A small heaven and earth rose from the ground, suffused with the profound meaning of Confucianism.
Outside the small heaven and earth, Long Dongjun’s punch missed. The majestic fist aura surrounding him detonated in succession. He knew that this small heaven and earth before him came from Lin Zhao’s master, from that Mr. Qin. Therefore, he naturally dared not and did not wish to let his magnificent fist aura fall upon this small heaven and earth. He merely withdrew his fist technique and retreated, awaiting explanation.
Inside the small heaven and earth, Xie Yiying retreated hastily with her sword, dispelling the sword energy that filled the sky to avoid harming this small heaven and earth. After all, Lin Zhao’s cultivation was too low, and the small heaven and earth he supported would not be very strong. If Xie Yiying had truly attacked with all her might, she could have broken through this small heaven and earth within seconds. However, this was something she absolutely refused to do. In that fleeting moment, Xie Yiying had already recognized the identity of this young sword cultivator. How could she bear to harm the disciple of that person?
“You are… Lin Zhao?”
Xie Yiying stood on the river, her sword in hand, and looked at him calmly.
“Mm.”
Lin Zhao waved his hand, dispersing the small heaven and earth. He cupped his fists lightly and said, “Lin Zhao greets Sword Immortal Xie. I implore Sword Immortal Xie to show mercy, at least spare Long Dongjun today. It would be a pity for both of you if you were to exchange lives.”
Xie Yiying’s delicate brows furrowed.
Not far away, Long Dongjun also frowned and said, “Sword Immortal Xie, Long Dongjun means no disrespect, but… the grudges of the previous generation ultimately belong to the previous generation. We are both people standing at the pinnacle of Furong Province. If we exchange lives, it will only greatly diminish the strength of the human race’s world, making us a laughingstock for the Four Northern Tribes.”
Xie Yiying’s gaze was icy, her attitude towards Long Dongjun unchanged. The hatred of matricide was irreconcilable.
However, when her gaze fell upon Lin Zhao, it softened considerably. “Lin Zhao, you also feel that today is not the day to continue fighting, don’t you?”
“Yes.”
Lin Zhao’s voice was calm. “I am not a cultivator from Furong Province, so I am an outsider. Originally, I had no right to dictate to two seniors. However, I am stationed at Snow Domain Heavenly Pool in the north, and I sincerely do not wish to see discord in the southern human world. Sect Leader Long and Sword Immortal Xie should be pillars of the human race who slay demons. To be fighting each other here, even to the point of exchanging lives, I personally believe is too much of a loss.”
Long Dongjun slowly cupped his fists. “Long Dongjun, I have learned.”
Xie Yiying, however, furrowed her delicate brows. “If your master were here, perhaps he would say the same thing, wouldn’t he?”
“Yes.”
Lin Zhao nodded. “What master says might be even more reasonable and convincing, but the ultimate goal would undoubtedly be the same as mine. He certainly would not wish for Sect Leader Long and Sword Immortal Xie to fight to the death or exchange lives.”
“Understood.”
Xie Yiying nodded gently. “Long Dongjun, today’s battle ends here. It is not that Xie Yiying fears death, but I do not wish to disregard the face of Lin Baiyi of Snow Domain Heavenly Pool.”
Long Dongjun chuckled. “I know, I know.”
Xie Yiying looked at Lin Zhao again. “Your master and I once met by chance in the martial world. We are acquaintances, to some extent. Lin Zhao, since you have already come to Furong Province, we at Lingyan Sword Sect should naturally fulfill our duties as hosts. How about… you come back with me to Wangxin Lake? Wangxin Lake is dotted with islands and is rich in sword intent, which would be very suitable for you.”
“Alright!”
Lin Zhao agreed immediately. “Allow me to bid farewell to Sect Leader Long.”
“Mm.”
Lin Zhao turned and cupped his fists towards Long Dongjun. “Sect Leader Long, since that is the case, I will go to Wangxin Lake. In any case, my journey south this time is for travel. Since I am in Furong Province, I have seen Iron Floating Mountain, and I should also see Wangxin Lake. Furthermore, there is one more thing I would like to trouble Sect Leader Long with.”
“Oh?”
Long Dongjun asked with a smile. “What is it?”
“We have a talented martial artist at Snow Domain Heavenly Pool named Chen Ben. He possesses innate divine strength and has formed a War God Gall. After I return to Snow Domain Heavenly Pool, I plan to let Chen Ben descend the mountain and travel south. His final destination will be Iron Floating Mountain. I hope Sect Leader Long will allow Chen Ben to cultivate at Iron Floating Mountain for a period and permit him to challenge the Twelve Peaks. Is that possible?”
“Certainly.”
Long Dongjun readily agreed. “As long as Chen Ben comes, Iron Floating Mountain will treat him with the hospitality of distinguished guests.”
Lin Zhao smiled. “No need for distinguished guest treatment. Just treat him as an ordinary disciple, allowing him to challenge the Twelve Peaks.”
“Understood, it’s a deal.”
“Mm, thank you! Farewell for now, we shall meet again!”
“We shall meet again!”
Long Dongjun cupped his fists and watched as Lin Zhao flew away on his sword with Xie Yiying towards the east. He couldn’t help but smile slightly. Today, Xie Yiying had finally unleashed her third natal flying sword, and she was indeed very strong, capable of exchanging lives. However, Long Dongjun had more confidence in his fist techniques. Exchanging lives was impossible; at most, he would fall back to the Tianyuan realm, while Xie Yiying would likely perish by his fist. He frowned. Lin Zhao’s appearance was very timely, otherwise, Xie Yiying would have died. Such a cultivator at the twelfth realm dying by his fist… it would be too regrettable, and completely unnecessary.
…
Following the Qingfu River, they traveled hundreds of miles eastward.
Before long, Xie Yiying, sword in hand, headed south and left the Qingfu River waters. After dozens of miles, they reached a vast expanse of water, Wangxin Lake. Wangxin Lake was the largest lake in all of Furong Province. Its water area was second only to Dongting Lake in the entire human world, and its water energy was extremely dense. Wangxin Lake was dotted with countless islands and smaller lakes, resembling a starry sky.
As Lin Zhao rode his flying sword, Hongye, and flew side-by-side with Xie Yiying past numerous islands, he saw wondrous mountains, strange rocks, and lush greenery everywhere. The spiritual energy was extraordinarily abundant. On these islands, some already had continuous palaces built upon them, housing various spiritual cultivation sects. At the center of Wangxin Lake, on the largest island, stood the Lingyan Sword Sect.
Xie Yiying directly landed her sword at the mountain gate, and Lin Zhao followed. Just as the two arrived at the mountain gate, a group of female disciples, dressed in simple skirts, flew down the mountain and collectively cupped their fists towards Xie Yiying. “Greetings, Master!”
These female disciples were all quite attractive. The most beautiful among them was the woman standing in the center, in the C position. She wore a green dress, had a face of pure and unparalleled beauty, a graceful figure, and a pair of beautiful eyes that originally held worry. Upon seeing Xie Yiying return safely, her worry vanished, and a beautiful smile appeared on her lips. More importantly, this woman was a sword cultivator at the eleventh realm.
“Mm.”
Xie Yiying nodded and said to her disciples, “Let me introduce you. This is Young Hero Lin Zhao from the Northern Region. He might be staying at Lingyan Sword Sect for a few days. He is not familiar with Lingyan Sword Sect’s territory, so… Mengjun, please prepare a courtyard in Mengxin Villa for Lin Zhao to reside in. If he wishes to go anywhere, you shall guide him.”
“Yes, Master!”
From the crowd, the green-skirted woman smiled and nodded.
Lin Zhao, however, was momentarily stunned.
“Alright.”
Xie Yiying said, “I sustained some injuries after fighting Long Dongjun, so I shall go heal. I will find you all later.”
“Yes, Master.”
Xie Yiying turned and gracefully flew away on her sword.
The group of female disciples from Lingyan Sword Sect looked at Lin Zhao as if he were a rare specimen, their voices like chirping birds, smiles adorning their lips. Lin Zhao felt a bit awkward. He cupped his fists towards the disciples and said, “My name is Lin Zhao, a Golden Core sword cultivator.”
“He’s actually being so polite?”
The group of female disciples was taken aback. The most beautiful green-skirted woman pursed her red lips and also cupped her fists. “Lingyan Sword Sect, Chen Mengjun, a Gui Zhen realm sword cultivator.”
So her name was Chen Mengjun.
Lin Zhao smiled slightly. The female disciples of Lingyan Sword Sect were all beautiful, but only Chen Mengjun was the most stunning, with a good appearance, elegant demeanor, and she seemed very well-behaved.
“Miss Chen.”
Lin Zhao said, “Perhaps… you could take me to my residence first?”
“Mm, okay.”
Chen Mengjun smiled slightly, turned, and flew away on her sword. Lin Zhao followed suit. The group of female disciples looked up. Although that young sword cultivator was only at the Golden Core realm, he carried two swords, and the way he flew his sword was truly beautiful, much more so than those ugly, rough swordsmen from Duxin Lake next door.
…
Mengxin Villa was a cluster of buildings near the mountain peak. Chen Mengjun, as Xie Yiying’s most favored and beloved disciple, had the privilege of residing in Mengxin Villa. Behind the villa, Chen Mengjun had prepared a courtyard for Lin Zhao’s temporary residence. It was extremely elegant, with peach blossoms blooming in the courtyard, and even rockeries and lotus ponds.
Lin Zhao put down his bamboo box and took a deep breath. The conditions here were much better than at Iron Floating Mountain!
He strode into the courtyard. Feeling the itch to practice, he couldn't help but step into a horse stance, which was precisely the stance for the Farmer’s Three Punches. He had almost forgotten it, but after observing it at Iron Floating Mountain, he recalled some things. He then practiced a set of not-so-good Farmer’s Three Punches. Although he hadn’t cultivated the intent of the punches, his movements were still quite authentic.
Chen Mengjun pursed her red lips, her hands crossed in front of her. Her beautiful eyes watched Lin Zhao practice his punches, not daring to disturb him. She merely felt that Lin Zhao’s practice was particularly captivating, much better than the way those scoundrels at Iron Floating Mountain practiced their boxing stances. He possessed a refined and elegant aura, and what’s more, Lin Zhao was also a sword cultivator. Therefore, Chen Mengjun actually had a very good impression of Lin Zhao.
“Miss Chen?”
After Lin Zhao finished a round of practice, he was a little sweaty and said with a smile, “Perhaps… you should sit down and rest for a while?”
“Ah?”
Chen Mengjun’s pretty face flushed slightly. “Do I have to sit down? That… Young Hero Lin, when will you go down the mountain to tour the scenery of Wangxin Lake? Master said that I should accompany you.”
“…”
Lin Zhao was a little speechless. Although this silly girl was at the eleventh realm, she was too obedient to her master!
“Later.”
Lin Zhao smiled. “I will practice my punches for a while. Will you sit and rest?”
“Oh…”
Only then did Chen Mengjun walk to the side of a chessboard, tuck her skirt hem, and sit down demurely.
Lin Zhao was not in a hurry. He took out the boxing manual given to him by Long Dongjun and read through it once. It wasn’t too difficult. He had practiced the Farmer’s Three Punches before, and he had already grasped much of the intent of such boxing techniques. It was just that after re-entering the game, he had forgotten most of it and couldn’t recall it. What he needed to do now was to gradually regain his memories and abilities. Perhaps he could truly practice boxing again?
Why could his third senior brother become a fourteenth realm sword cultivator? Because he had the foundation of a Rebirth realm martial artist. Since that was the case, if he had the chance to practice boxing, he would definitely seize it!
As for the new boxing technique he would practice, calling it Farmer’s Three Punches was no longer suitable. Calling it Nirvana Fist would seem too abrupt and disrespectful to Iron Floating Mountain’s signature technique. Since that was the case, he would call it Farmer’s Nine Punches!
He couldn’t help but smile proudly. I’m truly a genius at naming things!
Not far away, Chen Mengjun sat with her hands on her lap, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lin Zhao, quietly accompanying him.