Chapter 719 - 666: Zhufeng the Man

Chapter 719: Chapter 666: Zhufeng the Man

Guiyuan Sword Sect’s rear mountain, Lingfeng Valley.

The clouds gather densely, and heavy snow seals the mountain. The sky is filled with whistling snowflakes, pulling up a white curtain that blocks out the sun and the moon, turning the entire world into a chaotic, bleak whiteness, merging with the blizzard.

The cold wind mixes with piercing Sword Intent, continuously slicing at Jiang Yuebai’s Protective Gang Qi, producing strange, chilling howls.

Her sight cannot penetrate the blizzard ahead; it is just a vast whiteness. Once her Divine Sense reaches out, it gets shredded by the cold wind immediately.

The sound is swallowed by the raging wind. Jiang Yuebai uses sound transmission to speak to Zhuo Qingfeng against the wind and snow.

"Is Lingfeng Valley just ahead? Is this wind and snow all transformed from Sword Intent?"

Compared to Jiang Yuebai, who needs to exert her full strength to operate the Protective Gang Qi to resist, Zhuo Qingfeng is not affected.

All the wind and snow approach him are influenced by his Sword Heart, changing direction and conveniently avoiding him.

He stands in the blizzard, his black hair not blowing, his sleeves not fluttering, composed and unperturbed.

Zhuo Qingfeng explains through sound transmission, "Lingfeng Valley is a Sword Domain that evolved over the years from the broken sword of Sword Lord Zhufeng, which absorbed various Sword Intents and Sword Qi. It only covers this valley in the rear mountain; as long as Spiritual Energy persists, the Sword Domain will not disappear."

"Disciples in our sect just need to reach Foundation Establishment Cultivation to undergo trials around Lingfeng Valley. The Sword Domain will manifest differently according to the sword techniques those disciples practice. What I currently practice is Sword Lord Zhufeng’s , which is why Lingfeng Valley appears like this."

Jiang Yuebai understood that this Sword Domain is the same as her Candle Dragon Domain, which has a spirit and can change its state according to circumstances.

"Wait a moment."

Zhuo Qingfeng gestures, and a long azure sword shoots out from behind him. The longsword crosses the sky, Sword Qi sweeping across, transforming instantly into an azure aura, like an aurora, circling around the two like a breeze.

The pressure on Jiang Yuebai lightens suddenly, and the booming sound of the blizzard around her ears diminishes significantly.

"I have come and gone many times in Lingfeng Valley. The Sword Domain recognizes me, follow me."

Zhuo Qingfeng leads the way into the valley, and Jiang Yuebai follows closely behind.

Upon entering the valley, there is still a sight of endless snow, only that the whirling wind occasionally transforms into monstrous beasts, roaring at the two.

Zhuo Qingfeng casually flicks his hand, and the azure sword light pierces through the air, precisely hitting the focal point of the Sword Intent beast, dispersing it, revealing a broken sword from within.

All the Sword Intent beasts they encounter later are like this, occasionally dropping items, either remnants of a sword, some broken sword fragments, or sword sheaths, stone engravings, and such.

They also encountered several Guiyuan Sword Sect disciples who were being chased and blocked by things transformed from Sword Intent, locked in fierce battles.

Zhuo Qingfeng takes one look from afar and then leads Jiang Yuebai to avoid them, not disturbing those disciples’ trials.

The entire journey deeper in does not require Jiang Yuebai to take action. Everything here is no pressure to Zhuo Qingfeng.

Jiang Yuebai can tell that Zhuo Qingfeng must have experienced many battles over the years, effortless and free in his moves, with the demeanor of a formidable warrior, very different from the impulsive recklessness of the past.

Just wondering if they were to fully battle now, what would be the odds of victory and defeat?

The Sword Domain recognizes Zhuo Qingfeng; they encounter no dangers or obstacles, smoothly reaching the depths of Lingfeng Valley.

A straw hut standing at the foot of the mountain comes into view, half-buried in snow, looking utterly ordinary without any special features.

Zhuo Qingfeng walks up to the hut and pushes the door open.

Clang—

A faintly audible sound of sword humming echoes, the wooden door of the hut vibrates slightly, snow splashes, pausing momentarily before it creaks open.

Jiang Yuebai follows Zhuo Qingfeng inside. The interior is also very ordinary, with only some simple shelves and furniture. On the central wooden table, there are three items, impervious to wind and snow, untouched by the frost and cold.

There is a broken sword, a half-opened painting scroll, and a Lotus Lamp.

Jiang Yuebai’s attention is first drawn to the Lotus Lamp because the lotus platform above the lamp resembles her Lifebound Spiritual Artifact, the Five Elements Lotus Platform.

Could it be that Lu Xingyun once lived here?

Zhuo Qingfeng steps aside half a step, and Jiang Yuebai approaches, glancing at the green-black rusted broken sword. The way it’s forged is unique, a style Jiang Yuebai has never seen before.

Could this also be forged by Lu Xingyun?

Jiang Yuebai’s gaze shifts to the half-opened painting scroll beside it. On the scroll is a woman in azure clothing, reclining drunkenly on a mountain peak, sipping wine alone under the moon, carefree and unrestrained, possessing an aura of fearless dominance over the world.

"I have seen this painting before."

The first time she saw this painting was in the Ten Thousand Laws Hall, in Lii Jiuchuan’s study; it was the only surviving portrait of Lu Xingyun.

However, the one her master had was obviously not the original; it is likely this one is.

Jiang Yuebai cautiously extends her Divine Sense to flip the painting scroll to the bottom.

In the painting, there is also a man at the base of the mountain, standing like a green pine, holding a sword, looking up at the azure-clad woman on the peak.

"Is this Sword Lord Zhufeng?" Jiang Yuebai draws closer, noticing from the ink marks that this man was added later, not painted at the same time as the woman.

Zhuo Qingfeng nods, "It is."

Jiang Yuebai furrows her brow, "Sword Lord Zhufeng... What kind of person was he, someone like you?"

Zhuo Qingfeng frowns as well, "I wasn’t sure initially, but after witnessing some of Sword Lord’s memories within the broken sword, I discovered that during his youth... among the people I know, he was most like Xie Jingshan."

"Ah?"

Jiang Yuebai is shocked, finding it incredible, as her preconceived impression of Sword Lord Zhufeng was like Zhuo Qingfeng, unsmiling and aloof.

Zhuo Qingfeng sighs, "There’s a rumor that Sword Lord Zhufeng changed his Daoist Name to Chasing Cloud, claiming to be Lu Xingyun’s servant. If he were like me, how would he easily change his Daoist Name, as Names are bestowed by one’s master, such behavior shows disrespect to both teacher and Dao."

Jiang Yuebai nods, "When you put it that way, substituting in someone like Xie Jingshan, it indeed seems like something he would do, but you mentioned his youth; did Sword Lord Zhufeng change later on?"

"Yes, after being wounded by Lu Xingyun and having his sword feel abandoned, Sword Lord changed, becoming quiet and focused on cultivating the sword, eventually catching up with Lu Xingyun, becoming a hero of the same era."

"Sword Lord’s memories about Lu Xingyun are all sealed in this broken sword. Although I’ve seen them, I can’t disclose them. If you wish to know, you can extend your Divine Sense into it and see for yourself."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuebai hesitates, fearing there might be something wrong with the sword that would affect her mindset afterward.

However, she is already here and must see it; getting Zhuo Qingfeng to tell her wouldn’t work since he can’t speak of it.

Perhaps this is some protective mechanism of the sword, one can view but not speak of it.

After much contemplation, Jiang Yuebai still extends her Divine Sense into the broken sword. In an instant, the world spins, and her consciousness plunges into darkness.

Two indistinct voices come from afar, as a strong light pierces into her eyes, blurring Jiang Yuebai’s vision of her surroundings.

Yet, among them, the female voice, though still green, carries the identical lazy tone of Lu Xingyun!