Chapter 478: Observing All Swords, Missing One

Although she wasn't very excited about these two swordsmen in words, Cui Zhaoye actually enjoyed watching this sword match quite a bit. She had seen too many swords over the years and had passed the stage of being surprised by exquisite sword styles. Many of the aesthetic feelings that swords brought her were actually within expectations.

But that didn't mean these two were ordinary or mediocre.

On weekdays, Cui Zhaoye liked to stroll in the Divine Capital, especially in places like the Vermilion Bird Sword Platform and the West Pool at night, where there were always many swordsmen testing their swords. If she suddenly discovered a good one among a crowd of mediocre ones, it was like buying a delicious sweet ice in the summer.

Cui Zhaoye often wrote a short note and left it for the other party, and soon there would be newspapers and publishing houses looking for them. If the swordsman agreed, these sword reviews would be published immediately. The most recent one was the direct disciple Bian Weiji from South Moon Mountain the day before yesterday. His sword was indeed used well, and South Moon Mountain was also a sect she still found fresh.

And the annual trip to the Sword Academy was attending a long-awaited feast.

There would be no taste of making up the numbers, and "not bad" and "excellent" were not enough to reach the threshold. It had to be a unique skill of a certain sect to stand here.

Here, she wouldn't cast her eyes for a sweet ice, and the exquisitely carved fruit platter was just a free appetizer. At this time, she was especially looking forward to some things that truly surprised her, made her soul tremble, and sounded like jade breaking in the Kunlun Mountains and phoenixes calling. She wanted to see truly top-tier swordsmen reveal their essence in "sword" through needle-point-against-wheat-mang confrontation, and everyone would be a different wonderful taste.

Now Cui Zhaoye was very seriously dipping ink and picking up the pen, writing down her most direct feelings and thoughts about this sword match on two pages. After returning, she would carefully perfect and write sword reviews for every sword student. These sword reviews would not be delivered to the newspapers, but carefully organized into the materials for the sword works she was writing, only promising to provide them upon the request of the Sword Academy and various sword sects.

"Zhang Chao, roots are weak and branches are tough, temperament is too firm and close to rigidity, the sword has a deathly aura, should enter the path of the withered sword..."

The chess-sword matches passed one by one, and there were wonderful victories and defeats between each group. Changsun watched without blinking, remembering their names one by one. In her view, of course, every one of them was incredibly powerful, but Cui Zhaoye could always clearly give an evaluation for everyone.

The next one that caught the attention of both of them was a dashing and bright red dress.

The person was facing a man with a hairpin and a high crown. The man didn't use the Chang'an Daoist sword, but tied a precious sword at his waist.

This match was very long-lasting, and the man's sword technique was obviously a level higher, but he was repeatedly constrained in the chess-sword match. Even Changsun could see the extraordinary nature of this atmospheric woman, whose sword technique was dashing and neat, and repeatedly produced miracles. Although she didn't understand the moves, the beauty of the sword that combined hardness and softness was obviously at another height.

After this performance, the sword students on the field also applauded one after another. It was just a pity that in the end, he was still defeated by the man's sword that swept the entire field like wind and snow, making Changsun couldn't help but sigh and clench her fists.

Cui Zhaoye also pondered with her chin supported for a longer time than the previous matches, and finally clapped her hands with a smile.

"Ning Shuhong," Cui Zhaoye repeated the name, looking at the field below. "She could win."

Changsun opened her eyes wide: "This match?"

Cui Zhaoye nodded: "If she and Han Xiuben are truly enemies."

Changsun opened her eyes even wider.

"Using life as a sword, one must have a very strong sense of 'sword' to do so. To enter the realm of the unity of man and sword, I use the sword as a sword, and the sword uses me as a sword... This is the kind of swordsman I want to see." Cui Zhaoye followed the red dress. "You know, she is not 'using' the sword, but truly able to merge with the sword."

"Scratched?"

"... Doesn't count."

"Ah?"

"I mean this kind, not her." Cui Zhaoye withdrew her gaze again. "Those who distinguish between the master and the guest of the sword have not entered the sword path; dismantling moves like solving problems is burning the zither and cooking the crane. The previous seven matches were all of this generation. Although they were pleasing to the eye, they lacked a bit of spiritual energy."

Changsun was bewildered. She felt that every sword move was miraculous beyond imagination.

Cui Zhaoye picked up his brush: "Ning Shuhong has already escaped the mold of this, but it is a pity that she still cannot be considered a natural beauty; however, she must be exceptionally formidable in a fight."

Changsun then cast an admiring look.

And then Cui Zhaoye's gaze became brighter and brighter, a pair of pupils like the night sky cutting stars.

Because such sword students were not in the top three in previous years, they were definitely in the top five. Two such sword students playing chess-sword was enough to be a finale worth savoring, but in the following matches, Wen Zheng, Wang Shousi, and Chu Shuiting, every one of them made Cui Zhaoye tap the table and sigh with a frown.

"Wen Zheng uses the sword most correctly. She is the kind of sword genius that people often talk about and that the sect wants most. There are almost no shortcomings. Look at the 【Famous Cliff Green Pine】 move just now, how solid it is." Cui Zhaoye squinted and supported her face. "To be honest, I like this kind of swordsman very much. Clearly, the sword talent is superhuman, but she is willing to build the foundation bit by bit without being impatient. The road ahead can often go far and long... However, it is still too 'flat and correct'."

"Peaks, valleys, foreshadowing, killing moves... almost the most reasonable presentation, which is actually another kind of boredom." Cui Zhaoye couldn't help but sigh again. "Wang Shousi's sword style is clever, but it's a pity it's the same; Chu Shuiting is Ning Shuhong three years later..."

"Changsun, am I too harsh?" Cui Zhaoye looked at the sword field somewhat melancholically. "Actually, this year's sword students are already very powerful."

Changsun hesitated: "... It's okay, whether you recognize it or not, it doesn't affect people practicing swords."

"..."

Under Cui Zhaoye's somewhat dangerous gaze, Changsun changed the subject: "What about that Lu family Lu Xiu? Didn't she win against Wen Zheng? She seems very powerful too."

That noble girl was still in a high-and-mighty posture, sitting alone on the side of the sword field with two sword students from the military standing on both sides—squeezing two such people into a Sword Academy with such limited quotas, no matter if it was compliant or not, was a staggering luxury.

Cui Zhaoye was expressionless, glancing coldly: "A sparrow wearing colorful feathers, thinking itself a phoenix. Too lazy to evaluate."

And the next moment, a sword light like snow suddenly lit up from the field, instantly breaking the frost on the young girl's face.

That was a tall and silent woman, one dress and one sword, nothing else; and the black-clothed young man carrying six swords on his back.

This was the last group on the sword field, but Changsun's gaze was somewhat wandering, looking back and forth from time to time.

Both of them on the field were unusually silent. After the salute, there was the sound of swords, and after the sound of swords, there was another salute. The chess-sword match ended without saying a word. Zuoqiu Longhua, who was five years older, took the victory.

However, everyone was already stunned and applauding for these two black and white figures.

However, Cui Zhaoye was somewhat exasperated for the first time.

"【Sword Demon】 is indeed a Sword Demon," she turned her head to Changsun with a smile at first. "This is the kind of swordsman I was talking about. You look carefully, I came here for him this time... Let me see again and I will know if he is right."

Then those eyes turned from the satisfaction of expectation to astonishment, stiffness, silence, and then the silver teeth were clenched tightly.

"I said early on that the essence of a person regarding 'sword' is the most precious thing. Is Bai Lugong obsessed with entering the Dao through skills all day long?!" Cui Zhaoye threw the pen. "Such a good, such a good seedling could clearly reach the Dao sword! Why must he throw himself into some 'Six Evasions'? Thirty years is it, sixty years is still it! What if he can't enter the Dao?! A good swordsman is wasted!"

Changsun turned her head and saw that when the young girl was angry, her eyebrows were raised and her whole face became bright. She couldn't help but think that such a Cui family sister was inexplicably better looking.

Cui Zhaoye took a deep breath and said indignantly: "Better let him go to Dongting and Yunlang early!"

Changsun said cautiously: "Then does this count as being scraped out?"

"... Scraped out, and ruined by others again." Cui Zhaoye said gloomily.

But soon she was silent for a few breaths, then returned to that usual expression, sighed softly, and said gloomily: "... Forget it, even if Bai Lugong hadn't harmed him, Yang Zhenbing is not the kind of swordsman I truly admire."

"Hmm?"

"... He is just at that level." Cui Zhaoye said in a low voice. "You don't understand sword matters very well. But some standards, such as the essence of 'sword,' such as merging with the sword, I believe are undeniable facts that clearly divide the high and low of swordsmen. Although some people still don't agree, truth will eventually spread to the whole world."

"... And some standards are my own." Cui Zhaoye looked at those swordsmen. "I have my own 'aesthetics,' Changsun. Regarding the two words 'swordsman,' I also have a completely private imagination. Some swords can be handled this way, can be handled that way... Many people will say there is no right or wrong, but I just think one of them is better."

"..."

"But I can't use a sword, Changsun, I can't prove it." Cui Zhaoye said in a low voice, then turned her head and showed a clear and helpless smile. "This is called Ziqi not meeting Boya."

Changsun was still searching in the sword field, but turned her head and said: "Didn't you see Yan Feiqing last year? How is he?"

However, as soon as this name came out, Cui Zhaoye was silent again.

"...?"

"Yan Feiqing this person... there are only legends of him in the Divine Capital, no figure of him. Too lazy to even leave the door." Cui Zhaoye rolled her eyes slightly.

"..."

"But in fact, he is indeed the swordsman of this generation with the highest sword talent I have ever seen. It's just that the sword is too 'ruthless'... A ruthless sword cannot form a compassionate Dao. I have always believed... the sword is still something rooted in 'man'."

"... Oh." Changsun nodded, but at this moment, she couldn't help but have her own doubts, turned her head and said, "Sister Cui, is this really all the sword students of this session?"

"Hmm?" Cui Zhaoye was puzzled.

"Is there still one called 'Pei Ye' who didn't come? He is also a sword student of this session of the Sword Academy." Changsun said, "Also seventeen or eighteen years old, with a very tall and straight build, carrying a green sword."

Cui Zhaoye was silent for a moment: "You weren't deceived by some wild boy, were you?"

"It was Shaojun who told me!"

"Oh?"

"We even attended classes together." Changsun frowned slightly and said seriously, "He even wrote 'Xu Chuo' as 'Xu Chu'."

"..."

"..."

"... Next time there is a chance, I will see this strange person." Cui Zhaoye didn't care too much, lowered her head and collected the paper and pen. "Let's go, Miss Changsun, let's go shopping elsewhere." ===== CHAPTER 479 =====