Chapter 117 : Carving a Mountain into an Arena
Chapter 117: Carving a Mountain into an Arena
“Cough cough…”
Qi Feihong, Lu Xingzhou, Wunian, and even Xun Fei all coughed lightly and lowered their heads.
An indescribable awkwardness inevitably rose in their hearts.
Yet the scene just now had been too beautiful, leaving their minds utterly immersed in it.
Even Xun Fei found a strange thought arising within her—an impulse to pull that version of Li Yunqing tightly into her arms.
“We just arrived. Today is the arena match—are you ready?”
After a moment of silence, the Sword Saint of Cangshan finally spoke slowly, a trace of amazement flashing through his eyes.
Pink peach blossoms danced lightly, tender green grass swayed, and amidst a sea of flowers, the young girl slept peacefully—serene and ethereal, like rippling spring water, as if sculpted by the wondrous craftsmanship of nature, naturally endowed with spiritual grace.
She was truly a favored child of heaven and earth, an unquestionable treasure.
If not for the path he had already resolved to walk—beyond love and desire—perhaps even he would have sunk into such peerless beauty.
Even now, that breathtaking scene lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.
Beautiful things were always irresistible.
A beautiful young woman—such was the lifelong pursuit of countless men.
Throughout history, how many heroes had fallen into such allure, unable to extricate themselves?
“I’m ready!”
Li Yunqing stood up and said, “Let me freshen up, and we can depart.”
“Mm.” The Sword Saint nodded. “Go ahead!”
At his words, Li Yunqing tapped her toes lightly and drifted straight into the room through the window.
“How long have these people been here?”
“And they didn’t wake me—just stood there watching?”
“Luckily my sleeping posture was decent and my clothes were neat. Otherwise…”
Li Yunqing muttered inwardly, “Why doesn’t this courtyard even have a gate? How much would it cost to install one?”
Thinking this, she called out softly, “Xiaolan, quickly help me freshen up… hmm? Xiaolan, why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?”
“N-no!”
Xiaolan responded somewhat guiltily, quickly stepping forward to untie Li Yunqing’s sash, deftly removing her garments.
Only after helping her change into fresh inner and outer clothing did Xiaolan quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Yet for some reason, the image of Li Yunqing lying in the bath, allowing herself to be handled freely, suddenly surfaced in her mind, making her heart pound violently.
“Are you really alright?”
Li Yunqing looked at Xiaolan, a trace of doubt flashing in her eyes.
Xiaolan had never been like this before.
“Maybe I caught a chill from resting by the open window.”
Xiaolan replied, “It’s nothing. Miss, sit first—I’ll prepare hot water for you to wash.”
“Take this!”
Li Yunqing took out a bottle of pills and placed it in Xiaolan’s hand. “If you feel unwell, take one—it cures everything!”
“Got it!”
Xiaolan smiled lightly, a warm feeling rising in her heart. “Miss, what hairstyle would you like?”
“There will be a fight today, and many people will be watching—something dignified yet convenient.”
Li Yunqing replied, washing up as Xiaolan arranged her hair.
In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Li Yunqing emerged wearing a white cloak over a purple dress, her hair styled in a half-draped cloud bun adorned with a carved jade hairpin.
“Master!”
Li Yunqing bowed slightly.
“Let’s go. To the Imperial Palace!”
The Sword Saint nodded and led the way toward the palace.
The others followed closely behind, saying nothing.
Yet Li Yunqing could feel their gazes lingering on her from time to time.
“Did they really arrive that early and just stand there waiting for me to wake up?”
Feeling their gazes, Li Yunqing found it both amusing and slightly irritating.
These people together were two to three hundred years old—yet they were too shy to wake someone?
Even her master, the Sword Saint—had he also just stood there blankly waiting?
Sighing inwardly, Li Yunqing glanced at the text that had long appeared on her panel.
“Frost Sword Intent: Major Completion (10% → 13%)”
“Five Elements True Intent: Minor Completion (50% → 55%)”
“Pure Yin True Intent: Initiated (1% → 2%)”
“Yin Spirit: Major Completion (27% → 28%)”
“Once the Pure Yin Dao Body manifests, I probably won’t need to cultivate like this anymore, right?”
She speculated inwardly.
At present, her Pure Yin Dao Body had yet to fully form. She still needed to connect with the earth and harmonize with nature to let her consciousness wander within heaven and earth during sleep, comprehending true intent.
Once it manifested, she would naturally align with the Pure Yin Dao wherever she was, and wouldn’t need to rely on specific environments.
Her gaze then shifted to the Mingyu Divine Art.
“Mingyu Divine Art (Major Completion 1796/3000)”
“Almost there—just a bit over a thousand experience points left!”
Time passed as Li Yunqing pondered, until they stepped onto the main street and saw the majestic gates of the Imperial Palace in the distance.
Suddenly, the Sword Saint of Cangshan leapt into the sky, ascending into the vast heavens.
“Clang!”
In that instant, a resounding sword cry echoed across the long street.
Countless people raised their heads in unison, including Li Yunqing and the others.
A streak of sword light shot forth like an immortal descending from the heavens.
“Slash!”
The sword light swept across the sky above the capital and plunged into a mountain peak, slicing it cleanly as if cutting tofu.
“Boom!”
Without any grand display, the Sword Saint simply struck out with his palm.
The severed mountain peak flipped over and streaked through the air, crashing directly before the gates of the Imperial Palace.
“Rumble—”
Like thunder exploding, the entire earth trembled.
Countless people turned toward the palace, only to see the inverted mountain peak embedded deep into the ground, more than ten meters deep.
The cut surface hovered about ten meters above the ground, standing silently before the palace gates.
Carving a mountain into an arena!
All of this happened in the span of a single breath.
“What just happened?”
“Was that an earthquake?”
“Has the battle between the Sword Saint and the Sword God begun?”
In an instant, countless figures surged forth from all directions. When they saw the ten-meter-high arena, they were left utterly breathless.
The Sword Saint’s methods were simply terrifying—casually carving a mountain and turning it into an arena before the palace, utterly without restraint.
“As expected of a Sword Saint!”
Li Yunqing couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. Such a display far exceeded ordinary imagination.
It was no wonder this world upheld the unspoken rule that the strong reigned supreme.
The strong could do as they pleased.
“Go on!”
The Sword Saint turned and nodded gently at Li Yunqing before sitting cross-legged in midair to wait.
“I’ll go first!”
Li Yunqing spoke softly to Qi Feihong, Lu Xingzhou, Wunian, and Xun Fei, then tapped her toes and soared onto the arena.
“Who is she? What a beautiful woman!”
“Heavens! She’s blocking the gates of the Imperial City?”
“She’s Li Yunqing? How can such beauty exist in this world?”
“Hahaha… this will be interesting!”
Seeing Li Yunqing standing on the arena, her white cloak fluttering, her garments billowing, sword in hand, the entire city erupted into commotion.
Countless Jianghu martial artists rushed toward the scene.
Martial artists from major martial halls, citizens, escort agencies, the Demon Suppression Division—all surged toward the palace gates.
Expressions of shock and astonishment filled their faces.
Many were furious and unwilling.
Such an act was nothing less than a slap in the face of the sacred authority of the current dynasty.
Yet others who knew the circumstances could only sigh at fate.
The Emperor had decreed a marriage, but Li Yunqing had defied it—tantamount to treason.
And yet, she had the Sword Saint of Cangshan behind her.
Using the imperial family as a stepping stone for her own freedom—it could only be said that circumstances had aligned perfectly.
If the imperial family hadn’t pushed things so far, perhaps none of this would have happened.
But no matter what, today’s matter was clearly beyond reconciliation.
On the arena, Li Yunqing stood with her sword, her entire being still as gentle as rippling spring water, her temperament serene and ethereal.
Yet her clear, youthful voice rang out across half the city:
“The imperial family relies on power to act tyrannically, forcing marriage without regard for propriety!”
“The Third Prince has fabricated slander, tarnishing the reputation and honor of my master, the Sword Saint of Cangshan, and myself, Li Yunqing!”
“Let all under heaven bear witness—today, I, Li Yunqing, demand an explanation!”
“If none is given, this palace gate shall permit entry—but no exit!”