Unsheathed

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.

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.

He trusted that young otherworldly immortal because Zhong Qiu had surprisingly made the choice to voluntarily spar with him, helping him stabilize his cultivation so that he could better face his next battle.

Zhong Qiu would never follow his whims when making decisions and interacting with others. Instead, his speech and actions would always adhere to the set of rules that he followed.

Was Zhong Qiu a sanctimonious person wearing the facade of a noble scholar? Or was he a Diplomatist strategizing to seize control of the nation and the world? No, he was neither of these, and Liu Zong was well aware of what kind of person Imperial Preceptor Zhong was, especially since he had lived in the capital of Southern Garden Nation for so many years.

Zhong Qiu was genuinely a sagely scholar and a grandmaster martial artist. He was both of these at the same time, and he had integrated them together to reach the pinnacle of external martial arts in this world. Not only that, but he had elevated it to a higher level with his own strength and abilities.

Moreover, Zhong Qiu had an extremely thorough understanding of good and evil. There were several times when both the discourse in the imperial court and the sentiment in the martial arts world had been completely one-sided, with the mood in the capital overwhelmingly favoring the execution of some person. Following through with this would have greatly satisfied everyone and also saved a lot of trouble.

However, Zhong Qiu had secretly and subtly influenced the final outcome all of these times, allowing the matters to be resolved in a peaceful and fair manner. Looking on with a cold gaze from the sidelines, even Liu Zong had been left with no option but to raise his thumb and praise Zhong Qiu as a truly righteous and gallant person.

Thus, when Chen Ping’an replied that Zhong Qiu was a like-minded person…

…Liu Zong had decided without any hesitation that he needed to draw that sharpened knife from his sleeve.

Apart from appreciating the young boy, he was also fighting for his own slim chance at survival.

Truth be told, not a single person in the world wasn’t curious about the strange relationship between Yu Zhenyi and Zhong Qiu.

Knife Sharpener Liu Zong was naturally no exception. One had to realize that while running his silk shop, he would often discuss trivial gossip with those old women and young ladies. He would hear about whose elderly husband had an illicit relationship with their daughter-in-law, whose darling daughter had taken a fancy to someone, which widow’s house would often have the sound of a cat meowing at night, whose husband had secretly visited the brothel and spent all of their savings resulting in their wife threatening suicide, and so on and so forth. In fact, Liu Zong was even more passionate than those old women and young ladies when gossiping about these matters.

Liu Zong tightly gripped his knife with the hand that was hidden inside his sleeve.

He was still yet to figure out who the meowing cat in that widow’s house was, so he definitely couldn’t die here today!

In any case, there were also several candidates whom he had been considering as his opening but also final disciples. He had observed them for many years, so it was about time to make a decision.

Looking at the young child standing on the flying sword hovering in midair, Zhong Qiu sighed and remarked in a soft voice, “Yu Zhenyi, have you thought about this before? Standing before me today, you still have some slight differences from those otherworldly immortals. However, if you insist on continuing down this path, then there’ll eventually come a day when you’ll become just like them. Afterward, there’ll arise another Zhao Zhenyi or Ma Zhenyi who wants to kill you, feeling that their actions are justified and righteous.”

Yu Zhenyi shook his head and replied, “Zhong Qiu, you’re still unaware of the current situation, aren’t you? The location for ascension this time is still Bull Mountain. However, the number of people who can ascend has already changed. It’s no longer ten people, and it’s instead only three people.

“However, these three people have the right to pick five, three, and one realistically existing individuals from the history of the Lotus Flower Blessed Land, respectively, allowing these individuals to ascend with them. These nine chosen individuals will very likely end up as nothing more than subordinates and puppets. I’ve already performed some divination, and Ding Ying, Zhou Fei, and I will have the greatest chance of becoming the three people who achieve ascension.”

After saying this, Yu Zhenyi revealed the final list of Upper Ten Elites to Zhong Qiu.

Lu Fang and Tong Qingqing weren’t on the list.

Zhong Qiu directly asked a key question, frowning and asking, “You’re going to leave?”

Yu Zhenyi shook his head and replied, “Of course not. I won’t ascend Bull Mountain before the drum is struck for the third time. I’ll voluntarily relinquish my right to ascend, just like that maniac, Zhu Lian, from the past. However, his aim was to ascend with his physical body the second time, while my aim is to prove to you that I was right to kill that otherworldly immortal in the past, and that you were incorrect to dissuade me. I’m going to make it such that the world will be peaceful and stable as long as I’m still alive. Zhong Qiu, your act of patching things here and mending things there is completely meaningless.”

This was an incredibly ambitious statement, yet Yu Zhenyi uttered it in an especially casual and relaxed manner.

“Our ideals and ambitions are different, so we’ll have to agree to disagree,” Zhong Qiu said with a smile.

“You still have one final chance,” Yu Zhenyi said slowly. “Join forces with me to kill that otherworldly immortal, Zhou Fei. Ding Ying won’t stop us. After we succeed, you’ll also be able to live until the end. As for whether you choose to climb Bull Mountain to ascend to the outside world, that’s entirely up to you.”

“What about the other people on the list of Upper Ten Elites? Who’s going to kill Knife Sharpener Liu Zong, Arm Sage Cheng Yuanshan, Dragon General Tang Tieyi from Northern Jin Nation, and Monk Yunni from the Vajra Temple? Will you kill them? Or will Ding Ying kill them? After all, these people aren’t otherworldly immortals.”

It was as if they were speaking to each other in a mutually unintelligible manner.

Yu Zhenyi flared up in rage and roared, “If others utter such foolish words, then I’ll treat their opinions as mortally naive and beneath myself to care about! But coming from you, Imperial Preceptor Zhong Qiu of Southern Garden Nation? Are you oblivious to the fact that sweeping changes in the world will undoubtedly require sacrifice?!”

Zhong Qiu nodded and replied with a smile, “I’m naturally aware of this, and I’ve also done everything in my ability to better Southern Garden Nation during these past years. However, I’m simply posing this question to you, Yu Zhenyi. I’m not asking about a significant one-in-one-thousand-year event, I’m not asking about this world, and I’m not asking about the otherworldly immortals in this world. I’m simply posing a question to you, Yu Zhenyi from Jiulan County of Pine Song Nation’s Zhuo Prefecture.”

Yu Zhenyi chuckled coldly and replied, “How stubborn and inflexible. Zhong Qiu, you’ve been like this ever since you were young. You continue to remain stubborn no matter how many books you’ve read and how many fist techniques you’ve practiced.”

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). ☜