“Single Platform Notes”

Second, Fengmo Sword Sect, Xia Houshe.

Master of Ten Thousand Weapons!

…

Jian Chou recalled Zhilin Sou’s annotation she had seen in the notes – just these four brief words: Master of Ten Thousand Weapons!

Shen Jiu and the others had also compiled a booklet for her, but it still contained no information related to “Fengmo Sword Sect’s Xia Houshe.”

The Left Three Thousand small gathering had been ongoing for two days. This youth had once crossed paths with Jian Chou and had even seen through the Ghost Ax hidden between her brows at a glance. At that time, Ghost Ax had shown unusual movement…

Even without knowing his identity, Jian Chou had already had vague suspicions.

Moreover, she had later seen this person among the Fengmo Sword Sect group, and combined with people’s discussions, she knew this youth who had never made a move was the most unexpected dark horse of this gathering besides herself.

However, Jian Chou never expected that Qi Shaofeng would be so unlucky as to encounter Xia Houshe.

Looking at the current situation, it didn’t seem like Qi Shaofeng had actively challenged someone else. Rather, there was an eight or nine out of ten chance that Xia Houshe had come up, causing him to be on guard.

Though Qu Zhengfeng said nothing, his gaze directed straight at this spot clearly informed Jian Chou: this was where the situation lay.

Jian Chou was truly very curious about the strength of this “second” ranked person.

Her current ranking of first with merely Foundation Establishment cultivation was really quite unreasonable. But Xia Houshe was genuinely mid-Core Formation, without any water mixed in. Just what kind of abilities did he possess?

Since the time limit for ascending the Heaven-Reaching Platform was one hour, Jian Chou simply wasn’t in a hurry. With more than half an hour to spare, she decided to just stand here and watch rather than go up.

Jian Chou’s return, Lu Xiangleng’s appearance seemingly no longer weak, Jian Chou not going up but just watching from below…

All of this indeed stirred up quite a bit of discussion.

However, soon everyone’s attention, like Jian Chou’s, was entirely focused on this Heaven-Reaching Platform.

Fengmo Sword Sect’s Xia Houshe’s first strike!

Obviously, this was the key point.

Under all these gazes, Qi Shaofeng was clearly not very comfortable.

However, what made him even more uncomfortable was the expressionless face of the youth standing opposite him.

Gloomy qi wound around his brows and eyes, making even this delicate, handsome face become hard to fathom.

Xia Houshe’s gaze was also without warmth – cold.

After ascending the platform, he didn’t make a move, just stood there with his hands hanging down.

The prolonged standoff of “if the enemy doesn’t move, I don’t move” had everyone’s hearts in their throats.

How could they just not move?

This couldn’t continue.

Qi Shaofeng gritted his teeth and directly stepped forward, raising his hand to draw his sword.

He wielded a bright yellow long sword called “Tiande.” As he raised it, three rays of light condensed from the air and attached to the sword body, whooshing across the entire blade and gathering at the sword tip as he struck.

These three rays of light were called the Three Talents qi. Once gathered together, they immediately burst forth with a dazzling strong light, striking toward the left side of the dark red robed youth’s chest!

The sword momentum was swift – the Tiande sword was about to pierce Xia Houshe’s chest!

The watching crowd felt their vision blur. Xia Houshe’s hand, which had been tucked in his sleeve, grabbed at empty air. Ripple-like waves immediately appeared in the air, and he casually pulled out a completely black long sword.

When the pale youth’s pale hand holding the sword was revealed, the crowd couldn’t tell whether it was the hand gripping the sword or the sword leading the hand!

His person and his sword seemed to have merged into one!

The Yashan group below almost instantly showed expressions of disbelief.

Yashan disciples always used swords, so they could feel more clearly than ordinary people –

Man and sword united!

Just in the instant he drew his sword, it was already clear!

Xia Houshe’s gaze withdrew from Qi Shaofeng’s body. His originally emotionless stare, when it fell back on the black sword, seemed to gain a rare trace of human warmth.

He gazed at the sword like he was looking at his most beloved woman, with a kind of bone-deep tenderness and lingering affection.

Qi Shaofeng’s Tiande sword had already reached him.

Xia Houshe’s eyelashes trembled slightly. Finally raising his head again, facing the charging Qi Shaofeng, he curled his lips.

A mocking, disdainful smile!

Mocking an ant trying to shake a tree – how easy could it be!

Mocking a mantis trying to stop a chariot – such lack of self-awareness!

His wrist turned, and in that instant there seemed to be lightning and thunder circling his wrist. A section of black sword light suddenly rose as he slashed down with his sword!

In this moment, Xia Houshe seemed to transform into the black sword in his palm, becoming a fierce god!

Clang!

An extremely precise sword strike!

Sword tip against sword tip, with overwhelming force, the instant he struck, he pressed the Tiande sword firmly backward!

The Tiande sword’s flexible blade immediately bent, and the sword qi originally gathered on the blade shattered as it curved!

Bang!

Qi Shaofeng’s wrist shook violently. He felt this sword strike was truly terrifying in its power – steady, precise, ruthless, and overflowing with fierce qi. He was forced to retreat one step under this unstoppable momentum!

Just one step, and he had already lost this battle!

The two swords were originally in a deadlock, but Qi Shaofeng’s retreat had already weakened him by thirty percent!

A glimmer flashed in Xia Houshe’s eyes. His wrist shook again, and in that instant he urged the black sword forward, its light blazing!

Sword intent struck!

Qi Shaofeng seemed to feel the strong will carried by this sword itself, or perhaps the will that Xia Houshe had imbued in it!

This sword had spirit!

The moment Xia Houshe urged the black sword forward for the second time, Qi Shaofeng felt he could barely hold onto the Tiande sword.

It was trembling!

It was afraid!

Crack!

The black sword advanced another inch instead of retreating.

The Tiande sword shuddered, and the Three Talents light at its tip suddenly exploded!

Crack!

The black sword advanced a second inch!

Crack!

Fine cracks appeared on the Tiande sword’s blade!

Qi Shaofeng had the illusion that the Tiande sword would slip from his hands and fly toward Xia Houshe.

With the sword body already damaged and now experiencing this strange feeling, Qi Shaofeng had no attention to spare for anything else.

Just at this moment, the black sword advanced a third inch!

Overwhelming, irresistible vast power immediately struck!

Bang!

Half of Qi Shaofeng’s body was struck by the tremendous force brought by this black sword, like a reef on the shore being hit by wild waves.

The Tiande sword immediately became impossible to hold steady and flew backward!

Qi Shaofeng’s flushed face instantly turned deathly pale. Like a small boat, he was directly sent flying by this tremendous force!

Complete silence!

Behind him were countless people. His meridians were severely shaken, and he could no longer mobilize even the slightest bit of spiritual qi. He was about to crash disgracefully to the ground.

But at this moment, a gentle, overwhelming force fell on his back.

Qu Zhengfeng stood in front, extending his palm and lightly grasping toward Qi Shaofeng who had been sent flying into mid-air.

A palm seemed to materialize in the void, catching Qi Shaofeng’s shoulder.

That overwhelming tremendous force was lightly waved away by Qu Zhengfeng’s hand, disappearing completely.

His face showed no expression as he helped Qi Shaofeng land gently nearby.

“Pah!”

Almost the moment his feet touched the ground, Qi Shaofeng immediately spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, staining his clothes red!

“Junior Brother Qi!”

Shen Jiu and the others were immediately alarmed and rushed forward.

Qu Zhengfeng stood in place without moving, just watching quietly. Jian Chou also stood in place without moving, her eyes carrying an indescribable expression.

Two swords, three inches!

Defeating Yashan’s Qi Shaofeng!

On the Heaven-Reaching Platform, Xia Houshe’s figure didn’t move. He didn’t seem to think that shattering Qi Shaofeng’s long sword was anything particularly vicious.

He simply shifted his gaze from Qi Shaofeng to focus on Qu Zhengfeng, seemingly studying him for a long while. The mocking smile at his lips didn’t retract at all.

Then his gaze fell on Jian Chou.

In that moment, the feeling of being seen through and understood appeared again in Jian Chou’s heart.

She could clearly feel his gaze fall on her brow.

Indeed…

He had seen that ax again.

Then Xia Houshe smiled at Jian Chou, and the blood line carved between his brows suddenly became richer in color, bright as fresh blood!

This confrontation full of sparks and lightning naturally fell into everyone’s eyes, including Qu Zhengfeng’s.

Everyone was speculating – under such pointed hostility, what would happen if the Yashan group encountered Xia Houshe?

Qi Shaofeng’s face was deathly pale, carrying some defeat and dejection.

The youth originally full of vigor and vitality now seemed as weak as a decrepit old man. The Tiande sword that had flown back to his hand was covered in terrifying cracks!

If a sword had accompanied a cultivator for a long time, besides being handy, there was often a spiritual connection.

When the long sword was damaged, how could the cultivator remain unharmed?

Qi Shaofeng’s figure was dejected, nearly collapsing to the ground.

Shen Jiu reached out to support him, his expression already darkened. He channeled gentle spiritual power and fed Qi Shaofeng two pills, saying: “Junior Brother Qi, calm your mind and regulate your breathing.”

The pills entered his mouth and immediately dissolved.

But Qi Shaofeng looked back at the high Heaven-Reaching Platform.

In the end, was he too weak, or was his opponent too strong?

Fengmo Sword Sect had produced a truly frightening monster this year.

Everything was just the tip of the iceberg.

Qi Shaofeng wiped his sleeve across his lips to remove the blood traces, his voice broken and intermittent due to weakness.

“Even if I had given my all, I couldn’t have defeated him. My sword… wouldn’t obey me…”

Hearing this, Jian Chou’s entire body trembled.

She immediately looked toward Qi Shaofeng, but he seemed to have murmured these words unconsciously before directly closing his eyes, sitting cross-legged in place to regulate his breathing, absorbing the gentle medicine power and repairing his injuries.

Qu Zhengfeng’s gaze swept across Jian Chou.

He said: “This person’s cultivation method is quite strange. If Senior Sister faces him in the future, you must be careful. As the Master of Ten Thousand Weapons, he naturally won’t only know swords.”

“…”

It was rare to hear Qu Zhengfeng speak.

The moment his words came out, Shen Jiu looked over in surprise: Earlier, when they asked him to compile a booklet for Senior Sister, he was the one unwilling to do it, and now he was the one speaking up to add reminders. What exactly do you want?

However, Jian Chou naturally didn’t know this.

Hearing Qu Zhengfeng’s words, she nodded gravely and pondered these words for a moment, saying: “I once had a brief encounter with this person. He saw my ax at a glance and seemed very interested.”

“It seems a battle is inevitable sooner or later.”

Qu Zhengfeng slightly raised his eyebrows, smiling warmly.

Jian Chou was noncommittal and nodded.

Victory and defeat were common in military affairs. Although everyone felt this Fengmo Sword Sect’s Xia Houshe was too ruthless and cunning, leaving no room for mercy, losing was still losing. No matter how much Yashan disliked Xia Houshe, they could only endure it.

Only Wu Duan sighed meaningfully: “This kid is going to be unlucky.”

Hopefully he won’t be beaten too badly afterward.

To dare ascend the Heaven-Reaching Platform without even hearing the Left Three Thousand small gathering’s strange tales, and to directly injure a Yashan cultivator… tsk tsk…

Truly a young person with fiery spirit.

Wu Duan shook his head, learning some sarcastic tones from somewhere, actually saying: “Looking at them makes me feel old…”

Inexplicable.

The Yashan group secretly rolled their eyes and ignored him.

Jian Chou also felt this statement seemed to imply something, but didn’t think deeply about it.

The battle between Xia Houshe and Qi Shaofeng was decided in just two breaths, with an enormous gap in strength.

Moreover, because Qi Shaofeng, who had fought him, was severely injured, in the following half hour, not a single person dared to challenge him!

The might of one sword – to such an extent!

Now even Xia Houshe had made his move. With Jian Chou’s and Young Master Ruhua’s two Heaven-Reaching Platforms still suspended above, among the remaining people, who else hadn’t acted?

Kunwu had a full three disciples ranked in the top ten this time.

Besides Xie Buchen, who had never appeared, Gu Qingmei also soon took the stage.

However, unlike her high spirits on the first day, her face seemed to carry some confusion and deeply hidden anxiety. After easily defeating a cultivator, she seemed to have no desire to advance further. If no one came up to challenge her, she wouldn’t move.

And Xie Ding, who had previously been defeated by Jian Chou, had been on a Heaven-Reaching Platform early today.

Yesterday, Xie Ding had already picked a new Heaven-Reaching Platform to defend. Perhaps because he had been taught a harsh lesson by Jian Chou the first day, this time he had restrained that arrogant, domineering attitude. Even when he won, he didn’t speak much.

Besides Jian Chou and Qi Shaofeng, Yashan had another person ranked ninth – Tang Wansheng.

Dressed in purple, he indeed had an imposing presence that none could match. In the first two days of Heaven-Reaching Platform battles, he had remained undefeated. Most who challenged him were of medium level, and without exception, they were all knocked off the platform.

Jian Chou looked across the remaining 116 Heaven-Reaching Platforms one by one.

Longmen’s Zhou Chengjiang – she knew his strength well;

Tongling Pavilion’s He Jiuyi – once defeated by her, could be finished with one leg strike, no real threat;

Jianzhu Sect’s Xu Lan’er – her use of Lanyuan strike was indeed masterful, but Jian Chou was very interested in her unusual explosive growth in strength.

If she remembered correctly, she still had two old grudges with Jianzhu Sect.

Speaking of which, after leaving Black Wind Cave, she had been rushing and had forgotten to ask what happened to that Jianzhu Sect female cultivator who died unjustly in Black Wind Cave.

Later, the melon-eating youth Xiao Jin, just as Jian Chou was paying attention to him, was challenged by someone.

No different from the beginning, one punch thrown out – pure, terrifying power without any flourish, directly smashing his opponent like a sandbag!

Um, didn’t he know any other moves?

Jian Chou sighed inwardly.

Over there, on the twenty-first western platform, was Wuyi Sect’s Tao Zhang.

Perhaps because of the contrast with his eccentric fellow disciple Young Master Ruhua, like everyone else, Jian Chou actually felt Tao Zhang looked like a normal person. Besides striking too ruthlessly and often making opponents bleed, he seemed to have no other faults.

There was also that spear-wielder who had been accidentally injured by her, Fang Dachui, who had also changed positions. He seemed to think the area near Jian Chou’s Heaven-Reaching Platform was too dangerous and had moved to a more distant location. His spear work was masterful, earning waves of cheers from below.

Uh…

That guy with the long staff, looking imposing but sporting two small mustaches – wasn’t that Qian Que?

Where had his golden abacus gone?

Jian Chou couldn’t help but wonder.

Unable to figure it out, she simply didn’t think about it.

Looking elsewhere, she saw Wuwang Zhai’s Junior Sister Nie Xiaowan easily defeat her opponent. Though her face showed timidity, her strikes were not hesitant at all.

Fengmo Sword Sect’s Zhang Sui also occupied a position, though he was currently struggling in battle.

These were all within Jian Chou’s expectations.

What was unexpected was seeing Jianzhu Sect disciples Jiang Ling and Zhou Baozhu, who had once visited Yashan, standing on the same Heaven-Reaching Platform.

Tsk!

Fellow disciples fighting each other!

Jian Chou immediately raised her eyebrows with interest and looked over.

She didn’t know if that day’s visit to Yashan had planted seeds of hatred between the two.

Zhou Baozhu struck particularly ruthlessly, showing no mercy in her attacks.

Outsiders watching might think these two were great enemies, only to learn they were actually fellow disciples “fighting each other,” immediately clicking their tongues.

Jiang Ling was forced into a difficult position by Zhou Baozhu’s sword, with nowhere to retreat. Finally, she asked Zhou Baozhu: “Senior Sister Zhou, why do you press me so hard?”

“Press you?”

Zhou Baozhu laughed coldly: “On the Heaven-Reaching Platform, of course I must press you!”

As her words fell, she swept out with a fierce sword!

Jiang Ling’s shoulder was immediately grazed by her sword, blood flowing freely!

Two delicate girls fighting like this without mercy was truly eye-opening.

Currently, Jiang Ling was at a disadvantage…

However…

Jian Chou recalled how that day, when Jiang Ling had directly stood in front of Zhou Baozhu, facing herself on the Sword Drawing Platform, the strength and determination that had appeared on her face. She felt that Jiang Ling’s hidden character shouldn’t be so weak.

Sure enough, just as this thought appeared in Jian Chou’s mind.

Jiang Ling seemed to have been pushed to her limit. After hearing Zhou Baozhu say “there are no fellow disciples on the Heaven-Reaching Platform,” she finally gritted her teeth. Her long sword swayed, and despite blood flowing from her shoulder, she couldn’t be stopped from delivering a nearly stunning Lanyuan strike!

Bang!

Zhou Baozhu, who had been showing off moments before, was directly struck by her sword, sent flying backward and landing on the ground in a sorry state!

The one spitting blood became Zhou Baozhu.

She widened her eyes, almost unable to believe as she looked at Jiang Ling on the Heaven-Reaching Platform: “You, you…”

After “you-ing” for a long time without getting anything out, Zhou Baozhu was both angry and injured by her own sect’s Lanyuan strike. She rolled her eyes and fainted directly.

Below the platform, there was immediately an uproar.

“Hey, this Jianzhu Sect is really interesting.”

“Fellow disciples striking each other so ruthlessly…”

“Unbelievable.”

“Tsk tsk…”

…

“Even a cornered rabbit will bite…”

Let alone that underneath wasn’t a weak rabbit at all.

She showed responsibility at crucial moments, her character countless times better than the likes of Xu Lan’er.

If Jianzhu Sect were all people like Jiang Ling, why worry about not being able to rank among the upper five?

Qu Zhengfeng, standing beside her, heard this and glanced at her lightly, only saying: “Besides Xu Lan’er, Jianzhu Sect is almost uniformly weak. If Senior Sister has leisure, you might as well look at those two over there.”

“Hmm?”

After looking at Jiang Ling, Jian Chou had already seen Shang Liaofan, a Jianzhu Sect disciple she had encountered in Black Wind Cave, secretly thinking their numbers were quite good this year. Just as this thought arose, she heard Qu Zhengfeng’s words and was immediately curious.

Two people?

Qu Zhengfeng casually pointed over.

Jian Chou looked up and immediately felt her scalp explode: Zuo Liu?!

That guy holding an old little sheepskin booklet and a writing brush, his face full of lewd qi – Jian Chou had seen him twice before. Each time he held something aloft, shouting “Fellow daoist, please sign and leave a spiritual consciousness imprint!” – that Zuo Liu!

That guy…

Whom Zhou Chengjiang avoided at all costs.

This time, standing opposite him with an expression of “why aren’t there any walls around for me to crash into and die,” was a cultivator Jian Chou had never seen before.

Dressed in black and white patchwork clothing, with a deadpan face, he seemed quite old with many unshaven blue stubble on his chin, looking somewhat slovenly. However, his bearing gave off a decadent, down-and-out feeling.

He had a string of small iron plaques hanging from his waist, each seemingly carved with something.

Currently, he held an iron plaque between his fingers, looking at his opponent with an expression of complete life despair.

“I told you, even rascals have their spring! Don’t underestimate me! Come, come, come, let’s fight another round. Your iron talisman is so interesting!”

The excited voice maintained its perverted air, but his eyes were already full of keen interest.

He rubbed his hands together, making the sheepskin booklet and brush disappear. Then he pulled his hands apart, and a narrow black wind blade formed as his palms slowly separated!

A full three feet!

The wind blade was like a crescent moon!

Seeing this wind blade, Jian Chou immediately showed a shocked expression!

“He!”

“Black Wind Cave.”

Qu Zhengfeng had already guessed what Jian Chou was thinking. Since he knew Jian Chou had successfully refined Black Wind Bone Patterns, he naturally knew she must have noticed the countless inscriptions on the hundred-foot cliff in Black Wind Cave.

That cultivator full of perverted qi who kept claiming to have many admirers was none other than that eccentric fellow who had chased Zhou Chengjiang in, claiming he would reveal the person ahead was Zhou Chengjiang even if he vomited blood!

Even…

Later, after comprehending the wind blade in Black Wind Cave, he had run ahead of Zhou Chengjiang.

Jian Chou still remembered the moment she saw that inscription, she was suddenly filled with sympathy for Zhou Chengjiang.

“It really is him…”

She had suspected it before, and now with Qu Zhengfeng’s confirmation and seeing that wind blade, what didn’t Jian Chou understand?

However…

Why did she look at this wind blade’s size and feel that his comprehended wind blade seemed different from hers, and apparently larger, seemingly much more outstanding?

At this moment, she seemed to taste Zhou Chengjiang’s subtle feelings from the past.

“His opponent is a disciple from Shenling, ranked sixth this time. It’s said he’s over thirty, only entering the immortal path through the Nineteen States after suffering from love, named Wei Lin.”

While Jian Chou was in a daze, Qu Zhengfeng seemingly casually dropped another bombshell!

Sixth, Shenling, Wei Lin!

Jian Chou felt her scalp tingle…

Black Wind Cave could surpass Zhou Chengjiang, and now?

In the field.

This battle began to reverse in a way no one could have imagined.

Zuo Liu’s wind blade actually cleaved out directly, blocking a sword qi that Wei Lin had activated from his iron talisman. Though it was chopped to pieces, the remaining sword qi could no longer threaten him.

Whoosh!

The residual sword qi struck Zuo Liu’s flesh and blood, immediately causing blood to flow freely!

Wei Lin frowned, quite helpless.

He hadn’t wanted to use his trump card so quickly.

Shenling ranked only moderately among the Left Three Thousand, unable to compare with the talent-rich “Upper Five,” but had once had disciples win first place at previous small gatherings and ascend the single platform alone.

Though it was said that after coming down from the single platform, they were immediately beaten beyond recognition.

Regardless, Shenling had some foundation.

This sect’s cultivation focus was on the string of iron plaques hanging from his waist, called “Thousand Mechanisms Iron Talismans.” They could serve as magical artifacts with myriad transformations, store techniques for emergency use, and when placed on the ground, form arrays – truly a three-in-one item, unique to the Nineteen States.

Starting cultivation in his thirties was indeed quite late, but Wei Lin’s achievements with the Thousand Mechanisms Iron Talismans were truly astonishing.

Generally, Foundation Establishment cultivators could refine three pieces, Core Formation cultivators could have six, but Wei Lin was currently only at early Core Formation yet already possessed a full string – twenty-seven pieces!

Originally, like everyone else, he planned not to expose too much of his strength in the early stages of the Left Three Thousand small gathering.

But unexpectedly…

He had encountered such an oddball.

With the Thousand Mechanisms Iron Talismans deployed, Wei Lin showed no more mercy. Even though he had covered his opponent in blood, he acted as if he saw nothing, slapping the clanging string of iron talismans at his waist to produce another iron talisman.

However, just as he was about to activate the second sword qi stored in the iron talisman.

An astonishing scene appeared!

Zuo Liu actually stroked his chin and pondered for a while, as if trapped in some unsolvable puzzle. Then suddenly his eyes lit up, and he snapped his fingers with a “snap”: “The rascal’s spring! I thought of it again!”

The rascal’s spring?

What the hell?

Thought of it?

Thought of what?

Wei Lin was completely baffled!

Then…

Zuo Liu paid no attention to Wei Lin’s expression opposite him. Cheerfully, he pulled out a narrow wind blade, then squeezed with both hands. The wind blade immediately transformed, and in an instant, sword qi crisscrossed!

Boom!

One sword fell!

Directly chopping Wei Lin to the ground!

Wei Lin was dumbfounded.

Everyone below was also dumbfounded: What the hell! What’s going on!

Zuo Liu didn’t feel he had done anything shocking at all, just excitedly danced with joy.

“Hahaha, I comprehended it! But it seems there’s still a tiny bit lacking. Senior Wei Lin, come again, come again, just that sword qi from before!”

Wei Lin, who had just gotten up from the ground, heard this and his expression darkened.

He indeed slapped his waist and released a fire dragon!

You want it, I’ll give it to you!

Everyone was startled, then began gloating.

Though they didn’t know how that odd youth had comprehended it, everyone thought it was just coincidence.

Now Wei Lin had unhesitatingly switched to a fire dragon – let’s see what you do now!

Everyone’s expressions relaxed, not believing this unknown person could defeat Wei Lin.

However…

Jian Chou’s expression was completely opposite.

“Eh, Senior, that’s not it!”

Zuo Liu cried out the moment he discovered the fire dragon.

“Roar!”

With a strange cry, he was directly blown by the fire dragon, losing half his outer robe and revealing the patched-up tattered clothes underneath…

“Pah…”

He spat out a mouthful of black smoke.

Zuo Liu stared wide-eyed at Wei Lin opposite him and blinked.

Then he fell into thought again, then snapped his fingers again—

“Snap!”

A nightmarish finger snap!

“Senior, was that move like this?”

Boom!

A huge fire dragon flew out from between Zuo Liu’s palms!

Holy shit!

What evil spirit did I encounter when I left home this morning?!

Wei Lin almost had the urge to curse wildly!

Hastily slapping his Thousand Mechanisms Iron Talismans, he summoned a bright light shield and unhesitatingly hid behind the three-zhang-high shield.

The huge fire dragon rushed over, was blocked outside the bright light shield, and finally scattered in all directions.

Wei Lin was in a sorry state.

Refusing to believe this evil, he switched to a more powerful Thousand Mechanisms Iron Talisman and again activated a surging palm force!

Poor Zuo Liu was directly blasted to the ground!

“This one seems quite powerful…”

“Boom!”

The second palm arrived!

“Ow ow ow ow!” Zuo Liu wailed like a ghost.

“Boom!”

The third palm arrived!

“It hurts so much, roar, the rascal’s spring has come again, I think I know now!”

After a miserable scream, Zuo Liu snapped another evil finger.

“Snap!”

“Is it like this?!”

“Boom!”

One palm! Surging and overwhelming!

Wei Lin spat out a mouthful of fresh blood!

Again!

New Thousand Mechanisms Iron Talismans, swish swish swish, seven pieces gone in the blink of an eye!

And Zuo Liu…

“Spring! Is it like this?”

“Is this move like this?”

“What about this one?”

“Senior, look how I perform this move! Is it like this?”

“Or like this?”

“Hey Senior, do that one from before again, I think something’s not quite right.”

…

“Senior, hey, Senior, why are you leaving!”

Zuo Liu was counting on his fingers which part of the move he just comprehended was wrong, when he saw Wei Lin opposite him wipe the blood from his face and actually turn to leave!

“Hey hey hey! Senior Wei Lin, don’t go! I really admire you, you’re my 1,369th person I admire, leave a signature, leave a spiritual consciousness imprint!”

As his words fell, he unhesitatingly left the Heaven-Reaching Platform directly, chasing after Wei Lin!

Wei Lin had just found a Heaven-Reaching Platform and was preparing to go up.

If I can’t provoke you, can’t I avoid you?

Unexpectedly, Zuo Liu actually followed from behind!

Damn it, how is this supposed to work?!

Wei Lin finally confirmed: indeed encountered something evil!

He unhesitatingly turned around again—

I’m running!

Two figures immediately began running and flying across these 116 Heaven-Reaching Platforms, chasing each other…

So fast, only two afterimages remained.

Speechless – everyone who witnessed this battle was speechless!

In the corner, Zhilin Sou chewed on his carving knife for a while.

At first, though he knew Baiyue Valley had privately asked the Upper Five and even Kunwu and Yashan about Ice Vine Jade Essence, he hadn’t thought of ground scorpion poison. Baiyue Valley’s Medicine Woman was a pity. But just after he had moved her out of the top hundred, she came back with rosy, lustrous cheeks?

What is this all about!

You people changing back and forth like this – do you have any shame?

Just as he was fuming in his heart, he looked up and saw that absolutely insane scene.

Wei Lin…

Zuo Liu?

In that instant, Zhilin Sou had the urge to break the carving knife in his hand, smash his notes, and just go home to tend donkeys!

The entire venue was dumbfounded, immersed in indescribable shock, unable to extract themselves.

Jian Chou at least had some mental preparation, but even she hadn’t expected it to be this heaven-defying.

No wonder Qu Zhengfeng told her to pay attention…

The two who had just fought, whether Wei Lin or the demonic Zuo Liu, were both terrifyingly strong.

Jian Chou had somewhat experienced the unpredictable changes of the Thousand Mechanisms Iron Talismans.

Qu Zhengfeng sighed: “There are many favored by heaven…”

“He should still be without sect or school.”

Jian Chou suddenly added.

In this instant, Qu Zhengfeng suddenly turned to look at her, his gaze carrying some scrutiny: “That’s a good idea.”

However…

Was such an oddball really suitable for Yashan?

Just thinking of him holding things, chasing people all over the mountains for signatures and spiritual consciousness imprints, Jian Chou felt a throbbing pain in her temples.

The time was almost up.

Though Jian Chou had watched so many people, she hadn’t lingered much longer. She glanced at Lu Xiangleng, who was now standing on a nearby Heaven-Reaching Platform. She saw a point of purple-gold light rise as Lu Xiangleng also looked over.

The two met eyes and each smiled slightly.

Jian Chou turned back to Qu Zhengfeng and the Yashan group: “The one-hour limit is about to pass. I’ll go up first.”

“Senior Sister, go ahead!”

Shen Jiu immediately shouted energetically.

Qu Zhengfeng only nodded lightly.

Since the Liwai Mirror wasn’t yet repaired and Jian Chou temporarily didn’t plan to reveal Ghost Ax in front of Gu Qingmei, she directly stepped into the incoming wind. In an instant, she rose with the wind, momentarily tracing a startling silhouette across the sky before gracefully landing.

Thus, amazement filled the ground.

Lu Xiangleng watched with indescribable admiration.

Her opponent had also been standing opposite for a long time.

Lu Xiangleng curtsied politely, her voice gentle and calm: “Baiyue Valley’s Lu Xiangleng, please instruct me.”

Jian Chou landed on the largest Heaven-Reaching Platform, watching the battles below.

Lu Xiangleng, having recovered some strength, chose an ordinary opponent and won in a moderate, unremarkable way. There seemed nothing special except for that point of purple-gold light, which seemed different from ordinary people’s cultivated spiritual power.

Probably due to her unique cultivation method.

She wondered…

In the future, would she encounter Lu Xiangleng?

If so, that would be interesting.

Below her Heaven-Reaching Platform was immense liveliness, but no one could challenge Jian Chou.

It was utterly boring…

She could only take out the small booklet and, taking advantage of the current opportunity, match the names in the booklet with each person below, while observing their battles – preparing for future contingencies.

When the sun reached its zenith, Wei Lin, who had been in pursuit the entire time, finally couldn’t bear it anymore.

If this chase continued, who knew when it would end!

He decisively landed on a Heaven-Reaching Platform, knocked off the original cultivator, then directly deployed a terrifyingly powerful Thousand Mechanisms Iron Talisman, activating an amazing blade qi that happened to match Zuo Liu’s wind blade.

Thus, after just three times, Zuo Liu immediately comprehended something and performed it!

The prepared Wei Lin unhesitatingly withdrew and retreated, leaving the blade qi’s attack range!

When he retreated, the Heaven-Reaching Platform behind him was exposed.

Boom!

A series of explosions!

Under Zuo Liu’s surprised gaze, that blade qi actually struck the cultivator on the opposite Heaven-Reaching Platform from afar.

The unlucky cultivator was directly knocked flying – it was Fang Dachui again!

“Holy hell, how is it me again!”

Previously, Jian Chou’s kick had him bearing the brunt and immediately affected; he thought he was safe now and wouldn’t encounter monsters like Jian Chou again. Who knew that with the fake fight next door, a bad-hearted Wei Lin appeared!

He had no time to react and was directly chopped down.

The Heaven-Reaching Platform he had worked so hard to defend actually moved toward Zuo Liu’s side!

Boom!

The third time!

Two Heaven-Reaching Platforms merged into one, slowly rising thirty zhang higher.

Zuo Liu standing on the Heaven-Reaching Platform was also somewhat dumbfounded. Within his field of vision, another Heaven-Reaching Platform gradually appeared, then a flower platform placed on the Heaven-Reaching Platform, and finally…

A languid figure reclining among the platform full of fragrant flowers.

In that instant, Zuo Liu’s legs went weak!

Young Master Ruhua propped up his head, staring at Zuo Liu in an absolutely enchanting posture.

Zuo Liu hastily waved his hands desperately, scared pale: “Young Young Young Young Young Young Master Ruhua! This this this this this little person absolutely means no offense! I I I I I I don’t admire you at all, don’t want to fight you!”

“Hmm?”

A light hum.

Young Master Ruhua squinted, leaving only a slit of his eyes, watching Zuo Liu.

“Does this young master look so hideous?”

“Yes… no no no no yes my ass!”

Zuo Liu almost wanted to cry himself unconscious on the Heaven-Reaching Platform.

Chasing Senior Wei Lin all over the mountain, who would have thought he’d be schemed into coming here? Now he couldn’t go down to chase Senior Wei Lin, and had no way to rush to his neighbor’s Heaven-Reaching Platform for signatures and spiritual consciousness imprints.

The person before him was a Wuyi Sect disciple who styled himself Jingyang Palace’s Young Master Ruhua – the “Young Master Ruhua” who left writing on cave walls!

Zuo Liu shrank to the side, afraid the other would attack him.

He wasn’t into men!

Young Master Ruhua silently watched him for a long time. After quite a while, he suddenly laughed heartily several times.

Each time he laughed, Zuo Liu shuddered once.

Fortunately, after laughing, Young Master Ruhua lazily said: “Looking at you all skinny, this young master has no interest. I’ll spare you.”

Thank heaven and earth!

Zuo Liu was almost moved to tears, silently holding his sheepskin booklet and brush, beginning to pretend he didn’t exist.

Only then did Wei Lin below breathe a sigh of relief, secretly cursing his bad luck. He easily chose one of the remaining Heaven-Reaching Platforms and finally settled down, no longer needing to run around or worry about that damn pervert chasing him again.

Wei Lin relaxed, but Jian Chou felt tipsy.

Finished…

On the merged Heaven-Reaching Platform below, one was the third-ranked Young Master Ruhua with extremely strange temperament, the other was the currently unranked but already proven perverted strength Zuo Liu.

With these two there, she’d have to sit until today ended.

People who had witnessed Young Master Ruhua’s bizarre temperament wouldn’t want to fight him; people who had witnessed Zuo Liu’s perverted abilities wouldn’t want to fight him either.

These two people sixty zhang high also weren’t fighting each other.

No one below would go up to court such bad luck.

Even those who originally wanted to go up had given up the idea.

Day rose and set.

A day that was extremely exciting for others finally moved toward its end.

A day that was extremely boring and abnormally torturous for Jian Chou also finally moved toward its end.

As dusk gathered on all sides, very few people in the field were still fighting.

Jian Chou surveyed in all directions, calculating in her heart.

For a moment, not seeing that person, she felt somewhat regretful.

Jiang Wenchao wasn’t here?

Below, Tongling Pavilion’s He Jiuyi also surveyed the circle at this final moment.

Nothing.

That person hadn’t come.

The stone that had been weighing on his heart seemed to finally settle.

He Jiuyi breathed a light sigh of relief and turned to look toward the mountain top—

The red sun was falling; today was about to end.

“Was Junior Brother He just looking for me?”

A light voice suddenly sounded behind him.

He Jiuyi’s body immediately stiffened.

He turned around and saw only a maple-red figure. Under this setting western sun, it seemed to be ignited, like a Vermillion Bird bathed in fire!

Jiang Wenchao!

“You still came after all…”

He Jiuyi’s expression was gloomy. Almost instantly, he summoned his battle disc, poised for action.

Jiang Wenchao laughed and said: “Jiang is but a waste. Junior Brother He needn’t be so nervous. I rarely hold grudges.”

As his words fell, his feet also touched ground.

He Jiuyi unhesitatingly moved his five fingers toward the Dao Seals in his battle disc, but the next moment he discovered something abnormal.

Heat…

Like being roasted by fierce fire.

He Jiuyi felt a sticky, scorching heat rising from his feet, almost instantly burning throughout his body!

Looking down in shock, beneath his feet was actually a sheet of fiery red magma!

Looking from below, where Jiang Wenchao and He Jiuyi stood, the Heaven-Reaching Platform had entirely transformed into molten rock, all fiery red!

Young Master Ruhua, who had been reclining on his flower platform, suddenly sat up!

Xia Houshe, who had been quietly sitting and regulating his breathing, opened his eyes. For the first time, his gloomy gaze showed a sharp light.

Zhou Chengjiang, Lu Xiangleng, Wei Lin, Gu Qingmei…

Countless people all looked over in shock!

Including Jian Chou.

The moment she noticed Jiang Wenchao appearing on the Heaven-Reaching Platform, she had already stood up, quietly watching.

Vermillion Bird…

Jiang Wenchao?

The genius who had disappeared from everyone’s sight for thirty years had reappeared.

Perhaps some people had forgotten him, but there were always a few with good memories.

Zhilin Sou knew everyone he had ever ranked like the back of his hand.

Suddenly seeing Jiang Wenchao now, he actually felt tears of an old man: seeing genius emerge to shock the world, then seeing genius fade into obscurity and disappear, even scorned as waste – his heart could never be at peace!

He hadn’t expected to have the chance to see Jiang Wenchao return to prominence today!

Change!

Without hesitation, he crossed out Young Master Ruhua’s name and added “Jiang Wenchao”!

In the field.

He Jiuyi was filled with shock.

His entry time was definitely not as long as Jiang Wenchao’s, yet he had seen him struggling within the sect, usually subject to much insult and mockery. What he found hardest to bear was the regretful expressions of sect elders when they mentioned this person.

A genius who died halfway – did that deserve to be called a genius?

Then what was he, He Jiuyi?

Jealousy and hatred were thus born.

But he absolutely hadn’t expected he would have such a day…

His feet trapped in magma, almost instantly feeling burning pain.

Even with spiritual qi protecting his body, he couldn’t resist the molten rock’s scorching!

A blood-red battle disc, two zhang and three chi, spun and rotated above this blazing magma.

Fiery red light emanated from the battle disc beneath Jiang Wenchao’s feet, immediately climbing along the magma to wrap around He Jiuyi!

No power to resist!

Jiang Wenchao’s seemingly ordinary strike was absolutely deadly!

That red light wrapped around He Jiuyi’s neck. He desperately reached out to pry it off but couldn’t break free no matter what.

A feeling of suffocation.

Jiang Wenchao stepped forward, seemingly looking at him with emotion, then extended his large, rough palm to directly grab He Jiuyi’s neck!

Below the platform, the Tongling Pavilion group witnessed this scene with bone-chilling terror!

Thirty years of hardship – how many fair-weather friends were there?

But he had a dragon-tiger body, his spirit could commune with the Vermillion Bird. Why bother calculating with a pack of dogs?

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you. I just took a liking to your Heaven-Reaching Platform.”

Jiang Wenchao laughed, lifting He Jiuyi by the neck to the edge of the Heaven-Reaching Platform, letting his feet dangle in air.

Then he gently released his hand!

Thirty zhang height!

Thunderous fall!

He Jiuyi fell like a lifeless stone the moment Jiang Wenchao released his hand!

Bang!

The instant his figure hit the ground, the red sun’s last ray of light finally slowly fell.

The sky full of red sunset glow, like brocade, covered Jiang Wenchao’s entire body.

He stood on that Heaven-Reaching Platform transformed into magma, raising his head to the sky—

This was the evening glow, and also his—

Long-overdue glory!

“Since ancient times, great talents face many tribulations…”

Jian Chou murmured, her mind replaying Jiang Wenchao’s earlier action of lifting someone by the neck and dropping them – seemingly effortless, yet carrying thirty years of hardship!

Standing below earlier, hearing Qu Zhengfeng’s evaluation of Jiang Wenchao, it was absolutely accurate.

“Dong—”

“Dong—”

“Dong—”

Today, not just one sound, but three successive long bell tolls rang from the mountain peak, echoing throughout Kunwu’s boundaries and the Jiutou River bay.

Twilight illuminated everyone standing on the Heaven-Reaching Platforms.

And everyone turned their gaze toward Hengxu Master and Fudao Shanren, who slowly walked down from the mountain path and stood at the mountainside.

Executive Elder Gu Pingsheng, responsible for hosting Kunwu’s affairs, stood below the mountain path and loudly announced: “The Heaven-Reaching Platform selection battle ends! In this 361st small gathering, 115 have seized the single platform!”

Hengxu Master stood high, his gaze sweeping across everyone.

Among them were Central Domain cultivators and deeply hidden cultivators from outer domains, those with righteous hearts and those with ill intentions…

But at this moment, though the light between heaven and earth was dim, it bestowed glory upon them all!

Good or bad.

Heaven and earth treat all equally!

“From this moment, Kunwu knows no clear or rain, cold or heat, day or night, until after the three trials of the main gate, the victor steps alone onto the single platform.”

As Hengxu Master’s words fell, he reached up to grab something from the mountain peak!

A dazzling light was actually grasped in his hand, like a blazing sun!

He opened his five fingers, and that ball of light shot skyward, hanging high in the other end of the night sky. Immediately, it was like sun and moon sharing the sky, light everywhere!

At this moment, looking from outside Jiutou River bay, one could see this patch of heaven and earth was self-contained, as if independent from the entire world.

Legend said Kunwu’s Hengxu Master was the highest cultivation person openly in the Central Domain, truly the righteous path’s leader. Seeing this now…

Indeed formidable.

Jian Chou gazed from afar, feeling the blinding light. The approaching darkness was driven away by this radiance, making the world bright again.

Standing beside Hengxu Master, Fudao Shanren’s gaze carried some complexity.

He also stood with hands behind his back, stroking his chin and laughing: “Not seen for three hundred years, cultivation has reached the transformation realm.”

Hengxu turned back but said nothing.

All rules for this gathering were set by Fudao Shanren. Now, he also walked forward two steps, stood firm, and in full view loudly declared: “The small gathering’s three trials all come from Shanren’s hand. You must have long heard Shanren’s ill reputation and know the path ahead is treacherous.”

“If any feel fear, quickly retreat and leave.”

“Once the three trials begin, there’s no turning back. Only those who advance without retreat can achieve the great dao!”

No one left.

Everyone stood firmly on their respective Heaven-Reaching Platforms.

Fudao Shanren surveyed once, his eyes showing some emotion: “Leaving the Nineteen States for three hundred years, times change and the world transforms, yet our Left Three Thousand small gathering – not one person retreats, unchanging.”

Hengxu Master also rarely showed a smile.

“115 with aspirations, Kunwu has only one single platform.”

“The path ahead is treacherous, with both fortune and tribulation, companions and enemies traveling together.”

“Before the first trial, Shanren will give you all a gift!”

Fudao Shanren spoke word by word, unusually clear, spreading across the wilderness.

As his words fell, the cracked and mottled wooden sword in his hand suddenly appeared.

One sword!

Horizontally across!

The blazing blue light was too intense, momentarily already burning bright as white!

With a thunderous sword strike toward the highest Heaven-Reaching Platform where Jian Chou stood!

Master…

Jian Chou stood dazed in place.

Sword light like raging waves enveloped this Heaven-Reaching Platform.

Within the platform, all was safe and sound.

Three round, full pearls emanating three gentle, warm glows with a tranquil feeling appeared before her.

Outside the Heaven-Reaching Platform, magnificent phenomena were just beginning.

Fudao Shanren’s shocking sword seemed to split open the Heavenly River, with myriad sword waves pouring down!

Starting from Jian Chou’s Heaven-Reaching Platform, flowing downward to the second level with Young Master Ruhua and Zuo Liu, then to the remaining 112 Heaven-Reaching Platforms!

Before everyone appeared three gentle glows, round pearls quietly floating.

Every Heaven-Reaching Platform seemed bathed in Heavenly River water.

Sword waves seemed to cascade down layer upon layer of cliffs, creating waterfall after waterfall, blocking all outside vision and spiritual consciousness exploration.

Fudao Shanren’s voice echoed from high above.

“Three Heart Intent Pearls can seal words, techniques, artifacts, spiritual consciousness – anything one wishes to seal. Words and spiritual consciousness convey messages, artifacts can be exchanged, techniques can be good or evil, healing or attacking…”

“Fellow young friends may seal your respective heart intents in the pearls.”

“After half a quarter hour, 115 people, 345 Heart Intent Pearls will be randomly exchanged.”

“From this moment for half a quarter hour, please seal your heart intents!”

Seal heart intents…

Looking at these three round pearls before her, their gentle light softly flickering in Jian Chou’s eyes.

Could convey messages, attack, heal, exchange artifacts…

But ultimately these three Heart Intent Pearls would gather among 345 pearls, randomly exchanged. Heaven knew whose hands her “heart intent” would reach, heaven knew what kind of “heart intent” she would receive.

Was this the first “gift” Fudao Shanren presented to all those selected?

Fortune and tribulation together, companions and enemies traveling side by side.

Jian Chou vaguely understood the purpose of this action.

Then…

What should she seal?