Chapter 29: Please, Old Sword Saint, Go to Your Death

Shen Zhou boiled over.

All martial experts watching this battle fell silent; the gap between the two was simply too vast, like a three-year-old child compared to a giant.

That silhouette in the heavens stood like a divine mountain; the great battle had ended, yet the shock, dread, and reverence brought by that silhouette lingered on.

This day, the Tianxia Association changed hands.

The new Association Master Jiang Xuan appointed people solely on talent, employed the worthy regardless of background, and acted with sweeping authority — anyone in the Association who excelled in any aspect, once verified, would be entrusted with heavy responsibility.

Many whose martial skills were good but had been suppressed by their superiors stepped forward one after another, gaining entry into the Tianxia Association's enforcement department.

Disciples with all sorts of specialties got to display their talents.

Jiang Xuan also uncovered many cases of deceiving superiors and oppressing ordinary people; all such were struck down by him with thunderous means.

For a whole month, blood flowed into rivers; it was said the Tianxia Association killed enough people to pile up a city.

Within the Tianxia Association's jurisdiction, every sect, ancient clan, and local tyrant with some power trembled in fear, wondering whether in recent days they had relied on their strength or influence to bully those weaker than themselves.

……

Jiang Xuan did not appear in the world for a full fifty-odd days; the outside world speculated wildly whether this sovereign who swallowed mountains and rivers with his Qi was brewing some world-shaking technique.

The martial world grew ever more oppressive.

This day, two pieces of earth-shaking news detonated the martial world that had been silent for so long.

The Old Sword Saint of Wushuang City had already entered the Myth Realm.

Above Wushuang City, Sword Qi tore the sky and split the earth; the Sword Heart Hell condensed space, and countless swordsmen's companion swords flew toward Wushuang City uncontrollably, as if paying homage to the Emperor of Swords.

The people of Wushuang City rejoiced greatly — their own power now had its own martial myth; they no longer feared the Tianxia Association.

Dugu Yifang and his son grew even more arrogant, wearing a haughty, domineering air, clamoring that the Tianxia Association brats dared to invade and would certainly meet their doom.

Martial artists across the land speculated endlessly on what attitude that Association Master would take toward the current Wushuang City.

Before long, a sentence came from the Tianxia Association:

"Seven days from now, annihilate Wushuang City."

Just because of this sentence, the jianghu that had been silent for two months boiled over once again.

Countless martial artists, while dreading the Tianxia Association's momentum, were also curious how this Tianxia Association Master would destroy Wushuang City.

The masters of the two great powers were both martial myths — who was stronger, who weaker?

A great battle at the Myth Realm level — a once-in-a-century sight — everyone awaited it with anticipation.

In those seven days, a great many martial artists, all harboring the desire to witness this historic battle firsthand, whipped their horses and rushed toward Wushuang City.

Legend has it that even Nameless, who had withdrawn from the jianghu and hidden from the world, a martial myth, was preparing to come, intending to go to Wushuang City to stop this great battle.

Decades ago Nameless killed until the martial sects across the land withered; Shen Zhou's martial world had only barely recovered its vitality — he hoped even more that the two great powers could shake hands, make peace, and guard against foreign invasion.

After the polishing of years, Nameless's sword, once arrogant and domineering with its edge fully revealed, had turned compassionate and sorrowful for the world.

A great many martial artists watched this coming battle in secret; whichever power won would inevitably sweep across the land, subdue all sects, and contend for the supreme position.

……

Tianxia Association — Jiang Xuan sat cross-legged on the throne; below, Wind, Cloud, and Duan Lang reported respectfully.

"Master, the former Tian Shuang Hall disciples have all been incorporated into the Fire Qilin Hall."

Now Duan Lang could be said to be in high spirits; in the Tianxia Association he was second only to one man and above ten thousand; toward Jiang Xuan he grew ever more grateful and respectful.

The Tianxia Association managed to purge the chaos within its jurisdiction in three months — Duan Lang's merit was indispensable. Having refined the Blood Bodhi and cultivated the Ten Strongest Martial Arts, his combat power had already drawn close to the former Xiong Ba's.

The original Tian Shuang Hall Master Qin Shuang — Jiang Xuan intended to continue employing him heavily, but Qin Shuang harbored deep hatred for this master-killing enemy; powerless to take revenge, he declared he would never serve this master-killing enemy Jiang Xuan.

Jiang Xuan himself also appreciated Qin Shuang somewhat; this man was merely excessively loyal to a fault, and with Wind and Cloud interceding for him, Jiang Xuan did not make things difficult for him either.

Heart cold and spirit broken, Qin Shuang wandered off to the ends of the earth; his whereabouts unknown.

Regarding Qin Shuang's choice, Duan Lang only wanted to say in his heart: ungrateful, not knowing what a massive opportunity he had missed — as long as he could serve under the Master, even being given a sect master's position would not be worth trading.

"Good. Duan Lang, the Fire Qilin Hall continues to carry out the duty of monitoring chaos; additionally, arrange Association members to search for the Clay Bodhisattva."

"Bu Jingyun, you go to the bottom of West Lake and find a divine stone for me; you will naturally know it when you see it."

"Also, Nie Feng has the Snow Drinking Mad Saber, Duan Lang has the Fire Qilin Sword — you still lack a weapon; ordinary weapons cannot bear the power of the Fire Qilin fragment. After you obtain the divine stone, you may go to the Bai Jian Shan Zhuang and take a peerless fine sword."

"Nie Feng, I need you to rush to Wushuang City now to scout intelligence — find out what cultivation the Sword Saint currently possesses; seven days from now, rendezvous at Wushuang City and take over Wushuang City."

Nie Feng was puzzled — the Sword Saint had already reached the Martial Myth Realm, the entire martial world was already abuzz with the news.

Moreover, traveling from the Tianxia Association to Wushuang City to gather intelligence and then returning — a round trip would certainly exceed seven days; by then the Master would already have arrived at Wushuang City, so scouting ahead seemed to have little meaning.

Just as he was about to ask, Duan Lang at his side spoke up:

"Master, the Sword Saint's cultivation is supremely high; Nie Feng's trip may be dangerous — better that I go with Nie Feng."

"No need to worry; I observe that Nie Feng's head-top Qi fortune is so flourishing none can match it — this trip is without worry, and perhaps there will even be some opportunities."

Jiang Xuan's words carried hidden meaning; he did not explain further.

The three were even more puzzled — could the Master also read faces?

Seeing Jiang Xuan had no intention of explaining, the three spoke no more — the Master's every move must have deep meaning; the Master said Nie Feng's trip held no danger, then there was no danger; just go with peace of mind.

On the other side, inside a secluded courtyard in Wushuang City.

"The Tianxia Association harbors wolfish ambitions; one Xiong Ba died, and an even more terrifying Jiang Xuan arrived."

A white-haired old crone leaned on a cane, worry etched on her face; behind her stood a peerless purple-clad young woman.

"Seven days from now, that Jiang Xuan will attack our Wushuang City; our Ming House received the Dugu House's great grace — guarding Wushuang City is our Ming House's destiny."

"Even if it costs our lives, we will not hesitate; Mingyue, you

understand my meaning, right."

The white-haired old crone looked at the peerless woman, her gaze sharp.

"Grandma, rest assured — Mingyue knows what to do; Mingyue will not do anything that violates the ancestral precepts."

The peerless woman named Mingyue nodded immediately in assent, yet her heart was filled with helpless sorrow.

Even if the Ming family received great kindness from the Du Gu family, and generation after generation served Wushuang City, with not a few predecessors dying for it, even such great kindness should have been repaid by now.

But Granny was deeply influenced by this mindset, valuing the Du Gu family more than her own grandson and granddaughter, leaving Ming Yue feeling very helpless.

Ming Yue thought that if Wushuang City fell in seven days, she must at all costs protect Granny's life.

……

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Cheng Zhu Fu of Wushuang City, Du Gu Yifang and the Sword Saint sat opposite each other.

"Big Brother, Jiang Xuan came today; do you have any confidence, Big Brother?"

Du Gu Yifang was very worried; his former arrogance was completely gone, and he deliberately put on that appearance only to stabilize the morale of Wushuang City's army, after all, the pressure Jiang Xuan brought to all martial artists by destroying Xiong Ba with a single punch was too great, and he needed to show that Wushuang City did not fear the Tianxia Alliance.

"No confidence; among those at the Mythic Realm, who is much weaker than whom?"

The old Sword Saint's expression was calm, like an ancient well without ripples.

"But if they want to destroy my Wushuang City, they must step over my corpse."

The Sword Saint spoke again, his flat words revealing a mindset of regarding death as returning home.

"Then please, old Sword Saint, go to your death!"

A voice of tyranny came from Tianqiong; Jiang Xuan's silhouette slowly descended, standing above Wushuang City.

Tears soaked the Pig Trotter Rice, vowing to earn one million, votes, votes, votes!

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(Chapter End)