Chapter 2002: Fusang

"Faster, faster! Gui Fo Jie is right ahead!"

"The battlefield should open near the Zhong Yuan Jie Stele. That's where Hong Niang gave her Jin Xing sermon before. Let's hurry and secure a safe viewing spot!"

"This is a battle of former Sword Immortals, or rather, a battle between a Ghost Sword Immortal and the current top Sword Immortal of the Five Domains. This must be 'supreme,' right?"

"Of course! Feng Zhong Zui didn't get to witness it half a year ago, but now, seeing this battle firsthand means it will be recorded in history! But I feel like the aftermath of a Sword Immortal battle could shatter us..."

"What Sword Immortal battle? I'm afraid it's more like a battle between Saint Emperors and Ancestral Gods! Gui Jian Xian fighting Shou Ye is one thing, but if he fights the Eighth Sword Immortal, one of them is bound to open the Xuan Miao Gate!"

"Heaven! That's the Xuan Miao Gate, Elder Gu's Xuan Miao Gate..."

Streaks of light streaked across the sky, like a swarm of locusts, rushing towards the fiery Gui Fo Jie.

Xiao Wan Feng, standing on his Xuan Cang Divine Sword, followed the large group of Soul Refiners, naturally merging into the high-flying crowd. His ears were filled with fervent discussions.

It was only after stepping out of the cross-domain teleportation array that he realized the immense turmoil Hong Niang's Jin Xing sermon and Shou Ye's return had caused throughout the Five Domains.

The Soul Refining World never lacked unyielding spirits.

Nor did it lack seekers of the Dao who would gladly die in the evening if they heard the Dao in the morning.

While there were those like Feng Zhong Zui who abandoned themselves midway, they were generally a minority.

After all, not everyone could ride the wind into the heavens, and after transforming into a dragon and returning to the sea, enjoy endless glory and wealth.

Most people sought the Dao while still bending their backs for daily sustenance.

Xiao Wan Feng was no different; he had few spirit crystals on him. When he watched the Sword Immortal battle in Feng Jia Cheng, his three meals a day consisted only of meat buns or flattened meat pastries.

"I heard ancient sword cultivators from all over have arrived."

As they entered the Zhong Yuan Jie territory, the discussions about the "Sword Immortal Decisive Battle" grew even more heated.

The occasional tremors from Xuan Cang also let Xiao Wan Feng know that the great sword masters from all corners of the Five Domains had likely indeed come to witness the decisive battle.

Zhong Yuan Jie still had an old city, named Fu Sang Cheng, within the Gui Fo Jie domain. Most of its original inhabitants had moved away to avoid ghost attacks.

Now, however, the inns at the city gates of Fu Sang Cheng were bustling, having been revived by passing Soul Refiners, serving as temporary lodging for those coming to watch the Sword Immortal decisive battle.

"Exit Fu Sang Cheng, enter the Fu Sang Mountain Range, about two thousand three hundred li to the west, you'll see the Zhong Yuan Jie Stele. Then, about seven hundred li to the northwest, where sword念 is most concentrated and vibrant, is a place called Ling Yu Shan."

"The Eighth Sword Immortal is probably in Ling Yu Shan!"

In recent days, the Fu Sang Cheng area of Zhong Yuan Jie had been thoroughly studied by Soul Refiners from all over the Five Domains.

Everyone displayed their unique abilities, calculating the approximate location of the Eighth Sword Immortal based on the coordinates and information revealed by Hong Niang's Jin Xing sermon.

"Ling Yu Shan..."

Xiao Wan Feng knew this place; he had frequented it for the past six months.

Ling Yu Shan was most famous for its Fu Sang Wood and Ling Yu Wood, both ninth-grade spirit wood.

When the Fu Sang Cheng City Lord's Mansion and the branch of the Sacred Palace were still present, cutting these two types of spirit wood, both inside and outside the city, was strictly forbidden, with violators facing execution.

After all, this was the root of Fu Sang Cheng's spiritual energy and the foundation of its protective array.

Now, it didn't really matter.

But no one touched the Sang Yu spirit wood anyway.

Having been immersed in Gui Fo Jie for half a year, even Soul Refiners couldn't endure it, and the ninth-grade spirit wood had long since been contaminated.

At the west gate of Fu Sang Cheng, inns were inns, taverns were taverns, and even some former shops and residences had been converted into taverns.

Inns clustered together, and so did people.

Soul Refiners drank heartily, pontificating on the world, debating passionately until their faces were red, yet no one dared to cause trouble.

Gathered in crowds, they feared no ghosts.

Among the spectators, cultivators at the King Seat Dao Realm were the most numerous, and there was no shortage of Taixu masters.

Some, with extraordinary demeanor and a seemingly returned-to-simplicity aura, were even suspected to be semi-saints themselves.

In such circumstances, who would dare to stir up trouble?

Currently, Fu Sang Cheng was a melting pot of all sorts of people. What if someone annoyed a seemingly young person, only for them to turn out to be an eccentric veteran semi-saint who enjoyed transforming into a youth...?

The outcome, of course, would be self-evident.

Everyone was there to watch the show. Even if there were disciples of death or evildoers, this place was more peaceful than the Crossroads under the rule of the Four Streets' Lords.

Internal conflicts were nonexistent, and semi-saint ghosts certainly dared not approach and cause trouble—seeking advantage and avoiding harm was an instinct for living beings, and dead spirits were no exception.

"It's safer, instead..."

Xiao Wan Feng casually placed his personal sword on the table.

Under the concealment of the renowned sword's self-obscurity and his hidden sword technique, very few people recognized that this was Xuan Cang, the divine sword that Rao Yao Yao had never managed to truly acknowledge in her lifetime.

He was currently seated in an inn with a "Fu Sheng Wine Shop" sign, listening to the discussions around him.

The inn's ceiling had long since been severed by who-knows-whose sword, leaving only two walls. Even the second-floor guest rooms were shattered, the ceiling completely open, just so it could connect with the surrounding taverns for easier discussion.

The patrons came from all corners of the world, their identities ranging from the heads of reclusive families to unknown jianghu heroes.

And those who dared to come to Gui Fo Jie, and even delve into cities like Fu Sang Cheng, which was considered close to the battlefield's center, were certainly not short-sighted or narrow-minded individuals.

The information they brought was far more credible and impactful than what was discussed near the cross-domain teleportation array:

"Hey, have you heard? Gu Qing Yi Er San Si and the others were directly chased by Sword Immortal Wen to watch the battle live. This battle is sure to be greatly beneficial. I wonder where they are now."

"Brother, your words are true. I was a pilgrim outside the Burial Sword Tomb. When Sword Immortal Wen appeared the other day, everyone was incredibly excited."

"Gu Qing Yi Er San Si, in front of tens of thousands of people, received their orders and also used the teleportation array. But ancient sword cultivators seem to be slower on foot than us Soul Refiners, haha."

People from outside the Burial Sword Tomb?

Xiao Wan Feng was surprised, glancing at the man. He saw that he was dressed as a swordsman, with a spirit sword at his waist, but he wasn't an ancient sword cultivator.

With just a glance, Xiao Wan Feng knew that he was essentially a Soul Refiner, having not even cultivated innate sword intent.

A good swordsman...

Xiao Wan Feng took a sip of tea.

Perhaps because he had served as a tea and water pourer in the First Heaven Pavilion, he preferred tea over wine.

And after gaining experience with Young Master Xu and receiving the complete acknowledgment of the Divine Sword Xuan Cang, he no longer felt stage fright. With a question in his heart, he abruptly spoke:

"Sword Immortal Wen didn't come?"

Sword Immortal Wen Ting, one of the Seven Sword Immortals, if he were to come to Ling Yu Shan to watch the battle, that would be truly explosive news, enough to make the Burial Sword Tomb empty—everyone would follow to Fu Sang Cheng.

"Haha, little brother, you're not from the Eastern Domain, are you? Sword Immortal Wen rarely leaves the Tomb. There are so many swords in the Burial Sword Tomb, someone has to look after them."

The Soul Refiner dressed as a swordsman, under the gazes of everyone, looked spirited: "Sword Immortal Wen's appearance that day, ordering his four disciples to enter Gui Fo Jie, was the only time he has shown himself so publicly in decades. Normally, we never see his true face."

Xiao Wan Feng nodded silently, but had his own thoughts.

Having followed Shou Ye for a while, he also understood how to ponder people's hearts. Wen Ting's public appearance, intended to guard the mountain, might actually mean he himself wanted to come and watch the battle.

Even if his true self didn't arrive, he should have some means to observe from afar, and perhaps enter the field at a critical moment.

Is Shou Ye fighting Hua Chang Deng, or Ba Zun An fighting Hua Chang Deng, a matter of "Sword Immortal Decisive Battle"?

But Xiao Wan Feng also knew that this was just the beginning, not the end.

The Five Domains' situation was like a taut bowstring; pulling one end would affect the whole. Regardless of who won or lost, there would certainly be后续.

If an Ancestral God were to descend, characters like the Tomb Keeper of the Burial Sword Tomb would likely not be able to remain aloof.

When the sky falls, the tall ones bear the brunt.

Besides the Sacred Slaves and the First Heaven Pavilion, these famous mountains, great sects, and prominent families should send people and erupt when necessary.

"The Ten Venerables, perhaps they can no longer hide," Xiao Wan Feng mused to himself.

Just then, Xuan Cang vibrated slightly, and Xiao Wan Feng also felt a gaze prying. He turned his eyes and saw a solitary figure seated in an inn across the street.

It was a middle-aged man with a topknot, a beard, dressed in a black cloud-patterned long robe, with a sword at his waist. He was also not an ancient sword cultivator.

Xiao Wan Feng was surprised, but he recognized his identity.

Xiao Qi Xiu!

Others might not know this person, but during the contest of the Seven Sword Immortals, he had specifically paid attention to him. He was a Spirit Sword Cultivator who attempted to open a new path.

The final battle, Xiao Qi Xiu versus Yang Xi Zhi, was a closed battle, and no one knew the process or outcome.

After the battle, Elder Yang voluntarily withdrew from the Seven Sword Immortals list. Not long after, the Seven Sword Immortals list was sealed, and Xiao Wan Feng guessed that Xiao Qi Xiu had won.

What a pity...

Two generations of Sword Immortals sought no seven, Xu Xiao Liu came to Gu Bei Xi.

In the final assessment results of the Sword Pagoda, pure Spirit Sword Cultivators seemed unable to rank high, but Xiao Wan Feng knew that this person possessed the potential of a Sword Immortal.

Xiao Qi Xiu had a bloody aura radiating from his back, much more ferocious than when he was seen half a year ago, indicating he had likely slain many.

At this moment, his gaze only lingered briefly on the Xuan Cang sword body. Seeing that he had attracted attention, he no longer paid attention and merely nodded slightly to Xiao Wan Feng in acknowledgment.

Not a challenge... Xiao Wan Feng let out a sigh of relief. He didn't fear challenges, but he didn't want to cause trouble before the Sword Immortal Decisive Battle. He returned the nod.

"There are still capable people here."

Xuan Cang was still eye-catching. Those who couldn't discern it were ordinary people; those who could see through its essence were great masters.

Xiao Wan Feng cursed Xuan Cang under his breath and quickly retrieved the sword from the table, re-wrapping it with the sealing band despite the sword's resistance.

"People from the Northern Domain have arrived. In the Heavenly Alliance meeting, Semi-Saint Pei Zai said he would personally come to watch the battle, and Alliance Master Yan Sheng also showed up, but unfortunately, he couldn't leave. But perhaps a semi-saint's incarnation will descend, who knows." An old Taixu spoke from afar. The Sacred Palace's influence had waned, and the Northern Domain's restrictions had loosened considerably, allowing people from the Northern Domain to emerge.

"Can Yue Xian Cheng has arrived. My friend said that the Eldest Senior Brother is traveling light, rushing without stopping, saying that he might be able to witness his grace in a few days. Can Yue Xian Cheng shed a lot of blood in its battle with the Sacred Palace; he directly transformed into a 'Killing God'."

"Young Master Cheng Xie from the Central Domain, you know him, right? He seems to have come too. It's a pity Young Master Cheng of the Seven Sword Immortals didn't compete, otherwise he would have had a place on the list."

"Who is Cheng Xie?"

"You don't know Cheng Xie? Fourteenth Famous Sword, the contemporary wielder of the Sleeve Sword Twin Needles... For years, when Sacred Slaves collected swords, those like the Burial Sword Tomb that could protect famous swords were fine, but the Cheng family of the Central Domain was one of the few who could withstand the pressure and not have their swords taken!"

Cheng Xie?

Xiao Wan Feng paused his movements.

He knew this name. He was a descendant of an old ancient sword cultivator family, only twenty-eight years old, and renowned in the ancient sword cultivator world.

The Sacred Slaves collecting famous swords was also an old recurring issue, with occasional movements.

Rumor had it that Ba Zun An, the Chief of the Sacred Slaves, had been elusive for decades, leading people to destroy over a dozen ancient sword cultivator families and collecting famous swords like Mo Ming Cheng Xue, Tai Yi Sheng Shui Sword, and Feng Diao Sword.

For places like the Burial Sword Tomb and the Feng Family of the Southern Domain to retain evil swords like Yue Lian, Blood Sword Jue Se Yao Ji, and Crane Sword Ting Chen, their backgrounds were truly powerful.

The Cheng family, standing alone yet able to withstand the pressure, was indeed rare.

"What's the Cheng family? Just the Fourteenth Famous Sword."

"In the Yin Gui Jie of the Southern Domain, I heard that the宗主 of the Yin Gui Sect also brought out the Twin Form Sword Gui Lun Chou, saying that he could find an opportunity to seal a Saint Emperor in Gui Fo Jie. He's a Soul Refiner, not an ancient sword cultivator!"

"Twin Form Sword Gui Lun Chou, Ninth Famous Sword?"

"Yes! Gui Lun Chou. Fifty years ago, the Yin Gui Sect was just a small, evil sect that banished ghosts. Later, relying on this sword, it soared to become a semi-saint power. And yet, the sect still has no ancient sword cultivators, but it still profits. Tsk, the power of a famous sword is evident."

"Awesome, awesome, masters, please continue."

"Ah! If you put it that way, I also remember that some days ago, there was an anomaly in the Alchemy Pagoda of Sheng Fu Tu Zhi Cheng. The Tenth Famous Sword, Sheng Jian, the Da Luo Jiu Tian Sheng Xuan Sword, stirred. Alchemy Saint Lu Shi Yu personally invited it out and is said to have rushed here to Ling Yu Shan with the sword."

"Huh? What's the Alchemy Pagoda doing here to join the fun?"

"I don't know. Sheng Jian is powerful. It can heal all sorts of difficult illnesses with a single stab of the sword. Perhaps Alchemy Saint is merciful and fears that Ba Zun An and Hua Chang Deng will fight too fiercely, and if someone is severely injured or on the verge of death, he wants to come and stab them with the sword?"

"Hahaha..."

This remark caused the patrons in the various taverns to roar with laughter, truly a unique and imaginative way of thinking.

Some even said that Ba Zun An, with only eight fingers and a scar on his neck, should excitedly run out and let the Da Luo Jiu Tian Sheng Xuan Sword stab his behind. Perhaps his severed fingers could grow back, and his scar could be erased, allowing him to be young and reckless for another thirty years.

"These people are truly audacious."

Xiao Wan Feng frowned, having spent time in the Southern Domain, he had heard many audacious remarks and was accustomed to them.

At this moment, he felt a peculiar strangeness, not from what the various patrons said, but from the "vagueness" that he couldn't quite grasp beneath their words.

Gu Qing Yi Er San Si, Young Master Cheng Xie, the宗主 of the Yin Gui Sect, Alchemy Saint Lu Shi Yu, they seemed to have nothing in common.

Essentially, these were all famous swords gathering in Ling Yu Shan.

Were they really just here to watch the battle?

Could there be something special going on that his level couldn't perceive?

"Hmm, it's not my business. Perhaps Young Master Xu... Shou Ye knows. I can tell him later." Xiao Wan Feng steadied himself, not thinking too much, and after re-wrapping Xuan Cang, he put it on his back, intending to let the matter go.

He could enter Xing Jie; Shou Ye had given him a jade talisman long ago.

But he rarely went to Xing Jie to play, as being in the jianghu allowed him to get more firsthand information and to temper himself further.

Although it was a bit dangerous...

"Bang!"

Just as he was thinking, a middle-aged man, accompanied by two large Taixu guards, sat down opposite him at the wooden table that had only been occupied by himself.

Xiao Wan Feng looked up and saw that the man had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, a dashing demeanor, and a palpable aura of the King Seat Dao Realm, clearly full of vigor.

He did not come with good intentions!

"Boy, bring wine."

As soon as the man sat down, he spoke to the innkeeper, his eyes fixed on Xuan Cang on Xiao Wan Feng's back, clearly having noticed something amiss.

This was bad. He had really been corrupted by Young Master Xu and tricked by Xuan Cang, acting too unrestrained...

Xiao Wan Feng was not a person who enjoyed crowds.

He had brought Xuan Cang out purely because Xuan Cang wanted to get some air.

Now, it seemed, Xuan Cang didn't want air; Xuan Cang was just looking for opponents and making enemies for him—it enjoyed it, that cheap sword!

"Boy, check please."

Xiao Wan Feng threw a few spirit crystals on the table, stood up abruptly, not even bothering to understand the other party's intentions, and intended to leave.

"Sit down!"

The man did not move, but an old man behind him opened his tiger eyes, and the Taixu pressure slammed into Xiao Wan Feng, almost disassembling him. He had no choice but to sit back down.

The surrounding taverns instantly fell silent.

Everyone's eyes turned, all with expressions of enjoying a good show.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

Some clamorous sounds came from afar, as if someone was striking iron, celebrating the trouble.

Xiao Wan Feng's face was grim. He held his breath and suppressed his emotions, but he was not afraid. He looked at the man, who was handsome and appeared to be around thirty, and said:

"I don't think I know you..."

"My surname is Cheng," the man said with a smile, cutting off Xiao Wan Feng's words. "Cheng family, Cheng Xie."

With a rustle, everyone in the taverns instantly stood up in surprise.

Sleeve Sword Twin Needles, Cheng Xie of the Cheng family!

Finally, a prominent figure with a reputable name had arrived in Fu Sang Cheng. He possessed the potential of a Sword Immortal!

Xiao Wan Feng probably knew his intention and said helplessly, "It seems there's no enmity between us?"

Cheng Xie chuckled, staring at the sword on his back: "An innocent man is guilty because of his treasure. Hand over the Xuan Cang Divine Sword, and you can leave Fu Sang safely."

In a flash, the people in the various taverns were no longer just watching idly. Their gazes all shifted to Xiao Wan Feng, their faces filled with utter shock.

"Divine Sword, Xuan Cang?"

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