Chapter 375: 312: The Ninth of September, Duel with the Martial Lord
Chapter 375: 312: The Ninth of September, Duel with the Martial Lord
After debating with Ye Daoyuan for some time, Pei Xuanjing did not continue his deliberate cultivation, but instead consolidated what he had learned, integrating everything he had studied.
“Next September on the ninth?” Pei Xuanjing looked at the letter of challenge in his hand.
There was only one word on the letter: Battle!
The signature in iron and silver ink was filled with the intense combat intent of the Red Sun Martial Venerate. Most Celestial tier combatants would likely be intimidated by the terrifying presence of the letter.
A smile appeared at the corner of Pei Xuanjing’s mouth as he said coolly, “It’s impolite not to reciprocate, so if the Martial Venerate has given me a gift, I should retaliate with a gift of my own.”
He took out a piece of rice paper and wrote one word: Sure!
Pei Xuanjing’s handwriting was not particularly nice, even somewhat messy. However, coupled with his aura when he put pen to paper, it took on an exceptional significance, revealing sharp edges and overflowing with murderous intent.
Should one of the stronger sword cultivators obtain a look at this word, they might even gain insight into Pei Xuanjing’s understanding of swordsmanship.
The messenger from Da Li who delivered the letter trembled with fear the moment he received the paper. It was as though tiny swords were slicing through his skin coming from the paper, and the more terrifying thing was when he attempted to look at the word; it felt as though countless swords were piercing him, causing a sharp pain in his eyes as if tears were about to fall.
This caused his fear of Pei Xuanjing to intensify.
He called his attendant and hurriedly placed the paper into a box of Mysterious Iron, and only then did that terrifying sword intent disappear without a trace.
After respectfully saluting Pei Xuanjing, he slowly left.
Waiting for the Da Li messenger to leave, Pei Xuanjing looked around at the Everlasting Observance and said softly, “It’s time for me to leave.”
He no longer wished to stay in the capital, but instead planned to travel far and wide, to understand and hone himself to the profound principles of Heaven and Earth.
He bid farewell to the prince. Although the prince was reluctant to see him go, he understood from Pei Xuanjing’s behavior over this period that Pei Xuanjing was a monk who was dedicated to seeking the Path. Even if he was tempted with power and wealth, Pei Xuanjing would not be swayed. He could only nod helplessly.
However, Pei Xuanjing left a way for the prince to find him, allowing the prince to reach him when the time was critical.
After all, even though it would be a long time before the emperor’s demise in that previous life simulation, anything could happen unexpectedly, and Pei Xuanjing was not willing to miss out on some things.
He was very interested in the Empress. After all, she was a master no inferior to Ye Daoyuan, and her path of cultivation emerged from the Brahman Gate, which made Pei Xuanjing extremely curious.
And so Pei Xuanjing embarked on his journey, taking his steps in this unfamiliar world without any deliberate purpose or pursuit, just wandering aimlessly.
He set off in the winter, witnessed the vitality of spring, heard the chirping of the cicadas in the summer, sighed at the solitude of autumn, and mourned the indifference of winter.
He saw the surging sea, traversed the boundless desert, climbed towering mountain ranges, and went deep into the recessed basins.
From south to north, from west to east. In a short span of ten months, Pei Xuanjing practically traveled across the entire empire.
He visited bustling cities and stayed in desolated wilderness, living through the changes of seasons – the cold winter, the hot summer, the autumn harvest, and the winter rest.
In the end, he returned to where he started, on the vast border of the grassland, in Yunzhong City.
During these six months, Pei Xuanjing seemed to have forgotten that he was a cultivator. He simply strolled through Heaven and Earth, letting the Shenxiao Origin Qi inside his body move on its own, not bothering with training his body, but instead exploring the world.
At this moment, Pei Xuanjing’s sharp aura was completely concealed, appearing ordinary without any semblance of power, just like an ordinary person who had not cultivated the martial arts.
Of course, if a powerful being like Ye Daoyuan saw Pei Xuanjing at this moment, he would undoubtedly be greatly shocked.
Return to simplicity and purity!
Pei Xuanjing was in this kind of state, having concealed his sharp aura and appearing ordinary, he seemed even more terrifying.
Pei Xuanjing walked slowly. Aside from comprehending the profound principles of Heaven and Earth during these past months, he was doing another thing: comprehending his own swordsmanship.
When he first came to this world, he studied martial arts and developed his sword technique, which was the first move of his sword technique: Nine Luminaries.
During this period, he was continuously deducing the next moves for his sword techniques.
According to Pei Xuanjing’s idea, his set of sword techniques should be divided into Spirit Realm Sword and Immortal Path Sword.
The Immortal Path was too far away, for now, let’s not talk about it.
As for the Spirit Realm’s sword technique, he believed there should be nine moves, corresponding to the nine realms of Spirit Realm.
He has already chosen the names for the nine sword techniques: First Strike – Nine Luminaries; Second Strike – Eight Extremes; Third Strike – Seven Stars; Fourth Strike – Six Harmonies; Fifth Strike – Five Elements; Sixth Strike – Four Images; Seventh Strike – Three Talents; Eighth Strike – Yin and Yang of Two Elements; Ninth Strike – Tai Chi.
These nine sword techniques reversed the Yin and Yang, returning to the principle of Tai Chi.
In Pei Xuanjing’s imagination, once his Spirit Realm sword technique was fully mastered, it would encompass Tai Chi, Yin and Yang, Three Talents, Four Images, Five Elements, Six Harmonies, Seven Stars, Eight Trigrams, Nine Palaces, and include all the sword techniques in the world.
At present, he was developing the Second Strike – Eight Extremes.
The so-called Eight Extremes refer to the eight directions of the Eight Trigrams.
Ninth of September, Chongyang Day.
On an unremarkable mountain peak in Yunzhong Prairie, Pei Xuanjing was sitting quietly on a big rock, the Ten Thousand-Forged Grade divine weapon, the Longevity Sword, was casually leaning on the rock.
The news that Da Li’s National Teacher, the Red Sun Martial Venerate, had challenged the Sword Saint Pei Min, to fight on the ninth of September had long been spread all over the world. So, at a distance of about ten miles from Pei Xuanjing, countless people gathered. These people, at the very least, had reached the Third-grade Gang Qi Realm in their martial arts cultivation, and there were even many Celestial rank combatants.
These people were grouped together in twos and threes, whispering to each other.
“Who do you think will win between the two?”
“Probably the Da Li National Teacher, the Red Sun Martial Venerate. He has been famous for a long time. It is said that he is already stepping into the Celestial Human Realm with one foot. Even this famous Sword Saint might not necessarily be able to win.”
“This Sword Saint has fought with the strongest in the Great Tang, Ye Daoyuan. They were evenly matched…”
“Back then, the two were just comparing notes, not really going all out. But today is not the same; this pair might have to face each other to the death.”
“But the name of the Sword Saint is not in vain. His swordsmanship is unparalleled. Many people have witnessed it.”
Even though they have yet to fight, this did not prevent these people from starting to discuss who would win or lose.
One of them was the renowned Da Li National Teacher – famous for almost a century, unparalleled across the world.
The other, although a rising star with shorter cultivation time, had unmatched combat strength. A while back, he killed two Celestial rank combatants with a single sword strike and was on par with the strongest person in the Great Tang, Ye Daoyuan. His abilities were truly rare in this world.