Chapter 251 – The Green Smoke Gives Warning (1/2)
Chapter 251 - The Green Smoke Gives Warning
On the journey to the Garden of Zhou, Zhuang Huanyu had stayed in his carriage, seldom showing his face. Perhaps, he had been purposely avoiding Chen Changsheng. Chen Changsheng cared little for what Zhuang Huanyu did, to the extent that he did not even know that Zhuang Huanyu had left the Mausoleum of Books, came to Hanqiu City, and entered the Garden of Zhou. However, Chen Changsheng knew very well why Zhuang Huanyu had chosen to appear, and why he had come to him.
He was the Principal of the Orthodox Academy. Whether it was because of the position of the Li Palace or the words of the archbishop said before they entered the garden, all the cultivators of the northern sects looked to him for leadership. Of course, in handling matters, he had to be fair. The problem was, at this very moment, what would be considered fair?
He took a step forward, only to be blocked by Zhexiu.
A hint of scorn appeared in Zhuang Huanyu's eyes.
Zhexiu's face remained as impassive as ever. He slowly said, ”You don't need to handle this sort of thing.”
Zhexiu did not mean that Chen Changsheng could not handle the matter, but rather that there were people who could handle it for him.
The chilling sword intent that had come from the distant forest did not belong to Zhuang Huanyu, but another person.
The master and disciple from the Clear Void Monastery were very clear on this point, which is why they had so urgently taken their leave.
Just at this moment, the chilling sword intent arrived at the riverbank. It tore through the trees on the shore and tyrannically slashed at the body of that master from the Clear Void Monastery.
The master's expression abruptly changed. With a shout, he wielded his sword with both hands to block the intent.
There was a sharp sound of clashing.
Waves broke out on the riverbank as the water was thrown into chaos, even revealing the pebbles on the riverbed.
Only then was everyone able to clearly make out the sword that had flown out of the woods.
The progress of that sword had seemingly been halted by the sword of the master from Clear Void Monastery, but it suddenly began to exude a great brilliance, like it was about to grow even mightier and sunder the entire riverbank.
With a massive explosion, the water flowing in the river was all sent flying about. Countless pebbles rolled about in chaos, and the riverbank was even more inundated in dust and smoke.
With a groan, the Clear Void Monastery master's stomach was pushed down like it had been struck. His knees bent and then like a broken kite, he began flying towards the river, his two feet leaving a clear trail in the riverbank.
After being pushed more than a dozen yards, his progress finally came to a halt. His face was extremely pale and his stomach now bore the extremely clear mark of a sword slash, one corner of it bleeding blood.
The river water that had been shocked into the air fell down at this moment, drenching the master from the Clear Void Monastery, making him cut a rather sorry figure.
The young daoist hurriedly ran over to the other side of the river.
“A truly tyrannical 'Mountain Spirit Splits the Cliff'.”
As he viewed this scene, Chen Changsheng silently thought to himself, back at the Ivy Festival, Qi Jian had used this Mount Li sword technique against Tang Thirty-Six. However, back then Qi Jian was not yet at Ethereal Opening. The 'Mountain Spirit Splits the Cliff' then and the one now were two completely different things.
He and Zhexiu both turned to the forest and they saw Liang Xiaoxiao and Qi Jian emerge.
“Where do you think you're going?”
Although the river had begun to flow again, its sound was unable to mask Liang Xiaoxiao's frigid voice.
On the opposite bank, the master and disciple were supporting each other and they were preparing to leave. When both were at the middle level of Ethereal Opening, the sword arts of Mount Li would be much stronger than that of the Clear Void Monastery. How could some little-known master from the Clear Void Monastery be on par with the Divine State's Seven Laws? He had no other choice but to admit defeat.
Hearing these words, the Clear Void Monastery master turned around, a trace of anger visible in his pale face. ”What do you want?”
Liang Xiaoxiao expressionlessly said, ”Leave your things behind.”
His teeth clenched, the master from the Clear Void Monastery threw over the damaged magical artifact in his hands.
Liang Xiaoxiao, not willing to let them leave yet, continued, ”Then come over here and apologize.”
The master from Clear Void Monastery shouted, ”Don't try and take advantage of me! Don't try and wield the power of Mount Li against me, that's too much.”
He looked at Chen Changsheng as he said these words. The rules of the Garden of Zhou were like so: that senior and junior from the Holy Maiden Peak could not defeat him, so the magical artifact naturally became his. He could not beat Liang Xiaoxiao, so he naturally had to leave the magical artifact behind. However, the master looked in askance towards Chen Changsheng because there was no requirement that he needed to apologize to the southerners.
As if not hearing that, Liang Xiaoxiao took the magical artifact and returned it to the Holy Maiden Peak’s Senior Tong.
For the southern continent to remain independent of the Zhou Dynasty and the Orthodoxy for so long was only because of the alliance between the Longevity Sect and Holy Maiden Peak. The disciples of these two great sects would commonly consider themselves as fellow martial brothers and sisters. It would not even be too excessive to call them disciples in the same sect.
Liang Xiaoxiao grasped his sword and began to head off to the opposite bank.
Chen Changsheng stated, ”He is severely injured and he can no longer do battle.”
This sentence did not include the words 'enough', but they contained the meaning.
Liang Xiaoxiao stopped and turned to Chen Changsheng, his eyes cold. The Mount Li Sword Sect and the Orthodox Academy had many hard to resolve disputes. Unlike Gou Hanshi and the others, Liang Xiaoxiao had not spent time under the same roof with Chen Changsheng. In his eyes, Chen Changsheng had always been a most troublesome existence.
Zhexiu still stood in front of Chen Changsheng, his face impassive.
Although he was only at the initial stage of Ethereal Opening, one full level below Liang Xiaoxiao, there was no fear in his face, not even anxiety.
Just like he had told Chen Changsheng in the woods outside the Mausoleum of Books, if the battles in the Grand Examination had been ones of life and death, he would not even fear Gou Hanshi, so he had no reason to fear Liang Xiaoxiao, who was only ranked third in the Seven Laws.
This was the confidence born from being accustomed to life and death, from slaying countless demons.
Qi Jian knitted his brow as he looked at Zhexiu, then went to go stand by Liang Xiaoxiao.
Liang Xiaoxiao said somewhat mockingly, ”You didn't say anything before, but now you're trying to be fair?”
Chen Changsheng thought about it, then he decided not to explain what he had been preparing to do.