Chapter 148 - Arc 11: The Sect's Grand Competition | Chapter 148: Visitor
Translator: Lynn
Upon the frigid peak, a dazzling golden sword light suddenly pierced the heavens, streaking toward the due west with a swift “swoosh.”
Simultaneously, a yellow talisman was abruptly launched, swiftly closing the gap between it and the sword light. The two collided in a fiery explosion, transforming into a brilliant mass of red flames.
A resounding “Boom—” reverberated through the air. The sword glow shattered into fragments, while the flames quickly dissipated.
Moments later, another sword light shot towards the southeast. Positioned nearby was a yellow talisman, but this time, it triggered a burst of purple lightning. The sword light disintegrated into a flurry of smoke in an instant.
Following this, two sword glows headed eastward, meeting two surges of water, and five sword glows moved northward, clashing with five streams of razor-sharp golden energy.
In the midst of this frenetic exchange, numerous talismans detonated, reducing the entire peak to a haze of gunpowder smoke. The sword lights, too, dispersed and intermingled, their trajectories, speeds, and directions becoming utterly unpredictable, sending shivers down one’s spine.
After half an hour of such intensity, the sword lights ceased to emerge from the void, and the talismans ceased their relentless barrage.
During this respite, the peak gradually grew quieter, but the sound of light panting could still be discerned.
A young man in azure robes sat there, clutching a yellow talisman between his fingers, while wiping away beads of sweat from his brow. Weakly, he held his knee, drenched in perspiration.
“Using talismans in combat really drains one’s energy…” After a short breather, he sighed, raising his gaze to the right. “Yun Shixiong, was there something wrong with what I just did?”
To his right, at a distance of about ten feet, a man in white attire rested on a boulder. Sword energy swirled around him, and a faint golden light flickered on his fingertips, remnants of the sword light he had previously released. Upon hearing the young man’s inquiry, he nodded gently.
“You’ve only been practicing for two days. It’s commendable that you managed to match the sword light with even two points of strength.”
These two were brothers, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie, who were training together.
Xu Ziqing felt a tinge of disappointment upon hearing Yun Lie’s assessment of his efforts as only achieving two points of strength.
While he had managed to match his senior brother, even with Yun Lie suppressing his strength, the fact that the sword light could only contend with two points of strength left him somewhat disheartened.
Yet, his spirits rallied quickly. He knew his senior brother had always held high standards, and if he deemed his performance “pretty good,” then it couldn’t be all that bad. He resolved to stay positive, thinking that he hadn’t practiced for long, and with increased familiarity, his skills would surely improve.
With renewed determination, Xu Ziqing began a cross-legged meditation to replenish his true essence. Then, he summoned an ancient book with a wave of his hand.
This ancient book had a dark appearance, as if crafted from the timber of a very ancient tree, giving it a somewhat primitive air. Simultaneously, it possessed the weight of a metallic object, feeling quite heavy and emitting a resonant golden sound when touched.
This was the newly acquired “Fuwen Tongfa.”
After skimming through the section on ordinary talismans, Xu Ziqing turned directly to the section on spiritual talismans. The diversity of talismans in this section was undeniable.
His attention was drawn to the Five-Element Talisman, one of the talismans he had used in his sparring with senior brother Yun Lie. It was a low-grade spiritual talisman, each one bearing five runes representing the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. While they weren’t formidable spells individually, sacrificing several of them allowed for seamless switching between these elemental abilities, offering flexibility and adaptability.
Next, he examined the Sky Thunder Talisman, a medium-grade spiritual talisman capable of unleashing a powerful bolt of thunder and lightning. Wherever the lightning struck, it left scorched earth in its wake, akin to a celestial lightning strike in terms of potency. Additionally, there was the Violent Fire Talisman, another medium-grade spiritual talisman, capable of producing an enormous pillar of fire. The fire it conjured was intensely fierce and proved difficult to extinguish once touched.
These three types of talismans were currently Xu Ziqing’s focus for mastering and practice, representing his initial selections. They possessed substantial power, effectively compensating for the relative tranquility of his primary martial arts techniques.
Furthermore, what made the “Tao of Talismans” particularly convenient was that most talismans were indifferent to differences in attributes. Regardless of the type of martial arts one practiced, as long as they adhered to the prescribed rules and expended some true energy, they could unleash the potent forces governed by those rules.
In recent days, Xu Ziqing has dedicated himself to practicing the hand gestures for crafting talismans and mastering the distinguishing rules for various types of talismans. He had made some progress, but he realized that to showcase his abilities in the upcoming Sect Grand Competition, three types of talismans might not be sufficient.
Consequently, he embarked on another descent down the peak, searching for suitable talismans. Continuously, he simulated in his sea of consciousness the energy that could be generated by combining these newfound talismans with his Four Seasons swordsmanship.
Yun Lie, in contrast, closed his eyes and honed his sword skills, offering no guidance to Xu Ziqing. He had reached a stage where he could enter a state of deep concentration and refine his sword intent anywhere, anytime. When he quieted his mind, the sword intent and himself merged into a singular entity, mutually reinforcing and enriching each other.
Suddenly, both of them were drawn from their focused states by an approaching presence.
Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie simultaneously turned their attention toward the source.
There stood a young man dressed in gray, displaying a respectful demeanor that left no room for error.
Xu Ziqing recognized this young man’s cautious nature. Having observed his senior brother’s sword practice earlier, he had consciously departed so as not to disturb their cultivation. Xu Ziqing inquired, “Yan Shuang, what brings you here?”
Yan Shuang, who had served on Xiaolu Peak for a considerable time and was well acquainted with the master’s taciturn disposition, understood that the master’s junior could speak on his behalf. He promptly reported, “I wish to inform Master Xu that someone at the foot of the mountain seeks an audience with the Peak Master.”
This revelation surprised Xu Ziqing. He glanced at Yun Lie, realizing that the decision regarding the visitor rested with his senior brother. “He wishes to see Shixiong,” Xu Ziqing stated, “I cannot make that decision on my own.”
Yun Lie cast a brief glance at Yan Shuang and inquired, “Who is this individual?”
With utmost respect, Yan Shuang responded, “The visitor identified himself as Luo Yao. He has come to meet Master Xu.”
This revelation left Xu Ziqing even more surprised. He turned to Yun Lie and said, “Shixiong, I am not familiar with this person.”
Yun Lie considered for a moment before stating, “Instruct him to come to the peak.”
Yan Shuang acknowledged this directive with a respectful, “Yes,” before promptly departing.
Xu Ziqing continued to search his memory, but the name “Luo Yao” remained elusive. After a brief pause, he mumbled, “Could it be him?”
Then, he raised his gaze to Yun Lie and inquired, “Yun Shixiong, the individual who had a dispute with one of Tiangong Pavilion’s servants over this ‘Fuwen Tongfa,’ the one we entertained, could that person be this fellow Taoist surnamed Luo?”
Yun Lie simply replied, “You’ll know when you see him.”
Accepting Yun Lie’s response, Xu Ziqing didn’t dwell on it further and offered a smile. “I understand.”
As they waited, the scent of something peculiar drifted in the air. Gradually, a figure came into view, approaching Xiaolu Peak.
Curiosity piqued, Xu Ziqing turned his attention toward the approaching figure, eagerly anticipating the appearance of this Taoist named Luo.
After Yan Shuang escorted the newcomer, he quickly withdrew.
Standing there, Luo Yao glanced at Xu Ziqing from a distance and called out, “Disciple Luo Yao requests an audience with the master of Xiaolu Peak and fellow Taoist Xu Ziqing!”
His voice possessed a clear and melodious quality, akin to the sweet song of a young phoenix. It’s often said that one’s character is reflected in their voice, and even before Xu Ziqing saw Luo Yao’s appearance, his voice had already left a positive impression.
Yun Lie remained silent, apparently delegating the matter to Xu Ziqing for handling.
Xu Ziqing reciprocated, raising his voice to respond, “Fellow Daoist Luo, please come for a discussion.” His voice was soft, even when speaking loudly, it remained soothing, akin to a gentle spring breeze in casual conversation.
Upon hearing Xu Ziqing’s voice, Luo Yao on the other side appeared momentarily startled, then he quickened his pace and approached the peak.
At this moment, he had a clear view of the peak before him.
Everywhere he looked, sword aura filled the air, and each step sent a chilling sensation coursing through Luo Yao’s body. It was an intense cold that seemed to seep into his very core, as if every inch of his skin was being torn apart by the sharp, icy sword energy. Under this extreme cold, a profound shock gripped him, causing his heart to race and his pupils to involuntarily shrink.
Luo Yao recognized that this overwhelming feeling stemmed from the peak’s aura, an aura so terrifying that the pervasive killing intent threatened to pierce through his flesh and penetrate the depths of his blood. It seemed intent on shattering his Dao heart and infiltrating his limbs and bones, as if it sought to transform him into a mindless killer.
As he set foot on the summit of Xiaolu Peak, he became instantly affected by the dominating ambiance.
In an effort to regain his composure, Luo Yao took several deep breaths. Gradually, he managed to subdue the unsettling sensations that had gripped him.
His gaze then shifted towards the source of this chilling atmosphere—the man responsible for the aura. This man exuded an ice-cold presence from head to toe. He appeared devoid of emotion as if all feelings had been frozen within him, inducing a sense of fear in anyone who gazed upon him.
He left the impression of a sharp sword, encased in unrelenting killing intent. Though sheathed, the sheer weight of this intent couldn’t be ignored, producing an eerie, trembling sensation. However, Luo Yao understood that the voice he had heard earlier did not come from this man’s mouth. Thus, he turned his attention to the left.
On this peak, in addition to the man exuding a sword-like coldness, there was another young man present.
This young man donned verdant attire, possessed striking good looks, and had gentle, welcoming eyes. Seated cross-legged on the ground, he gazed towards Luo Yao with a curious expression and a friendly smile on his lips.
His aura radiated a profound tranquility, coupled with a vibrant warmth, a stark contrast to the man’s icy presence. Yet, the very fact that he was here seemed to breathe life into the deathly, ice-cloaked peak.
Prior to his arrival, Luo Yao had gathered some information about the peak’s master, learning that he was a peerless genius currently ranked fifth on the Tianlong Ranking. He was known as an exceptional Jindanzhen and a practitioner of ruthless killing swordsmanship.
Hence, the young man before him must be Xu Ziqing, the rumored direct disciple destined to assist in his journey to the Golden Core Stage.
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