Chapter 1277: Tales of the Sword Furnace (Part 1)

Chapter 1277: Chapter 1277: Tales of the Sword Furnace (Part 1)

"This name might not be familiar to you, but if you know a bit about our Daoist Plane, you should have heard of the name Jue Liunian, right?" This time, without waiting for Pei Yan to pour the wine, Liu Xuanji picked up the jug on the table and poured a drink himself as he spoke.

"Jue Liunian? Jue Liunian? Oh! You mean that Jue Liunian, the Jue Ming Lang that gods and ghosts detest?" Pei Yan pondered for a moment upon hearing the name and finally remembered that Mei Simiao had mentioned this person to him before.

"That’s him!"

In the Daoist Realm, there is also a ranking of cultivator strengths, and just among the sword cultivators, Pei Yan recalled Mei Simiao’s investigation. Excluding the older generation masters whose life or death is unknown due to years of seclusion, the number one sword cultivator in today’s Daoist Realm is a loose cultivator named Wan Qi Yinuo. This person could be called a legend of the Daoist Plane because if Pei Yan had not risen from obscurity and broken his record, Wan Qi Yinuo could have been recognized as the foremost genius in nearly eight hundred years. His rapid progress surpassed many sect leaders of prestigious sects, propelling him to the ranks of top sword cultivators. The most intriguing fact is that his cultivation technique and background are shrouded in mystery. Some say he is the reincarnation of an ancient great, while others claim he is one of the cherished disciples taken privately by the Spirit Lord. To these rumors, Wan Qi Yinuo has never responded, yet Lin Ruxue seems to have a favorable impression of this sword cultivator, allowing him unrestricted entry to the Immortal Palace. Moreover, her first disciple, Lin Daozi, is a close friend of Wan Qi Yinuo, indirectly confirming some rumors. However, this world’s number one sword truly has the demeanor of a mysterious figure; Pei Yan has heard of him but never met him despite his long stay in the Daoist Plane.

The second rank goes to Mo Baiqi, the current sect leader of the Hongjun Sword Furnace, known as ’One Sword Winter Plum.’ He once faced Wan Qi Yinuo three times. Besides their first encounter where Wan Qi Yinuo’s cultivation technique was incomplete, leading to his defeat, in the subsequent two confrontations Wan Qi Yinuo emerged victorious, securing his position as the foremost figure among sword cultivators. Mo Baiqi was the one who once noticed Ye Ruozai during his travels in the foundation plane and wished to take him as a disciple but was thwarted by opposition from within his sect. However, when Ye Ruozai arrived at the Daoist Plane, Mo Baiqi secretly transferred the Hongjun Sword Furnace’s introductory sword manual through Liu Xuanji as a congratulatory gift. Later, when Lin Ruxue borrowed texts from various sects for Ye Ruozai’s study, Sect Leader Mo contributed several secret techniques from his lineage, which left a deep impression on Pei Yan due to his love for talent.

The third place is held by Chu Luochen, the now imprisoned master of the Celestial Sword Manor. There has been ongoing debate in the Daoist Plane regarding who is stronger between him and Mo Baiqi as their duels have seen alternating victories. Yet, as the Hongjun Sword Furnace ultimately holds more power in the Immortal Palace, it overshadowed the Celestial Sword Manor, placing them at third. Recently, with Celestial Sword Manor embroiled in collusion with the Blood Fiend Sect, leading to imprisonment from sect leader to disciple, the rankings have settled.

The fourth rank belongs to the person sitting in front of Pei Yan, Liu Xuanji. Interestingly, the fourth rank is shared by two individuals, the other being the Jue Ming Lang, Jue Liunian. To be on par with Liu Xuanji speaks volumes about his comparable strength. Like Wan Qi Yinuo, Jue Liunian is a loose cultivator with an obscure origin and peculiar techniques. His rise and experiences could also be considered legendary, but his reputation is nowhere near as noteworthy as Wan Qi Yinuo’s.

This person could be called an assassin rather than a swordsman in Pei Yan’s view. Since his emergence, his ruthlessness has been notorious; he’s known for achieving his goals regardless of the target’s identity or the number of opponents, as long as the price meets his satisfaction. More importantly, be it a renowned sect leader or a young, naive novice, he would execute the job thoroughly. His excessive ruthlessness has provoked many sects, which have organized forces to besiege him multiple times but to no avail — he consistently carves a bloody path to escape, recuperates, and later returns to eliminate those who besieged him. Due to his incredible strength that only grows with each fight and his elusive, unpredictable movements, he has earned the fear and avoidance of sects, earning him the title of Jue Ming Lang that gods and ghosts detest.

"Something’s off!" At this thought, Pei Yan suddenly recalled something with doubt: "Jue Liunian has never used your Hongjun Sword Furnace techniques, has he? Are you deceiving me?"

According to records, Jue Liunian uses a diverse array of sword techniques reflecting elements from various sects, but his signature moves are unknown in origin and are unique, distinctly not that of the Hongjun Sword Furnace. Otherwise, major sects would have already approached the Hongjun Sword Furnace to have them seize the person, and Pei Yan wouldn’t have failed to connect this person to incidents following an event.

"Pei Yan, at this point, do I have any reason to keep secrets from you? After you apprehend him, just interrogating will confirm the truth," Liu Xuanji said wistfully after taking a sip of wine.

"Then what’s his relationship with your Hongjun Sword Furnace?" Pei Yan surmised that at this time, Liu Xuanji had no need to lie to him, so he pursued the question.

"This Jue Liunian is also Jue Yunpeng; he originally didn’t even have the surname Jue."

"Oh!" Upon hearing this, Pei Yan glanced at Liu Xuanji’s expression, which seemed to be restrained with melancholy as if wanting to talk but hesitating. Immediately, a flame of curiosity ignited within him. Could there be a blood relationship between Jue Liunian and Liu Xuanji? Ah, he never inquired about Jue Liunian’s age, but from what Mei Simiao described, Jue Liunian appeared in the world when Liu Xuanji was already long-established! Could he be about to hear an untold romantic tale from the old man today?

Seeing Pei Yan’s inexplicably excited look, Liu Xuanji’s expression turned extremely awkward and uncomfortable. He finally sighed and smiled wryly: "I know what you young scamp are thinking — don’t be disappointed. I’ve told you, aside from the Sword Dao, I have no great pursuits or feelings for anything else. However, you’re not entirely wrong; while the man and I aren’t closely related, there is a significant connection with our sect, but ultimately, it’s a rather old and common tale of worldly love and hate through the ages."

Liu Xuanji set down his wine cup and looked at Pei Yan, asking in return: "Pei Yan, you have been investigating the Hongjun Sword Furnace for some time; you should have some knowledge of the influence within our sect."

"Yes, somewhat familiar! The founding creator of the Hongjun Sword Furnace was the Hongjun Daoist, an ancient master who roamed across the planes when the Garden of the Immortals still existed. At his peak, he fought alone against six garden masters from the Garden of the Immortals during the Spirit Lord’s campaign to annihilate the Garden of the Immortals, killing three, severely wounding one, and forcing the remaining two to flee."