Chapter 1395
Destruction
Chapter 1395 Destruction
After he finished speaking, the mountain fell silent. Cheng Jiuwen's doubts gradually disappeared, and he slowly raised his head, seemingly lost in thought.
'The situation in Shu!'
This immediately relaxed him, and he bowed in greeting:
"Your Excellency, since this is a matter of national importance, our Sword Sect should obey orders without question. Our Martial Uncle has been in seclusion for many years, and we dare not disturb him. Now that we have received the order, we will go and invite him immediately!"
He turned around, intending to give orders, but saw the general in front of him slowly shaking his head.
The mountain wind whistled, the pines and cypresses swayed, and footsteps sounded softly. A middle-aged man walked with his hands behind his back, stepping over the green steps, slowly and steadily climbing the mountain.
The man was dressed simply, with a pear blossom sword hanging at his waist. There was a small, dark sword mark the size of a soybean between his eyebrows. His eyes were slightly closed, yet they exuded an inexplicable sharpness, causing the atmosphere on the mountain to freeze and fall into a sudden silence.
The Sword Immortal of the Sword Sect, the Great Master of Gold Exchange!
Cheng Xunzhi!
The people around him were alright, but Gu Pang, looking at that familiar face and completely different demeanor, was dazed. His eyes immediately blurred with tears, and he secretly rejoiced:
'Uncle-Master! Heaven have mercy! Our Sword Sect has finally produced another talent like him!'
Since the founding master Cheng Liuxing failed in his quest for gold and died, and several of his disciples subsequently perished one after another, the entire Sword Sect only flourished once in its middle period. However, this prosperity was not driven by the way of the sword. Afterward, it became embroiled in moral disputes, resulting in endless conflicts and disputes.
Now that he has seen his martial uncle become a sword immortal and a great master, how could Gu Pang not be overjoyed and weep with joy?
Cheng Xunzhi's gaze lingered on him for a moment, and he nodded slightly, seemingly in praise, before walking past the crowd with his hands behind his back and saying calmly:
"The General wants me to attack Shu?"
Facing this sword immortal, Yang Ruiyi was naturally very polite, and now he seemed afraid to meet his eyes, bowing deeply and saying:
"It is not Yang."
Cheng Xunzhi turned his head, a sharp aura faintly visible, and said softly:
"I am grateful to the General for his concern and for bringing me such a treasure, which has enabled this unworthy disciple to attain enlightenment. As for my supernatural abilities, they have indeed improved."
"I never expected it to work on the second try."
Even though Yang Ruiyi had mentioned it before, these words still startled Cheng Jiuwen, who stared blankly at the middle-aged man in front of him.
What does it mean?
If it were merely the perfection of the fourth supernatural power, this general would not have spoken of it in such a way. Now that Cheng Xunzhi has personally acknowledged it, the fifth supernatural power must have been achieved!
'How could it be so fast!'
It has been less than twenty years since Cheng Xun broke through to the Purple Realm. Logically speaking, he should only have achieved the "Now Gone, Now Gone" perfection. Who would have thought that this sword immortal would have already achieved the fifth divine power without making a sound!
A surge of emotion welled up inside him, making Cheng Jiuwen want to both cry and laugh wildly. He stood there like a statue, with only one thought in his mind.
Peak of the Purple Mansion Realm!
Even though Cheng Xunzhi had just emerged from seclusion and his fifth supernatural power was still a long way from perfection, he was still close to having all five powers and could be considered a peak Purple Mansion cultivator!
While peak Purple Mansion cultivators are indeed rare, the Sun Dao lineage is not without its share of talent, with outstanding individuals emerging generation after generation. Cheng Jiuwen was no stranger to these figures, whose unparalleled prowess lay not only in their overwhelming strength that suppressed others for a time, but also in their extremely unique status and position.
"Having all five methods complete... was the starting point for meeting immortals and receiving teachings in ancient times. In today's world, it even grants the right to be willful—even if one obeys orders but not summons, for the sake of the metal element, the underworld must tolerate and indulge him... even protect him!"
The person before me is a sword immortal!
A sword immortal at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm!
Not to mention that the Sun Dao lineage has declined now, even when the Sun Dao lineage was at its peak, Cheng Xunzhi was enough to stand out from the crowd and suppress the enemy for a time. In the long river of history, he was enough to be respected below the level of the patriarch!
'Going back two hundred years, even predecessors like Zi Mu and Yuan Shang might not have been his match…'
When Cheng Xunzhi achieved the pinnacle of supernatural powers, he was still very young. With his extraordinary and independent cultivation, as long as he remained in the Sword Sect, no one could touch the Sword Sect!
He wept:
"Uncle-Master, we can finally avenge our great grudge!"
Compared to his ecstatic joy, a hint of melancholy flashed in the sword immortal's eyes. There was no trace of pride or arrogance; he said softly:
"This 'departure from the past'... I have actually cultivated it all with the first half of my life. A hundred years of accumulation, and in one day, I have broken through the old and created the new. It was a natural process. Rather than saying that my cultivation is complete, it is more accurate to say that I have firmly grasped it..."
"And this is 'destroyed again'."
He gently placed his hand on the hilt of the sword, pulling it out a small section. Instantly, the entire area above the sword gate was filled with a chilling aura, a strong wind arose, and the sharp, knife-like sword energy seemed to sweep through every corner, its silvery reflection mirroring his icy gaze.
"It's nothing more than a stroke of luck in my destiny."
The words "destroy again" filled Cheng Jiuwen's heart with sorrow.
'So it meant "destroy again."'
He had heard Tianjiao preach several times in recent days. The key to sword cultivation actually lies in seeking the Dao through the Four Dui and One Geng, and more importantly, in that unique "Inexhaustible Edge".
"Unending Edge" was left behind by the True Lord and bestowed by the Sun. It is related to the way of the sword and was once used by cultivators of the Free and Unfettered Gold Sect. As long as one cultivates the true techniques of the sword sect, one can use it to replace any of the five supernatural powers.
It is only because the patriarch Cheng Liu walked the orthodox path of the sun, replacing the "re-destruction" of "Geng metal" in order to seek purity, that the True Lord left him his own method of seeking metal. The lineage of the Sword Sect has always followed these paths - Dui metal lies in "killing and collecting palace", "ruler Dui corner", "not exhausting the edge", "position from Fu" and "golden aperture heart". If all five paths are complete, one can seek the method of metal and prove the Dao.
Back then, Cheng Xunzhi, who was still Li Mei, hesitated for many years before finally deciding to take this step, precisely because of this method of seeking gold!
'Indeed, ever since he cultivated that 'Now Gone Before the Past' technique, the sect's methods for seeking gold have become useless to him! He can cultivate 'Inexhaustible Edge' and 'Re-Destruction' simultaneously... Nothing can stop him from cultivating 'Re-Destruction,' which is more in line with his own image...'
Cheng Jiuwen's expression was complicated, but Yang Ruiyi suddenly raised her head and looked at Cheng Xunzhi with a deep gaze, her heart pounding like thunder:
'As expected, it's 'destroyed again'!'
'No wonder he mastered it so easily!'
'His approach... is too decisive, and too precise!'
The general seemed to have caught a chill; his lips trembled slightly. Only the swaying pine trees on the mountain easily dispelled all the golden energy. Yang Ruiyi then spoke, his voice slightly weak:
"Congratulations, Sword Immortal!"
His voice was soft and gentle, but Cheng Xunzhi didn't even look at him. He simply placed the pear blossom sword in his palm and examined it closely, his eyes shining on the bright spine of the sword.
"I will go to the Three Passes."
His voice was strong and clear:
"General, hurry back to report. There's no need for you to linger at my Jianmen."
These words were quite blunt, almost an order to kick him out, which made Cheng Jiuwen's expression change slightly. Yang Ruiyi, however, breathed a sigh of relief, bowed deeply, glanced at the two True Immortals on his left and right, and ultimately said nothing. He stepped into the Void and hurriedly left.
Almost as soon as the general left, Cheng Jiuwen knelt down with red eyes, weeping, and said:
"Uncle-Master! Uncle-Master can now rest in peace with our ancestors!"
Upon hearing him mention the word "ancestor," the increasingly intense killing intent in Cheng Xun's eyes finally subsided. He exhaled softly, turned the sword, and sheathed the immortal sword with a clang. Only then could his voice be heard:
"I've been asking for a long time, how powerful are you?"
Cheng Jiuwen bowed and said with shame:
"No progress has been made."
Although Cheng Jiuwen was already in the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm, he was neither a person of extraordinary talent nor had he recently encountered the Purple Mansion realm, so naturally he made no progress.
Cheng Xunzhi rarely smiled, and said:
"Your mind is cluttered and cannot be properly regulated. You should look to Geng metal instead."
Cheng Jiuwen, slightly surprised and doubtful upon hearing this, nodded uneasily. Cheng Xunzhi simply smiled and said:
“You don’t need to worry. The Dui Geng has shifted, and the Great Dao within the sect has been severed, but the Four Daos are still intact. As long as you don’t touch the ‘Golden Aperture Heart,’ no one will make things difficult for you.”
This time, having broken through the barrier, he seemed to have a completely different idea, turning to look at Gu Pang on the other side:
"You are the same."
The two men still looked doubtful, but the sword immortal simply waved his hand and said:
"Go down."
Throughout the entire process, the spiritual cultivator at the peak of Jiaomu did not utter a single word. Cheng Jiuwen naturally noticed this, but he did not ask any further questions. He simply led his men away, and for a moment, the mountain wind howled, leaving only the sword immortal with his back to the old tree.
After a long silence, Cheng Xunzhi finally spoke softly:
"Senior, the 'Fragment Again' technique you taught me is truly amazing... You've made rapid progress every day."
He gripped the sword hilt, his eyes gazing into the distance. The only sound in the wind was the rustling of leaves. A suffocating silence lingered for a long time before an aged voice could be heard.
"I never expected... you broke through so early."
But Cheng Xunzhi did not answer him. The old spiritual cultivator said:
"Since we're sending you to the three passes..."
"Three checkpoints?"
The sword immortal interrupted him, still not turning around, his smile tinged with irony:
"It's not the Three Passes, it's the Great Desert. They want me to walk through it, to the front of the pass, to be right under their noses, to see what they're made of, and to see their supernatural abilities... The conquest of Shu is just a side project. They're doing two things at once, that's their method."
The wind and rain were fierce, and the old tree didn't know how to answer him. Cheng Xunzhi said softly:
"The senior has been a great benefactor to me, so there's no need to say more."
Cheng Xunzhi slung his sword over his shoulder, strode forward, and just before stepping into the void, he suddenly remembered something, turned around with a smile, and asked:
"This junior suddenly remembered the elder's background. I heard that back then, that esteemed person played a drinking game with the True Lord, and that's how he lost and came here. The True Lord then built the Chenghua Palace on the mountain, naming it specifically for it, and personally attended to every single detail, from the smallest plant to the largest tree..."
"good."
The branches rustled and swayed, Cheng Xun said:
"The lineage and Daoist name of the senior..."
That spiritual cultivator said:
"Naturally, they were all personally taught by the True Lord."
……
The chanting of sutras drifted on the air, and purple mist surged forth. The mountaintop was a gathering place of spiritual energy, but there were few people around. The cave doors were tightly shut, and the light was so bright that it reflected one's image. It seemed as if endless golden light was shimmering on the surface, connecting with the vast void. Even a brief glance stirred one's heart.
The woman gracefully ascended the mountain and entered the courtyard, speaking softly:
"grown ups!"
But the usually open cave was now tightly shut. An old man stood guard at the entrance, his posture very humble. Upon hearing this, he turned around, descended three steps, and then smiled:
"Yan'er!"
Zhang Duanyan had some doubts, but still bowed and reported:
"Reporting to you, sir, the two spiritual items and the [Mysterious Magnetic Thunder Liquid] have been sent to Cheng Yun. According to my uncle, that person's talent and destiny are extraordinary. With these treasures, the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm is within reach!"
The old man chuckled and said:
"Good... It wasn't for nothing that we removed all the Yuan magnetism from the entire Tangdao Mountain and put it into that pot to aid his cultivation... The cave heaven really did think things through. In this world, where are there any more Yuan magnet treasure lands left?"
The woman nodded silently, about to ask a question, but was interrupted by the old man. Chunshuo smiled, stood up, helped her up, and said:
"That's not urgent. There's a very important matter right now that requires your immediate attention!"
Zhang Duanyan's expression changed slightly. The old man leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words, which startled the woman. She nodded repeatedly, gave a slight bow, and without caring about anything else, took the treasures from the old man's hands. She then hurriedly rode the wind and sped away!
Jin Yi Mountain Gate stands in the middle of the desert, surrounded by swirling sand and dust, giving it a somewhat exotic feel. She hadn't left the sect for many years and should have taken a good look around, but instead, she kept her lips tightly pressed together, constantly looking around as if searching for something.
In an instant, her eyes lit up, and she descended on the wind, blocking a slow-moving ray of light in mid-air, saying:
"Fellow Taoist Zhaojing!"
The light manifested in human form that day, with handsome features and a dot of light between his brows—it was Li Ximing! Upon seeing this woman, he breathed a faint sigh of relief, then glanced around her with some uncertainty, seeing no one else, and quickly bowed:
"Greetings, senior!"
"I wouldn't dare..."
Zhang Duanyan, however, dared not act arrogantly in front of him. He shook his head repeatedly, hesitated for a moment, and then said in a pretentious manner:
"I was patrolling this area when I unexpectedly ran into you, fellow Daoist... I heard that the King of Wei has already gone to Shu, so the war must be urgent. Why do I see you strolling around here?"
Li Ximing, of course, didn't stand on ceremony with her. Overjoyed, he quickly took out the gold scroll from his sleeve, handed it to Zhang Duanyan, and said:
"This is a message from the King of Wei, sent to the Immortal Sect! I am right here, please convey it to me, Fairy!"
"I understand!"
Zhang Duanyan nodded, remembering the old man's words, smiled slightly, and said:
"This is a time of turmoil, with chaos reigning on all sides. I urge you, Master, to return to your fortress!"
Upon hearing this, Li Ximing dared not linger any longer. He bowed slightly and returned the way he came, not daring to step out of the desert even half a step. Zhang Duanyan watched him go into the distance before riding the wind back to the mountain. He landed in front of the Purple Qi Cave, only to find that the old man was still calmly drinking tea.
Chunshuo always doted on his juniors, and Zhang Duanyan dared to be a little presumptuous. He immediately pouted and said:
"You seem quite content!"
Chunshuo shook his head with a smile, while Zhang Duanyan stepped forward, his face showing a mixture of curiosity and surprise, and said:
"I wonder what could have caused such a disturbance..."
"Hey, this isn't an alarm. Daozi has already gone out to regulate the Qi and has been in seclusion in the cave for five hundred days! Mingyang's matter is an order specifically issued by the cave heaven!"
The old man held up a finger to shut her up, then pointed downwards, landing on the golden scroll. Zhang Duanyan immediately understood, raised his hand, and gently pulled at the silk ribbon formed by the Mingyang magic power in the middle.
In an instant, a wave seemed to surge away into the void. Zhang Duanyan unfolded the scroll and saw that the golden characters at the top were bold and elegant, with only a few words written concisely:
"Now, we can capture the master and burn the temple."
The description of "breaking and seeking gold" is not detailed enough; it needs to be supplemented slightly.