Chapter 125: Seeing Yin to Know Yang

This draw determined the four directions: east, west, south, and north.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan drew the south; a white-robed man drew the north.

The mirror scenes merged, and the two exchanged greetings.

"Cheng Cheng Xinzhan of Mount Sanqing, greetings, fellow cultivator."

"Yu Yu Qingsi of Mount Mount Tianzhu, greetings, fellow cultivator."

Mount Mount Tianzhu? Cheng Cheng Xinzhan had heard of it from Zhou Zhou Qingyun while seeking earth veins on Mount Huangshan—it was the most renowned secluded cultivation site south of the Great River and even throughout Qingzhou, where the immortal Zuo Ci once built his hermitage.

Yu Yu Qingsi's demeanor was humble and gentle, his face kind and approachable; the sword in his hand was a long blade with a white rope-wrapped hilt and a snow-white, frost-encrusted blade, its aura crisp and icy—strikingly at odds with his own temperament.

"Fellow cultivator, please."

Yu Yu Qingsi was also a Qi-refining sect swordsman, and his opening strike was a crescent-shaped frost sword qi.

As the sword qi cut through the air, moisture in the atmosphere froze into ice beads that fell like rain.

Seeing the cold aura approach, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan recalled earth overcoming water and summoned earth-element spiritual power, swinging a thick, hazy yellow sword qi.

But as the two sword qis neared, the thick earth qi instantly froze, then shattered under the frost sword qi.

The frost sword qi moved swiftly, grazing Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's side; the icy wind struck his face, coating his sleeves in white frost.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan realized he had misunderstood—this man did not cultivate water methods, but used water methods to cultivate the Great Yin Dao.

He tested with water and wood methods, both shattered by the frost sword qi, confirming his insight; then he countered with Xin Metal qi, sensing the difference between using metal to perceive Yin and using water to perceive Yin.

At this moment, water and metal were mere appearances; the true contest was between Great Yin Dao principles.

He quickly understood the distinction: when he used metal to perceive Yin, he amplified metal's indestructibility and sharpness with Yin qi—the focus remained on metal, not Yin.

But Yu Yu Qingsi, using water to perceive Yin, went further—he elevated it to its peak, returned to its origin, using water's chill and fluidity to refine the essence of Great Yin Dao; the core lay in Yin, not water.

Yu Yu Qingsi's sword qi carried genuine Great Yin spiritual intent, its extreme cold nearly overwhelming the Five Phases; Cheng Cheng Xinzhan tested it with earth, water, wood, and metal—all were shattered.

His sword qi also embodied the transformative nature of Great Yin, like water: it could become mist, dew, liquid, or solid ice.

His sword qi was unpredictable—sometimes vast as a great river, forbidding direct confrontation; sometimes subtle as frost dew, impossible to guard against; then suddenly overwhelming as snowfall, leaving no escape.

This was the first time anyone had ever seen Cheng Daochang so outmatched.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan finally realized: Yin and Yang were everywhere—not only in spells, but in swordplay too.

He dodged and parried desperately until he could no longer sense any other Great Yin spiritual intent.

He felt a pang of regret—what of water's vitality, its gentleness, its nourishment, even its ability to steam? What did these reveal about Great Yin Dao? How would they manifest in sword art?

Had this man not grasped them?

Frost-covered, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan confirmed: this man had no hidden techniques. Then he reversed his sword.

A blazing Yang fire sword qi erupted with brilliant white light, filling the entire mirror screen, obscuring where the sword qi lay hidden.

Or rather—the white light was the sword qi.

If he could use water to perceive Yin and wield a sword art, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, perceiving Yin to know Yang, could likewise use fire to illuminate Yang and command "Gao Zhen."

Yu Yu Qingsi knew Cheng Cheng Xinzhan was holding back—he had yet to unleash thunderfire arts—but he never expected Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's fire technique to be pure Yang fire.

His Yin frost sword qi dissolved instantly upon meeting Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's Yang fire sword qi. Yu Yu Qingsi's sword qi fell like rain or snow, hard to evade; Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's became radiant Yang fire, illuminating all directions, leaving no place to hide.

"I lose."

He said.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan sheathed his sword.

The white light vanished from the mirror; outsiders finally saw the scene again, bewildered—hadn't Cheng Daochang been relentlessly pressured? Why had Yu Yu Qingsi surrendered so suddenly?

"Brother Shan, when you were sixteen, did you have such sword talent?"

On the Hai Zhu Tower, Qian Qian Boya asked.

Li Brother Shanshou shook his head, "At sixteen, I wouldn't claim to surpass him in refinement, and I'm far behind him in breadth."

Qian Qian Boya marveled, "Each generation produces its own talents, each dominating the scene for centuries. The next hundred years seem already foreseen."

Li Brother Shanshou smiled, "Exactly so. It is precisely because of the young that this world remains so vibrant."

Finally, the two mirrors merged, and the Thirty-Six Paradises became one scene.

Now standing before Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, he looked familiar.

He was from Mount Lushan Sword Sect, dressed in blue robes, holding a sword in each hand.

The two exchanged greetings.

"Cheng Cheng Xinzhan of Mount Sanqing, greetings, fellow cultivator."

"Lan Lan Yuqing of Mount Lushan, greetings, fellow cultivator."

Lan Lan Yuqing smiled, "Our sects are neighbors, often visiting each other, yet I never knew Mount Sanqing had produced someone like you."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan replied, "Mount Sanqing has countless brilliant talents, like fish crossing a river—I hardly merit your notice."

Lan Lan Yuqing laughed heartily, "You're too modest. Mount Sanqing may be a great sect, but if all its members were like you, Yu Zhang wouldn't need any other surname."

Lan Lan Yuqing roared with laughter.

Hearing this, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan smiled and ceased his modesty.

"Fellow cultivator, draw your sword."

Lan Lan Yuqing said.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan nodded, opening with a Xin Metal sword qi as a probe.

"Fellow cultivator, don't hold back on me."

Lan Lan Yuqing stepped forward, sword raised—he intended to close the distance and fight hand-to-hand.

Facing the incoming Xin Metal sword qi, Lan Lan Yuqing crossed his two swords in a shear, sending two sword qis forming a 【 Yi 】 shape straight ahead; they met Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's Xin Metal qi and shattered it with a single twist.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's eyes brightened—could it be done like this? It wasn't simply one plus one.

He no longer held back, unleashing the newly awakened Yang fire sword qi.

The Yang fire sword qi penetrated everywhere, its range vast. Faced with this, Lan Lan Yuqing seemed helpless—this was sword dueling, not spell demonstration or ambush; defensive magic treasures were inappropriate.

He couldn't dodge, yet refused to yield, so he launched several sword qis ahead to weaken it, then took the blow directly—his robe and face were riddled with small cuts.

But his 【 Yi 】-shaped sword qi now reached Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, like shears, like a tide.

He swung his blades, and stones from the ground rose into the air, forming a clay dragon that charged the oncoming 【 Yi 】-shaped sword qi.

The clay dragon was cut apart; he summoned a wood dragon—both were shredded, and only then did the sword qi dissipate.

At this moment, Lan Lan Yuqing, enduring the Yang fire sword qi, reached Cheng Cheng Xinzhan's side—not quite close enough for body-to-body combat, but maintaining a distance of two or three zhang, continuously striking.

At first Cheng Cheng Xinzhan didn't understand, but soon he realized.

At this distance, the sword remained firmly in Lan Lan Yuqing's grip, safe from being shattered or seized; at this distance, sword qi detached from the blade and became threatening almost instantly, leaving Cheng Cheng Xinzhan little time to dodge; at this distance, Lan Lan Yuqing could control each sword qi with extreme precision.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan understood—he smiled. No matter. These advantages were his advantages too.

Their close-range exchange lasted only moments before Lan Lan Yuqing watched helplessly as Cheng Cheng Xinzhan, once barely holding on, grew steadily more at ease.

Using Lan Lan Yuqing's own techniques.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan cycled through his Five Phases, Wind, and Thunder sword qis, agile and fluid, soon forcing Lan Lan Yuqing onto the defensive.

Lan Lan Yuqing's face darkened; he suddenly changed tactics, slashing one sword vertically and the other horizontally, forming a 【 Shi 】-shaped sword qi.

Again with this move.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan studied it closely—it resembled the 【 Yi 】-shaped sword qi, yet carried different spiritual essence; it resembled talisman art, yet talismans were never this simple—even the most basic talisman required a head, divine name, foot, and an imperial command.

Was it an array?

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan pondered—arrays and talismans were vastly different, yet shared common ground; but the former had far lower thresholds. His two intersecting sword qis seemed to form a simple array.

That was a clever idea—far simpler and more efficient than drawing talismans with his sword.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan didn't know how frustrated Lan Lan Yuqing felt inside: when he heard the Hai Zhu Tower was hosting a sword duel, he had been overjoyed—his self-created sword-array technique would become famous across the land!

But he never imagined that in his very first match, this man from Mount Sanqing would use a sword-talisman technique against Long Hu!

Everyone, including Lan Lan Yuqing himself, had been awed by that massive thunder talisman—and from that moment, he knew his sword-array technique would never draw attention; even if noticed, people would dismiss it as copying others.

The outcome matched his fears: his sword-array technique drew interest from only one person—his opponent, the sword-talisman user.

As with Yu Yu Qingsi, Cheng Cheng Xinzhan had responded with a calm, measured style until he confirmed Lan Lan Yuqing had no new tricks.

Suddenly, he stepped on thunder and fire, covering three zhang in two strides, placing the sword "Gao Zhen" against Lan Lan Yuqing's throat, its blade flickering with sword light as he said:

"Fellow cultivator, you're this close to me—yet you forgot I'm also a body-sword cultivator."

Lan Lan Yuqing froze. Of course—he'd forgotten Cheng Cheng Xinzhan was a body-sword cultivator?

But anyone who'd seen this man's five duels would surely forget he was a body-sword cultivator too.

Only he himself was foolish enough to rush in.

He smiled bitterly, "I lose."

=9+ Shu _ Ba

He vanished from the mirror.

Now only one figure remained in the mirror, under the gaze of the entire city and tower.

————

Haishi Tavern.

Xiao Xiao Shiyiniang stared at the merged thirty-six-panel Mirror of Moonlight, as if drunk, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling, blinking rapidly.

"Huh—"

The woman, who had held her breath for so long, suddenly exhaled deeply, like a drowning woman breaking the surface.

"Qingyu! Qingyu!"

She shouted loudly.

"Here! Qingyu is here, Mistress."

Qingyu was startled—she was right beside him.

"Send out the most expensive wine in the tavern—to honor Daoist Cheng!"

Xiao Xiao Shiyi niang breathed rapidly, her chest rising and falling; she hadn't dared to think Daoist Cheng might take first place.

But Qingyu was calmer than her mistress, and said,

"Mistress, the third round hasn't even begun yet. If we send out the most expensive wine now, and Daoist Cheng enters again and takes first place, we won't have anything left to celebrate with!"

Hearing this, Xiao Xiao Shiyi niang widened her eyes.

"You dare to think that far ahead!"

"Pfft—"

The woman suddenly laughed again, "True—what if?"

"Then tell me, what wine do we still have left to send?"

Qingyu, as befitting a stewardess, replied without hesitation, "Mistress, the 'To Pluck the Osmanthus in the Moon Palace' at three hundred and ninety taels per flask is perfect—timely and fitting."

"Good. Give the order."

Throughout all this, Xiao Xiao Shiyi niang's gaze never left the Mirror of Reflecting Moon.

————

In another tavern in Peacock City.

A private room, a massive table piled high with layered bowls and plates—no wine, no beauties, only various meats, all emptied.

The room held only one person—a gaunt man, rubbing his hollow belly, frowning as he stared at the mirror, muttering the incantations the figure within had used during the sword duel, especially the final character:

"Fall!"

"Shake!"

"Rise!"

As he muttered, he suddenly widened his eyes, slammed his fist on the table, and leapt to his feet.

"Wrong!"

"It's him!"

————

Li Brother Shanshou waved his hand, and Cheng Cheng Xinzhan flew out of the mirror; the inner realm of the mirror dissolved, leaving only moonlight reflected.

Li Brother Shanshou looked at the boy standing once more beside him, his face glowing with uncontainable delight.

"You're excellent!"

The Sword Immortal waved again toward the horizon; the "Yangming Yun Tang Gang" that had hovered in empty space drew every eye to the rooftop of Haizhu Pavilion.

The Immortal pulled out a lead bottle, placed the "Yangming Yun Tang Gang" inside, and handed it to the boy.

The boy bowed in thanks. "Thank you, Elder."

Then he took the lead bottle.

He still couldn't believe it—had he truly acquired the priceless spiritual Gang and true sha so easily?

"As for your magic sword,"

the Immortal patted the boy's shoulder, "I have nothing to teach you. Just walk steadily step by step—you'll naturally reach my height, even surpass it."

Qian Qian Boya glanced at his friend—he'd never heard his friend praise a junior so highly.

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan hurriedly protested, "I dare not."

"Still, let me give you one piece of advice."

The Immortal joked, "If my eyes aren't blind, you've clearly devoted yourself to the Five Elements—perhaps even Wind and Thunder, and Yin-Yang. Your magic sword's material far surpasses your body-sword's, but since you've chosen to refine the Five Elements and Wind-Thunder, there's no need to rely on just one magic sword. That would only hold back your talent. Even one sword per element—given your heritage from Sanqing Mountain—you could easily gather them. Such a promising seed shouldn't be so stingy."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan nodded with a smile; he'd sensed it himself—using Thunder Arts with "Gao Zhen" came naturally, but the Five Elements felt just a touch lacking. But no matter—there was plenty of time ahead.

The Lord of Peacock City's gaze toward Cheng Cheng Xinzhan suddenly changed, shimmering with unknown light. He handed the boy another token, saying,

"Young friend, this is the Lord's token. Should you ever need anything Peacock City can assist with, come directly to the Lord's mansion with this token."

Cheng Cheng Xinzhan was surprised and did not move.

"Consider it a good connection."

The Lord pushed the token forward again.

Though a hermit Immortal, he was still an Immortal—and such humility made Cheng Cheng Xinzhan dare not refuse. He thanked him repeatedly and accepted it.

"One more round remains. Will you compete?"

The Lord of Haizhu Pavilion asked with a smile.

The boy nodded, smiling back. "I will."

1. To be honest, writing the magic sword arena was tough—I've had headaches these past two days. I needed to use this multi-round sword duel to show why Cheng Yunqi is so formidable: because he draws analogies, because his mind is uncluttered, because he learns instantly, because he achieves mastery at thought. He constantly absorbs others' strengths to grow himself. In short, this chapter's title says it all: See Yin, Know Yang.

This is both the manifestation of his genius and the reason for it.

2. It's the end of the month—please vote for monthly tickets and recommendations! Welcome comments and messages!

(End of Chapter)