Chapter 38: The Convergence of Storm and Cloud

In an instant, the two exchanged blows back and forth, already having fought seventy or eighty moves. The disciples watching from the Spirit Divine Hall, with Silak as an example ahead, dared not underestimate Labi Ke's deployment, but saw Gote holding his great sword at an angle; facing Labi Ke's continuous magical attacks, he could only keep dodging, clearly at a disadvantage. It should be known that although Gote is one of the seven hall masters of the Spirit Divine Hall, after his earlier battle with Luoshan his magical power was almost nullified. At this moment, relying on his deep knowledge and agile swordsmanship, he can temporarily avoid defeat, but it is a defensive‑only situation.

Mingguang, Bavaria and others are top‑class masters; they had long seen that although Labi Ke's strength is quite impressive, it still falls far short of Silak's. It seems that aside from Labi Ke, the other masters in the Luo Fugu De Villa are no better. Yet, despite this, Gote now has almost no magical power; facing Labi Ke's powerful light beam, he can barely retaliate. The hall masters watching nearby see this clearly and feel a great anxiety. If Gote is defeated, not only will the Spirit Divine Hall's reputation suffer greatly, but the upcoming decisive battle will also be lost by seventy or eighty percent.

Labi Ke, unable to gain the upper hand after many fights, grew anxious and swung his staff; the light suddenly changed color, and he unleashed a move called "Dark Arrow." This was a secret technique personally taught to him by Viscount Luo Fugu De, truly remarkable. Mingguang, seeing the opponent suddenly employ the Spirit Divine Hall's secret ultimate art, felt a chill. Gote, in the midst of battle, was both shocked and angry. He is a powerful mage, and the "Dark Arrow" is a formidable technique, one of his prideful signature moves. Yet at this moment, seeing such a second‑rate mage use it while he himself cannot counter it, his fury rose, and he let out a loud, fierce howl.

In that flash of electric thunder, a voice suddenly reached Gote's mind: "Labi Ke's Dark Arrow is not yet mature; though its display is impressive, its variation is rigid and lacks a follow‑up move. If you dodge slightly, you can seize the chance and overwhelm his magic with swordsmanship." Gote felt a chill. Though he had no magic, his knowledge told him a supreme mage was transmitting the words into his mind with magical power. At that moment Labi Ke's spell surged straight at him, leaving no time to hesitate. He sighed, thinking that at worst he would die, so he might as well follow the advice and risk his life. He raised his great sword, let out a roar, and charged at Labi Ke. The Dark Arrow's beam instantly reached his chest. Gote deftly sidestepped, and the beam slid past him without any sign of looping back. Elated, he swung his sword at Labi Ke. Labi Ke did not expect such a reckless charge; in haste he swung his staff, and a white barrier formed instantly, blocking Gote's crushing strike. Yet Gote had the initiative and forced Labi Ke into defense; a rapid seven‑sword combo followed, each blow lethal. Labi Ke used all his strength to resist, but by the seventh strike his staff's light dimmed, and Gote's great sword came down, cleaving the staff in two! Seizing the moment, Labi Ke vaulted backward, barely avoiding the fatal blow, but the sword light still sliced his chest, opening a deep wound several centimeters long, blood gushing, and he fell backward.

Viscount Luo Fugu De's face changed color, while the members of the Spirit Divine Hall erupted in cheers. Gote recalled his situation moments earlier and felt uneasy. Had no one spoken up, he might have been the one gravely wounded and fallen now. He did not know who had spoken; it could not have come from the Luo Fugu De Villa crowd, yet the voices of the hall masters on the Spirit Divine Hall side were all too familiar—so it could not have been them.

"Gote," Mingguang thought, a great weight finally lifted from his heart. "This turn from defeat to victory is truly splendid. Return now."

"Hmm." Gote sheathed his great sword, feeling a post‑calamity relief. Viscount Luo Fugu De glanced at the fallen Labi Ke on the ground, his face darkening, let out a heavy hum, brushed his sleeve, and took several long strides forward. "Lord Gote indeed has great skill. According to Lord Mingguang, my Luo Fugu De Villa is now at a stalemate, and the Spirit Divine Hall truly teems with masters. Then for this third match, it seems I, old Luo Fugu De, must act personally. I only wonder whether the hall masters of the Spirit Divine Hall will duel one‑on‑one or charge together?"

"Viscount Luo Fugu De's divine prowess is unrivaled; we have long admired it. When we four combined forces in the Luo Fugu De Villa, we still were no match for you, Viscount. Today Mingguang has no options but to advance together with his comrades." Mingguang, being clear‑headed, naturally would not fall for the opponent's provocation. At this moment, with Gote victorious, the Spirit Divine Hall side, aside from the seriously injured Xilisiya and the dead Aorden, still has six masters; facing the Viscount one‑against‑six may lack glory, but as long as they can fend off Luo Fugu De's attacks and keep the Spirit Divine Hall from falling, it is enough.

The Spirit Divine Hall side felt uncertain, unaware that Viscount Luo Fugu De was also in a bind. He had intended to eliminate Gote through Labi Ke, then sweep away the remaining mages of the Hall with his unparalleled swordsmanship, thereby destroying the Hall. However, Labi Ke's inexplicable defeat left Gote still standing, adding a sword‑master to his enemies and rendering his original plan unusable. It should be noted that Viscount Luo Fugu De, having trained Labi Ke, Silak and others, has also suffered a considerable loss of his own magical power; his current strength is far below that of the earlier battle at Luo Fugu De Villa, while the seven halls of the Spirit Divine Hall have become far stronger than during that great war, causing the Viscount's chances to drop to a pitiful level. Yet he has no alternative but to steel himself and fight.

Yet, as both sides drew swords, ready to clash, the thousand‑plus spectators present all at once heard a majestic voice.

"At the summit of Cold Mountain, a decisive battle without me would be a regret, would it not?"

Viscount Luo Fugu De's heart trembled, and he instinctively turned his head. Gote recognized the voice as the one that had whispered to him, feeling both surprise and joy, patted Mingguang's shoulder, and said, "It was that person's voice that turned my defeat into victory."

However, when Mingguang heard that voice, he only stared blankly, paying no heed to what Gote said. The voice was so familiar—could it be… could it be…

Amid the crowd's startled murmurs, a youth in black suddenly rode the wind into the air, brandishing a long sword in his right hand and cradling a white‑clothed girl, laughing loudly, "Lord Mingguang, Viscount, today's decisive battle—how shall I, Luoshan, partake?"

This sudden appearance was Luoshan himself. When Pei'er left, he had been despondent as if dead, but Qin Yan's abrupt arrival stirred him, and in his gloom he silently vowed to end everything with his own strength.

He knew the Spirit Divine Hall had originally challenged the Luo Fugu De Villa, agreeing to settle the score on Cold Mountain three months later. By then, whether Viscount Luo Fugu De or Mingguang, both would surely attend. If he wanted to rescue his parents, this was the best chance. Yet two months before the Cold Mountain appointment, Luoshan had taken residence by the Linquan River, in the small cottage Pei'er left, to train rigorously. Qin Yan had secretly fled, and upon learning her father's plot against Luoshan, she was truly torn. Luoshan understood her distress and, for two months, never mentioned the Viscount's affairs. Thus, though both bore heavy hearts, they lived quietly by the Linquan River for those two months.

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During those two months, Luoshan cultivated his magical power daily and practiced swordsmanship. The magical energy left in his body by Xiao Yushan, plus the powers he later absorbed from Aorden, the Fire God, the Wind God and other masters, began to merge into his bloodline as his own strength grew, eventually becoming usable. At this point, purely in terms of magical power, Luoshan could already stand on equal footing with Mingguang; though perhaps not as pure as Viscount Luo Fugu De, the gap was small. Moreover, the sixty‑four creation sword techniques forged by the Sword God were increasingly integrated, and over the two months Luoshan's progress was astonishing.

This day, counted on his fingers, was the appointed meeting at Cold Mountain. After completing a set of creation sword methods, Luoshan immediately rode the wind to the battlefield. Qin Yan refused to leave Luoshan, insisting on joining him in the fight. Luoshan knew the dangers atop Cold Mountain were numerous; Qin Yan lacked magical ability and would be at risk. He had already seen Pei'er's fate and did not wish Qin Yan to suffer similarly. Yet Qin Yan stubbornly clutched his hand, refusing to be left alone.

"Even if you abandon me, I will still come looking for you."

"If something happens to you… I could not survive alone."

"Qin Yan." Luoshan gazed at her stubborn little face, his heart aching. "If you stay with me, how can I fight with peace of mind?" "Then, if you abandon me, can you fight peacefully?" Qin Yan retorted. "Luoshan, I don't care; I will follow you. Whether it's through fire‑mountains or across the ends of the earth, even if you leave me, I will still go find you."

"Qin Yan." Luoshan sighed. "You are selfish."

"Yes. I am selfish." Qin Yan's eyes welled with tears. "Everyone trapped in love is selfish. And you, thinking you can bear all danger alone, claim it's selfless and noble—Luoshan, you cannot be like that. No matter what, we live together, we die together. Isn't that good?"

"Live together, die together." Luoshan murmured twice, and a fleeting image of a blonde girl flashed in his mind, a deep sorrow surging instantly. "Fine." He closed his eyes. "Live together, die together."

"Qin Yan, rest assured—today, who will live, who will die!"