Chapter 216: Why Come Here to Watch the Master Sleep
Chen Changsheng knew what his teacher intended to do, so naturally he would not stop him. Even if he wanted to stop him, he probably couldn't.
Shang Xingzhou grasped that sword.
The sword's style was somewhat archaic, or rather old, and it was very inconspicuous amidst the rain of swords. Back when Chen Changsheng brought over ten thousand swords out of the Sword Pool in the Zhou Garden, he hadn't noticed this sword either. Later, when the National Church decided to return these swords to their original sects and mountain gates, the Li Palace dispatched many highly experienced and knowledgeable priests to register these swords in a ledger, but still no one knew the origin of this sword. However, because this sword was too unremarkable, no one paid it much attention either.
Since its origin was unknown, naturally no one knew where to send it back. This sword thus remained by Chen Changsheng's side. In the subsequent battles, this sword, like its other companions, followed his will, becoming part of the sword formation, a single drop in the rain of swords. Still, it remained just as inconspicuous.
Until today, when Shang Xingzhou grasped this sword.
The cliffside, where the light was blocked by the branches and leaves of the Heavenly Tree, was shrouded in gloom. Suddenly, it brightened, as if an extra sun had appeared. That sword emitted an unbearably dazzling light.
This sword was a Zen sword of the Buddhist Sect.
Its name was Great Sun Tathagata.
The Buddhist Sect had long since perished, with no records in either the Daoist Canon or folk texts. Who could still recognize this sword? In the current continent, only three people knew the origin of this sword. Two of them should now be facing off on the snowy plains north of Tianliang Commandery. Only Shang Xingzhou was present.
He spotted this sword at a glance amidst the rain of swords and then plucked it.
The Buddhist Sect cultivated the mind, and the Zen sword fixed the mind. The so-called Great Sun Tathagata meant arriving with the mind, a true mind sword. The cultivation of the Xi Ning Temple was also about mind and intent. One could imagine how terrifying it would be for this sword to fall into Shang Xingzhou's hands.
That Holy Light Angel sensed the danger, let out a low thunderous roar, trying to shake off the White Emperor's divine soul to deal with it with full force.
A cyan afterimage streaked across the sky.
That was Shang Xingzhou's Daoist robe.
The White Emperor's divine soul gradually dissipated.
A stream of golden blood spurted from the Holy Light Angel's chest.
He failed to evade Shang Xingzhou's sword strike; his body was pierced through.
This sword came from nowhere, charging forward without return.
Who could evade it?
...
...
The cliffside fell into dead silence.
The Holy Light Angel lowered his head to look at the hole in his chest, his face showing an expression of pain. Golden blood continuously dripped down, bringing many strange phenomena. The ground wet by the blood suddenly sprouted green grass, with holy white flowers blooming among it.
Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong felt no great joy; instead, they felt a chill in their bodies. They had seen that sword strike. This sword was too terrifying. Or rather, Shang Xingzhou was too terrifying. His sword moved entirely with his mind, truly achieving the realm of an antelope hanging by its horns, the heavens' intent unfathomable. Who could evade such a sword? Even if Chen Changsheng and Xu Yourong combined their swords, facing such a sword, they could only await death.
They felt this chill, of course, not only because of this deduction but also because at this moment, Shang Xingzhou looked at Chen Changsheng.
Yes, Shang Xingzhou paid no more attention to that Holy Light Angel, not even glancing at him again. Holding that Great Sun Tathagata sword, he silently gazed at Chen Changsheng. No one knew what he was thinking at this moment or what he intended to do. But it was certain that, in Shang Xingzhou's view, the Holy Light Angel he had gravely wounded posed no further threat.
Then, across the banks of the Red River, who was the threat he most wanted to eliminate? The events of the past few years had long proven this.
Countless waves rose on the wide Red River.
The White Emperor did not come over, but he withdrew his gaze from the western sky and deeply glanced at the opposite bank. His eyes were a stark white, looking somewhat fierce, like the coldest, most violent wind and snow.
Shang Xingzhou stopped looking at Chen Changsheng and looked back.
Across the surging river, the two most powerful saints of the continent stared at each other.
For a moment, turbid waves surged into the sky, a gloomy wind howled, and the wind and clouds stirred violently.
The shift in the situation was too sudden.
A moment ago, Shang Xingzhou and the White Emperor had joined forces to kill one Holy Light Angel and gravely wound another.
The next moment, they began to confront each other.
Was it just because Shang Xingzhou glanced at Chen Changsheng? Or were there deeper reasons?
Chen Changsheng couldn't figure it out and didn't continue to dwell on it.
That Holy Light Angel, though pierced through by Shang Xingzhou's sword and severely injured, had not completely lost his combat ability. If he were allowed to leave alive, when humanity later marched north against the demons, they would inevitably face a very formidable opponent. Or perhaps Shang Xingzhou's sword would pierce his chest next, and he had to prevent all of this from happening.
However, Xu Yourong tugged at his sleeve.
The Holy Light Angel flapped his wings, turning into a streak of light heading north.
Chen Changsheng knew he was too late.
Shang Xingzhou and the White Emperor were still locked in confrontation.
The only one present who could catch up to the Holy Light Angel was Xu Yourong.
The Holy Light Angel was already too severely wounded; he should be no match for her.
The problem was, if she left, what would happen to Chen Changsheng? Even with their swords combined, they might not be a match for Shang Xingzhou, but it was still far better than fighting separately.
Chen Changsheng looked at Xu Yourong and said, "The White Emperor won't let me die."
Xu Yourong said, "Neither will I."
Shang Xingzhou, gazing at the White Emperor on the opposite bank, revealed an unfathomable smile and then spoke a sentence.
"Zhu Sha, kill him."
Hearing these words, the White Emperor's expression shifted slightly.
Chen Changsheng was very surprised.
A black-clad young girl walked out from the Heavenly Tree's hollow. The iron chain that had connected her to the entire cliffside had somehow been undone.
Only then did Chen Changsheng understand why he had felt this cliffside looked familiar earlier.
He looked at Xu Yourong.
Xu Yourong smiled.
Then he understood many more things.
Why she had remained so calm earlier when the Holy Light Angel had cornered them.
Why she had told him earlier that he should at least tell someone about the plan.
And then he understood the current situation.
Shang Xingzhou had set up this trap to kill those two Holy Light Angels.
The White Emperor, for some reason, did not want this last Holy Light Angel to be killed as well.
Of course, he also didn't want Chen Changsheng to die.
Thus, Shang Xingzhou and the White Emperor had suddenly turned from allies into opponents.
But the White Emperor hadn't expected that Shang Xingzhou had already arranged a final escort for that Holy Light Angel.
As for whether Shang Xingzhou wanted to kill him... it was better not to dwell on that question.
The Little Black Dragon looked at Chen Changsheng.
Although Shang Xingzhou had freed her, she would still only listen to Chen Changsheng.
Because she was his guardian.
Shang Xingzhou said nothing, appearing very calm.
Because he knew his student well and knew how Chen Changsheng would choose at a time like this.
Chen Changsheng didn't hesitate. He said, "Go."
A fierce wind howled, green leaves flew wildly, and the black-clad young girl's figure vanished.
High in the clouds, that severely wounded Holy Light Angel skirted the rift cut by the Heavenly Mirror and turned northward to fly.
Suddenly, he saw a black mountain range stretching over ten miles.
It was as if the Falling Star Mountain Range had suddenly risen from the ground into the sky. (To be continued.)