Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 216 Cloud-shrouded Pavilion, Golden Gate Swordplay!

The fresh, vibrant atmosphere dissipated, and the spatial cracks slowly closed.

The dragon's roar could no longer be heard.

Zhou Yi seemed to be thinking of something, and the sorrow between his brows seemed to be absorbed by the deep space. He couldn't help but smile.

In an instant, the soft warmth in his arms vanished, and two distinctly different pleasant scents wafted half a meter away.

Shi Feixuan and Wanwan stood on either side of him, observing his expression.

He immediately realized that he was just joking.

The faint sadness on her face vanished, and she returned to her usual self.

Wanwan smiled charmingly: "Brother Yi, what you said just now was true?"

“Of course it’s true. Martial artists yearn for a wider world, and so do I. I really want to know what’s in another world,” Zhou Yi glanced back at the closed void. “However, I don’t want to be separated from you forever.”

"If you don't believe me, just listen to my heart."

The saintess and the enchantress each gave him a look that was distinctly different, but he did not move.

They started looking at each other again, silently arguing, which left Zhou Yi feeling neglected.

Getting them to get along is far more difficult than fighting the dragon.

Zhou Yi suddenly sensed something was amiss.

A scorching heat surged from behind, and he quickly retrieved the Evil Emperor's Relic, which was emitting a strange light.

Upon seeing this, Wanwan and Shi Feixuan couldn't help but move closer and stare at the peculiar yellow crystal ball.

Even from a great distance, you can feel its temperature constantly rising.

Shi Feixuan was filled with doubt: "But the records I saw were incomplete. How could the relic have such an unusual condition?"

Wanwan surprisingly did not refute.

Zhou Yishun explained:

"Relics merely store primordial essence. I suspect this anomaly is caused by the absorption of the demonic dragon's blood. These two dragons belong to Yin and Yang respectively, and their blood and qi are full of energy. Relics happen to have the effect of absorbing this kind of energy."

"For example, the spiritual impurities of the evil emperors of past dynasties, due to their impurity, were all excluded from the primordial essence by the relics."

"The power of these two demonic dragons is extremely pure. The relic just drank its fill, which is why it generated the scorching energy."

His words were soon proven true.

The burning heat on the relic disappeared, replaced by a cool, icy aura, which naturally came from the Yin Dragon.

Zhou Yi became interested.

The primordial essence within the relic has no effect on him, but it can provide some protection for those around him.

This dragon's power is not primordial essence; its effects are unknown.

Shi Feixuan and Wanwan were even more amazed by the relic itself. Although it was just a container, its ability to absorb and store primordial essence was truly miraculous.

When a person dies, their skills are lost; there is no such thing as a senior passing on their skills to a junior.

Even if they practice the same martial arts, their vital energy and spirit will definitely differ.

Only the primordial essence is the same.

This is what makes relics so precious.

It's astonishing to see that it can still absorb the power of the demonic dragon. In other words, the power it can store is extremely broad, not limited to the three treasures of the human body.

Zhou Yi's inquisitive gaze fell upon Shi Feixuan.

She heard voices and sounds of horses in the distance, clearly attracted by the commotion.

Looking up at the sky, dark clouds covered the fields, and a heavy rain was imminent.

"There's a relatively quiet place to stay beyond that bamboo grove. Shall we go there?"

"lead the way."

After traveling quickly for seven or eight miles, there was indeed a pavilion building beside a small river. It was surrounded by a courtyard enclosed by a fence about half a meter high, planted with water bamboo, which was quite elegant. The two ancient characters "Yun Shen" were deeply engraved on the gate plaque.

"If this is the Cihang Jingzhai place, why is it unguarded?"

Wanwan naturally knew about the "Cloud-Deep Unknown Place" of Cihang Jingzhai.

Shi Feixuan pushed open the wooden door and glanced at Chang'an: "They've all gone into the city."

She turned to look at Zhou Yi: "Brother Yi, is it very dangerous inside the Temple of War?"

Zhou Yi truthfully replied, "It's not dangerous."

“You don’t need to worry. Once Master Fan and the others are together, as long as they enter the island where the Temple of War is located and go straight into the main hall, the demonic dragons and fish monsters inside will lose their threat.”

Seeing their curiosity, he casually described the strange space where the Temple of War was located.

Wanwan listened, a hint of longing in her eyes:

"Since all forty-nine reliefs representing the War God's Record are in the temple, and everyone who enters can see them, does that mean they all have the opportunity to break through the void?"

Zhou Yi waved his hand in front of her eyes, startling the little vixen from her reverie.

Then she asked the Holy Maiden, "Does Feixuan think it's possible?"

Shi Feixuan didn't respond, only shook her head slightly, staring at him intently, wanting to hear what he had to say.

"The War God's Manual is deeply connected to the Shattered Void, but it is extremely demanding and depends on chance. Even my entry into the War God's Temple this time was a forced entry, not to mention others."

Before entering the Temple of War, one might only feel that they are missing an opportunity.

"When you actually see it, you might feel it's even more unattainable."

“Talented people can gain some insights, but they will also realize the gap and thus shatter their own illusions. This is not a good thing for those whose hearts are not firm in their martial arts. Once they lose confidence, it is better not to read the War God Manual.”

"All things are impermanent, and there are no shortcuts. The fundamental thing is to have a persistent pursuit of the martial arts."

Zhou Yi sighed slightly. If seeing the War God's Record could shatter things, how could Bei Shengtian have been trapped in the temple?

Seeing that the two were listening attentively, he couldn't help but joke:
"Isn't it a pity that we didn't get to see the Temple of War with our own eyes? I think it's not too late to return to Chang'an now, perhaps the Temple of War hasn't disappeared yet."

“It is indeed a pity,” Wanwan nodded in agreement, and said to Shi Feixuan, “Holy Maiden, go back and take a look. I will guard this Cloud Recesses Pavilion for you.”

Shi Feixuan smiled slightly and did not argue with her.

Just by looking into her eyes, you can tell that she has no feelings of "regret".

"Do you know how long the Temple of War will exist?"

After listening, Zhou Yi sensed it for a moment and said, "It will probably take a few days."

Just as he was about to explain, he looked at the relic again, quickened his pace, climbed the stairs, and entered a quiet room with two open doors.

The ground is paved with wood, so walking on it makes very little noise.

He suddenly fell silent and sat down to meditate on the ground.

Place the relic in the palm of the upper hand, with both hands overlapping.

Seeing this, Shi Feixuan and Wanwan tacitly kept quiet and did not disturb him, but they noticed something strange about him.

At this moment, Zhou Yi was not absorbing the essence of the relic or the residual power of the demonic dragon.

Instead, it draws upon the profound understanding of the extreme yin and yang of the demonic dragon.

He cultivates the path of the Great Three Harmonies, which differs from the Hunyuan Wuji, which combines the ultimate Yin and the ultimate Yang.

These two demonic dragons are even more capable of wielding the power of nature than he is.

With their help, it seems possible to uncover more of the mysteries of the forces of nature.

He calmed his mind, put aside all distractions, and quietly contemplated the truth.

The two people beside him watched for a while before they were about to leave.

Suddenly, I felt a surge of refreshing and calming energy around me, so I sat down and began to practice my internal energy cultivation.

Shi Feixuan's sword manual belongs to Yin, while Wanwan's demonic arts belong to Yang.

Therefore, the forces mobilized by Zhou Yi were of great benefit to them.

The heavy rain did not fall that day.

The next day, the dark clouds thinned out.

The three of them stayed at the Cloud Recesses Pavilion for another day. Apart from eating and other chores, they practiced their skills, and nothing ambiguous happened.

Even a fiercely independent and passionate vixen wouldn't want to be outdone by her adversary.

Zhou Yi knew they were like oil and water, so he didn't think much of it. It was already a great favor that they didn't fight while living under the same roof.

Knowing full well that the two had abandoned the Temple of War to come to him, he painstakingly instructed them in their martial arts training.

When one is immersed in the power of heaven and earth during practice, time seems to flow faster.

When we occasionally drink tea together, the setting sun shining through the bamboo grove can linger on the table for a long time.

However, once he starts practicing, several hours pass by in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Yi gradually developed a sense of disorientation, like "a game of chess in a cave, while the year draws to a close in the human world," a feeling that was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Nine days passed in a row.

As night fell and the cicadas sang their songs on the day of Lixia (the beginning of summer), Zhou Yi opened his eyes and looked out the window at the distant stars.

The colors of everything became more delicate before his eyes.

His gaze moved from afar to near, and in the light of the room, he looked left and right.

Before they could decide which of the two beautiful faces, with their distinct appearances and temperaments, was superior, two pairs of eyes were fixed on them simultaneously, and the owner of those eyes seemed to have already guessed what they were looking at.

"Who's prettier?" Wanwan revealed a serious expression she hadn't shown in recent days.

Zhou Yi shook his head at her:

"You'll have to ask me that question in private. Of course, it looks just as good now."

The saintess smiled upon hearing this; she had almost guessed that Zhou Yi would say such a thing.

"It's only fun if I beat her in front of her," Wanwan said, sounding disappointed, then winked at him secretly. "Brother Yi, can't you let me win just once?"

"Alright, if you win today, then Feixuan will win tomorrow. From now on, we'll have wins and losses, and we won't have to fight each other anymore."

Shi Feixuan glanced at him and sensed that his aura was simple and natural, as if he had mastered great martial arts.

"Brother Yi has already succeeded?"

"Not so fast, there's still a slight flaw left."

Zhou Yi didn't continue. He looked at the relic. The power of the demonic dragon came from the extremes of Yin and Yang. Since the relic could absorb it, could the power of heaven and earth be stored in the relic?
This is a bold idea.

He then added, "The relic still contains the remnants of the demonic dragon's power, which will be quite useful to you."

Zhou Yi handed out the relics, indicating that they should absorb them.

"My master did not tell me the method to extract it."

Wanwan was unaware, and Shi Feixuan was even less aware.

"Need not."

Zhou Yi patiently explained, "That's not primordial essence, so it doesn't require transformation between the three treasures."

Upon hearing this, they each took the relic, which Zhou Yi had cleansed of its spiritual impurities, and tried it out.

It still cannot absorb the power within.

Zhou Yi had no choice but to step in and help.

Once they sat down cross-legged, they used their own skills to guide the power of the demonic dragon out.

This is an extremely meticulous process.

Even with Zhou Yi's primordial spirit strength, he would feel fatigued.

He would never have gone to this trouble if they weren't close.

The two remaining forces of the demonic dragon within the relic—one cold, one hot, one yin, one yang—entered the twelve meridians through their palms, and then flowed through the Chong and Dai meridians into the Ren and Du meridians.

The process was slow, but there were no obstacles.

Fortunately, their cultivation methods are suitable, and the foundation they have accumulated will likely bring them more benefits than they would have gained from entering the Temple of War.

Zhou Yi's original intention was for them to absorb the corresponding martial arts attributes, which was more in line with the principle of Yin and Yang.

However, an accident occurred.

Guided by his power that combines Yin and Yang, the process of extreme Yang generating Yin and extreme Yin generating Yang was promoted, which resulted in the Yin Dragon's power entering Wanwan's body, while Shi Feixuan naturally absorbed that scorching Yang power.

These forces penetrate the body in the slightest, bringing subtle mental effects, yet they conform to the state of Yin and Yang fusion, without causing any discomfort.

But as the night deepened, it accumulated more and more.

The subtle psychological impact continued to amplify, until both of them broke out in a sweat.

Zhou Yi was merely holding the relics and could not observe their internal conditions, so he assumed it was a normal phenomenon.

But
As the dragon's power was exhausted, he suddenly noticed something was wrong.

The saintess's pretty face was flushed with intoxication, and her breathing became slightly rapid.

She sat cross-legged and used her internal energy to suppress the pressure.

However, her cultivation level was far below the Yin Limitless level, making it impossible for her to suppress the power from the Yang Limitless.

"Feixuan, what happened?"

As he spoke, he noticed that Wanwan's condition was similar, so he quickly put the relic down.

Not enough time to act.

The candlelight flickered in the room, and a light white figure, carrying an unusually warm temperature, rushed into his arms.

Looking down, I saw that beneath the little demoness's lowered eyelids, her alabaster cheeks had somehow become flushed with cherry blossoms.

Wanwan opened her bright eyes and gazed at him with infinite charm.

She was incredibly bold; she looked up and kissed Zhou Yi.

Although he had desires, he was unwilling to take advantage of others in their distress.

Wanwan reached out and touched his face, but Zhou Yi grabbed her wrist: "Wan'er, calm down."

He reached out and tapped her Neiguan acupoint, then moved to Jianshi and Quze.
This is the Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin.

By channeling true energy into the Heavenly Pool and mobilizing mental power, one can suppress the inner fire.

At the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief, having figured out what had happened.

Although merging Yin and Yang is a bit premature, it won't do them any harm.

"Don't panic. Circulate your cultivation technique and I will help you refine this Yin energy."

Zhou Yi turned her halfway over, preparing to press his palm against her back, but Wanwan defied his wishes, turning back to hug him, resting her chin on his shoulder and whispering:

"Brother Yi, why would you miss such a good opportunity? Instead of relying on luck, why not complement each other's strengths and weaknesses?"

After she finished speaking, she raised her head, cupped his face in her hands, and stared at Zhou Yi with her bright, slightly flushed eyes that shimmered with light:

"Brother Yi, don't you want to?"

Zhou Yi took a deep breath, removed her hand, and pinched her cheek: "Stop fooling around, Fei Xuan is still here."

Wanwan parried his hand and unleashed a Heavenly Demon Technique far more powerful than before.

After a moment of spatial collapse, all the light inside and outside the house went out, and the windows slammed shut, shutting out the faint starlight.

Suddenly, it was pitch black, and you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.

"Now it's okay, just pretend the saintess doesn't exist."

Although Zhou Yi was agitated by her teasing, he found it absurd to do this.

He then grabbed her wandering hand and said tactfully:

"You're not fully awake right now due to the influence of the Yin and Yang energies within you. By the time you regain your senses, it will be too late to regret it. Don't waste any time, let me circulate my energy for you."

"No, they are perfectly sober."

The little vixen kissed him on the lips again: "Brother Yi, don't dawdle, you won't have another chance like this in the future."

You're trying to drive the saintess to madness!

Zhou Yi remained relatively calm, but Shi Feixuan, who had been meditating, finally lost her patience.

"Wanwan, you...you."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the little demoness continued, "What about me? Should I go out?"

Zhou Yi thought to himself, "Oh no."

Sure enough, two strong gusts of wind then blew inside the room.

Just as they were about to start fighting, he didn't need to look; he could discern the direction of the gust of wind, his figure flashed, and he grabbed one arm with each hand.

Then, suppress their offensive and lock down the space.

In a short while, he placed his left and right hands on the backs of the two women, allowing them to sit down naturally.

Normally, the two of them would never act so recklessly.

The influence of the dragon's power is immense.

While multitasking is difficult, he was currently in a state of yin and yang balance, and resolving their abnormalities only took a little more time.

After calming my mind and practicing my internal energy, the room remained quiet for two full hours.

The cicadas that had been chirping incessantly had all fallen asleep. As Zhou Yi withdrew his hand, two figures collapsed towards him in the darkness. He reached out and caught them, hearing two even breaths, as if they were fast asleep.

Perhaps it was due to the influence of the dragon's power, or perhaps it was because it hadn't fallen asleep at all.

Zhou Yi thought about it for a moment and didn't delve into it further.

This is the best way to avoid embarrassment.

He smiled mischievously and gently squeezed their hands, but received no response.

In a flash, a figure appeared on the bed next to them, embracing two women.

This is something I could never have dreamed of, and it has come true.

Zhou Yi pretended they were asleep, hugged them tighter, and tried not to think about what would happen in the morning. He enjoyed the different fragrance for a while, experiencing the novelty, and then closed his eyes to pass the long night.

however,
The night was not peaceful; some people woke up early in the middle of the night.

In the darkness, there could be some strange breathing sounds.
At dawn, the windows of the secluded building creaked open.

Zhou Yi ignored him.

He slept until dawn, feeling refreshed, and the saintess and the demoness had vanished.

Arriving at the backyard of the small building, he drew well water to wash away the rouge on his face and neck. After tidying himself up, he meditated and regulated his breathing until the afternoon before setting off towards Chang'an.

The connection to the Temple of War was extremely weak; it seemed to have vanished into an extremely distant place.

Zhou Yi was certain that the Temple of War was no longer in Xiji Garden.

But what became of those who rushed into that strange space?

Upon arriving in Chang'an, before Zhou Yi could even inquire about any news, he encountered an old friend.

"Brother Zhou?!"

Hou Xibai folded his fan at the west end of the city and walked quickly over.

Seeing him scrutinize him from head to toe with a variety of expressions, Zhou Yi asked in bewilderment, "It's been a few days, Brother Hou, why do you look at me as if I've been through a lifetime?"

"Because you were gone for a few days, rumors have spread throughout the city."

"Oh? What did you mean?"

"Legend has it that the Celestial Master slew the demonic dragon, shattered the void, and has already vanished into another vast world."

Hou Xibai sighed as he spoke, "Thinking of this, I feel a deep sense of loss. There will never be another friend in this world as wonderful as you. So when I see you again, it feels like a lifetime has passed."

"I'm afraid it's not as simple as just a rumor. Even if I shattered the void, I couldn't possibly sever this place."

"Exactly."

Hou Xibai pointed south:
"Jieli has united multiple armies from the north and is expected to confront the Tang army coming from the south in Chang'an. Spreading such news is clearly intended to sow discord among the troops. Fortunately, you have returned, and the rumors have been dispelled on their own."

After listening, Zhou Yi inquired about Xu Xingzhi's specific movements.

The wealthy young master came from the south and knew this very well.

If the army doesn't delay, it should arrive in three days.

"Was the Temple of War still there when you came to Chang'an?"

"exist."

"Have you gone yet?"

"No."

Seeing Zhou Yi's questioning look, Hou Xibai smiled and said, "I am still somewhat self-aware. Even if I have read the War God Manual, I may not be able to master it to the extreme. Moreover, the underground is extremely dangerous."

"It's not that I'm afraid of death, it's just that I promised Caiqi that I would return to Bashu safely, and I can't lie to her."

Zhou Yi patted him on the shoulder: "You underestimate yourself. This mindset alone is extraordinary."

"To be praised sincerely by the number one person in the world, I, Hou, have no regrets in this life," Hou Xibai laughed heartily, fanning himself exaggeratedly.

Zhou Yi smiled and inquired, "What's the situation at Xiji Garden?"

"The courtyard is gone, replaced by a lake that connects with the Yu River outside the city. As for those people, apart from those killed by the demonic dragon and the underground monsters, the rest returned to the surface with the current, while some were swept away by the turbulent currents and died underwater."

Hou Xibai exclaimed in amazement:
"I heard that someone tried to stay in the Temple of the God of War, but a great power erupted from the temple, and no one except Guang Chengzi could stay there. That other dimension also disappeared. If we hadn't seen the changes in Xiji Garden, we probably would have thought it was some kind of strange tale."

"The War God's Manual is even more bizarre and unpredictable."

"No one truly knows what the 'War God's Manual' is. This technique only exists in reliefs, without any text or illustrations, so it cannot be recorded and cannot be taken out of the War God's Temple."

"Of course, some people were also inspired and made further progress in their martial arts."

"For example, on Jinguangmen Street, there are people waiting for you."

"This person is completely unmoved by the rumors and believes you will return from the west of the city."

Everything was as Zhou Yi had anticipated, except for this one question that piqued his curiosity: "Who is it?"

Hou Xibai's interest was piqued, and he smiled, fanning himself, "Master of Chess and Sword, Fu Cailin."

……

The setting sun, like blood, bathed the Jin Guangmen Street of Chang'an City in a poignant orange-red hue.

A summer breeze swirled a few fallen leaves along the bustling street.

In the middle of the street, a man with a perfect figure was sitting under the banner of a sangluo wine shop.

He had an unusual appearance; his narrow face and long, thin eyes reflected the wine in his glass.

Behind the Sword Master, besides his three beloved disciples, were Kou Xu, Ba Feng Han, Song Shidao, and others.

"Sister, shouldn't you try to persuade Master Fu?"

Kou Zhong looked at Fu Junzhuo as he spoke.

The eldest sister remained silent, while the youngest, Fu Junqiang, glanced at Xu Ziling and said to Kou Zhong, "Do you also think that since the Celestial Master has gone to shatter the void, there's no need to wait here?"

"of course not."

Kou Zhong grinned:
"Judging from the previous battle with the Demon Dragon, I don't think Master Fu has much of a chance of winning."

"Shut up."

The second disciple, Fu Junyu, said irritably:

“Fighting a dragon is different from fighting a human. Humans don’t have the scales that dragons have. Only by playing swordsmanship with a human can you bring out the best in your swordsmanship. Besides, if my master were to face a dragon alone, he might not necessarily lose.”

Kou Zhong nudged Xu Ziling beside him with his elbow: "Xiao Ling, do you think what Second Sister said makes sense?"

Xu Ziling said, "Second Sister will definitely speak up for Master Fu."

"Then let the most impartial old Ba give his opinion."

Ba Feng Han did not respond immediately, but looked at Fu Cai Lin instead.

This master of chess and swordsmanship has clearly changed quite a bit compared to before.

He sat there quietly, completely oblivious to their conversation.

His aura seemed to blend seamlessly with the heavens and earth, the long street, and the setting sun, forming a realm of his own.

In terms of demeanor alone, he is clearly better than before.

Ba Feng Han said, "Master Fu has made considerable progress."

Those around him thought he was going to say something nice, but Ba Feng Han uttered the second half of his sentence: "This time, Master Fu should be able to see the specific realm of the Celestial Master."

Fu Junyu rolled her eyes at him.

Fu Junzhuo didn't seem to mind and explained:
“Master is getting old and will not go out again after returning to Goguryeo. He has been practicing swordsmanship for many years and has finally met an opponent like the Celestial Master. If he does not compete with his sword, he will regret it for the rest of his life. You are concerned about the outcome, but Master cares more about the process.”

Fu Cailin, who had been standing with his back to them without making a move, picked up his porcelain cup and took a sip of wine.

Fu Junzhuo was about to continue speaking when she suddenly noticed that her master, who was pouring himself a drink, paused and put the wine jar he had just picked up back on the table.

In the distance along the long street, a great commotion arose.

A young man in white was approaching with unhurried steps.

For a moment, it was as if he had missed the setting sun, and everyone's eyes lost his light and shadow. The next moment, the setting sun shone on another place, and the man in white appeared again.

There is such an action every three steps.

There was a clear pattern, yet his figure remained elusive.

Such a scene caused a huge visual shock. It felt as if he had just appeared in the field of vision, and in the blink of an eye, he was already very close.

"Celestial Master, you've arrived."

Fu Cailin's face, which was full of strange expressions, was filled with joy. He smiled for the first time, and his smile was so bright.

"I heard Brother Fu is waiting for me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Playing chess, playing swords."

When Fu Cailin spoke, he had no sword in his hand, but his insightful eyes were the sharpest sword.

In that instant, he had already begun to lay out an invisible and formless sword game, one that was enough to suffocate all swordsmen in the world.

The spirit and will are like a vast net, quietly unfolding and covering all directions, calculating every breath and every thought of the opponent, deducing hundreds of possible future changes, and forcing them into a game of chess where defeat is already predetermined.

Under Fu Cailin's gaze.

Zhou Yi's face had become blurred, but his eyes were empty, like a bottomless abyss, unable to reflect any light or shadow, or even the presence of Fu Cailin.

This made the Sword Master extremely wary.

Even if he stared at the demonic dragon, he could still discern a clue from its eyes.

Something is wrong, very wrong.

Upon thinking of this, Fu Cailin picked up the wine jar and poured a full cup into another wine goblet.

"Please excuse my rudeness, Celestial Master!"

He flicked his sleeve, and the wine flag beside him was blown straight towards Zhou Yi by the strong wind. The sound of the wind was deafening, but the wine cups flew in the air without spilling a drop of wine.

"Yes, good wine."

Zhou Yi took it and drank it all in one gulp.

If you casually toss it onto the table where Fu Cailin is, the porcelain cup will shatter if anyone looks at it.

Strangely, the wine cup made a loud "bang" sound, as if it were made of metal.

Fu Cailin looked at the cups and saucers that had been returned to their places and frowned.

His intuition is extremely sharp.

Having been tempered to the peak through the "Nine Profound Techniques," one can perceive subtle changes in the flow of Qi.

Touching Zhou Yi again at this moment is like throwing a stone into an ancient well, without even causing a ripple.

There was no killing intent, no fighting spirit, no vitality, not even deathly silence, only absolute "nothingness".

To him, it was like a chessboard without lines.

Therefore, for the first time, the perfectly calculated and flawless sword intent chess game lost the intersection of the lines where the pieces were placed.

The art of chess and swordsmanship begins with finding an opening to penetrate and discern its "existence," only then can one contend with its "non-existence."

There was no sword drawn; it was merely a battle of wits.

Fu Cailin then sensed a huge crisis.

The onlookers didn't understand what was going on, but they inexplicably became tense.

Zhou Yi chuckled lightly: "So this is playing swordsmanship with a human?"

"good."

When Fu Cailin responded, he knew that all the countless calculations and endless deductions he had made using the Nine Profound Techniques had come to naught.

That eternally clear lake of the heart was rippled by this unprecedented emptiness.

In that instant, he stood up and drew his sword, transforming his swordless state in his primordial spirit into one with a sword.

Using swords to play against his opponent, he constructed a chessboard, intending to force Zhou Yi to reveal a weakness!

But Zhou Yi drew his sword faster, pulling it out of its sheath in the blink of an eye, striking first despite being slower.

There were no techniques, no dazzling light, and it was so fast that it surpassed the ability of the senses to perceive, leaving only an incomprehensible trajectory.

It wasn't aimed at any part of Fu Cailin's body, but rather it pierced straight out, striking the core of the invisible chessboard he had woven with the spirit of the Nine Profound Great Law, striking the fleeting "gap" that had been created by that ripple!
"laugh--"

A faint, yet sharp, sound that pierced the soul.

It was not the sound of metal clashing, but the sound of something of a higher level being pierced and broken.

Fu Cailin's perfectly harmonious aura, which resonated with heaven and earth, suddenly froze, and then shattered like glass.

Before he could even draw his sword, he sensed that his next strike had been anticipated, and his body swayed slightly, his face instantly turning as pale as paper!

It quickly returned to normal, but a hint of disbelief and loneliness flashed across those deep, star-like eyes.

Those around them, unaware of what had happened, were suddenly invigorated.

It's as if I can see two sharp lights clashing in a future prediction.
As the Celestial Master slashed down with his sword, a chill ran through the crown chakra of everyone. The spirit of the chakra was forced into the depths of the qi chakra, hiding itself by constantly emitting qi, not daring to face the Celestial Master's silent sword light that would strike in the future!

The setting sun cast its last rays, casting a long shadow of Zhou Yi.

He sheathed his sword, his voice tinged with a hint of lingering contemplation: "If the mind is preoccupied with the game, then there will be weaknesses. Without the game, there is no strategy; what game is there to play?"

Fu Cailin stood there for a long time before letting out a soft sigh, seemingly relieved.

He put down the longsword
"So, it's the Sword of No Chess?"

He once thought he had mastered all the chess games in the world, but today he realizes that the ultimate skill of swordsmanship lies outside the game of chess.

He was defeated, not by his sword techniques, but by a completely different will that transcended the "Tao" he had sought all his life.

Unable to predict the opponent's next strike, and instead the opponent predicted the direction of the sword, he was forced to refrain from making a move, resulting in his complete loss of spirit and energy.

This was absolutely the biggest failure of the Yi Jian technique.

However, Fu Cailin seemed to have realized something.

He maintained a relatively good mindset and did not break down because of this. Instead, he cupped his hands and said, "The Celestial Master is the number one swordsman of our time. His swordsmanship is unparalleled throughout history."

"Brother Fu, please buy me another drink."

"It's only right," Fu Cailin said as he poured wine. "After reading the War God's Manual, I had many thoughts, which led me to choose a wrong path. I am grateful for your guidance."

His chessboard and sword are like this world.

You can never reach the ultimate level without stepping outside the chessboard.

Zhou Yi's sword strike startled him awake, leaving him feeling lost and disheartened, for he saw that the road ahead was long, but life was short.

Fu Cailin poured himself another cup.

"Celestial Master, please."

"please."

The two men each drank a cup, which moved the onlookers on Jinguangmen Street.

The title of the greatest swordsman in the world has returned to the Central Plains.

Fu Cailin didn't say anything. He finished his drink in one gulp and waved towards the wine shop.

A middle-aged man of medium build, with a round face, broad forehead, long hair, and a mustache, stepped forward with reverence and a smile, bowing deeply and saying, "Gao Jianwu greets the Emperor."

Zhou Yi glanced at him.

Go Geon-mu? That is, the current ruler of Goguryeo, King Yeongnyu.

"You're too kind," Zhou Yi said without a smile. "Did Rongliu come to Chang'an to find me?"

"Exactly."

Before Zhou Yi could speak, he immediately stated his purpose:

"Goguryeo is willing to be a vassal state and obey the emperor's orders."

Zhou Yi smiled slightly: "Liaodong was the fiefdom of Jizi during the Zhou Dynasty, and Xuantu Commandery during the Han Dynasty. It was still within the former fiefdom during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, so we cannot refuse to acknowledge it as our vassal state."

"Yes." Prince Rongliu had no objection.

He already had feelings for Zhou Yi, but Zhou Yi killed Gai Suwen, making him a deadly threat.

Zhou Yi added, "You didn't understand what I meant."

Please advise.

"Which generation of Goguryeo ruler were you?"

Rong Liu Wangdao: "The twenty-seventh generation."

“Yes,” Zhou Yi nodded, “You can retain the throne, but you will be the last one. After that, there will be no monarch in Goguryeo.”

Prince Rongliu looked horrified.

Zhou Yi said in a deep voice: "The northern desert will be just like you. The Khanate, Gaochang, and Tuyuhun will also disappear, and they will all belong to the Nine Provinces in the future."

Prince Rongliu wanted to refute, but felt powerless.

He looked at Fu Cailin, the master swordsman who had defended Goguryeo against the Sui Dynasty's attacks for a long time, holding off Yang Guang at Yuyang. But this god-like figure of Goguryeo had grown old, and faced with the pleading eyes of King Rongliu, he could only shake his head slightly.
……

(End of this chapter)