Chapter 62
What is the end of the sword?
Many people said, "There is no sword in the hand, but there is a sword in the heart," and called this the "heart sword."
Wenzhong was realizing that he had at least greatly opened his eyes now.
The sword art that the Taoist Lingbao had displayed was clearly a heart sword, or something close to a heart sword.
Since he was also one of the swordsmen and had seen the ultimate state of the sword, how could he not admire and be in awe?
Regardless of righteousness or evil, if the day and time had been good, he would surely have listened to the Taoist Lingbao's profound opinions on the sword art while discussing the sword.
Leaving behind his pure respect and admiration, Wenzhong dug into his own forehead with his fingernails in one go.
He had to admit what he had to admit.
The Taoist Lingbao's sword art was clearly the best in the world, to the extent that it was not lacking to be called the immortal of the sword.
To try to defeat him with a sword was excessive arrogance and greed.
Feeling extreme pain, Wenzhong felt his mind greatly expand with the blood flowing from his forehead.
Wenzhong was not standing in this place to discuss the sword with the Taoist Lingbao, but was here for the fate of the Black Contemplation Fortress and Jeshin.
The Time-Space Eye, an indispensable condition for using the spatial sword.
As Wenzhong dug into the large wound on his forehead, the domain of the spatial sword expanded and became even more powerful.
Although Wenzhong felt an extreme headache, he did not back down because he knew that he could never face the Taoist Lingbao without using the unprecedented power that was displayed in an instant.
The Taoist Lingbao also felt Wenzhong suddenly injure himself and his momentum become even stronger.
The swords that had soared above the Taoist Lingbao's head and had been scattered began to move to take his life, tearing through Wenzhong's spatial sword.
As the ultimate arts of the two masters competed, in the end, a battle of evenly matched offense and defense began, regardless of physical strength, internal energy, or mental strength.
The Taoist Lingbao's heart sword could not be free from the spatial sword, and since the spatial sword was displayed with all its might to block the heart sword, it soon lacked the strength to extend to the Taoist Lingbao.
As the extreme war of attrition between the two masters unfolded, in the end, what decided the contest was a very slight difference.
And that began to appear favorably for Wenzhong, who had been preparing his mental strength sharply since before raising the army in the Black Contemplation Fortress.
If it had been a contest under equal conditions, the Taoist Lingbao would have been half a step ahead of Wenzhong, but now Wenzhong's mental strength was a little ahead of the Taoist Lingbao's.
Swoosh!
With a chilling sound, the heart swords that the Taoist Lingbao had scattered began to scatter one by one in the domain of the spatial sword.
The Taoist Lingbao's heart sword was shaking slightly.
Although the sword of the heart does not break, his body was ultimately that of a person made of blood and flesh.
Although the Nine Gates True Scripture was an ultimate art that used the subtleties of the return of the four seasons to use internal energy infinitely by comparing the human body to the seasons, for just one moment.
There was a moment of winter when the internal energy ran out.
As the Taoist Lingbao's heart sword gradually scattered, the staggering Wenzhong gradually began to approach the Taoist Lingbao.
The sword blade of Wenzhong, who was approaching the Taoist Lingbao step by step like a crouching turtle, was slow, but it had an unavoidable edge, and it also had a strong power that could defeat the Taoist Lingbao in one go.
As Wenzhong raised his sword with difficulty, his pupils shook without focus.
A third space unfolded before him in dozens of branches, and in it, Wenzhong was destroying the Taoist Lingbao's heart swords that had been aiming for him one by one.
It was also a work that unfolded in the flow of eternity in Wenzhong's mind.
His dantian and blood and qi became hot as if they were burning, and a pain beyond a headache came to his head. He bit his lips to endure the scream, to the point that his lower lip was crushed.
It felt as if hundreds, thousands of needles were piercing his entire body.
The pain for a single move.
The Taoist Lingbao was clearly a person who had achieved a state of a heaven beyond heaven.
Although it was a very small difference, it was clearly a higher state than the study that Wenzhong had achieved.
But Wenzhong had a secret weapon called the Time-Space Eye, even if it was a divine power, not a martial art.
Although the price could be brutal, it was enough if he could make up for that small difference.
Swoosh!
As the sword of Wenzhong, who had approached the Taoist Lingbao's side almost one step ahead, soared into the sky, the Taoist Lingbao's heart swords that had filled the sky began to oxidize as if they were burning in an instant.
"Cough!"
As a large wound appeared on his chest and blood spurted out, the Taoist Lingbao, whose blood and qi had begun to flow backward, vomited blood and knelt down on the spot.
If only he had had enough preparation to face the Black Qilin...
But the result was already out. It was the Taoist Lingbao's defeat.
"My... victory... Sword Immortal."
The condition of Wenzhong, who had displayed a single sword, did not look very good either.
The wound on his forehead was so deep that the white part of his skull could be seen, and although it was not known on the outside, since his internal blood and qi and dantian were greatly shaken, there was a risk of falling into a state of qi deviation if he were to make a mistake.
"Elder!"
"Uncle!"
At the miserable sight of the two, Xi Xichang and Jeshin, who had been watching from a distance, hurriedly rushed towards them.
As Jeshin hurriedly supported Wenzhong, Wenzhong composed his posture with his last remaining strength.
Although his vision was blurry and he felt a pain and heat as if his whole body were burning alive, he could never show a weak side in front of Jeshin.
Xi Xichang hurriedly embraced the Taoist Lingbao, who could not support his body.
If the Sword Immortal were to die here, it would be a great loss not only to the Sichuan Alliance but also to the righteous martial world.
It was no different from one more barrier that had been blocking the Black Contemplation Fortress, as well as the Yan Tian Di and the demonic cult, who were aiming for the martial world, disappearing.
Moreover, the Sword Immortal was the master of Agong, who was in the Hermit's Valley.
If his master, who had broken his seclusion because of her own insistence, were to die here, how could she face Agong in the future?
The Taoist Lingbao's condition looked very serious.
As his body was cooling down, it was clearly felt through his fingertips that the vitality of his whole body was draining away.
The victory of the Black Qilin.
Although it was a brutal result, it was something that the Sichuan Alliance could never accept.
Xi Xichang, after glaring at Wenzhong and Jeshin with a hateful gaze, took out a small flute from her pocket with a heavy hand.
Tweet!
Jeshin, at Xi Xichang's unusual action, hurriedly tried to snatch the flute from her grasp, but Xi Xichang, holding the limp Taoist Lingbao, hurriedly moved away.
"What is this?"
An action that was suspicious to anyone.
Jeshin gritted his teeth, seeing the four masters who had soon appeared on the mountain.
As promised, Sheng Houhu, Jiang Huanchao, Yue Shengwu, and Liu Yezhi had appeared.
Although they had been preparing in advance for the worst-case scenario, their expressions, looking at the Sword Immortal, who was held in Xi Xichang's arms as if dead, and Wenzhong, who was standing fine, were nothing short of brutal.
Although there were also people who disliked the Sword Immortal, Taoist Lingbao, he was one of the renowned supreme masters of the righteous path.
His fame and name were like a symbol of the righteous path.
"Sect Leader Xi, please hurry and take the leader."
If he had not yet stopped breathing, they had to hurry.
Although Xi Xichang knew that the situation was urgent, she looked at them and Jeshin with a conflicted expression.
The reason she had agreed to their plan at first was that she had thought that the evil influence that the Black Qilin would have on the entire martial world was greater than cowardice or face.
In addition, the expectation that the Sword Immortal would not be defeated was firmly in one corner of her heart.
But Xi Xichang, who had watched the duel between the two peerless masters, had come to realize anew how much of a disgrace this matter was to the Sword Immortal.
Therefore, although she had blown the flute as planned and had called the masters of the Sichuan Alliance, she was reluctant to move easily.
Xi Xichang bit her lower lip until it bled and said.
"They... must be sent back."
"It's too late! If you interfere, I will cut you down in this place, Sect Leader Xi!"
At those words, Liu Yezhi got angry and hurriedly approached Xi Xichang's side.
"This is not the time for this. Let's discuss this matter again later, and please leave this place quickly."
The reason Liu Yezhi had stepped forward in her place was also to prevent Xi Xichang's ankle from being caught even if this matter were to be known.
The hesitant Xi Xichang could not overcome the pressure of the three sect leaders and Liu Yezhi, who had drawn their swords.
Moreover, the Taoist Lingbao's condition was getting worse as time went on.
Xi Xichang, leaving her back to them, hurriedly embraced the Taoist Lingbao and went down the mountain.
"How dare you... break your promise?"
Jeshin had not expected that the Sichuan Alliance would use such a childish method.
To set a trap in a duel where the name of the Sword Immortal was at stake was something that the world would laugh at.
"A promise? Hahaha! Are those the words of the monster of the Black Contemplation Fortress, who invaded our peaceful Baidao Wumen and committed slaughter?"
Jiang Huanchao, the sect leader of Baidao Wumen, who had the greatest grudge against the Black Contemplation Fortress, was in a state where he would take the necks of Wenzhong and Jeshin right away.
"Hmm... we must not be hasty. We must deal with him with a joint attack for sure this time."
Although he was worried about the movements of the remaining Wenzhong, his condition did not look very good on the outside.
Although Jeshin was a great master, the three sect leaders and Liu Yezhi here were also supreme masters.
If it weren't for Wenzhong, all of them were masters who had no great difficulty in facing Jeshin individually.
Jeshin immediately took the starting posture of the Ten Variations True Art.
Jeshin knew better than anyone that the condition of Wenzhong, who was right next to him, was not normal.
He had to send Wenzhong back safely, even if it meant giving up his life.
Grab!
Wenzhong firmly grabbed the shoulder of Jeshin, who was about to display the Ten Variations True Art.
"Step... back."
Wenzhong, who had opened his mouth with difficulty, raised his golden whip, which was flowing with blood.
Although his dantian, as well as his blood vessels, were in a mess, he could not let Jeshin lose his life in a place like this.
"But!"
As Jeshin tried to move to help him, Wenzhong flew his body, still holding Jeshin's shoulder.
"The Black Qilin is running away! Chase him!"
Since no one in the arena had expected that the Black Qilin, one of the Twelve Honored Ones and the number one master in the world, would turn his back and flee, the four masters hurriedly displayed their footwork and tried to chase after Wenzhong and Jeshin.
But they could not easily fly their bodies.
This was because their legs were tangled, and their whole bodies were heavy, so they had to use all their strength to move their bodies.
"Th-this, what is this?"
When they were flustered, Wenzhong, who had shown his back, slowly turned his body in front of them again.
The four people could not believe the current situation even with their eyes open.
This was because Wenzhong had become two, and one was holding Jeshin and was jumping down the mountain, and the other was slowly raising his sword and was aiming it at them.
"Spatial sword... it's truly a demonic art!"
The figure of Wenzhong, who was slowly approaching them with his sword in hand, was blurry and greatly shaking.
But seeing the edge contained in the sword and the energy that was emitting a blue light, it was a reality, not a hallucination!
They, who were experiencing the notorious spatial sword of Wenzhong for the first time, trembled in fear, but they displayed a joint attack with all their might as if they were one body.
"Outer Chasing Sword Stance!"
"Chaotic Skin Wind Sword Art!"
"Sea Dragon Divine Martial Art!"
"Sword Mountain Unchanging!"
As the martial arts displayed by the four sect leaders were displayed at once on Wenzhong's spatial sword, Wenzhong's body collapsed, and the domain of his spatial sword also shattered into pieces and scattered.
"Gasp... gasp..."
The four masters, who had escaped from the domain of the spatial sword, trembled in fear, which they had experienced for the first time, and came to realize anew that the reputation of the number one sword of the evil path was not in vain.
If Wenzhong had not been injured in the duel with the Sword Immortal, it was clear that they would have all lost their lives, let alone subdued him, even if they had displayed a joint attack.
"Shouldn't we chase him right away?"
Although Jiang Huanchao, whose body was heated up, said so, Sheng Houhu shook his head.
He was touching the thick red and black blood on the floor with his finger.
"Even if we chase him now, can we catch him? Besides, looking at the Black Qilin's condition, it is clear that it is not light compared to the Elder Sword Immortal."
As Sheng Houhu had predicted, it was clear that Wenzhong had suffered not only external but also great internal injuries.
"Could it be that the Elder Sword Immortal..."
Yue Shengwu, as if he were shocked by the fact that the Taoist Lingbao had been defeated, could not easily get over the shock.
Sheng Houhu, after being lost in thought for a moment, finally opened his mouth.
"In the world, there is mutual destruction. We can announce that the Sword Immortal won against the Black Qilin, but since his internal injuries were severe, he went into energy circulation."
"Will that work?"
"The truth can only be revealed by the Elder Sword Immortal, Wenzhong, and the two who were present. Since Wenzhong's injury is also not a welcome news to the Black Contemplation Fortress, we must keep this secret for the time being to maintain the morale of the alliance."
"Even if Wenzhong is like that, what if Mo Guangdi steps forward, saying that he will take revenge?"
"At that time, isn't it a matter of our Sichuan Alliance uniting as one and blocking him?"
At Sheng Houhu's answer, Yue Shengwu, who had been silent, quietly opened his mouth.
"But in order to do that, isn't a person who can be the center of the Sichuan Alliance necessary?"
"What do you mean?"
"It has not even been half a year since the Sichuan Alliance was launched. But since the leader, the Elder Sword Immortal, has been seriously injured, I think it is right to choose a vice-leader who will lead the alliance for the time being."
Jiang Huanchao realized Yue Shengwu's intention.
It was not that Yue Shengwu was saying it because he had the intention of being the vice-leader himself, but he was now recommending Sheng Houhu as the vice-leader.
For Jiang Huanchao, as long as the Sichuan Alliance could take its place and take revenge on the Black Contemplation Fortress, it didn't matter who became the vice-leader.
"I think the Tiger-Subduing Sword is suitable for that great task."
Yue Shengwu recommended Sheng Houhu, and Jiang Huanchao left a positive expression with his silence.
Although the possibility was low in the current situation, even if Xi Xichang were to oppose it, this was no different from being confirmed.
Sheng Houhu, after looking around the arena once, politely took a fist-and-palm salute.
"Since the responsibility is heavy and the importance of the matter is great, this Sheng Houhu will accept the great task."
A crisis is soon an opportunity.
Finally, the opportunity for the Tiger-Subduing Sword to leave Mount Emei and to spread his dream in the Sichuan martial world had come.
(End of Chapter)