Chapter 1864: Wound Hole

“Hua Changdeng!”

“The Ghost Sword Immortal, once renowned throughout the world, now only knows how to bully the weak?”

On Lingyu Mountain, as Zhu Yike and Li Fugui were successively pulled into the lamp by soul-snatching, the next one to step forward was Xiao Kongtong.

Everyone was astonished and looked on.

At this moment, Xiao Kongtong had shed the guise of the Eighth Sword Immortal and discarded the large sack he usually carried.

The sack was handed to Lei Shuangxing.

Xiao Kongtong, holding the ethereal and transparent Kongtong Wuxiang Sword, stood alone, facing the invincible Saint Emperor with surging battle intent.

“He’s crazy! How dare he come out? Even Wuyue Sword Immortal doesn’t want to fight!”

“Senior Disciple Brother of Canyue Immortal City, ranked second among the Seven Sword Immortals, a highly esteemed disciple of Bazun An… Yes, he has many titles, but that’s Hua Changdeng! He’s a whole generation ahead of him!”

“Isn’t this just courting death? Why haven’t Lord Shou and the Eighth Sword Immortal shown up yet? Have they truly become shrinking turtles, relying on their subordinates to hold the fort?”

“No! Ancient Sword Cultivators have no upper limit. If it’s Xiao Kongtong, maybe he can do it…”

Some were nervous, some were expectant.

More were still watching the show, keeping a great distance, waiting for the massive collision between the two sides, yet fearing being affected by the aftermath.

At this moment, everyone connected the current situation and realized something.

Hua Changdeng came from the Ghost Buddha. The time-space rift of the Seven Severed Taboos in the Northern Region had also brought down three great Ancestral Gods. Fortunately, Kui Leihan had returned and could contend with them.

As for Lord Shou, Bazun An, and others, their failure to appear so far must be due to something delaying them.

Perhaps, this was the trump card of Hua Changdeng and his group!

At this time, with the main figures not showing up, their subordinates poured in one after another. Before the Saint Emperor, it would be a one-shot kill for each one who appeared.

The wise choice, as everyone knew, was to “wait”!

Yet, Xiao Kongtong still stepped out, indicating that the situation on Bazun An and Xu Xiaoshou’s side was absolutely grim.

“Information from the Southern Region says that Lord Zhu seems to have escaped there, trying to seek refuge in the Sword Pavilion. Unfortunately, he was ultimately reversed back by Saint Emperor Hua using the Way of Time…”

“Time reversal across an entire region is truly terrifying!”

“Zhu Yike is not weak, but even after exhausting all his tricks just now, he still couldn’t withstand a single glance from Saint Emperor Hua. The disparity is evident.”

“He seemed to be protecting another soul when he made his move?”

“Is it Lord Li? This soul aura is so familiar. I was fortunate enough to enter the Crystal Palace and see him last time, and Lord Li seemed to have this aura…”

“It’s over, both of Lord Shou’s right-hand men are gone. If Xiao Kongtong falls again, then the Eighth Sword Immortal will have his disciple killed. What happens next… Hehe, there’s a good show to watch!”

A chorus of discussions erupted.

Xiao Kongtong clearly wasn’t making a playful appearance, nor was he as attention-seeking as Lord Shou.

Standing before the crowd, his sword momentum steadily climbed, finally revealing its sharp edge, piercing the clouds, as if to cleave Hua Changdeng in two with one sword.

“He’s serious…”

While others scoffed, on the mountainside of Lingyu Mountain, Su Qianqian, one of the Four Sons of Buried Sword Tomb, showed emotion.

From the moment Xiao Kongtong handed the sack to Lei Shuangxing, and removed his twin needles and famous swords like the Sheng Sword from his sleeves, leaving only the Kongtong Wuxiang Sword he had nurtured for a long time, then drew it…

From this point, one could see that this senior disciple brother of Canyue Immortal City had burned his bridges.

He had the resolve to die for his Dao.

Or rather, for “hearing the Dao in the morning, one can die content in the evening.”

“Is it worth it?”

Su Qianqian murmured silently.

She still couldn’t quite grasp such determination.

Looking at Xiao Kongtong, whose sword momentum was soaring at this moment, she seemed to see all the sword protectors in the Su family, and even her grandfather, in the scene she had witnessed back then.

Gu Qingyi sensed his junior sister’s emotional fluctuations and slightly turned his head: “Are you alright?”

Su Qianqian shook her head, pursing her lower lip: “Senior Disciple Brother, if the final outcome is death…” She couldn’t finish her sentence.

Gu Qingyi heard only half a sentence and understood his junior sister’s thoughts.

He pondered for a moment, his eyes slightly bewildered: “I don’t know, perhaps only at that moment…”

“Senior Disciple Brother, if that moment truly comes, will you step up?” Su Qianqian looked at him with wide eyes.

Gu Qingyi shook his head silently, offering no further reply.

“Senior Hua!”

In the midst of the battle, Xiao Kongtong stared at the bronze lamp that had returned to Hua Changdeng’s hand, and declared loudly:

“Ancient Sword Cultivators advance fearlessly, never turning back to bully the weak, unless the latter actively challenges them. This is ancient etiquette,

Am I correct, junior?”

Hua Changdeng didn’t even lift an eyelid, he simply pointed his fingers at the candlelight in the bronze lamp.

“Soul search.”

With a sizzling sound, the candlelight brightened a few more points.

Inside, as if in another world, came a shrill but very faint scream:

“Hiss ah—”

Lingyu Mountain was deathly silent, with snow falling.

Everyone shivered, recognizing Zhu Yike’s voice.

So, after the soul was locked into the bronze lamp’s candlelight, it wouldn’t die, but would suffer the torture of soul searching?

“Ghost Sword Immortal!”

Xiao Kongtong’s eyes blazed with fury, his sword-wielding hand trembling slightly from exertion, as he shouted: “I respect you as a senior in the Way of the Sword, yet you treat a junior’s challenge as nothing. Is this the courtesy of a senior?”

No…

Hua Changdeng finished searching Zhu Yike’s soul, but found no trace of Bazun An. This person truly didn’t know.

He turned his attention to Li Fugui, perhaps this person knew more.

“Soul search.”

With another point, screams emanated from within the bronze lamp’s candlelight.

This time, everyone heard clearly, it was the familiar voice of Lord Li. Lord Shou’s left and right hands were truly both lost.

“I know Bazun An’s whereabouts!”

Xiao Kongtong couldn’t wait any longer and shouted: “Even if you search their souls and get results, if my teacher doesn’t come out, he won’t come out, because they have nothing to do with this matter.”

“Only if I die!”

His voice deepened: “If I die, perhaps it can cause my teacher’s state of mind to fluctuate a bit, and he might choose to come out. It just depends on whether you want to fight me.”

Ancient and Modern Forget-Worry Tower…

Hua Changdeng finished searching Li Fugui’s soul, his eyes slightly narrowed. He actually entered that place as well.

This was not an easy place to enter. Even he could only see and enter the Ancient and Modern Forget-Worry Tower if he received an invitation from Kong Yuhen.

He finally put down the bronze lamp, raised his eyes, and looked at the young man before him.

“Xiao Kongtong…”

Hua Changdeng murmured softly, he remembered this name.

Canyue Immortal City rose in the last thirty years, during the time he had imprisoned himself in the Screen-Candle Land.

Originally, Hua Changdeng had no impression of this person.

But several times when Dao Qiongcang entered the Screen-Candle Land, he mentioned Canyue Immortal City, and mentioned this senior disciple brother, but… that was all.

“You are not my opponent.”

Hua Changdeng shook his head at the man.

He only wanted to find Bazun An, not cause a big commotion. He was too lazy to kill irrelevant people.

“But the Three Swords of Sword Ghost, this junior has admired them for a long time!”

Xiao Kongtong’s eyes were full of fervor. It seemed he was standing up for Zhu Yike and Li Fugui, but in reality, he was doing it for himself.

The proper path of ancient sword dao, he had already walked it to its end.

Only his teacher Bazun An’s path of sword thoughts could be considered a novel approach, offering inspiration.

Besides that, there was Xu Xiaoshou’s chaotic path, which one could understand but not emulate.

And, Hua Changdeng’s Sword Ghost!

In this world, if he, Xiao Kongtong, had climbed all peaks, there were only these three massive mountains left before him.

Time waits for no one.

If he missed Hua Changdeng today, who knew when he would find someone so much stronger than himself.

“It is said that the Ghost Sword Immortal cultivates the sword, starting with soul manipulation and诡术, then mastering souls, and finally returning to the way of the sword, comprehending the Sword Ghost.”

“The Three Swords of Sword Ghost: Body Ghost, Spirit Ghost, and Mind Ghost. They correspond to the three forces of Human, Earth, and Heaven, aligning with Daoist principles and reaching profound depths.”

Xiao Kongtong bowed deeply: “This junior is not talented, but I also wish to glimpse the scenery beyond that gate. May I ask if the Ghost Sword Immortal can fulfill this wish of mine?”

Hua Changdeng gazed at the man: “You have already achieved the title of Sword Immortal.”

From the discussions of others, it could be heard that Xiao Kongtong was ranked second among the Seven Sword Immortals, a pillar of the revival of sword dao in the five regions.

“Indeed!” Xiao Kongtong nodded.

“The path ahead is clear, why seek your own demise?” Hua Changdeng sighed, “If I draw my sword, you will surely die.”

“Hahaha!”

Xiao Kongtong threw his head back and laughed, three times, then with a hint of mockery in his expression: “Senior Hua surely overestimates himself and underestimates me. Leaving everything else aside, I can at least hold on for ten breaths.”

Ten breaths…

It sounded like a joke.

What good are ten breaths? What can be accomplished in ten breaths?

A Refiner nearby laughed out loud, but seeing the solemn expressions of all the ancient sword cultivators on the mountain, he immediately covered his mouth, not daring to be reckless again.

Xiao Kongtong raised his sword, wiping his hands over the Kongtong Wuxiang Sword. The sword body released a sudden burst of silver light, sharp and imposing.

Sword thoughts…

Only then did Hua Changdeng give this person a second glance.

To be able to cultivate sword thoughts, at least he wasn’t just bragging, but had some actual skill.

But, that was all.

Xiao Kongtong flicked his sword sideways, the Kongtong Wuxiang Sword hummed, and the wind and snow on Lingyu Mountain intensified.

He turned and surveyed the world, his gaze sweeping over Gou Wuyue, Feng Tingchen, the Four Sons of Buried Sword Tomb, Xiao Wanfeng, and other ancient sword cultivators. Then, his brows furrowed, and with a spirited air, he shouted:

“All sword cultivators under heaven, gathered at Lingyu, many with the ability to reach the hall, countless rising stars, yet I ask, besides me, Xiao Kongtong, who dares to test the edge of the Ghost Hunting Sword?”

He turned back, bowed again, and stared at the bronze lamp in Hua Changdeng’s hand:

“Sword Immortal Hua, you are a senior, I won’t be polite with you.”

“If I can take one of your swords, you release one of the irrelevant people in this lamp. If I take two swords, you release two.”

“If I can take three swords, then no matter where my teacher is, no matter what schemes you have, you wait for him for one hour. The fourth sword, the fifth sword… and so on, until I fall dead, how about it?”

After these words, the entire mountain erupted in an uproar.

Gou Wuyue, Feng Tingchen, their eyebrows raised high.

Among the Four Sons of Buried Sword Tomb, Gu Qingyi, two, and three felt a surge of heat throughout their bodies, while one and four appeared even more silent.

Even Lei Shuangxing, who was leaning on his staff and observing from the side, trembled slightly, feeling that the sack he was carrying in his hand weighed more than just three parts heavier.

Xiao Kongtong actually took a step forward, not intending to return alive.

An ancient sword cultivator, to fulfill his ambition and complete his Dao, to reach such a point—it was truly as he said, besides him, Xiao Kongtong, who else could?

Hua Changdeng had already understood this young man’s wish and nodded slightly:

“I will satisfy you.”

“Boom!”

The moment Mei Siren stepped out of the spatial rift, the Taicheng Sword at his waist vibrated violently. Upon sensing the overwhelming sword intent, he was startled.

He looked up to see swirling snow in all directions, sword thoughts radiating and splashing outwards, covering an area of ten thousand li, scaring the ghost tide of Lingyu into retreating.

The sky was dim, as if in Fengdu.

Yet, the silver moon of Lingyu hung high in the sky.

Xiao Kongtong, holding his sword, bowed to the Canyue Immortal City, hovering in the void, sword thoughts erupting from him.

Those who knew understood he was Xiao Kongtong; those who didn’t would have thought he was Bazun An, spreading sword thoughts on Lingyu Mountain!

Not good…

Mei Siren looked at the numerous ancient sword cultivators retreating more than three li around the mountain, and first found Feng Tingchen, flashing over to him:

“What happened?”

“It’s like this…” Feng Tingchen turned his head, seeing Elder Mei, and quickly conveyed the events that had just transpired through spiritual transmission, still keeping his gaze fixed on the battlefield.

Too late!

Mei Siren was secretly filled with regret.

Just by looking at the flames in Xiao Kongtong’s eyes, he knew he couldn’t stop this battle—this was a pursuit of the Dao.

And what Xiao Kongtong asked, astonishingly, was aimed at the Ghost Hunting Sword at Hua Changdeng’s waist. The sword thoughts pointed at it, and the Ghost Hunting Sword also began to hum!

“Is it time? A reflection in the water, a flower in the mirror.”

“Is it fate? Riddled with holes and scars!”

With just two sword incantations, Xiao Kongtong’s body, which had been radiating immense power, seemed to find the only point capable of breaking through Hua Changdeng. It gathered and returned, converging at the sword tip.

Time and fate…

Mei Siren’s expression changed.

This first sword, its concept was already so profound. Could Xiao Kongtong withstand the backlash?

Using “a reflection in the water, a flower in the mirror” to enter the Way of Time, it was evident that Xiao Kongtong was leveraging his specialty, still aiming to work on the second world of illusionary sword techniques.

But fate…

Hua Changdeng’s fate, riddled with holes and scars?

How was this flaw found?

Clearly, Mei Siren’s gaze swept over Hua Changdeng, who held the bronze lamp and wore the Ghost Hunting Sword at his waist. His body, spirit, and mind were all defended by sword ghosts, like an unyielding bronze wall, impenetrable and unharmable.

But the momentum was set, the sword was drawn!

“Second World: Slaying the Youth!”

The Kongtong Wuxiang Sword responded with a forward thrust. Xiao Kongtong fought with his back against the wall, leaving no retreat for himself.

As seen by thousands, this Senior Disciple Brother of Canyue Immortal City transformed into a blurred stream of light, advancing with the sword, and instantly pierced into Hua Changdeng’s body.

“Space-time jump…”

Xiao Wanfeng’s eyes suddenly widened, and the Xuancang in his hand also vibrated with a humming sound.

He saw a true space-time jump, no longer the technique used by various ancient sword cultivators for escaping in the past.

Senior Disciple Brother Xiao was interpreting its true meaning, attempting to find Hua Changdeng’s flaw at a certain moment in the past, to cut its true meaning, and injure its future?

“Can he succeed?!”

The disparity between enemy and self was like clouds and mud.

This was like a Taiwu fighting a Saint Emperor, engaging head-on and taking a sword; there was simply no chance of victory.

“Only by taking the initiative…”

Only by taking the initiative, using absolute offense against absolute attack, is there a sliver of possibility for success.

Ancient sword cultivators having high attack and low defense was not just a saying.

Xiao Kongtong made a direct leap, with a single sword thrust, his judgment during the battle was absolutely correct.

Taking a dangerous move, just for a gamble. Failure is another matter, but if he succeeds, let alone blocking one sword, Saint Emperor Hua Changdeng might even bleed!

“Buzz…”

The momentum of Lingyu Mountain was drawn by the sword, and the flying snow also paused in mid-air.

As the second world sword was unleashed, all who witnessed this sword and received its attack, guided by the illusionary sword technique, were all placed into the past world constructed by Xiao Kongtong.

“The Way of Time!”

Mei Siren once again smelled this aura, almost thinking he hadn’t left the Ancient and Modern Forget-Worry Tower. After regaining his senses, he felt an endless sigh of emotion.

Xiao Kongtong was also taking this step…

Whether an ancient sword cultivator had ambition or not was known by whether they cultivated time and space.

For someone like Mei Siren, who specialized in Heart Sword Techniques and only grasped a bit of the form of Illusion Sword Techniques, even if he wanted to comprehend it, it would be difficult to fully grasp time in the future.

Naturally, his ceiling was set there.

He was also old, willing but unable.

However, having seen, heard, and understood more about higher-ranked Ancestral Gods, Mei Siren already knew that while space and time didn’t need to be perfected, they must be cultivated.

Because, like forgetting and guiding, the Way of Time and Space was dabbled in by all Ancestors. Chongyin could even influence the future from the past.

They all knew it, but you didn’t. This was a dead end. No matter how much you struggled, you couldn’t find a way out!

“Hoo…”

With a long sigh of relief, letting go of this obsession, Mei Siren, like all other spectators, entered Xiao Kongtong’s second world.

Slaying the Youth!

The name of this sword clearly stated its meaning.

After the blurry, illusionary scene solidified, everyone followed and arrived on an inverted towering mountain, then entered a dim and oppressive place.

“This is…”

Among the spectators were former members of the Saint God Palace, who recognized the place at a glance.

“Guizhe Sacred Mountain, Screen-Candle Land!”

The divine Willow of Worship and the severed willow were still there. Under the willow stump, there was only an ancient table, a broken lamp, and a damaged sword.

Hua Changdeng showed no signs of age, returning to his youth, appearing to be only twenty years old.

Yet, he walked with the faltering steps of an old man, listlessly entering the Screen-Candle Land, self-pitying.

He drank dozens of cups of wine, drunk to the point of dazed eyes.

As everyone speculated, they saw him sigh deeply, pick up the Ghost Hunting Sword, and mutter to himself:

“An unfair victory, an unfair victory…”

“I, an unfair victor, must imprison myself for thirty years!”