Chapter 99 Still a Sword Coming (Part 3) Better to turn the tables and create chaos, using one's own power...
As the yellow sand dispersed, Sword Mountain appeared before everyone's eyes under the dazzling sun.
Lush green, verdant blue, rugged, steep...
A majestic mountain stands alone atop its peak, where hundreds of spirit swords still lie, gleaming brightly.
Below the green mountain, more than ten spirit swords circled the mountain base, their sword energy chilling. The reason why the Sword Mountain was suspended was because of this sword energy, which was enough to wipe out everything!
The man who could take the sword looked at the Sword Mountain and then at the star lamp he had lit in his hand, and a look of joy appeared on his face.
The so-called starlight is actually the cold light that shines on the spirit sword itself; it is a kind of favor and symbolism.
Hundreds of famous swords, not one came for her, not one lingered for her. They merely looked at her, passed by, and when the dust settled, nothingness remained.
She was not meant to be with a sword.
The noise around him continued, but Lin Feiran only looked at his hands, the faint light in his eyes flickering like a candle in the wind, going out only to light up again.
Ru Xian was right beside her, so she naturally saw the perfectly normal hand.
His first reaction was to frown, and then he became suspicious. Why didn't any sword mark a star for her? It just didn't make sense.
As he pondered, his eyelashes fluttered slightly, but he didn't look at Lin Feiran's expression; he felt a pang of pity.
She so desperately wanted a sword.
Amidst the vast yellow sands, why was she the only one walking ahead among all the cultivators?
It wasn't that she wasn't tired, or that she wasn't weary, she just didn't want to. She didn't want to stop.
Before the Flying Flower Gathering, he asked her if she really didn't want to win the title of the number one swordsman in the world. She remained silent for a long time before saying that she did.
Her sword bones have grown to this point entirely thanks to the nourishment of her sword heart. How could someone like that not want that?
Ru Xian pursed her lips slightly, and her gaze finally shifted from her palm to her face.
She lowered her head, looking into her palm, her expression so silent, like a mountain peak covered in snow overnight, quiet yet without a trace.
Her face showed neither sadness nor joy; she simply watched.
"The chains have fallen; shouldn't we draw our swords now?"
Someone couldn't help but speak up, frequently glancing at the figure in black.
If the leader doesn't move, how can they climb the mountain?
"Fellow Daoist Wenran, hurry up the mountain! We can't retrieve the sword, and we can't leave the desert, so we have to wait here. If you dawdle any longer, you'll only waste our time!"
Finally, someone became dissatisfied and leaned closer to shout a couple of times. He glanced at her outstretched hand and was suddenly stunned.
"Wenran didn't have a single bit in his hand!"
He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, making it clear to everyone around him.
These words spread like wildfire, reaching everyone's ears in no time and causing an uproar.
Chenghua and Qi Chen exchanged a glance, looking at Lin Feiran's retreating figure with some concern.
Qiu Tong bit her lip and looked over, her brows furrowed slightly, and there was no joy in her expression.
When she first entered Daohe Palace in this life, she had carefully observed Lin Feiran.
In the disciples' quarters, the light in her room was only turned on for a few moments shortly before she fell asleep; the rest of the time, it was completely dark.
At first, she thought that Lin Feiran was often away from her room because she was chatting with Wei Changzai.
But after following her several times, he realized that she was just practicing swordsmanship in the small pine forest, and that Wei Changzai was the one who was always looking for her.
In her previous life, Lin Feiran was not so diligent, which led Qiu Tong to believe that his sword practice was just a pretense for Wei Changzai to see.
Doing this for one day might be acting, doing it for two days might be considered fulfilling one's duty, doing it for three days might show some perseverance, but if it's done every day, then it's true love.
Qiu Tong's feelings towards Lin Feiran are now very complicated. She still remembers the humiliation Lin Feiran caused her in her past life, a painful memory she will never forget.
But in this life, he was repeatedly saved by her, and the scales in his heart began to waver.
Sometimes she even thought that perhaps this life and the previous life's Lin Feiran should be viewed separately.
But in the end, I couldn't get over that mental hurdle.
Qiu Tong looked down and saw that there was only one star shining in her palm, but it was different from the others; hers emitted a faint blue light.
She knew that this was the sword's edge of the Tai'a sword.
In his past life, the Tai'a Sword chose her at first sight and accompanied her for decades. Now he has come here to retrieve the Tai'a Sword.
Before the Flying Flower Gathering, she had thought many times about how delightful it would be if a villain like Lin Feiran were not chosen by any spirit sword and could not obtain a sword.
Now that his wish has come true, seeing her so frustrated, he feels no joy whatsoever.
She would always think of Lin Feiran practicing swordsmanship alone in the pine forest.
She suddenly thought, how wonderful it would be if even one of the hundreds of spirit swords could unleash a wisp of its light for her.
She deserves it.
Pei Yu shared the same thought.
But she simply stood with her arms crossed at the foot of the sword mountain, without even looking back.
In the past few days, every time I close my eyes, I see the image of Lin Feiran raising his hand to crush the Li Pearl and breaking into the Mind-Questioning Realm.
The once useless person has now reached the same level as her, and even seems to be leaving her behind. How ridiculous.
But Pei Yu had to admit that this had troubled her, and even the matter of retrieving the sword could not stir any ripples in her heart.
"..."
She finally turned around and looked at Lin Feiran, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Could something have happened?" Chenghua was worried when she saw Lin Feiran not moving for a long time, but she also felt very sympathetic.
No one understands the feeling of dashed hopes better than her.
“Nothing will happen,” Wei Changzai suddenly said.
Chenghua looked over in confusion, only to see him looking at Lin Feiran with an expression that was not as worried as the others.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because..." She is Lin Feiran.
Wei Changzai withdrew his gaze and said slowly, "Because, as you see..."
He said those three words and then fell silent, leaving Orange Blossom completely bewildered.
In the center of his gaze, Lin Feiran was still standing there, looking at his own hand.
Her hands were not gentle; her finger bones were slightly crooked, thin calluses grew at the base of her fingers, and her palm lines were intricate and complex, with two vertical broken lines. They were hands that were neither wealthy nor lucky.
She never felt that she was favored by fate; what she asked for was always hard-won, and whatever she wanted, she had to get it herself with her own hands.
She trusted these hands that had been through countless trials.
I also trust the power that pulls me out of the abyss when I clench my fists.
Lin Feiran looked up at Sword Mountain, stretched out his right hand, and with a flick of his not-so-straight fingers, completely covered the imposing peak.
"No one has ever said that one cannot go up the mountain to retrieve the sword without obtaining the Star Lantern."
Everyone was stunned and turned around to see the figure in black leaping high into the air and landing steadily on the chains.
She started walking slowly, then gradually quickened her pace, and finally bent down slightly, rushing upwards. Even the wind could barely catch up with the hem of her clothes.
The chains rattled, and as she approached Sword Mountain, the spiritual swords all over the mountain trembled slightly. Such sounds of war echoed through the desolate yellow sand, creating a sense of bleakness.
Lin Feiran's goal was very clear: she wanted to obtain the number one sword in the world, Kunwu.
So what if there isn't a spirit sword to light her way? There has always been a person controlling a sword, not a sword controlling a person!
The chains swayed violently, like a roaring wave threatening to toss her into the sea!
Lin Feiran drew closer and closer, his expression growing increasingly cold and serious, his eyes fixed solely on the purple-lighted cyan sword!
Then, with another thunderous roar, the vast and pure sword energy surged straight into the sky, tearing open a swirling hole in the clouds above the heavens, revealing the vast and clear sky.
The cultivators below Sword Mountain couldn't help but hold their breath, as if the figure running on Sword Mountain was not someone else, but themselves.
It's that version of myself when I first entered the path, forging ahead fearlessly and never falling behind anyone!
When the east wind blows for ten miles, I will ride it, soaring straight up and breaking through tens of thousands of miles!
"To hell with the starlight! To put it bluntly, these spirit swords were nothing more than a handy sword in the hands of a saint. Only saints possess spirit swords!"
Now that she has won the championship, the east wind is blowing, so why can't she take advantage of it?
"Take the sword! Take the sword!"
The howling wind was left behind, and Lin Feiran could no longer hear the shouts in the yellow sand; all she could hear was her own heartbeat.
Vigorous and rapid.
So intense, so exhilarating!
She doesn't believe it!
The path on Sword Mountain is rugged and difficult to traverse, resembling a bird's trail, barely wide enough for one foot to land.
Finally, she reached the top of the mountain and landed in front of the sword.
The girl was tall and slender, like a lone sword shadow piercing in front of her, its sharpness concealed.
Fine beads of sweat glistened on her forehead and nose, her stray hairs were slightly damp, her lips were slightly parted, and her hot breath escaped from her mouth, but it couldn't escape her clear eyes.
She stared straight ahead, her throat moved slightly, and her dry throat and tongue finally became moist, but her pounding heart did not stop.
Under the blazing sun, the two spiritual swords, Kunwu and Tai'a, were stuck straight into a whetstone. The cracks on the stone's surface resembled spiderweb patterns, but there was no sign of them breaking.
Also standing on the whetstone was a red umbrella that provided shade for them. The watery red color reflected from the umbrella fell onto the edge of the sword sheath, giving it a sharp and vibrant appearance.
Lin Feiran walked over, his slightly crooked fingers landing on the hilt of the Kunwu Sword. He slowly gripped it, the cool, smooth touch on his palm feeling like he was holding a piece of fine jade.
The cultivators at the foot of Sword Mountain, looking at it from afar, couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.
"A sword spirit! There really is a sword spirit!"
All things have a spirit, let alone precious objects that are always by the side of sages. They will naturally become spiritual through constant exposure.
However, the Pilgrimage Valley had been closed for hundreds of years, and everyone had only heard of the sword spirit but had never seen it with their own eyes, so they were naturally very curious.
Just now, when the inspiration struck, a fleeting shadow appeared; she must have seen the sword spirit!
"The sword spirit is willing to see her, it must want to be recognized as her master, this is truly an opportunity that can't be sought after!"
"I don't think so. There are records in books that some people have seen the true face of the sword spirit, had a pleasant conversation with it, but were still rejected without mercy and missed their chance at love."
Unfortunately, the sword will not be drawn without the sword spirit's permission.
Amidst the various opinions, Lin Feiran had already met the spirit of the Kunwu Sword.
This was the first time she had seen it with her own eyes.
Before me was a child who was only waist-high, with a cute face, long hair half-tied up, a dot of vermilion between his eyebrows, and wearing a gold and red Taoist robe, looking like a little adult.
But his eyes had no pupils, only a hazy white.
Only living things in the world have eyes.
Sword spirits are neither human nor demon, nor living beings, so they have no eyes, and most sword spirits only have human form but no face.
There are only two sword spirits like Kunwu, who have all five facial features except for a pair of pupils, and Tai'a.
Lin Feiran looked at him, and he "looked" at Lin Feiran, even circling around her twice, and said in a crisp voice.
"You have neither the Star Lamp nor the light of my sword in your hand, so why do you dare to come to the summit to find me?"
Lin Feiran replied, "Because you are at the summit, I want to take the first sword."
"Those who come to me all want to obtain the number one sword in the world, which is not unusual."
Kunwu was not surprised. He put his hands behind his back and slowly strolled around the Water Moon Cave.
"You are the champion of this Flying Flower Festival. We watched the whole thing from Sword Mountain. You are very impressive."
Moreover, you have sword bones, which are well nourished by your sword heart.
"Among the cultivators who participated in the Flying Flower Gathering on this trip, I have not seen anyone with better swordsmanship than you."
Lin Feiran's heart pounded, yet it also seemed to be waiting for the moment to fall.
"but."
The Kunwu Sword Spirit continued speaking, and her heart finally settled down.
Lin Feiran suddenly looked up.
The sword spirit didn't know how to beat around the bush. He leaped onto the hanging crescent moon and swung it around like a swing, his voice quite leisurely.
"Leave quickly. There's not even a glint of sword light in your hand, so don't waste your energy. Remember to tell the people behind you to hurry up. I can't wait to see my master!"
Lin Feiran remained standing still, while Kunwu tilted his head slightly, his blind eyes seemingly looking at her.
"Not leaving? Is there anything else you want to say?"
Lin Feiran blinked, her lips parted, but before she could utter a sound, he interrupted her.
"Even if you want to argue your case, so what? I've already told you, I have someone destined for me, why force it?"
That's a very familiar phrase.
Lin Feiran stopped speaking, but Kunwu had grown impatient. He raised his hand and used irresistible force to knock her out of the sword realm!
In silence.
All that was seen was a flash of purple light. The black-clad figure who had been standing on the peak suddenly released his sword hilt and was knocked back several steps, barely stopping at the edge of the cliff!
Seeing this, someone knew perfectly well and said, "She was also rejected by the Kunwu Sword."
A series of boos immediately rose from all around, some expressing regret and others secret joy. Just when everyone thought Lin Feiran was about to descend the mountain, she simply steadied herself and walked toward the Tai'a Sword.
As she extended her hand, four beams of blue light emerged, landing on her arms and eyes, drawing her into the light.
This is a sword realm filled with lush bamboo and green peaches.
A lovely, waist-high girl with no pupils was hanging upside down on the green bamboo, looking her up and down.
“I also have a destined person, and that person has arrived here today, but it is not you.”
She was clearly aware of Lin Feiran's conversation with Kunwu Sword, so she answered directly, not wanting to say more.
"You can leave now."
A few moments later, Lin Feiran was knocked back again. This time, her right foot almost missed its mark, and small pieces of sand slid off the edge of the cliff, finally landing in the yellow sand a long time later.
The crowd erupted in excitement upon seeing this, with some even saying, "Forget about choosing the first or second option. There are hundreds of spirit swords available. Wouldn't it be better to settle for something less?"
Lin Feiran made another move, trying out each of the famous swords one by one in order.
The third, the fourth, the fifth...
Even after the tenth sword, she still couldn't enter the Sword Realm.
Of the hundreds of spirit swords, not one was willing to tremble for her, and not one was willing to be drawn from its sheath for her.
The clamor from the foot of the mountain suddenly fell silent at that moment.
Lin Feiran looked up at the clouds that had been blasted open in the sky. His palms, which had been numb from the shock, turned slightly red and began to burn as they hung at his sides.
Of all weapons, the sword reigns supreme.
A sword is a double-edged sword, with a polished surface on both sides. The wielder holds it with impartiality, and the user wields it without selfishness.
A hall full of flowers intoxicates three thousand guests; a sword's frost chills nineteen provinces. Whether scholars or righteous men, they all have a certain fondness for swords. Cultivators also like to use swords. Although they lack a bit of killing intent, they can purify their minds.
Not a single weapon has been drawn yet. Is it because she is not worthy?
No.
No one knows better than her whether she is worthy or not.
Lin Feiran suddenly chuckled.
She walked towards the summit again, stopping beside the Kunwu Sword, recalling the past, every sword mark in the pine forest, and every ray of dawn.
She sighed.
"Have you not seen... the tall pine tree lies in the ravine, enduring wind and frost, yet when the time comes, it stands tall and supports the hall of enlightenment."
The first poem she learned after entering the Taoist temple and the palace.
The tall pine tree lies in the ravine, enduring wind and frost, waiting for the right opportunity to rise to a high position.
This is a line of poetry that she has always kept in mind, and reciting it in this situation is so fitting.
But this opportunity was not hers at all.
Fortunately, she always believed in her own hands.
"What do wind and frost have to do with me? What is the place for a bright future? I might as well turn my hand and make clouds and rain, and use my own strength to please my heart!"
She slowly gripped the sword hilt, and the surrounding spiritual energy suddenly surged, ruffling her hair and drying her thin layer of sweat, but it could not extinguish the tiny flame in her eyes!
Starting from the fingertips, a pale golden glow gradually appeared, spreading to the wrists, arms, and spine...
That was the light of sword bones!
Suddenly, the Kunwu Sword trembled violently, and the sword spirit cried out, "What are you doing!"
Lin Feiran raised her eyes and softly uttered four words.
"Draw your sword, unsheathe it."
The sword of Sword Mountain can be taken away once it is drawn from its sheath.
However, without the sword spirit's approval, it cannot be drawn; therefore, those who do not receive approval cannot take the sword away.
But what if we bypass the sword spirit?
There was no precedent for this before, but Lin Feiran did it anyway.
"Stop! Stop!"
The Kunwu Sword Spirit shouted to stop him. He looked at the trembling Water Moon Cave and a sense of panic flashed through his heart.
"You cannot draw your sword! I will not allow it! I will not allow it!"
A strong wind arose at the summit, whipping up the girl's clothes and causing them to flutter in the air. Her expression remained calm, her lips tightly pressed together, yet she did not budge an inch!
The hilt and scabbard fit together perfectly, not allowing anyone to break them even slightly.
Lin Feiran's hand holding the sword gradually trembled. She closed her eyes and recalled every swing of the sword, every movement, as if she herself had merged into the sword and fallen into every wisp of wind.
Finally, as he recalled a moment when he drew his sword and swung it, his hand suddenly felt a little lighter, and a sword cry resounded through the sky as the Kunwu Sword was drawn!
The sharp sword patterns engraved on the blade, with the edge shimmering with light, caught Lin Feiran's eye.
She watched quietly, then suddenly smiled.
"Look, it's out now."
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