Cheng Xinzhan had no idea what changes were occurring on the Moon Reflection Mirror, nor did he know how many old friends and acquaintances were in Peacock City.
He simply swung his sword cleanly and calmly, step by step, ascending one stair after another.
It wasn’t until he parried and pushed back an attack that he realized there were no more swords behind him.
He looked at the wide, bright jade platform and finally realized he had reached the top.
And there was no one else here.
He stood still, closing his eyes to reflect on the moves he had just executed.
He was mostly satisfied with his responses, but there were a few areas he felt could be improved, and he pondered how he would handle them next time.
Not long after, a second person arrived.
It was also a young man.
The two exchanged glances, and Cheng Xinzhan nodded first in greeting.
The other young man also nodded with a smile and said, "Mount Lao’s Xue Lixing. Greetings, fellow Daoist."
Cheng Xinzhan was slightly surprised.
He had expected someone from the Hengshan Sword Sect.
"Mount Sanqing’s Cheng Xinzhan. Greetings, fellow Daoist."
The Moon Reflection Mirror not only displayed their figures but also broadcasted their conversation.
Everyone now knew their names.
After the two exchanged names, the third, fourth, and tenth individuals arrived in quick succession.
However, as more people arrived, they no longer introduced themselves.
Instead, a sense of hostility began to grow.
When the Pearl Tower Master saw that enough people had arrived, he cast a spell.
Those who were still struggling on the stairs, not even halfway up, were all sent back to Peacock City.
At the same time, the Jade Platform began to divide—one into two, two into four, four into eight.
The people on the platform were also divided onto different Jade Platforms.
In the end, there were forty-eight Jade Platforms in the void, with ninety-six sword-wielding swordsmen.
The Moon Reflection Mirror displayed all forty-eight pairs of swordsmen, but Cheng Xinzhan and his opponent occupied nearly a third of the mirror’s space.
Cheng Xinzhan’s opponent appeared to be older, around thirty years old.
This man had been closely watching the Moon Reflection Mirror.
When he saw that the scene of his battlefield occupied a significant portion of the mirror and was positioned at the top, a look of joy appeared on his face.
At this moment, the voice of the Pearl Tower Master echoed in everyone’s ears, "Each of you will face your opponent. Use only your swords—no other magical tools, talismans, or spells are allowed. The fight ends when one yields. Do not take lives. Begin now."
Cheng Xinzhan moved immediately, but his opponent was still staring at the Moon Reflection Mirror.
Cheng Xinzhan had to stop and remind him, "Fellow Daoist?"
The man snapped out of his trance, reluctantly pulling his gaze away from the mirror.
He straightened his robes and hat, then said politely, "Fellow Daoist, our sword fight is for mutual improvement, not a life-and-death battle. We should exchange names before we begin."
Cheng Xinzhan thought this was reasonable and said, "Greetings, fellow Daoist. I am Cheng Xinzhan from Mount Sanqing."
The man was startled.
This young man was from Mount Sanqing! But he quickly composed himself, knowing he was being watched by many.
He raised his sword in front of his chest, adopting a stance, and said in a measured tone, "Greetings, fellow Daoist. I am Liu Yuwei from Bamin. My secular surname is Liu, and my Daoist name is Yuwei.
I hail from the Western Peak of Stone Ox Mountain, with Mount Wuyi as my ancestral temple. I practice internal alchemy and have been studying the Dao since I was fifteen. It has been over a decade now, and I have achieved minor success in the first realm.
My sword, named 'Jing Shan,' was forged from deep-sea iron and mountain-top gold. Please enlighten me."
"Please enlighten me," Cheng Xinzhan replied.
With a step, Cheng Xinzhan transformed into a gust of wind, disappearing in an instant.
He reappeared close to his opponent, thrusting his sword straight at the man’s face, forcing him to parry.
Huh?
The young Daoist felt the force transmitted through his sword and was surprised.
The opponent’s parrying strike on "Autumn Waters" didn’t even affect his elbow, let alone his shoulder or body.
At most, it slightly bent his wrist.
It felt weaker than the moonlight swords he had faced while climbing the stairs.
Liu Yuwei, on the other hand, was growing anxious.
Climbing the stairs had drained most of his energy, and now his sword strikes were only a fraction of their former strength.
But shouldn’t both of them be equally exhausted? Why was this young man’s sword still so powerful?
He assumed Cheng Xinzhan had charged with stored energy, so he decided not to remain on the defensive.
He switched from defense to offense, thrusting his sword forward.
Cheng Xinzhan saw the weak thrust and tightened his grip on "Autumn Waters."
He leaned back, letting the sword pass by.
As the thrust lost momentum, he used the flat of his sword to deflect the incoming blade.
The sword let out a mournful cry as it was knocked aside.
With Liu Yuwei’s guard wide open, his body pulled off balance by his own sword, Cheng Xinzhan stepped forward.
His sword, like a green snake darting from its hole, instantly rested at Liu Yuwei’s neck.
"I concede," Cheng Xinzhan said.
Liu Yuwei was shocked.
He even had the time to glance at the Moon Reflection Mirror, seeing his own image with a sword at his neck clearly displayed.
Panicking, he wanted to say something, but his body vanished from the Jade Platform and the mirror.
Soon, another person appeared in front of Cheng Xinzhan.
The people in the city and the tower could see clearly.
Every time two people defeated their opponents, the losers were sent back to Peacock City, while the winners were placed on the same platform.
The Moon Reflection Mirror would then lose one image, and the remaining images would grow larger.
This time, the person standing before Cheng Xinzhan was of similar age, which meant he had also won a match in a very short time.
However, he probably hadn’t won as quickly as Cheng Xinzhan, because this man immediately launched an attack.
If Liu Yuwei had done the same, Cheng Xinzhan’s time would have been several times faster.
This man also started with a direct thrust.
Cheng Xinzhan crouched low, raising his sword to intercept, using offense as defense.
"Ding!"
A crisp sound rang out.
"Autumn Waters" had absorbed a lot of metal essence, making the blade exceptionally tough.
The man’s sword momentum was broken, and he followed up by sliding his sword downward.
Cheng Xinzhan blocked with his sword guard, then forcefully stood up, the power traveling from his toes to his hand.
He swung his sword, flinging the blade resting on his guard outward, the tip aiming straight for his opponent’s throat.
The man leaned back to avoid it, his sword drawing a large arc from behind his head before thrusting forward from Cheng Xinzhan’s left front.
Cheng Xinzhan ignored it, stepping forward with his left foot and pointing his sword downward toward the man’s crown.
The man had no choice but to pull his sword back from his left front and slash downward.
"Autumn Waters" was knocked down, the tip almost touching the ground.
Cheng Xinzhan bent his right leg, retracting his sword.
The man immediately pressed the attack, so Cheng Xinzhan retracted his left foot, twisted his body, and made a feint as if to flee.
Seeing this, the man took several steps forward, thrusting at Cheng Xinzhan’s back.
At that moment, Cheng Xinzhan leaped with his right foot, his entire body almost jumping up.
Using his left toe as a pivot, he spun his body around, dodging the thrust aimed at his back.
At the same time, he flicked the sword he had retracted in front of him, sending a cold gleam downward.
It sliced off a strand of the man’s hair.
The man didn’t even notice and was about to raise his sword again when, in the next moment, he vanished from the Jade Platform.
Immediately, another person appeared on the platform.
This one was lively and said to Cheng Xinzhan, "You’re quite skilled. Have you already won once?"
"I’ve won twice," Cheng Xinzhan replied with a smile, raising his sword to attack.
...
The Jade Platforms, which had multiplied, now began to decrease in number.
However, the most watched platform remained.
Finally, only one Jade Platform remained in the void, and only one image was left in the Moon Reflection Mirror.
This image felt familiar to those watching.
Cheng Xinzhan also found it familiar and couldn’t help but smile.
"Fellow Daoist Xue."
The other man also smiled.
"Fellow Daoist Cheng."
It was the first two who had ascended the platform.
Now that it was the final showdown, Cheng Xinzhan began to hesitate.
He thought of his first opponent, Liu Yuwei, and it seemed to remind him of something.
He asked, "Fellow Daoist Xue, since it’s just the two of us now, may I take a moment to tell the people of this city and tower about my sword?"
Xue Lixing nodded with a smile.
"Please, go ahead."
Cheng Xinzhan held his sword upside down in his left hand, resting it horizontally across his chest.
With his right hand, he flicked the blade.
"Zheng!"
The sword let out a clear, resonant sound.
"This sword is my first sword, a gift from a senior fellow disciple," he began slowly.
The people in the city and tower listened quietly.
"This senior was obsessed with the sword but spent his life regretting it."
Xue Lixing listened intently, a look of confusion on his face.
"This senior loved the sword deeply. After entering the sect, he devoted all his energy to sword techniques, neglecting his cultivation of Qi. As a result, he remained stuck in the first realm for his entire life. When he realized this, he was filled with regret and resentment, but it was too late. In his later years, these emotions gnawed at his heart, but time eventually dulled the intensity of his feelings. By the time he was old and gray, he had let go of life, death, fame, and fortune. Only one emotion remained, growing stronger and more poignant."
That was his regret for this sword.
He believed his mediocrity had kept this sword, which should have shone brightly, hidden in the dark.
"Later, he passed this sword to me, hoping I could bring it fame. He also advised me to balance the Dao and the weapon, not to follow his path."
I took his advice to heart, balancing the Dao and the weapon.
But bringing fame to this sword has been a challenge for me, as I am still a novice in the way of the sword.
Tonight, I am fortunate to have the opportunity, thanks to the Pearl Tower Master and the Lord of Peacock City, and I must also thank Fellow Daoist Xue for waiting, allowing me to announce the name of this sword.
"Its name is 'Autumn Waters.'"
After finishing, he held his sword upside down and bowed toward the city and tower, then bowed to Xue Lixing.
Xue Lixing’s expression turned solemn as he returned the bow with his sword.
"Balancing the Dao and the weapon is something all swordsmen should always remember," the voice of the Pearl Tower Master echoed above them.
All the swordsmen in the city agreed.
Xue Lixing then smiled and said, "Then I shall also take this opportunity to speak, or else my sword might get upset. I am a swordsmith, and this sword is the first one I ever forged. Its name is 'Out of the Hut.'"
The two exchanged smiles and then attacked each other with their swords.
Both disappeared from the platform.
"Ding! Ding! Ding!"
The sound of clashing metal rang out, sparks flying in the void.
Magnified by the Moon Reflection Mirror, they looked like giant fireworks, intertwining with the fireworks above Peacock City.
Seeing this, the Pearl Tower Master smiled and said, "These two finally look like true swordsmen."
With a thought, the image on the Moon Reflection Mirror changed, revealing the two figures who had been moving too fast to see.
Everyone could now see clearly.
Cheng Xinzhan was crouching low, advancing rapidly, his steps leaving trails of light.
He thrust his sword toward Xue Lixing’s chest and abdomen.
At the same time, a storm enveloped him.
The wind followed his steps, blowing toward Xue Lixing, while the rain followed his sword’s momentum.
Each drop was like a sword, sharp and glinting with a cold light.
"Autumn Waters" seemed to truly transform into water, blending into the rain, making it hard to distinguish.
Xue Lixing, on the other hand, moved like a nimble snake in the rain, parrying each drop.
However, the wind was too strong, the rain too fierce, and the changes too rapid.
The snake could only dodge and retreat, its sword tip constantly shifting, forming two swirling flowers of steel.
Even in the Moon Reflection Mirror, it was hard to see clearly.
After retreating more than ten steps, Xue Lixing suddenly stopped.
His previous retreat seemed to have been building momentum.
He drew a circle in front of him with his sword, blocking all the wind and rain, then thrust forward with a force like a river breaking through a dam—sudden and unstoppable.
"Good sword!" Cheng Xinzhan laughed, but instead of dodging, he used the momentum of the storm to counterattack.
He took several steps forward, and the rain gathered into a river, also thrusting forward.
Two rivers collided, their sword tips meeting.
A crisp sound accompanied by a shockwave spread out from the point of contact.
Both were pushed back more than ten steps, their arms numb.
"Though it looks flashy, it’s still the sword of an ordinary person, not worthy of the grand stage," a young boy on the eaves of a building in Peacock City commented.
However, Li Yingqiong remained silent, perhaps recalling the scene in the valley where the man in the Moon Reflection Mirror had shattered the Shu Mountain flying sword with his own.
"Jing Rui, you’re right. As long as you can keep him at a distance, you’ll be fine. Can you guarantee that?" a bearded man said.
"Or have you already formed your primordial spirit? Can you control your sword with your mind faster than with your body? Not yet, right? Do you think you’ve reached the stage where your sword moves as you will? I doubt it. You’re still relying on the sword’s spirit, not your own will. If it weren’t for 'Chisu’s' strong spirit, I’d say you’re better off using your feet."
The man spoke bluntly.
"If you can’t guarantee keeping a swordsman at a distance, and you can’t guarantee that your mind-controlled sword is faster than a hand-held one, then don’t say such things. It’s just embarrassing. A sword is a weapon, not a decoration."
"Yes, Uncle Li," the young man who had spoken earlier blushed and lowered his head.
Back in the arena, after another dozen exchanges, Xue Lixing stepped forward again.
But this time, as his steps changed, his figure split into two, then four, and in the blink of an eye, there were thirty-two figures attacking, still dividing like ghosts.
Cheng Xinzhan’s eyes lit up, and he also stepped forward.
His steps were like thunder, starting as one but branching out like lightning.
His figure also split into many, but unlike Xue Lixing’s even divisions, his were random.
In the flash of lightning, he became a crowd.
This was a sword technique and footwork he had developed after observing lightning splitting during a thunderstorm.
The people in the city and tower were shocked to see the previously empty Jade Platform now filled with figures.
When the two groups clashed, Cheng Xinzhan immediately knew which one was the real Xue Lixing based on the force of the sword strikes.
However, Xue Lixing was surprised to find that the force of each of Cheng Xinzhan’s shadowy figures seemed the same, all weaker than before, making it impossible to identify the real one.
But he didn’t realize that Cheng Xinzhan’s sword technique wasn’t just an illusion.
Once Cheng Xinzhan identified Xue Lixing’s real body, all the shadowy figures disappeared.
Only a clear lightning trail remained, pointing from his starting position to the one remaining figure.
The other light paths dimmed, seemingly converging into his sword, making it as bright and fast as lightning.
With a single thrust, the sword tip stopped at Xue Lixing’s chest.
"What kind of sword technique is this?" Xue Lixing asked, his eyes illuminated by the sword’s light.
"I call it the Lightning Split Sword Technique. It’s about creating illusions, scattering first, then gathering."
"That’s a great technique. My Hundred Ghosts Split Shadow Sword Technique seems too illusory and scattered in comparison," Xue Lixing said with some regret.
"No worries. I’ll teach it to you, and we can discuss it further. I feel there are still many gaps," Cheng Xinzhan said with a smile.
He was pleased to have met a fellow swordsman who also cultivated both body and sword.
The lightning faded, but Xue Lixing’s eyes remained bright.
He exclaimed, "Excellent!"
End of Chapter.
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