noffsinger Chapter 269 Sword-Questioning Mountain
Chapter 269 Sword-Questioning Mountain
Whoosh!
Fang Qing maintained his [Lou Jin] Dao Foundation persona and did not travel from Taixu. Instead, he transformed into a sword light and flew to take a good look at the mountains and rivers of Wu and Yue.
"Hmm... the higher the level of a True Monarch of the Great Dao, the worse their condition."
"The Wu Kingdom is dominated by the metal element, and the mastermind behind it must be the Metal Virtue True Lord... The Northern Zhou Kingdom reveres red and is primarily based on the fire element... Both are lineages of the Great Dao, and the Golden Core True Lords are not in good condition."
"So, it seems the current version is still dominated by True Immortals of the Purple Mansion... I can rest a little more at ease..."
On the demonic path, there are more Earth and Wood elements, while on the Taiyi Xuanmen side, the Metal and Fire elements are the main ones.
Therefore, it is actually more dangerous to associate with the demonic path!
Because whether it's Moyun Cliff or even the True Lord behind the Yin Corpse Sect, they will definitely take action if pushed too far!
Even if a True Lord doesn't appear, a mere display of a Golden Core technique would be enough to kill a Purple Mansion True Person or even a Great True Person.
"Um?"
Just then, Fang Qing's consciousness connected with the Dao Life Pearl, and a slight thought stirred in his heart:
"Shang Yuanxin made a special trip to the Zhong Alliance to ask Zhong Lingxiu to express her gratitude... Has that near-death experience finally passed?"
……
East Sea, Ice Island, the Refining Path.
Zhong Meng, inside the cave.
"Please have some tea, Master..."
Zhong Lingxiu, being a Core Formation cultivator, possessed a certain composure. She first ordered tea to be served, then waved for the servants to leave before setting up an array to seal off the cave.
Shang Yuanxin sat upright, a hint of lingering fear still on her face.
"I was able to survive this time thanks to Fellow Daoist Fang... When you see me in the future, please be sure to thank him for me. I have also prepared a gift, please pass it on to me..."
Shang Yuanxin said sincerely.
"What exactly happened during the final private exchange session of that top-tier auction?"
Zhong Lingxiu's heart stirred, knowing that the young master wanted to hear, so she couldn't help but ask.
"Sigh... It must be a powerful treasure that has attracted the attention of several late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators..."
"That damned old monster, failing to win the bid, became enraged and attacked directly!"
Shang Yuanxin sighed, "This is something no one expected. Many Core Formation cultivators were killed or injured on the spot... And this also brought to light the mysterious female cultivator with a fourth-order tortoise shell who was wanted on Tianquan Island... making the situation even more chaotic..."
This incident has dealt a major blow to the reputation of both the Merchant Alliance and Merchant Island. Currently, there are calls within the Merchant Alliance to contact various parties and condemn Blood Fiend Island.
Even more devastating were the young masters of the merchant guild, as the guild had a tradition of using its young masters as greeters…
For Shang Yuanxin, this was actually a blessing in disguise, as many of her competitors died out at once.
"Oh? What happened to that mysterious female cultivator in the end?"
Zhong Lingxiu asked curiously, "Who has won this precious treasure?"
"That female cultivator, whom we haven't seen for many years, has actually formed her core. And I wonder what kind of concealment technique she has cultivated. She even managed to escape during the chaos... However, both the Water Moon Palace and the Thunder Sound Temple have shown interest in her, so her fate is probably worrying."
Since Shang Yuanxin had come to express his gratitude, he naturally spoke frankly and without reservation: "As for that precious treasure... it was probably still snatched away by the Heavenly Fiend Old Monster in the end, and I wonder how many Nascent Soul cultivators must have been spitting blood..."
"I see."
Zhong Lingxiu nodded.
Shang Yuanxin, on the other hand, seemed quite eager.
Although cultivators may occasionally possess abilities on a whim, these abilities are unpredictable and rarely work in advance, making it even more difficult to anticipate good fortune and avoid misfortune.
Fang Shui, however, did it.
This divination technique, which was unprecedented in the cultivation world of the East Sea, greatly intrigued the young master of the merchant family.
Unfortunately, Zhong Lingxiu, following Fang Qing's instructions, also denied knowing anything.
"Oh, right..."
As they were about to take their leave, Shang Yuanxin seemed to remember something: "Your sect's Venerable Tianshuang also participated in this great battle. I heard he was injured and may now be returning to his sect to recuperate..."
"Master..."
Zhong Lingxiu was momentarily stunned...
……
"Zhan Hongxiu really is... she can inexplicably get caught up in a bunch of things no matter where she goes."
"Luckily, I didn't convert this woman back then, otherwise wouldn't I have had to clean up her messes?"
"Wait, according to my standards, unless she's an enemy or willing, I won't convert her..."
"Besides... once she's converted, will she still be considered a woman of destiny? Perhaps all her supposed luck and opportunities will completely disappear, making it even harder to profit from her."
"In the realm of Qi cultivation, even if the Secret Dharma King selects a chosen one to open a blessed land or perform other tasks, it's only through covert guidance using supernatural powers—there's no direct, rudimentary method of conversion..."
Fang Qing stood with his sword drawn, and the "Sword-Asking Mountain" was already clearly in sight ahead.
"wrong……"
"Something's not right about this mountain..."
If viewed from the void, one would find that this is not a mountain, but a "sword mark," a sword severing the void!
In terms of power, it even far surpasses the Purple Mansion Grand Array!
"This is... a sword mark from a Golden Core True Monarch?"
Fang Qing landed and strolled around.
Around "Sword-Asking Mountain", there are many ordinary villages and towns... and you can often see young swordsmen trying to cross the thin mist at the foot of the mountain to enter the real Sword-Asking Mountain.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of them did not get what they wanted.
"This mountain... is not the gate of any Golden Core sect, but a sacred place for swordsmen from all over the world..."
Fang Qing strolled along, stepping directly into the thick fog.
"Hey... that swordsman, there's no need to try. This mountain is impassable; once you go in, you'll get lost... You'll starve to death before you find a way out... If you're unlucky, you'll just perish inside."
Upon seeing Fang Qing enter the mountain, a swordsman sitting and resting on a nearby blue stone kindly reminded him.
Upon seeing Fang Qing enter the mountain, a swordsman sitting and resting on a nearby blue stone kindly reminded him.
Fang Qing remained silent and entered the fog.
In an instant, the shadow of a sword appeared on his body, evoking the image of a golden wind sweeping away fallen leaves, seemingly echoing the thick fog.
The thick fog parted, revealing a path. His figure flashed a few times and disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye.
"A sword...a sword immortal?"
The grass roots in the mortal swordsman's mouth fell out, and he cried out, "Sword Immortal, wait... I was blind... I want to become an apprentice... I want to become an apprentice..."
……
Fang Qing found the noise of ordinary people utterly annoying.
Follow the bluestone path to the end, and you will see a huge cliff.
Each young cultivator possessed a sharp aura; some sat cross-legged, while others gazed intently at the rock wall.
On the rock face, there are sword marks of varying depths, each carrying an extraordinary artistic conception.
The ten lines at the very top are like blazing suns, standing out from the crowd.
Following the energy flow, Fang Qing immediately found a magnificent sword mark.
The countless sword shadows that appeared beside him made his meaning immediately clear:
"The Great Xia Dragon Sparrow, one of the Ten Great Flying Swords of the Universe, its sword light is described as 'The dragon divides its shadow, the sparrow falls and forgets to return'..."
His gaze fell upon the other sword marks, and corresponding information naturally emerged:
"The 'Invisible Sword' of the Ten Great Flying Swords: by day it is a shadow but not light, by night it is light but not form..."
"The 'Fish-Transformed Serpent' blade is curved like a fish skeleton, its patterns resembling a venomous snake devouring a heart..."
"The man vanished without a trace, a chilling aura filled the air, and birds disappeared from the mountains..."
"The 'Giant Sword' (巨阙) cuts through the land, severing horses and oxen; it strikes the water, striking swans and geese..."
Beneath those ten sword marks, there were countless other sword marks, each one incredibly sharp.
Fang Qing also found a familiar sword light.
The sword mark was located on the southwest corner of the cliff, next to which were forty-eight other sword marks of various shapes.
"The 'Xu Jin Huan' sword, one of the forty-nine famous swords of Shu, has a light that is 'splendid as brocade and proud as a dragon in flight'..."
"So that's how the ten sharpest flying swords in the world, and the forty-nine famous swords of Shu, were ranked?"
Fang Qing seemed to be deep in thought.
"Brother, is this your first time visiting Sword Inquiry Mountain?"
Beside them, a cultivator in black suddenly spoke up.
"Indeed, are there any taboos associated with this place?"
Fang Qing politely clasped his hands in a fist and palm salute.
"This place is a sacred ground for sword cultivators throughout the land, where sword duels are strictly forbidden..."
The black-clad cultivator, holding a jet-black, sheathed ancient sword, reminded him, "This 'Sword-Asking Mountain Wall' bears the profound mysteries left by a True Monarch. We sword immortals, by thrusting our natal flying swords with all our might, if we can leave a mark on the rock wall, will become famous throughout the world! It will even automatically arrange the sword marks according to the power and mystery... For example, at the highest point, there are the ten greatest flying swords in the world!"
"Alas, even if we cultivators can only leave a sword mark in a corner, our lives will not have been in vain..."
He gazed at the ancient, jet-black sword in his hand, then shook his head: "Perhaps I will come here after I have reached the Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion stages... to present that sword for the True Lord to appraise..."
"To inscribe a mark on stone, to leave one's name with sword marks?"
Fang Qing nodded slightly, feeling the golden energy circulating in his lungs suddenly accelerate.
It was his natal flying sword—"Kill the Wolf"!
It seems to be drawn by the sword marks and sword intents of many swords, wanting to break free of its body and compete with the famous swords of the world, and to have its name engraved on the Sword Cliff!
"You think you can fly to the heavens with just a three-stage flying sword?"
Fang Qing pressed his chest to suppress the agitation of "Kill the Wolf".
"Those who can be listed on Sword Cliff are at least like 'Xu Jin Huan'—they possess flying swords of at least the seventh rank… What are you, a mere third rank, doing getting involved?"
"Sha Po Lang" let out a few mournful cries, seemingly unwilling to accept defeat.
If Fang Qing were a pure sword cultivator, he would refine his flying sword day and night with the supernatural-level "Sharp Edge Chapter," and sooner or later he would be able to upgrade "Kill Wolf" to the sixth level!
As for the seventh rank? That depends on how it's refined later, but there's a good chance.
At that time, I will surely leave my name on Sword Mountain and spread it throughout the world!
Unfortunately, he had no such idea at all.
"Why would I bother showing off in front of the True Lord?"
"But don't worry, you will definitely be able to advance to the seventh level or higher in the future, and even compete with those ninth-level flying swords..."
Fang Qing maintained a basic level of vigilance regarding this place where a True Lord could be found.
He glanced again at the sword mark on the 'Great Xia Dragon Sparrow' sword, thinking to himself, 'It's actually one of the ten most famous flying swords in the universe. This hook is formidable!'
"But I'm only convinced of its power. If it were a Qi Refining cultivator... a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator wanting to use a Nascent Soul magic weapon? Dream on!"
"But it's different in the cultivation path; even those in the Purple Mansion can use True Lord treasures!"
"This Nine-Turn Flying Sword, now in Li Lu's hands, is truly a pearl hidden in dust. If it were in the hands of a Grand Sword Immortal of the Purple Mansion, its power would truly terrify all directions..."
"However, I think Li Lu is almost ready to break through to the Purple Mansion realm... but he still needs to be fed countless sword cultivators at the peak of the Golden Virtue Foundation stage..."
Fang Qing suddenly sensed that a bloody storm was about to break out in this land of Wu and Yue...