Chapter 177: Sighing All Day, The Hidden Sword Canyon, Crossing Swords Through Time
Sitting atop the Fairy boat on the way to the Hidden Sword Canyon, Chu Kuangren’s chin rested on his palm as he gazed towards the sea of clouds, sighing from time to time.
Meanwhile, Murong Xuan and Nangong Huang watched from nearby.
“That makes it the sixth time now.”
Murong Xuan said.
“Sighing six times within two hours, what troubles are our Elder Senior Brother met with?” Nangong Huang said anxiously.
“It can’t be, right? Our Elder Senior Brother is so awesome, what trouble can possibly weigh him down?” Beside him, the confused Daoist Jun Yi asked.
Lan Yu was just walking past them at that time, so Jun Yi quickly went up to her and asked, “Lan Yu, do you know why our Elder Senior Brother is sighing so much?”
Lan Yu pondered a while. “Sigh…”
Everyone then looked at each other.
‘Wait, no, why are you sighing as well?’
“Here are some fruits, Master.”
Lan Yu held a plate of fruits and walked to Chu Kuangren’s side.
“Alright.”
Nangong Huang and the others went up to both of them. After being pressured by the curious crowd, Murong Xuan approached Chu Kuangren unwillingly and asked, “Um… Uh… Elder Senior Brother, have you gotten into some trouble recently?”
“Trouble? Nope. I’ve been eating well, dressing well, my cultivation progress has been smooth sailing. I’m even getting increasingly handsome every day, so there are no troubles for me at all.”
“This doesn’t seem right. If there’s no trouble, then why is Elder Senior Brother sighing here all day?” Jun Yi said.
“Oh, so you all are talking about that I see…”
Upon realizing that, Chu Kuangren proceeded to shake his head and sigh. “Sigh, I’m feeling a bit helpless and frustrated now that we’re bringing this up. You guys just take a look at how old I am now, yet Honorable Teacher is already insisting that I become the Sect Leader. Don’t you think he’s screwing around with me?”
Everyone froze when his words.
‘What?’
‘That’s it? That’s all there is?’
‘So you’ve been sighing for two hours just because of this?’
One must know that not many even had the chance to be a Sect Leader, let alone the Sect Leader of a sage orthodoxy.
That was something to be extremely proud of!
However, seeing Chu Kuangren’s look of disgust in the face of that news, Murong Xuan, Nangong Huang, and the others felt it was absurd.
“I’ll give my hundred percent support if they want Elder Senior Brother to be Sect Master.”
“That’s right. No matter if it’s prestige or combat strength, no one in the Black Heaven Sect can contend with Elder Senior Brother. Having you as the Sect Master is very normal.”
Nangong Huang and the others thought that it was natural for something like that to happen.
As such, Chu Kuangren felt even more helpless.
“Are there any Sect Leaders who’re as young as I am in this world?”
Only then did everyone come to their senses.
He was right. Chu Kuangren was not even twenty years old yet, and there were no Sect Leaders who were as young as him in the whole Firmament Star.
Let alone those who were in charge of a whole sage orthodoxy.
“When it comes to this then, Elder Senior Brother is possibly the youngest Sect Master of a sage orthodoxy in history!”
“My gosh, that’s just too prestigious.”
“Haha, no doubt it’s something only our Elder Senior Brother can achieve. He’s truly amazing. ”
Chu Kuangren froze.
‘Why are each and every one of you more excited and delighted than me?’
‘Shouldn’t you think that something like this is very inappropriate and you should voice out that concern to the current Sect Leader when you return later? And not let him pass on that position to me?’
“Sigh, I can’t believe that at this young age, not only do I have to bear such extravagant handsomeness which I shouldn’t have at such an age, but to also carry such a large burden as well.”
Chu Kuangren looked up into the heavens and sighed again.
…
The Hidden Sword Canyon was located at the border between the Scarlet Phoenix and Azure Dragon Domain.
According to legends, that place was once a venue for an ancient orthodoxy to pass on their Daoist teachings. Although it was now in a dilapidated state, the Daoist Rhymes of countless sword cultivators had still been left behind; hence the endless stream of sword cultivators who visited there.
It was especially so now that the Sword Gauntlet was going to open. The number of visitors who came to witness the action had increased by tenfold compared to before, gathering many talented swordsmen.
Soon, Chu Kuangren and the others had arrived at this place.
“So this is the Hidden Sword Canyon? Its name is truly well-deserved.”
Nangong Huang said in admiration.
The Hidden Sword Canyon was a very huge gorge that was cut into the earth. Numerous sword marks were carved onto both sides of the canyon’s rocky wall where various mysterious Daoist Rhymes emanated.
For the sword cultivators, this location was like a very holy place.
“The Sword Gauntlet is located in the deepest part of the canyon. Elder Senior Brother, why don’t we go take a look then?” Murong Xuan said.
“Alright.”
Chu Kuangren nodded as everyone walked towards the depths of the Hidden Sword Canyon.
They were a very eye-catching group of people.
This was especially for Chu Kuangren who was leading the group. With his extraordinary and transcendental aura, he would undoubtedly become the focus of everyone wherever he went.
Not long after, someone had already figured out their identities.
“It’s the Black Heaven Sect’s people.”
“They’ve arrived.”
“Tsk, judging from the extraordinary looks of the person who’s leading, I suppose he must be the rumored Chu Kuangren.”
“It’s definitely him. Rumor has it that this person once mentally sparred with a Sage and even killed an Honorable Supreme as well. The strength he possesses is truly terrifying.”
“Among the sky-prides in the whole Firmament Star, I’m afraid only a handful are able to contend with this guy. Besides, he’s also known as the most promising person to become an Emperor in the future.”
There was a lot of discussion among the crowd.
Chu Kuangren did not care as he was used to the feeling of being gazed at by large crowds. He would ignore anyone as long as they did not rush towards him suddenly.
Compared to the crowd’s discussion, he was more interested in the countless sword marks that were on both sides of the canyon.
Some of those sword marks were very ancient, and they contained a slight remnant of Daoist Rhyme within them. However, some of the sword marks were very new too, as if they were carved onto the canyon walls not long ago.
Along the way, Chu Kuangren witnessed a sword cultivator gain insights on one of the sword marks, and he suddenly had a sense of realization. He then swung his blade and unleashed a slash, leaving a sword mark of his own on the canyon wall.
“Seems to me that the sword marks in this canyon are increasing by the moment!” Chu Kuangren mumbled.
Yet although the sword marks were numerous, it was a shame that not many of them were useful to Chu Kuangren.
The insights he possessed regarding Dao Techniques, especially sword Dao ones were too deep that even an ordinary Sage could not surpass him.
Most of the sword marks left on the canyon wall were only left by swordsmen who were on the level of Honorable Supremes. What benefit could they possibly provide for his reference?
“I can only hope that Sword Gauntlet will give me some pleasant surprises then.”
Chu Kuangren whispered.
Gradually, he felt a surge of mysterious Daoist Rhyme coming from somewhere in front, and a black tall building then came into view.
That building was nine hundred and ninety feet tall, consisting of fifty floors. It stood tall and upright like a sword piercing through the heavens and bewildering everyone who saw it.
A plaque was seen at the gate of the tall building with the words “Sword Gauntlet” carved onto it. The carvings were skilfully made as with each stroke was carved gracefully with a sword like a pair of dragon and phoenix dancing. It emanated an immeasurably sharp Sword-based Daoist Rhyme!
The Daoist Rhyme which Chu Kuangren felt from afar came from the two words that were carved on the plaque.
It was merely two words, yet it exceeded the countless sword marks that were left on the canyon walls.
Chu Kuangren stared at the two words and vaguely saw a white-robed man demonstrating a sword dance in front of him as a sharp sword qi surged in all directions.
Hum…
Chu Kuangren’s body trembled slightly and his Sword-based Daoist Rhyme surged forth. He then rushed towards the Sword Gauntlet plaque as if he was spanning countless years to cross swords with the white-robed man across time and space.
The two surges of Sword-based Daoist Rhyme intertwined and collided. At that moment, the whole Hidden Sword Canyon rumbled, and the numerous surges of Daoist Rhymes within the sword marks started to mess up, while the weaker ones were immediately dispersed.
Everyone was shocked, not knowing what was happening.
Only the stronger sword cultivators who were near the Sword Gauntlet realized what had happened as they looked towards Chu Kuangren’s silhouette in horror.
“He’s resonating with the Sword Gauntlet’s Daoist Rhyme!”
“This phenomenon is akin to two great sword Sages mentally sparring before us! How did Chu Kuangren manage to do this?”
“The rumors are true. This person can truly mentally spar with a Sage.”
…
“So this is the Sword Gauntlet. I guess this trip here was worth it after all.”
Chu Kuangren chuckled before he retracted his gaze and dispersed the Sword-based Daoist Rhyme around him, no longer looking at those two words on the plaque.