Meeting

He had spent the entire afternoon in the adjacent courtyard, guiding Qi Zifeng and dispelling his confusion.

According to Qiu Yan, the loss of Qi Zifeng’s destined sword had been a persistent ache in the hearts of everyone within the Wuling Sword Sect.

Unlike other magical artifacts, a sword cultivator’s blade was intrinsically linked to their very soul, representing the supreme Dao they pursued.

To lose one’s destined sword was nothing short of a devastating blow to a sword cultivator.

Throughout history, many sword cultivators had suffered such a loss, yet most met unfortunate ends, either experiencing stagnated cultivation or succumbing to qi deviation due to their overwhelming obsession.

Qi Zifeng was still so young, his talent so exceptional, and his promising cultivation path had barely begun when he encountered such a grave misfortune.

How could anyone accept such a cruel twist of fate?

His parents, the Sect Leader and his wife, had even fallen ill from the relentless worry for their only son.

Wen Chaoxuan first examined Qi Zifeng’s innate talent, then inspected the new sword Qi Zifeng had acquired.

He arrived at the same conclusion as Lin Langyao: a profound connection existed between the young man and this particular blade.

To awaken a sword that had yet to acknowledge a master was an exceptionally rare feat in itself.

Paired with a suitable cultivation method, it was entirely possible for Qi Zifeng to continue his path as a sword cultivator.

Qi Zifeng was fortunate indeed to have encountered Wen Chaoxuan, a true master of the sword Dao.

Wen Chaoxuan inquired about the Wuling Sword Sect’s cultivation techniques.

As a sword fanatic who profoundly respected powerful individuals, Qiu Yan was utterly convinced and impressed by Wen Chaoxuan’s demonstrated strength.

When Wen Chaoxuan asked, Qiu Yan readily shared the sect’s cultivation manuals and secret techniques, without any hesitation or attempt to conceal them.

Based on the Wuling Sword Sect’s techniques, Wen Chaoxuan adjusted Qi Zifeng’s cultivation methods.

As the three continued their discussion, even Qiu Yan could not resist demonstrating his swordplay, humbly asking Wen Chaoxuan for a few pointers.

As dusk fell and the time for lighting lamps arrived, disciples from the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion entered the courtyard.

Qiu Yan recalled that the sword had been forged by the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion, and since Qi Zifeng intended to take it, they ought to inform the relevant parties.

Consequently, he asked a Heavenly Artifice Pavilion disciple to relay the message to their Sect Leader.

A Heavenly Artifice Pavilion disciple replied, “The Sect Leader is currently not within the sect grounds.”

“I will inform the elders on their behalf.”

Another disciple, hearing this, remarked with surprise, “Isn’t the Sect Leader in secluded cultivation?”

“I just came off my shift at the entrance; the Sect Leader went in today and hasn’t come out since.”

The first disciple was also puzzled.

“But I haven’t seen any of the mechanical beasts patrolling the inner mountain.”

“They only go dormant when the Sect Leader is absent and their spiritual energy support is withdrawn.”

At this point, no one else had yet realized what was happening.

Only Wen Chaoxuan reacted, swiftly grasping the gravity of the situation.

He drew his sword, his expression hardening, and asked the disciples about the Sect Leader’s secluded cultivation chamber.

Then, without uttering another word, he charged out.

Qiu Yan and Qi Zifeng were both stunned into silence.

However, Qiu Yan quickly realized the seriousness of the matter and immediately followed Wen Chaoxuan’s retreating figure.

Qi Zifeng, still utterly bewildered, ran behind them, clutching his sword, and called out, “Wait for me, Martial Uncle!”

“Why is everyone suddenly running off for no reason?—”

Wen Chaoxuan arrived at the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion Sect Leader’s secluded cultivation chamber.

The disciples on duty, seeing this unfamiliar cultivator approach with such ferocity, changed their expressions and rushed forward to intercept him.

But how could they possibly be a match for Wen Chaoxuan?

He swept them aside with a gust of sword wind, then violently breached the protective barrier around the Sect Leader’s residence and stormed directly inside.

By the time Qiu Yan and the disoriented disciples, who had picked themselves up from their falls, rushed into the room, they saw Wen Chaoxuan standing before a table.

The Heavenly Artifice Pavilion Sect Leader lay prone upon it.

Wen Chaoxuan withdrew his hand from the Sect Leader’s neck, where he had been checking for a pulse, and turned to face everyone, his expression grim and his aura as chilling as frost.

Clasping a bronze mirror in one hand and holding his sword in the other, Wen Chaoxuan asked the disciples on duty, “Did anyone enter here midway?”

Upon hearing his question, the disciples’ hearts instantly leaped.

They scrambled forward, tumbling over themselves, to check their Sect Leader’s breathing.

A moment later, a chorus of heart-rending wails erupted from the group.

One sharp-eyed disciple noticed a half-written piece of white paper on the table.

They reached out, pulled it from beneath the Sect Leader’s body, and upon reading it, their face instantly turned ghastly pale.

Their gaze fixed intently on the white-robed sword cultivator standing in the center of the room.

Qiu Yan caught a glimpse, strode over, and snatched the paper.

After a quick glance, he immediately looked at Wen Chaoxuan.

“Senior Wen, perhaps you should see this…”

Wen Chaoxuan took the paper.

It was a letter, left unfinished for unknown reasons by the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion Sect Leader.

The first line read: “To Master Lu, respectfully.”

“Bringing up old matters from back then, my life is in danger, and I had no choice but to temporarily agree as a matter of expediency.”

“I implore Master Lu to quickly come to my aid.”

“The instigators are Lin Langyao of Qintian Peak, and a certain white-robed sword cultivator…”

The rest of the content was unwritten, the handwriting abruptly cutting off in a hurried scrawl, indicating some sudden, unforeseen turn of events.

****

“That old geezer still wanted to call for reinforcements!” Lin Langyao cursed loudly upon hearing this.

“Good riddance, he deserved to die!”

He quickly rolled out of bed, hopping on one foot to pull on his shoes while hastily strapping his sword to his back.

Suddenly, two knocks sounded from outside the door.

It was Qiu Yan, tipping them off.

“The elders and disciples of the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion seem to have arrived.”

Lin Langyao quickly followed Wen Chaoxuan out of the room.

He looked up and saw numerous flickering lights vaguely floating in the vast night, drawing closer from afar.

More and more dark red points of light emerged from the darkness, forming a surrounding encirclement.

They, along with their small courtyard, had seemingly become trapped prey.

Qi Zifeng was also in the courtyard, holding his sword and looking up at the sky.

As the young master of a prestigious orthodox sect, he had never witnessed such a menacing and volatile formation.

He gnashed his teeth and said, “You’re still asleep!”

“The world’s turned upside down out here, and you have no idea!”

“How was I supposed to know chaos could erupt outside while I was sleeping?” Lin Langyao retorted without restraint.

“Can you blame me if the old man was short-lived?”

“He just breathed his last while I was asleep.”

“If I knew my sleep held such power, I’d certainly put a few more old men to sleep.”

The Heavenly Artifice Pavilion disciples, floating in the sky, were speechless.

“…”

Wen Chaoxuan immediately clapped a hand over his mouth.

The Heavenly Artifice Pavilion Elder, having reached the limits of his patience, declared, “Apprehend these two culprits who murdered our Sect Leader!”

“Sword Sovereign Qiu, our sect and the Wuling Sword Sect have always been on good terms.”

“Now that our Sect Leader has died a violent death, please do not make things difficult for us.”

Indeed, for Qiu Yan and his companions to stand there was a delicate matter.

A single misstep could easily create a rift between the two sects.

Since this affair had nothing to do with them, why should they involve others?

Noticing Qiu Yan’s deliberation, Lin Langyao spoke up.

“It’s fine; we can handle a minor situation like this.”

Qiu Yan looked at him.

“What do you intend to do?”

“What else can we do?” Lin Langyao said, familiar with the routine, as he effortlessly positioned himself in front of Wen Chaoxuan.

“We can’t possibly kill them all, can we? Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, retreat is naturally the best course of action (TL Note: A famous collection of Chinese stratagems, where the final and often most effective strategy is to retreat when all else fails).”

Wen Chaoxuan reached out and scooped him up.

In that instant, he leaped into the air, riding the wind (TL Note: A cultivation technique allowing one to fly by manipulating wind currents), and with a swing of his sword, tore open a gap in the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion disciples’ trapping formation, soaring into the darkness.

The Heavenly Artifice Pavilion disciples erupted in an uproar, astonished by his formidable strength.

They scrambled in a fluster, giving chase.

“They just left like that?” Qi Zifeng asked, dumbfounded.

“Then what do we do…?”

“Let’s follow them first and see,” Qiu Yan replied.

“But… the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion hasn’t deployed that item yet,” Qi Zifeng voiced his concern.

“If they bring that out, even the most powerful cultivator would…”

Qiu Yan glanced at him, clearly disappointed.

“Have you forgotten?”

“Your cultivation still depends on his guidance.”

Having said that, Qiu Yan flew off in the direction the two had taken.

Qi Zifeng stamped his foot in frustration, but had no choice but to follow.

In the vast expanse of the night, Wen Chaoxuan, carrying Lin Langyao, charged ahead, leading the way.

Behind them, like the tail of a comet, followed the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion disciples, their spiritual artifacts flashing chaotically.

The Heavenly Artifice Pavilion had summoned numerous flying mechanical beasts, each roaring as they spat flames or shot feathered arrows.

Qiu Yan and Qi Zifeng followed closely, witnessing the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion’s Grand Elder raise his hand and throw out a token.

The token transformed into a streak of white light and flew back towards the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion’s main gate.

Immediately after, a light responded from afar, and a rumbling sound like muffled thunder echoed from within the inner mountain.

Qiu Yan’s expression changed.

He knew the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion had unleashed their sect-guarding magical treasure.

He immediately accelerated, leading Qi Zifeng around the others to catch up with Wen Chaoxuan.

“Senior Wen, don’t linger in battle, hurry and leave!—”

Every major sect possessed certain treasures that could not be deployed unless absolutely necessary.

The Heavenly Artifice Pavilion had one such artifact, refined by their founding Sect Leader.

It was forged from bronze, replicating the form of an ancient god of warfare, an impenetrable fortress that none could withstand.

Its ferocity was such that it could directly tear apart even a Soul Division stage expert.

Its name was: Chiyou (TL Note: A mythical tribal leader in ancient China, often depicted as a god of war or a formidable demon, known for his strength and bronze head).

Activating Chiyou once required the accumulation of centuries of energy.

The Heavenly Artifice Pavilion was clearly going all out, swearing to avenge their Sect Leader.

Wen Chaoxuan sensed the overwhelming killing intent and abruptly turned his head.

A towering bronze giant, with bronze bones and green skin, had awakened in the dark night, wielding a broadsword and advancing with the momentum of traversing mountains and seas, chopping down towards them.

At that moment, Wen Chaoxuan only had time to throw Lin Langyao in the direction of Qiu Yan and Qi Zifeng before drawing his own sword to meet the bronze giant.

The Heaven-Bearing Sword erupted with a vast white light in the night.

Two immensely powerful sword qis collided, sending everyone staggering and swaying.

Those with weaker cultivation directly plummeted downwards like falling birds, scattered and helpless.

Qi Zifeng was unlucky; Lin Langyao, who had been thrown, collided squarely with him.

Unable to support the weight of both of them, Qi Zifeng became dizzy and disoriented in mid-air, struggling to keep hold of Lin Langyao.

“You’re… too… heavy!” he gasped.

Lin Langyao scrambled with his hands and feet, clinging onto the young man, and shouted back, “If you have the strength to talk, then hurry up and ascend!”

Fortunately, Qiu Yan arrived just in time.

He and Qi Zifeng each grabbed a side and lifted Lin Langyao.

Lin Langyao, drenched in cold sweat, thought to himself, ‘This won’t do; I still need to cultivate.’

‘At the very least, I need to reach a level where I can ride the wind myself, so I won’t be constantly carried around by others.’

Having dealt with the bronze giant, Wen Chaoxuan approached them, still holding his glowing sword.

His surging battle intent, not yet fully restrained, was formidable and awe-inspiring.

He spoke concisely to the three of them.

“Go!”

The four sword cultivators dashed wildly through the night.

They had thought that shaking off the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion members would be the end of their troubles.

However, a white-feathered spiritual eagle suddenly emerged ahead, flying directly towards them.

Qi Zifeng was startled and subconsciously drew his sword, slashing at it.

Fortunately, the spiritual eagle reacted quickly, sharply turning and sweeping past, losing only a few feathers to the sword qi.

The eagle let out a displeased shriek, and amidst its flight and turns, a miserable cry came from its back feathers.

“Fellow cultivator, help me! —Aahhh!”

Upon hearing that familiar wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves, Lin Langyao quickly stopped Qi Zifeng.

“It’s one of us, one of us!”

Young Master Qi’s heart was still pounding, and he hadn’t yet fully grasped the situation.

The spiritual eagle was already before them, and a junior medical cultivator poked his head out from its back.

Upon seeing them, he cried as if he had seen his parents reborn, his wails tearing at the heart and liver, “Fellow cultivators! Save me!”

Lin Langyao was truly exasperated.

Why was it always the same phrase every time he met this guy?

“Didn’t I tell you to wait at the inn?” Lin Langyao asked.

“How did you end up here?”

“People from the Lu Clan Manor were chasing, they caught up!” the junior medical cultivator wailed, his voice trembling.

“I had no choice but to escape, so I had the spiritual eagle fly towards the Heavenly Artifice Pavilion, and thankfully I ran into you all…”

“I almost lost my life!”

The junior medical cultivator seemed to have suffered a tremendous fright, his soul still unsettled.

Now, everyone was finally assembled.

Lin Langyao’s head throbbed from the junior medical cultivator’s incessant wailing.

Wen Chaoxuan tossed him onto the spiritual eagle’s back.

Lin Langyao immediately pounced forward and clapped a hand over the junior medical cultivator’s mouth.

It had truly been an eventful yet chaotic night.