Chapter 928: Su Li's Sword Path
Chen Changsheng possessed extraordinary talent in cultivation, yet his worldly wisdom was quite ordinary. It took him a long time to react, and after thinking it over seriously for a while, he said, "If an opportunity arises, I will naturally persuade His Majesty the White Emperor to return the complete manual of the Lishan Sword Style."
Several hundred years ago, during the joint campaign of the Human and Demon races against the Mo race, several elders of the Lishan Sword Sect mishandled grain transport and were sentenced to death for their crimes. The Lishan Sword Sect, having no other recourse, sent the complete sword manual to White Emperor City, prompting the White Emperor to issue an imperial decree that forced Jin Yulu to relent.
For the Lishan Sword Sect, being able to reclaim the complete manual of the Lishan Sword Style without falling out with White Emperor City was, of course, an excellent outcome. And now, the person most likely to accomplish this was naturally Chen Changsheng.
Hearing Chen Changsheng's promise, the Sect Master of the Lishan Sword Sect was quite satisfied. However, Qiushan Jun raised an eyebrow slightly, showing some displeasure.
—His Grandmaster Uncle Su Li had once said that what Lishan had lost should naturally be reclaimed by Lishan itself. But since it was his master's intention, he couldn't openly oppose it in front of Chen Changsheng.
With the biggest issue of Zhezhe's illness resolved, Chen Changsheng's mood improved considerably. He asked, "Can they meet now?"
The Sect Master of the Lishan Sword Sect shook his head and said, "Even if that wolf child learns the True Sword Clear Sound, it will only temporarily suppress the illness, not cure it. Naturally, they cannot meet."
Chen Changsheng was quite frustrated and said, "Why must it be like this?"
The Sect Master of the Lishan Sword Sect was also helpless and replied, "This is the Little Master Uncle's decree. Who dares to defy it?"
Thinking of Su Li's temperament, Chen Changsheng fell silent.
Qiushan Jun suddenly said, "I think Grandmaster Uncle was wrong in this matter."
The Sect Master of the Lishan Sword Sect said, "But he is still your Grandmaster Uncle. You must respect and cherish him."
Qiushan Jun replied, "With a temperament like Grandmaster Uncle's, it's truly hard to feel respect and affection."
Chen Changsheng recalled the scenes from their journey back from the Snow Plains thousands of miles away. He exchanged a glance with Qiushan Jun, knowing what the other was thinking, and felt a shared sentiment.
For a moment, it was as if they had returned to the Banya Horse Ground. But it was only a moment; soon they both felt uncomfortable again and averted their gazes.
"Is there really no other way to make an exception?" Chen Changsheng asked the Sect Master of the Lishan Sword Sect. "After all, Senior Su Li isn't here right now."
The Sect Master of the Lishan Sword Sect said, "Although the Little Master Uncle has left, his sword remains in the mountain."
Chen Changsheng sensed there was something hidden in these words and asked, "Sword?"
The Sect Master of the Lishan Sword Sect said, "The Little Master Uncle left behind a sword. If someone can overcome this sword, they can disregard his decree."
Chen Changsheng thought for a moment and said, "I want to try."
"I don't want to deceive you. Breaking that sword is extremely dangerous." The Sect Master of the Lishan Sword Sect looked at him seriously and said, "The Little Master Uncle is your teacher in the way of the sword. By that reckoning, you are my junior brother. I don't want you to take this risk."
Chen Changsheng said, "I am but a junior and a latecomer; I dare not accept such a title."
This referred to the address of "junior brother."
The Sect Master of the Lishan Sword Sect smiled and said, "Indeed, I misspoke. Even if you dared to accept, I wouldn't dare to call you that. Otherwise, someone would be displeased."
If Chen Changsheng became the junior brother of the Lishan Sword Sect Master, wouldn't that make him the uncle of Qiushan Jun and the other Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom? Who would be displeased? That went without saying.
Chen Changsheng glanced at Qiushan Jun.
Qiushan Jun ignored him and said to the Sect Master of the Lishan Sword Sect, "If the Little Junior Sister heard this, Master, how many whiskers would you have left?"
...
...
On the back slope of Lishan's main peak, there was a cliffside platform. Before the platform was a stone wall covered in green vines, interspersed with wildflowers. Only by approaching closely could one see that among the vines was a stone passage about two feet wide.
From within the stone passage, one could faintly hear the crisp chirping of birds and the scent of flowers. If one looked carefully, a lush green valley could be glimpsed beyond. It seemed there was a verdant valley on the other side.
Qiushan Jun, Gou Hanshi, and other Lishan disciples led Chen Changsheng and his group to stand before the cliffside platform. Zhezhe stared at the stone crevice in silence.
"The Little Junior Sister has been cultivating in seclusion there for the past few years. If you want to see her, you must pass through here." Gou Hanshi said to Chen Changsheng and the others. "This stone path was carved through the cliff by the Grandmaster Uncle with his sword before he broke through to the sacred realm. The sword intent and killing aura remain on the stone walls, making it extremely dangerous. This is the sword you must overcome."
Chen Changsheng knew very well that after the Sky Covering Sword was lost in the Zhou Garden, Su Li had always used an ordinary green steel sword forged by a blacksmith in a town at the foot of Lishan. Thinking of how this man had used such a common sword to carve a cave heaven out of the cliff, he was struck speechless with awe.
His gaze fell on the stone passage among the green vines. Countless deep sword scars remained on the stone wall, undimmed even after centuries of wind and rain. Even from over ten zhang away from the entrance, he could clearly feel the sharp sword intent hidden in those scars.
Bai Cai, Tang Thirty-Six, and the others glanced at the stone wall a few times and felt their eyes sting, as if they were about to cry. Zhezhe kept staring at the stone wall, silent and unusually focused. His eyes gradually reddened, yet he didn't blink even once.
A mountain wind blew in from outside the cliff platform, rustling the fallen leaves on the ground and lifting Chen Changsheng's robes. With a soft tearing sound, a straight slit appeared on his sleeve. A corner of his robe fluttered up and drifted off the cliff.
Chen Changsheng looked down at the ground of the cliff platform. Within ten zhang of the stone passage entrance, the ground was perfectly smooth, without even a single fallen leaf. It seemed that the fierce sword intent from the stone wall had seeped out over the years, cutting all the leaves and gravel that fell there into fine dust.
Such a chilling and terrifying sword intent was rarely seen in the world. Truly, it was the mark of the strongest swordsman in a thousand years.
Zhezhe moved.
Then Chen Changsheng stopped him.
"I learned swordsmanship from Su Li. I know his sword path very well. You should let me try first. Even if I can't get through, I should have a chance to retreat. What you need to do is observe. With your ability to observe and analyze battles, our chances will be much greater afterward."
Chen Changsheng looked into his eyes and spoke seriously.
He was right.
Although it was only a matter of walking through this stone passage covered in sword scars, it was still an extremely arduous battle. This was a battle between them and Su Li from centuries ago.
Zhezhe was silent for a moment, then stopped and said, "Thank you."
Many things didn't need to be said. For someone of Zhezhe's temperament, a single "thank you" was enough to convey a great deal.
Chen Changsheng took out the Stainless Sword, reversed the hilt, and combined it with the Hidden Blade Sword Sheath. This was the strongest form of his sword. He had done this before when facing Zhu Luo in Xunyang City, when he stormed the Northern Horse Market Alley in the capital, and when he faced two generations of Demon Lords in the Snow Ridge. Today, as he prepared to challenge the stone path, he was equally on high alert.
Centuries ago, when Su Li had carved out this cave heaven, he had not yet entered the sacred realm, nor was he as overwhelmingly powerful as he would later become. But his mastery of the sword path had already reached its peak. For Chen Changsheng and Zhezhe now, he was still an unattainable existence.
Chen Changsheng stepped forward with his sword in hand.
With just one step, several more slits appeared on his robes.