Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 203 Chu-Han Rhapsody: Heavenly Blade and Sword!

You Hongda's loud and firm voice echoed in the Chengxiang Hall.

Qin Shubao, Cheng Yaojin, and Luo Shixin had not seen the contents of the imperial edict, and were taken aback by You Hongda's actions.

Luo Shixin was not good at mental calculation and was very straightforward.

Seeing General You bow, he figured General You couldn't possibly make a mistake, so he ignored what was written on the imperial edict, followed suit, and shouted, "I, Luo, also obey Your Majesty's command!"

Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin were cautious and intended to read the imperial edict before speaking.

But the two in front have already expressed their support instantly, so wouldn't it be disloyal to just stand there?
The two looked at You Hongda one last time and chose to trust him.

So they also knelt in the direction of the dragon throne and said in unison, "Me too."

The eunuch Li, who delivered the imperial edict, breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that things had gone well, and there would be no more fighting.

Among the generals of the Jiangdu army, apart from Zhang Xutuo himself, these four were the most renowned.

Especially You Hongda, who had just defeated Shen Faxing and beheaded the Crown Prince of Wu, his attitude was already able to influence most of the army.

Dugu Sheng turned his gaze to Zhang Xutuo.

At this moment, Old Zhang was also slightly stunned, and didn't know what to say for a moment.

The four men bowed down and instantly transformed their identities, a process so swift and decisive it was unbelievable and quite different from what he had expected.

But this was an imperial edict left by His Majesty, so he had to quickly suppress his grievances and complaints.

Zhou Yi smiled calmly and stepped forward to help You Hongda up.

Then he pulled up Luo Shixin and the other two.

Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin's hearts were pounding, and they didn't know where to put their hands, feeling quite awkward.

They had always regarded the person in front of them as their biggest and most troublesome imaginary enemy.

But on our first meeting, you were so polite and courteous to me, so friendly?
Is this right?
The two showed no unusual expression, but were filled with great doubt.

They only peeked at the edict when You Hongda unfolded it again.

That caused the tiger's body to tremble!
I instantly understood why their biggest hypothetical enemy had come to their aid.

So this is "His Majesty"!
In that one bow, have we already surrendered?
"General Zhang, I have heard your opinion. Will you obey the imperial edict?" Zhou Yi asked with admiration, patiently awaiting Zhang Xutuo's response.

Empress Xiao closed the documents from the Eastern Capital and turned her gaze over as well.

Zhang Xutuo sighed inwardly. Since the Sui Dynasty was given away by His Majesty, there was no point in being loyal to the death. He could only accept his fate.

He turned to face the dragon throne and knelt down in a bow.

It was as if Yang Guang was still sitting there: "Your humble servant obeys the order."

His tone was filled with unspeakable bitterness.

Zhou Yi stepped forward and helped the old general up: "General Zhang, do you know why my troops in the Liuhe and Qingliu areas have never attacked Jiangdu?"

Zhang Xutuo shook his head: "Because we already knew about this imperial edict?"

"That's only one of the reasons. The reason you were able to return to Jiangdu from Yangzi County was largely because I spoke on your behalf. Because if the Yuwen Clan were to occupy this place, this city and the surrounding counties would be doomed."

"I am not attacking Jiangdu in order to avoid war and to find the way to take the city in a way that will not affect the people the most. Otherwise, no matter how high the city walls of Jiangdu are, they will not be able to stop me."

Zhou Yi spoke with great confidence, and Zhang Xutuo didn't think he was bragging.

With his strength, it would be easy for him to enter Jiangdu and create chaos.

only.
Zhang Xutuo's nature was such that he couldn't instantly change his allegiance to a new master.

Empress Xiao then spoke:
"I have already discussed with the Prince of Yan that since His Majesty's edict is clear, we shall act in accordance with it. Chief Steward Dugu and General Zhang, you shall convey this message. In three days, summon all officials to the Chengxiang Hall to formally receive the edict."

"Yes~!"

Dugu Sheng and Zhang Xutuo agreed, and the matter was considered settled.

Afterwards, Empress Xiao invited everyone present to stay in the palace for a meal.

Zhou Yi met Yang Tan, who looked quite similar to Yang Tong, only more frail and scholarly.

Although he served as the new ruler of Jiangdu for a period of time, he did not accumulate much imperial authority.

Like Yang Tong, he loved reading, but not Taoist texts; rather, he studied Confucianism.

After comparing Guang Shen's two grandsons, it's no wonder that Lu Chu, Guo Wenrui, and others supported Yang Tong more.

However, Yang Guang had already abandoned his legacy, so all of this was meaningless.

The court assembly at Chengxiang Hall was in three days, and Zhou Yi had no intention of waiting for it.

Whether he is here or not, it makes no difference.

After leaving Linjiang Palace, he returned to the Dugu residence, gave some more instructions to Dugu Sheng, and then went directly to Jiankang.

Li Jing and Xu Shiji were mobilizing troops from various prefectures and were not in the city.

Zhou Yi met Xu Xingzhi.

After informing Xu Xingzhi of the situation in Jiangdu, he clapped and celebrated.

"My lord, the world is at peace!"

"Shen Faxing lost Piling and suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of You Hongda. After this Jiangdu court meeting, I will send someone to contact the generals of Jiangdu. At that time, we can directly attack the alliance of Lin Shihong and Xiao Xian. The attitude of the Song Clan is actually no longer important."

Xu Xingzhi's face was flushed, and he was even more excited than Zhou Yi.

"I'm going to see Song Que. Once you hear the news from Jiangdu, you don't need to wait for my message anymore. Take action decisively."

"it is good!"

Xu Xingzhi suggested, "Our lord has already taken control of two major capitals, countless soldiers and generals, and even the He Shi Bi jade. Why not declare himself emperor now?"

Zhou Yi thought for a moment: "It won't take long to eliminate the false emperor and pacify the nine provinces."

Xu Xingzhi glanced at his expression and agreed aloud:
"Very well, then all under heaven will respect you, and within the entire world, there will be only one emperor, our lord."

Zhou Yi smiled slightly and listened to Xu Xingzhi briefly explain the battle arrangements.

Half an hour later, he finally set off from Jiankang for Lingnan.

Relying on his superb lightness skills, he disregarded the anti-Zhou alliance's defenses and swept straight across Shen Faxing's territory.

The world is so vast, he can go anywhere.

Heading south, they experienced the local customs and culture along the way, gradually approaching Cangwu County.

Outside the county town, passing through many Li and Liao villages, the sounds of fighting could be heard continuously.

I can't understand the locals' speech very well.

The general idea is that the Song dynasty forces were suppressing bandits.

That's rather strange.

Ever since Tian Dao sealed itself off in Lingnan, it not only kept a low profile but also used its power to suppress the bandits of Lingnan from acting recklessly.

Therefore, Lingnan became a peaceful land.

The Song clan leader's reputation resounded throughout the region. Many Li and Liao tribes respected the Song clan near Yulin County. Even the emperor's words were less effective here than the Heavenly Blade.

The continuous occurrence of banditry and disturbances clearly contradicts the rumors.

Has something happened to the Song Clan?

The bandits were being suppressed by the Song clan's forces and hadn't found an opportunity to attack along the way. After entering Cangwu County, they intended to ask someone for directions, but unexpectedly, someone came looking for them shortly after they entered the city.

The man had a full head of white hair and a beautiful silver-white beard, and possessed a dignified air.

He was carrying a crutch and walked at the front of the group.

Zhou Yi had already guessed the identity of the newcomer. The person from Lingnan who matched him must be Silver Beard Song Lu.

In Cangwu City, everyone on the streets looked towards Song Lu, a man of great renown in Lingnan.

At this moment, he actually led a large group of people and adopted a welcoming posture.

Looking at the men around Song Lu, all of them were carrying long swords, clearly indicating that they were the elite of the Song clan.

This scene is truly rare for people from Lingnan.

Song Lu's handsome face was filled with a smile, and from a distance he clasped his hands in a fist and called out enthusiastically:
"I, Song, have been waiting here for a long time. Welcome, Celestial Master, to Lingnan!"

His shout drew wide-eyed stares from the people on the street.

Heavenly Master!

News from Lingnan is somewhat isolated from the outside world, but how could they not know the most famous people in the world?
All eyes turned to Zhou Yi's direction.

They looked him up and down, seemingly trying to figure out if this famous figure, known throughout the land and shrouded in countless legends, had three heads and six arms.

"Brother Lu, you're too kind. I'm here to disturb Lord Song's peace and quiet."

"Where there!"

Song Lu knew this was just a polite remark, but he didn't dare to be presumptuous.

There is only one person in the world who can elicit such an attitude from the Song clan.

This has nothing to do with the size of the territory.

The power of an individual is what's truly terrifying.

Otherwise, no matter who is emperor, they cannot threaten the Heavenly Blade, unless that person is not afraid of death.

Song Lu said repeatedly, "When the Celestial Master entered Xiping County, we received the news. The head of the family specially ordered me to come and invite the Celestial Master to move to Yulin."

Zhou Yi nodded slightly and walked alongside him.

The Song clan's skilled swordsmen followed in orderly fashion, entering the heart of Cangwu under the watchful eyes of many.

Before long, the county town was in an uproar.

The Celestial Master is about to travel to the Song family in Lingnan, and the meaning behind this has sparked much speculation.

As they headed towards Yulin, Zhou Yi voiced the question that had been lingering in his mind.

"Has anything changed in Lingnan recently?"

"Is the Celestial Master referring to those thieves?"

Song Lu's expression darkened slightly: "Actually, it's related to Lin Shihong. To be honest, we only found out about it recently."

He went on to explain:
"Before Lin Shihong and Shen Faxing formed an alliance, they were rivals. Cui Jixiu, one of Lin Shihong's men, often sent people to cause trouble in the Li Liao village, committing rape, robbery, and all sorts of evil deeds. He framed the thieves by disguising them as members of the Hai Sha gang, because the Hai Sha gang had switched sides to Shen Faxing."

"This caused the Li and Liao ethnic groups who were dependent on Shen Faxing to resent him, and at the same time wanted to provoke a war between my Song family and Shen Faxing."

“Lin Shih-hung changed his strategy after they formed an alliance.”

“The thieves who caused trouble in Shen Faxing’s territory have dispersed and secretly come to our area and the coastal areas.”

“Cui Jixiu’s actions were discovered by his elder brother, who then killed him.”

"The remaining bandits will be eliminated in no time."

A fierce glint flashed in Zhou Yi's eyes. This method was quite dirty. Most of those Li Liao people were no different from ordinary people, and there were no martial arts masters among them.

These thieves are especially arrogant when they face the weak.

Song Lu changed the subject and suddenly asked:
"Master, are you aware of the Song family's attitude towards the state of the world?"

Zhou Yi nodded slightly: "I have heard some of that."

"The second brother of the Song family advocates war and plans to use Lingnan as a base to expand towards the Yangtze River and establish a dynasty dominated by southerners. The other faction plans to take advantage of the dangers of the ocean and mountains to carve out their own territory and become kings. If I'm not mistaken, this is what the children of the clan leader think."

"As for Brother Lu, he believes that both strategies are possible."

Song Lu was quite surprised.

He hadn't expected Zhou Yi to be so insightful, understanding the internal workings of the Song family so clearly.

"Exactly."

Song Lu politely replied, "Shi Dao and Yu Zhi are filled with compassion and cannot bear to see the people of Lingnan, who follow our lead, sacrifice their lives for the rise and fall of the Song family."

After saying that, he looked at Zhou Yi:

"Master, if you were in this situation, which strategy would you support?"

Zhou Yi remained calm: "That depends on the specific time. Sometimes, neither strategy is suitable."

Song Lu's eye twitched slightly.

This was not what he wanted to hear, and he felt that Zhou Yi's words were somewhat abrupt.

Emperors naturally do not want any situation where the emperor is far away and people are allowed to rule their own territories.

but
This is Lingnan, and we're getting closer and closer to Tianya Mingyue Dao.

Those who dare to speak their minds without any concealment are either too straightforward or do not consider Tian Dao a threat.

What gave Song Lu a headache was that the person in front of him was mostly because of the latter.

This is the first time since the Song family rose to power that they have received such special guests.

"Celestial Master."

This time, Song Lu was interrupted by Zhou Yi before he could finish speaking.

“Brother Lu, I have come to Lingnan not for the sake of the world, but to seek out the Song clan leader to discuss a matter of our past.”

"it is good."

Song Lu was quite composed, stroking his long beard and smiling: "Then I'll greet you first, elder brother. I'm also quite curious about the origins the Celestial Master mentioned."

……

The Song family's residence in Lingnan was also a mountain town.

Surrounded by towering mountains and nestled beside the Yu River, the stone city rises from the mountainside and is built along the contours of the land, carving out vast plains amidst the ridges. It reigns supreme over the surrounding mountains and plains, facing Yulin County across the distance, symbolizing its dominant power over the entire Lingnan region.

I've seen paradises like Pegasus Ranch.

Although Songjiashan City was a spectacle, it failed to move Zhou Yi in the slightest.

The Yu River has hundreds of docks of all sizes, with ships coming and going in an endless stream.

While crossing the river, Song Lu introduced the mountain town not far away:
"The construction of this city took an immeasurable amount of manpower and resources, and it took three hundred years to reach its current scale. The city not only stores more than a year's worth of grain, but also has sweet and refreshing spring water, which is exceptional for brewing tea."

Zhou Yi commented:
“Yulin County is extremely wealthy, which complements the mountain city perfectly. In addition, it is convenient for water and land transportation. It is conceivable that this place will become even more prosperous in the future.”

Song Lu laughed heartily, a hint of smugness in his eyes.

As they walked along the mountain path where five horses galloped side by side, several men in blue, strong and muscular outfits appeared from the mountain town. They were all valiant and skilled fighters from the Song family.

At this moment, they came down from the city to greet them, and all were extremely respectful.

When they looked at the young man in white next to Song Lu, they all showed expressions of admiration and respect.

The suspension bridge in the mountain city was lowered early.

A long-faced man, who looked younger and more spirited than Song Lu, came with a sword slung over his shoulder.

It was none other than Song Zhi, the top swordsman of the Song family, known as Earth Sword.

Both being swordsmen, the more the renowned swordsman of the Earth Sword in Lingnan got closer to Zhou Yi, the less sharp his swordsmanship became.

This seemed to be a situation that even he himself could not control.

Song Zhi was certainly arrogant, but the thought of drawing his sword against this person sent shivers down his spine.

The pressure exerted by a grandmaster of martial arts is immense.

With just one glance, Song Zhi felt as if he were facing his elder brother.

This shook him to his core.

If the attack power of the person in front of me is comparable to that of my elder brother, coupled with his lightness skill, then it would be terrifying.

"Master, the clan lord is waiting for you."

Song Zhi's tone was extremely gentle, which made many of the Song family disciples feel unfamiliar.

"How could I dare to keep the lord waiting? Please lead the way."

"please!"

Throughout the mountain city, hundreds of core members of the Song family, along with Di Jian, invited Zhou Yi into the city.

This kind of treatment is not only rare, but probably very few people would dare to apply.

Upon entering the city, the oppressive atmosphere brought about by the treacherous terrain diminished considerably, replaced by a tranquil and peaceful ambiance.

The bluestone avenue winds its way through the houses and ascends the mountainside in layers.

The roadside is planted with flowering trees, springs flow into streams, and gardens are interspersed throughout, giving it a touch of the Jiangnan style with ponds, pavilions, bridges and flowing water.

However, some of the decorations are exceptionally simple and elegant.

This reminded Zhou Yi of the layout of the Martial Arts Judge at Zhenchuan Tower. If Fan Qinghui were here, she would probably appreciate it.

The large platform on the ninth floor of the mountain city is about two miles long, surrounded by magnificent buildings, exuding a powerful aura.

Song Lu and Song Zhi led the way, taking Zhou Yi to the end of the mountain town, where a special courtyard was located.

Song Zhi introduced: "Master, this is the Sharpening Hall."

Legend has it that there is a whetstone in the Sharpening Hall. According to custom, those whose names are engraved on the whetstone by the Heavenly Blade will eventually die by his blade.

"I wonder if my name is on the whetstone?" Zhou Yi joked casually.

Song Lu and Song Zhi didn't find it funny at all; they just gave a forced laugh and shook their heads.

Just kidding, do you think you can just carve your name anywhere?
at this time
A footstep sounded from the courtyard and reached the gate in the blink of an eye.

There's no need to guess who it is.

"You can't just carve your name on this whetstone."

A gentle voice came from the courtyard, and a man with graying temples but no signs of old age, exuding the demeanor of a scholar, emerged from the courtyard.

The first strange vision he gave Zhou Yi resembled that of the Evil King.

Upon closer inspection, it appears completely different.

This extremely handsome middle-aged man, just by looking at his eyes, one could feel his spirit was high and full of wisdom, yet in his calmness there was a melancholy expression that could touch anyone.

Combined with his imposing physique, he certainly possesses the extraordinary demeanor of an unparalleled top master.

Song Que, dressed in a long, flowing blue robe with a red scarf tied in his hair, had his hands behind his back. He only raised his hands to greet Zhou Yi upon seeing him. Zhou Yi also cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Clan Leader Song."

"I have long admired the Celestial Master's name, and I am fortunate to meet you today," Song Que smiled and carefully examined him.

For top experts, a single spiritual exchange is enough to know the general outline of the other party's abilities.

At this moment, he knew the rumors were true.

Don't worry about age; speak to each other as equals.

Zhou Yi casually said, "I heard of the name of Tian Dao when I first entered the martial arts world, and I came here specifically to pay a visit."

Everyone loves to hear nice words, especially since these compliments came from Zhou Yi, so Song Que smiled again.

"Please~"

Song Zhi and Song Lu followed behind, watching the two people in front of them walk into the courtyard.

Zhou Yi thought Song Que would take him to the Sharpening Hall, but unexpectedly, as they walked through several courtyards, Song Que stopped at a hexagonal stone pavilion at the end of a winding corridor.

Not far away, there are many large locust trees, towering high and spreading out like umbrellas to cover the area.

Tea was prepared in advance in the stone pavilion.

Along the way, the two exchanged some polite words, such as asking Zhou Yi about his views on Cangwu, Yulin County, and other places, and what he thought of the Lingnan landscape, etc.

After tasting the tea brewed with water from the mountain town and the white tea from Yanxi Mountain, Song Que returned to the main topic.

Song Zhi and Song Lu immediately perked up.

“The Celestial Master once said that he had a connection with my ancestors, but I searched through my ancestral records and found no evidence to support it. Please tell me in detail.”

Song Que's face was solemn.

There is no room for faking this.

Zhou Yi put down his teacup: "Your Excellency may not know this, but I have an old friend whose ancestors, like the Song family's ancestors, came from the Xie clan of Chenjun."

"oh?!"

"This old friend's ancestor fought alongside General Xie Xuan against the Former Qin. After Xie Xuan's death, he and Song Beifeng, the leader of Xie's family's generals, followed Liu Yu and fought against Sun En to save Xie Daoyun."

The three leaders of the Song family all showed different expressions upon hearing this.

Zhou Yi recounted his past experiences in the borderlands in great detail.

Although there are records of the Song family's ancestral home, many details have been lost over the years. In comparison, Zhou Yi's account not only matches the ancestral home but also fills in the gaps in the details, making it more complete.

Speaking of Xie Daoyun, we are reminded of Zhanlu, the foremost of Ou Yezi's five divine swords.

After witnessing Sun En's power, the Xie family ancestors' martial spirit collapsed.

To encourage his friend, Song Beifeng gifted Zhanlu.
After tracing the entire story, the three members of the Song clan all felt a sense of the vicissitudes of life and the passage of time.

I am even more certain that Zhou Yi cannot fake this.

Song Zhi couldn't help but ask, "Master, may I have a look at the divine sword?"

"Why not?"

Zhou Yi took out Zhanlu sword, gripped the hilt, and the low hum of the metal rubbing against each other echoed in the stone pavilion. A deep, dark light flashed before his eyes, and the flowing water patterns on the sword's spine seemed to come alive.

next moment.
As he poured his true energy into it, the dazzling sword light seemed to pierce through even the locust tree covered by the parasol!

Song Zhi exclaimed in surprise: "It truly is a divine sword!"

Song Lu's hand paused on his long beard. He didn't speak, but kept muttering to himself, knowing that Zhanlu was the sword of benevolence.

A glint of light flashed in Song Que's eyes.

"Your Wind God Shadowless Technique comes from the Wind Oath, but do you know where my swordsmanship originates?"

Zhou Yi did not hesitate:

"It may be the 'Nine Songs' or 'Heavenly Questions'."

Upon hearing this, Tian Dao laughed heartily, unconsciously revealing a fighting spirit: "Exactly."

"I, Song, consider myself the best swordsman in the world. Now I have met the best swordsman in the world. Moreover, the poems of Chu and Han are also related. In addition, we have a common history. I wonder if the Celestial Master has any thoughts on discussing martial arts?"

Both Song Zhi and Song Lu could sense the turbulent emotions in their elder brother.

If we're talking about the world's number one swordsman, Zhou Yi would be the obvious choice, even without comparing him to Song Que.

He had always disliked people of non-Han descent, especially since the master of chess and swordsmanship was a Goguryeo person.

Even if Zhou Yi were a stranger, Song Que would still support him when it came to sword masters.

However, the intensity of the fighting spirit emanating from my elder brother at this moment was something I hadn't seen in many years.

"Experiencing the Heavenly Blade's swordsmanship is exactly what I wanted."

Zhou Yi was full of confidence, staring directly at Song Que without giving an inch.

Song Lu gave Song Zhi a wink, as if to say, "This is not what we agreed on."

As agreed upon.

After inquiring about the origins, elder brother should ask the Celestial Master about his attitude towards the Song Dynasty clique in Lingnan.

Although this man was very much to my elder brother's liking and was also Han Chinese, we only had some business dealings in Nanyang, and our friendship wasn't that deep.

Song Lu even wanted to offer a reminder.

But Song Zhi, standing to the side, shook his head at him; he had already figured it out.

The eldest brother will make his decision in this battle.

Song Que returned to the Sharpening Hall and took out a precious sword.

He possesses the Eight Heavenly Blade Techniques, each blade employing a distinct swordsmanship.

But against a top master, any fancy sword techniques will only become a hindrance.

Even if the two of them only touched things briefly, it was still too much for the Sharpening Hall to handle. They had to go to the most spacious place in the mountain city, the wide platform on the ninth floor.

The platform was surrounded by houses, naturally attracting a large number of Song dynasty nobles.

Shortly after, news came that the warlord was going to discuss martial arts with the Celestial Master, and the Song Clan Mountain City seemed to be struck by a major earthquake!
Over the years, only those who have escaped from Tian Dao's blade have been heard of; no one has ever dared to come to Lingnan to fight Tian Dao.

But
The Celestial Master has two special characteristics. First, he is a grandmaster of martial arts.

Secondly, this made the Song family's children feel even more uneasy.

Ren Shaoming, Qu Wuju, and Xi Ying, the three who escaped from the Heavenly Blade, were all killed by Zhou Yi.

Therefore, the rumors spread by outsiders became increasingly outrageous.

Even the most impartial and fair judges of the martial arts world have offered their opinions on this matter.

"Get back!"

Song Lu waved his hand, and all the Song Clan disciples around the platform took seven or eight steps back.

Song Lu, in a stern tone, ordered them to retreat again.

Song Zhi's gaze was fixed on the center of the platform on the ninth floor of the mountain city.

At this moment, Tian Dao's blade pointed diagonally at the ground; it was the most ancient blade in all of his collection at the Sharpening Hall.

The blade reflected the faint sunlight, as if it had drunk in the chilling atmosphere of the world.

Song Que had become one with the world around him, his aura like a volcano about to erupt, exuding an endless sense of sharpness even before he drew his sword.

Five zhang away, stood a swordsman in white.

His eyes were gentle and peaceful, without the slightest hint of sharpness, like a recluse watching the clouds in the mountains.

He stood there, his aura seemingly absent despite holding the divine sword, like an ancient pine tree on a cliff edge, unmoved by Song Que's terrifying sword intent.

Song Zhi, who was watching the battle, was horrified.

He's truly matched up with his elder brother!
Song Lu focused his voice and whispered, "I've heard that the Celestial Master can manifest a giant of fire when he uses his sword energy. Why haven't I seen him use it? Could it be that he's holding back something when dealing with my elder brother?"

Song Zhi has even better eyesight:

"No, he's clever on the contrary. This move is completely useless against my elder brother. He has nothing but his sword, so he's not afraid of any mental storm at all."

"Take another look at your elder brother."

"He also gave up all the complicated knives in the sharpening hall, because he could not afford to be distracted or burdened in the slightest when facing a master like the Celestial Master."

Song Lu gasped, "My only worry right now is that they'll really get into a fight. We won't be able to stop them then."

Song Zhi was about to speak when his expression suddenly froze, and he took a few steps back.

A terrifying aura was emanating from the two people in the center of the platform, surging outwards like a tidal wave.

Song Que said, "My swordsmanship comes from Tianwen, but it is mostly the result of my lifelong insights."

Zhou Yi responded: "When the wind first bestowed upon me the shape of a sword, it has now risen from the tip of a blade of grass to soar into the heavens and earth, its form extending infinitely."

Both of them had their own plans.

As Zhou Yi raised his sword, he said, "As the master of this place, please draw your sword first."

"He has guts."

Before Song Que could finish speaking, he had already rushed out.

As Zhou Yi moved, the two clashed swords!
The beginning of "Heavenly Questions" is the very beginning of antiquity.

This is the first cut!

A blade of light, pure to the extreme, seemed to have been born from the primordial chaos, carrying the primordial power to distinguish between purity and impurity, and slashed straight down!

Space distorted before this strike. This strike was neither fast nor fierce; it was Song Que's first manifestation of martial arts.

The sharp edge of the blade, imbued with that spiritual energy, sent a powerful jolt through the eyes of those around it, making them feel as if a terrifying blade was about to strike them.

Any trace of fear would be a fatal flaw in the face of this strike.

With a slight twist of Zhou Yi's wrist, Zhanlu traced a perfectly round trajectory.

There was no direct confrontation, no dodging; the sword circle seemed to encompass everything, like the cosmic illusion unfolding from the He Shi Bi jade disc, gently taking in the blade light that could cleave everything, and dissipating it into nothingness.

The sword intent is perfectly integrated, without beginning or end.

Song Que remained unmoved and unleashed the second strike of Tianwen, Feng Yiwei Xiang!
How can one recognize the so-called "Feng Yi Wei Xiang" (冯翼惟象)?

That means it is a state of chaos and emptiness, where nothing exists and can only be imagined.

This strike landed precisely on Zhou Yi's display of martial arts sword intent.

Song Que's sword technique suddenly changed when he unleashed the first strike, transforming into countless shadows!
The blade light surged like a churning sea of ​​clouds, spreading like a pervasive mist. Reality and illusion intertwined, creating a myriad of phenomena, weaving a net of destruction with an all-pervasive blade intent, aiming to utterly shred Zhou Yi's sword light.

But in Song Que's eyes, Zhou Yi's movements suddenly seemed dreamlike.

He moved erratically amidst the swirling sword shadows, like a crane's shadow in the clouds.

The sword may not seem fast, but every point, deflection, and guide is precisely aimed at the turning point or the weakest point of the blade's movement.

The sword light seemed to appear and disappear, like a bright mirror reflecting all things. No matter how complex the sword shadows were, they were all reflected in the mirror light, flowing endlessly but unable to touch the blade.

You want to break all my sword techniques?
Song Que's fighting spirit intensified, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he raised his Heavenly Blade high, slashing down with a thunderous roar.

This third blade has nine layers, specifically designed to counter various movement techniques.

The layers of sword energy stacked up, compressing the air to its limit, seemingly able to imprison space, and producing a deafening explosion.

Zhou Yi thrust his longsword diagonally upwards.

With this thrust, the divine sword burst forth with astonishing sword light. The tip of the sword pointed precisely at the core hub of the Heavenly Blade's power flow, and also the only traceable trajectory within that boundless sword intent.

In an instant, it was like a master butcher carving up an ox.

The sword tip and the blade's core separated upon contact, the celestial blade shadow shattered with a deafening roar, and violent blade energy overflowed, causing the bluestone to crack inch by inch, spreading for nearly ten feet.

People around them used their hands to shield their cheeks, which were stinging from the strong wind.

Song Zhi and Song Lu both knew something was wrong.

Although the elder brother was on the offensive, he inexplicably found himself on the defensive.

He roamed the martial world undefeated, and no one dared to challenge the Heavenly Blade's swordsmanship like that. For example, that one strike just now was enough to kill them ten times over.

But that Heavenly Master seemed to be able to see through even the Heavenly Blade.

The two men felt a chill run down their spines as the fourth stab came.

This is Yi Yan's sun-shaking technique!

My elder brother really got angry!

As the two comprehended the truth, they retreated again. Suddenly, a long rainbow that seemed to pierce through the sunlight burst forth from the Heavenly Blade, shattering all the wind and clouds above the nine-story platform!
With a flick of his wrist, Song Que's blade light transformed into a condensed beam of light, piercing through the chaotic airflow and ignoring spatial distance. Like Hou Yi's divine arrow that shot down the blazing sun, it pierced straight towards him with an all-piercing resolve!

This knife is exceptionally fast and ruthless!

Zhou Yi remained extremely calm. He swung his sword in a circular motion, instantly bringing the blade horizontally in front of his chest.

Without any parrying or direct confrontation, the sword's blade seemed to transform into the most supple water ripples, or perhaps it contained the profound mysteries of space.

Song Que concentrated the tip of his blade, imbued with the power to pierce through all things, and touched the spine of the sword, as if time had stood still for a moment.

The sword slightly concave, and then an extremely flexible and continuous force of deflection and neutralization erupted, directing the terrifying force that pierced the sun to the ground beneath its feet.

Boom!

A deep crater exploded around the two men, and the huge bluestone flipped backward repeatedly, generating a shockwave that swept outwards. Many people's ears rang, and they quickly opened their mouths and opened their seven orifices to dissipate the force.

Some people couldn't take it anymore and rolled on the ground, clutching their heads.

These two appear to be fighting with swords, but their energy and spirit are constantly clashing!
Song Que unleashed the fifth strike of Tianwen, "Where is Boyang?" The blade light split, only to be broken by Zhou Yi's swift sword.

Song Que unleashed his sixth strike, using a swift blade against a swift sword.

They failed to take it down, but stirred up a huge storm!

Before the violent shockwave had subsided, Song Que's longsword suddenly lost all its brilliance, as if merging into the utterly submerged twilight.

The nine-story platform instantly fell into absolute silence and darkness, even the sound of the wind disappeared.

This is the spiritual pressure formed by the domain of sword intent; it is the annihilating sword that pierces through the netherworld!

The sword intent was silent and stealthy, aimed directly at the primordial spirit, intending to drag the opponent's consciousness into eternal darkness.

The seventh question in the Heavenly Questions: What does the Candle Dragon illuminate?

Within Song Que's sword intent domain, the Zhanlu sword in Zhou Yi's hand shone with a gentle, warm light.

The sword tip pointed directly at the very core of that annihilating sword intent, reflecting mind to mind, the sword of wisdom cutting through delusion!

The darkness was pierced by this constant light, just as dawn pierces the long night.

Song Que's mental suppression was completely penetrated and illuminated, and his triumphant strike was broken even faster.

This also made him realize the terrifying power of his opponent's primordial spirit cultivation.

At this moment, Song Que looked at the white-robed youth opposite him, his heart filled with turmoil.

"it is good!"

He exclaimed, "Watch my eighth cut!"

When Song Que spoke, his demeanor changed.

When one wields a sword with divine power, the sword becomes the person, and the person becomes the sword; they are no longer separate. The sword has become an extension of the body and spirit.

The eighth question from Heaven: The Nine Provinces are in peril, mountains and rivers are crumbling!
Song Que let out a low shout and slashed out with his longsword.

The movement appeared small, but the blade energy was as powerful as a dragon turning over. Wherever the blade energy passed, the air roared, and bluestone flew away. It seemed as if the entire platform was trembling and collapsing under this one strike!

Unparalleled power, carrying a crushing will, swept across the battlefield!
Zhou Yi's feet felt firmly planted, and his body sank slightly.

Faced with this overwhelming force, he pointed the tip of his sword diagonally at the ground and suddenly swung it upwards!

This sword strike was no longer a matter of skillful technique, but rather seemed to contain the weight and resilience of the earth.

The sword light was like a mountain ridge rising abruptly from the ground, and the giant wave of blade energy collided violently with the mountain ridge of sword energy.

"boom--!!"

Amidst a deafening roar, a surge of powerful energy exploded outwards from the two individuals, causing the platform to tremble!
Song Que's clothes fluttered wildly, yet his figure remained as steady as a rock.

Zhou Yi did not retreat an inch either. A swirling aura surrounded him, and even his clothes remained perfectly in place. His deep eyes held an unfathomable confidence.

Although the two were only testing their moves, the danger involved was something that even a martial arts master could not comprehend, no matter how hard they tried.

Following the cosmic energy of the He Shi Bi jade, Zhou Yi made a significant leap forward in his cultivation of his primordial spirit.

This feedback extends to swordsmanship.

This experience of testing his sword with the Heavenly Blade gave him a great sense of satisfaction and allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.

This is the eighth cut.

The ninth strike in Heaven's Blade should be the most powerful!
Just as he was anticipating the arrival of the sword, Song Que suddenly sheathed it in silence; he was done playing.

Song Zhi and Song Lu, who were standing to the side, began to play their part.

"Brother, let's stop here!"

"Yes, Celestial Master, let's stop here!"

Seeing them running towards him, Zhou Yi decided it was best not to fight again.

Seeing the divine sword sheathed, Song Lu secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "The Celestial Master's swordsmanship is unpredictable. My elder brother has not met an opponent for decades. This time he can finally have a good fight."

He pointed around:
"These disciples of our clan are lucky. Their future success in swordsmanship will also be due to the Celestial Master's swordsmanship."

Zhou Yi couldn't help but laugh: "Brother Lu, I dare not accept such a favor."

Song Zhi said, "If they can understand even a move or two, they can become great sword masters in the future."

He turned to look at Song Que: "Brother, have I said anything wrong?"

"Yes."

Tian Dao responded, then looked at Zhou Yi, somewhat doubting his own abilities. He pondered repeatedly, "Why is it that the more I use the later moves of Tianwen, the faster he counters them? Is there something wrong with my swordsmanship?"

……

(End of this chapter)