Chapter 407: Deng Taie

In the last fifty years, three peerless sword-wielding experts have emerged in the Edo.

The New Sword God Deng Taie, carrying a Peach Blossom Branch, seeks defeat but remains undefeated; he has crossed blades with Wang Xianzhi three times, neither winning nor losing, and is ranked third among the super first-class experts.

Another is a dragon whose head is seen but whose tail is hidden; it is only known that he is from Western Shu, a sword artisan of humble origins who realized his own Sword Dao after thirty years of casting swords, traveling the Edo alone and collecting the world's famous swords into his Sword Box.

What is known to the world is only that he fought one battle and became famous throughout the land. Although he lost and had a sword left behind, stuck into the city wall, he lost with honor, for he lost to the old yet ever-resilient Wudi City City Lord, Wang Xianzhi.

Then there is the 'Heavenly Venerable' Murong Tonghuang, who resisted the Great Heavenly Phenomenon expert Xuanyuan Dapan with a single sword. His two displays of swordsmanship on Longhu Mountain were also spread abroad, shaking Liyang.

Because the power of those two swords was extraordinary—one sword splitting the heavens, one sword scattering the thunderclouds—he earned the beautiful reputation of 'One Sword Brightens the Heavens'; when the sword is drawn, heaven and earth are filled with dread.

Today, Murong Tonghuang and Deng Taie are sitting together; if Sword Jiu Huang were to come as well, these three newly emerged Sword Dao experts would be gathered.

Murong Wuzhu's beautiful eyes shifted, curiously sizing up Deng Taie, a hint of disappointment appearing.

The other party looked truly too ordinary, truly lacking the demeanor of the Peach Blossom Sword God and Third in the World that she had imagined.

As for the sword boy, who had an even bigger air than his master, he first saw the Murong siblings and was struck by their demeanor, then looked at the table full of fine wine and delicacies, swallowing hard.

After being invited to the table, the sword boy was reserved at first, pretending to be refined while eating and drinking so as not to lose face for his master, and even more so to avoid losing decorum in front of these god-like people.

But as he ate, he began to wolf down his food, especially favoring the plate of boiled meat, his chopsticks moving like flying, no longer caring about anything else.

Deng Taie remained smiling, eating and drinking slowly, and did not speak much. After several rounds of drinks, a bit of drunkenness appeared on his face, and his speech seemed somewhat slurred.

Yu Liancheng raised his wine cup and smiled, "I have long heard of the Peach Blossom Sword God's reputation."

"Seeing me today, do you feel it is merely an empty name, far less elegant and free-spirited than the Old Sword God Li Chungang?" Deng Taie smiled slightly.

"Deng Taie is Deng Taie, Li Chungang is Li Chungang. Every swordsman in the world wants to learn from Li Chungang, but there is only one Li Chungang. Even if one learns to be just like him, at most they are only a second Li Chungang."

Yu Liancheng smiled, "As a peerless swordsman of the world, if the Peach Blossom Sword God did not even have his own unique demeanor, that would be what disappoints me."

Deng Taie raised his cup and said, "For these words alone, one should drink three large cups."

Murong Wuzhu secretly picked up her wine cup, but after being glanced at by Yu Liancheng, she sheepishly put it back.

Ever since she drank wine once at Guniujiang, she had grown fond of the taste of wine, but unfortunately, her tolerance was average, and every time she drank, it gave Yu Liancheng a headache.

"I have long heard that Deng Taie can kill with a flick of his finger, taking a life from a thousand miles away." Yu Liancheng smiled slightly, "I have seen many brilliant swordsmen, but I have yet to see the Flying Sword Technique; I wonder if I might have the good fortune to see it today."

"My sword has too much killing intent; it is not suitable for viewing." Deng Taie shook his head.

"A sword is a killing tool, and swordsmanship is a trick to kill people; no matter how flowery the language used to cover it up, this is the truth."

Yu Liancheng smiled slightly, "Furthermore, when a swordsman picks up a sword, he must be prepared to be killed by a sword. So... please draw your sword and let me see the legendary flying sword."

Deng Taie laughed, "True, the sword is indeed a trick for killing. To carry a sword in the Edo, one should be prepared to be killed. Then, excuse me."

Until this moment, his expression remained calm and composed; neither his demeanor, his movements, nor even the skin beneath his clothes changed in the slightest.

But throughout the room, it was as if a layer of chilling, murderous intent had been added, making one shudder.

The sword boy, who had been burying his head in eating and drinking, raised his head, tugged at Deng Taie's sleeve, and leaned into his ear, saying, "Master, show mercy. If you kill someone, there will be no one to pay for the meal, and we might be kept here to wash dishes, or even thrown into prison."

Deng Taie's smile faltered.

Yu Liancheng naturally heard it clearly and smiled, "I have already paid the bill in advance. Furthermore, if I were to die, the thousands of taels of silver on me would all be yours; you would not have to worry about food or drink in the future."

"This... then forget it." The sword boy hesitated.

"Oh, why?" Yu Liancheng smiled slightly.

"You invited me and my master to eat. I, Sanlu, am a child of the Edo; I distinguish between kindness and enmity clearly. Besides, taking a life for a little bit of money does not conform to the path of chivalry."

The sword boy patted his chest, putting on a heroic air, and glanced at Murong Wuzhu out of the corner of his eye. Seeing her cover her mouth and giggle, looking even more bright and moving, his heart suddenly began to "thump like a deer."

"Be careful." Deng Taie shook his head, no longer paying attention to the sword boy, and turned his gaze toward Yu Liancheng.

Yu Liancheng made a "please" gesture.

Whoosh! Whoosh!!

Without any warning, only two faint sounds of wind were heard.

The two silver chopsticks in front of Deng Taie suddenly shot out, like light, like swords, abruptly firing toward Yu Liancheng.

The silver light pierced the air, as if containing infinite changes in sword momentum, spraying forth sharp energy, just like a god's flying sword.

Or rather, this was a god's flying sword.

The martial power of this world might not be outstanding, but First-Rank experts often have various complex methods.

This "Flying Sword Technique" before his eyes, placed in any world Yu Liancheng had previously experienced, was inconceivable, nearly a god-like method.

"Good flying sword."

Yu Liancheng's eyes brightened slightly, and he praised loudly.

Worthy of a leader in the Sword Dao; the moment he made a move, he revealed his extraordinary nature.

At the same time, he raised his palm and flicked his fingers in succession.

Clang! Clang!

The two streaks of silver light were immediately flicked away by his fingers.

Deng Taie held his finger upright, and the two streaks of silver light flew back again.

Under his control, they spun and flew continuously.

Every change was an extremely exquisite sword move.

Move after move linked together, the sword light continuous, pushing forward layers of killing strikes, the momentum like Heavenly Flowers Falling in Disorder, like mercury pouring onto the ground, stunning and incomparable.

Yu Liancheng's five fingers rotated like a lotus blooming, his strikes fast and urgent. His power surged out continuously, colliding with the silver light.

For a time, the room was filled with shimmering silver radiance, dazzling and eye-catching, the sound of metal clashing ringing incessantly, like a melodious heavenly tune.

Murong Wuzhu's beautiful eyes widened, watching this scene nervously, finally understanding that the Peach Blossom Sword God was not an empty name.

These were merely two silver chopsticks, but driven by Deng Taie, they were like two peerless flying swords, twisting and changing like dragons, the brilliance of the sword light and the sharpness of the edge beyond what ordinary people could look upon.

Yu Liancheng's performance was also not lacking; his five fingers transformed into a blur of afterimages, constantly flicking the two flying swords away. No matter how the two flying swords were driven, they could not break through his copper-walled and iron-clad defense.

Suddenly, Yu Liancheng turned his palm into a claw and reached out to grab. The air whistled and billowed, as if whipping up gusts of wind, his right hand already reaching toward the silver light.

Then, with a casual grasp, the spinning silver light suddenly fell into his palm.

Even with Deng Taie's state of mind, a slight ripple could not help but arise at this moment.

He had already tried his best to guess the other party's cultivation attainments, but the other party's casual grab had captured his "Flying Sword," which still greatly exceeded his expectations.

Although Deng Taie was surprised, he was not flustered; instead, he was delighted to encounter such a challenge.

He had roamed the world, and apart from Wang Laoguai of Wudi City, he could almost be considered invincible; now, encountering an unfathomable expert, his blood surged, stirring up a long-dormant fighting spirit in his heart.

"I wonder how my Flying Sword Technique fares?"

Deng Taie gently picked up the Peach Blossom placed on the table, his posture composed; although his heart was excited, his face still bore a calm and breezy smile.

No one would be able to tell that such an ordinary, plain-looking middle-aged uncle was the legendary Peach Blossom Sword God, Deng Taie.

"It can be called an immortal's sword technique. If my few friends who use swords were to see this scene, I fear they would also very much like to ask for pointers. Although they are far away at the ends of the earth, fortunately, I have dabbled quite a bit in their sword techniques and moves, so let me learn the Flying Sword Technique on their behalf."

Yu Liancheng wore a smile, drew a silver chopstick from his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, the chopstick transformed into a bolt of lightning and suddenly thrust out.

In the blink of an eye, this sword had reached Deng Taie's brow, as if it regarded time and space as nothing.

Deng Taie felt his entire body enveloped by Sword Qi, and a chill rushed toward his face. His opponent's sword was simply unimaginably fast.

This sword was pure and clean, just like the accumulated snow on a mountain peak, without the slightest dust or impurity, turning all changes into a single, pure word: "Fast."

Vaguely, Deng Taie seemed to see a swordsman in white, colder than snow and as indifferent as a Ghost, thrusting a sword toward him. It made one feel waves of chill rising from the heart, cold all the way to the tips of the toes.

Deng Taie's expression suddenly turned serious, and the Peach Blossom Branch in his hand swayed leisurely; it looked calm and breezy, yet it was exquisite to the extreme, neutralizing this sword in silence.

But a peach blossom on the Peach Blossom Branch seemed startled by the Sword Qi, suddenly drifting down; while still in mid-air, it turned into a puff of powder, scattering about.

"This is the second friend's sword technique."

Yu Liancheng was not surprised at all; the silver chopstick in his hand transformed, its silver radiance shimmering, yet it set off the entire room as if it were an immortal's illusion, not of the human world.

A sword flew out diagonally, like a startled swan or a flash of lightning, like a Long Rainbow Piercing Sun.

No one could describe the brilliance and splendor of this sword, and no one could describe its speed; that was no longer just a sword, but the wrath of the God of Thunder, a strike of lightning.

If Ye Gucheng were here, he would certainly be able to recognize that the move Yu Liancheng used previously was Ximen Chuixue's sword technique, and this sword was precisely his unique skill famous throughout the Central Plains—Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens.

It was just that whether it was the previous sword or this one, the profundity of the sword technique had far exceeded the creator's imagination, reaching another marvelous realm.

Deng Taie's expression became even more solemn, and the peach blossom in his hand swayed gently, drawing circles, as if it were just a boring gesture in daily life; a faint fragrance of peach blossoms drifted out, making one's heart wander and sink into it, unable to extricate oneself.

As the Peach Blossom Branch swayed gently, it neutralized "Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens" silently, worthy of the fine name of Peach Blossom Sword God.

At the same time, another peach blossom drifted down from the branch.

"Be careful, the sword technique of this third friend of mine is no small matter."

Yu Liancheng's expression tightened, and he thrust out a sword once more.

The moment this sword was thrust out, a cold and ethereal intent of death diffused, void and vast, as if it could freeze everything.

The sword boy and Murong Wuzhu on the side felt their bodies unable to move, and even their thoughts seemed to fall into stagnation, with only an unspeakable fear born instinctively.

A silver light streaked out, and it seemed that only this ethereal and void silver light remained between heaven and earth, carrying a chilling killing intent, slashing toward Deng Taie with a posture that transcended the mundane.

Deng Taie's figure shook, and he slowly extended the Peach Blossom Branch in his hand.

The Peach Blossom Branch and the sword light collided.

It dispersed upon contact.

The sword light vanished.

Murong Wuzhu and the sword boy seemed to wake up from a nightmare, already drenched in cold sweat.

The silver chopstick was still a silver chopstick.

The Peach Blossom Branch was still a Peach Blossom Branch.

A cool breeze blew past outside the window, and with a "Crack!", the Peach Blossom Branch had already snapped, falling from Deng Taie's palm; before it even hit the ground, it had turned into flying ash.

"What a terrifying sword technique." Deng Taie's expression changed, then his gaze burned, staring fixedly at Yu Liancheng: "The sword techniques of these three friends of yours all transcend the mundane and are extraordinary; now it is time to use your own sword technique."

Yu Liancheng nodded, his gaze revealing sharpness: "But I also want to see your true Flying Sword Technique."

"Good, but you must also be very careful; I, Deng Taie, practice the sword only to kill. Once the sword is drawn, it is very difficult to hold back."

While speaking, Deng Taie had already taken a Yellow Pear Wood Box from his book chest, and with a wipe of his fingers, twelve small swords of varying lengths but all exquisite and precious were revealed, each of a different color.

Murong Wuzhu bit her cherry lips with her pearly teeth, her slender fingers gripping her lapels, her knuckles almost turning white. Deng Taie's reputation was truly too resounding, and after witnessing the other party's sword technique, she could not help but feel worried for her younger brother.

The sword boy closest to Deng Taie raised his head, his heart filled with heroism, his spirit vibrant.

Yu Liancheng's expression became increasingly solemn; how many people in the world are fortunate enough to see the Peach Blossom Sword God, who claims his killing is peerless in the world, draw his sword?

Deng Taie smiled slightly, extended an index finger, and lightly flicked the hilt of the first crimson small sword on his left hand, saying calmly: "Xuanjia!"

The small sword flew up with a "swish" and stood in mid-air.

Deng Taie extended his middle finger again, tapping with both fingers.

"Childhood sweethearts."

Two more swords stood lively in the air, side by side with "Xuanjia."

This was just a sparring session; three swords were already enough.

Deng Taie showed hesitation, looked at Yu Liancheng, then looked at the empty tabletop where the Peach Blossom Branch had originally been placed, and finally extended three fingers.

"Spring water, morning dew, peach blossoms."

The small sword box was exactly half empty, with six small swords arranged in the air, emitting a chilling sword light.

"Be careful."

Deng Taie pointed his finger at Yu Liancheng, and the six small swords immediately flew out with a "swish, swish, swish."

Although the swords were small, that sharp, murderous Sword Qi that withered all things had already enveloped the entire room.

Yu Liancheng, facing the six Flying Swords directly, felt his heart wander and sink, feeling waves of soul-stirring chill, as if his chest, throat, and brow had already been pierced.

Yu Liancheng's gaze tightened, and he held the silver chopstick upright; the silver chopstick underwent extreme changes in his hand, revealing a sharp aura, cutting the air with a hissing sound, forming an airtight defense, all of which were mysterious and peerless sword moves, and not a single one was inferior to Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens.

Murong Wuzhu and the sword boy watched, dazzled and mesmerized, feeling only that the sky was filled with silver light, gorgeous and peerless.

Although these two were sparring with killing intent, there was no trace of smoke or fire; rather than calling it a sword duel, it was more like a brilliant and magnificent sword dance.

Suddenly, Yu Liancheng flicked his wrist, and his silver chopsticks forced all six Flying Swords away.

"Deng Taohua, this is my most tyrannical sword technique, named 'City-Toppling'; please, appraise it."

As the words fell, his sword momentum shifted instantly, and his entire person exuded a gravity and composure that was completely inconsistent with his previous ethereal agility.

That streak of silver light seemed to transform into an ancient mountain range that dominated all directions, carrying a Manghuang aura, steep and incomparable, spanning between heaven and earth like a pillar supporting the world.

As Yu Liancheng's sword momentum unfolded, a majestic power, like a mountain or a peak, immediately pressed down.

Before this sword, all power in the human world appeared as insignificant as ants.

The Sword Qi seemed even more like a boundless torrent pouring down from the nine heavens, surging and vast, impossible to withstand.

Deng Taie frowned, and as his thoughts shifted, the six Flying Swords thrust over from different corners, each one pointing directly at the turning point of the "City-Toppling" transformation.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

However, the power in this sword strike exceeded Deng Taie's imagination; the five Flying Swords collided with that streak of silver light and were immediately knocked away, flying uncontrollably in all directions and embedding themselves into the room's walls, causing cracks to spread across the surface.

With the first five swords proving ineffective, Deng Taie faced the oncoming City-Toppling sword strike without the slightest hint of panic. He held up a finger and moved his mind. In this thousandth of a second, the final small sword, named "Peach Blossom," flew head-on to meet the "City-Toppling sword strike."

Clang!

The silver light and the Peach Blossom collided, yet did not immediately dissipate.

It turned out that the previous five swords had already weakened the momentum of the "City-Toppling sword," and "Peach Blossom" had condensed the majority of Deng Taie's essence, Qi, and spirit, making it incomparable to the previous five swords.

Boom!!

After a moment of stagnation, layers of air waves erupted from the point where the two swords clashed, spreading in all directions; the entire room exploded with a series of crashes, tables and chairs suddenly shattered into pieces, and cups and bowls flew out like a whirlwind, only to be pulverized in mid-air.

Murong Wuzhu and the sword boy retreated repeatedly; fortunately, they were protected by the people beside them, otherwise, they might have been sliced into countless tiny pieces of flesh by the Broken Sword Qi.

Before Yu Liancheng and Deng Taie could determine a victor, the sound of footsteps came thumping up the stairs, accompanied by the voice of the waiter: "Guests, what... what is going on?"

The last four words were spoken as the waiter reached the room and saw the scene of devastation. He was dumbfounded; even if he racked his brains, he could not imagine what method these guests had used to cause such a commotion while eating.

Deng Taie and Yu Liancheng looked at each other and each withdrew their sword momentum.

If they were to truly determine a victor, let alone this room, even the entire inn would not be enough for them to tear apart.

"Return!"

Deng Taie uttered a word, and the six small swords returned to hover above the Sword Box, slowly descending before he closed the yellow pear-wood lid and pointed his finger at Yu Liancheng.

"It's not my business, ask him for compensation."

Yu Liancheng: "..."

Truly worthy of being a veteran of the world; that pointing gesture was indeed practiced and seasoned.