Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 59: Flowers in the Hall Intoxicate Three Thousand Guests, a Sword Frosts Fourteen States
The Tang Dynasty has vast fertile land and a population of hundreds of millions. Although the emperor has been ill in recent years, overall it can still be said that the country is peaceful and the people are prosperous.

But what is the world like outside the Tang Dynasty?
To the north of the Tang Dynasty are the countries in the Western Regions. Among them, the relatively stable countries are Loulan, Ruoqiang, Xiya, Wusun, and Qiuci. The rest are collectively known as the Fifty-five Countries of the Western Regions. According to Tang Dynasty merchants, the people of the Fifty-five Countries of the Western Regions are fierce and there are both humans and demons living together.

In some countries, there are white-boned demons that demand children's hearts and livers late at night. In some countries, demons are worshipped as national teachers and are offered the blood of living people to beg for good weather and a long-lasting national prosperity.

However, legends like this cannot be fully trusted.

Before arriving at the City That Never Sleeps, Lu Cheng had heard that there were wars among various tribes in the country of Qianshan, demons and ghosts were rampant, and the people were displaced and living in misery.

The eight major sects in Middle-earth even classified the City That Never Sleeps as one of the fourteen evil sects under the rule of the Gu God Cult. Some people also say it is one of the sixteen evil sects, but the people of the City That Never Sleeps do not consider themselves to be an evil sect, and the City That Never Sleeps is not even a sect at all.

Isn't it just that there are more monks raising poisons and ghosts? How can it be considered an evil sect?

Raising Gu is a tradition in southern Xinjiang. There are many Gu insect spirits near the Ten Thousand Mountains. If you don't raise Gu and understand their habits, it will be easy to conflict with these spirits of heaven and earth. As for raising ghosts, the Taoist method of offering sacrifices to corpses and refining weapons in the Central Earth is much more advanced than the traditional method in southern Xinjiang.

night market.

The Taoist held a sword, and there was a young man selling wine beside him. The two walked side by side, but the young man consciously lagged half a step behind his master to show respect.

When the master and his disciple passed by the west city gate, they faintly heard a noisy and chaotic sound coming from there, as well as children crying and elders scolding.

"Master, I'll go find out what's going on over there." He Guo saw that Lu Cheng was confused and thought, "Master should do the work, so the disciple should do the work." So he ran over with two wine jugs hanging on hemp ropes.

After a while, the young man returned with a gloomy look on his face.

"Master, a beast tide broke out in the south, and many barbarians ran to the Never-Sleeping City to seek shelter, but they couldn't enter the city without spirit stones."

He Guo's ancestors for three generations had never left the City That Never Sleeps, so he naturally called the people outside the City That Never Sleeps barbarians, but the young man was kind-hearted and still felt a little sad.

Without spiritual stones, you are not allowed to enter the City That Never Sleeps. When a beast tide breaks out in the south, the people of the Thousand Mountain Country dare not leave the City That Never Sleeps too far. If the time passes too long, the food they brought with them will run out, and that would be a disaster.

At the same time, the City Patrol prohibited people in the city from providing food and clothing to people outside the city. Otherwise, it would become a habit and the area of ​​the City That Never Sleeps would need to be expanded tenfold along the city wall.

Of course, anyone with money and a kind heart could bring people in by offering one spirit stone per person. At such times, many traffickers of men and women would appear on the city walls. They would select strong young men and relatively pretty and healthy girls and sell them into the city.

"The beast tide broke out again?"

Lu Cheng has lived in Shiyuan County for five years and has also heard the legend of the beast tide in southern Xinjiang.

It is said that whenever the monsters in the depths of the Shiwan Mountains multiply to a certain number, they will be driven away by higher-level monsters to invade the areas where humans live.

On the one hand, it reduces the number of monsters to maintain the balance of the environment, and on the other hand, it reduces the number of humans to prevent them from becoming too numerous and their living space from expanding continuously.

Every thirty to fifty years, each beast tide was a terrible disaster, and almost every household in Ishihara County would die.

And deeper in the Southern Border of the Tang Dynasty in the City That Never Sleeps, Lu Cheng received even more information:
The founder of the Southern Gu God Cult, Moyun Cave Yinshan, has mastered boundless magic, raised millions of magic soldiers, and suppressed the beast gods in the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

However, every thirty to fifty years, the power of the Beast God recovers and erupts, and a large number of beasts will break through the barrier of the Gu soldiers, bringing disaster to the entire Ten Thousand Mountains.

As thousands of beasts were running, the tribes within the Kingdom of Thousand Mountains survived if they had magic powers, and perished if they did not. What impacted the border of the Tang Dynasty was actually the aftermath. A large number of monsters had been blocked in the southern border by the Gu God Cult, Burning Wood Mountain, the City That Never Sleeps, and many tribes of the Kingdom of Thousand Mountains.

Of course, these forces are not doing good deeds, but are for self-preservation and profit-seeking. For these large forces, it is not difficult to protect themselves during a beast tide, so every beast tide is a time for them to make a fortune.

“With such merits and blessings, it’s no wonder that the Yinshan Patriarch is known as the leader of the Southern Demon Cult. He himself has great luck. Not only did he find a way to cultivate a high-grade golden elixir, but he was also able to survive the forty-nine disasters many times. No righteous immortal dared to cause trouble for him.”

The founder of Yinshan was killed, the Gushen Cult collapsed, and millions of beasts invaded the heartland of the Tang Dynasty. God knows how many people died.

This mess must be blamed on the immortal who killed the Yinshan Patriarch. When the next forty-nine calamities come, nine calamities and various changes will take turns. I'm afraid that no immortal in the eight orthodox religions will be able to withstand it.

Does the Yinshan Patriarch like to win people’s hearts?

Eat it.

He can eat several people.

The Yinshan Patriarch feeds Gu with humans?

The immortals of various sects looked up at the celestial phenomena and pretended that they could not see them.

When faced with two evils, choose the lesser one. What else can you do?

Lu Cheng and He Guo returned to Wenjianzhai. Seeing this, Xie Yan ran over and handed over an extremely exquisite invitation:

"Master, Elder Xu Jinwen of the Sword Art Center invites you to come to the center in three days for a peach blossom banquet."

"Yeah. It's already April, it's really a good time to drink peach wine."

Lu Cheng took the invitation and knew that he should attend the banquet.

After the assassination of Chen Tianxiong, the grand elder of the Sword Art Hall, a power vacuum appeared within the hall. The other foundation-building elders all made their efforts, and Elder Xu Jinwen was the most powerful among them. He also adopted an attitude of winning over Lu Cheng, not wanting to create too much hostility before the situation was settled.

Lu Cheng had the same idea.

Three days later, at night, at the Swordsmanship Hall.

All the wise men, young and old, gathered here. All the sword gym owners in the city that never sleeps gathered here.

"Master Wenjianzhai, Sword Master Lin Lie is here!"

Following the chief manager's shout, many sword masters who were chatting and laughing in the hall turned their attention to him, most of them with some hostility.

In the past two years, which sword gym in the City That Never Sleeps has the greatest reputation and the highest revenue?
It is undoubtedly Wenjianzhai. It is said that Master Lin Jian has earned 100,000 spirit stones in the past two years and is almost as fat as a pig.

It also had some impact on other well-known sword gyms present.

Lu Cheng, with He Guo beside him, stepped into the hall. The young Taoist did not look like a cultivator with superb swordsmanship. He did not have that sharp and fierce look. Instead, he had a calm demeanor, showing the style of a true Taoist practitioner.

"This person is the Sword Questioning Master Lin Lie. Isn't he too young?"

"Maybe it's a way to keep your youth."

"Whether this person is an old monster or not, his swordsmanship is indeed superb. Many seniors in the Foundation Establishment Realm agree with this and say that based on his swordsmanship alone, he has surpassed the level of Qi Training Realm cultivators."

"I wonder why Elder Xu asked him to come here?"

"Hahahaha, little friend Lin is here? Please come in. This is your first time at the Sword Art Hall, right? Please come in."

To the surprise of all the guests present, Elder Xu personally came out to greet the young Taoist priest.

The elder had white hair that fell to his shoulders, wore a long black robe, a long sword at his waist, and a hollow jade pendant. He looked majestic and kind.

"My friend, you are here quite early. There is still some time before the banquet starts. Shall we go to the inner hall to chat?"

"It is the elder's will. He Guo, you just wait here and don't be disrespectful."

"Yes, Master."

He Guo held the sword and nodded in agreement.

In the inner hall, Elder Xu dismissed his attendants and personally poured tea for himself and the young Taoist in front of him, and stopped the other party from being polite.

"The Great Elder was domineering and ruthless when he was alive. This is of course good for the reputation of the Sword Hall, but everything is too much and can easily backfire, and it is also a way to bring disaster."

"However, the dead are gone, so let's let bygones be bygones. Little friend Lin has already opened a sword hall in the Never-Sleeping City for two years. I think he knows the significance of the existence of the Sword Art Hall. Why not join in and eliminate the conflicts with the major sword halls?"

If Chen Tengjiao hadn't insisted on stepping on him to get to the top, Lu Cheng would have joined the Sword Art Hall long ago.

Now that Elder Xu Jinwen had invited him in a friendly manner, Lu Cheng certainly had no reason to refuse.

You must know that you may not be strong every day just because you are strong today. Lu Cheng also needs to make some considerations and plans for how to deal with them in the future.

"Since Elder Xu has invited us, Wenjianzhai will naturally join the main hall. In a few days, I will send disciples to pay the academy fees for the past two years."

"Alas, young friend Lin, that's not true. The headquarters was also biased and extreme in the previous incident. The fees for the first two years will be waived. I still have some face."

The Sword Hall has to pay one-tenth of its profits to the Sword Arts Headquarters every year, and Wenjianzhai has to pay six or seven thousand spirit stones in two years. It can be exempted now, but it must still pay normally in the future. Otherwise, Wenjianzhai and Lu Cheng will be the enemies of the foundation-building elders of the Sword Arts Headquarters, and cutting off someone's financial resources is like killing their parents.

Since he is willing to join the main library, it means he is not a difficult troublemaker.

Elder Xu's expression became gentler, and he continued:
"In addition to mediating and adjudicating conflicts between the various sword halls, the Sword Art Hall, as a member of the City That Never Sleeps, must also contribute to the City That Never Sleeps. Of course, the Elders Council will not let us work for nothing."

"It is the time when the beast tide in the south is causing trouble again. The headquarters is also organizing experts to go out of the city to eliminate the beast tide. Master Lin is the best swordsman in the city that never sleeps. Why not join us? Although the distribution ratio has not been finalized yet, I promise that I will not let you suffer any loss."

Saying this shows that Xu Jinwen is trying to win over Lin Lie.

Just say it directly:

Stand with me and I will never let you suffer any loss even if I have to pay for it out of my own pocket.

Lu Cheng hesitated when he heard this. On the one hand, he had no shortage of spirit stones and was reluctant to participate in such an action with the monks from the Sword Art Hall. On the other hand, he did not want to get so close to Elder Xu Jinwen right away and get involved in the power struggle within the Sword Art Hall.

"I thank the elder for his kindness, but I still want to go back and think about this matter before making a decision."

"Shan, in a place of life and death, one must be careful. No matter what, I respect your decision."

At this moment, a clear and melodious bell rang in the front hall, signaling the official start of the banquet.

Xu Jinwen and Lu Cheng returned to the front hall together.

A banquet followed.

Hosted by Elder Xu Jinwen, the atmosphere of the banquet was generally harmonious, and even the conflicts between several sword halls were resolved under the mediation of this elder. Next, each sword hall demonstrated its own sword skills, exchanged some experiences, and finally even traded some things and information on the spot.

Exchanges between low-level cultivators often lack substantive content.

Most of the independent cultivators are very proud of the skills and spells they have learned, and are very afraid that others will become familiar with their skills and arrange targeted means for them. The less foundation they have, the more proud they will be of their skills.

Today's exchanges at the Sword Art Hall were slightly better, as the owners of these sword halls, especially the Grand Sword Hall, had some real talent.

After seeing several masters of the academy learn the secrets of sword practice.

Elder Xu Jinwen, who was holding a wine cup and tasting the already hot peach blossom wine, suddenly spoke:
“Master Lin, it’s time for you to go up and demonstrate the Forty-Nine Heavenly Swords. If you don’t go up, all the masters will be unable to sit still. Hahahaha.”

The elder said this in a joking tone, but it really hit the mark of many people present.

Lin Lie from Wenjianzhai, this man can challenge all the heroes with his 49 Tianyan swords and has no rivals. Even the cultivators in the foundation building stage would praise him as a swordsmanship genius after seeing his swordsmanship.

Legend has it that even the Sword-wielding Immortal Ape Liu Baihong was defeated by his sword. Later, Liu Baihong assassinated the chief elder of the main hall, Chen Tianxiong, who had reached the late stage of foundation building. He escaped alone for two years without being captured. It is said that he has successfully advanced to the foundation building stage.

These things have cast a veil of mystery over the master Lin.

"Then, please correct me, seniors."

Lu Cheng knew that since he had joined the Sword Art Hall, he couldn't avoid such things. Fortunately, his swordsmanship was not afraid of being seen by others.

Taking the sword and drawing Chunjun, Lu Cheng entered the banquet hall and started from the first move, slowly performing the set of forty-nine swords.

The first move seemed slow at the beginning but was actually fast, and as the sword technique was practiced, the sword light naturally became faster and faster, and gradually it seemed as if a layer of sword light was surrounding the Taoist's body.

"Hey, why does it seem a little different from the forty-nine swords I usually see?"

"Yes, the sword moves are obviously the same, but each move seems to be a little different. Who among us has not studied the Forty-Nine Swords of Wenjianzhai? This set of sword techniques is unique and majestic, and the sword moves are complementary. It is full of subtle changes and the artistic conception of winning in danger. But now that Master Lin Zhai is using it himself, it is... too upright."

"Each move is majestic and in line with the principles of swordsmanship. It is as brilliant as the movement of stars and as peaceful as water overflowing into a pond. What a noble and awe-inspiring swordsmanship."

In the Nine Heavens World, the main magic weapons that Lu Cheng finally controlled were the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Sword and the Human Emperor Banner, but that was because the most powerful flying sword in the magic world was the Heavenly Demon Blood-Transforming Divine Sword.

Apart from this magic sword, there are only a few magical weapons in the Nine Heavens World that are powerful and compatible with the Blood God's Art.

Before he mastered his magic skills, Lu Cheng used flying swords more often. Even if he wanted to use a knife, there were not so many powerful knife magic weapons to choose from.

When fighting with swords, of course, flying swords are more commonly used, and the main focus of training is of course swordsmanship.

Lu Cheng's swordsmanship is a combination of the strange and the normal. He is good at using underhanded tactics and maneuvers in fights, which can win by the strange. However, his swordsmanship is the result of countless days and nights of hard practice, with countless blood, sweat and tears. This kind of swordsmanship is not afraid of practice. Even if you have watched it a thousand times, you will still be defeated when you really fight, because it is the difference in the purest swordsmanship skills.

When Lu Cheng finished performing forty-nine sword moves and retracted the sword, the entire swordplay hall fell silent, and no one uttered a word.

……

The next day, in Wenjianzhai.

"You weren't there at the time, so you don't know. When our master performed the 49 Heavenly Swords, all the sword masters in the city that never sleeps were stunned. They stood there in a daze, unable to say a word for a long time."

"I noticed that Elder Xu almost pulled his beard off at that time."

Inside the sword hall, He Guo looked excited and spitting everywhere.

A group of apprentices around him looked at him with shining eyes and told him about how their master performed sword skills yesterday.

"Why don't they speak?" one of the little girls asked timidly.

"Because it is hard to explain. Master's forty-nine swords are flawless and noble, just like the king of swords. They can't even find the slightest flaw."

He Guo had a sneer on his face, as if he was the one who amazed everyone last night.

No wonder he was so proud.

Yu Liang was still okay, because it was him that the master took away last night. Xie Yan was so envious that his eyes almost glowed green.

I have already decided in my heart that I will move to Wenjianzhai starting tonight.

Otherwise, my master has been with that kid He Guo for too long and is biased towards him, passing on all his advanced sword skills to him but not to me. Wouldn't I be about to hit my head against a pillar?
However, last night's experience was not entirely good for He Guo.

Having seen the correct way of practicing the Forty-Nine Swords, He Guo felt that his apprentices were making mistakes everywhere when he watched them practicing sword today, so he began to correct them.

But in fact he corrected it wrong.

The forty-nine swords that most disciples practice are supposed to be unique, majestic and beautiful, seeking victory in danger, and are known for the exquisite changes in sword moves.

The next level of swordsmanship is to crack the sword questions, which is based on the forty-nine swords and cracks the commonly used sword techniques of various schools. This is the intermediate level.

When one reaches a high level, after having seen the world, he will refer to the sword techniques in the world and use his own forty-nine swords to break his own forty-nine swords. After nine breaks and nine establishments, he will be able to comprehend the essence of sword techniques, and from then on he will change as he pleases and all methods will return to one.

Most of the disciples of Wenjianzhai will never reach the intermediate level in their lifetime. It is enough to take advantage of the sword moves with exquisite changes.

The back house of Wenjianzhai.

Lin Qingyue came to visit again today, but this time she brought four people with her.

One is Lin Qingyue’s sister Lin Qingxue, who is also Lu Cheng’s disciple.

The other three are Lin Chuanli, the main cultivator of the Lin family, and Lin Chuanli’s good friends Yuan Wuwang and Yuan Xiaodie, father and daughter.

"Master Lin, the news of your sword slashing with frost last night has spread all over the city today. Everyone says that you are the best swordsman in the Qi training realm in the Never-Sleeping City. Be careful that many people will come to challenge you in the near future."

As Lin Qingyue spoke, she poured tea to the guests in the room one by one.

Lu Cheng's Sword-Wenzhai did not hire any servants. He was not used to being taken care of by others, not to mention that He Guo lived in the sword hall. He did some chores in his spare time. The master and disciple always ate out.

Therefore, it seemed natural for Lin Qingyue to brew and pour tea herself.

Just seeing Lin Qingyue being so casual, Lin Qingxue didn't have any idea yet. However, Lin Chuanli, who was handsome and gentle, had a flickering look in his eyes, which wandered between Lin Qingyue and Lu Cheng.

However, he was also happy to see this happen. With the full support of this swordsmanship master, the gains of this trip would undoubtedly be even greater.

Lu Cheng was looking at a map at this time, the topographic map of Wanshou Mountain.

This morning, Lin Qingyue came with four people behind her and invited me to go out hunting the beasts together. They had already planned a detailed plan and a map of the surrounding area.

"Lin Lie, if you go to the Sword Art Hall to help, no matter how it is distributed in the end, it will be divided into two parts: the Nevernight City and the Sword Art Hall, and all they can provide is some support."

"In previous years, when the Southern Border beast tide broke out and impacted the Never-Sleeping City, there were already fewer third-level monsters. Moreover, even if we encounter one, with the six of us working together, even if we cannot win, we can still retreat safely."

When Lin Qingyue said this, she looked into Lu Cheng's eyes.

Then she smiled softly, and Lu Cheng continued to look down at the map, knowing what she was thinking:
"We have worked together to kill Chen Tianxiong, so even if we encounter a third-level monster, it doesn't matter. If we can't kill it, we can still escape."

Although Lin Qingyue now enjoys the treatment of a family elder of the Lin family in Ranmu Mountain and has no shortage of resources for cultivation, she still has a younger sister who needs to be trained.

Moreover, a monk’s practice cannot be improved simply by having sufficient resources; necessary experience and even tempering are also essential.

If Lin Qingyue was generous enough to transfer a large amount of resources to her younger sister Lin Qingxue, she would be destroying her own sister.

This beast tide in southern Xinjiang is a good experience, and the six of them joined forces to go hunting outside the City That Never Sleeps, so they don’t have to share the benefits with the City That Never Sleeps.

Even if Lu Cheng and Lin Qingyue are not short of spirit stones, neither of them would complain that they have too many spirit stones.

"Chuanli, Master Lin is a famous swordsman in my Never-Sleeping City. We will pay for all the elixirs and spells that Master Lin needs for this trip. The proceeds from this trip will be divided equally among us. Is that ok?"

Lin Qingyue turned around and said this to Lin Chuanli.

Lin Chuanli is a member of the Lin family of Ranmu Mountain, one of the eight generations of cultivators who "attained the Tao and served the gods, and passed down the business from generation to generation". His magical powers have reached the ninth level of Qi training. Yuan Wuwang beside him is at the eighth level of Qi training, and Yuan Xiaodie is at the sixth level of Qi training.

After hearing Lin Qingyue say this, Lin Chuanli, who looked like a scholar, did not respond.

The middle-aged monk Yuan Wuwang at the side said anxiously:
"No way! Xiaodie and I can share one portion, and the remaining portion will be given to Master Lin." He was obviously very respectful and flattering to Lin Chuanli, and Lin Chuanli nodded and accepted it.

"I will follow your arrangements, Sister Qingyue." Lin Chuanli replied.

"Then Qingxue, your share will be given to you, Master Lin, and we will share one share between the two of us."

"No need for that. The prices of elixirs and talismans in the city have risen sharply during this period. They change three times a day. Just distribute them according to what I said before."

With the arrival of the beast tide in the south, the prices of elixirs, talismans, and magical instruments of all forces have soared, and it is foreseeable that it will not be long before the prices of monster materials in the city will plummet. If you have connections and means, you can make a fortune through this rise and fall.

Lin Qingyue used to be in charge of the Lin's business shop. She was well versed in the changes in the business world. In addition to her relationship with the Lin family, she must have bought third-level talismans, second-level pills and talismans, and other necessary supplies in advance. The prices of pills and talismans at this time would be the current prices.

How could Lu Cheng have the nerve to take away Lin Qingxue's share of the profits as a disciple of Jianzhai?
However, this was a natural thought that Lin Qingyue had after years of doing business, and it was not malicious, so Lu Cheng did not care about it.

After the six cultivators, more precisely Lin Qingyue, Lu Cheng, and Lin Chuanli, agreed, they went together to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain further south of the City That Never Sleeps, waiting for the beast tide to arrive.

Lu Cheng's original plan was to get close to the Lin family, kill a descendant of the main lineage, and wait for an opportunity to seize the skills. Anyway, with the style of the evil sect, there would be no shortage of suitable candidates or opportunities.

The family tradition of the Ranmushan Lin family is that, except for the Lin family members, everyone else in the world can be taken at will and killed. Some of the legacy of the former ruler of the world still remain.

However, this family is so powerful that there are only a few among the millions of cultivators in the Tongxuan Realm who can or are willing to provoke them. Taking advantage of this beast tide chaos, they may be able to fish in troubled waters and then retreat after the chaos is accomplished.

Of course, Lu Cheng holds this idea and will do whatever it takes to perfect his own Taoism, so he himself is not a righteous person.

(End of this chapter)