Chapter 660: Sword Devil of the Thousand Willow Monastery
Wuwu blinked. Not only did she not find him scary, but she found his contradictory behavior rather cute. She stifled a laugh. Then, she raised her palm that was glowing with a faint red energy that seemed forceful but gentle at the same time. “Senior brother, where did you spend the last few nights? Did any bird catch you? Are you hurt? Let me heal you. My healing technique is amazing...”
Yu Shangrong was speechless.
When Wuwu saw she was being ignored again, she said dejectedly, “How can you not be hurt?”
Yu Shangrong said, “The beasts are terrifying, but it’s not difficult to avoid them.” When he was young, he had made it all the way through various forests and vast lands from the northernmost parts of Great Yan with his limbs intact. Having spent most of his time living in forests and frozen wastelands, his sense of danger was greater than most. On top of that, he was an Eight-leaf cultivator.
“You’re amazing.” Wuwu leaned back on her seat and rested her chin on her hands.
Yu Shangrong stood up. He picked up his Longevity Sword before he said, “Goodbye.”
“I’m not deliberately following you... To quote your words, senior brother, this must be fate. Brother... your life aura isn’t compatible with your cultivation base.” Wuwu leaped off her chair and followed him out of the tavern.
Yu Shangrong stopped in his tracks and turned to look at her. “You can tell?”
The people from the Melilot Nation had short lives. Being alive was a luxury. If they died, they would not feel resentful nor would they blame the heavens or the others.
At this moment, a figure appeared behind a Wuwu. “Junior sister, it’s time to return...”
“Senior brother, you came just in time... This is the man I told you about. He’s an elite swordsman. He’s amazing,” Wuwu said.
The person who appeared behind Wuwu was a middle-aged man. He had thick brows and big eyes. He carried a broadsword. He looked at Yu Shangrong warily as he said, “I’m Ji Fengxing from the Thousand Willow Monastery... How should I address you, sir?”
Yu Shangrong said calmly, “We’re merely strangers who met by chance. There’s no need for us to get familiar. Farewell.”
“Wait.” Ji Fengxing circulated his Primal Qi. His sword thrummed in his hand. “I’ve always liked to make friends through the sword. If Wuwu thinks you’re skilled, then there’s no doubt you’re skilled with the sword. What do you say to a brief sparring session?”
If Ji Fengxing had said anything else, Yu Shangrong would have ignored him and left. However, swords and everything that had to do with them had always piqued his interest. It was rare for a person to be devoted to a single interest in their entire life. For example, his Eldest Senior Brother loved booze. With wine on the table, his Eldest Senior Brother’s worries seemed to lessen. For him, as long as he had his sword with him, he would be happy even if was just traveling the pugilistic world.
“A contest of sword techniques?” Yu Shangrong turned around and regarded the middle-aged man with interest.
“I’m not good, but I was given the title Sword Devil of Thousand Willow Monastery.”
“Sword Devil?” Due to Yu Shangrong’s skills, he had borne this title for a long time. No one in Great Yan dared to use this title due to their fear of him. He felt strange listening to someone addressing themself as the Sword Devil.
“That’s right,” Ji Fengxing said.
Yu Shangrong asked indifferently, “How do you want to compete?”
“We’ll control our swords with Qi below the Brahman Sea realm,” Ji Fengxing replied.
If they used the power at the Divine Court realm or higher, it would be difficult to control the damage from their sparring session. Therefore, most people in the red lotus realm preferred to spar using strength in or below the Brahman Sea realm.
Yu Shangrong found the suggestion agreeable. He nodded and smiled. “Alright.”
Ji Fengxing drew his sword. His Primal Qi flowed along his Extraordinary Eight Meridians, through his palm, and into his sword.
“The sword technique from the Thousand Willow Monastery focuses on brute strength. We’re known for our speed in condensing Qi into energy. The lengths of our energy swords may vary, and we prefer the ways of nature.” Once Ji Fengxing drew his sword, he seemed to have changed into another different person. “Sir, anyone who’s capable of forcing me to make three strikes can be considered as an elite swordsman... I...”
Swosh!
A flash of red light shone.
Bam!
Before Ji Fengxing finished speaking, Yu Shangrong was already returning his sword to its scabbard. His expression was as indifferent as usual.
Ji Fengxing’s sword was still raised. The word ‘I’ seemed to be caught in his throat.
Crack!
Ji Fengxing’s sword cleanly snapped into two in his hand and dropped to the ground. While he was speaking, his weapon was broken by his opponent before he could even make a move! He was like a stunned wooden chicken at this moment.
There were no changes in Yu Shangrong’s expression. This was nothing to feel proud about, after all. Although he was new to the red lotus domain, elites were his targets.
Yu Shangrong felt a pang of disappointment and loneliness at this moment. Perhaps, it would be very difficult for him to find a peer who could walk alongside him on the path of the sword. The Sword Devil from the red lotus domain was... incredibly boring.
“Thank you for going easy on me,” Yu Shangrong said perfunctorily before he turned around and walked toward the setting sun. The sunlight made his shadow appear long and straight.
When Ji Fengxing regained his senses, he hurriedly chased after Yu Shangrong. “Hey, hey, hey... I wasn’t prepared when you struck. How could you do that?”
Yu Shangrong remained silent.
Ji Fengxing continued to say, “Although you’ve won, I’m not satisfied with this result... Do you hear me?”
Wuwu followed Ji Fengxing and said, “Senior Brother, there you go again...”
“Little kids should stay out of a conversation between adults. What do you mean again?” Then, he turned to Yu Shangrong and said, “Hey, I’m talking to you. We’re kindred spirits, aren’t we?!”
Swoosh!
Yu Shangrong drew his sword again.
Ji Fengxing sped backward.
Yu Shangrong moved closer. It was a dazzling sight when his sword shadows overlapped.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Yu Shangrong split into three blurry figures.
Return and Enter Three Souls.
In the next second, the Longevity Sword was already close to Ji Fengxing’s neck. If it moved another inch closer, blood would be drawn.
It was silent and still at this moment.
Ji Fengxing gulped as he looked at the person in front of him incredulously.
The two of them maintained this posture for a brief moment.
After a while, Yu Shangrong retracted his Longevity Sword and said tonelessly, “If this were a fight to the death, you’d have died ten times over.”
Ji Fengxing could not refute Yu Shangrong’s words. After a brief moment of silence, he asked, “What sword technique is this?”
Yu Shangrong crossed his arms and said slowly, “There are four levels of swords. The first is the commoners’ sword, the second is the feudal vassals’ sword, the third is the king’s sword, and the highest level of sword is using creation as a sword. Being without a sword is better than wielding a sword.”
Ji Fengxing was puzzled by this statement.
Yu Shangrong said, “Your sword technique is weak. I advise you to not use the title Sword Devil after this... If that hurts your ego, I can only apologize. Farewell.” He turned around and left after he finished speaking.
“Senior!” Ji Fengxing’s form of address changed immediately.
“Anything else?”
“What level are you?” Ji Fengxing asked.
“Me?” Yu Shangrong shook his head and said remorsefully, “I’m only at the second level.”
“...”
Ji Fengxing appeared incredulous. He said, “If you’re at the second level, who’s at the highest level?”
“Naturally, that’d be my master,” Yu Shangrong replied.
“Your master?” Ji Fengxing was shocked. “He must be the most powerful swordsman in the world!”
Yu Shangrong shook his head and said, “My master isn’t known for his sword skills, but his palm seals.”
“...”
Ji Fengxing exclaimed emotionally, “The old mister is skilled in palm seals... That’s great! I like palm seals!”
“...”
Yu Shangrong had a feeling that this person had a fleeting interest in everything. He immediately lost his intention to exchange thoughts about sword techniques with this person. It was difficult for him to get along with such a person. It would be akin to a rocket maker trying to have a conversation with a fireworks maker. They were not on the same frequency. In the end, he asked, “Your sword techniques aren’t polished. How could you call yourself Sword Devil?”
At this, Wuwu laughed and said, “Big brother, this is the title he uses to scare the others. He loves the sword, but he couldn’t find a teacher... It’d be great if you’re willing to teach him, big brother!”
Realization dawned on Yu Shangrong. He asked, “Aren’t there any teachers in Thousand Willow Monastery who can teach you?”
Upon hearing this, Ji Fengxing said with a sigh, “My talents are a far cry from Wuwu’s. Wuwu is from the same village as I am. That’s why she’s trying to help me.”
“This way of doing things is slightly risky.”
Ji Fengxin assumed Yu Shangrong was an elite who had concealed his strength. If that were the case, Yu Shangrong had thought too highly of him.
As they conversed, the sun set.
Yu Shangrong had an idea. He asked, “Where is the Thousand Willow Monastery?”
“It’s not far from here.”
Yu Shangrong smiled. “Are there any rooms there?”
Ji Fengxing was stunned when he heard this. He said, “If it were anyone else, there’s no way it’d be allowed. However, if it’s you, senior, there’ll always be room. Leave it to me!” He had heard from Wuwu that this elite was homeless. If this elite stayed in Thousand Willow Monastery, he could ask the elite to teach him swordplay. As the saying went, ‘The pavilion closest to the water enjoys moonlight first’.
“Thank you.”
...
Great Yan.
Two days later.
In the eastern part of Liang Province City. Inside a Nether Sect branch.
Lu Zhou saw the system points on the dashboard and was filled with emotions. He decided that it was time to raise his cultivation base.