Chapter 435: A Sword Comes from the Southwest

Above the Xuan Gui Fa Xiang appeared a message from Master Siming.

Four simple characters made Li Guanyi frown, but he was no longer the impulsive boy he had been—he raised a finger and wrote upon the back of the Xuan Gui Fa Xiang—

"Speak plainly."

After the ripples on the turtle shell dispersed for a long while, news arrived from Jiangnan.

【Yuwen Lie stands before the city gates】

【Xue Shen has been activated】

But time is too short—even with Bai Mao the fisherman and Si Wei joining forces, Old Xue's mechanical body could not reach its peak performance and was barely functional.

【Yuwen Lie is a top-tier Nine Heavens general; Old Xue barely holds him off】

【But there is also He Ruo Qinhu, and another general, Jiang Xuantao】

【What was Jiang Su thinking, to let Jiang Xuantao come out too】

【Old Xue can hold Yuwen Lie—do you think his mechanical body can hold off three generals: Yuwen Lie, He Ruo Qinhu, and Jiang Xuantao? Even if he could, Zhang Ziyong's arm would be drained dry】

【Bai Mao, the fisherman, may be strong in Wu Gong, but against this massed army, he can do nothing more than escort your aunt away—your sword-crazy old man, though, will likely be cut down by that one sword】

【He's not the type to flee in disgrace】

【Brat, come back quick—have you settled the matter in the southwest?】

Golden ripples slowly faded; the Xuan Gui Fa Xiang turned to Li Guanyi, who withdrew his finger, the sharpness in his eyes gradually receding, as calm and slow as ever—yet the situation in the southwest had not yet been fully resolved.

The most strategic move was to consolidate the troops here, then advance upstream along the tributaries of the Dajiang, to support the Nu Lin Long Wang, unite the Fire Qilin Army and the Southwest Flying Army, and swiftly breach the city walls while Chen State remains unprepared, then descend along the waterways.

Li Guanyi himself would forge the third Jiuding.

Through the resonance of three Jiuding, the tide of heaven's will would surge, shatter the passes, Break Through the Realm, and fully reach the level of the true top-tier divine generals—but—

Not enough time.

"This isn't the Western Regions—there are no foreign gold men or Wang Yin, no Heaven-Officiating rites. To gather enough material worthy of forging a Ding across eighty-one cities, then forge it publicly, at the peak of public acclaim—"

"It would take at least two months."

"Two months."

"In one month, Yuwen Lie will force Grandpa to unleash that sword."

There has never been a perfect thing in this world, and opponents and enemies never wait for you to be fully ready before appearing.

Should he remain in the southwest, calmly gather the world's armies, and forge the third Jiuding before all eyes, then Break Through the Realm in due course—or abandon this place, take up his long sword, and return to Jiangnan?

For Li Guanyi, this was never a question.

Li Guanyi found Xiao Wuliang, entrusted him with the affairs of the southwest, assigned Chen Wenhao as his aide—but could not find Chen Wenmian. Li Guanyi said: "Where is Wenmian?"

Xiao Wuliang fell silent, then sighed:

"The young master… cannot fight right now…"

Since Chen Wenmian received what Chen Fubi left behind, he had fallen into silence, never fully recovering. Li Guanyi went to visit him, saw from afar that his condition was poor, and knew he must be left alone for now.

Li Guanyi spread out the map, pointing to Chen State's waterway cities and the tributaries of the Dajiang in the southwest, speaking at length, then finally pointing to the two tributaries of the Dajiang:

"Lead the main force along both waterways to reinforce General Kou Yu Lie. Seize these three river crossings before Chen State can reinforce the Southwest Flying Army."

"Take full control of the entire upper waterway."

"This task is entrusted to you all."

Xiao Wuliang and Duan Qingyu agreed.

Duan Qingyu asked: "Where will the Lord's nephew go?"

Li Guanyi gazed toward Jiangnan and said: "The grand tide of heaven's will is a game between kings and heroes—but I once told someone I am not the one playing the game. I am the pawn who crosses the river."

"And now—"

"This pawn of mine is crossing the river."

As the Southwest Flying Army began to gather, Li Guanyi, clad in a green robe, rode a Nine-Colored Divine Deer alone toward Jiangnan. The Nine-Colored Divine Deer's combat ability was inferior to the Southwest Auspicious Beasts and the current little Fire Qilin.

But the Nine-Colored Divine Deer was a true auspicious beast.

Not a brute like the Fire Qilin, the Iron-Eating Beast, or the Ancient Crimson Dragon.

The Nine-Colored Divine Deer's wind-riding speed surpassed even the Fire Qilin's and lasted longer. Li Guanyi sat cross-legged on its broad back; as it stepped into the void, the Jiu Li Divine Weapon Jin Tie let out a long cry.

It flew as a streak of light onto the Nine-Colored Divine Deer's back. Li Guanyi extended his palm, and the still-incomplete Jiu Li Divine Weapon Jin Tie coiled around his arm. The Fire Qilin tried to bite it—spit, spit, spit—for a long while, its face full of disgust.

This thing is tooth-breaking.

Not good fruit!

Li Guanyi gently stroked the Jiu Li Divine Weapon Jin Tie.

Let Yuwen Lie, He Ruo Qinhu, and Jiang Xuantao all see—

The edge of this southwest divine weapon.

The vast sky, swallowing mountains and rivers.

………………

For days, Yuwen Lie's army and Xue Shen's Fire Qilin Army clashed without decisive victory—but the battlefield was never static; while Xue Shen blocked Yuwen Lie, he himself was cut off by Yuwen Lie.

Despite repeated defeats, He Ruo Qinhu, still ranked among the top ten generals, revealed his full prowess on this Jiangnan battlefield; the Fire Qilin Army delayed him only a few days before he arrived at the Jiangnan Eighteen Prefectures front, advancing like a sweeping flank.

Now the three armies of Ying State had merged, seeking to build momentum and smash through Jiangnan's defenses in one decisive blow.

He Ruo Qinhu's gaze, fierce and bold, fixed on the battlefield's martial aura.

"Great spirit."

"In just a few years, this once-barren, war-torn Jiangnan has recovered to this state—Fire Qilin Army, Tiance Prefecture—truly formidable."

If earlier Jiangnan had been nothing but rotting land and wasteland, a testing ground for young generals of Chen and Ying States, now it was truly a valuable territory.

He Ruo Qinhu had suffered repeated defeats on the Western Regions battlefield.

As a contemporary general, a veteran tiger general who had followed Jiang Wanxiang since early days, he carried deep, smoldering rage and countless regrets—on this Jiangnan battlefield, he must wash away the shame of recent failures, his killing intent thick as fog.

………………

On the battlefield, within the Qilin Army's defensive line, the old Master Siming sighed, watching the characters on the Xuan Gui's shell fade away, and said, "I told that brat Li Guanyi, but he didn't say whether the matter in the southwest succeeded."

The Whale Fisher rolled his eyes. "What good does it do to tell him?"

"Can that brat even fly over here?"

"Even if he could fly, it would take a long time—and by the time he arrives, how much combat power would he still have left?"

The old Master Siming stroked his chin. "Pity, pity. If his Xuan Gui manifestation were my old brother, he could get here in no time." He patted the Xuan Gui's shell with considerable pride.

The old Xuan Gui: "…………"

He didn't know whether to be proud or angry.

Is this old man complimenting himself?

But why does it sound so off?

The man in the blue robe held no sword— for one of his realm, having or not having a sword made no difference. Elder Murong gazed far into the distance and saw the martial aura of the enemy forces gathering like clouds, surging skyward, thick and dense, taking the shape of a Bai Hu.

General Yuwen Lie, the supreme divine general of the State of Ying.

If he held a sword and tore through the army formation without regard for his life, could he cut down Yuwen Lie, who dwelled in the Heavy Heaven Realm, amid ten thousand soldiers?

Warriors of legend always find ways to survive.

Ten thousand troops cannot stop them.

But if one truly resolves to abandon all hope of survival and charges forward, then commanders like Master Zhenkui or Daoists of the Sect would likely perish under the encirclement of a divine general's army—yet the Master Jiankuang is different; he possesses the most piercingly sharp spirit of all warrior legends.

Like the setting sun.

But the sun is still the sun.

The old Master Siming, most perceptive of all, sensed the calmness in the Master Jiankuang's gaze and turned to the man in blue. "Elder Murong, what are you planning with those eyes? If you charge forward recklessly, when Li Guanyi returns, we won't be able to explain it to him."

"Elder Murong, what are you trying to do with those eyes of yours? If you charge over there recklessly, we won't be able to explain ourselves to Li Guanyi when he comes back."

The old Master Siming grinned crookedly.

How could he not be sharp?

Your expression just now was identical to the day your family fell apart, when you swung your sword wildly in the rain. All these years, after traveling the world, your old nature hasn't changed at all.

The old Master Siming patted Elder Murong on the shoulder and pulled him back. He went to fetch a teapot and boiled tea. "You've spent your whole life swinging swords to kill. Can't you let the younger generation have some peace in your old age? The Qilin Army's line has been breached, but the overall situation hasn't collapsed."

"Those boys Li Guanyi brought back from the Academy really are capable."

He went to fetch the teapot and boiled tea, saying: "You've spent your whole life swinging a sword to kill people—can't you let your descendants have some peace in your old age? The Fire Qilin Army's front line has been breached, but the overall situation hasn't collapsed."

The old Master Siming looked helplessly at the blue-robed Master Jiankuang. "You're too blunt, too sharp—what are you trying to do?"

Elder Murong's hand brushed the empty air. "My sword must be swung. Now, with armies before me and a divine general blocking the way—isn't this the perfect moment to strike?"

"Even if I don't swing this sword, I have only a year left."

Even a mighty man like Jiang Wanxiang, upon realizing his life was fading and his great vow unfulfilled, felt a pang of panic.

The blue-robed Master Jiankuang spoke of his own death.

Even a mighty figure like Jiang Wanxiang felt panic when he realized his life was withering and his great wish remained unfulfilled.

The old Master Siming kicked the Master Jiankuang's leg. "Pfft, pfft, pfft! Kids don't know what they're saying! What nonsense about a year's lifespan—why are you talking like that!"

"Drink your tea."

Elder Murong laughed loudly. "I'm already this old—over two hundred years lived. What's this talk of 'child'?"

The old Master Siming glared at him. "When I first met you, you were even younger than Li Guanyi back then. Even now, your hair isn't as white as mine, your wrinkles aren't as deep—how can you say you're not a child?"

Elder Murong smiled helplessly.

The Master Siming glared at him and said: "When I first knew you, you were even younger than Li Guanyi back then; even now, your hair isn't as white as mine, your wrinkles aren't as deep as mine—how can you say you're not a child?"

He stroked his teacup. "Old senior, you've seen countless partings and deaths—what is it you can't let go of?"

The old Master Siming paused. "Partings and deaths are hard to let go of."

Elder Murong was startled. He looked up at the old man and, in that instant, saw not the usual playful or irritable expression, but only calm composure.

The old Master Siming stared into his teacup. "Not long before you were born, Tuyuhun was near death. I had a… friend who passed away. At that time, I abandoned everything to unravel the Mandate of Heaven."

Elder Murong was startled; he looked up at the old man, and in that instant, on the Master Siming's face, he saw not his usual capricious laughter or anger, but only calm serenity.

The Master Jiankuang watched the old man. The slightest glimpse of this playful, irreverent Yin-Yang Master's true nature revealed an arrogance no less fierce than his own. Elder Murong looked at Master Siming. "Did you succeed, old senior?"

Master Siming gazed at his own palm. "I cracked the He Tu and Luoshu. I entered the tomb of Xi Huang and played a game of go with his surviving fragments. I saw the gap between life and death—but Heaven played a joke on me."

"I pierced the veil of life and death—but the lifespan fell upon me."

The Master Siming looked at his own palm and whispered: "I cracked the He Tu Luoshu, entered the tomb of the Xi Huang Clan, played a game of go with his surviving fragments, and saw the gap between life and death—but Heaven played a joke on me."

"Those who dare taint life and death are cursed with endless years. My power has faded, yet I cannot die. I wander this world still—even longer than the Immortal Wanderer."

Elder Murong asked: "Old senior, was your friend a woman?"

Master Siming looked at him, then suddenly scolded with a laugh. "You brat—your eyes hold more than just swords? You know these things?" Elder Murong watched him. Master Siming fell silent for a long while, then sighed. "Yes. A woman."

Elder Murong asked: "Old senior, did you never confess your true feelings?"

Master Siming fell silent for a very long time. Then he laughed. "This brings me to my second greatest regret in life. The first was seeking that damned method of resurrection. The second…"

The old man lifted his head, proudly boasting: "Don't look at me now—I was young, oh, so handsome, free-spirited, charming. So many beauties fell for me in my youth."

The Master Siming fell silent for a very long time, then suddenly laughed and said: "This brings me to my second greatest regret in life—the first was seeking that damned method to restore the dead; the second is this."

This only left the old Master Siming flustered. He chuckled awkwardly, fell silent, then sighed: "In my youth, I was too proud, too arrogant. I thought everything in this world was simple. I played the qin without peer, mastered go without a teacher. I wandered the world, seducing flowers and grass, sleeping on flower boats, leaving affection everywhere."

"Wine today, sleep today. Beauty and song never ceased."

"And she… she was too simple, too pure."

When I was young, I was too proud and arrogant, believing that all things in this world were this simple: I could play the qin unrivaled, teach myself to play go, wander through the world, pluck flowers and stir up trouble, spend nights on flower boats, leaving affection everywhere.

Today there is wine, today I sleep; beautiful women and their songs and dances never cease.

And she… she was too simple, too pure.

The Yin-Yang Master of this era suddenly let out a bitter laugh, full of mockery.

"Someone like me doesn't deserve it."

"I can only hide, and watch her…"

The old Master Siming remembered how, when that woman died, she clutched his robe, choking out to him: when they emerged, the world's people suffered terribly; they raised banners to save all living beings, allied in chaos, and shattered the rule of the Red Emperor.

They had thought they could swiftly reunify the world again.

They wanted to mend the broken mirror of the world, restore unity, and let the people live in peace—but after a lifetime of rushing about, the Break Through the Realm remained unhealed.

"Like the world."

"Like you and me."

The old Master Siming fell silent for a long while, his heart aching; he had roamed the world in reckless abandon, yet refused to recall these memories. He looked at Elder Murong and said: "Then what of you, boy? You've come this far—be honest now."

Elder Murong lifted his teacup like a wine jug, exuding a carefree air: "I'm different from you, Elder. What I cling to is merely my youthful experiences."

"When I was young, my family suffered a sudden disaster. To me, family was everything. I picked up my sword and roamed the world only to protect those behind me."

"Now that it's come to this again—how can I not draw my sword?"

The old Master Siming sighed. When Elder Murong was young, the Murong clan suffered a sudden disaster; nearly his entire lineage was wiped out. He hid alone, roamed the world for two centuries, and became famed across the land—yet still, he carried that obsession.

If he had possessed his current strength back then—if someone had come then…

Perhaps everything would have been different.

Now that he held a sword, he would never let his kin be harmed again.

Elder Murong smiled carefreely: "Elder, our natures were forged step by step through centuries of experience. If mere words could erase them all, what would our hundreds of years amount to?"

"I've wrestled with myself for so long—I am still myself."

Elder Murong rose, drinking tea; ripples trembled endlessly in the teapot. Yuwen Lie had already launched his cavalry charge. This generation's Bai Hu Da Zong had discovered the flaw in Xue Shen's battle formation, refining it through centuries of experience.

He revived a brilliant tactic, forged from the histories of legendary generals, successfully piercing through Xue Shen's formation. Xue Shen, clad in armored machinery, rode a divine steed, wielding only one battle halberd of Xuanbing rank, said: "Hardship! Hardship!"

"Weapons insufficient, steed insufficient, even vitality insufficient."

"Fisherman of the Whale, prepare."

The Fisherman of the Whale supported the Fire Qilin battle formation. This massive ten-thousand-man battle erupted. Xue Shen, wielding Xuanbing, clashed fiercely with Yuwen Lie. The battlefield stretched vast, dark energy rising, coalescing into a roaring Bai Hu army spirit, locked in brutal combat.

The sound shook dozens of li; killing aura surged to the heavens. The people of Jiangnan could see dark clouds in the sky, winds howling fiercely. In the Eighteen Prefectures of Jiangnan, the Changfeng Lady's tower howled, the Jianghe river surged—yet for a brief moment, its flow halted.

The two weapons, laden with the momentum of army spirits, slammed together violently.

Steel screamed as weapon met weapon, exploding into shockwaves that spread outward in visible waves, sweeping over a nearby hill, splitting it open with a crack.

The pavilion atop the hill tumbled sideways into the abyss below, crashing and collapsing with a roar.

Xue Shen felt a fissure burst open in his shoulder.

Yuwen Lie said: "Bai Hu Da Zong, peerless marksman—you must be the Marquis of Xue."

Xue Shen laughed loudly: "Hahahaha! Why does every newcomer recognize me?"

"Am I that famous in later generations?"

"How embarrassing!"

Yuwen Lie said: "Among the three fundamental battle manuals every general in the world must study, yours is one of them—how could you not be famed?" His heavy spear slowly pressed down; within Xue Shen, Zhang Ziyong's arm grew weaker.

The Xuanbing weapon in his hand cracked, nearly severed.

At that moment, a rider burst forth from the side—Jiang Xuantao, brandishing a long spear, roared:

"Fight me!!!"

Xue Shen's halberd suddenly revealed an exquisitely refined technique, shifting from fierce yang to gentle yin, evading Yuwen Lie's spearplay and Jiang Xuantao's charge, then snatching Jiang's spear with one hand and yanking him from his steed, kicking him hard in the chest.

Jiang Xuantao grunted, stumbling backward; his weapon now held by Xue Shen.

Xue Shen, who had barely held his own against Yuwen Lie just now.

Now facing both Yuwen Lie and the flanking Jiang Xuantao—he held firm.

The old Master Siming rejoiced, laughing loudly: "Hahahaha! I knew it!"

"I knew this old bastard was hiding something!"

At that moment, a wave erupted within the army—the front lines split like parting waves, breached. Yuwen Lie's expression changed instantly; he roared: "He Ruo Qinhu, what are you doing?!!"

After the three armies converged.

The former fourth-greatest general of the world had hidden among ordinary troops.

He Ruo Qinhu sought to wash away his shame: "Use the orthodox to engage, the unexpected to win! Yuwen Lie, you are a military commander—valuing honor is good, but if you sacrifice your nation's victory for your own pride, aren't you a thief of reputation?!"

"Murong Longtu, come!!!"

He Ruo Qinhu's power surged violently, amplified by the army's momentum, charging toward the rear ranks. Yuwen Lie and Jiang Xuantao, intending to assist, suddenly felt the mechanical warrior's aura explode, forcibly suppressing them both.

Xue Shen pressed down with the spear: "Boy, you say you all study my tactics—could it be possible…"

"That the reason I wrote this… is because you're all too stupid?"

"That I had to simplify it?"

Yuwen Lie and Jiang Xuantao felt pressure surge.

It forced them to remain where they were, unable to aid He Ruo Qinhu.

At that moment, a crisp sound came from the mechanical warrior—fine cracks exploded across its surface.

Xue Shen finally cursed.

The Battle Commander turned to aid Elder Murong. He Ruo Qinhu's sudden strike surpassed everyone's expectations—but the Master Jiankuang's expression remained calm, as if he had long awaited this. His five fingers stretched, then slowly converged; a sword coalesced.

This sword shattered all before it; this sword protected all behind it.

The swordlight exploded.

Accompanied by the resonant ringing of a cauldron, it swept across the battlefield.

Elder Murong gripped his sword, watching as a brilliant blade of light descended from the heavens, striking with impossible speed and brilliance, crashing down upon He Ruo Qinhu's battle spear.

The qi waves surged in all directions, stirring the battlefield's grim energy into tidal waves.

The third Bai Hu manifestation appeared upon the battlefield, roaring freely.

The sword qi stretched vast and boundless; Elder Murong stared blankly, gazing at the man before him.

A swordsman in a fluttering green robe stood before him.

Too familiar, yet too strange—he froze for a moment. Elder Murong felt as if he had returned to his youth; for once, it was not he who had to protect those behind him, but he who was protected. Such an experience, for him, was his first.

This swordsman, who had suffered the annihilation of his family in childhood and thereafter trusted only himself, relying solely on himself to protect all, had finally been protected by kin in his old age.

The green robe billowed in the wind, black hair flying and falling.

In a daze, Elder Murong seemed to see his younger self.

A Murong Clan swordsman came from the southwest.

The sword's name—

Longtu!

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