Chapter 338: Blood Under the Pine (Part 2) (6000, added for Alliance Leader Blue Black Hurricane)

Along with Gan Zifeng, they went up to the second observation platform. The outstanding disciples of each peak were here, and the two sat down casually, not very conspicuous.

The arena was bustling, and the aftermath of the previous match was fading. When Seeing Pei Ye sat down, the proud youth he had just seen was also walking onto the stage.

Gan Zifeng didn't speak again, because this position was neither high nor low, just right to hear the comments of the peak masters and elders above, and the discussions of the disciples of each lineage below.

The words below were indeed clearly audible.

"Is that Junior Brother Caiyue of Xianqiao Peak? He looks so handsome."

"Can he beat Zhang Shixiong Kong Wen? I don't believe it."

"I don't believe it either, but he gained fame in the government city, and a 'Bai Hong Chapter' shocked the four directions. Today should be his first appearance in the sect."

"You don't understand. Junior Brother Yan must win. Ever since Zhang Shixiong Ji Feng's sword was knocked off the cliff back then, Xianqiao Peak has been depressed. After so many years, how much contempt have they suffered? Junior Brother is a beggar brought back from Xiangzhou City by Uncle Xu, and he grew up in this kind of gaze."

"I heard he took the initiative to challenge Zhang Shixiong Kong Wen?"

"Yes."

On the lotus platform, Yan Caiyue stood quietly with his head down, holding a long sword upside down, the white blade shining like a mirror in the sunlight.

"After this match, I will trouble the sword master to give the old man some advice," the voice above was very light but very clear. Ji Changyun, the master of Yuanwu Peak, was of unknown age, with obvious crane spots on his face. At this time, he was sitting with Ming Qitian at the highest head. He was placing a sword with a gloomy color on his knees, and his whole person had the temperament of the old pine under the stage.

Ji Changyun was the oldest one among the hundred-mile Kongdong Mountains today, and this name could be found on the second page of the Crane List—Crane 67, 【Old Sword Forgetting Pine】.

This was also the most exciting mid-stage of this 【Iron Pine Sword Meeting】, and Peak Master Ji and Ming Jianzhu would perform a feather-scale trial under the five peaks in advance.

This would be the most formal and highest-level intersection of Yunlang Sword and Kongdong Sword in the past fifty years, and it would definitely be recorded in detail as an example for many sword theories in the future.

But from another perspective, when Ming Qitian asked for sword advice at Tianshan, young disciples came and went on the Heaven-Supporting Pillar, Nie Shangheng, Shang Yunning, Zuoqiu Longhua... all had something to say in front of Ming Jianzhu. Now Kongdong skipped the younger generation and directly used the town-mountain person to support the scene, which indeed showed that the theory of "Kongdong's decline" in recent years was not groundless.

"Senior, you are too modest," Ming Qitian bowed.

She cast her eyes to the competition below again.

Another person had walked down from the stage slowly. He was tall and carried a much wider and heavier sword, standing on the lotus platform under the pine.

If Yan Caiyue was the first to reveal his edge, Kong Wen was a sharp sword that had been out of its sheath for a long time. He became famous at an age similar to Yan Caiyue. Although his talent was slightly inferior, four years had passed, and even without talking about sword skills, his realm had already stood at the Sixth Life, and he was a young pillar of Yuanwu Peak.

This was the last match of the first half of the sword meeting, and it was also the most watched match so far.

The two stood opposite each other. A distant sword sound came from nowhere, and the noise returned to silence within a few breaths. The autumn wind rolled the leaves, and the two in the arena held their swords horizontally and saluted.

The next moment after the ceremony, another sword sound rang out, short and sharp, clanging and murderous.

Yan Caiyue took the sword first.

Seeing Pei Ye understood what "Bai Hong Chapter" was in an instant. This temperament was somewhat similar to the straight ink sword he encountered on the Guanyulu platform, but now this path was clearly clean and pure to another level. White rainbow through the sky, a kind of vast and strong force rushed toward his face.

Just by watching this move, Seeing Pei Ye agreed with Gan Zifeng's words. Such a sword was absolutely enough to reach the strength of "Huang Feicui." If this disciple was really the only seedling who learned this sword recently, Huan Si Lou would indeed find it difficult not to put their eyes on him.

But when was the right time to make a move? Now that Miss Ming had arrived, would they really make a move? Where were the other suitable targets?

What exactly did Huan Si Lou want to do by collecting so many diverse sword techniques?

Seeing Pei Ye watched the arena silently.

"Zhang Shixiong Yan's sword... oh my god," Guan Qianyan let out a small exclamation. "'Bai Hong Chapter' is so powerful?"

"Master said that among the seventeen peaks' inheritance, 'Bai Hong Chapter' can be ranked in the top ten," Kong Lanting said seriously. "But Senior Sister Guan, that second half of the sword is not 'Bai Hong Chapter'... Zhang Shixiong Yan has his own understanding of the sword."

"I don't believe he can beat Zhang Shixiong Kong Wen," Zhang Jingbi snorted vaguely on the side. "I don't believe it."

"I don't believe it either, but he gained fame in the government city, and a 'Bai Hong Chapter' shocked the four directions. Today should be his first appearance in the sect."

"You don't understand. Junior Brother Yan must win. Ever since Zhang Shixiong Ji Feng's sword was knocked off the cliff back then, Xianqiao Peak has been depressed. After so many years, how much contempt have they suffered? Junior Brother is a beggar brought back from Xiangzhou City by Uncle Xu, and he grew up in this kind of gaze."

"I heard he took the initiative to challenge Zhang Shixiong Kong Wen?"

"Yes."

"Hmm..." Everyone acted as if they hadn't heard it. Guan Qianyan returned a look of sudden realization to Kong Lanting. "Junior Brother Kong is still the best."

"I actually want to ask the sword master," Kong Lanting said to himself while flipping through that "Ode to the Pine Mist Sword," then looked to the side for some reason, a little hesitant.

Guan Qianyan also looked in the direction of his gaze, tried to open her mouth, but didn't make a sound.

Turning her eyes: "Ah! Junior Brother Kong, Zhang Shixiong Yan lost a move—oh, lost another move!"

"Five Life vs. Six Life is still too difficult, not to mention Zhang Shixiong Kong Wen is also very good at fighting," Kong Lanting said seriously.

"Then Zhang Shixiong Yan is going to lose."

"Hmm," Kong Lanting frowned and watched. "Lost another half move, it's mostly it."

Guan Qianyan puffed out her mouth, and suddenly turned her head to the other side with some hesitation.

Huan Si Lou's purpose was that treasure bead, and in the last encounter, that bead was not in an activated state. Huan Si Lou had already obtained the bead, so were all their behaviors to complete it, or to activate it?

Seeing Pei Ye didn't even care much about this point. Huan Si Lou could have any purpose. He just wanted to find the trace of that black robe first.

"... Hello?"

So to achieve this goal, what is that black robe doing now? How can he climb along what he wants to do and find his trace?

"... This... Zhang Shixiong?"

Seeing Pei Ye turned his head in a daze.

"Senior, Zhang Shixiong, hello, my name is Guan Qianyan. Zhang Shixiong, who do you think... will win this match?" The girl looked at him with some trepidation. Not only this pair of eyes, but several people around actually cast their gazes over, and Xi Tianji also raised his head slightly from the sword scroll.

"..." Seeing Pei Ye closed his eyes for a moment before he completely came back to his senses, his gaze falling on the two people below. "Sorry, I didn't pay much attention... It looks like this one with a stronger stature..."

As soon as these words fell, a sword energy surged up on the stage, and the green pine needles were scattered and collapsed. Yan Caiyue rose again in a desperate situation, broke open Kong Wen's sword with one sword, and pressed it against his throat.

He had been pressing this sword hard, and did not make a move in several moments when he was about to lose, until Kong Wen fell into "three exhaustion," and this sword was revealed so sharply.

It was indeed Qi through the rainbow.

The pine needles fell down with a rustle, like a green rain. Yan Caiyue pressed the tip of the sword against the other's throat for another breath, before slowly withdrawing his sword and standing in the silence, saluting and ending the sword.

On the lotus platform, Guan Qianyan nodded with a smile, and the people around also implicitly withdrew their gazes from this mysterious youth.

At this time, a sentence came from nowhere: "If that's the case, the next match is Zhang Shixiong Yan fighting Zhang Shixiong Zhang!"

Zhang Jingbi stared at the bottom with pale face, holding the sword handle with one hand, the red peace buckle hanging on his knee, his lips pursed tightly.

Watching Yan Caiyue walk back with his sword, he suddenly stood up with his sword and left the seat directly.

It wasn't until he walked far away that some giggling small voices sounded again: "Looking for his mother again..."

It was quiet for a while, and someone said expectantly: "The next one is... Peak Master and Sword Master, right? When will it start?"

Pine needles fell with a rustle, like a shower of emerald rain. Yan Caiyue held his sword tip against his opponent's throat for one breath longer before slowly withdrawing his hand and standing still amidst the silence, bowing to conclude the sword bout.

"Miss Ming seems to really like talking to people with good sword talent," Guan Qianyan looked at her with envy. "It's a pity that I am relatively stupid—eh, Zhang Shixiong Xi, why don't you ask for advice?"

Xi Tianji did subconsciously raise the book, but finally didn't get up, and smiled: "The sword meeting is coming soon, so I won't take up time."

At this time, on the top of the lotus, Ming Qitian also stopped talking and pointed her finger at Seeing Pei Ye. Kong Lanting looked over in surprise, then bowed deeply to the woman, and ran down with small steps.

On the other side, Ji Changyun swept down first with his sword and stood under the old pine.

The whole field was solemn, standing up and saluting.

The old man was wearing a dark green cloth shirt, and his cloth shoes stepped steadily on the ground. His waist and back were a bit bent, and he stood a tall sword behind his back.

Ming Qitian followed closely, still not holding the Slash Heart Glazed in her hand, but a long sword as bright as a mirror.

This should be a competition with more audiences.

Xi Tianji did subconsciously lift his book upon hearing this, but ultimately did not rise, smiling: "The sword discussion is about to begin, so I will not take up your time."

The Immortal Platform can only update the list for these people based on deduction, and no one knows for them, whether death or the Heaven Tower will come first.

And the woman standing opposite him represents the brightest sword edge of the next era.

She is only twenty-one years old this year. On the first day the Sword Lord let her appear in front of the world, she stood in the third position of the Crane List.

For countless geniuses, this matter is too fake and dreamy, but the facts are undeniable. And as one year, two years, three years... people have gradually accepted that she came to this world not to compare with anyone, and no one can compare with her. She just wants to conquer the mountain of "sword."

White clothes, black hair, single sword, ethereal like a god.

No sword sound, wind over the pine tips, the sword game started like this.

"Ming Jianzhu, I have been lingering on the three-foot top, guarding the five peaks for more than eighty years," Ji Changyun slowly drew his sword, his white beard fluttering in the wind. "When I was young, I felt that Kongdong's sword was broad and profound, and it should be the extreme of the world. Now I gradually see through it. Kongdong sword grows in quality and reality, loses in high mystery; grows in prosperity and intensity, loses in fullness and emptiness. From the form, each peak is scattered, I reached the end and wanted to open up another foot, but looked back and saw that it was not a system, and there was no support... In general, Kongdong sword's upper limit is not high."

A slight noise on the lotus platform.

"Senior, you are too modest," Ming Qitian's voice was peaceful, holding the sword in front, "Which first-class sword sect in the world, at the most front end of their own sword path, does not have defects that are difficult to fill? This is also the original intention of the establishment of 【Dao Enlightenment Meeting】—abandoning the sect, taking stones to attack jade, and gaining progress together. Please give me some advice, Senior."

"This... I deeply agree," Ji Changyun smiled and nodded, then said in a low voice, "I only make one sword, which is also the only broken thing that this old man has been tinkering with for decades... let you laugh."

In an instant, the clouds in the sky seemed to be still.

Ji Changyun closed his eyes, and the sword became slow and stagnant in his hand, outlining a ripple-like wave in the air.

Like water waves.

The autumn wind stopped, all sounds were silent, only a very distant, very distant sound came, as if from the vast mountains, vast, majestic, and gradually approaching.

Everyone felt a growing

"Senior, you are too modest. Any top-tier sword sect in the world has flaws that are difficult to mend at the very forefront of its own sword path. This is precisely the original intention behind the establishment of the 【Dao-Opening Society】—to abandon sectarianism, use stones from other hills to polish one's jade, and collectively achieve progress." Ming Qitian's voice was calm as she held her sword horizontally before her. "Please, Senior, offer your guidance."

"These words... I deeply agree." Ji Changyun smiled and nodded, then lowered his voice solemnly. "I will only strike one sword. It is also the only piece of junk this old man has managed to cobble together in decades. Please don't laugh."

In an instant, the clouds in the sky seemed to stand still.

Ji Changyun closed his eyes. The sword in his hand became slow and sluggish, tracing a ripple-like wave in the air.

Just like water ripples.

The autumn wind stopped, and all sounds ceased. Only a sound from extremely, extremely far away drifted over, as if coming from the vast mountains—grand, majestic, and gradually drawing near.

A growing sense of unease rose in everyone's hearts, as if standing beneath a hundred-foot tower that was about to collapse; as if sitting on a ten-thousand-fathom mountain that was crumbling; or as if a lone boat were on the vast ocean, and... the sea were turning upside down.

It was the sea; it was indeed the sea.

From above the sky, from between the mountains, the sea was sweeping in. When close by, people could often hear the roaring and howling of the waves, but when the scale was expanded to the mountains and the heavens, there was only a silent submergence.

From afar, every quiet bubble was a thousand-foot wave crashing and breaking a green mountain.

Many people had already stood up with trembling legs, looking in terror at the sky and the mountains. A very small number of elders who had long stepped into the Mystic Gate sat motionless, though their faces had also turned slightly pale.

For them, this was also the first time this sword had appeared before their eyes.

An Intent Sword standing at the peak, or perhaps even a Mind Sword?

In any case, the vast ocean was tilting from the sky.

One could not imagine what kind of ambition could create such a sword. Just like the real sea, whether it was rivers or trickles, clear streams or filth... all were contained within this one sword. Just as the old man had said earlier regarding the flaws of the Kongdong sword, he was now pouring out all his strength, wishing to gather the scattered peaks into one sword.

【Sword Sea Chapter】

Such a vast and wide sword tilted toward the lonely white-clad figure before it.

Everyone knew that name was Ming Qitian, but at this moment, everyone felt shaken regarding her.

When two things beyond cognition collided, people had no way to judge victory or defeat.

Seeing Pei Ye watched this scene with his breathing completely stopped. In this instant, the woman suddenly cast a glance toward him.

Seeing Pei Ye didn't pay much attention to who went down to the field.

Ji Changyun was a relatively familiar name; he remembered him being on the Crane List. As for the woman's insights into the sword path, he had never once been disappointed, so he didn't have too many expectations at this moment.

This was a precious sword-chess match, but it was precisely when everyone's eyes were drawn away that the Joy-Death Tower would find it easier to strike.

Seeing Pei Ye's gaze followed Yan Caiyue, who was returning with his sword, his peripheral vision sweeping over everyone around him, staring at every slightly abnormal movement.

Until a somewhat childish voice appeared beside him: "Pei, Brother Pei, can you help me decipher this sentence?"

Seeing Pei Ye was slightly stunned and turned his head. Kong Lanting was standing beside him somewhat cautiously, unfolding a scroll of "Pine Mist Sword Chants" toward him, his finger pressing on a line of text: "The Sword Master said you would be able to decipher this... I am dull-witted, could I please ask for your guidance? Many thanks!"

Seeing Pei Ye looked up in slight bewilderment. It was a sword move, and the woman had left a clear line of handwriting beside it: "Water light overflows, pine mist moves."

"..." Seeing Pei Ye didn't understand for a moment why he would be able to decipher it. He looked at the unfamiliar sword move beside him, but couldn't see anything either. He glanced back at Yan Caiyue's side and frowned, "Sorry, I haven't read this sword scripture."

"... Oh." Kong Lanting was somewhat disappointed and sat down beside him. "Brother Pei, this move is called 【Pine Born in Mist】. When the Sword Master came last time, I used this sword, and she said it was 'form prepared, spirit stiff.' Then this time, she wrote this sentence here, but I still can't understand the meaning... Brother Pei..."

Seeing Pei Ye stared intently at Yan Caiyue. The man had already sat down steadily, and there was no one within two zhang of him. The closest to him were a line of elders from the various peaks—this was indeed not a suitable venue for an attack.

Seeing Pei Ye couldn't help but press his hand onto the 【Illumination-Reflecting】 sword beneath his lapel again. His spirit was better now; if the Joy-Death Tower truly didn't strike, he could take this opportunity to go and see what exactly happened to the Lake-Mountain Jianmen thirty years ago, twenty years ago...

It was at this moment that the sea arrived.

Seeing Pei Ye felt his heart being gripped tightly. He whipped his head around. On the lotus platform, the old man in dark green robes stood as if at the heart of the vast sea.

Seeing Pei Ye opened his mouth slightly, but still couldn't breathe. He hadn't felt this kind of pressure from a human in a long time.

Merely as a bystander.

Such... an unimaginable sword.

Is this the top hundred of the Crane List? It infinitely approaches the Heavenly Tower, and even compared to Mystic Gate peaks like Zhu Gaoyang, they seem like two different realms.

"'Intent' is the most vast realm."

During their first discussion on the sword, the woman had said this sentence. It was indeed so. Seeing Pei Ye had already seen Qijiao Shang Huaitong's Intent Sword, and at this moment... he also saw a sword that he didn't know if it was still within the scope of "Intent."

The more sensitive one's sword sense, the easier it is to learn the Intent Sword, the easier it is to delve into another's Intent Sword, and the more subtle and deep one's perception of that sword becomes... naturally, the easier it is to see the flaws within.

That was how Seeing Pei Ye had seen through Qijiao Shang Huaitong's "Ghost-Life Sword," which he thought was flawless. But now, he couldn't see any possibility of counterattack within such a sword.

Never mind weaknesses or flaws; when the seawater that drowns the world comes crashing down, how can you resist?

And what he felt was only the aftermath that the old man had tried his best to restrain.

It was amidst this complete tightening of his heart and lungs that, at the center of the tilting vast sea... that lonely white-clad figure cast a light glance toward him.

Even a long time later, Seeing Pei Ye didn't know how to describe this sword.

The woman certainly had many ways to defeat the old man, such as the famous sword Zhanxin, or the divine sword Yunlang that had passed through a thousand years... but she was not carrying Zhanxin Liuli at this moment, nor did she open that god-like sword realm again.

Since it was a sword-chess match, everything was only related to the sword.

The sword body, bright as a white mirror, turned lightly in her hand. There was no action simpler than this, nor a sword more profound.

The sword body dragged out an arc of jade white, and as it rotated, it seemed to circle out a cup.

And so, everything became quiet. Everyone seemed to arrive at the Nine Heavens in an instant, looking down at that world-destroying scene. The suffocation faded, the despair faded, and the heavy pressure and the sky-covering darkness all disappeared.

The hundred thousand miles of heavy seawater were like a spring of clear water poured into a cup. Ming Qitian held this cup with her sword and poured it lightly onto the ground.

The sound of a cup of clear water hitting the ground rang in everyone's ears.

Gazing from afar at the nine points of smoke in Qizhou, a spring of seawater pours from the cup.

The four fields were clear and the clouds were light; everything had vanished without a trace.

Seeing Pei Ye watched this scene in complete astonishment. He had, of course, seen the woman draw her sword; that sword which illuminated the forest night was still engraved in his memory, and he knew how stunning it was.

But he was actually a little bit used to it.

Used to the woman always being able to solve every problem on the sword, used to that sword-drawing like startled clouds and white feathers... until now.

It had nothing to do with power or strength, nor with profundity or refinement. This was almost the most fundamental form of the sword. It was simultaneously the beginning and the ultimate end of the sword. Let the mountains collapse and the seas tilt—it was nothing more than a sword.

This is, "Sword Strategy."

In this instant, Seeing Pei Ye truly forgot that he needed to keep an eye on Yan Caiyue, to re-enter 【Illumination-Reflecting】 to search for old shadows; even those gloomy hatreds were shaken away by this sword.

And before they could permeate back, the woman standing in the clear sky and calm sea lowered her head, returned her sword to its scabbard, and once again cast her clear, bright gaze toward him.

She still didn't speak, but this time the youth understood the meaning of this gaze.

"Seeing Pei Ye, do you want to learn the sword?"

(End of chapter)