Chapter 49 Sword Intent in the Water: Above the river, one sees a scene of the sea embracing all rivers...
Half a month ago, on Guyu Peak.
The afternoon sun was shining brightly, cascading down like a golden waterfall, warming the grass and releasing a delicate fragrance, like a sweet and soft baked pastry.
Two figures stood before a lake behind the peak, their white robes fluttering gently in the breeze. The lake was calm, with only ripples created by the swirling, falling leaves.
Yan Xueya picked up a broken flower branch from the ground, casually twirled it in her hand, and looked at the student in front of her, saying, "Since you became my disciple, I have not taught you anything related to cultivation techniques. I hope you will not blame me for my negligence, Yan Shen."
The woman opposite her gently shook her head; her dark hair shimmered with a shimmering blue light in the sunlight, like flowing deep water. A slender, silver-white sword was drawn, its surface gleaming with a pale blue sheen.
"Of course not, Master. I would be grateful for your guidance."
The flower branches seemed to gracefully arc through the air, and in an instant, the vibrant blooms on them were frozen in time. Frost and snow meandered upwards like a fierce silver dragon, devouring the rich colors and replacing them with clusters of ice flowers.
As if someone had ripped apart the Milky Way in the sky, several streaks of silver light flew up with a series of fine cracking sounds. Winter silently descended upon this place, but it had nothing to do with the swaying grass and trees around it, and only attacked Qiao Yanshen.
Qiao Yanshen raised her sword to block, her flowing sword intent gathering on the wind, endlessly circulating and condensing on her longsword, which was then unleashed along with the vast sword energy formed from spiritual power. The azure light shone brightly, making the latter seem like an egg striking a rock compared to the pale, snow-like sword light, clearly demonstrating the difference between reality and illusion.
As the two forces clashed, the gentle blue light vanished in an instant, replaced by a chill that swept over her, penetrating her skin and seeping into her very bones. Qiao Yanshen instinctively gripped the sword hilt, feeling a surge of extreme cold within her. A stinging pain and a frozen stiffness assaulted her simultaneously, ultimately giving her a faint warmth, like that of someone on the verge of death from hypothermia. However, this warmth did not last long. The falling petals ceased, the frost and snow melted, and Yan Xueya's calm eyes came into view, tinged with concern.
Spring arrived in the blink of an eye, the sun shining brightly, as if the chill from before was merely an illusion. Qiao Yanshen was slightly taken aback, his thoughts returning to the book he had been reading earlier, and he realized why everyone said the Frost Sword Intent was terrifying. That leaf earlier was just something Yan Xueya casually tossed out; it probably didn't even contain any sword intent, just a wisp of ordinary force.
Unaware and unaware, frost and snow can accumulate on the body's surface, and the chill is like a bone-deep infection. Just as people who freeze to death often lose consciousness in a state of confusion, so too is this sword intent; before one can even react, it has already deeply penetrated to the marrow.
She cupped her hands and said, "Thank you for your concern, Master. I am fine, but this is the first time I have ever seen such sword intent."
Upon hearing this, Yan Xueya chuckled and said, "I feel that everything you say and do is condemning me for being in seclusion for too long and for taking on disciples too late. But it's true, if it weren't for Ruan Luoying's repeated reminders, I probably would have missed this opportunity. Most of the outer disciples or the true masters who teach in the Sword Hall lack refinement of sword intent, treating it only as proof of talent and not developing it further."
She tossed the flower branch aside, and the icicles on it vanished instantly, the petals blooming softly once more.
"But sword intent is something that is comprehended through cultivation. If you don't understand the sword in your hand, how can you comprehend sword intent? It is not something that is merely decorative, but rather something that is obtained through the purity of one's Dao heart. Yan Shen, the sword intent you have comprehended is very good, but it is too rough. You need to clarify the direction and comprehend it. Like grinding an iron pestle into a needle or tempering a vessel in a raging fire, you need to hone it again and again to forge your own Dao."
Qiao Yan nodded deeply, and a white light shone brightly above the rain-covered peak.
"So, have you figured out your own path?"
-
A thick fog rolled in, obscuring many of the scenic views on the river. Only the small boat, like a lighthouse, remained unhindered by the fog.
The river flowed, and spiritual energy seeped into it, sending unusual fluctuations through the changing ripples. The water sensed her presence before she did, and saw the figure in the mist even earlier.
The path she chose was different from Yan Xueya's, which was sharp and fierce. It was like the snow that had never melted for thousands of years on a high mountain, which condensed on a sword and earned the name Frost Blade. She chose water. If other sword intents had to choose a form from the ever-changing water, then she would give up the choice and point directly to the origin of the five elements of water.
A state of obscure disorder, a flowing chaos. The beginning and end of all things.
Shen Lixia's eyesight was sharper than that of ordinary people. While Qin Shiying was still searching for his target, she had already seen the figure that was faintly visible in the fog.
The divine fire is the fire of purification; its agitation indicates that those who ambush us are no ordinary thieves, but rather...
A figure leaped out, and Shen Lixia could clearly see that she was surrounded by black mist, her clothes were stained with blood, and her face was pale, making her look like a living person.
Then, two or three more similar figures emerged from the mist. They were all corrupted by a dark aura, their eyes flashing red, and their faces obscured by objects. Although the ground below was a river, they seemed to walk on the surface of the water as if they were not made of solid material.
Qin Shiying drew her sword, intending to question his origins, but Shen Lixia pressed down on her shoulder, solemnly protecting her and Qiao Yanshen.
"These are demonic cultivators; I'm afraid even we'll have a hard time dealing with them." Shen Lixia frowned, channeling her spiritual power and holding her Flowing Fire Longsword horizontally in front of her to observe the movements of the four. The surging divine fire brought a surge of adrenaline, as if urging her to immediately fulfill her duty and eliminate the demonic cultivators before her.
Isn't this annoying? I'd rather die than keep nagging me like this.
Shen Lixia suppressed the urge to utter the curse, but her composure had vanished due to the torment of the divine fire. With a golden-red gleam in her hand, she used her spiritual power to support herself on the water and slashed forward with her sword.
Outside her sight, Qiao Yanshen turned his head and looked over. Seeing her anxious appearance, a look of worry flashed in his eyes. He then quickly looked away and raised his hand to block the attack coming towards his face with his sword.
The black mist drew closer, causing her to pause in surprise, and her sword strokes slowed.
Why does this icy aura emanating from the demonic cultivator feel so familiar to her?
She had never met the person before, and they were not related to her, so she was certainly not familiar with him. However, the swirling black mist seemed to have stirred up some memories hidden deep in her mind, which then dissipated in an instant, giving her a brief feeling that was a mixture of astonishment and melancholy.
Demonic energy and chilling death energy climbed up her wrists along the intersecting weapons, seeping into her skin in wisps.
Quickly regaining her focus, Qiao Yanshen channeled her spiritual energy into her sword. Instantly, blue light flashed, and she swung her sword to counterattack, knocking her opponent back and then attacking with sword energy. Just as she was concentrating on the person in front of her, a chill came from the side. She raised her sword to block, and seeing that it was another demonic cultivator, she unleashed a powerful sword energy with all her might, forcing both of them back several steps.
Without further hesitation, she focused her mind and held her breath, her eyes swirling with azure light, and a sharp aura gradually emanating from her body. Qin Shiying suddenly felt the boat beneath her feet tremble, and instinctively looked at the water. She saw that the murky water beneath the mist seemed to be driven by something, surging and boiling.
While being attacked from both sides, Shen Lixia combined swordplay with physical techniques, unleashing bursts of flame and waves of heat. As she threw a punch, she sensed something amiss. Only after the flames engulfed the demonic cultivator before her, burning away much of the black aura on his body, did she understand why—the divine fire was beginning to merge with her own spiritual root, imbuing the flames formed from her spiritual power with righteous energy. Evil spirits naturally fear fire, and thus, the two demonic cultivators hesitated to approach, giving Shen Lixia an opportunity to counterattack. She hurled her Fiery Sword at one of them, then lunged at the other, engaging him in hand-to-hand combat.
The longsword transformed into a vibrant streak of light, barely dodging a slash that was then drawn back by spiritual energy, swiftly piercing through the opponent's body. Without hearing the sound of blood and flesh dripping, Shen Lixia turned her head in confusion, only to see the demonic cultivator, like a worm attracted to fire, begin to rot from the wound, rapidly turning into a cloud of black, turbid energy, which was then completely burned away by the flames.
Even the most demonic cultivator should still be made of flesh and blood. So what's going on here...?
Before she could think it through, the person in front of her had already swung their sword down. She didn't have time to block it; she only felt a tightness at the back of her clothes, and in the blink of an eye, Qin Shiying was in front of her, blocking the attack with his sword.
The demonic cultivator possessed astonishing strength. Qin Shiying, an ordinary person despite his martial arts training, was still struck by the brutal sword energy, his hand going numb, his tiger's mouth splitting open, and bloody welts blooming on his arm, flowing crimson blood. Seeing the blood, Shen Lixia grew impatient and leaped forward, launching a lightning-fast punch. Her full force landed squarely on the demonic cultivator, causing flames to erupt and incinerate the black energy as well.
"How are you, Immortal Master? Are you injured?" Qin Shiying asked with concern, turning around despite his own injuries.
Shen Lixia felt inexplicably annoyed, yet a warmth welled up in her heart. She gave a cold snort and dispelled the black energy that was about to encroach upon her. "Shouldn't I be asking you that, Your Highness? I already said that cultivators are difficult to deal with, so why did you take the blow for me? If something happens to you, I won't be able to get the Four Spirits Scroll."
Seeing her awkward expression, Qin Shiying smiled and said, "But if something happens to the Immortal Master, this trip will not go smoothly. Besides, as the saying goes, with high power comes heavy responsibility. I will be the ruler of a country in the future, so I should naturally be aware of protecting those around me."
As soon as the words were spoken, the sound of rushing water arose, initially faint and barely audible, then suddenly like a colossal beast plunging into the water, where the sea and sky met, stirring up a monstrous wave. The two looked towards the source of the sound and saw a woman in white wielding her sword on the river. Wherever her sword struck, the river water surged violently, its water-colored spiritual energy flowing and transforming the waves into sharp, gleaming light, like a raging storm.
The two men opposite her were no match for this onslaught; their bodies shattered into black mist and dissipated, swallowed by the river without a trace. The murderous aura suddenly subsided, and the previously fierce river water instantly softened, collapsing into fine raindrops that fell onto the river's surface and returned to their original place. All of this happened in a single breath, yet the transformation between strength and gentleness, clarity and turbidity, was fully demonstrated.
On the river, one can see a scene of the sea embracing all rivers.
Qiao Yanshen flicked her wrist, sheathing her sword. Her robes fluttered, and her dark hair lifted slightly. Silence fell, and the mist gradually dissipated. Knowing that the demonic cultivators had all been dealt with, she turned her head and saw Qin Shiying and Shen Lixia's eyes shining. She couldn't help but chuckle.
"Li Xia and Your Highness have both done very well." She smiled, her eyes crinkling, her already gentle face appearing even more serene, truly like a celestial being in a painting, serene and radiant. Her voice was also melodious, making Shen Li Xia's ears burn. She unconsciously pursed her lips, feeling a surge of warmth in her heart.
After asking her question, Yan Xueya was astonished by her ambition, but knowing that his disciple was always thoughtful and deliberate, he naturally wouldn't speak recklessly. When Qiao Yan thought her master would reprimand her for her absurd ideas, Yan Xueya instead instructed her to frequently study the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas around her, using his divine power to take her to other places to study different water currents. After their study, the two sat in the Frostblade Peak Hall, discussing the Dao and sparring with their swords—or rather, she would parry Yan Xueya's various sword techniques.
At first, she was quite confused about this, but gradually she came to understand her master's good intentions. Just as Yan Xueya lived on Frostblade Peak, cultivators, whether in body, qi, or soul, were actually no different from the beasts of the world, just like mortals, all originating from nature. The Great Dao is simple, circulating endlessly in nature. The Frost Sword Intent was formed from the harsh winter, so her understanding of the Five Elements of Water was naturally closely related to the quality of water in nature.
That sword strike was the result of her long-term training.
The young princess couldn't help but praise him. Hearing the immortal master's words, her tail wagged immediately, and she said excitedly, "So the immortal master was watching this way too! Just now, I took that blow for Immortal Master Shen—"
Shen Lixia reached out and gently pinched her arm. "Alright, your hand is still bleeding. Let's treat it."
The boatman continued rowing, and the three of them finally sat together on the boat. Qiao Yanshen focused his spiritual energy to an extremely subtle level, adjusting Qin Shiying's breathing and expelling the demonic energy that had entered her body. Shen Lixia applied medicine to her from the side. After the gauze was wrapped, a gentle coolness flowed through her blood, and Qin Shiying breathed a sigh of relief, feeling refreshed and invigorated.
"I never imagined that the immortal master was also skilled in traditional Chinese medicine."
"I have some understanding." Qiao Yanshen lowered his head, checked the wound bandage, and withdrew his spiritual power after confirming that everything was in order.
After a fierce battle and prolonged tension, Qin Shiying inevitably felt drowsy. Seeing her start to yawn, Shen Lixia sighed and said, "Your Highness, why don't you rest for a while?"
After saying that, she asked the boatman, "How much longer until we reach the Third Domain?"
"The following morning."
Shen Lixia waved her hand, "Alright, Your Highness, go and get some sleep."
Qin Shiying shook her head, saying that as a princess and a member of the cavalry, she couldn't let her guard down. She took out some dry rations from her baggage on the ship, intending to eat something to refresh herself, but Shen Lixia snatched them away.
Yes, even immortal masters need to eat...
Just as I was about to take more, the rations were stuffed back into my arms. They were no longer cold and hard, but were steaming slightly. Although they were just for filling my stomach, they still had a faint aroma when warmed up, making them more appetizing than when they were cold.
Qin Shiying looked up and saw Shen Lixia shrug her shoulders as the red light in her hand disappeared. "Hot is better than cold, right?"
A warm feeling flowed through his body. Although the river was chilly, Qin Shiying no longer felt lonely. He smiled and said, "Thank you, Immortal Master."
As dusk fell, Shen Lixia seemed to remember something and called out, "Senior Sister! Aren't you good at astrology? There seem to be stars in the sky right now. Would you like to do a divination for our Highness?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Shiying looked up at the sky. The view was expansive, and the night sky was clearly visible. The faint red light was like a flame, illuminating the darkness with a touch of vibrant color.
She exclaimed, "This is the brightest night sky I've ever seen!"
However, Qiao Yanshen's expression was not good. She stared at the ceiling, her brows furrowed and her eyes slightly narrowed. The wind, which should have been stronger at night, was now still, like frost frozen in the air, stagnant and motionless.
The red light flickers, its brightness shifting unpredictably, sometimes shining brightly, sometimes dimming like a vanishing star—this is the appearance of Mars guarding the heart.
It is a harbinger of great chaos in the world, and also signifies the tyranny of the monarch and his incompetent rule.
And the ruler of this southern kingdom is no longer Qin Shiying. Therefore—
For them, it should be considered a good omen.
The weather in the South is about to change.
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