Chapter 1574 - 173: Qinghong Secret Volume Sword Scripture_2

Chapter 1574: Chapter 173: Qinghong Secret Volume Sword Scripture_2

Before long, they entered the Sword Platform, where a flash of Xuan Guang appeared, and a disciple with the surname Fang greeted them loudly, "Junior Master Zhang, the previous Cave Mansion is a common guest area, rarely inhabited, with sparse vegetation and weak spiritual mechanism. I have newly arranged a Cave Mansion for you on the Flying Platform. Please come with me, Uncle."

Zhang Yan did not mind where the Cave Mansion was and, seeing the disciple’s good intentions, did not refuse. He followed him to the suspended platform at a higher altitude and asked, "Where is your master?"

The Fang Disciple respectfully said, "It seems an urgent matter arose, and he rushed out of the mansion earlier."

Zhang Yan nodded slightly, and before long, the two entered a spacious Cave Mansion. Outside, strange flowers and grass filled the area, with a stream winding around the entrance, appearing much better than the previous day’s location. He praised, "Nephew, you have been thoughtful."

The Fang Disciple said, "This is what a disciple should do."

Zhang Yan smiled, took out a bottle of superior Elixir Pills from his sleeve, and handed it over, "You are a Shaoqing Disciple and under Brother Xun’s tutelage, hence you would not lack Cultivation External Objects. This bottle of Elixir Pills is refined by my master, effective in regenerating severed limbs. I have no use for it now, so I’ll gift it to you."

The Fang Disciple received it graciously, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang." He then left in a tunneling light, heading down the mountain.

Zhang Yan entered the Cave Mansion, waved his sleeve slightly to set up a Prohibition, sat cross-legged on the couch, and took out the Jade Scroll, unfolding it slowly before him.

A month was neither too long nor too short, and he needed to make the most of his time. However, after a quick glance, his gaze focused, noting that when he previously looked, there was no particular impression, but now he saw the Erosion Text on the scroll squirming like tadpoles, disorderly and without discernible pattern. There was no way to distinguish the head from the tail, with only the annotations between the words remaining unchanged.

He frowned slightly, pondering internally, "As Sect Leader Yue mentioned, every disciple of the Sword Transformation lineage must study this Jade Scroll. If it appears like this, I can’t believe many can comprehend it. There must be a key within!"

Why was this not the case in the original Cave Mansion? Upon careful reflection, his eyes suddenly brightened. He summoned the sword ball, then with a flicker of his Heart and Spirit, maneuvered the sword light into formation, transforming it into 108 flashing sword rays before focusing again on the Jade Scroll.

Indeed, once the sword light emerged, the Erosion Text on the Jade Scroll seemed attracted, ceasing its random motion, each character settling into position shortly after.

He shook his head, relieved that he hadn’t overlooked this point. Those fixated on mundane details, or those thinking it was meant to be like this and only studying the annotations, would miss the opportunity.

Composing himself, he reached into his sleeve, grasping the Broken Jade, while reviewing the Jade Scroll, and began the Inference Technique. After two or three days, seeing remnants of predecessors’ writings, a sense of heroism welled within him, and he quietly thought, "If others can inscribe, why can’t I?"

He was naturally talented in Erosion Text and had the Broken Jade for inference. He admitted that his cultivation might lack compared to predecessors, but he might not lose in this craft.

In high spirits, he brought out pen, ink, and bamboo scroll, inscribing the characters derived from his Erosion Text Inference.

Intended to complete the inference and transcribe it into a separate volume for Sect Leader Yue’s evaluation,

Unexpectedly, as he deciphered each line of Erosion Text, an identical line appeared within the Jade Scroll itself, though his focus was entirely on the Broken Jade, inadvertently neglecting it.

As he devoted himself to deriving the spell, outside, a Washing Blue Suspended Battle Ship approached, spreading a vast spiritual cloud for dozens of miles, drawn by sixteen Stone Qilin from the South Cliff Continent. A total of 1,300 people stood upon the spiritual cloud, making a grand entrance towards the Shaoqing Sect’s Mountain Gate.

This was the Yuxiao Sect envoy’s Dharma Chariot, led by Zhou Hang from the Dingyang Zhou Family. He was tall and slender, with baby-like skin, five strands of fine beard on his chin, a warm smile, an elegant appearance, and two clusters of Star Gang Cloud flickering like candles on his head.

During the previous swordfight, not only did the Yuxiao Sect fail to obtain the Junyang Essence but also suffered the loss of three disciples, two of whom were direct descendants of the Zhou Family.

Although the Zhou Family was established deep, losing a couple of disciples was negligible. But for the Shaoqing and Yuxiao, both as prominent sects of the Da Xuan Sect, successfully acquiring the Junyang Essence, the comparison inevitably slightly tarnished the Mountain Gate’s reputation.

This time, with Mingcang sending an envoy, Zhang Yan has resided in Shaoqing for thirty years. Although there were rumors of him ascending to practice swordsmanship, Yuxiao Sect doubted it, suspecting a hidden conspiracy, thus sending envoys to probe the intentions of both sects.

The Suspended Battle Ship swiftly arrived beneath the Clouldroop and Sunrise Peaks. A wisp of cloud opened, and a refined Daoist with starry eyes and pearly teeth emerged, welcoming repeatedly, "Daoist Zhou, forgive the oversight in your reception."

Upon observing the man’s appearance, Zhou Hang recognized him as Ran Xiushu, the Senior Disciple under Ying Chunqiu, smilingly returned the greeting, "Greetings, Ran Daoist."

Ran Xiushu exchanged courtesies with him, then led him into the mountains,

Zhou Hang was silent for a while and, nearing the Yi Pavilion, suddenly turned and asked, "Ran Daoist, I heard when the Mingcang Envoy arrived at your sect’s Mountain Gate, your sect welcomed him for 3,000 miles. Is it true?"

Ran Xiushu was taken aback. Being not a person of quick wit, he didn’t know how to respond.

Zhou Hang smiled and asked again, "Rumor has it that when the Mingcang Envoy came, your sect opened the Great Array of the Mountain Gate to show respect. Is it true?"

Ran Xiushu felt even more at a loss. Before coming, his master reminded him to be courteous and not reply casually. If he answered truthfully, should the other side ask why not do the same for Yuxiao, it might cause discord between the sects, leaving him somewhat perplexed.

Zhou Hang laughed again, prompting, "I hear the Mingcang Envoy is here to learn your sect’s Swordsmanship, is it true?"

He posed three consecutive questions, and Ran Xiushu couldn’t reply to any. After a moment of silence, he suddenly flicked his sleeve, releasing a sword light suspended above, immediately scattering a bright light, causing the Yuxiao Sect members to sense the encompassing Sword Qi and their expressions subtly changed.

Zhou Hang was taken aback and asked, "What does Daoist mean by this?"

Ran Xiushu declared loudly, "At Shaoqing, we determine victory with swords! If you surpass the sword in my hand, ask all you want, and I shall answer truthfully. But if you lose, let it rest!"

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations or monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read at m.qidian.com.)