Chapter 317 (1): So What if You’re Invincible?

Chapter 317 (1): So What if You’re Invincible?

The two old friends reunited on the silent street.

On top of the hovering flying sword, there stood Yu Zhenyi who looked like a young child. Sword light dazzled like colored glaze, both splendid and smooth.

Yu Zhenyi was the leader of Lake Mountain Faction and the leader of the righteous forces in the world. After cultivating martial arts to a pinnacle level, however, he had resolutely abandoned everything to cultivate immortal techniques instead. In the end, he had advanced his cultivation even further and become divinely powerful.

And now, he had finally appeared in the capital of Southern Garden Nation after the drum was beaten for the first time in Bull Mountain.

After leaving Bull Mountain, the mountain located outside the capital that was the chosen area for ascension and the place where the heavenly drum was being struck, the first person whom Yu Zhenyi saw was his extremely good friend from the past, Imperial Preceptor Zhong Qiu of Southern Garden Nation.

There was no hint of surprise on Zhong Qiu's face, and he had seemingly predicted that Yu Zhenyi would come here to obstruct him. He didn't stop walking, and he continued to advance until he was just twenty paces from Yu Zhenyi. Only then did he come to a stop.

Zhong Qiu smiled and asked, "You've finished crafting that jade bamboo fan? Won't it be too soft and fragile as the future sect leader token of Lake Mountain Faction?"

It was as if they were having a casual and polite conversation between friends.

This was similar to a line in some poem—the sky dark and snow about to fall, won't you stay to drink with me?[1]

"It's been three times already. Why?" Yu Zhenyi asked.

Unlike Zhong Qiu's friendly greeting, Yu Zhenyi was cutting straight to the chase and interrogating his old friend.

"Are you asking me why I rescued Lu Fang? Are you asking me why I helped Chen Ping'an?" Zhong Qiu retorted.

Yu Zhenyi had exited seclusion in the body of a young child, and there was a light ripple in his eyes that were as deep and profound as a bottomless pool at this moment. It was clear that he was feeling a rare sense of anger.

Yu Zhenyi didn't say anything, yet the flying sword underfoot that was linked to his mind became increasingly dazzling and enchanting, radiating with brilliant colors and appearing like a piece of colored glaze that had fallen from the Heavenly Court into the mortal world.

Zhong Qiu took a quick glance at the immortal sword under Yu Zhenyi's feet before retracting his gaze and saying with a relaxed expression, "You already knew the answer long ago, didn't you?"

Yu Zhenyi heaved a soft sigh, with a feeling of reminiscence welling up in his heart.

However, this didn't mean that Yu Zhenyi would change his mind and go easy on his old friend. Things had already come to this, and Zhong Qiu still insisted on remaining so stubborn after so many years, so he had no option but to steel his heart and do what was necessary.

Many rumors swirled around the cultivation world, with the most popular one saying that Yu Zhenyi and Imperial Preceptor Zhong Qiu had turned on each other during their youth because they had both fallen for a seductive and stunningly beautiful woman. Of course, this rumor was severely underestimating the character and abilities of these two men. Discover new chapters at novelhall.com

In reality, the two brothers had parted ways after coming across an otherworldly immortal just as they were both making a name for themselves in the cultivation world.

At the time, Yu Zhenyi had been hellbent on killing that otherworldly immortal, yet Zhong Qiu had argued that the otherworldly immortal's crime didn't warrant death. Moreover, the risk was far too great, so it wasn't worth taking such a gamble. However, Yu Zhenyi had still charged forward, intent on killing that otherworldly immortal.

During a critical moment of life and death, it was Zhong Qiu who had suddenly stepped forward to block that fatal sword strike for Yu Zhenyi, allowing him to eventually kill the otherworldly immortal. Sure enough, just as Ding Ying had told them in Southern Garden Nation, two fated opportunities had appeared after the otherworldly immortal's death. There was an immortal secret technique that could allow one to achieve longevity, and a powerful and indestructible colored glaze sword.

Standing in the pouring rain, Yu Zhenyi had held the divine cultivation scripture of unknown material in one hand and the colored glaze sword in his other hand, throwing his head back and releasing a loud roar.

Zhong Qiu had dejectedly walked away.

Yu Zhenyi had lightly tossed the immortal sword to Zhong Qiu and said, "The two of us are brothers, so we can share in riches just as we can share in pain. You like to read, so you can establish the rules of this world in the future, regardless of whether it's the laws of the four nations or the regulations of the cultivation world.

"I yearn for the immortal Great Dao, so I'll naturally protect these rules for you once I master the immortal techniques. I'll have all of the otherworldly immortals in this world bow their heads and heed our commands. not daring to act with wanton disregard anymore..."

However, Zhong Qiu had directly walked away, not even staying to let Yu Zhenyi finish his words. He had let the supremely valuable divine weapon clatter to the ground and sink into the mud, and he had let Yu Zhenyi's heartfelt words fade into the pouring rain.

Knife Sharpener Liu Zong left the destroyed street and took a turn, and he was instantly left speechless when he saw the face-off between Zhong Qiu and Yu Zhenyi from a distance. He hesitated for a brief moment, yet he eventually decided to slowly continue forward, neither cowering and freezing to the spot nor trying to find an opportunity to turn around and flee.

Liu Zong trusted Chen Ping’an, and he believed that the "young child" standing on the flying sword in the distance—Spiritual Master Yu who should have been engaged in an intense battle with Old Demon Ding—was definitely someone who could steel his heart to kill his good friend from the past.

Zhong Qiu smiled and remarked, "On the other hand, you've changed quite a bit, Yu Zhenyi."

Liu Zong was filled with nervousness and apprehension as he listened to this conversation.

He was truly afraid that Zhong Qiu would nod and join forces with Yu Zhenyi, eventually turning around to kill him along with the other three people on the list of Upper Ten Elites. Killing them would be as easy as slaughtering chicken. Yu Zhenyi was already a powerful cultivator, while Zhong Qiu was one of the most powerful people in Southern Garden Nation. Even if he, Cheng Yuanshan, Tang Tieyi, and Monk Yunni joined forces, they would still have no chance at victory against Yu Zhenyi and Zhong Qiu.

Thankfully, Imperial Preceptor Zhong Qiu didn't betray Liu Zong's trust and admiration in him!

Zhong Qiu glanced up in the direction of his hometown before saying in melancholy, "Yu Zhenyi, after saying so much, you're simply trying to find an excuse to comfort yourself before you kill me. In this sense, you're still exactly the same as before."

Yu Zhenyi remained silent as he stood on the flying sword hovering in midair.

Without turning around, Zhong Qiu laughed heartily and said, "Knife Sharpener Liu Zong! We've been neighbors for so many years in the capital, and it's not because I look down on you that I've never gone to visit you. Rather, the friendship between gentlemen appears indifferent but is pure like water.

"I'll attack first, and you can support me from the sidelines. If the situation becomes precarious, then you should flee if you're able to and directly look for Monk Yunni. Don't feel like this is embarrassing or humiliating!"

Knife Sharpener Liu Zong faltered for a moment before murmuring, "Good heavens... As expected of Imperial Preceptor Zhong. This praise makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over!"

Becoming friends with fine individuals was like a drunkard enjoying rich wine. How could one possibly become sober?

Liu Zong wasn't afraid of death, yet he would never seek death either. He strode forward with determination. So be it if he died. He would die while feeling intoxicated!

Yu Zhenyi leaned forward slightly, gracefully sliding off his flying sword and gently landing on the street. He casually flicked a sleeve and ordered in a soft voice, "Go."

The flying sword behind him that was filled with pure sword light as radiant as colored glaze immediately drew a large arc in the air before piercing through a wall. After exiting from the other side, it was as fast and furious as lightning as it reappeared on the street, directly soaring at Knife Sharpener Liu Zong after having detoured around Imperial Preceptor Zhong Qiu.

Yu Zhenyi appeared relaxed and carefree as he leisurely walked forward, shaking his hands before clasping them behind his back and saying with a smile, "Zhong Qiu, aren't you regarded as the number one martial artist in the world? Come on, I won't strike back. You can punch me as you please."

Zhong Qiu nodded before suddenly asking, "Can we do battle outside the city?"

Yu Zhenyi smiled and replied, "Imperial Preceptor Zhong, you don't need to worry about bringing harm to the innocent. You don't have the ability to do so."

Zhong Qiu couldn't help but chuckle.

This person... After becoming an immortal who comprehended Dao, he had eventually transformed into a little child who spoke in an incredibly boastful manner. Zhong Qiu genuinely wanted to witness his so-called immortal abilities.

Yu Zhenyi clasped his hands behind his back, signaling to Zhong Qiu that he could attack as he pleased.

Not only that, but he even tapped a foot and hovered into the air, making sure that his line of sight was in line with Zhong Qiu's. He was actually making it easier for Zhong Qiu to strike him!

Zhong Qiu wasn't angered by this, and he didn't feel like Yu Zhenyi was belittling him. Instead, his expression became increasingly solemn.

He threw a single punch.

However, Zhong Qiu's fist stopped a meter in front of Yu Zhenyi's childlike face.

His fist could only advance inch by inch in an incredibly slow manner.

It was as if his fist were an old man trying to ascend a mountain, struggling to take each and every step.

There was but a mere meter between his fist and Yu Zhenyi's face, yet it was as if there existed a gulf between them as great as the distance between heaven and earth.

Hovering in midair with his hands clasped behind his back, Yu Zhenyi lightly shook his head, his eyes filled with pity for his opponent as he said, "Who knew that this was the limit of Zhong Qiu's abilities?"

1. This is a line from Bai Juyi's poem, Invitation to Liu Shijiu (问刘十九). ☜