Chapter 628 468: Swordslay

Wan Yu Sect, Chenghua Hall.

A man dressed in a Taoist robe leaned against the doorpost, eyes half-closed, calculating with his fingers:

"Qing Song Temple… these days it's much more relaxed… It seems the five Perfected Persons have given up waiting for the one they sought. Since they've taken the Silent Bell, no matter how they calculate, he won't appear—naturally, they dispersed."

He yawned, then abruptly grew solemn, for a clatter echoed from inside the hall. Startled, the middle-aged man hurriedly entered, crossing the hall in a few steps to the upper seat, where he saw a Taoist Scripture placed at the front.

This scripture had a deep blue cover, pale yellow pages, nothing overtly strange—yet with no wind, the pages turned with a fluttering sound of their own accord.

The book turned for a while and stopped on one particular page, from which a verdant-white light emanated, suddenly illuminating several characters:

"Green Ruler"

A few lines down, two smaller characters shone as well:

"Moon Que"

The verdant-white light flickered, then faded away. The words "Green Ruler" remained quite bright, but "Moon Que" had already reverted to ordinary ink, gray and dim.

The middle-aged man paused, sighing softly:

"The final trace of Moon Que Sword Intent… has vanished from the world!"

He frowned gently, yet hope flickered in his eyes again:

"Perhaps that Young Master Wang Sword Immortal still keeps a wisp… But alas, he now studies the Dao at the Perfected Lord's side… even the Wan Yu Sword Tome cannot divine his whereabouts!"

…

Back then, in Yi Shan City, Li Chijin did not bring his sword down; it merely turned into a gentle breeze and dispersed quietly.

Though that strike was made in the heat of the moment, it was enough to surpass the Green Pond Sect's Young Master Chi Zhiyun, dispersing his entire cloud of Fire Sword Origin, and winning that contest.

But within the Green Ruler Sword, there was another sword, one that Li Chijin had honed for years in his Cave Mansion—a sword outstripping the last by far.

The members of the Li family, upon obtaining this sword, knew little of its true power. Their only descriptions of it were drawn from second-hand accounts.

Xiao Yuansi returned the sword to its home, and judging by that old battle, surmised this sword intent could slay a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Not until they met Yinghua Prefecture's Wang Xun and showed him the sword intent did Wang Xun himself pronounce it capable—he said it could strike down a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Back then, the Li family did not pay it much mind. Though they overestimated Wang Xun, placing him somewhere between Foundation Establishment Middle and Late Stage, in truth, Wang Xun was the Perfected Lord's direct grandson, the Perfected Person's own child. In both knowledge and strength, he was one of this realm's peaks. His words on "Foundation Establishment Middle Stage" likely referenced the Northern Upper Sect Luoxia Mountain's level.

'So… this is Sword Intent…'

Li Yuanjiao poured his entire mana into the strike and unleashed it—instantly, the gentlest breeze and the luminous moon welcomed him, as a faint, indistinct figure loomed behind, vanishing in a heartbeat.

Before him, sword intent rushed forth, condensing in an instant into a jade-white crescent moon, tearing through the void. Yu Muxian's hand was already in his sleeve, as if holding a last trump, but his gaze was filled with utter despair.

Too close!

Only now did Yu Muxian understand why Tulong Jian had so laboriously shattered his Golden Cymbal Spell—this man had carried an ancient Foundation Establishment Magical Artifact, and it was that rare type, one for concealing form!

He had never imagined that, after possessing such formidable sword intent, the foe would still stealthily approach to such a dangerous distance before striking. Clearly he clutched a life-saving talisman, and had three more precious medicines in his storage bag, but no matter what, it was already too late.

The verdant-white glow expanded in his eyes. Suddenly, he caught sight of Li Yuanjiao's eyes—no longer brimming with reverence as when collecting tribute upon the lake, but laced with a ruthless, steadfast resolve.

'So, in the end, I die… at the hands of that insignificant Qi Cultivator from years past!'

The verdant-white crescent cleaved through the sea of clouds, drifting downward to the Lower Realm, only to be reflected rising skyward, vanishing into the boundless night.

Yu Muxian's despair, for the first time, appeared outwardly on his face—and from then on, was frozen there for eternity. His body and soul parted—this sword cleaved away all thread of life, leaving not the slightest hope of a comeback.

With his death, the spell unraveled. His corpse floated downward. Beside him, Tang Shedou stood dazed, hands quivering as he touched his cheek. Fresh blood from Yu Muxian had splattered him, and waves upon waves of terror surged up—transmuting in a flash to boundless rage.

Li Yuanjiao, his mana spent, staggered back several paces before a long halberd thrust before him. At once, a Foundation Establishment talisman he'd long prepared sprang forth into a white light shield.

But the Foundation Establishment talisman in his possession was no match for the Immortal Sect disciples' methods. Tang Shedou's halberd only paused before the shield and, in an instant, shattered it to motes of light.

"Too close…"

This sword gave Yu Muxian no time to react, but it placed Li Yuanjiao directly before Tang Shedou's halberd as well. Even the faintest pause offered him no chance to escape.

Forcing himself, Li Yuanjiao gathered the last wisps of mana. The Green Ruler Sword leapt forth from its scabbard again, shining with jade-white light.

This strike was far from awe-inspiring. Exhausted, his mana depleted, it was even weaker than usual. But Tang Shedou's eyelids twitched all the same, nearly making him withdraw his halberd—yet, after seeing too many battles, he steeled himself:

'The sword just now must have drawn out all the sword intent hidden within! Where would this man find another? I must not let him bluff me!'

Indeed, Li Yuanjiao's sword light fractured by force; his face turned pale. He summoned the River Rapids Step movement technique—thanks to Tang Shedou's momentary hesitation, he dodged the halberd by the slimmest margin.

Tang Shedou, both exultant and furious, stabbed after him with his halberd. Only then did Li Yuanjiao turn around—yet the scene in the sky was still more hopeless.

The Ceasing Spear spiritual tool, as if enraged by its failure to defend its master, acted of its own accord, angling its ring toward him. From the ring's maw, the remnants of grayish fire seethed, pouring down in a torrent.

Fortunately, though Tulong Jian was some ways off, he'd long since sent forth the Six Ding Combined Fire Command. The flames licked at Li Yuanjiao, scorching his robe to ash, but retreated with hesitation, then were drawn into the token.

Ceasing Spear was unwilling to stop, but was entangled by the Combined Fire Command again, leaping frantically in the air. Li Yuanjiao's hair stood on end—Tang Shedou's spear was already at his back.

Far off, Xiao Yongling and Tulong Jian were both rushing forward with magical instruments to assist. Tang Shedou intercepted, blocking them off as if defenseless, his spear's shaft stretching behind like a wall, barring any approach.

Both attacked Tang Shedou, but he ignored everything, only stabbing toward Li Yuanjiao, his eyes ablaze with terror and wrath—as if fighting for his life.

Li Yuanjiao was in dire straits. Green Ruler Sword brushed lightly against the halberd and was knocked aside. Li Yuanjiao's heart sank; in a breath, another dread struck him:

"Damn! Since the Golden Ring Spiritual Tool is still attacking me, the short sword must be on its way as well!"