his left hand, a transparent longsword shimmered with iridescent light under the sunlight, its blade appearing and disappearing as if it were merely an illusion of light.]

[Nian Wubei focused intently, "It really is the 'Han Guang Yuan Lu Sword Scripture'! It can make the body invisible and can also split into three. The sword in his hand..."]

"Could this be the sword that Patriarch Hanguang once wore? Legend has it that this sword was given to the empress of a mortal dynasty after she was pregnant for ten months. The jade was crystal clear, like flowing water, and was then forged into a sword by skilled craftsmen."

[The old man couldn't help but say, "That which contains light is formless. It cannot be seen when looked at, nor moved when moved, its touch is imperceptible, it vanishes without a trace, it passes through things without things noticing."]

You also whispered, "A gentleman does not contend; he conceals his brilliance and remains unassuming, sitting with no desire in his presence!"

[This was written by the Imperial Ancestor in the book "Taiyuan Yiyang Sword." The Imperial Ancestor wrote this book almost like a regular diary, and it contains many insights.]

The "Han Guang Yuan Lu Sword Scripture" of Fei Lai Peak has been lost for so long, not only because the sword technique is obscure, but also because it requires a special Daoist body—the formless sword body.

[In the arena, Chen Shichen's three figures gradually vanished without a trace, as if wiped away.]

(End of this chapter)