Starting with the divine power of the Great Vajra, he traversed the heavens.

Chapter 463 Invitation (Seeking monthly votes!)
Fireflies and fallen leaves, fluttering together in the autumn evening. The setting sun casts its last rays upon the city, while the sound of raindrops pattering against the ground echoes from beyond.

That night.

Ren Shaoyang opened the window, and the moonlight was brought into the room.

By the light of moonlight and candlelight, he bent over his desk and wrote furiously, recording his thoughts bit by bit.

Just then, someone knocked on the window.

Ren Shaoyang looked up and saw a gray robe and gray hair, with a disheveled and unlucky air about him—it was Wuming.

"You people are really strange." Ren Shaoyang gestured with his hand and said sarcastically, "You don't use the front door, you prefer to climb through the window."

Wuming moved swiftly and entered the house, laughing, "The main entrance is guarded by Miss Hongxiu; I dare not provoke her."

"Why?" Ren Shaoyang blinked. "My little sister is so cute."

"Ha, Shaoyang, don't you feel guilty saying that?"

"Hehe, I'm not lying."

Wuming shook his head and said, "A few days ago, she beat up a master on the bridge." As he said this, he couldn't help but grit his teeth and gasp, "She was ruthless."

"It must be that person's fault!" Ren Shaoyang said sternly.

"Yes!" Wuming smiled helplessly, "But isn't it a bit too much for Miss Hongxiu to apply gold to her knife and let it heal as she cuts?"

Ga?
Ah Xiu, are you serious?

Ren Shaoyang covered his face with his sleeve: "Is it cruel?"

Wuming nodded with a pursed mouth: "Wow, it's unbearable to look at."

The two looked at each other in silence, then suddenly smiled.

Despite the sighs, the newcomer had ill intentions and deserved to be taught a lesson by Hongxiu.

Whether he was dead or alive was naturally of no concern to the Sword God and the Heavenly Sword.

Wuming turned his head and saw the paper, pen and ink stains on his table.

"What is Shaoyang writing?"

Ren Shaoyang put down his brush and smiled, "Some thoughts and insights."

Wuming's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Is it related to the Sword Realm?"

Ren Shaoyang raised an eyebrow and said, "Mu Yingxiong contacted you?"

Wuming smiled slightly: "My elder brother did indeed send me a letter, mentioning the battle in the Sword Realm, and the duel between the four of us twenty years later."

"I never expected that he would correspond with you."

“Me too.” Wuming smiled, looking at the writing with admiration in his eyes. “Shaoyang’s swordsmanship has already reached a divine level, and now he is going to write books and establish himself as a master swordsman.”

"It is conceivable that a sword manual will soon be published in the world."

“This is not swordsmanship.” Ren Shaoyang shook his head.

"Oh? What is that?"

Ren Shaoyang opened the teacup, poured a cup of tea for Wuming, and raised his own cup, smiling, "That makes sense."

"reason?"

"All things in heaven and earth have their own rhythms. If one can integrate into them, even a slight guidance can trigger a huge resonance, allowing one to use the rhythms of heaven and earth to defend against enemies."

Ren Shaoyang said with a smile, "This is called 'Harmony with the Laws of Heaven'."

"Harmony with Heaven?" the nameless man murmured. "Harmony with Heaven and Earth, commanding all things?"

"It's not that domineering," Ren Shaoyang laughed. "Originally there was nothing, so where could dust settle?"

"Shaoyang, are you in the Void Refinement stage?" Wuming's expression suddenly turned grave.

"Yes." Ren Shaoyang's tone was gentle, with a hint of laziness and tranquility.

"Too dangerous!"

"Hmm, how is it dangerous?"

"You're emptying yourself!" The nameless voice was hollow, as if it came from beyond the heavens. "This method of letting go of 'self-attachment' and merging with the Tao can easily lead to an existence devoid of emotion, nature, and self. It's far too dangerous!"

“Shaoyang, your sword used to be extremely sharp and domineering, but now it has gone to the other extreme, which is ‘emptiness’.”

"Everything in your eyes is a fluctuation, a melody. Anything that is 'discordant' will be eliminated by you to ensure the harmony of heaven and earth. This is terrifying."

Ren Shaoyang said, "Lao Tzu said, 'Something comes from nothing,' and Buddha said, 'The clouds are empty but not empty.'"

Wuming frowned: "Existence comes from non-existence, and non-existence can destroy existence?"

Ren Shaoyang smiled and said calmly, "You only know the emptiness of the Dao, but you do not understand the reality within the emptiness."

He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, making a crisp sound.

"I know that the path ahead is one of constantly letting go, even emptying my ego, until I finally become a rule in the universe that is without thought or feeling."

He stroked his chin and continued, "But it is precisely because I foresaw this 'emptiness' that I must hold onto a bit of 'non-emptiness' and seek a bit of clear and unobstructed understanding."

"This clarity is my temperament, my likes and dislikes. I am willing to laugh and rave, willing to discuss philosophy with you over tea, willing to frolic and make a ruckus in the mortal world. These 'selves' are my anchors, so that I do not lose myself in this vast rhythm."

"The harmony of heaven and earth is not lifelessness. It is precisely because all things work together, full of vitality. If one integrates into it, it is not transformed into cold rules, but into a harmonious law, thus achieving great beauty."

“The clouds are not empty, precisely because of this.”

After hearing this, Wuming remained silent for a long time. Suddenly, he picked up his teacup and exclaimed, "Such great spirit and courage, I am no match for you!" With that, he drank it all in one gulp.

Ren Shaoyang also tilted his head back and drank the tea dry, then poured tea for him.

"What's the current situation with Feng and Yun?"

"I was just about to tell you," Wuming sighed. "While you were in Japan, Nie Feng went to Lingyun Cave."

"He went to look for his father?"

“No,” Wuming shook his head, “He stole the Dragon Vein of the Divine Land!” Ren Shaoyang asked curiously, “What did he do with the Dragon Vein?”

At this point, Du Jue Wuming looked on speechlessly.

Ren the rascal blinked and pointed at his own nose: "Is this related to me again?"

Wuming shook his head.

Ren Shaoyang said helplessly, "Could it be Hongxiu?"

The nameless chick nodded like it was pecking at rice.

"Say it now, stop being a riddle reader."

“Nie Feng is deeply entrenched in demonic possession, and his killing is unrestrained,” Wuming said in a deep voice. “Yet, for some reason, he was attracted by the dragon vein.”

"Wait a minute," Ren Shaoyang asked. "I know Brother Nie Feng has fallen into demonic possession, but wasn't that drop of demonic blood taken away by Hongxiu?"

“Demonic blood is the catalyst, and becoming a demon is the state.” Wuming said seriously, “Once you become a demon, you will be entangled for life. The state will not be eliminated just because a drop of blood is taken back.”

Ren Shaoyang grunted and frowned, "I see. What happened after Nie Feng seized the dragon vein?"

"When the imperial court and the martial arts world learned of this, they were all in an uproar." Wuming said with a bitter smile, "Heroes from all over the world rushed to stop him, but who would have thought that Nie Feng's Demon Blade was invincible, and he also possessed the 'Sleeve Divine Blade' of the Red Sleeve Girl, which could kill people with flying knives from a hundred miles away, and could even kill people with the blood, eyes, or even cries of the dead."

"In the end, Bu Jingyun and I fought together, but we could only manage a draw, and he escaped with serious injuries."

"The martial arts world of the Central Plains suffered heavy casualties in this battle, and its vitality was greatly weakened."

Ren Shaoyang retorted, "Didn't you also inflict heavy losses on the Central Plains martial arts world back then?"

Wuming paused for a moment, then chuckled awkwardly, "That was youthful arrogance."

Ren Shaoyang smiled and then asked, "What exactly are you trying to achieve after all this talk?"

Wuming's expression turned solemn, and he said in a deep voice, "Shaoyang, the imperial court and the martial arts world have suffered such heavy losses; they will not let this go easily. They know that Nie Feng fell into demonic possession because of Miss Hongxiu, and I'm afraid..."

"What?" Ren Shaojian raised an eyebrow. "They want to take their anger out on that little beggar?"

Wuming didn't hide anything: "The heroes of the world are afraid and will never allow another person to fall into demonic possession. I'm afraid they will come to demand an explanation soon."

Ren Shaoyang tilted his head, his expression indifferent: "You want an explanation?"

"Yes."

"Heh, come and demand an explanation from my sword." Ren Shaoyang smiled faintly.

The voice was clear and melodious, like a gentle breeze.

To the nameless man, it was nothing more than a soft laugh.

But the dark clouds outside the window suddenly burst open and dispersed with the wind!

A bright crescent moon appeared, its silvery light slowly shining down.

Under the moonlight, Ren Jianshen, like a god bathed in heavenly light, casually asked, "Senior Wuming, which side are you on?"

Wuming gave a bitter smile: "We all live in Fengxi Village, we're all neighbors, so tell me, which side am I on?" He paused, then advised, "But it's best not to start a massacre."

“Since you put it that way,” Ren Shaoyang said with a smile, “then I’ll trouble Senior Wuming to persuade them to go back.”

Wuming stared at him helplessly, his eyebrows twitching slightly: "The heroes of the martial arts world don't listen to me."

“Then beat them until they listen.” Ren Shaoyang shook his head and smiled. “These people are like children, they fear power but not morality. A beating will make them behave.”

Wuming gave him a deep look and said, "I can help you stop things in the martial arts world, but the imperial court is powerless to do so."

Ren Shaoyang smiled and said, "That's not a problem."

"Sigh," Wuming paused for a moment, his tone somewhat desolate, "I'm really afraid you'll overturn the table and throw the world into chaos."

Ren Shaoyang smiled and raised his glass in a toast: "Have some tea, have some tea."
-
The jade toad crouches in the sky, bathed in the soft glow of the moon.

The small river at the entrance of Fengxi Village shimmers with a faint silver light, as if permeating the coolness of early autumn.

A gentle breeze blew by, reaching the two women standing opposite each other at the village entrance, causing their clothes to flutter.

Luo Xian's face turned pale, but she still smiled and asked, "Sister Hongxiu, we meet again."

A woman in a blood-red dress, her crimson hue eerily striking in the moonlight, chuckled sweetly, "It's been so many days since we last met, I've missed you dearly, sister."

Luo Xian's eyes flashed, and she laughed, "Your trip to Japan has truly brought great honor to the martial arts world of the Central Plains."

Hongxiu said, "Really? But I heard they want to get rid of me as a demon?"

Luo Xian's smile faded: "These people are ignorant and arrogant, daring to provoke 'One-Knife Immortal'! Sister, if needed, our Heavenly Gate will definitely lend a hand!"

Hongxiu smiled and said calmly, "Sister, there's no need!" She glanced at her and added, "Who knows if someone is deliberately stirring things up?"

Luo Xian raised an eyebrow: "Who could it be?"

"I'm not interested, they can't beat me anyway." Hongxiu waved her hand. "But what brings you to Fengxi Village, sister?"

Upon hearing this, Luo Xian glanced in the direction of the village and suddenly asked, "How is Sword Master Ren?"

Hongxiu snorted, her voice cold: "It's none of your business."

Luo Xian was silent for a moment, a bitter smile flashing across her face, before she resumed her gentle voice: "Sister, I'm here to deliver an invitation." She took out a gilded red invitation and handed it over.

Hongxiu took it, glanced at it with her eyes down, and then smiled and said, "Have you set a time?"

Luo Xian said calmly, "The third day of the second month next year will be an auspicious day."

Hongxiu smiled and said, "I understand." She looked up and saw Luo Xian still standing there with a gentle smile. She frowned and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Luo Xian said, "Sister, this invitation was originally presented by my Heavenly Gate General, but he mysteriously disappeared upon arriving here." She glanced at Hongxiu and whispered, "Do you know where he went?"

It turns out that the "medicine man" was there to deliver an invitation!

Hongxiu's eyes widened, her small mouth slightly open, and she adopted a stiff expression of surprise, shaking her head vigorously as she spoke, word by word:

"I don't know!"

(End of this chapter)