Chapter 931: To Enter My Gate, You Must Endure My Sword
What about Zheshe? Chen Changsheng wondered if Su Li had forced Zheshe to walk this stone path filled with sword intent merely to teach him a lesson. Or perhaps this was an old man’s test for his son-in-law?
“My father isn’t as good as you think. He simply didn’t want Zheshe to see me. In fact, he definitely never imagined you could actually break through.”
Hearing the voice, Chen Changsheng turned to look.
Then he saw Qijian, whom he hadn’t seen in many years.
Back then at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum and later in the Zhou Garden, the Qijian he knew was a thin, small boy who seemed somewhat timid. So even though he had long known her true identity, seeing her dressed in a green gown as a young woman, he still stared blankly for a long time before coming to his senses.
“Long time no see,” Chen Changsheng said to her.
Qijian brushed her messy hair behind her ear and said, “How many years has it been? In the mountains, one loses track of time, and I’m too lazy to keep count.”
Now she was a bright and cheerful young girl, even healthier-looking than when she was younger, without the melancholy Chen Changsheng had imagined beforehand.
Chen Changsheng looked around and found that the emerald valley was lush with vegetation, with a distant waterfall and a hidden pool, birdsong ringing endlessly—the scenery was extremely beautiful.
But even if it were a paradise, being confined here year after year would be bitter.
Thinking of this and hearing her words, his dissatisfaction with Su Li and the entire Li Mountain grew stronger.
Seeing his expression, Qijian said softly, “Your Holiness the Pope, have you misunderstood something?”
Chen Changsheng was slightly startled and asked, “Are you not imprisoned here?”
Qijian said, “I have indeed been here all these years, quietly cultivating my sword techniques.”
Chen Changsheng said, “Then why bother defending your sect? This place is not easy to enter or leave.”
Thinking of the dangerous sword intent in the stone wall gate earlier, he still felt lingering fear. If he had to endure such a trial every day, even if the emerald valley’s scenery were beautiful, he wouldn’t want to come.
Qijian knew he was concerned for her and said with a smile, “Besides the way you came, there are naturally other methods.”
Chen Changsheng was slightly stunned, wondering if there was another passage in and out, and asked, “Then can you leave now? He… is over there.”
Qijian’s smile faded, and she said calmly and firmly, “If he truly wants to see me, he can naturally come to see me.”
Chen Changsheng vaguely understood the meaning of these words, but couldn’t be sure.
…
…
The dragon-like dust gradually settled, sunlight once again spilled onto the cliff platform, and the stone path fell into true silence.
Everyone’s expressions tightened, unsure of what was happening inside.
Zheshe looked in that direction, silent and thoughtful.
Qiushan Jun said, “He made it through.”
Hearing this, Guan Feibai glanced at the sky, a look of surprise on his face, and said, “It only took three-quarters of an hour?”
Tang Thirty-Six didn’t know how difficult that stone path was, but from Guan Feibai’s reaction, he knew Chen Changsheng had taken very little time. He said smugly, “Don’t forget, his sword techniques were personally taught by your grand-uncle master. What’s crossing this stone path to him?”
Bai Cai sneered and said, “When Senior Brother crossed this stone path five years ago, it only took him half an hour.”
Hearing this, Zheshe glanced at Qiushan Jun, and Tang Thirty-Six was also surprised.
Qiushan Jun’s fame had long spread across the world, but few had seen him in action, and neither had Zheshe nor Tang Thirty-Six.
They had always wanted to know just how strong Qiushan Jun really was, since everyone said he was incredibly powerful.
The shout at Wenshui City and the paintings on Shengny Peak had proven that Qiushan Jun was no ordinary man, but those weren’t cultivation or combat.
Only now did they realize just how strong this man truly was.
Five years ago, Qiushan Jun was even younger than Chen Changsheng was now, and his realm was likely slightly inferior, yet he had crossed this stone path in just half an hour?
Gou Hanshi said, “Senior Brother has been learning swords in the mountains since childhood, and this wasn’t his first time challenging the sword path, so he naturally had some advantage.”
The Li Mountain Sword Sect disciples knew their Second Senior Brother’s style and weren’t surprised that he spoke up for Chen Changsheng.
Tang Thirty-Six, however, didn’t know how to respond.
Zheshe ignored their conversation and walked straight toward the stone path.
The sword intent spilling from the stone walls and green vines fell upon him, instantly tearing his clothes.
But he didn’t care, his expression unchanged.
The gazes of the Li Mountain disciples, Tang Thirty-Six, and the others all fell on him.
Many had already thought that Chen Changsheng should be able to cross this stone path, since he cultivated the Li Mountain sword path.
But what about this wolf clan powerhouse, infamous for his ferocity since childhood?
He was the true protagonist of this matter.
…
…
For Chen Changsheng, crossing this stone path was a battle.
For Zheshe, crossing this stone path was a hunt.
From a certain perspective, he indeed retained many primal traits.
As a hybrid of demon and human, his body was tougher than steel, his innate talent and comprehension were extraordinary, his intelligence was extremely high, his divine sense was immensely powerful, and his true essence was incredibly abundant.
As his strange illness of “whimsical surges” grew worse, his meridians thickened, his divine sense became more violent and frenzied, and his true essence quantity surged dramatically.
Like certain demon beasts in the northern plains, when they were about to die, they became immensely powerful.
Zheshe was very powerful now, and when Chen Changsheng crossed the stone path, he observed like a true beast, missing no detail.
He confirmed he had found the prey’s weakness, so he would conserve all strength and unnecessary consumption, pounce directly, and bite through the opponent’s throat.
Pushing aside the green vines, he stepped into the stone path. Facing the overwhelming sword intent, he didn’t assume any combat stance and said, “I’m not here to learn swords from you, nor do I want to prove I’m stronger than you. I’m just here to see her. No one can stop me.”
These words were directed at the sword marks on the stone walls, naturally meant for the owner of those marks.
…
…
Countless sword cries soared into the sky, filled with fury, but before long, these sword cries faded away.
The stone path fell silent. Whether it was Tang Thirty-Six and the others on the cliff platform or Chen Changsheng on the other side of the mountain, everyone was extremely tense.
After waiting a long time with no more sword cries, Chen Changsheng understood and said, “Is that the method?”
Qijian said calmly, “Sword consciousness is spiritual and cannot be deceived. As long as the heart is sincere, the message can be conveyed. Since he is not an enemy, why block him?”
Chen Changsheng said, “Then what about the sword cries earlier? They seemed even more violent and frenzied than what I encountered.”
Qijian’s lips tightened slightly, appearing indifferent but actually very nervous.
Footsteps grew closer.
Zheshe walked out from the stone path.