Chapter 2004: Sword Comes

From the south to the west of Fusang City, a dozen figures descended, all clad in black robes and cloaked hoods, their presence subdued and exceptionally discreet.

The leader, with arms crossed over her chest, had a graceful figure that even her large robe could not entirely conceal. Standing atop a tall building, she gazed into the distance at the commotion in the tavern.

As the sun dipped to the west, only the lower half of the black-robed woman’s face, adorned with golden scales on fair skin, was visible beneath her large hood. Her beautiful eyes, hidden in shadow, spoke with a cool tone:

"What happened over there?"

A long-bearded elder, also clad in black, stepped forward from behind her and reported:

"Sect Master Li, according to intelligence from our subordinates, the Xuancang Divine Sword has appeared. Its wielder is named Xiao Wanfeng, who claims to be from the First Heaven Pavilion."

"Cheng Xie of the Cheng family has set his sights on Xuancang and is currently confronting him, but due to Xuancang's sharpness, with only two Grand Void cultivators, and no Half-Saint present, the standoff might continue indefinitely."

The elder’s heart stirred, hinting at something.

Around them, the thirteen Path-Severing and five Grand Void cultivators of the Yin Ghost Sect also showed signs of movement, their eyes glowing green beneath their large hoods.

Xuancang!

Who wouldn't be tempted?

Cheng Xie had only two Grand Void cultivators behind him, and at most, an additional hidden Half-Saint guard. If Sect Master Li suppressed the main force, they could acquire the Sleeve Sword and Twin Needles.

Xuancang plus Twin Needles—if this operation succeeded, the Yin Ghost Sect would gain two great renowned swords. They wouldn’t even need to watch the Sword Immortal's duel. With three hundred years of recuperation back home, the Yin Ghost Sect would surely produce a Sword Immortal, making a name for itself in the Southern Domain of Sin.

However, the black-robed woman, Li You, who was called Sect Master, merely shook her head slightly.

She pulled her hood higher, revealing a pair of magnificent eyes with a slight purple glow. A purple crystal scale also grew at the corner of her left eye, exuding captivating charm.

"Calm yourselves."

Li You extended a hand from beneath her robe, gracefully moving two slender fingers. Purple crystal scales also grew on the back of her hand, extending to her fair wrist.

Her red lips parted slightly, and her voice was cold and commanding: "Is my Yin Ghost Sect a band of robbers, always thinking of snatching things? Is this all you amount to? No wonder you can't achieve sainthood!"

The elders behind her were scolded and could only exchange glances, thinking, "Aren't we robbers? Didn't the Yin Ghost Sect start as highway robbers, accumulating wealth that way?"

Deeply rooted in the Southern Domain of Sin, could the Yin Ghost Sect truly have good people among them?

The long-bearded elder, who had spoken first, bowed deeply and earnestly pleaded:

"Sect Master Li's lesson is apt. However, I fear this might be a 'mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind' situation. We should observe first. Rushing in might lead us into a trap, and if we lose the Twin-Form Sword, it would truly be a disservice."

Upon hearing this, the elders’ faces showed surprise and they respectfully sighed in admiration.

So, this was what Sect Master Li meant?

It had to be the Great Elder; no wonder he could hold this position. His ability to grasp the superior's intentions was truly something!

"But, Sect Master Li..."

The skinny, stern-faced Second Elder stepped forward. Though he reined in his spiritual sense, his eagerness was still evident: "I have searched half of Fusang City, and there are no other experts around. We are the strongest!"

He chopped his hand forward like a blade and said fiercely: "We'll pluck the feathers of the goose as it passes, go straight in, no need to kill anyone, just grab and leave, head straight home, lie low, and re-emerge in three hundred years..."

Before he could finish, Sect Master Li turned and delivered a chop to his head, snapping impatiently: "You're just a Grand Void cultivator, what kind of experts can you find? Didn't you see the people over there?"

She pointed her fair finger towards the northeast. The others looked, seeing only four young figures, with a scattering of more than ten Throne-level cultivators around them, but no prominent experts.

"Indeed there are experts, Sect Master Li's vision is keen..."

The elders echoed her words, continuing their search, but after a long time, they still couldn't find any notable experts.

Li You shook her head imperceptibly, knowing that this group of good-for-nothings saw nothing. "This Sect Master almost overlooked it just now. Fortunately, the Ghost Wheel Sorrow reminded me—another famous sword has arrived."

The Twin-Form Sword, Ghost Wheel Sorrow, ranked ninth among famous swords, was renowned.

Its reminder was naturally accurate. The elders scrutinised the scene again, and it was still the Great Elder who had the sharpest eyes, noticing the four young people.

"It's them?"

"Yes."

"Who are they? They look quite unfamiliar."

"They've used disguise, but their sword intent is unmistakable. The famous swords ranked first, second, and fourth are all present."

As the Sect Master's words fell, everyone's faces turned pale with shock.

First, second, and fourth—whose disciples were these? So fortunate, yet so audacious as to flaunt these swords in public, unafraid of being robbed?

Soon, someone realised and exclaimed softly, "Is it Gu Qingyi, Gu Qing’er, Gu Qing San, and Gu Qing Si of the Burial Sword Mound?"

Li You stared coldly at the three young men and one young woman in the distance. Just as she was about to speak, the sword-holding youth at the forefront looked up.

His gaze was exceptionally calm. Upon sensing the distant gaze, he remained unmoved, merely nodding slightly to acknowledge the presence of the Twin-Form Sword, Ghost Wheel Sorrow, paying respects to the famous sword.

"Audacious! This child dares to face a Half-Saint directly!"

"Presumptuous! The youth actually looks the Sect Master in the eye!"

"He should be killed, this person..."

A chorus of flattering voices rose from behind, yet no one moved. Instead, they all retreated half a step, startled by the name of the Burial Sword Mound, even the Grand Void cultivators were no exception.

Seeing this, Li You bared her teeth and cursed under her breath, "Just shut up, all of you."

Instantly, silence fell.

This was the problem with the Yin Ghost Sect.

Or rather, in an environment like the Southern Domain of Sin, even powerful cultivators were just like that.

To emerge untainted from such a mire was truly too difficult.

Li You was accustomed to the style of the Yin Ghost Sect elders and didn't dwell on it. With a casual wave, she sent a holy thought to the leading youth of the Burial Sword Mound:

"Cooperation?"

Upon receiving the holy thought transmission, Gu Qingyi paused, raising his hand to signal those behind him to stop.

Gu Qing’er bumped into him.

Gu Qing San bumped into Gu Qing’er.

Su Qianqian stopped just in time, her small mouth slightly agape, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Second and Third Senior Brothers were clearly normal people, but once First Senior Brother was in front, their minds and actions seemed to be controlled by something, turning them into puppets.

"First Senior Brother, what's wrong?"

"First Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, what's wrong?"

"Don't copy me!"

"First Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, what happened?"

"Shut up!" Gu Qingyi snapped impatiently, turning to scold them before concisely stating: "Half-Saint, Twin-Form Sword, Ghost Wheel Sorrow."

Gu Qing’er's mind turned: "Yin Ghost Sect?"

Gu Qing San's mind didn't turn: "People... from the Yin Ghost Sect?"

Su Qianqian silently looked up, gazing at the group of black-robed figures in the distant tall building. The leader was an exceptionally beautiful woman. She lowered her head after just a glance.

Half-Saint!

Gu Qingyi cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and replied, "Cooperate on what?"

Li You’s voice was cool and direct: "This Sect will help you block the Cheng family's Half-Saint and Grand Void cultivators, and the Xuancang Divine Sword and Sleeve Sword Twin Needles will be taken back by you to the Burial Sword Mound."

Gu Qingyi was stunned.

What kind of situation was this? Was the Burial Sword Mound a band of robbers? Discussing highway robbery after a chance encounter?

What about your Yin Ghost Sect? What benefits do you get from this?

"No cooperation." Gu Qingyi always refused anything that seemed like a windfall, especially things that sounded so inherently wrong.

"Think about it again."

Li You's personality was very direct, always speaking plainly. People from the Southern Domain seemed to dislike beating around the bush. "The Burial Sword Mound has always been based on burying swords. These are famous swords; they should be taken back by you to the Burial Sword Mound and buried."

Gu Qingyi understood, responding with a wry smile: "The four of us, senior and junior siblings, are only here to observe the battle. We will not take any swords, nor will we take the Twin-Form Sword."

Li You nodded slightly, then retracted her gaze, leaving behind a word of praise:

"Righteous individuals."

Gu Qingyi fell silent upon hearing this.

The Yin Ghost Sect was quite odd, comparable to his Second and Third Junior Brothers.

He thought the matter was over, but his Second Junior Brother suddenly patted his shoulder and whispered:

"Senior Brother, someone claiming to be the Great Elder of the Yin Ghost Sect just sent me a message asking if we want to cooperate, to scheme against their Sect Master and take the Twin-Form Sword, Ghost Wheel Sorrow, back to the Burial Sword Mound?"

His Third Junior Brother also patted his shoulder:

"Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, someone claiming to be the Second Elder of the Yin Ghost Sect asked if we want to invite Master to intervene and take the Twin-Form Sword, the Divine Sword, and the Sleeve Sword, all back to the Burial Sword Mound?"

Gu Qingyi took a deep breath. After a long moment, he sent a direct message back to the Yin Ghost Sect's Sect Master:

"My Master is not here, and Sect Master Li need not try to sow discord among my senior and junior brothers. The Burial Sword Mound does not take ill-gotten swords. However, if the Yin Ghost Sect wishes to claim our famous swords, feel free to try."

Li You returned a light laugh, her smile brilliant, and gave a cupped-hand salute, utterly devoid of a Half-Saint's aloofness:

"Hearing is not as good as seeing. The Burial Sword Mound cultivators are all straightforward and magnanimous. My Yin Ghost Sect has been contemptible; please forgive my indiscretion."

She then turned and slapped the Great Elder and Second Elder, scolding them severely: "I told you not to judge a gentleman by your own petty standards! Always testing, always testing—acting like petty, shameless curs! No wonder you can't achieve sainthood!"

The Great Elder and Second Elder covered their faces, retreating aggrievedly, as if the transmitted messages just now had not been at Sect Master Li's instigation.

Gu Qingyi watched this theatrical scene, opened his mouth, and finally didn't know how to respond.

Was this... how people from the Southern Domain were?

After offering an apologetic smile, Li You no longer paid attention to these children. She turned to gaze into the distant sky, muttering:

"There are more experts..."

The brewing conflict at the tavern in Fusang City was finally suppressed by a terrifying aura, as several Half-Saint presences suddenly swept in from the north.

"Hahaha, what a lively place this is!"

"What is this? This Saint has just arrived and sees the Xuancang Divine Sword. Is this a fortuitous encounter?"

"Oh? Sect Master Li is also here? The Sword Immortals from the Burial Sword Mound are here too. A pleasure, a pleasure, greetings, Sword Immortal Gu."

Gu Qing’er straightened his back.

In front of his Senior Brother, this was the first time he had become the focus of attention, because he was one of the New Seven Sword Immortals.

On the same level as his Master, his seniority had been elevated—even Half-Saints would greet him!

Discussions erupted in the tavern. Everyone looked over, seeing dozens of figures sweeping through the void. The three leaders all possessed Half-Saint auras.

"Dan Sheng Lu Shiyu, Bing Sheng Tie Dameng, Zhen Sheng Shangfeng Daoist..."

"People from the City of Life and Death have arrived! Besides the various Half-Saint association presidents, there are also Grand Void guest elders from the Alchemist Association, the Artifact Forger Association, and the Spiritual Array Master Association—so many Grand Voids!"

"Are they here together to observe the ceremony? Dan Sheng Lu Shiyu wields the Daluo Jiutian Shengxuan Sword. Could he also be interested in the Xuancang Divine Sword?"

Cheng Xie stood at the boundary line drawn by Xuancang, his heart sinking.

Having stalled for some time, he had inadvertently allowed all these people to gather. Now, it would be difficult to monopolize Xuancang.

Dan Sheng Lu Shiyu immediately perceived the situation. After glancing at the unmoving Li You of the Yin Ghost Sect and the four unconcerned youths from the Burial Sword Mound, a smile appeared on his face, and he spoke first:

"We came to Fusang because the Daluo Jiutian Shengxuan Sword showed anomalies, and its sword spirit also wished to observe the ceremony. Its request must naturally be granted."

His last sentence was directed at Cheng Xie: "The City of Life and Death has always disliked disputes. Please feel free to do as you wish."

With that, he led the people from the City of Life and Death to observe from another side, hands tucked into their sleeves.

"They're just going to let Xuancang go?"

The crowd in the tavern, loving a good show, felt somewhat unsatisfied when the matter became less dramatic.

"Young Master, what should we do?"

A Grand Void cultivator transmitted his question. Cheng Xie frowned, pondering bitterly.

Before he could move, his sleeve sword stirred. He alertly looked to the other side, and seeing Gu Qingyi, Gu Qing’er, Gu Qing San, and Gu Qing Si of the Burial Sword Mound appearing one after another, his pupils contracted.

The famous swords ranked first, second, and fourth were renowned throughout the world, far more famous than his fourteenth-ranked Sleeve Sword Twin Needles.

"The Burial Sword Mound also has no desire to cause further trouble." Gu Qingyi also stated his position.

His junior brothers and sister, seeing Xiao Wanfeng, each had strange expressions, then pondered, wanting to say something more.

Gu Qingyi reached out to stop them, shaking his head slightly.

He knew his junior brothers and sister had some acquaintance with Xiao Wanfeng, but while others couldn't see anything unusual about Xiao Wanfeng, he immediately noticed clues.

Xuancang's choice was certainly not without reason.

This youth was no weaker than anyone present.

The winds gathered at Fusang tavern, with various factions harboring their own intentions. Cheng Xie, as the person involved, found himself in a dilemma, momentarily unsure whether to continue being the one to step forward.

"Something's not right..."

On the distant tall building, Li You’s delicate eyebrows furrowed.

People from the Central Domain and Eastern Domain might not be too sensitive to crises, as the environments they grew up in were far better than those of other regions.

The Southern Domain was named "Sin Land," with various forces carving up territories. One wrong step meant death and annihilation. Li You had long developed an extremely keen sense—specifically for "death."

"Sect Master, what's not right?" the Great Elder asked.

"I don't know, a hunch..." Li You looked around. "Keep searching; see if any more experts have entered."

Drawing away from superficial phenomena to see the essence, she found Fusang truly strange. In less than half a day, so many famous swords had gathered here?

"Sect Master, there really are experts! Look over there, but don't stare too long..." the Second Elder whispered, not even daring to point with his finger.

Li You casually glanced over, then suddenly stiffened, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

A one-armed, disheveled middle-aged man and a gray-robed elder with a hairpin stood side by side, distantly observing the tavern.

"The Demon Sword Lan Zhisheng, and the Crane Sword Tingchen."

Li You's gaze immediately fixed on the famous swords carried on their backs, and their identities naturally came to mind:

Gou Wuyue, Feng Tingchen!

Two of the previous generation's Seven Sword Immortals—even such formidable figures had come?

Both simultaneously turned their heads. Li You's delicate body trembled. These two were absolutely not to be offended by the Yin Ghost Sect. She quickly cupped her hands in a bow, no longer daring to look.

"Buzz."

In her soul space, the Twin-Form Sword, Ghost Wheel Sorrow, vibrated again, sounding an alarm. Li You immediately turned her head.

She saw a red-robed youth in another street alley, secretly watching Sword Immortal Wuyue in the sky.

She recognized this person; she had seen him once in the Dao-Imparting Mirror when the Five Declines of Heaven and Man ascended Mount Guizhe.

"Red-robed Lu Ke, the famous sword Qinglinji!"

Before she could ponder the relationship between Lu Ke, Qinglinji, and Sword Immortal Wuyue, Li You's spiritual sense felt an anomaly, and she glanced to another side.

In the dark corner behind the tavern's low wall, a young man with a black cloth tied over his eyes leaned back, holding a staff. He emotionlessly "watched" the front battlefield.

"Saint Slave, Lei Shuangxing!"

"The one in his hand should be... the Soul-Extracting Staff!"

Li You's entire body went numb, feeling a chill pierce her to the bone.

From a woman's sixth sense, she felt she had fallen into an invisible, giant urn.

"Retreat!"

With a flick of her sleeve, Li You wanted to take her people home.

The Southern Domain of Sin, it turned out, was the safe place. This strange Buddhist realm, this opportunity for Sainthood, was going to kill people!

"Sect Master, I've also found an expert, and a very powerful one!"

But suddenly, a hoarse, duck-like voice sounded, stopping everyone's actions.

The Yin Ghost Sect members looked and saw it was the Third Elder.

The Third Elder was a short, chubby man with crossed eyes and a sagacious expression, but his strength as a Grand Void cultivator was unquestionable.

He was pointing to the west, towards the west city gate, looking utterly surprised.

"Who?"

Li You wanted to turn and look, but then changed her mind. "Don't look anymore, retreat!" She didn't even move her holy thought, knowing her life was more important.

The Third Elder's feet, however, seemed to be filled with lead, rooted to the spot, his gaze fixed on the west city gate, and he said with difficulty:

"Ba Zun'an."

Li You staggered, having just lifted off, almost falling from the tall building like a Half-Saint who had lost her footing.

"Who?"

She asked again in disbelief, her beautiful eyes quickly gazing towards the west city gate.

"It seems to really be him..."

The Third Elder took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and said: "Eight fingers, a scar on his neck—the Eighth Sword Immortal has also arrived!"

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