Chapter 364: Sword Belly

The hall was silent for a moment. Guan Qianyan and Kong Lanting didn't speak for a while. Only Zhang Jingbi looked at the ground fixedly, seemingly completely unaware of the meaning behind these words: "Kongdong disciples are divided into generations every ten years. Between the ages of ten and twenty, disciples of various peaks compare themselves, and artistic competitions happen from time to time. The first among the disciples in between is the contemporary Sword Head."

"After twenty, they disperse to various halls to manage affairs. Jiang Yitong is twenty-four this year and is the first of the previous generation, so he was able to serve in the Lianxin Pavilion. Xi Tianji is twenty this year. In the Iron Pine Sword Discussion one year after Jiang Yitong left his position, he became the first of this generation, and it has been three years since then."

Zhang Jingbi looked at Seeing Pei Ye: "Both of them are disciples of Xiao Tingshu. Since I can remember, Yuanwu Peak has always been managed by Xiao Tingshu alone, and he is the one who attends the Lianxin Pavilion seat. My mother said that started after Uncle-Master Ji retired into seclusion... The Kongdong disciples of the younger generation indeed no longer recognize him."

"Jiang and Xi have been colluding with the Huan Si Lou for at least seven years, with two generations of disciples participating, and Xiao Tingshu is deeply involved." Seeing Pei Ye said softly, "This matter should be reported to Kongdong."

He looked at the Law Enforcement Hall members standing with swords: "Who will go to the Lianxin Pavilion again? Tell everyone that it is important to be vigilant against Xiao Tingshu."

"..."

However, several people were silent, and even looked at each other.

The daylight was blocked outside, and the valley was cool in the autumn shade. Xiao Tingshu continued: "Rather than saying it is helpful to Kongdong, it is better to say that Kongdong is supporting it with the power of the entire sect... So please take a look, Ming Ming Jianzhu, and I hope you will not hesitate to give your advice."

It was just that when it served as the achievement that Kongdong Jianmen had invested deeply in for nearly twenty years, the two words "Sword Belly" pointed in another direction.

The heart of the mountain was at the boundary between the two sides. A huge circular stone platform was cast there. This half was only half exposed, and the other half seemed to be buried in it.

"I have long admired it."

The only one carrying a pendant was the Master of Yuanyun Peak, Ying Gao. He had a cold personality and had no expression along the way, but at this moment, he held the pendant to his ear and listened for a while. His face tightened with carved lines, and his brows frowned deeply.

The entire cliff only opened a path inward on the stone platform.

"As one drinks water, one knows whether it is cold or warm." The man said, "The 【Sword Belly Mountain】 indeed took a lot of effort and is quite ingenious, but its benefit to Kongdong... is actually only in promoting a few disciples."

"... Ming Ming Jianzhu has a brilliant view. There are many swords in the Five Peaks Lotus Land, and their sword sense is gathered here by this array."

But the reason why it could still be a concentrated sect was because among the seventeen peaks, there were still five peaks gathering toward the same center, positioned like the five fingers of a person. One could look at the other four from any one of them. That was what the world called the "Middle Five Peaks." When the perspective was pulled extremely far and high, the five large peaks in the clouds and mist were like five uniform lotus petals. Although they were not short distances from other peaks, their positions formed a ring, constituting the center of Kongdong as a sect.

"Truly heavenly work." The woman nodded earnestly.

In the conversation, the group passed two more "Courtyard Gates" and arrived at the heart of this high mountain.

And even for Kongdong disciples, this was a holy place that was extremely difficult to enter. Only two people of this generation entered, besides Xi Tianji, there was only the eleven-year-old Kong Lanting. According to the boy, the progress of sword path cultivation inside was indeed rapid, but the low chanting was endless, and the mind was like collapsing. After staying for only three days, he was carried out with a pale face.

In fact, in the woman's position, many subtleties were just before her eyes—after the Iron Pine Sword Discussion, it was Ji Changyun who invited this Ming Ming Jianzhu to Sword Belly Mountain with a smile in front of everyone, but when they really came here, they didn't see the old man from the beginning.

However, the woman often just saw everything and didn't care. At this moment, she only came to see the swords of Kongdong. Compared to the painstaking 【Sword Sea Chapter】 of Ji Changyun, it was said that this was the place to see "Kongdong Sword" at a glance.

"It is the many Kongdong disciples who cast this Sword Belly Mountain, so it is not an exaggeration to say that it is the condensation of the Kong Jianmen." Xiao Tingshu sighed while looking into the distance, turned his head, and smiled, "The Ming Ming Jianzhu went in a hurry last time, fortunately, we can continue the previous appointment today."

If there really was a condensation that could be called "Kongdong Sword" among the scattered and different seventeen peaks, then it could only be this moment presented by this genius-like strange means.

She stopped her sword there, without really feeling the precious and wonderful principles inside.

The sound of calling the sword flowed out in an instant.

They were two completely contradictory paths.

The next moment was the feedback surging back like a sea tide.

There was still dark, moist creek water flowing in below. The field of vision was obstructed, so the full picture couldn't be seen, but in the winding and twisting places, the exquisite and complex curves drawn by the brush could still be seen.

For example, the sword strike just now didn't seem to wake up the array formed by the creek water in Sword Belly Mountain, and the swords that gave resonance were fewer than she imagined; for example, everything seen when coming just now was absolutely insufficient to support the kind of wonderful experience just now. This array of calling swords formed by mountain and water was indeed the "base," but the true secret of this sword realm should be in those swords, should be behind this cliff, on the back of this dark and secluded mountain... But no matter what, that experience was real.

"..."

That was the forbidden land of the sword realm in the core of the Kongdong Jianmen in the legends of the Jianghu.

"Yuanwu is the head of the peaks, Uncle-Master Xiao is the closed-door disciple of Uncle-Master Ji, and also the Junior Brother of the Sect Master. Kongdong these years..." Guan Qianyan lowered her head, "Actually, it is Uncle-Master Xiao who is in charge."

——

Kongdong stretches for a hundred li, and the peaks are far apart, and the connection is loose. This has long been not fresh news.

In the silence, Guan Qianyan said somewhat hoarsely: "Young Hero Pei, since the Sect Master went into seclusion ten years ago, Kongdong affairs have all been decided by the 【Lianxin Pavilion】, and in the Lianxin Pavilion..."

——"Cannot."

"Why does the Ming Ming Jianzhu speak of this Calling Sword Chapter?" In the quiet, Xiao Tingshu asked softly.

By this time, the woman clearly understood the purpose of this trip, and also understood why Ji Changyun didn't participate and didn't want to come here.

In front was a cliff like a sky curtain.

"Entering the mountain is the 'sword' part of the 【Calling Sword Chapter】." Guan Shutang was the only woman among the few, and at this moment, she explained harmoniously.

"Once entering this mountain, I feel sword sense surrounding me." Ming Qitian looked up and looked around, "But it doesn't seem to come from this mountain?"

"Please enter." Xiao Tingshu turned and signaled. Ming Qitian nodded, and the few walked in from the mountain pass.

As soon as this statement came out, everyone's reactions were different. But there was no need for them to ponder and speak. The next moment after the words fell, the Lianxin Pavilion suddenly sent a warning flute.

Starting from the stone platform, spreading over the entire Sword Belly Mountain, and then along the long creek, the vast mountain and water, which was measured in units of inside, was lightly lit up by this sword strike.

"Disciples often stop here and cannot go deeper." At this time, Xiao Tingshu in front passed the first "Courtyard Gate," turned his head and smiled, "Going further, the sword sense is stronger... as if wrapped in it, so we call it 'Sword Belly'."

The "Hanging Heaven Curtain" fell from the high cliff of the highest Yuanwu Peak, flowed toward "Lotus Heart," began to wind and circle at the center, and spread out in a complex and scattered way, finally gathering together, circling the entire strange mountain of high depth and vastness.

The area between the five peaks was extremely vast. The center was placed as various halls. Lianxin Pavilion, Law Enforcement Hall, and even the Lotus Platform for the "Iron Pine Sword Discussion" were actually scattered in this area.

No matter who she offended, the woman wouldn't lie. She nodded and said softly: "Good."

Seeing Pei Ye said straightly: "Also headed by Xiao Tingshu?"

At this time, before the Sword Belly Mountain pass, the clear long creek flowed from here. The six people were walking slowly, and the five people of the 【Lianxin Pavilion】 were actually all here, and a simple white robe was surrounded in the middle.

The woman really opened her eyes slightly at this moment.

"Half-empty"—this word had the most precise interpretation here. This mountain seemed to have been cut off by heavenly work, half hollowed out, half cast solid.

"Yes." Xiao Tingshu stopped beside her. His temples were gray, his black clothes were slightly old, and a long sword was tied to his waist, with no other objects on his body. "This is the base of our sect's Sword Belly Mountain—【Calling Sword Chapter】."

The so-called "hearing the sword as if in its belly," it is said that inside, swordsmen can hear the whispers of swords. At that time, every inch of air around them is the breath of the sword, inspiration emerges one after another, and practicing the sword is twice the result with half the effort... even having the chance to understand all the sword techniques of the seventeen peaks of Kongdong at once.

It was the Sect Master Bai Tianqu who was in seclusion here.

The mountain belly was indeed half-empty, its height and depth unknown. Like the belly of a giant beast in mythology, the few walked on a long and narrow stone bridge built high, just like walking on its spine.

Xiao Tingshu, who got the answer, was silent for a while, raised his head and smiled: "Then does the Ming Ming Jianzhu want to continue to go deeper and see?"

How many swords resonated as one? Through this strange vibration, Ming Qitian felt that the sword in her hand seemed to be structured into the same individual as them. However, the movements of these swords were by no means uniform. They were "White Rainbow Chapter," they were "Feng Shan Ming," they were "Pine Mist Sword Chant"... In this connection, the swords of the seventeen peaks really hit the perception of the same swordsman at the same moment.

And judging from the traces seen along the way, Ming Qitian didn't perceive the "scent" of Ji Changyun's sword path at all. This sword realm that Kongdong intended to cast the most had nothing to do with its most solid pillar.

This was indeed an exquisite design. The woman didn't hesitate. The autumn water long blade was unsheathed, and the mysterious Qi connected it with the 【Calling Sword Chapter】.

She hesitated for a moment, as if not knowing how to speak.

Ming Qitian walked up. The huge stone platform under her feet was polished smooth, and a small 【Calling Sword Chapter】 array was carved on it. The pattern in the small circle was exactly the Kongdong sword symbol.

"Connecting the stone platform with mysterious Qi, and then performing sword techniques on it, is the true 'Asking Sword in the Belly'." Xiao Tingshu said, "【Calling Sword Chapter】 will connect all the Kongdong swords it can cover. Ten thousand swords ring together, and the 'Kongdong Sword' will be in the unspoken."

——"Good."

And at the very center behind the various halls was the Sword Belly Mountain, which had gradually become famous in Kongdong in recent years, with the legend of "Asking Sword in the Belly."

"You are too kind." Ming Qitian nodded slightly, her expression calm and gentle.

This mountain was almost a depiction of the word "mountain," with one high and two low side by side, but because the high one was steep and the low ones were low and flat, it was like a sword shape, combined with the half-empty inside, hence the name.

A sword rose lightly, exactly the most basic "Three-Story Sword" of Kongdong. At this moment, in the woman's hand, it was like something passed down by an immortal.

In fact, after fighting that move on the discussion platform, the old man had already left straight away. The invitation words seemed to be just scene words representing Kongdong. Whether the woman actually went to Sword Belly Mountain, the old man didn't care at all.

"This water system... is it like an array?" Ming Qitian looked into the distance at the creek water flowing and scattering on the plain. After it left the valley, it coiled into a quite regular circle, complex and beautiful, finally sharply closing on both sides of the mountain. Then it circled out a small circle.

A moment later, the person put down the pendant, turned to the gaze looking over, and said sternly: "Law Enforcement Hall news, rear cliff blood incident. Zhang Jingbi of Caiwu Peak, Guan Qianyan of Diecui Peak, Kong Lanting of Guangcheng Peak injured, Mo Chang of Xianqiao Peak, Xi Tianji of Yuanwu Peak, Jiang Yitong died. Please return quickly to handle it."

Ming Qitian looked at the cliff like a sky curtain in front of her. Even though she had already arrived here, what she saw still seemed to be just the surface.

Xiao Tingshu turned his head slowly and looked at him without a word.

A silence.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 365 =====