Chapter 1838: Xiao Lang

It was a full ten breaths before the onlookers in the tavern realized something, seeing the zombie still lying motionless on the ground.

"Taixu, is he dead?"

The Cheng family had set too high a tone and taken too big a step, making Taixu's prestige overly exaggerated.

But after Xiao Wanfeng's calm and collected sword strike…

Taixu fell.

Taixu couldn't get up again.

This was too dramatic; had the Cheng family become clowns?

"No, impossible…"

Cheng Xie's face was a mix of pale and green, disbelief written all over it.

He understood Xinjianshu, he knew Cangjianshu, and he had a slight grasp of Qingjianshu, but even combining all of them, he couldn't achieve such a sword art effect.

"Xinhu?"

"Is this an ancient sword art? This is no ancient sword art!"

The effect of Xinhu was almost no less than Borewu, yet fundamentally different from Borewu.

It only used Xinjianshu, supplemented by at most the first realm of other major sword arts.

But the fusion of a single realm could create the destructive power of a second realm?

"Are you surprised?"

Xiao Wanfeng stood erect, sheathing his sword, feeling it was only natural.

His years of understanding, questioning, and reconstructing the nine great sword arts might have seemed like mere theoretical talk when he didn't draw his sword.

But after truly gaining Xuan Cang's approval, Xiao Wanfeng was confident:

The path was not wrong; as long as the destination was set, the process depended on how one chose, walked, and whether they persevered.

He gazed steadily at Cheng Xie, and at other traditional ancient sword cultivators like him, took a deep breath, and for the first time, in front of outsiders, explained his Dao:

"You cultivate the Dao of All Beings; I cultivate the Dao of Evening Wind. I am myself, not like others."

Buzz—

The divine sword Xuan Cang hummed loudly, vibrating continuously.

It seemed that only at this moment, at such a moment, he and Xiao Wanfeng became one, which was also the fundamental reason why it chose Xiao Wanfeng instead of Rao Yaoyao.

"I am myself, not like others…"

Cheng Xie's gaze darted around, retreating repeatedly, his mind in turmoil.

Xiao Wanfeng's single sword strike had shattered his lifelong understanding of ancient sword cultivation, and these words made him doubt if his own Dao was correct.

While everyone else was pursuing the eighteen sword styles and "techniques," this young man had directly entered from the "root of the Dao"?

Was this the right way?

But this wasn't even a shortcut!

He was clearly taking the most difficult path!

"So he could gain Xuan Cang's approval…"

Gu Qing'er clicked his tongue in wonder, looking at his senior brother, "And we are all Rao Yaoyao."

Rao Yaoyao was not a synonym for weakness.

It was just that all ancient sword cultivators in the world were following the path laid out by the Sword God, proceeding step by step, and the entire Zangjianzhong was no exception.

"Then is Xiao Wanfeng the originator of this Dao?" Gu Qingsan, with his extraordinary talent, had never heard of such an inhuman cultivation method.

This was like being born, and while others were still learning to talk and crawl, Xiao Wanfeng let out a cry and began practicing to fly.

Flying was difficult, so for seventeen years, he seemed unable to even speak or crawl.

But when the day truly came for him to fly, he truly astonished everyone!

Gu Qingyi frowned in thought, feeling he had heard of this sword cultivation method somewhere before, and quickly remembered, shaking his head at his junior brother:

"You should have heard a saying…"

"What?"

"The path of ancient sword cultivation has long been trodden flat by others."

"Senior brother means…"

Gu Qing'er, Gu Qingsan, and Gu Qingsi all turned around, and even Lu Shiyu in mid-air, and the onlookers in the surrounding taverns couldn't help but look sideways at this knowledgeable senior brother of Zangjianzhong.

Gu Qingyi said, "It's not recorded in books, but I vaguely remember Master saying that someone truly tried this peculiar cultivation method."

Xiao Wanfeng's body stiffened, and he also turned around.

I'm not the first?

Everyone thought for a moment, and soon exclamations erupted from the crowd:

"Bazun'an?"

Xiao Wanfeng's heart skipped a beat.

He had always hidden his sword cultivation method, not speaking of it, and even when consulting Bazun'an in Lingyushan, he had been circuitous.

He was very confident!

Bazun'an, relying on experience, had always been able to answer fluently. Now it seemed, perhaps that experience didn't come from his many years of practicing swords, but from…

Gu Qingyi nodded: "Yes, the Eighth Sword Immortal."

Did it really come from him, did he also practice it?

Xiao Wanfeng's body swayed, but he quickly came to his senses. What if he practiced it? He wasn't as proficient or as profound as I am.

Gu Qingyi did not disappoint: "But Master said, the Eighth Sword Immortal only dabbled in it."

Xiao Wanfeng let out a long sigh of relief; that was better.

Gu Qingyi continued: "He tried it and found that the method was different but the result was the same, and the difficulty was not much different. Since he already had achievements in other methods, there was no need to start from scratch."

Listening to this, fine sweat beaded on Xiao Wanfeng's forehead.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found he couldn't say anything.

Cheng Xie's look of surprise vanished: "Difficulty not much different?"

Even if he observed Xiao Wanfeng's sword strike ten more times, he wouldn't grasp it thoroughly. Clearly, he understood the basics, but once fused, it became obscure and difficult to comprehend.

How was this method the same as the common method of sword cultivation?

Gu Qingyi looked over:

"He is Bazun'an."

Near the tavern, silence fell instantly.

Yes, he is Bazun'an, the Eighth Sword Immortal.

Leaving aside those who have passed away, every current sword cultivator faces a towering mountain, and that is the Eighth Sword Immortal.

What you know, he knows.

What you don't know, he also knows.

When you feel you've discovered a new path and are eager to try it, he thinks it's all much the same, dispensable.

This was the past thirty years.

In the future, every sword cultivator will face two towering mountains: the Eighth Sword Immortal and Shouye!

Xiao Wanfeng took a deep breath and smiled with relief.

Just walk your own path. There are so many talented people in the world, how can one's self-will be swayed by others' opinions, views, or words?

"Young man, Bazun'an…"

The people around the tavern, and even the semi-saints, now looked at Xiao Wanfeng with changed, extremely fervent gazes.

To call him a young Bazun'an was a bit of an exaggeration.

After all, he was only walking one of the paths Bazun'an had walked.

But he possessed the sword Dao talent of Bazun'an, directly cultivating the "root of the Dao." Looking across the five domains, it was feared that no one could surpass this talent except for Bazun'an himself.

"I…"

Cheng Xie looked at the two Taixu corpses on the ground, then glanced at the young Xiao Wanfeng holding Xuan Cang, his gaze flickering.

That dividing line on the ground suddenly became so weighty!

Logically, with two Taixu of the Cheng family fallen, the situation was already one of undying enmity.

But the legend of the young Bazun'an, who overshadowed an entire generation, was thunderous.

Xiao Wanfeng certainly wouldn't overshadow a generation; at most, he was one-tenth of a Bazun'an. But what about himself?

"I, what fraction of Bazun'an am I?"

One percent?

One-thousandth?

One-ten-thousandth?

Cheng Xie wanted to cross that dividing line, but his feet felt like lead, and his neck felt like a ghost was riding it as he tried to look up and meet Xiao Wanfeng's gaze.

He hunched over, almost pressed into a large shrimp.

Not everyone could speak freely when faced with the name "Eighth Sword Immortal," nor did everyone have the background of Zangjianzhong, Canyue Xiancheng, or the Feng family of the Southern Domain, nor was everyone an ignorant newborn calf.

Normal ancient sword cultivators fanatically pursued the Eighth Sword Immortal.

Talented ancient sword cultivators, upon hearing the name of the Eighth Sword Immortal, either chose to face him in battle unto death, or avoided him as much as possible.

Cheng Xie had even endured decades of pressure from the Sacred Slaves.

He was, of course, a genius, otherwise how could he have gained the recognition of the Sleeve Sword Twin Needles?

But Cheng Xie was twenty-eight this year, unluckily just in the peak period of the "Eighth Sword Immortal."

Those overwhelming legends had grown to what they were today.

Genius was merely the threshold to see him.

After seeing a glimpse of the Eighth Sword Immortal's iceberg, and understanding the vastness of the ocean…

The more one knew, the greater the pressure.

So even though the young man in front of him only resembled one-tenth of Bazun'an, Cheng Xie was already panicked.

"Clang clang clang…"

Just as Cheng Xie was struggling to move forward, caught between a rock and a hard place.

Outside the battleground around the silent tavern, an incongruous, strange sound came, accompanied by undisguised praiseful laughter:

"Ten years he hides a sword, seeking the nameless in the world."

"On that day the rainbow awakes, even ghosts are startled by Xiao Lang."

"Good! Good! Good! What a Xiao Wanfeng! Zangjianzhong has no talent, Fengjiacheng is useless, only you, a wanderer, amaze all and outshine all others!"

Everyone was waiting for the battle between Xiao Wanfeng and Cheng Xie.

Everyone was waiting to see if Cheng Xie would speak first, or if Xiao Wanfeng would draw his sword first.

At this moment, no one dared to even breathe loudly, so what kind of audacious insect dared to make such a loud noise from the back, even disrespecting Zangjianzhong and the Feng family of the Southern Domain?

The crowd parted.

Everyone looked towards the source of the noise.

Cheng Xie was relieved of his immediate predicament, his embarrassment eased, and he wished he could express his gratitude to that savior, not caring what kind of arrogant person he was.

But when he followed the path where the crowd parted, coincidentally, he met the gaze of that "savior."

Cheng Xie's knees buckled, and he fell to the ground on the spot.

Stars even appeared before his eyes, his mind filled with disbelief:

"Ba… Bazun'an?"

The people around the tavern were also startled.

Initially, they didn't understand why Cheng Xie reacted so dramatically, but after spotting the details, they screamed, clutching their heads:

"Damn it! Bazun'an?"

"Brother Zhao, am I seeing things? He's the eight-fingered one, and that's a sword scar on his neck, right?"

"My… heavens! Ah? No, isn't the Eighth Sword Immortal in Lingyushan? How did he get here?"

"Damn his grandma, a living Bazun'an? I finally saw him, I'll brag about this to my son when I get back!"

"This is the Sacred Slave Chief!"

No wonder people from the Central Domain and Eastern Domain were considered ignorant!

There were many people from the Southern Domain present; they saw so many Bazun'an every day that they couldn't count them.

Their first reaction, naturally, was not that they had seen the real one, but that they had seen a fake.

However, having said that.

The four disciples of Zangjianzhong were here, and many people had also noticed Feng Tingchen, the head of the Feng family of the Southern Domain, at the scene.

Would a mere fake dare to be so arrogant?

As soon as he appeared, he challenged the leaders of various forces, not fearing a battle with the wielders of various famous swords?

"It must be fake, right? I see ten such Bazun'ans a day, cut down eight, and the remaining two are all cultivators of escape techniques, their feet oiled, running incredibly fast!"

It wasn't until someone from the Southern Domain cursed in surprise that Cheng Xie woke up as if from a dream, realizing that he was so overly suspicious that he had completely lost the Cheng family's face.

He hurriedly got up, his face flushed, and was about to speak to the fake Bazun'an.

"Want to fight?"

The fake actually spoke first, his words full of provocation.

Xiao Wanfeng held Xuan Cang; due to Xuan Cang's sharpness, I, Cheng Xie, don't want to fight, but you, who emerged from some corner of the Southern Domain, why shouldn't I fight you?

Cheng Xie's mouth had just opened.

The sack-carrying fellow, Bazun'an, spoke again, making him uncomfortable: "I cannot do things like bullying the many with few, as I am only one person, but bullying the weak with strength…"

He said, a corner of his lips lifting, and spread out one hand, showing only four fingers: "It has always been this way, hasn't it?"

How arrogant!

Wasn't this tantamount to saying, "I am invincible, do as you please?"

"Strange…"

Feng Tingchen's acquaintance with Bazun'an was not deep, only a few encounters. He felt something strange, but couldn't quite pinpoint it.

If you say he's fake?

He's very strong!

Feng Tingchen could directly sense that his sword intent was deeply hidden, introverted, and his strength was probably not weaker than anyone present.

But if you say he's real?

Feng Tingchen couldn't give a definite evaluation either way and turned to look at the person beside him.

This person was the same age as Bazun'an and had a deep friendship with him.

Gou Wuyue was quite direct: "Bazun'an's mouth isn't that chatty."

Cheng Xie was once again flushed with anger by the sharp, pointed words from the other side.

He didn't want to say anything more, battle fire surging in his eyes, and he directly asked, "Ancient sword cultivator?"

The ragged man carrying the sack chuckled: "My name is Bazun'an. If I'm not an ancient sword cultivator, who among you dares to call themselves an ancient sword cultivator?"

He looked at Xiao Wanfeng: "Do you dare?"

He looked at Lei Shuangxing: "Do you dare?"

He then saw Gou Wuyue and Feng Tingchen, selectively skipped them, and quickly looked back at Gu Qing and the others, saying, "Do you dare?"

Cheng Xie became even more convinced that this was a fake, but still asked one more question: "What cultivation level?"

"Coincidentally, I'm also a Sword Dao Throne," the sack-carrying man unleashed his aura, at the same realm as Xiao Wanfeng.

Cheng Xie's heart immediately settled.

Then, he became furious: "Desecrating a revered name is a crime punishable by death!"

"Just you?" The sack-carrying Bazun'an raised an eyebrow, "Do you know why I haven't visited your Cheng family for thirty years?"

Cheng Xie was slightly stunned, not understanding.

The surrounding people also widened their eyes and looked around.

True or false, false or true, this Bazun'an was interesting; it seemed he could even say some things.

Bazun'an weighed the sack on his shoulder, shaking his head in disappointment:

"Ancient sword cultivators advance without hesitation, but you, Cheng Xie, in order to protect yourself, have retreated to a corner. Even though you have joined forces with the saints to protect swords, your veneration for gods and buddhas has grown over the years."

"So much so that the current you only dares to bully the many with few, and the current you kneels upon seeing me."

"The Sleeve Sword Twin Needles following you truly blinded the eyes of a famous sword and lost the dignity of a famous sword!"

Cheng Xie was so verbally abused that his head swelled, and rage attacked his heart, almost making him vomit blood. This truly hit his sore spot.

He raised a hand, and a small sword emerged from his sleeve, pointing directly at Bazun'an: "Do you dare to fight me!"

In the high building behind, Li You of the Yingui Sect covered his mouth and chuckled.

You don't dare to fight the young Bazun'an, but you chose to fight the adult Bazun'an?

The Cheng family still has some guts…

The four members of Zangjianzhong all showed strange expressions, and at this point, they also felt that this Eighth Sword Immortal was somewhat different from the legends.

Only Su Qianqian, looking at the scene of Cheng Xie pointing his sword at Bazun'an, for some unknown reason, her small face lost all color, becoming ashen white as paper.

The sack-carrying Bazun'an's face darkened, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Do you know the consequences of pointing a sword at me?"

Cheng Xie laughed loudly, openly retorting:

"And what then?"