Chapter 20: The Sword Mirrors the Man (Part 2)
Inside the carriage on the street, that official was still recording, writing on the paper: "According to information and aggregated analysis from Xunyang City, Su Li should have taught Chen Changsheng three sword techniques. One of them can help him burst forth with true essence in a short time, possessing tremendous power. We originally thought he would use this sword earlier, but unexpectedly, Zhou Ziheng's skill was so poor that he couldn't force out this sword."
There was another official in the carriage, also from the Qingli Department, who added from the side: "It could be because Chen Changsheng's short sword is too sharp."
The official holding the brush was silent for a moment, then said somewhat uncertainly: "But that sword clearly has no fluctuation of aura. Is being merely sharp enough?"
That official also couldn't be certain. Aside from those legendary divine weapons, what sword could so easily pierce the body of a Gathering Star realm expert?
At this moment, the street was very quiet. Everyone's gaze fell upon the short sword in Chen Changsheng's hand.
That short sword looked very ordinary and common, but everyone knew that this sword was absolutely not as ordinary as it appeared.
That painter from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, the right hand holding the brush trembling slightly, spent a long time without drawing the third sketch.
He was already shocked to the extreme. It must be known that the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion was responsible for evaluating the Hundred Weapons List, so his vision was naturally extraordinary. With just one glance, he could see that Chen Changsheng's short sword was extraordinary.
Yes, that short sword had no fluctuation of aura. It was merely sharp.
But anything, if developed to the extreme, becomes terrifying.
If a sword was sharp to an unimaginable degree, what need was there for other external things? It didn't even need the blessing of sacred aura.
What shocked him even more was that Chen Changsheng's short sword was clearly not an old object.
"Immaculate..." that Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion painter thought in shock: "Could it be that this year's Hundred Weapons List will finally see a new name?"
The outcome of this battle in front of the National Academy soon spread to every corner of the capital. Tianhai Chengwu sat on the top floor of the Cheng Hu Tower, looking at the lake and mountain scenery outside. He suddenly felt somewhat annoyed, but he was such a great figure that in just a moment, he composed himself and thought calmly: "So he already has the strength to kill across realms. Then let him continue. My Tianhai family rules the four seas, with countless experts and masters pledging allegiance. I'd like to see how long the National Academy can hold on relying on this young Dean."
Then he looked at the subordinate kneeling before the room and said with a smile: "I don't want to eat anymore. You finish the dishes on the table. Don't waste."
That subordinate looked up in shock, staring at the dozens of dishes on the table and that enormous blue lobster, thinking in terror how could he possibly finish all this?
Tianhai Chengwu withdrew his smile, stood up, and walked out of the Cheng Hu Tower. As he passed by that subordinate, he said expressionlessly: "If you can't finish it, your whole family won't live."
The lake at the Heavenly Dao Academy was equally serene, but there was no restaurant by the lakeside, only cliffs and willow trees.
Dean Zhuang stood among the willow branches, looking at Guan Bai's back, wanting to say something but ultimately saying nothing, only sighing.
Suddenly, several Heavenly Dao Academy students hurried over. Guan Bai stopped walking and looked back.
"Chen Changsheng won!" the Heavenly Dao Academy students shouted to Dean Zhuang from a distance, while also looking at Senior Brother Guan Bai, their faces full of admiration.
Earlier, Guan Bai had only glanced at that sketch and judged that Chen Changsheng would definitely win. Such insight was truly extraordinary. But what they didn't expect was that upon hearing the news of Chen Changsheng's victory, Guan Bai's eyebrows shot up like swords, clearly somewhat surprised, because he hadn't expected Chen Changsheng to win so quickly.
He held Zhou Ziheng's swordsmanship in great contempt and placed great importance on Chen Changsheng, but after all, there was a whole realm difference between the two. He had thought that even if Chen Changsheng won, it would inevitably rely on the orthodox mental methods of the State Religion and his unmatched sword heart, enduring a long and arduous battle before finally achieving victory. However... from seeing the sketch of the first sword until now, he had only exchanged a few words with Dean Zhuang by the lakeside. In such a short time, Chen Changsheng had won?
"What sword technique did he use?" Guan Bai asked.
"I don't know," those Heavenly Dao Academy students shook their heads, then quickly handed the second sketch that had just been transmitted into Guan Bai's hand.
Guan Bai took that sketch and saw countless lines drawn on the paper, indescribably chaotic.
"Looking at the picture, both sides should have unleashed many swords. Even that gentleman from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion couldn't draw it clearly. But no matter how you calculate it, the time doesn't add up," a Heavenly Dao Academy student said in confusion.
Guan Bai looked at the hundreds of very thin and faint lines on the paper, frowned, and said: "These aren't sword traces. They're a star domain."
The Heavenly Dao Academy students were even more shocked upon hearing this, thinking Zhou Ziheng had activated his star domain so quickly? Just how strong was Chen Changsheng? What surprised them even more was that Zhou Ziheng had activated his star domain, yet Chen Changsheng still won. How did he do it?
There was also a stroke on that sketch, appearing thick but actually light, appearing withered but actually full, the force penetrating the paper.
Guan Bai looked at that stroke. Suddenly, a flash of sword light passed through his eyes. Several willow strands beside him were disturbed by the wind, breaking into more than ten pieces and falling into the lake water.
"He still only used one sword," he said. "This sword..."
He didn't continue speaking, just shook his head.
Earlier, when he saw Chen Changsheng's first sword, he had said "good sword."
Now, seeing Chen Changsheng's second sword, he found himself unable to evaluate it.
"Although his sword is fast, he won't catch up to you within ten years."
Dean He had come to his side at some unknown time, looking at him and saying: "Why be so anxious?"
"The demon race may invade the south at any time. I will go to Yongxue Pass. Ten years later... or I might already be dead. So before leaving the capital, I need to settle this matter."
Guan Bai said calmly: "I just didn't expect his sword to be stronger than imagined. It seems I really need to go see it for myself."
After saying this, the lakeside willow trees gently swayed, the summer breeze stirred, and his figure vanished without a trace.
The sorrowful atmosphere in the Religious Affairs Bureau was considerably diluted by the news of Chen Changsheng's victory.
In the deepest room of the great hall, Luoluo was very calm, because she had never doubted whether Chen Changsheng could win this battle.
Similarly, the Bishop, surrounded by plum blossoms, was also very calm, as if asleep.
Priests from the Qingyao Thirteen Departments were treating Zhou Ziheng.
Zhou Ziheng clutched his chest. Blood no longer seeped through his fingers, but his face was as pale as paper.
He knew Chen Changsheng had shown mercy, because that sharp short sword had just grazed past his heart, with only a hair's breadth between them.
If Chen Changsheng's wrist had trembled slightly, or if he had released even a trace of true essence, Zhou Ziheng's nether palace would have been destroyed, and he would have died on the spot.
Thinking of that exquisite sword with which Chen Changsheng had broken through his star domain, Zhou Ziheng felt incomparable terror and said tremblingly: "This... what sword is this?"
Yes, he wasn't asking about the short sword in Chen Changsheng's hand. He was asking about the sword technique.
After all, he was a man of the sword path. In the midst of his crushing defeat, this was what he most wanted to know.
Chen Changsheng knew he wasn't asking about the "Night Rain Annoying" technique he had used in his final strike, but wanted to know how he had broken his star domain.
But of course, he wouldn't give too detailed an explanation. He only said: "This is a sword technique passed down to me by Senior Su Li."
Hearing the words "Su Li," the quiet street erupted with noise, and discussions among the crowd grew loud.
So... Chen Changsheng was using Su Li's sword technique!
The continent had countless experts. Not to mention the lists issued by the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, there were many peerless masters above those lists. Who among those experts was stronger had always been the most interesting and most discussed topic among the people. Only one thing had never been questioned, never needed discussion, and was a universally acknowledged fact across the entire continent—even when viewed on a thousand-year timescale, this was still the conclusion of the vast majority.
Zhou Dufu, first in the blade path.
Emperor Taizong, first in the spear path.
Su Li, first in the sword path!
Hearing Chen Changsheng's words, everyone's gaze toward him changed. Especially those sword path practitioners under the awning, whose emotions were extremely complex—envy, jealousy, confusion, resentment, all mixed together. Zhou Ziheng was even more filled with regret to the extreme—Su Li had actually taught Chen Changsheng sword techniques! If he had known this earlier, how could he have been so arrogant!
Yes, the information provided to him by the Tianhai family had mentioned it. In fact, many people across the continent knew what had happened in Xunyang City. But still, no one believed Su Li would teach Chen Changsheng sword techniques. Because Su Li was extremely aloof and proud, with very high standards, and passing down sword techniques was no ordinary matter. Moreover, Chen Changsheng was the successor of the State Religion, which was inherently an enemy of the Lishan Sword Sect.
"So that's how it is," Zhou Ziheng said to Chen Changsheng with hatred. "Otherwise, how could you possibly cross realms to defeat me!"
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng shook his head and said: "No. As far as I know, there are at least five others who can defeat you at the Penetrating Nether realm."
Zhou Ziheng looked at his expression and knew he wasn't lying. His sense of defeat grew even stronger, his expression dazed, as if stunned.
Chen Changsheng paid him no further attention, turned around, and walked toward the entrance of the National Academy.
Looking at his back, many shouts arose from the crowd—some asking him to say something, others directly asking him to name those five people. The people on the street at this moment had all come to watch the excitement, so of course they loved a good show. Hearing the last exchange between Chen Changsheng and Zhou Ziheng, they naturally wanted to know which other Penetrating Nether realm geniuses, in his eyes, could cross realms to defeat Gathering Star realm experts like he had.
Chen Changsheng said nothing. Under the protection of the Li Palace priests, he passed through the crowd and returned to the entrance of the National Academy.
A carriage was already prepared at the gate. Xuan Yuan Po was driving.
The carriage passed through Baihua Lane, through the crowd, and onto the street.
People looked at this carriage with great curiosity. The National Academy had just won its first battle, and they were already going out? Where were they going?
The National Academy's carriage reached the street. When it passed by the awning, it suddenly stopped.
The curtain of the window was lifted, revealing Tang Thirty-Six's face, which immediately drew cheers from many young women.
Tang Thirty-Six smiled at those young women, then looked at the people under the awning and said: "Spending three hours yesterday building such a shabby awning was a complete waste of time."
Building an awning to watch the show, yet this show had only lasted a moment—even less time than it took to build the awning.
This was very amusing.
Tang Thirty-Six didn't like these people who had come to watch the show, so he had deliberately asked Xuan Yuan Po to stop the carriage, just to mock them.
The faces of many important figures under the awning weren't looking too good, though the managers of the four major markets remained expressionless.
Tang Thirty-Six lowered the curtain, looked at the short sword at Chen Changsheng's waist, and said: "Immaculate is a good name."
Back at the Plum Garden Inn, he had wanted to see this sword but was refused by Chen Changsheng, and he had always been somewhat displeased about it.
Today, he finally understood the reason.
Chen Changsheng was somewhat uncertain about his own naming ability and asked: "Really good?"
Tang Thirty-Six said: "The sword mirrors the man. It's indeed good."
Chen Changsheng smiled slightly, about to make a joke, like "the man mirrors the sword."
Easily defeating Zhou Ziheng, although within his expectations, was still something worth celebrating. He was very happy at this moment.
Just then, his gaze passed through the curtain lifted by the wind and landed on a certain spot in the crowd by the street.
A man stood there, his posture outstandingly straight, his expression calm and indifferent, but with a few specks of dust in his hair, as if he had just completed an extremely long journey.
Chen Changsheng didn't know who this man was. He just felt that this man, like the long sword at his side, was very steady yet extremely dangerous.
(Updates may be slower in the next few days, because I'm going to Shanghai on May 1st for the premiere of the "Ze Tian Ji" stage play. The round trip and various affairs will certainly take up a lot of time and energy. I hope I can save two or three chapters of manuscripts in the next couple of days. I'll try my best. Friends going to see the stage play, see you then.)