Chapter 965: Sword Duel
Chapter 965: Sword Duel
"I am Fang Xi, greetings, fellow Daoist. . . "
Fang Xi pondered for a moment, finally suppressing his killing intent and bowing.
Seeing 'Cold Mountain Sword Guest' Peng Xifan's expression remain as usual, his heart stirred, realizing this person likely still didn't know about Yan Tie's death at his hands.
"So it is Fellow Daoist Fang."
Peng Xifan truly didn't know about it; after all, it was merely a life-saving benefactor from many years ago, and he wasn't skilled in divination, currently unaware even of Yan Tie's demise.
Seeing this, Fang Xi naturally wouldn't deliberately inform him. After they exchanged a few more polite greetings, his brow suddenly twitched, and he looked towards the mountains.
"It seems Fellow Daoist has a few other guests. I shall wait over there first. . ."
Peng Xifan glanced over, smiled faintly, and strode directly into the dense forest.
Leading them was a woman of radiant beauty with skin like glistening jade, none other than 'Jade Maiden' Cui Feifei!
Trailing behind Cui Feifei were two young heroic knights: one was 'Golden-Eyed Hound' Zhuo Yifan, and the other was 'Peach Blossom Divine Sword' Nangong Buzhu.
The three were overjoyed upon seeing Fang Xi: "Brother Fang is unharmed, that's truly wonderful! Where is that demonic tiger?"
"Cough, cough. . . after a bitter struggle, I finally slew that demonic tiger and the wicked cultivator."
Fang Xi replied calmly.
"Brother Fang. . . no, this junior has always admired the Dao path, wholeheartedly pursuing cultivation, and earnestly requests Senior to take me in!"
Though Cui Feifei was a woman, she was remarkably decisive.
It was also she who had strongly persuaded Zhuo Yifan and Nangong Buzhu to return this time.
Seeing Fang Xi safe and sound, she knew his cultivation was profound, so she bowed down, intending to seek him as a master.
"You must not. . ."
Fang Xi subtly shifted his body, gently evading her. "We are conversing as peers, how could this be appropriate?"
He glanced at the two beside him. Zhuo Yifan followed suit, wanting to bow, but Nangong Buzhu, though tempted, hesitated slightly and did not join their actions.
"Furthermore, my own learning is shallow; it would truly be difficult for me to take on disciples. . ."
Fang Xi, however, rejected them without a second thought.
What a joke!
In this world, were there few instances of masters being burdened by their disciples?
He truly couldn't fathom what necessity those cultivators had for taking disciples.
Hmm, among demonic cultivators, they were skilled at using disciples to ward off their own calamities, and it was said there were even secret arts specifically for refining disciples into magical treasures.
Unorthodox sects disregarded karma, and broadly accepting disciples could also swell their influence.
As for the orthodox Xuanmen sects? Perhaps it was only to gather followers and accumulate meritorious deeds and external merits. . . It was precisely for this reason that they set such high thresholds, placing extremely stringent demands on a person's character, disposition, and aptitude.
Seeing this, Cui Feifei's heart grew cold. Just as she was about to plead bitterly, Fang Xi paid her no mind, directly conjured his sword-light, soared into the sky, and vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye. . .
"Those three young and talented individuals certainly possess heroic righteousness. . ."
Peng Xifan, enveloped in a cold light, followed Fang Xi's sword-light, one after the other, heading towards the gathering of orthodox sword immortals. At this moment, he joked.
Fang Xi merely smiled, offering no reply.
Along the way, he observed this person wielding a flying sword that gleamed with silver light, its blade sharp and cold. It was actually a proper flying sword, not some imposter artifact like the Heavenly Demon Beheading Immortal Sword, which couldn't help but stir something in his heart.
Although this Cold Mountain Sword Guest also followed an unorthodox path, possessing a flying sword clearly indicated a formidable sect behind him.
Seeing Fang Xi's gaze, Peng Xifan couldn't help but feel a secret surge of pride in his heart.
His 'Cold Mountain Sword' was a treasure cherished by his sect, refined from ten-thousand-year-old cold iron found at the bottom of the sea. Starting from his grand-master's generation, it had taken three generations of disciples and nearly five Jiazi cycles (300 years) to finally temper it to perfection.
For cultivators, acquiring a flying sword was like martial artists obtaining a divine weapon; their skills could instantly ascend several levels.
It was also due to this 'Cold Mountain Sword' that Peng Xifan earned the moniker 'Cold Mountain Sword Guest,' carving out a formidable reputation among the rogue cultivators of Shu.
It was just that he was a bit old, not quite fitting the title of a 'young sword immortal. '
However, considering cultivators' lifespans often spanning hundreds of years, Peng Xifan could certainly be considered a young person.
At least in the cultivation world, he was still counted among the juniors.
"The place where we're gathering is on a cliff platform not far from here. . . there are quite a few people, including 'Flying Dragon Sword' Jian Caifei, Misty Fairy, Dragon Zen Monk from Vajra Temple. . . and several talents from Flying Thunder Gate and Mountain-Moving Dao."
Peng Xifan briefly introduced them to Fang Xi.
Upon hearing this, Fang Xi's heart stirred. "I've heard that among the great sects of Shu, Shushan and Qingcheng are considered the leaders of the orthodox Dao. . . I wonder if anyone from them has come?"
Peng Xifan immediately felt awkward.
Shushan, Qingcheng. . . these were top-tier sects.
If there were some old demon planning to annihilate the world here, it would at least require sacrificing an entire city with blood to possibly alarm them.
As for his own sect, Cold Mountain Temple, it was like Flying Thunder Gate, Mountain-Moving Dao, and Vajra Temple. . . they could only be considered second- or third-rate, not even entering the ranks of renowned orthodox sects, merely an unorthodox path.
"Well, there aren't any elite disciples from those two major sects. . ."
"So that's how it is. "
Fang Xi said no more. Not long after, several mountain peaks appeared ahead.
On a precipitous cliff face, a massive rock jutted out. All around were perilous cliffs, impassable even for skilled martial artists.
Yet, at this moment, it had been carved into a platform, upon which a banquet was set.
A group of people either sat on the ground or sang loudly while wielding their swords. . . exuding the style of ancient sages, immersing themselves in the scenery.
Fang Xi and Peng Xifan suppressed their sword-lights and swept their gaze across the scene.
These cultivators were easy to distinguish; each possessed an immortal demeanor and jade-like bones, clad in cloud-silk robes, some with various colorful spiritual lights shimmering around them.
Anyone who saw them would have to praise them as a fine group of young sword immortals!
He noticed that the 'Cold Mountain Sword' Peng Xifan put away gleamed with silver light all over. It was no more than a foot long, sharpened at both ends, and lacked a hilt. A sharp aura emanated from it, almost stinging one's eyes.
Flying swords in this world varied greatly in form; some, like the Heavenly Demon Beheading Immortal Sword, were not much different from martial arts swords, while others, like the 'Cold Mountain Sword,' resembled flying shuttles. There was even a lineage of sword immortals who refined their flying swords into 'sword pills,' which they would normally keep within their bodies to nurture with magical power. With a clear sword heart, this saved them much effort in achieving the 'unity of man and sword. '
'This person's flying sword is difficult to merge perfectly with their true qi and magical power; clearly, their 'unity of man and sword' cultivation is not yet refined, so their sword arts must be nothing special. . . '
Wielding a flying sword also had many levels.
Initially refining a flying sword with magical power and imprinting one's mark upon it was merely the most rudimentary application.
At a more profound level, one could refine the flying sword to be as nimble as an extension of one's arm, capable of being stored within the body for nurturing.
Xuanmen sword immortals, however, preferred to refine their flying swords to be formless and intangible, merging them with their own magical power. At that point, any stray magical power would be a fully unleashed sword qi! The unity of man and sword made them incredibly sharp during sword duels.
"Brother Peng, you've finally returned after pursuing Venerable Five Tigers. And who is this?"
Misty Fairy was clad in a brocade cloud-silk robe, her demeanor gentle.
"This is Fellow Daoist Fang Xi. . . he single-handedly slew Venerable Five Tigers earlier."
"So it is Fellow Daoist Fang. With your assistance, our righteous path has gained another great helper," Misty Fairy said with a beaming smile.
As these words left her lips, 'Flying Dragon Sword' Jian Caifei scoffed inwardly.
He saw Fang Xi's sword-light as mixed and impure, and the sword artifact he wielded was so shoddy, causing him to inwardly disdain Fang Xi somewhat.
However, he prided himself on being an orthodox cultivator, and being in the presence of so many fellow Daoists, it was not good to reveal too much.
On the contrary, several cultivators from Flying Thunder Gate already had sneers playing on their lips.
As if to say, "Does that kind of trash even deserve to be called a flying sword?"
Peng Xifan saw the expressions on everyone's faces and quickly said: "Fellow Daoist Fang's divine lightning art is incredibly subtle, repelling demons and devils with ease."
He still possessed some discernment, knowing that while Fang Xi's magical power belonged to an unorthodox path, his foundation was the Great Dao of Five Elements, balanced and harmonious, subtly the most supreme foundation among unorthodox paths.
However, these young sword immortals and heroic swordsmen were arrogant and looked down on others. Even a few with decent discernment remained silent, making the atmosphere momentarily awkward.
Dragon Zen Monk, appearing to be around twenty years old, clad in a moon-white monk's robe, put his palms together. "Benefactor Peng, you've arrived just in time. The Evil Monarch has just sent us a challenge to a sword duel at Boundless Mountain in three days!"
"Mere clowns. . ."
'Flying Dragon Sword' Jian Caifei sneered.
Even if they were second- or third-rate sects, they were at least superior among the unorthodox paths, possessing some genuine inheritances.
The subordinates the Evil Monarch had gathered were mostly common Jianghu sorcerers. Their magical power was not only impure and chaotic, but their appearances were also strange and grotesque; they relied solely on a few brutal spells to assert their might.
In the eyes of cultivators, they indeed seemed no different from clowns.
"Exactly. This righteous-evil sword duel at Boundless Mountain is precisely our chance to make a name for ourselves and rise to prominence."
The other young sword knights shouted, each filled with high spirits.
"The Evil Monarch's subordinates are indeed a bunch of good-for-nothings."
Fang Xi, with his right hand concealed within his wide sleeve, performed a quick divination, calculating the Evil Monarch's origin.
This person was a Martial Arts Grandmaster, the most talented new star among the demonic martial arts sects of Shu in a century.
Furthermore, his fortuitous encounter was also good: he was noticed by an old demon from West Kunlun, taken as a disciple, and even passed down the 'Five Poisons Demonic Qi' spell.
This spell was an orthodox Heavenly Demon art, requiring one to absorb the poisonous qi of five different venomous creatures at specific hours, combining it with demonic techniques to refine a formidable baleful qi, named 'Five Poisons Divine Malignance'!
This 'Five Poisons Demonic Qi' could corrode magical treasures, flying swords, and cultivators' protective true qi, making it a truly potent baleful qi.
Even seasoned sword immortals could fall victim if they weren't careful.
Once afflicted, with their physical bodies and internal organs corroded by the baleful qi, there would be no hope of survival; reincarnation of their soul would be the only outcome!
As for the old demon who taught the Evil Monarch the 'Five Poisons Demonic Qi,' Fang Xi only divined that the individual hailed from West Kunlun. Delving deeper would touch upon the individual's karmic destiny, risking discovery by the other party.
Most demonic cultivators were not skilled in divination, but long-standing old demons were an exception.
On the contrary, those demonic behemoths who survived the encirclement and suppression by orthodox Xuanmen sects all possessed astonishing skills.
Especially those old demons who held sway over a region, they would casually use demonic prohibitions to control mountains and rivers, or secretly lay ambushes with Yin thunder. Should they encounter misfortune, thunder would instantly erupt, wreaking havoc across a hundred thousand li, taking their enemies down with them.
Fang Xi was quite speechless about such methods. These individuals were adept at holding all living beings in heaven and earth hostage; he wondered if it was a trauma inflicted by the orthodox Dao.
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