Chapter 229: Shenjian Shanzhuang

Shenjian Shanzhuang.

The seat of the Xie Family, one of the Four Great Families in the martial arts world, located at Cuiyun Peak and Lüshui Lake; it is a holy land in the martial arts world.

In the main hall of Shenjian Shanzhuang hangs a very large plaque with only five characters on it, in gold.

——Number One Sword Under Heaven.

Many years ago, after all the renowned swordsmen in the Edo held a sword discussion at the summit of Mount Hua, each person took out an ounce of gold to cast these five golden characters as a gift for the first-generation master of Shenjian Shanzhuang, Xie Tian.

This was a very, very long time ago; Xie Tian has passed away, and Shenjian Shanzhuang has never again produced a master who could be called the "Number One Sword Under Heaven."

Until the Third Young Master, Xie Xiaofeng, came into the world.

This person was brilliantly talented, drawing the gaze of the world; he was an unparalleled swordsman in the Edo and a recognized genius in the martial arts world. The number of famous masters who fell by his hand is unknown, and he was already worthy of that plaque.

It is only a pity that Heaven is jealous of talent; this Third Young Master passed away seven years ago.

No one in the world could defeat him.

The only thing that could defeat him was fate.

——Everyone has their own fate; perhaps it was because his life was too brilliant that it was so short.

After Xie Xiaofeng died, the Xie Family was no longer as glorious as it once was, and guests gradually became fewer.

But regardless, the Xie Family remained one of the Four Great Families of the martial arts world; a starving camel is still bigger than a horse, and no one ever dared to provoke them lightly.

Today, a guest came to the Xie Family.

Yet this guest was actually received personally by the master of the manor, Xie Wangsun.

The master of the manor was dressed very simply, in a green robe, cloth shoes, and white socks; he looked very ordinary, very plain.

In his youth, he was not a famous hero who dominated the Edo or shook the martial arts world.

The reason he was known throughout the world was only because he was the master of Shenjian Shanzhuang.

But regardless, he was still the master of Shenjian Shanzhuang, the helmsman of the Xie Family; there were not many people who could make him come out to greet them personally.

And this guest who made him come out to greet him personally was actually a young man.

Dressed in black, standing aloof and elegant, he seemed like a wealthy prince or a Transcendent Immortal from above the nine heavens, not like a mortal.

Xie Wangsun led the black-clad youth into a dim, gloomy room; every object in the room was covered with a black cloth, appearing eerie and desolate.

Xie Wangsun had already lifted a black cloth, revealing a plaque with five large, shimmering golden characters; those five large characters were exactly: Number One Sword Under Heaven.

Xie Wangsun sighed softly: "Since obtaining this plaque, the descendants of the Xie Family have always cherished it, and have also felt very ashamed. Because since the old master passed away, not a single descendant of the Xie Family has been worthy of these five characters."

The black-clad youth said indifferently: "What about Xie Xiaofeng?"

Xie Wangsun sighed long: "He might still be a little short, or perhaps he was already close enough, but it is a pity that he..."

The black-clad youth said: "It is a pity that he was no longer willing to be Xie Xiaofeng, so he has Yinxing Maming."

The old man's voice trembled slightly: "I also hope that is the case, but it is a pity, it is a pity that he left seven years ago."

The black-clad youth looked at the old man deeply, a mocking smile appearing at the corner of his mouth; after a long while, he finally said: "May I take a look at the Xie Family Divine Sword?"

"Please." Xie Wangsun led the black-clad youth to another part of the room, and another black cloth was lifted, revealing a wooden stand.

On the wooden stand was a sword; the scabbard was pitch-black, the apricot-yellow tassel had faded in color, but the antique-style crossguard was still glowing.

Xie Wangsun stood quietly before this sword, appearing even more solemn and respectful than when he stood before the "Number One Sword Under Heaven" plaque, as if facing the God he respected most in his heart.

In fact, any martial artist in the world, especially those who study the sword, should feel the same way as Xie Wangsun upon seeing this sword, perhaps even more devoutly.

Because this sword was the personal sword of the first-generation master of Shenjian Shanzhuang, Xie Tian; he used this sword to defeat all the heroes on Mount Hua and gain the reputation of the Number One Sword Under Heaven.

And this sword was also the personal sword of Xie Xiaofeng; no one knows how many martial arts masters have died under this sword.

"I want to take this sword away," the black-clad youth suddenly spoke.

Xie Wangsun's expression finally could not help but sink: "Do you know what this sword means to the Xie Family?"

The black-clad youth said: "Of course I know."

Xie Wangsun said: "This sword is not actually a divine weapon; why do you want to take it away?"

The black-clad youth said: "Because I want to find Xie Xiaofeng; I want to see his sword technique. And when dueling with a master like me, the sword must not be casual."

Xie Wangsun looked straight at the black-clad youth: "Because swords are like people; there are many kinds. Every sword's form, weight, length, and width are absolutely different, and every sword has its own characteristics. When masters compete, there cannot be even the slightest error."

The black-clad youth smiled: "How could the master of Shenjian Shanzhuang not know this reason?"

Xie Wangsun shook his head and said: "But why should I let you two duel?"

The black-clad youth said: "Because I am very confident that I can defeat him."

Xie Wangsun said: "Since it is very likely that he will be defeated, I cannot give you this sword even more."

By this time, he no longer hid the truth that Xie Xiaofeng was not dead.

The black-clad youth said: "No, don't you want your child to return?"

Xie Wangsun said: "Of course I do."

The black-clad youth said: "Then you should let him be defeated by my hand, because only after being defeated once will he know that he is not a God, that he is not someone who can never be defeated, and only then will he not choose to escape in order to bear the heavy burden of the Xie Family."

"No!" Xie Wangsun said decisively: "You are wrong."

The black-clad youth said: "Where am I wrong?"

Xie Wangsun said slowly: "Others can be defeated, but he cannot, because he is Xie Xiaofeng; he can only die, he cannot be defeated."

"Then let him go die."

The black-clad youth's mouth curled into a mocking smile again: "I am going to take this sword; if you want to stop me, just come. I know that your attainment in martial arts is likely even more profound than Xie Xiaofeng's."

After saying this, he reached out toward the Xie Family Divine Sword, which was revered by all martial artists under heaven.

Xie Wangsun's brows were tightly furrowed; his aged figure straightened, and suddenly he radiated a sharp aura.

——Just like a Divine Sword.

A drawn Divine Sword.

Under such an aura, anyone would be afraid to move, as if they were wood.

But the young man in black did not.

His expression remained calm, and his hand still reached straight toward the Xie Family Divine Sword.

The Qi of Xie Wangsun grew increasingly sharp, enough to make one feel a bone-piercing chill.

The hand of the young man in black had already grasped the sword hilt.

Yet the moment the young man in black grabbed this sword, Xie Wangsun's entire aura did not erupt like a mountain flood; instead, it deflated like a punctured ball.

"Many thanks for the gift of the sword; I believe Xie Xiaofeng will return before long," the young man in black said, holding the sword and striding out the door. "I hope it will not be as a corpse."

Xie Wangsun remained standing motionless, as if dazed; after a long while, his lips parted, and he seemed to murmur a sentence.

"Heaven beyond Heaven, Person Beyond Heaven, Divine Sword beyond Heaven; when the sword emerges, it separates the heavens. What a Divine Sword beyond Heaven, what a Divine Sword beyond Heaven."