Along the winding blue-stone steps, towering ancient trees flanked both sides of the mountain path. Occasionally, mysterious sword marks could be seen carved into the steep cliffs, emanating a stern Sword Intent settled by time.
When they reached a relatively open mountain notch, a massive roaring sound rushed into their ears.
Ahead of them, a “waterfall”—not formed of flowing water, but converged from countless fine, condensed silver strands of Sword Intent—was cascading down from a cliff hundreds of zhang high!
Sword qi surged as cold light gleamed fiercely. Even before drawing near, one could feel a subtle stinging pain on the skin and an invisible sense of pressure weighing on the divine soul.
“This is...” Tantai Yunzhi stopped in her tracks, a hint of curiosity and shock flashing across her cool, clear eyes as she gazed at the magnificent yet perilous Sword Intent waterfall.
Seeing this, Murong Yue took the initiative to explain, “This is the Sword-Washing Waterfall of our Ancient Sword Mountain. It isn't a real body of water, but rather the result of the dissipated Sword Intent of senior generations resonating with the mountain's sword veins.
“Though the sword qi is formless, it is incomparably sharp. It can temper muscles and bones and hone one's will, proving especially beneficial for tempering one's own Sword Intent.”
Beside them, Qiu Ning also nodded slightly and added, “Indeed. Such a pure and controllable Sword Intent environment is difficult to find in the outside world. For outer sect Qi Condensation disciples looking to temper their sword heart and polish their sword movement foundation, persisting in cultivation here yields extraordinary results.”
Tantai Yunzhi grew lost in thought upon hearing this.
All these days, she had been attempting to defeat the Sword Intent phantom Murong Yue had left in her blade within her sea of consciousness, but she had suffered defeat after defeat. Was the Sword-Washing Waterfall before her not a prime opportunity to rapidly raise the strength of her own Sword Intent?
Su Yi took in every shift in Tantai Yunzhi's expression and immediately understood her thoughts.
He turned to Murong Yue and requested politely, “Fellow Cultivator Murong, I wonder if a few disciples of our Divine Might Manor might borrow this precious spot to cultivate for a while?”
Murong Yue glanced at Su Yi, pondered briefly, and nodded. “Very well, but they must act within their capabilities. The closer one gets to the center of the waterfall, the stronger the Sword Intent grows. Deepening into it recklessly will allow sword qi to invade the body, making injury inevitable.”
Her tone was calm, stating a matter of fact as well as a word of caution.
Just as her voice fell, Tantai Yunzhi stepped forward and bowed slightly to Su Yi and Murong Yue. “Senior Brother, you all should ascend the mountain first. Yunzhi would like to try her luck here.”
This response was right within Su Yi's expectations.
Looking at the flame in Tantai Yunzhi's eyes—clearer and hotter than when they were on the flying boat—he couldn't help but feel a touch of gratification.
That the female lead possessed such a proactive desire to become stronger, eager to seize every chance to elevate herself, was probably one of the few bright spots he had encountered while being driven frantic by Ming Xi's lingering harassments over the past few days.
“Alright, then be careful.” Su Yi didn't say much, simply offering a gentle word of advice before continuing up the steps with Qiu Ning, Murong Yue, and the others.
Ming Xi walked at the very rear. She gave a thoughtful glance toward Tantai Yunzhi as the girl walked alone toward the Sword Intent waterfall, then looked at the slightly gratified look in Su Yi's eyes. Her golden eyes flickered subtly, leaving no clue as to what she was plotting this time.
...
With Tantai Yunzhi leaving the group, everyone continued upward along the blue-stone steps. Before they had walked far, a primitive and majestic square platform constructed from blue stone abruptly appeared beside the road ahead.
In front of the platform stood a wooden sign, upon which a line of large characters was carved in sharp, fierce strokes:
“Those ascending the mountain, if there are skilled hands among you, do you dare step onto the platform to test your swords?!”
Su Yi paused slightly. Gazing at the sword platform and those familiar provocative words, his eyes narrowed a fraction as an old memory surfaced in his mind. 'This scene... seems a bit familiar?'
However, before he could think deeper, Murong Yue beside him darkened her expression, an icy chill instantly radiating from her whole body.
Her figure flashed, sweeping onto the sword platform like a wisp of light smoke. Her clear, cold gaze swept over a few rather nervous Ancient Sword Mountain disciples on the platform, her voice carrying suppressed anger:
“Who gave permission to set up an unauthorized sword platform here?!”
Intimidated by Murong Yue's aura, those disciples shrank their necks back, not daring to utter a word.
Just then, a voice laced with arrogance and discontent sounded from behind the sword platform: “I set it up. Why, Junior Sister Murong, do you have some advice to offer?”
Along with the words, a dark-haired young man stepped slowly out. He wore a luxurious brocade robe and was fairly handsome, yet an indelible air of arrogance hung between his brows.
First, he cast a cold glance at Murong Yue, and then his gaze locked onto Su Yi among the crowd below like a hawk, undisguised hostility flashing in his eyes.
'It really is this kid again!'
“Zhuge Hong!” Murong Yue met the young man's gaze, her brows knitting even tighter as her tone grew colder still. “What are you trying to do?!”
The young man named Zhuge Hong sneered, crossing his arms over his chest. “What am I doing? Heh, Junior Sister Murong, as the Sect Master's son, what's wrong with me setting up a sword platform here to welcome guests? If it offends your eyes, simply ignore it.”
His attitude was arrogant, completely disregarding Murong Yue's interrogation.
Listening below the platform, Su Yi's eyelid twitched once more. 'Simply ignore it? That line sounds awfully familiar too...' He was practically certain that this scene was definitely related to his very first visit to Ancient Sword Mountain years ago.
Seeing how imperiously stubborn Zhuge Hong was being, Murong Yue felt furious inside, yet she couldn't fly into a rage in public. She could only suppress her anger and send a secret voice transmission with a warning tone: [Zhuge Hong! Don't bring humiliation upon yourself! Su Yi isn't who he used to be. If you force his hand, a crushing defeat and lost face will be the least of your problems. If you displease him and cause us to lose out on extracting information about the ancient sacred sect ruin from him, then even as the Sect Master's only son, you won't escape severe punishment under sect rules!]
However, this advice—given with the bigger picture in mind—sounded completely warped when it reached the ears of Zhuge Hong, who was already blinded by jealousy.
'Telling me to endure again! On what grounds? That guy Su Yi certainly didn't endure back then!'
His face instantly turned pale green with rage, and his reply via voice transmission dripped with gnashing hatred: [Ha! Murong Yue, so you do remember I'm the Sect Master's only son?! When going on that exchange to Divine Might Manor, you ran faster than anyone else. Wasn't it just because you were eager to see this pretty boy?!]
Resentment burned uncontrollably in Zhuge Hong's heart.
Rate on N.U.
