Chapter 36

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Even though Jiang Yu had the intention to revive the Chu Dynasty, he did not dare to act rashly. After all, the Emperor had yet to pass away and the officials were not completely united.

Since he was not anxious, Jiang Changsheng was naturally not anxious either. Focusing on cultivation was the right path.

Spring passed and autumn came.

Thirty-seven years after the founding of the dynasty, the war between the Great Jing Dynasty and Ancient Han continued. However, the war changed from a huge war to a small one. Both sides were tired of fighting and wanted to take the opportunity to recuperate.

In the courtyard.

The nine-year-old Huang Chuan was currently sparring with Wan Li. He used the Nine-seeking Heavenly Dragon Steps and struck out with his palm. His true qi turned into thin needles that shot towards Wan Li.

Jade Pure Meridian Piercing Needle!

With a wave of his sleeve, Wan Li dispersed all the needles of true qi.

Huang Chuan pounced on him and kicked Wan Li’s chest, forcing him back.

Applause could be heard from the side. Xu Tianji stood at the entrance of the courtyard with a shoulder pole and praised, “Huang Chuan, you’re really a martial arts prodigy. Even I am inferior to you. Do you want to go down the mountain and become the Sect Master of the Guiyuan Divine Sect in the future? I’m willing to give up my position to you.”

Huang Chuan stopped and panted heavily. He ignored Xu Tianji and said to Wanli, “I’m not fighting anymore.”

He was very helpless. He had too little true qi. After continuously displaying a set of martial arts, his true qi was lacking and even his physical strength had been hollowed out. If he continued to fight, he would lose.

As he swept the floor, Wang Chen lamented, “You’re still young. What’s the hurry?”

Huang Chuan gritted his teeth and said, “I want to send my grandfather on his last journey. He said that I am not allowed to go down the mountain to look for him before I reach the Heavenly Arrival realm.”

Stunned, Wang Chen shook his head and continued to sweep the floor.

“My turn, my turn… Hehe…”

Ping’an suddenly jumped over from the side and said excitedly to Wan Li.

Wan Li’s smile stiffened. Before he could react, Ping’an pounced on him. He had no choice but to take on the attack. Every time he received a hit, he felt extreme pain.

Ping’an’s martial arts skills were very bad and could not be compared to Jiang Ziyu and Huang Chuan at all. However, his strength was really fierce and his reaction speed was also extremely exaggerated. There was only one feeling when fighting against him.

Pain!

Under the Earth Spirit Tree, Jiang Changsheng quietly looked at them.

“It seems like talent is indeed crucial. No one else except for Huang Chuan and Ping’an can automatically absorb the spiritual energy emitted by the Earth Spirit Tree, so their strength increases extremely quickly.”

Jiang Changsheng thought silently. After nurturing it for so many years, the Earth Spirit Tree could already produce spiritual energy. Other than Jiang Changsheng who could absorb spiritual energy to cultivate, Ping’an and Huang Chuan could also do it. Even though their speed was far inferior to Jiang Changsheng, they could do it unconsciously.

Most martial artists trained by using their physical body to stimulate their true qi, not by absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Since Ping’an and Huang Chuan could do it, it meant that there were other martial artists who could do it. However, such a person was one in a million.

Even though martial artists could also absorb spiritual energy, Jiang Changsheng still felt that the path of immortal cultivation was stronger and deeper.

At that moment, Mingyue ran into the courtyard.

“Daoist Master, someone has come to challenge you again. The other party claims to be Taishi Qiujian. I heard from Senior Brother Qing Ku that Taishi Qiujian is a legendary figure in the martial arts world.”

Hearing the name Taishi Qiujian, Xu Tianji was moved.

Xu Tianji muttered, “That old bastard has also appeared. Interesting…”

Jiang Changsheng could sense Taishi Qiujian’s true qi, which was similar to Xu Tianji’s, but there was a sharp aura around him.

Sword intent!

Coupled with this sword intent, Xu Tianji was probably not his opponent.

Jiang Changsheng stood up and revealed a faint smile.

The survival reward had arrived!

In the past two years, there would occasionally be experts who came to challenge them, but they were too weak to trigger the survival reward.

After waiting for two years, a real expert finally came!

Jiang Changsheng’s heart was filled with anticipation. When he passed by Xu Tianji, the latter could not help but remind him, “Daoist Master, Taishi Qiujian is not a great man. He comes from another dynasty. However, forty years ago, during the war, he defeated all the swordsmen in the Chu Dynasty and left behind legends of the Sword Dao. You have to be careful. The strength of an old fart like him is unimaginable. Moreover, swordsmen can often unleash power stronger than their true qi realm.”

Other dynasties?

Jiang Changsheng nodded slightly and walked out of the courtyard. The others were interested and followed him. Wan Li also took the opportunity to slip away. No one fought with Ping’an, making him was furious. He paused and quickly followed.

A large number of disciples had gathered in front of the gate. There were also a few devotees were among them.

A figure stood on the steps in front of the mountain gate. It was an old man in a raincoat with a rusty bronze sword in his hands. Behind him was the blue sky, and the breeze blew his raincoat.

Taishi Qiujian had a head full of white hair and looked slightly messy. His wrinkled face looked as if he could no longer open his eyes. Even so, he radiated a powerful aura that no one dared to look down on.

“Taishi Qiujian, have you heard of this name?”

“I’ve heard of it. I followed Senior Brother Qing Ku around the martial arts world and saw the records of Taishi Qiujian in the Sword Pavilion. He ran wild for twenty years and had never tasted defeat. He defeated 1327 swordmen, and that was forty years ago…”

“He was invincible 40 years ago?”

“I heard that some martial artists become more demonic the older they get.”

“There are indeed hidden dragons and crouching tigers in this world, but they are definitely not our Daoist Master’s opponent. Our Daoist Master is now a martial arts legend. Zong Tianwu, Xu Tianji, and the Divine Monk of Pine Lake have yet to obtain such a title.”

The disciples discussed among themselves. Even though they were amazed by Taishi Qiujian’s reputation, they still trusted Jiang Changsheng.

“The Daoist Master is here!”

Someone shouted and the disciples immediately made way.

Taishi Qiujian slowly opened his eyes. His turbid eyes were lifeless. However, when Jiang Changsheng walked into his line of sight, his eyes emitted a cold glint.

Jiang Changsheng walked to the front and confronted Taishi Qiujian alone.

Taishi Qiujian said, “I hope this is my last battle. If I die under the Taihang Sword, it will live up to its reputation as one of the top ten swords.”

Jiang Changsheng said, “I am not a swordsman, but if you wish to die here, it is not impossible.”

Taishi Qiujian narrowed his eyes and his right hand began to grasp the hilt of the sword.

The disciples of Longqi Temple were excited when they heard Jiang Changsheng’s words. Their Daoist Master was usually gentle, but once he faced the enemy, he would only become more domineering. At the very least, his aura would not lose.

Xu Tianji looked at Taishi Qiujian with sympathy. He believed that Jiang Changsheng would kill him. He did not have the righteousness and mercy of a Daoist priest at all.

Taishi Qiujian raised his sword with one hand and coldly said, “Junior, you are very confident, just like I was back then. However, even though I want to die, no one has been able to satisfy me after walking for 100,000 miles.”

He raised his bronze sword and pointed it at Jiang Changsheng. In an instant, an extremely powerful aura exploded, making everyone’s heart palpitate.

The wind between heaven and earth stopped abruptly!

In the distance, Jiang Yu, who was dealing with the memorials, raised his head and looked out the window with a frown.

“This sword intent, which expert came to the capital?”

Jiang Yu asked, and a female voice sounded from outside. “Sword Freak, Taishi Qiujian.”

Taishi Qiujian?

Jiang Yu frowned and said, “I saw his sword in the Dragon Tower. Is he still alive?”

The female voice followed suit. “All these years, Taishi Qiujian came from Tai Cang, seeking death all the way, but he did not die. Instead, he killed many powerful swordsmen, and his strength is unfathomable. His goal this time is the martial arts legend of today.”

Jiang Yu snorted and looked away as he continued to process the memorials.

…

Jiang Changsheng held the hilt of the Taihang Sword in his left hand and the horsetail whisk in his right. He chuckled and said, “Your sword intent is very strong. Among the swordsmen I have ever seen in my life, you are the strongest. In order to respect your strength, I will do my best.”

He could sense that Taishi Qiujian only had a trace of vitality left, and he was completely forcing himself. God knew how he forcefully endured.

Taishi Qiujian suddenly released his grip and the bronze sword hung in the air. Strands of energy visible to the naked eye overflowed from his body and surrounded the blade.

“This sword is called Startling Strike!”

As soon as Taishi Qiujian finished speaking, the bronze sword suddenly shot out. Everyone only heard an ear-piercing roar. With a flash of the sword, the bronze sword rushed over. Standing behind Jiang Changsheng, all of them could sense the aura of death. Even Xu Tianji was moved!

Boom!

The bronze sword collided with Jiang Changsheng, but it was blocked by an invisible barrier. The strong wind caused the robes of the disciples behind them to bulge as they subconsciously covered their faces with their arms.

All of a sudden, the bronze sword bounced off and then rushed towards Taishi Qiujian at an even faster speed.

Pfft!

Taishi Qiujian’s chest was pierced and blood splattered everywhere. The bronze sword flew back in an arc in the air and leaped over his head before stabbing into the stone steps in front of him. The blade of the sword trembled.

Taishi Qiujian widened his eyes. There was no fear in his eyes. Instead, he was pleasantly surprised.

“This old man… finally saw a faster sword…”

Taishi Qiujian muttered to himself and a smile appeared on his face. With a plop, he half-knelt and held the hilt of his sword with both hands. He lowered his head and spat out blood. After coughing a few times, he stopped moving.

The others came back to their senses and looked at Taishi Qiujian in disbelief.

How terrifying was Taishi Qiujian’s momentum? Did he die just like that?

Xu Tianji swallowed his saliva and thought that he must not offend Jiang Changsheng in the future.

Huang Chuan looked at Jiang Changsheng with admiration. Was this the strength of a martial arts legend?

Even though he did not see how Jiang Changsheng attacked, he could clearly sense how powerful Taishi Qiujian was. Such a powerful figure had been instantly killed by his master!

Jiang Changsheng turned around and said, “Open a piece of land halfway up the mountain and erect a stone tablet for Taishi Qiujian. From now on, any martial arts expert who dies from a challenge can erect a stone tablet.”

Meng Qiushuang gulped and nodded.

Even though this was not the first time she had seen Jiang Changsheng attack, she was still shocked every time.

How powerful was this junior brother of hers?

…

After returning to the room, Jiang Changsheng had just sat down when a notification appeared before his eyes.

“Thirty-seventh year of the Jing Dyhnasty, the Sword Freak Taishi Qiujian requested for a fight. He fought to the death and you killed him. You survived a calamity and obtained the survival reward—martial art, Taiqing Sword Technique.”

It seemed like his Taiqing Sword Technique would appear in the future.

Jiang Changsheng thought to himself. However, he was not too surprised because it was a martial arts technique.

One Sword Freak was not enough. When would ten Sword Freaks come?

Jiang Changsheng sighed with emotion and began to inherit the Taiqing Sword Technique.

He realized that the Taiqing Sword Technique was not as bad as he had imagined. It was definitely a unique skill!

The news of Taishi Qiujian dying in battle at Longqi Temple quickly spread throughout the martial arts world, adding another achievement to the legend.

In the next few months, no more experts came to challenge him.

Until the 38th year of the Jing Dynasty.

Jiang Changsheng finally sensed that he was about to break through. He stopped his cultivation and did not break through directly. Instead, he checked his incense points.

[Current incense points: 1,021]