Chapter 407. To Learn How to Fight Ten Thousand Men (1)

Zhou Xuchuan hadn’t traveled south without a plan. In fact, he had set up a contingency in advance. That plan was the Sword Demon, Wu Qu, the unknown absolute master.

Since Wu Qu was in Shandong to protect his daughter Wu Zhenhua, Zhuge Shengji, and Li Yicai, and to serve as muscle if needed, he was relatively close to the northern battlefront.

We’ve been careful not to expose him just in case.

The Coruscant realm was a symbol of martial might, and a Coruscant expert would play an important role in any combat strategies. Battle plans in

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wars were decided on where such an expert would be dispatched to.

He can be our hidden trump card and catch the enemy off guard.

The difference between Blessed Existence perceiving someone as a Harmony realm expert or a Coruscant realm expert was immense. That was why Zhou Xuchuan and Wu Qu paid careful attention so that the latter wouldn’t gain fame as an Empyrean Overlord.

As long as the elder stays at his post, those two will be safe. But...

The two people, of course, were Zhuge Shengji and Li Yicai. They mattered deeply to Zhou Xuchuan for many reasons. Not only did they share a deep bond built over the years, but their presence was critical in the effort to destroy the Dark Heavens Association.

Since he is vacating his position, I hope he can be of some help.

***

“Wu Qu?”

A flicker of doubt crossed the Dark Heavens Association Lord’s eyes. Then he quietly muttered after remembering something. “The... Merchant King’s sword?”

Wu Qu was a swordsman of the Evil Faction, no, more accurately, a wandering warrior who had risen to the ranks of the One Hundred Experts Under Heaven through his feats during the Great War of Good and Demonic.

But the Dark Heavens Association kept an eye on him not as a famed warrior, but as Zhou Xuchuan’s close acquaintance instead. And this encounter told the Association Lord that they needed to comprehensively overhaul their evaluation of Wu Qu.

“I didn’t get here on time...?”

Wu Qu glanced at Ximen Erjin and sighed regretfully. Despite the latter standing proudly on his feet, and the fighting spirit still burning fiercely in his eyes, no breaths of life could be sensed coming from him. The brave warrior had died while standing.

Wu Qu briefly recalled his conversation with the group he had run into only a few moments ago.

‘Sir, who... are you?’

‘I’m the reinforcement sent by our benefactor, the Sword God Zhou Xuchuan. I’ll be direct. What happened, and what kind of help do you need?’

Wu Qu had encountered the fleeing Shen Tujun’s group. Unfortunately, Shen Tujun didn’t immediately believe Wu Qu, as the latter simply looked too suspicious. All he saw was an unknown expert traveling alone on a battlefield. Only a fool would have found that not suspicious.

Thankfully, though, the warriors affiliated with the Gold Will Merchant fighting for the Northern Alliance forces stepped forward to vouch for Wu Qu’s identity, winning Shen Tujun’s trust.

After hearing what had happened, Wu Qu made his way quickly to the site of the first confrontation between the alliance forces and the Dark Heavens Association Lord.

Other than the Association Lord, I don’t see the rest of the Dark Heavens.

Wu Qu observed as his sharp eyes quickly scanned the area.

Not only that, but I also don’t see the people from Shaolin, either. It seems the Ximen clan acted as a distraction.

He had fought in various battlefields as a youngster, his judgment was sharp enough to rival Shen Tujun’s.

“

Gangho

reputedly has as many geniuses as grains of sand, but to think another Coruscant expert had remained hidden all this time.”

The Dark Heavens Association Lord muttered, his expression a mixture of interest and mild displeasure. Interest, because a new powerhouse had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and displeasure, because his Association seemed to lack the ability to notice such an expert sooner.

Once I achieve my grand ambition, I must fill the void left behind by Vast Gate.

The Dark Heavens Association owed much of its ability to control

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from the shadows not only to Blessed Existence’s brain, but also to Vast Gate’s information network that allowed the organization to collect all sorts of intel from the imperial court,

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, and even the criminal underworld.

What she had created allowed the Association to rely on the Vast Gate Star’s network even after her death. Considering all she had done, her contribution was just as valuable as Blessed Existence’s.

Losing her had been a tremendous blow. If the Association Lord had his way, he would have personally hunted down her killer and made them die slowly in the most agonizing way imaginable.

“You are as arrogant as the rumors say,” Wu Qu replied in a dry, uninterested tone. “Someone who thinks they know everything is often referred to as a frog in a well.”

“

Hoh-oh

?” The Association Lord grinned as if he was amused by that provocation. “Your name’s Wu Qu, isn’t it?”

His grip on the sword slowly tightened.

“I’ve been wondering why you looked so familiar. Now I see it.”

What lit up the abyss was the emotion of pure displeasure.

“Now that I’ve taken a closer look at you, you resemble that irritating little bastard, Zhou Xuchuan.”

It wasn’t just Zhou Xuchuan, however. This story also applied to the Evil faction’s hero, the Domination God Monarch. Those two appeared out of nowhere to interfere with the grand plan built up over more than a dozen years.

Wu Qu was the same. Although he hadn’t achieved any feat of note yet, it still felt like he and the other two were the same.

“If you see the shadow of my benefactor in me, then yes, you’re correct.”

Wu Qu also gripped his sword tightly.

“I wield my sword for only two people in this world. One of them is the Sword God, Zhou Xuchuan!”

He began circulating his qi from the lower dantian just below his navel.

The power that had reached the realm of absolute master swam to every corner of his body before traveling into his arms to envelop his sword.

Although not visible to the naked eye, what permeated the sword was the vajra qi.

“Is that so?” Wrinkles deepened on the Association Lord’s forehead. “I am merciful and generous toward enemies if they are geniuses, but it seems you and I will never stand together.”

“Indeed. It is the same for me.”

Creeeak!

The air around them screamed and screeched, an unpleasant sound like nails scraping across metal. A moment later, currents of wind surged between the two swords, forming a spiraling vortex that lashed out at the surroundings.

The disturbance itself wasn’t large, like a storm in a teacup. But a mere moment later, the winds swept across the surroundings with the two men at the center, causing a transformation in the world.

The shrieking sound of metal suddenly stopped. Not just that sound, every sound vanished. It was an eerie stillness, as if even time had frozen.

KA-BOOM!

The air exploded violently, as if countless explosives had been detonated all at once. However, there were no crimson flames swirling like the tongue of a devil, and no surge of heat intense enough to scorch skin or cook everything in its path.

Instead, wind pressure so intense that one could barely breathe or keep their eyes open crashed into the surroundings and caused utter mayhem.

The absolute masters’ hairs danced messily in the air. Even the trees around them busily waved their branches around as if they were about to bend backward.

“That’s enough.”

Wu Qu furrowed his brow while dismissively waving his sword. But the power behind that wave was definitely not weak. The wind storm caused by his blade deflected the incoming qi storm away. Thanks to his move, Ximen Erjin standing behind him emerged unscathed.

“We are changing the location,” said Wu Qu.

“Is that a request?”

“It’s a warning.”

“

Hahaha

!”

The Association Lord laughed in amusement only for him to suddenly stop, an icy killing intent now flickering within his eyes. All trace of mirth was gone from his expression. “How arrogant. Very well. Here’s my warning.”

Whoosh!

The Association Lord raised his arm before thrusting his sword forward.

This attack was on another level compared to what he had demonstrated against the Northern Alliance force earlier. It was the complete opposite of shabby or clumsy, in fact.

Had any survivors from the Ximen clan seen this, they would have despaired at the gap in strength.

But the expert standing across from him was no ordinary fighter.

CLAAANG!

Two blades collided. Rays of sunlight seeping through the trees reflected on the blades and flickered ominously.

Wu Qu’s blade had accurately intercepted the Association Lord’s attack.

“

Huh

? You reacted to my speed?”

A gasp of genuine admiration left the Association Lord’s lips.

He hadn’t held back. He never would, not after confirming the threat posed by his opponent. Though the attack hadn’t been at full strength, it was more than enough to kill most. Even a Coruscant realm master would struggle to track it.

Wu Qu didn’t miss the opening created by the Association Lord’s surprise. While strengthening his core, he gripped his sword with both hands and swung the weapon powerfully. It was as if he was unleashing a sword technique with a blunt weapon.

Dragon Heavy Bite!

KA-BOOM!

Wu Qu’s sword unleashed monstrous strength and granted him incredible weight. The ground beneath his feet caved in instantly.

Pah-su-sut!

“Not a quick sword, but a heavy sword?”

The Association Lord frowned again. He had assumed Wu Qu’s main martial art technique was ‘quick sword’ since the latter was able to respond to the Preceding Heaven Sword Technique. But this power suggested otherwise.

The further evidence supporting that theory was the ground caving in from Wu Qu’s steps.

“You certainly are an interesting bastard, aren’t you?”

The Dark Heavens Association Lord retreated three steps, then gripped his own sword with both hands.

“...!”

Wu Qu’s expression changed after noticing the Association Lord’s new stance.

“Now, then. Defend this if you can.”

WHOOSH!

The air split in two. It felt as though the world itself had been cleaved.

The Association Lord’s speed was too fast to be seen by the naked eye. His sword came hurtling toward Wu Qu’s head, faster than anything so far.

“

Fuu-huph!

”

Wu Qu let out a short, sharp breath. Time seemed to slow. The sword that had disappeared reappeared in his vision, speeding toward him. His body moved before his mind could react, blocking the blow just in time.

“

Haa-ahph

!”

Even the Association Lord let out a spirited cry.

‘Huh!’

Wu Qu was stunned. Not only had the speed increased, but the force behind the blow had as well. His hands ached from the impact.

But there was no time to recover.

In the next instant, the Association Lord’s sword began pummeling Wu Qu like storm winds.

Pah-ba-ba-baht!

The air continued exploding softly after each strike. Even the flashes of light went off at the same time, blinding Wu Qu.

Sword strikes rained down from above, below, left, and right.

Wu Qu even forgot about breathing. His eyes darted around, his hands and feet matched his eye movements and barely blocked the incoming attacks.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

How many times had he blocked the attacks? The rapid clashing of steel filled the air.

When the count of exchanged blows passed the triple digits, the two absolute masters suddenly leapt back, retreating at the same time without a word.

“

Fuu-woo

!”

Only then did Wu Qu breathe again.

“Why, you...!” The Association Lord’s expression crumpled in suspicion in total contrast to Wu Qu’s. “How do you know the Preceding Heaven Sword Technique?”

The Preceding Heaven Sword Technique had always been a two-handed technique, not one. The way Wu Qu’s expression shifted when the Association Lord gripped his sword with both hands suggested he had recognized the martial technique.

“The Everfirst Sword Strike and the Connecting Limits with Speed.”

Wu Qu replied to the Association Lord’s question with those words.

“...!”

Those were the names of the first and second move of the Preceding Heaven Sword Technique.

“I see. Its fame is not for nothing, indeed. It is as I’ve heard within the sect’s halls, then.”

Wu Qu had only heard the name of the technique. This was his first time fighting against its master. But that wasn’t enough to explain his shock at how powerful it was. He even lost his grip on his sword from that flurry of attacks just now.

Rather than following with his eyes, he had to half-rely on his body’s instincts and senses to survive.

“Sect?” The Association Lord furrowed his brow in confusion, only for his eyes to widen in realization. “Could it be? Your sect is—!”

“Wasting time any further will be pointless.”

Wu Qu lowered his sword to his side, as his irises began splitting vertically.

“Let’s decide the outcome through the Manifestations of Our Path.”