Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 224 Three Thousand Guests in the Ziwei Palace

In late October of the first year of Open Source, the north wind brought the biting chill of early winter.

Nine miles south of Luoyang City, on the road leading to Jingnian Temple.

The once lush green bamboo is now covered with a layer of translucent white frost on every leaf, reflecting a cold and fragile light in the pale morning sunlight.

Where the wind passes, there is not a rustling sound, but a soft, fragmented sound of ice crystals colliding with each other, which makes the desolation of heaven and earth even more apparent.

Outside the bamboo forest, a large number of martial arts practitioners were watching.

Most of them possess a long and deep breath, indicating strong internal energy.

They were completely absorbed in their work, with little discussion or noise, their attention drawn to the breathtaking scenery enveloped in the frosty bamboo forest.

In the bamboo forest, two people were facing off.

A man dressed in a wide Taoist robe, with a white beard like snow and an ancient face, seemed to blend into the frosty sky.

He was Ning Daoqi, the second most important figure in the Taoist sect, also known as "the hermit."

He stood with his hands behind his back, his body radiating no energy whatsoever, yet he seemed to encompass a small world, vast and unfathomable.

The falling frost flowers quietly slid away about ten feet around him, without touching him at all.

The other person stood tall and straight, his blue robe fluttering slightly in the frosty wind.

He had a handsome face and sharp eyes, as sharp as the unsheathed sword at his waist, capable of cutting through the cold wind and severing the flying frost. He was none other than Song Que, the Heavenly Blade.

His body exuded a sharp, all-encompassing aura, and the frost beneath his feet silently caved in and cracked, forming smooth, knife-like marks.

The onlookers felt the rising momentum and expanding wind, and they all opened their eyes wide, unwilling to miss this rare duel.

Looking across the world, apart from that unfathomable being in the Ziwei Palace.

These two in the bamboo forest are the most respected martial artists in the hearts of the people of the martial arts world.

Since the Tang emperor ascended the throne, many martial arts masters who had appeared in Chang'an have gone into seclusion, diligently studying martial arts and seeking the ultimate in martial arts to break through the void. Therefore, they rarely appear in the martial arts world.

This time, they appeared together near Luoyang for a grand event at the Ziwei Palace.

It is said that a group of outstanding talents and virtuous individuals, renowned for their abilities and in accordance with the laws of the Tang Dynasty, obtained the qualification to go to the Ziwei Palace and receive the teachings of the Supreme Being.

This group numbered as many as three thousand.

As everyone knows, the Zhou emperor bestowed his laws upon the heavens and the people, established the empire, and could freely travel through the void, omnipotent.

The Taiping Hongbao, written by the Zhou emperor himself, has long been regarded as the first extraordinary book.

To have the opportunity to enter the Ziwei Palace is an enviable, first-class opportunity.

Even the greatest martial arts masters of the time would not want to miss it.

As everyone's thoughts drifted away from the world, the atmosphere in the forest changed once more!
Needless to say.

After exchanging a glance, Ning Sanren and Song Que's fighting spirit was as taut as a bowstring.

A bamboo leaf, bent under the weight of frost, broke quietly before it even hit the ground—

Tianya Mingyue Dao has made a move!

He moved with the blade, becoming almost indistinguishable from it.

That was not a simple charge, but a fierce blade of light that appeared out of nowhere, cleaving through the stagnant frosty wind and heading straight for Ning Daoqi.

Before the blade even arrived, its sharp, all-encompassing intent already caused a sharp pain in one's brow and eyelashes.

It seemed as if only the brilliance of that one strike remained in the world!
Ning Daoqi flicked his wide sleeves, his posture elegant and ethereal, devoid of any worldly airs.

This flick seemed to stir up the surrounding cold air, frost, and even the entire space, transforming it into a chaotic, formless vortex that met the unparalleled blade.

"laugh--!"

The force of the blade collided with the swirling air, producing a sharp sound like tearing cloth.

The dissipated energy, like an invisible blade, shot out in all directions, slicing through countless frost-covered bamboo stalks, leaving smooth, mirror-like cuts.

Ice crystals and bamboo leaves flew everywhere, only to be pulverized by the even more violent air currents.

Ning Daoqi's movements were as swift as clouds and mist, weaving through Song Que's fierce and relentless sword strikes, narrowly avoiding the blades that could cleave gold and jade.

His "Eight Strikes of Freehand" were not a direct confrontation, but rather a skillful use of force, employing techniques such as brushing, guiding, or entangling to deflect Song Que's overwhelming and unstoppable sword energy and dissolve it into the surrounding world.

On the frosty ground, huge pits kept appearing, or deep furrows were plowed out.

Song Que's swordplay grew stronger, and his eyes shone brighter.

His swordsmanship had reached its pinnacle; each strike was simple and direct, yet contained profound martial arts principles. The sound of the blade cutting through the air changed from sharp to deep and resonant, and the power became increasingly refined. Wherever the blade passed, the chilling air was cleaved apart, and even a brief vacuum trajectory appeared.

"Good!" Ning Daoqi laughed and praised, his figure suddenly solidified, his palms came together as if embracing Tai Chi, and a vast and powerful aura suddenly gathered, then burst forth like a mountain torrent and pushed towards Song Que.

This attack was no longer a defusal, but a dignified and overwhelming head-on collision!
Song Que neither dodged nor evaded, his eyes flashing with divine light. He exhaled and let out a loud cry, his blade transforming into a bolt of lightning as he slashed straight out!

"boom--!"

Like a thunderclap from a clear sky, a terrifying ring of energy, visible to the naked eye, exploded from the core of the two, spreading outwards with overwhelming force.

Most people around quickly moved away.

The entire bamboo forest shook violently, and the frost accumulated on countless bamboo branches was instantly blown away and vaporized, forming a white mist.

The air currents surged, and white fog filled the air.

As the fog and haze dissipated, the two figures came into view.

A clear scratch appeared on Ning Daoqi's robe, almost tearing the sleeve.

He stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes filled with delighted admiration.

Song Que stood holding his sword, a clear palm print clearly visible on the shoulder of his green robe, the edges of which were rapidly covered in frost, only to be shattered and evaporated by the powerful sword intent within him.

The ground beneath their feet was frosty and in disarray, covered with spiderweb-like cracks.

The cold wind swept through again, scattering the remaining mist and sleet, and stirring their hair, beards, and clothes.

The two moved in unison, both looking toward the spot where the earth-shattering collision had just occurred.

It is clear that they are not only testing each other's limits, but also making some kind of attempt.

"The eight moves of the free spirits are even more unpredictable."

"It should be said that Brother Song's swordsmanship is even more formidable."

After saying that, both Tian Dao and Ning Sanren were slightly disappointed.

Song Que bluntly stated, "Shattering the space itself is far from enough."

Ning Sanren nodded: "Brother Song still has plenty of time. Judging from your current progress, you have a great chance."

Ning Sanren spoke these words without any jealousy, but rather with great composure.

Since listening to Zhou Yi's guidance on revising the Zhuangzi, his mindset has gained a purer sense of freedom.

Song Que had not yet spoken.

Ning Sanren looked up at the sky and said slowly, "A hundred years of life is so fleeting, like the blink of an eye."

Song Que sensed a hint of loneliness in those calm words.

So I offered a word of comfort:
“Brother Ning, perhaps there is new hope in the Ziwei Palace.”

Upon hearing his tone and glancing at Song Que's expression, Ning Sanren immediately realized that he had misunderstood.

He smiled calmly:
"Ning felt that this grand event was unprecedented, and being able to participate in it was an unforgettable experience in his life. He had already exceeded his expectations for this opportunity in his later years, and he did not ask for more."

Song Que nodded silently.

He carefully felt the north wind and suggested:
"The first snow is approaching, Brother Ning, why don't we travel together?"

"Right on my mind."

As soon as they finished speaking, they leaped into the air and disappeared from everyone's sight in a few leaps.
"It's a pity that Ning Sanren and Tian Dao are still locked in a battle."

"Wrong, Tian Dao has already won."

How did you figure that out?

"Tian Dao is young and will win in the future. Next time we fight, Ning Sanren will probably be no match for him."

The murmurs among the crowd grew louder, and some gazed at the traces of the battle left in the bamboo forest, sighing with emotion.
"The level of these two is already beyond the reach of others, but even with their combined strength, they cannot break through the void. The gap between them and the Celestial Master is still immeasurable."

"Let's go. I've heard that all the masters of the Daoist sect have arrived. Let's go to the Eastern Capital and take a look."

"To correct you, the Medicine King of the Taoist sect has not left the mountain; he remains in seclusion in Zhongnan Mountain."

When people talk about Sun Yaowang, they admire him but also feel sorry for him.

Sun Simiao was not obsessed with martial arts; he longed to help the world and save lives, immersing himself in pharmacological research and medical writing, thus giving up the opportunity to listen to the Dao at Ziwei Palace.
……

At the end of October, the sky was heavy with lead, and the northern winds were subdued.

As winter approached and the cold intensified, the weather grew increasingly frigid.

On the first day of the month, the sky changed color. Jade dust first appeared in the sky, and then sleet and snow fell, gradually sprinkling down and covering Luoyang.

The Yique Buddhist shrine suddenly lost its former grandeur.

The stone statues at Longmen Grottoes, covered in snow, appear as if draped in white robes.

In the blink of an eye, the cherry trees on the Heavenly Street, their gnarled branches adorned with swirling blossoms.

The bustling streets and alleys suddenly fell silent.

What are the clear skies over Tianjin Xiaoyue and Jin Valley in spring? In this flurry of first snow, they all turn into jade steps and jewels.

At that very moment, the Ziwei Palace opened its doors wide!

On the imperial road, amidst the heavy snow, numerous renowned martial arts figures arrived with solemn expressions, gazing upon the snow-covered imperial city with a sense of pilgrimage.

Snow gradually accumulated on everyone's shoulders and in their hair.

With their skills, evaporating snow water would be a piece of cake. However, once they arrived here, no one dared to use their powers.

Although Song Que and Ning Sanren are among the strongest martial artists of their time, they are no different here, both being among the three thousand guests.

Ning Daoqi encountered many Taoists in front of the palace gate.

For example, Yuan Tiangang from Bashu, Mu Daoren, Wuya Daoren, Songyinzi from Yiyang, Chen Changgong, the White-browed Old Daoist, the two brothers Ji Xun and Ji Shou from Songshan, and dozens of other Daoist masters who were cultivating in seclusion in various places, have all gathered together now.

As Ning Daoqi greeted them, Song Que also saw the Evil King Yin Hou and the Five Elders of the Coffin Palace.

Fu Cailin, the master of Yi Jian from Goryeo County, and Lady Dongming from Ryukyu also arrived.

The most prominent figures among the younger generation are all present.

Hou Xibai, Fan Caiqi, Erfeng, Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, Ba Fenghan, Keda Zhi, Shan Wanjing, Song Shidao, Song Yuzhi, Fu Junzhuo, Fu Junqiang
Now there is no distinction between foreign countries; we are all citizens of the Tang Dynasty, and naturally we are treated equally.

However, young people who usually enjoy joking and playing around become serious and respectful in this setting, regardless of their relationship with the person, and dare not overstep the bounds in the slightest.

The Ziwei Hall is located to the east of the Qianyang Hall, and is not in the same direction as the place where the court meetings were held.

Passing through the imperial guards lining the main road of the capital, the group strolled into a blue stone square.

A magnificent palace stands on the north side of the square.

For some reason, although this palace was made of ordinary wood, it looked quite peculiar, giving people a sense of infinite vastness.

At that moment, the palace gates opened silently by themselves.

A young couple emerged from the hall. They wore simple Taoist robes and exuded a refined and spiritual aura, appearing to be no more than sixteen or seventeen years old.

Anyone with a modicum of mental acuity could tell at a glance that they were the Celestial Master's junior brothers and sisters.

These were the two young Taoist boys who were at Wuzhuang Temple back then.

Only they could listen to the Taoist teachings from the Celestial Master's side year-round.

Therefore, it is quite normal for people to have different temperaments.

Yan Qiu and Xia Shu smiled gently and gestured towards the hall.

"Everyone, please."

After hearing their words, the group finally started walking.

From the outside, the Ziwei Palace appears as a pitch-black expanse, so dark that it can draw one's gaze in and make no sound at all.

But as soon as they entered...

Ning Sanren immediately sensed something was amiss as Shi Zhixuan walked ahead.

Those who entered from behind were filled with trepidation!

The main hall was incredibly spacious, with a clean and tidy wooden floor and no excessive ornate decorations.

Even those accustomed to grandeur and opulence feel like frogs in a well when they arrive here.

Therefore, this place is beyond description in terms of earthly wealth and luxury.

It felt like entering a completely new world.

It's somewhat like a mirage, yet completely different; everything you see has a sense of realism.

The Yin Queen's eyes reflected an inverted Milky Way, and countless patterns hung from the eaves, with purple lightning occasionally swirling like dragons. The primordial true qi seemed to condense into a necklace of precious pearls, adorning the entire dome.

She fell into deep thought. Even if the illusionary arts of the Demonic Sect were practiced to the extreme, they could not create such a scene.

It is even more impossible to make someone perceive something visually while they are awake.

Everything went against her understanding of the realm of martial arts.

Just one visit to the palace made me realize that the trip had been worthwhile.

At the very front of the main hall, there are seven prayer cushions, the meaning of which is clear.

Many people, knowing their place, sat cross-legged without approaching the prayer mats, carefully experiencing the magical sights within the Ziwei Hall.

Tian Dao, Ning Sanren, Xie Wang, Yin Hou, Yi Jian Da Shi, and Zhou Lao Tan each sat on a futon.

The seventh prayer mat, but no one dared to sit on it.

In the battle at Xiji Garden in Chang'an back then, there were seven top masters below the Celestial Master. If the Martial Venerable had gone with the flow and not fought to the death, he should have been the one sitting on this futon.

But Wu Zun is dead.

Logically speaking, this should have been prepared for Sun Simiao, the King of Medicine.

The Medicine King devoted himself to the study of medicine and lived in Zhongnan Mountain.

So, no one knew who would sit in that position, or what was so special about it.

Even Yuan Tiangang, Song Yinzi, and others only looked at it and did not claim the position.

After the three thousand people were seated, the seventh prayer mat at the very front remained empty.

Finally, one person stood up.

He walked several feet forward and sat down.

This person was none other than Erfeng.

Many people recognized the identity of the second young master of the Li family and knew that he was exceptionally talented, but in terms of skill, there were many people present who were more powerful than him.

but
Seeing his composure, and given the many wonders of the Ziwei Palace, no one dared to compete with him for a seat for a while.

When Yan Qiu and Xia Shu sat facing each other on another yellow futon, everyone suddenly realized what was going on.

However, their mindset was 10% off, and they had already missed the opportunity.

As the palace bell tolled, a dreamlike white figure appeared silently, sitting on the prayer mat guarded by Yan Qiuxia.

He held the He Shi Bi jade in his hand, his eyes were deep and mysterious, and he exuded an indescribable and peculiar aura.

The crowd seemed to see a towering mountain that pierced the clouds, its height unknown, or perhaps they had buried their gaze in a bottomless abyss.

The top of the Ziwei Hall is even brighter and more dazzling, like stars.

Zhou Yi used his own power as fuel to continuously release the cosmic power within the He Shi Bi jade, which caused all the strange phenomena in the Ziwei Palace.

However, apart from a very few insiders, the vast majority of people have no way of knowing the secrets of the He Shi Bi and his true essence.

Therefore, when Zhou Yi appeared, they had a real feeling of mortals meeting gods.

"Celestial Master~!"

Because it was the Ziwei Daoist discourse, everyone bowed in a Daoist gesture as they shouted.

Zhou Yi's voice then echoed in the hall: "Today we discuss the Way of Destruction, the most profound and wonderful method."

As he spoke, he immediately activated the He Shi Bi jade.

Thus, words became law.

The cosmic illusion within the He Shi Bi jade unfolds before everyone's eyes.

The others experienced similar scenes, but the few sitting on the prayer mats at the front, due to their high level of martial arts, interacted with each other and had a clearer perception.

The purple-gold Dao patterns entwined around the palace pillars suddenly came to life, as if transforming into a blue dragon carrying a hexagram and swimming around.

The golden lotus burst forth from the ground, emitting three thousand rays of light, each ray of light revealing an illusion corresponding to a different innate extraordinary skill.

These illusions are directly aimed at the primordial spirit.

For everyone who enters the temple, it is a journey of deeper understanding than the Temple of War.

Quiet, utterly quiet.

Time flows swiftly even in stillness.

It was a chilly morning, but dusk soon enveloped us.

Los Angeles lies quietly in the snow-covered landscape, with the candlelight of countless homes piercing through the white curtains, and only the rustling of the north wind can be heard.

Back when Zhou Yi's skills were not yet fully developed, he was able to activate the cosmic energy within the He Shi Bi jade, which allowed Wanwan and Shi Feixuan to immerse themselves in the cultivation of their primordial spirits.

Applying the treatment at this moment would be a powerful remedy for everyone.

Until the next day.

Numerous sounds of gratitude and prostration rose and fell, but Zhou Yi paid no attention, watching as the people in the Zixiao Palace left, their hearts trembling with emotion and filled with countless feelings.

Finally, he received a farewell.

When Erfeng met Li Shimin in private, she greeted him in a very formal manner, but Zhou Yi's casual tone brought back the feeling of their past relationship.

"Are you going?"

"Yes, I plan to go out and see the world, and gain some experience."

"Where does Brother Li intend to go?"

Li Shimin laughed and said, "I have received the spirit hawk of the Turks. This hawk is full of spiritual power. My first stop will be its ancestral land, which is near the Tianshan Mountains in the Western Regions."

The hawk was naturally a gift from the Turks at Zhou Yi's request, to fulfill the promise he made at the Pegasus Ranch years ago.

"That's good. Traveling around will greatly help your training."

Zhou Yi suggested, "Do me a favor while you're at it."

"Oh? What is it that I can help with?"

Li Shimin became curious.

Zhou Yi then brought up the incident during Wang Shichong's reign in Luoyang, when a foreign monk stole Taoist scriptures from the library.

Li Shimin instantly understood. He was quite decisive, smiling and cupping his hands, he said, "What's so difficult about that? I will retrieve the scriptures for Your Majesty."

Zhou Yi listened and praised it, and couldn't help but smile. Thinking that Erfeng was about to leave the Tang Dynasty in the East and travel west to obtain Buddhist scriptures, the question "Where is the road ahead?" echoed in his mind.
……

(End of this chapter)