Chapter 161: The Seven Sons of Diancang

Diancang Mountain.

The mountains are bright and the waters are clear, with spring-like weather all year round.

At the same time, a sect known to the entire Edo is located here—the Diancang Sect.

One of the Seven Great Sects of the martial arts world.

The Diancang Sect's sword techniques are as drifting and elusive as blue clouds, yet they rarely contain lethal killing moves. The disciples under their tutelage have studied under masters since childhood, and most are gentle, jade-like gentlemen who view fame and wealth with indifference.

Yet, no one in the Edo dares to lightly offend those from Diancang, simply because Diancang possesses a set of sect-protecting sword techniques that never allow anyone to lightly cross the Thunder Pool. It is just that this set of sword techniques requires seven people to join forces for its power to be revealed.

Therefore, every generation of the Diancang Sect must have seven experts, whom Edo people always refer to as the "Diancang Seven Swords."

And the "Diancang First Sword" is often held by the sect leader of the Diancang Sect.

The current Diancang sect leader is Xie Tianshi, the "Pine Pattern Divine Sword."

This person's sword technique is exceptionally high and his internal energy is profound; furthermore, as the Diancang sect leader, he has always been revered as a pillar of the martial arts world and is highly respected.

But today, the remote Diancang Mountain has gathered martial arts heroes from all over the world.

They have come to watch the battle, and even more so, to watch the excitement.

Will the century-old reputation of the Diancang Sect be trampled underfoot by the "Heavenly King Old Man" Yu Liancheng, or will the undefeated Yu Liancheng be buried beneath the scenic Diancang Mountain?

As it turns out, several days ago, a "Heavenly King Old Man Post" was delivered into the hands of the Diancang sect leader, Xie Tianshi.

It is unknown which disciple leaked it, but the Edo was shaken, and countless experts rushed to Diancang Mountain, which is why there is such a grand spectacle today.

"The Diancang Sect has experts like clouds, especially Sect Leader Xie, the 'Pine Pattern Divine Sword.' His sword technique has reached the realm of perfection, drifting to and fro without a trace, and his internal energy has been refined for decades; he is absolutely not inferior to any expert in the world today."

"Heh, could it be that the reputation of the 'Heavenly King Old Man' Yu Liancheng was just bragged about? There are already quite a few sect leaders who have died at his hands."

"True, if it were just Sect Leader Xie alone, I fear he would not be that person's match. But do not forget, Sect Leader Xie is also the 'Diancang First Sword.' Once he draws his sword, how could the other six not draw theirs? The Diancang Sword Array is peerless under heaven, perhaps only inferior to the Shaolin 'One Hundred and Eight Arhat Array'."

"Seven against one? Is this what the righteous path does?"

"Heh heh."

Just at this moment, the crowd stirred. Seven figures drifted down from Diancang Mountain.

The person in the lead, with large sleeves fluttering and high cheekbones, holding an ancient pine-patterned sword—who else could it be but the "Diancang Sect Leader" Xie Tianshi?

And the other six were the six great Elders of the Diancang Sect, who were also the other six of the "Diancang Seven Swords."

Indeed, this battle required all seven Diancang experts to move together. Facing an unprecedented expert like Yu Liancheng, they dared not underestimate him in the slightest.

Before long, a carriage drove over from the distance.

The one driving the carriage was indeed a woman, charming and delicate, pitiful to behold, with a waist so slender it seemed it would break at a touch. Yet she handled the carriage with great proficiency, even steadier than those old hands who had been driving for years.

"Yu Liancheng and Feng Siniang have arrived."

Upon seeing this woman, the crowd could not help but boil over.

It is said that Yu Liancheng's entourage is extremely grand; sometimes he even arranges for eight beautiful women to scatter flowers to form a carpet before he is willing to enter. Seven of these women were hired with his money, and only one woman named Ning Shui was his maid.

The carriage stopped, and a slender, beautiful jade hand lifted the curtain.

Immediately after, the graceful and charming Feng Siniang stepped out, then turned her head and scolded with a smile: "Yu Liancheng, you big lazybones, hurry up and get up, we've arrived."

A moment later, a yawning Yu Liancheng walked out. He stretched and said: "Ning Shui drives the carriage very steadily; I didn't feel any bumps at all."

"Thank you for the compliment, Gongzi." Ning Shui smiled lightly.

"Stop talking, Xie Tianshi has already waited for a long time; we cannot slight others." Feng Siniang sounded like a wife urging her husband to go to work in the morning.

"Alright, you wait here, I'll be back in a moment."

Yu Liancheng's figure unfolded, agile as a dragon and ethereal as smoke, arriving in a flash before the Diancang Seven Swords.

Xie Tianshi clearly heard the words "be back in a moment." He looked coldly at Yu Liancheng and sneered: "A mere greenhorn, do you really think that after killing a few people with undeserved reputations and gaining a bit of fame, you can come to Diancang Mountain to show off your power?"

Yu Liancheng held the Duoqing Sword and smiled: "This greenhorn of mine is just enough to deal with an old vegetable like you; it is just enough."

"Seeking death!" Among the Diancang Seven, a tall, large elder leaped into the air. With a press of his palm, his technique was light and agile yet revealed a sense of weight, and it had already pressed toward Yu Liancheng's face.

"It's Elder Li of the 'Qingfeng Mountain Circling Palm.' It is said his palm technique is ever-changing, light as the wind and steady as a mountain, he is..." Someone had recognized this person, but quickly fell silent.

Because before his words were finished, that Elder Li collided with Yu Liancheng in a palm strike and his figure tumbled backward, blood spraying wildly from his mouth. Fortunately, he was caught by the other Elders, who neutralized Yu Liancheng's palm force for him; otherwise, he would surely have been severely injured and in a sorry state.

"The Diancang palm technique is nothing more than this." Yu Liancheng shook his head. He looked at Xie Tianshi and smiled: "You are the only one who accepted the post. Whether it is you fighting me alone or all seven of you Diancang Seven fighting together, I don't care at all."

Xie Tianshi's expression sank. Before he could speak, another person already coldly snorted: "Our Diancang Seven are of one lineage; if one is damaged, all are damaged, and if one is honored, all are honored. The sect leader's business is the business of the Diancang Seven."

Yu Liancheng's expression was slightly strange: "So you mean, when you Diancang Seven fight one person, all seven of you go up, and when you fight an army of thousands, you seven also go up together—neither more nor less."

That person was worthy of being a famous martial arts expert; he did not even blush and said as a matter of course: "Correct, that is exactly it."

Yu Liancheng nodded and smiled: "Good, then you gentlemen might as well wait a while. I will have Siniang and the head of the Thirteen Gangs come to help support the scene. Anyway, you seven are the same whether you fight one person or an army of thousands."

The expressions of the Diancang Seven changed instantly.

Although that is what was said, if they really had to deal with an army of thousands, it would be absolutely impossible.

"Hahaha." Yu Liancheng laughed loudly: "Look at how scared you are. I was joking with you; to deal with you, I alone am enough."

This time, the Diancang Seven dared not speak, because judging by Yu Liancheng's past style of conduct, he really might gather a large group of bandits and outlaws to attack Diancang Mountain.

"To deal with such Demon heretics, we, the Diancang Seven, will act together. Even if we are ridiculed by our martial arts peers, it is to eliminate Demons and defend the Dao; we have a clear conscience."

The Diancang sect leader, Xie Tianshi, spoke, and the Pine Pattern Divine Sword in his palm suddenly unsheathed, transforming into a bolt of lightning: "Form the array, kill!"

The other six obeyed the order, their figures flashing as they stood in different positions. Their Swords were unsheathed simultaneously, the Sword Qi chilling and the sword light filling the sky, grinding the rustling fallen leaves into powder, while simultaneously enveloping Yu Liancheng.

At this moment, Yu Liancheng felt a chill all over his body. His throat, the space between his eyebrows, his heart, and other vital points were all enveloped by the sword light, as if he could be left without a place to be buried at any moment.

The Diancang Sect's sect-protecting sword array was indeed extraordinary, especially since it was driven by the Diancang Seven. Each of these seven was a famous expert in the Edo, and Xie Tianshi, in particular, was among the top-tier swordsmen in the world.

The sword light was brilliant and dazzling, the Sword Qi ethereal and agile, as seven long Swords thrust out simultaneously.

If it were anyone else, even if they were not terrified, they would be pale-faced and dazzled by the sword light.

"Very good, only a sword array like this is worth looking forward to."

But Yu Liancheng did not. Not only did his expression not change, but he also revealed a smile of praise. Amidst his words, the light of the Duoqing Sword had already flown out, transforming into a streak of flying wild goose silk, striking straight out.

"Arrogant!" The expressions of Xie Tianshi and the others all changed.

It was only because Yu Liancheng thrust this sword out toward the sharpest point of the sword array, without the slightest avoidance, that it seemed extremely arrogant.

Only a "clang" of metal-on-metal sword ringing sounded out, sparks flying in all directions, echoing beneath Diancang Mountain, as if thunder drums and electric hammers were striking each other, the trembling sound lingering and echoing endlessly.

Step, step, step...

Yu Liancheng retreated three steps in a row, each step leaving behind a deep footprint.

The crowd of martial arts experts was in an uproar.

These Seven Swords of Diancang are truly formidable; since "Heavenly Old Man" Yu Liancheng debuted, this is likely the first time he has been thwarted.

"Good, the Seven Swords of Diancang are indeed extraordinary."

Yu Liancheng raised his eyebrows; although he had not used his full strength in the previous strike, he had used at least sixty or seventy percent, yet he was still forced back.

The Seven Sons of Diancang share the same source of power, and with the echo of the sword array, the previous strike was no longer a simple sum of seven people.

Judging solely by internal force, I fear no one in this world could compare to that previous strike.

The Duoqing Sword in his hand vibrated, and he thrust toward the Seven Sons of Diancang once more.

But the expressions of Xie Tianshi and the others were even uglier, for their sword array had actually been severed by this strike from Yu Liancheng, and a tyrannical, vigorous force had transmitted from the sword body into their bodies, causing their Qi and Blood to churn incessantly.

Seeing Yu Liancheng attacking again, Xie Tianshi let out a cold snort, his sword like a shooting star, driving the long swords in the palms of the other six to unfold a continuous, endless offensive.

Clang, clang, clang, clang.

In an instant, the crowd of martial arts experts could no longer see the figures of Yu Liancheng and the Seven Swords of Diancang. Wherever their eyes reached, there was nothing but a brilliant, dazzling sword light.

And wherever the sword light reached, the earth was plowed into streaks of sword marks, grass and trees were ground into powder, leaving a scene of devastation.

"As expected of the Seven Sons of Diancang; in the past, 'Heavenly Old Man' usually finished off experts in a single move, and even those famous sect leaders and heroes rarely could last three moves."

"This is precisely the power of the Diancang Mountain-Suppressing Sword Array; otherwise, even if the Seven Sons of Diancang joined forces, they might not have been able to hold on for many more moves."

The martial arts heroes were discussing it in whispers, whispering into each other's ears.

It is just a pity that, limited by their strength, even facing this decisive battle, they could not glimpse the specific situation of the exchange.

The only people who could truly see the specific situation were a mere few experts.

And among these few people, there was one wearing a bright red cloak, completely covering his burly figure beneath the cape.

His gaze was stern; he saw that Yu Liancheng's sword technique was wide open and powerful, the sword turning into thunder and lightning, tearing through the clouds. Such a fierce and powerful sword technique was simply unseen and unheard of.

Yet, he could be both fierce and tyrannical, and also soft and continuous, like flowing water and white clouds, making one unable to fathom him.

Although the Seven Swords of Diancang are all experts, without this array, they would likely be defeated within forty moves at most. This set of arrays makes these seven people a single entity, both offensive and defensive, with moves that are continuous and endless.

But the cloaked person could see that the Seven Swords of Diancang could hold on for at most another hundred moves before they would undoubtedly be defeated.

As for the reason, it was very simple.

Someone among the seven swords had previously exchanged a palm strike with Yu Liancheng and suffered internal injuries, becoming the weakest link among the seven. Yet Yu Liancheng's sword technique was majestic and vast, boundless; even if the seven joined forces to receive his sword, their Qi and Blood would still churn.

And since this person was already injured, now after a round of fighting, the sword momentum had weakened, and he likely could not hold on for long.

And once he was injured and unable to support himself, the sword array would break on its own, and the other six would definitely not be Yu Liancheng's match.

The cloaked person's gaze turned cold, revealing a trace of killing intent.

"These seven pieces of trash are indeed useless; when they are defeated, it will be time for me to strike."

As a bystander, the cloaked person already understood that the "Seven Sons of Diancang" were showing weakness, and how could the Seven Sons of Diancang not know this?

Therefore, the Seven Sons of Diancang changed their sword array, intentionally protecting the injured Elder of Diancang, ready to provide support at any time.

"Can you protect him?"

Another ten moves passed, and Yu Liancheng let out a cold snort, his figure leaping, his person entering like a shooting star, and his sword also like a shooting star thrusting toward the injured Elder of Diancang. This time, it carried an unstoppable momentum, the power shocking and terrifying.

"Careful."

The Seven Sons of Diancang reacted quickly, and immediately four swords came to intercept at the same time.

"Haha, I tricked you."

Who would have thought that this was a feint by Yu Liancheng; he retracted his right-hand sword momentum, slapped out with his left hand into thin air, an invisible palm force striking out, and his entire person relied on this invisible force to roll back, sweeping toward Xie Tianshi like a flying immortal.

The Duoqing Sword thrust out once again.

The cold Sword Qi tore through layers of air.

The brilliant sword light poured down like the Milky Way.

Although this sword was not any of the "Flawless Four Styles", both its power and speed had reached an astonishing level.

Xie Tianshi only felt his eyelids twitching wildly, a chill rushing from the soles of his feet to his Heavenly Spirit. But at this moment, it was too late to dodge, and he and the other two junior brothers also thrust out a sword at the same time.

Ding, ding, ding~

Three crisp sounds rang out, and the momentum contained in the sword array exploded in all directions.

Xie Tianshi stumbled back a step, and the other two of the Seven Swords of Diancang also retreated one after another.

After a fierce battle, the three Swords of Diancang, whose Internal Force and physical strength were depleted, still could not withstand Yu Liancheng's full-force sword.

And at this very moment, Yu Liancheng's sword light flashed again, fresh blood splattered, and it had already pierced into Xie Tianshi's throat.

"Sect Leader!"

The remaining Elders of Diancang roared, disregarding everything as they thrust toward Yu Liancheng.

Yu Liancheng swirled his sword light, his person seeming to have merged into the sword light, and only the sound of metal clashing was heard; the six long swords had already been knocked flying, and these six Kunlun Sect disciples were each gifted a palm by Yu Liancheng, spitting out blood from their mouths and tumbling away like rolling gourds.

"This set of sword arrays is not bad; hand over this sword array, and I might spare your lives."

Yu Liancheng turned his wrist, sheathed his sword, stood with his hands behind his back, a smile on his face, possessing an indescribable ease and grace.

Who would have thought that at this moment, a bowstring suddenly sounded, and two silver lights had already flashed like lightning toward Yu Liancheng's back.