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Chapter 32: Sword Duel on a Snowy Night, Nascent Soul vs. Nascent Soul
🕑 Added 2024-12-08 09:00:23 +0000 UTC“This is… a Tribulation Crossing?”
Gu An looked out the window at the thunderclouds, his brows gradually relaxing as a look of curiosity spread across his face.
He wasn’t worried because he sensed that the heavenly might was far from Xuan Valley.
Tang Yu, Su Han, and Zhen Qin, who were sweeping the snow in the garden, all turned their heads to look. Ye Lan, who was meditating in the forest, also opened her eyes. Xiao Chuan walked out of his room, gazing up at the rolling thunderclouds.
Wu Xin, sitting cross-legged at the mountain’s peak, was untouched by the flying snow that failed to conceal his figure. He looked toward the sky, his brows tightly furrowed.
“Such powerful sword intent…”
Wu Xin muttered to himself. Though his cultivation was low, his experience, as someone from the Thousand Autumn Pavilion, was considerable.
The entire sky was quickly covered by thunderclouds, like an endless ocean, surging with massive waves. The snow-covered forest and earth fell into darkness. The winds between heaven and earth grew stronger, causing the forest to sway, shaking off layers of accumulated snow.
The overwhelming heavenly might made it impossible for Gu An to concentrate on his writing. He stood up, went downstairs, and instructed the disciples to keep an eye on the various garden areas.
An hour later, several cultivators flew over Xuan Valley, rushing in the direction of the heavenly might, disappearing into the snowy wilderness.
This scene made the valley disciples even more nervous, unsure of what was happening.
As dusk approached, a thunderclap resounded across the sky.
Standing atop a mountain, Gu An saw lightning flickering in the distant sky, thunderbolts intertwining and striking down at a single point on the ground, forming a massive fan-shaped display. It was truly spectacular. The light from the lightning illuminated his face, and his black robe fluttered in the wind.
“The Tribulation Lightning is terrifying… No wonder I failed so many times during my simulated cultivation.”
Gu An sighed internally, finally releasing the resentment that had built up over the years.
Although simulated cultivation consumed more life essence than reality, it had the advantage of being safe. Looking back on his achievements, being a Nascent Soul ninth-level cultivator at twenty-eight, could the Tai Xuan Sect find a second person like him?
Afterwards, he turned and descended the mountain, ready to continue writing.
That night, the continuous rumble of thunder kept everyone in Medicine Valley from cultivating in peace.
By noon the next day, the thunder continued, and the wind between heaven and earth grew fiercer, as if a blizzard was approaching. Gu An periodically led the disciples out to tend to the spirit herbs.
After three days and nights, the thunder finally stopped. As the thunderclouds dispersed, sunlight broke through, bringing a sense of relief to the disciples of Xuan Valley.
However, their joy was short-lived. Not half a day later, a fierce pressure enveloped the land, making everyone feel as though a heavy weight was pressing on their chests, their hearts filled with unease.
Inside the pavilion.
Gu An set down his brush and looked out the window, his brows furrowed.
He could feel a powerful sword intent coming from the distant sky, though it was difficult to determine how far away it was.
“What is he doing?”
Gu An was perplexed. Having just crossed the Tribulation, was he now trying to comprehend sword intent?
So desperate?
Gu An could only pray that this person wouldn’t affect his Medicine Valley.
Although the sword intent was strong, after some comparison, Gu An felt that it was inferior to his own Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword.
After all, he had invested two thousand years of life essence into mastering the Tai Cang Divine Shocking Sword!
How many people in this world could live for two thousand years?
...
Late at night, in the Eight Views Heavenly Cave.
Gu An arrived to visit Jiang Qiong, making his way to the Ancient Vine Tree and raising his hand to salute her.
“For the next while, don’t come inside. Otherwise, you might be noticed by Zuo Yijian,” Jiang Qiong said without opening her eyes.
Zuo Yijian?
Gu An remembered this person—it was Zuo Lin’s father. Back when they had flown over Xuan Valley, he had used his life essence to investigate both of them.
Zuo Yijian had been at the ninth level of the Core Formation stage back then.
After crossing the tribulation, he would now be a Nascent Soul cultivator.
As Gu An’s mind raced, he asked nervously, “Who is Zuo Yijian?”
“He’s the one who’s been crossing the tribulation these past few days. Your master once mentioned that he’s now earned the title of the ‘Sword Maniac of Cang Lake,’” Jiang Qiong explained.
Sword Maniac of Cang Lake?
Gu An curiously asked, “Master, do you know him?”
“Yes, we’re old acquaintances. Back in the day, he was foolish enough to pursue me as a Dao companion, but I harshly humiliated him, making him the laughingstock of the inner sect. After that, he secluded himself, focusing solely on swordsmanship. He never left his doors, even after I was injured and faked my death. I haven’t seen him since,” Jiang Qiong replied. She opened her eyes and looked at Gu An with a teasing smile. “Disciple grandson, remember this—don’t fall for someone easily. It only brings suffering.”
Gu An replied, “Thank you for your advice, Master. I’ll be sure to keep it in mind.”
After that, Jiang Qiong had Gu An sit down and began instructing him in the Ten Thousand Gu Mysterious Technique.
The Ten Thousand Gu Mysterious Technique included not only a Qi cultivation method but also numerous Gu techniques, requiring a lot of time and effort to master.
After spending two hours in the Eight Views Heavenly Cave, Gu An finally left.
...
Three days later, at dawn.
Gu An was leading the disciples in their morning exercises. They stood on the snow, dressed in light clothing despite the bitter cold wind.
Whoosh!
The sound of something cutting through the air startled everyone. They turned to see a sword aura strike the eastern mountain, severing two large trees on the slope. The trees tumbled down, rolling along the hillside until they were finally stopped by a row of trees. Snow and dust flew up like a white mist.
Looking higher, they saw a two-zhang-long crack on the mountainside, as if it had been carved out by a giant sword—an awe-inspiring sight.
Su Han frowned and said, “This isn’t the first time. If this continues, it will affect us sooner or later.”
The other disciples also looked worried, and their movements in practice slowed down as a result.
Wu Xin sighed and said, “When a sword cultivator is comprehending sword intent, it can take anywhere from a few days to decades. Who knows how long this person will take?”
Gu An, usually cheerful, now wore a grim expression.
He was worried about the spirit herbs in Xuan Valley.
Yesterday, he had gone to the Outer Sect to report this issue to the Pill Hall, but the response was that he could temporarily relocate to the Outer Sect city and forgo this year’s harvest. However, the Pill Hall wouldn’t compensate for any losses in Xuan Valley.
The spirit herbs in Xuan Valley were his treasures. There was no way he would just give them up.
If Xuan Valley collapsed, the Eight Views Heavenly Cave might even be exposed.
No way!
He had to find a solution!
Gu An’s eyes gleamed with determination. For the sake of his livelihood, he could tolerate many things, but for the spirit herbs, he was willing to take a risk!
“Alright, keep practicing. After that, focus on your cultivation. We’ll wait two more days. If that person hasn’t left by then, we’ll head to the Outer Sect for a while,” Gu An said.
Upon hearing this, the disciples’ spirits lifted. They had been worried that Xuan Valley might collapse, so they were already eager to leave.
Winter days passed quickly.
Night gradually fell.
On a mountaintop, Zuo Yijian sat in meditation, draped in a gray robe. In front of him stood five swords, each of a different shape and blade width.
Under the night sky, with snow swirling around him, the snowflakes that fell on him instantly melted, turning into wisps of white mist, making his aura appear even more imposing.
A hundred zhang away, Zuo Lin meditated on the edge of a cliff, surrounded by three large flags. As sword aura swept toward him, an invisible barrier absorbed the impact, leaving him unharmed.
Although he wasn’t injured, the sound of sword aura clashing with the array’s barrier woke Zuo Lin from his meditation.
He looked up at his father, his brows furrowing, and his eyes filled with admiration.
They say that dragons give birth to dragons and phoenixes to phoenixes, so why hadn’t he inherited his father’s talent for swordsmanship?
Feeling the powerful sword intent emanating from his father, Zuo Lin’s heart raced.
Even though his spiritual root aptitude was excellent, allowing him to absorb Qi far faster than his peers, all he wanted was to become a powerful sword cultivator like his father.
If it weren’t for his desire to comprehend swordsmanship, his cultivation would be much higher than Foundation Establishment stage level two.
“Sigh…”
Zuo Lin sighed, preparing to continue comprehending swordsmanship. He refused to believe that he couldn’t make any progress in the path of the sword.
Just as he was about to close his eyes, he noticed his father rising, leaving him stunned.
Is it over?
Zuo Yijian stood on the mountain peak, facing Zuo Lin’s direction, but his gaze was focused even higher, locked onto a distant, taller mountain. In the dim night, no figures could be seen, but he could feel a sword intent targeting him.
The five swords in front of him began to tremble, as if facing a formidable foe.
Opposite, Zuo Lin stood up, calling out loudly, “Father, what’s wrong? Have you succeeded?”
Zuo Yijian didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “I wonder which fellow Daoist has arrived? Why not show yourself?”
Ten li away.
Dressed in white, Gu An stood atop a mountain, a wooden mask covering his face, and spiritual energy shrouded his face beneath to prevent detection by divine sense.
His white robes blended into the snow behind him.
In his right hand, he played with a single leaf, from which tendrils of sword energy radiated.
From his high vantage point, Gu An could clearly see Zuo Yijian, and he also spotted Zuo Lin.
Before releasing his sword intent, he had already scanned the hundred li around him, ensuring that no other powerful cultivators were present before arriving at this peak.
Gu An wasn’t one to kill indiscriminately, but Zuo Yijian was a threat to his Medicine Valley. He had to be driven away.
“Blame yourself for choosing the wrong place,” Gu An muttered. He had already activated his technique, infusing the leaf with spiritual energy.
At the same time.
Upon hearing his father’s words, Zuo Lin turned around. But with his Foundation Establishment stage cultivation, he couldn’t see ten li away, especially in the dark of night, with snow falling heavily, obscuring his vision.
Unable to see the approaching enemy, Zuo Lin grew nervous.
Zuo Yijian felt the opponent’s sword intent rising and knew there was no avoiding this battle.
“A demonic sect spy? Or could it be… one of their people?”
Zuo Yijian’s eyes flickered. His right hand gripped one of the swords in front of him, a long, thin sword with a fiery red blade. As soon as he grasped it, the blade ignited, becoming the brightest thing in the night sky.
He swung the sword, and a wave of fire shot across the sky, hovering like a burning river.
“In the cold of winter, he’s using the Flame Devouring Sword Technique. It seems his comprehension of the sword has grown greatly these past days…” Zuo Lin turned his head and, seeing the swordfire in his father’s hand, gazed with admiration.
No matter who the opponent was, he believed his father wouldn’t lose.
“Since you refuse to speak, Daoist friend, I can only assume you intend to disrupt my comprehension of the Dao. Let this icy landscape bear witness to whose sword intent is stronger!”
Zuo Yijian’s cold voice echoed through the heavens. As his words fell, a soaring sword intent erupted from his body, causing the mountain he stood on to tremble violently. Snow cascaded down, and even the mountain Zuo Lin stood on began to shake.
Ten li away.
“Too much talk.”
Gu An muttered softly, his voice barely audible to himself. As he spoke, he suddenly flung the leaf from his hand.
It didn’t seem like a leaf at all—it was as if a divine sword had cut through time and space!
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