Chapter 89 - 84: One Sword Hell, One Sword Ascends to Immortality
The night was deep.
Inside the reception hall of the Prince’s Mansion.
Everyone had more or less finished eating.
Hongg Ying had the servants clear away the food and bring out a special, exquisite wine.
"This wine is called Moonlight Wine."
"It’s made with a secret recipe, sun-dried under the moonlight for eighty-one days."
"It has a remarkable healing effect on the hidden injuries within a Martial Artist’s body."
"I propose a toast to everyone!"
Lu Changfeng and the other eight all raised their cups in response.
The wine was clear and sweet on the tongue. Only after it went down did a gentle warmth begin to spread.
The accumulated, hard-to-heal hidden injuries in Lu Changfeng’s body, caused by his martial arts training, indeed began to slowly recover under the effects of the Moonlight Wine.
This trip to the Prince’s Mansion for the banquet was worth it for the Moonlight Wine alone.
However, the wine seemed quite potent, and a hint of a flush appeared on Lu Changfeng’s face.
With the Prince present, no one dared to use their martial arts to sober up; they could only endure it.
But under the influence of the alcohol, the nine geniuses were no longer so reserved, and the atmosphere grew more lively.
Amidst the fine wine, Hongg Ying slowly began to speak, "For this Daliang Country Martial Arts exchange, I’ll need all of you to put in your best effort."
"It’s what we ought to do," the crowd responded.
Hongg Ying then genuinely began to make small talk, sharing some interesting anecdotes from the Martial Arts Realm.
Suddenly, Hongg Ying brought up a matter related to Lu Changfeng.
"All of you are prominent figures among the younger generations of the Jiangnan Martial Arts World. What are your thoughts on the announcement made today by the Saint Demon Sect’s Saint Master?"
From the seat on the left, Guo Xiaotian scoffed. "I thought the Saint Demon Sect had long since fallen into decline. This generation’s Saint Master probably realized he had no hope of reviving the Demon Sect and resorted to such a laughable, pathetic act."
Guo Xiaotian’s statement was met with agreement from most of the others.
"The Saint Demon Sect has survived for several thousand years and still holds the position as the top sect of the Demon Dao. Its hidden power and influence can’t be that simple," Bai Yimeng offered a different opinion.
As a disciple of the Divine Sword Sect, Bai Yimeng knew very well that among the three great sects of the Song Country, the Saint Demon Sect’s strength was actually the most terrifying.
In the history of the Song Country, the Divine Sword Sect and the Saint Demon Sect had clashed several times.
There were detailed records about the Saint Demon Sect within his sect.
Every time they fought, the Divine Sword Sect never came out ahead.
"Haha, if the Divine Sword Sect admits it can’t defeat the Saint Demon Sect, why not give up your position as the number one sect in Jiangnan Prefecture?" Guo Xiaotian laughed heartily.
Facing the provocation, Bai Yimeng kept his smile. "Elder Guo, you jest. Whether the Divine Sword Sect is ranked first or second isn’t for you or me to decide. It’s determined by the consensus of the Jiangnan Martial Arts World, isn’t it?"
Guo Xiaotian’s expression gradually grew calm again. He was, of course, no reckless fool.
His repeated probing was merely to see if this top prodigy of the Divine Sword Sect’s current generation was truly as outstanding as the rumors claimed.
It seemed now that despite his youth, the boy’s temperament was indeed excellent. He couldn’t be provoked by mere words.
"Alright, that’s enough of this topic."
"You are all talents of the Jiangnan Martial Arts World. This time, we face an external opponent together. There are no high or low ranks among us," Hongg Ying interjected at the right moment to smooth things over.
Hongg Ying suddenly looked at Lu Changfeng. "Changfeng, you and Little Bai are the only two swordsmen here tonight."
"They say a sword dance is the most beautiful thing in the Martial Arts. Why don’t the two of you perform one as a finale before we conclude for the evening? How about it?"
Lu Changfeng stood up. "I see no reason why not."
Hongg Ying had first presented a song and dance performance, then a flowing banquet, and then a wine tasting.
The banquet had already lasted for quite a long time.
The time was about to pass midnight.
When that happened, his copying Talent would refresh, and Lu Changfeng could copy the Root Bone Talent from Bai Yimeng.
As for the highly practical Transformation Talent from Teng Xiaofan, there was still plenty of time. He could copy that one next time.
Bai Yimeng was a disciple of the Divine Sword Sect, as elusive as a divine dragon showing neither head nor tail. The opportunity to copy him was too rare. It was a pure coincidence that he had run into him today, and he couldn’t let it pass!
Bai Yimeng possessed a Heroic Root Bone and the Ancient Baize Bloodline.
Both were top-tier Root Bone Talents.
Lu Changfeng would have to make a choice before he could decide which one to copy first.
At this moment, Bai Yimeng also stood up. "Well then, Brother Lu, shall we keep it a friendly spar?"
"Alright."
Lu Changfeng and Bai Yimeng walked to the center of the hall.
The other seven stood up, and servants moved the tables away, clearing enough space for Lu Changfeng and Bai Yimeng to perform.
"Brother Lu, here I come."
Bai Yimeng didn’t hold back and took the initiative to attack.
To fit the Prince’s theme of a sword dance, the Sword Techniques Bai Yimeng used were extremely flamboyant.
"This is a Swordsmanship I created myself, A Dream of Radiant Glory!"
Bai Yimeng’s self-created Swordsmanship contained dual properties of speed and illusion, making it both exquisitely beautiful when performed and filled with hidden killing intent.
Lu Changfeng drew his Autumn Water Sword and, with the aid of his Longevity Sword Dao, quickly deciphered the details of Bai Yimeng’s Swordsmanship.
In an instant, the very same ’A Dream of Radiant Glory’ was executed by Lu Changfeng.
Because the Swordsmanship contained more than one property, Lu Changfeng couldn’t analyze it completely, so his first execution of ’A Dream of Radiant Glory’ was slightly inferior.
But it was still enough to astonish everyone present.
’To be able to copy an opponent’s technique after just one look—what kind of terrifying Sword Dao Talent is that!’
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The two sword-shadows, forming a white moonlight, clashed. Lu Changfeng was inwardly shocked. He had already used the full extent of his Blood Forging Eighth Layer strength.
Yet in terms of power, he was still only evenly matched with Bai Yimeng.
Lu Changfeng had a guess: ’This Bai Yimeng might have already reached the Blood Forging Ninth Layer!’
"Brother Lu, you truly haven’t disappointed me!" A look of excitement appeared in Bai Yimeng’s eyes.
He had long heard of Lu Changfeng’s Sword Dao Talent, but only now, experiencing it firsthand, did he understand how unbelievable it was.
"Again!"
Bai Yimeng once again executed A Dream of Radiant Glory!
Lu Changfeng’s gaze focused. This time, relying on the Formless Tracing of his Supreme Sword Dao, he had completely analyzed Bai Yimeng’s A Dream of Radiant Glory!
He had even made improvements upon it!
’A Dream of Radiant Glory 2.0!’
The sword techniques clashed, the moonlight shattered, and Bai Yimeng retreated three small steps.
"Incredible. On the second try, you actually improved my sword technique. It’s as if you were the one who created it, and I’m just the clumsy imitator."
"Again!"
Bai Yimeng’s longsword danced, and this time, it was Lu Changfeng’s turn to be astonished.
What Bai Yimeng executed was, shockingly, the ’A Dream of Radiant Glory 2.0’ that he had just used!
Lu Changfeng was analyzing him, but Bai Yimeng was, in turn, using Lu Changfeng’s analysis to enhance the power of his own sword technique!
’This guy... he’s really something else...’
Lu Changfeng activated his Formless Tracing once more, making another improvement to the sword technique.
’A Dream of Radiant Glory 3.0!’
...
The audience saw it happen.
The moonlight created by the dancing sword-shadows of the two swordsmen in the center of the hall grew rounder, whiter, and larger.
After another evolution, a red moon appeared for the first time.
After yet another evolution, the red moon became a blood moon!
And with one more evolution, a terrifying face even appeared on the blood moon.
At this point, Bai Yimeng finally found it difficult to learn.
This was because Lu Changfeng had incorporated his own unique characteristics into the sword technique.
As could be seen from his Storm Sword Intent, there was a side to Lu Changfeng’s personality that was like a brutal Frenzy Warrior.
This aspect was completely different from Bai Yimeng.
Thus, Bai Yimeng discovered that he was actually unable to learn the next evolution of the very swordsmanship he himself had created!
But Bai Yimeng was truly worthy of being the first Hero Lu Changfeng had ever met.
After a moment of thought, Bai Yimeng’s moonlight turned white again, and within it, the faint, elegant silhouette of a figure in white could be seen.
"Haha! My thanks, Brother Lu! This technique is named... One Sword Ascends to Immortality!"
Not to be outdone, Lu Changfeng declared, "One Sword Hell!"
SWOOSH!
The white moonlight transformed into a white Sword Immortal, which entangled with the savage face within the blood-colored moonlight.
Sword Energy crisscrossed, and then, suddenly, all the sword techniques vanished without a trace.
The two swordsmen stood facing each other, both clasping their hands in a gesture of respect.
In this exchange, neither of them had used their Sword Intent.
It was a pure competition of Sword Dao Talent, and in truth, Bai Yimeng had gotten the better end of the deal.
This was originally his self-created sword technique, and by borrowing Lu Changfeng’s Supreme Sword Dao Talent, he had evolved it several times.
The next time he faced an enemy, this sword technique would leave them with a terrifying memory.
As for Lu Changfeng, it wasn’t a bad outcome either. Bai Yimeng’s self-created sword technique had now been incorporated into his Formless Tracing.
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
Mansion Master Hongg Ying was the first to stand and lead the applause.
The others also rose to their feet and applauded.
"You two are the most outstanding swordsmen this Prince has ever seen. Given time, you will both surely become the pillars of the Jiangnan Prefecture’s Martial Arts World."
The other seven, including Guo Xiaotian, did not offer any rebuttal this time.
The Sword Dao Talent the two of them had displayed was truly too frightening.
For an ordinary person, even creating a single Martial Arts Technique was difficult.
But these two, in a short battle, had managed to upgrade a top-tier Blood Forging Realm sword technique four or five times in a row!
One improved it, the other learned from him, and the learner ultimately comprehended a new sword technique with a completely different nature.
This competition of Sword Dao Talent was even more thrilling and exciting than a competition of sword techniques themselves!
Everyone present had truly witnessed a spectacular show!
"Alright, we’ve enjoyed the sword dance!"
"Then for today, let’s conclude here."
"The next time we meet will be on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, in the Royal Palace Square."
"This Prince looks forward to the performance of all you heroes!"
"We will not disappoint you!" Lu Changfeng and the others bowed to Hongg Ying.
Led by the guards.
The nine guests, including Lu Changfeng, walked out of the Prince’s Mansion’s reception hall.
Just then, the clock passed midnight.
Lu Changfeng quickened his pace slightly and patted Bai Yimeng on the shoulder.
Without hesitation, Lu Changfeng chose to copy the Heroic Root Bone.
’Copy successful. Transfer immediately?’
’No!’
Lu Changfeng certainly wasn’t going to start the transfer process inside the Prince’s Mansion.
"Brother Lu, is there something else?" Bai Yimeng asked, turning around.
Lu Changfeng smiled. "When we have the chance, I’d like to have a drink with you, Brother Bai. I wonder if Brother Bai would do me the honor?"
Bai Yimeng smiled back. "Of course."
Considering outsiders weren’t allowed to enter the Divine Sword Sect casually.
Bai Yimeng said, "When I have time, I’ll come find you. Your martial arts hall is called Changle Martial Arts Hall, right?"
"That’s right. Brother Bai is welcome to drop by anytime."
"I definitely will!"
In front of the gates of the Prince’s Mansion, the group of nine exchanged some pleasantries before parting ways and heading in different directions.
After leaving the Prince’s Mansion, Lu Changfeng walked for a while before simply activating a body technique to leap swiftly across the rooftops, quickly returning to the Changle Martial Arts Hall.