After staying on the spirit boat for three whole days, Su Zhuyi and the others finally arrived at Sword Mountain.
Sword Mountain lived up to its name—sharp-edged and imposing. From afar, it looked like a sharp sword pointing straight at the heavens. Just looking at it from a distance, one could feel its astonishing aura, as if wielding this sword would allow one to look down upon the world with disdain. The longer one gazed at it, the more one’s heart and spirit would surge, making one want to roar toward the sky. When Su Zhuyi and the others arrived, they heard many wolf-like howling sounds.
These people had truly gone mad.
However, Su Zhuyi was quite pleased to see this Sword Mountain. This sword, pointing at the heavens, wasn’t it wielding a sword against the heavens? That thieving old heaven deserved to be properly stabbed.
In her previous life, she had never come to Sword Mountain.
This was the sacred land in the hearts of all sword cultivators in the world, and it was heavily guarded. She wouldn’t have been foolish enough to come here seeking death, so seeing it now for the first time, she felt quite moved. It was said that the Sword Tomb’s formation was initially because someone buried their beloved treasured sword in the mountain. So was this Sword Mountain’s formation natural or man-made? If it was man-made, then that person wielding a sword toward heaven showed considerable spirit. And this Sword Mountain, standing for millions of years without falling, meant that the person not only had spirit but also great strength—someone who dared to oppose the rules of the Heavenly Dao. She wondered if he had ultimately achieved enlightenment and ascension, breaking free from the Heavenly Dao’s restrictions?
If he truly broke free from the Heavenly Dao, then the path this person walked was the one Su Zhuyi must strive for. She was not tolerated by the Heavenly Dao, and every step of her growth was fighting against heaven for her life.
“Tomorrow is when Sword Mountain opens. Do you remember what I told you these past few days?” Sect Master Duan Linshu was giving instructions. Su Zhuyi hadn’t paid attention to what he said before, but she heard this last sentence clearly and nodded along with the others, while also feeling somewhat worried.
Only now did she learn that the Sword Tomb was at the mountain peak. They hadn’t arrived directly at the Sword Tomb’s entrance—sword cultivators wanting to ascend Sword Mountain also had to undergo trials.
On Sword Mountain was a winding mountain path that snaked like a serpent, spiraling from the mountain base all the way to the peak. These cultivators heading to the Sword Tomb couldn’t fly up; they could only climb step by step.
It was said that every step of the winding mountain path was a sword. Only cultivators with higher sword dao talent and stronger swordsmanship could reach the summit in a short time. Those with poor talent and unsteady sword hearts would be trapped on the sword path, hung on those stone steps for three days before being teleported into the Sword Tomb. But even if they got in, it would be difficult to find good swords.
Su Zhuyi was a bit worried.
She felt she would be among those trapped on the sword path for three days. Using the sect master’s words, if one’s sword heart wasn’t stable, they would be like salted fish hung on the sword path to dry in the sun for three days.
After pondering without finding a solution, Su Zhuyi changed into that red dress that looked the most beautiful. Since she would be trapped on the sword path for three days, watched by people for three days, she might as well be beautiful while being watched for three days.
Even if she were going to be salted fish, she would be the most beautiful salted fish.
As for whether the Songfeng Sword would fall into Qin Chuan’s hands after being delayed three days, Su Zhuyi wasn’t afraid. If the Songfeng Sword truly fell into Qin Chuan’s hands, even if she had to scheme and kill Qin Chuan, she would seize the flying sword.
The next morning, Su Zhuyi wore her golden-woven chrysanthemum brocade trailing red dress. The fire-red dress with dark gold patterns wrapped around her young, enchanting body, giving her a different kind of beauty—not the clear and delicate charm of before, but a soul-stirring magnificence. Standing on that mountain path, she was like the glow of sunset draped over mountain ravines, or like brilliant fireworks blooming in the night sky, making the heavens flow with colored light and adding several touches of romantic charm to the solemn-looking Sword Mountain.
“Little Master.” Qin Chuan saw that figure from afar and couldn’t help calling out softly.
Su Zhuyi turned her head, a faint smile playing at the corners of her mouth. That touch of brilliant red suddenly struck the eyes of many people present. Her smile seemed frozen in a painting, making people involuntarily sigh in their hearts—this woman truly embodied heaven and earth’s spiritual essence, beautiful in a way that was hard to describe with words. Everyone understood that among that group of handsome and pretty men and women, she was the most dazzling one, as if gathering all the light. The others, who were individually quite attractive, now all paled in comparison.
Qin Chuan stepped forward several paces, standing with Su Zhuyi one behind the other. They hadn’t yet stepped onto the true sword path—everyone stood at the same starting point.
“I wish Little Master finds a good sword,” Qin Chuan said.
Su Zhuyi nodded. “Likewise.”
After saying this, Su Zhuyi turned her head back, showing no intention of continuing the conversation with Qin Chuan. Qin Chuan felt somewhat disappointed. He didn’t know why Little Master was so cold—was it because back then, he had escaped but never gone to find her again?
Qin Chuan lowered his head, looking at the sword path beneath his feet. His gaze gradually became determined. He would repay Little Master’s life-saving grace, and he would also avenge Changning Village. Whether repaying kindness or seeking revenge, both required powerful strength, and the sword path beneath his feet was what he loved and what could help him fulfill his wishes.
He raised his head, looking toward the peak of Sword Mountain, his eyes full of reverence and longing. The red figure before him had also been someone he revered in his youth.
Seeing Qin Chuan step forward, the cultivators from various sects watching also sighed in their hearts—these two truly were a perfect pair. The handsome man and beautiful woman standing together were particularly pleasing to the eye. At the back of the group was a female cultivator wearing a mask. Watching those two standing together, her heart felt as if it were bleeding.
She was Hua Yining.
The Dongxue Sword’s sword spirit had dispersed, reducing it to an ordinary flying sword. The Dongxue Sword was her natal flying sword. Although the sword’s spirit had only dispersed without the blade being damaged, after the spirit dispersed, it greatly affected her sword dao. Fortunately, she was not yet a hundred years old and still had another chance to enter the Sword Tomb. Her appearance was already ruined, and she hadn’t wanted to leave home, but this opportunity was fought for by her father, and she couldn’t give up the sword dao.
But now, seeing those two figures, Hua Yining’s hatred was so intense she felt she might bite her teeth to pieces.
…
After staying on the sword path for a quarter hour, Sword Mountain suddenly shook twice. At the same time, the morning sun leaped out from the east, and the first ray of morning sunlight fell on Sword Mountain’s sword tip. It seemed like a bright silver sword gleam transmitted from the sword tip to the sword hilt. Then a wind blew, as if a fierce gale swept through the mountain valley. The howling echoes shook like dragon roars, causing all the flying swords of the cultivators present to vibrate in response, like ten thousand swords paying homage to their sovereign.
Their flying swords were either carried on their backs or held in their hands. At this moment, all the flying swords were softly humming in response to Sword Mountain’s dragon roar. Only Su Zhuyi’s flying sword was in her storage pouch and couldn’t respond even if it wanted to…
After Sword Mountain’s strange phenomenon ended, the hundred disciples began climbing the mountain.
Although there was only one sword path wide enough for one person, after stepping onto it, each person was actually on their sword path, so there wouldn’t be any situation of being blocked on the path. However, though they were on their sword paths, they could still see others climbing the mountain, allowing them to recognize the differences between each other. This could stimulate people to follow those ahead or cause them to eventually give up because their opponents were unreachably far ahead.
Su Zhuyi looked at the stone steps beneath her feet and lifted her foot to take a step.
There didn’t seem to be any trial at all. After her toes touched down, she still felt somewhat unreal. But seeing other disciples had already quickly walked several steps, she knew the early path should be particularly easy to walk—anyone who could wield a sword could climb up. Therefore, she didn’t hesitate and quickly climbed the sword path, soon surpassing quite a few people and walking at the front.
When she reached halfway up the mountain, Su Zhuyi’s steps slowed down.
Before her eyes, countless sword shadows seemed to be swaying, blocking her path. She used her Blazing Flame Palm to strike, but found it had no effect at all. The Shadowless Steps couldn’t dodge them either. What was on the sword path were sword intent and sword shadows—she could only use sword intent to counter them. With no other choice, Su Zhuyi finally took out her Qingfeng Sword.
Since obtaining the Qingfeng Sword, this was her first time using this sword.
Su Zhuyi knew the first level of the Tianxuan Nine Swords. She executed the Tianxuan Nine Swords, successfully cutting through the sword shadows and continuing forward. Slashing like this, when she was still over a hundred steps from the mountain peak, Su Zhuyi found she could barely cut through those sword shadows anymore.
She was getting more and more tired.
The spiritual energy in her body seemed to become very thin from continuously executing sword techniques. Her arms could barely lift anymore, and the tiger’s mouth holding the sword had been torn open by the vibrations, with fresh blood seeping out. Su Zhuyi felt she probably couldn’t continue going up.
Because she wasn’t someone who was obsessed with swords.
Even though she was standing on the sword path now, there was no sword dao in her heart.
How could someone with no sword dao in their heart complete Sword Mountain’s sword path? She had originally planned to stand here beautifully and wait for three days. It just wasn’t her style to give up without trying, which was why she climbed with all her effort. But when she realized she truly couldn’t do it, she would also decisively give up.
This was a matter of mental state. She didn’t love swords, so she was destined not to go far on the sword path. She couldn’t force it.
She stopped, standing on the sword path while trying to make her posture look more graceful. Just as she was thinking about how she should stand, she heard a voice sneer coldly: “Waste.”
Beside her, a woman passed her by.
This woman had a rigid face and lifeless eyes—she should be wearing a mask. For someone who needed to wear a mask, Su Zhuyi immediately thought of Hua Yining.
Hua Yining had always controlled her speed. She moved forward step by step, slowly. Although she had fallen behind initially, now she had caught up. Not only had she caught up, but she walked very steadily. This showed her sword dao cultivation was indeed good, steady, and methodical, with a solid foundation.
To be called waste by a jumping clown.
Su Zhuyi narrowed her eyes and sneered coldly, thinking to herself: “When we enter the Sword Tomb, I’ll teach you how to behave.” Last time in public, I couldn’t cripple your cultivation. Once we enter the Sword Tomb, it will be your death date. Murderous intent suddenly arose in Su Zhuyi’s heart, but her expression didn’t change. However, the next moment, her face did change.
The sword shadows that had been hanging in front of her suddenly condensed together all at once, forming a snow-bright sword intent that came slashing straight at her.
Could it be that one couldn’t harbor thoughts of harming others on this sword path?
How could the sect master not have reminded them of such a crucial matter?
She had just thought about killing someone in her heart, and the sword shadows before her went berserk!