Chapter 1423: Art And Will (II)

Qinling Temple.

Qinling Temple lay close to the northern and southern borderlands. It no longer belonged to any Buddhist land and simply called itself the Qinling Dao lineage. Under the protection of the Wrathful Dao and a trace of the colored radiance inheritance, it had cleverly produced a Merciful One. In its heyday, it had even somewhat resembled a small Buddhist land.

Now it had declined to a small and desolate temple. Although the reigning Merciful One Liaokong had rebuilt one corner, most of the place remained ruins from years past. It was empty of people, filled only with the noisy cries of birds.

Clack...

A man paced within the courtyard. He wore plain robes in black and dark tones, with a Daoist crown on his head. At his waist hung a small gourd and six short swords. His face was long with phoenix-like eyes, carrying an air of natural bearing that inspired admiration at a glance.

Yet his actions resembled those of an ordinary man. He gently righted a chipped stone table in the courtyard, lifted a stone stool back into place and brushed away the dust and sand. Then, he took a stone wine pot and two small cups from his sleeve. The pot looked plain on the outside, yet spirit light was hidden within. Once placed upon the table, faint sounds of flowing water could be heard.

The night was deep. The distant mountains seemed to lie in wait, half-hidden in dark mist, under the heavy moonlight. The middle-aged man waited for a while before hearing approaching footsteps. The broken stone steps produced faint crunching sounds of gravel as a tall and slender sword cultivator entered. His robes were black and white, his beard and hair neatly kept. At his waist hung a gourd identical to the one worn by the other man.

It was none other than the Grand Daoist Master of Great Xiukui Temple[1], Louxing.

It was deep autumn; fallen leaves drifted through the air. The sword cultivator spoke not a word and sat by the table. The middle-aged man said nothing either and silently raised the pot to pour wine.

"It has been many years since we last met. Fellow Daoist's Sword Dao has grown even more profound."

Louxing did not answer him. His eyes shone brightly beneath his strong, sharp brows as he said calmly, "Seeing Fellow Daoist Xue like this, you must have restored your life essence. This is not your first life anymore, is it?"

The man before him was none other than the Grand Daoist Master of Mount Luoxia, Xueyang. His Body Divine Abilities were perfectly complete, yet they were hidden like deep still waters.

He finished his cup, half closed his phoenix eyes, and stood as he said, "Correct. More than two hundred years ago, when my five divine abilities reached completion, I restored my life essence and devoted myself to refining marvelous arts. I already had the chance to compete for a Surplus Position of Rainbow Mist at that time.

"But when I went to see my master and faced his examination, my cultivation proved too shallow to truly deserve that position. So he had me wash away my divine abilities and reincarnate. Only after many years did I find my way back, refine the five divine abilities again, and return step by step to the position I hold today."

Louxing listened quietly, his eyes fixed on him as he said calmly, "The upper sect[2] still takes good care of its own... I vaguely remember my master speaking many joking words at length when I was the Dao Scion of Xiukui Dao Gate. Unfortunately I was slow-witted and only remember the last few lines."

Xueyang did not answer him and calmly poured wine into his own cup. Louxing, however, stood up with a smile on his face. After draining the cup, he said bluntly, "He said that the old books once wrote, 'Precious forms paint empty ointment upon fertile ground, and even Geng origin dares steal the merit of metal.' That was already spoken with deep lament. But I think it no longer fits today. Later generations should instead write, 'The Profound Channel forbids the Azure Goat from crossing, and once more makes kings serve the martial path.'"

Xueyang set down his cup, stepped forward, and shook his head. "There is no need for that!"

The atmosphere between them suddenly grew tense. The Grand Daoist Master of Mount Luoxia knitted his brows tightly and stared at Louxing, who refused to yield in the slightest. He met Xueyang's gaze directly as he said coldly, "The people of the world, from north to south, are treated like fish on a chopping board. They flatter and fawn, kneeling on the ground in submission. Dragons and phoenixes hide themselves away while all the powers obey orders without daring to resist.

"Mighty as the Wei Emperor was, he died herding in the fields. Noble as the King of Liang was, he drowned upon the waters of the Huai River. Now Qi and Zhao have been reduced to the playthings of others. Is that still not enough?!

"The dignified immortal descendants of heavenly martial were suddenly wiped out. The grand prestige of the Central Lands was handed over to the barbarians. Even the distant land of Yinzhou was brought under Heaven. A single mountain was set in the midst of the sea, and along the long azure cliffs of the Northern Sea, five gates were ordered to surround and guard...

"In this whole world, is there any place left that your people cannot touch!?"

Louxing's expression was cold as he glared at the Grand Daoist Master before him. His voice was low and spat from between clenched teeth. "Is it still not enough? How far must it go before it is enough?!"

"You..." Xueyang looked at him quietly, seemingly unmoved by his words. One hand rested upon the jade cup as he said softly, "The backbone of Jiangnan was already spent in Li Jiangqun's generation. Once you, Louxing, are gone as well, will there still be anyone in Jiangnan who can be called a successor of the Supreme Yang? You think Mount Luoxia shows no mercy, but sometimes it is simply that you are too stubborn. The changes of the world are the choice of the people of the world. As for the shifting of Fruition Attainments, competing to prove the path first is the inevitable course of the Immortal Dao. What grounds are there for blame?"

"There is no need to bring up the matter of Li Jiangqun!" Louxing flicked his sleeve and turned away. His back was toward Xueyang as he said coldly, "Although I did not walk the same path as he did, he was still the son of a True Monarch. But now I finally understand. Only Zimu remains. Whether he avoids the mortal world or is simply left alive so that you may appear merciful, who can say?"

Xueyang finally sighed. The six short swords at his waist swayed slightly as he said, "To remain untouched by the mortal world is the true Immortal Dao."

The black and white robes on Louxing's body moved without wind. The gourd at his waist hummed softly. A sword slowly appeared from nothingness in his hand, as though drawn out of the void.

The sword was silver white, untouched by any external light, as if newly forged. It measured roughly ninety-eight centimeters, with a short hilt that rested firmly in the sword immortal's hand. Among its colors, only a single point of vivid crimson stood out, precisely marked along the spine of the blade.

A violent wind howled as sand and stones flew. Autumn wind rustled through the air as the six short swords at Xueyang's waist vanished at the same moment. Six immense streams of colored light shot into the sky and gathered behind him. Each stretched about a meter in length, their tails aligned and their points facing outward, floating behind him like a radiant screen.

The Grand Daoist Master of Mount Luoxia finally said with a tone tinged with complexity, "In years past we drank wine together in joy. I never imagined you would die by my hand."

But the sword immortal before him seemed to hear nothing at all. He removed the gourd from his waist and gently set it upon the stone table. A clear sound rang out, like jade pearls striking together, crisp and pleasant.

Before the sound completely faded away, six pillars of colored light surged upward into the sky. The howling autumn wind was scattered completely as they shot straight into the clouds and vanished into the dark night where no daylight could be seen. Six trails of colored flame remained, swaying vividly across the heavens.

They resembled six feathered dragons of color in the night sky, stirring the clouds into rolling turmoil. Thunder rumbled through the heavens. In the blink of an eye, these six immense forces had gathered their full momentum and plunged down from the sky.

Xueyang floated in the night sky, layer upon layer of colored light billowing behind his head. His eyes shone bright as stars, and were as profound as those of a god. His crimson lips parted slightly as a heavy and majestic voice resounded through heaven and earth.

"I will not underestimate you!"

On the ground, Louxing raised his head. Black clouds churned above him as the six colored blades converged on him. He watched the expanding colors reflected in his pupils, one hand resting steadily on the hilt of his sword.

Clang!

A surge of white light erupted from the earth and spread outward in waves. Azure stone, broken formations, shattered walls, and ruined remnants all collapsed at once, dissolving into endless gray winds that scattered across the land. At the same moment the great void responded, releasing a piercing metallic clang that rang through the heavens.

1. Also known as Xiukui Dao Gate. ☜

2. Referring to Luoxia Upper Sect. ☜