The victor stood alone in white robes. He nodded slightly to his opponent, turned toward the edge of the arena, and said, “Next.”
One of the dozen or so seated cultivators rose and leaped into the arena, replacing the defeated man to face the white-robed cultivator.
Once again sword light flashed. After only a few breaths, this challenger, too, was defeated.
The matches continued, one after another. Armed with a single sword, the young man in white won them all.
When everyone had taken a turn, he sheathed his sword, walked back, and sat among them.
Two other cultivators took his place in the arena. Their swordsmanship appeared evenly matched, and compared with the earlier duels, the contest was actually rather more exciting to watch.
Some spectators focused on the battle, while others approached the white-robed man to speak. “Fellow Daoist Yun, you defeated me with a single strike just now, but there’s something I still don’t understand. Would you offer me a pointer or two?”
The white-robed man said, “The sword struck the crane’s head.”
The questioner considered this. “So the crane’s head was the weak point?”
The man nodded slightly. “Your wrist turns too slowly when you execute that sword move.”
The other cultivator understood at once. “I see!”
Several onlookers laughed. “None of us noticed that! Perhaps we can try it the next time we spar with Fellow Daoist He.”
The cultivator surnamed He laughed as well. “Now that I know, I’ll correct the flaw immediately. How could I leave myself open to the same mistake next time?”
Everyone burst into laughter.
Afterward, some resumed sparring while others asked the white-robed cultivator where they had gone wrong or discussed their own approaches to the sword Dao with him.
While conversation was at its liveliest, someone strode in from outside the hall. His aura was so powerful that the others sensed his approach from afar and all turned to look.
The newcomer was a handsome young man nine chi tall, broad-shouldered and strongly built, with a magnificent bearing.
A heavy sword hung across his back, almost as tall as he was. Each stride seemed to stir the wind. He was an extraordinarily bold and impressive figure.
At the sight of him, a cultivator called out with a smile, “Fellow Daoist Jiwen has arrived!”
The young man cupped his hands. “Jiwen Jing greets you all, Fellow Daoists.” Then he turned to the white-robed man. “Brother Yun.”
The white-robed man nodded slightly. “Brother Jiwen.”
Jiwen Jing was a direct descendant of the main line of the great sword-cultivating Jiwen family, which had organized the assembly. His sword cultivation was formidable. Although only at middle Nascent Soul, he had achieved the first refinement of his sword soul at just over four hundred years of age and was highly valued by his family. For a clan devoted to swords, cultivation realm mattered, but attainments in the sword Dao were even more important.
At this assembly, he was one of the outstanding young sword cultivators entrusted with mingling and exchanging knowledge with the other talented participants.
All eighteen sword halls in Luchuan City were under his management.
With his unusual comprehension, Jiwen Jing naturally possessed a proud streak. He did not look down on other sword cultivators, but he carried such absolute confidence in his words and conduct that others found him difficult to approach. His devotion to the sword Dao was profound, and his sword heart could not be shaken.
But now… having sat down, he looked toward the white-robed man.
Someone who received such an enthusiastic greeting from him was obviously no ordinary person.
It had all come about by coincidence. Just before the Sword Discussion Assembly began, Jiwen Jing was busy arranging accommodations in the various halls for sword cultivators who had comprehended sword intent. While hurrying down a street, he saw a young man in white passing by. For some reason, he noticed an unforgettable sharpness in the young man’s aura, reaching straight toward the heavens.
But he had been too busy to approach him then.
After the assembly began, Jiwen Jing remained busy with his duties as host, forging connections with sword cultivators and handling family affairs rather than taking part himself. Then he heard of a swordsman who had fought through eighteen consecutive rounds and was still issuing challenges. Naturally, his curiosity was aroused.
This assembly differed from ordinary combat. Participants’ cultivation was sealed, and they competed solely by their attainments in the sword Dao. Sword forms, techniques, sword force, and sword intent were permitted, but nothing unrelated to swordsmanship could be used. This provided the fairest possible measure of a sword cultivator’s genuine understanding and comprehension of the sword.
To clear eighteen rounds in succession… that required hundreds of consecutive victories.
How could Jiwen Jing not go see such a man for himself?
When he finally went to meet this extraordinary swordsman, he recognized the white-robed youth he had noticed earlier. His hands itched for a bout, and he immediately challenged him.
Their match ended in a draw. Only then did Jiwen Jing realize that the other man’s cultivation was similar to his own, as were his attainments in the sword Dao, yet this swordsman was more than a hundred years younger. A desire to befriend him immediately arose.
He subsequently invited the man to stay in one of his family’s sword halls and made sure he was well treated. They discussed swordsmanship for several days and gradually became familiar friends.
That was when Jiwen Jing learned that the man was named Yun Lie, a disciple of the Wuling Mountain Domain of the first-grade Zhou Tian Immortal Sect.
Having sat down, Jiwen Jing smiled. “I arrived late again today. I hope you will forgive me, Fellow Daoists.”
The other sword cultivators smiled. “We all know how busy Fellow Daoist Jiwen is. There’s no need for such ceremony.”
Jiwen Jing had only been observing the formalities. After exchanging pleasantries, he asked, “How did today’s sword discussions go? What were the results?”
Those permitted to stay at the halls were all sword cultivators of some ability. Each had a strength worth learning from, whether in sword technique, insight into the sword Dao, or sword intent. He could not neglect them and naturally wanted to take an interest.
One swordsman shook his head ruefully. “I still lost to Fellow Daoist Yun. Merely holding out a little longer was difficult enough.”
Others sighed. “Fellow Daoist Yun’s abilities are truly awe-inspiring.”
Someone else said, “We’ve been discussing swords here while waiting for Fellow Daoist Jiwen to arrive and have another match with Fellow Daoist Yun. Then we can feast our eyes on a true contest!”
Jiwen Jing arched a brow. “I’ve gained new insights recently. I’d like another match with Brother Yun as well!”
With that, he looked toward Yun Lie.
Yun Lie nodded slightly, and in a blur he appeared in the arena again.
Jiwen Jing became a black shadow, his movement swift as lightning as he followed close behind.
Neither used true essence or sword soul. Their sword souls had already clashed in previous bouts, and further comparisons over so short a time would bring little progress. But their sword techniques and understanding had improved. In recent days they had seen the skills of countless swordsmen and fought often, gaining insights of their own.
Now the two became little more than two currents of wind, moving so swiftly that even the naked eye could scarcely follow.
Their duel was at once far more beautiful and far harder to watch than any of the earlier matches.
It was beautiful because of the many mysteries of swordsmanship it revealed, enough to leave viewers in awe. It was difficult to watch because the fighters moved so fast that before anyone could make sense of one exchange, another seventy or eighty techniques had already flashed past.
They fought for more than half a shichen before both simultaneously withdrew their swords and stood on opposite sides of the arena.
The onlookers noticed that the two had exchanged positions, but the exact placement of their heels, their posture, and even their expressions were indistinguishable from how they had stood before the bout.
They could not help cheering and applauding.
Afterward, the sword cultivators continued their discussions. They expressed their own views, though most of the guidance now came from Yun Lie and Jiwen Jing.
The atmosphere was harmonious, and everyone gained something.
Jiwen Jing was an engaging speaker, while Yun Lie spoke little. But most sword cultivators were straightforward people, and they got along surprisingly well.
As the discussion continued, a green light suddenly approached from the distant sky outside the hall.
Everyone sensed it and looked up.
Was someone sending a message?
The green light descended without stopping and shot directly toward Yun Lie.
He raised a hand and caught it. A small green sword appeared in his palm.
He extended his spiritual sense inside to examine it, and his expression shifted slightly.
The next moment, he actually stood up.
Jiwen Jing and the others were surprised.
“Brother Yun?”
“Fellow Daoist Yun?”
Yun Lie said simply, “Someone has come looking for me. I’ll go meet them.”
He took a step, and without any obvious effort his whole figure appeared several zhang away.
Xu Ziqing had only just entered Luchuan City when he sensed sword qi rising toward the heavens and countless conceptions of the sword Dao permeating the air. It was as though every step brought him into contact with a faint cutting sharpness.
Most of the men in the city carried a hard, resolute air, and the women were often valiant and spirited, a striking sight.
Precisely because sword cultivators’ auras saturated the city, however, Xu Ziqing could not immediately sense where his senior brother had gone.
He thought for a moment, then entered an inn as he had before. Sitting on the ground floor, he ordered tea and listened to conversations around him.
This was different from Fengqu City. Farther from the assembly, the discussions there had declined after the event had been underway for a while. But Luchuan was crowded with sword cultivators, and the assembly had not yet ended. Many people were still talking about it.
Without having to ask directly, Xu Ziqing learned a great deal before long.
There were more than ten sword halls in the city, all established by the Jiwen family to host sword cultivators.
Anyone who had comprehended sword intent could be escorted to stay in one of these halls. Because the guests were sword cultivators living together, they frequently met and exchanged insights. Anyone who had grasped sword intent possessed at least some skill, so sparring with one another brought many benefits.
People also discussed how the assembly’s sword duels proceeded: the defeated withdrew, while winners fought through successive rounds against two, then three, then four challengers, and so on. Some had won more than ten rounds without defeat, displaying sword techniques like a hundred flowers blooming, so dazzling that spectators could scarcely keep up.
Others said that cultivation rank did not determine the victor here. Sword attainments alone decided a match, so a cultivator with a lower realm but better swordsmanship could earn the respect of one far above them.
In short, the conversations were overwhelmingly full of praise, and hardly anyone criticized the event.
Having listened, Xu Ziqing smiled faintly.
This really was the ideal place for Senior Brother. He must be enjoying himself immensely.
Xu Ziqing sat a little longer, then left a spirit stone behind and walked outside.
After considering his next move, he decided against searching every sword hall one by one. Instead he would send a message directly to his senior brother.
Now that they were in the same city, the message should find him almost immediately, without anyone intercepting it on the way.
Having made his decision, Xu Ziqing took a message-transmitting jade sword from his storage ring. He infused it with his senior brother’s aura and hesitated briefly before speaking. “Senior Brother, I’ve emerged from seclusion. I’m in Luchuan City now…” He paused and looked around, then continued, “…in front of Immortal Residence Inn on South Street.”
Having said this, he could think of nothing more to add, so he sent the jade sword flying.
Whatever happened next, his senior brother would let him know.
The jade sword shot away through the air. Xu Ziqing walked over to a green tree beside the inn.
He gently stroked its trunk, his expression tranquil and his heart equally calm.
Before long, he sensed something and turned his head.
Sure enough, not far away, a white-robed figure was walking toward him at an unhurried pace.
As he approached, he seemed to bring icy cold with him, silencing all the bustle and noise around them.
Yet Xu Ziqing’s heart suddenly began beating a little faster.
Elio’s Note: The original heading of Chapter 406 is 芦州城 (Luzhou City), while the chapter’s location and the surrounding chapters repeatedly call the city 芦川城 (Luchuan City). The English chapter title follows the original heading; the narrative follows the consistently named location.