Volume Two: Snow over the Qin River Chapter 21: Straight into Illuminating Brilliance (Part I)

The Sword Discussion for the Hunyuan realm had concluded, but the Sword Discussion for the Huixin realm was also drawing to a close. Following the eliminations of the preceding days, the finalists for the semi-finals had finally been decided.

Zhang Chen, Sword Heir of Wind and Thunder Peak.
Qiu Yue, Sword Heir of Chasing Moon Peak.
Wu Fan, Senior Disciple of Thousand Precipices Peak.
Mou Linhan, Senior Disciple of Traceleass Peak.

Because the Sword Heir of Treading Snow Peak had stepped into the realm of Attracting Brilliance, she had forfeited her eligibility to participate in the Sword Discussion Assembly. In all likelihood, she would lead the delegation to the Inquiry Assembly in the capacity of a supervising elder, which conveniently handed an opportunity to Wu Fan.

Although he had fought fiercely against Wan Jiang, he ultimately possessed the bearing of a Sword Heir, and achieving such results was hardly unexpected.

The so-called Sword Discussion Assembly was fundamentally a stage prepared for these proud prodigies, with everyone else merely running alongside them.

The deacon in charge of the Sword Discussion had already announced today’s matchups. Whether through pure luck or behind-the-scenes manipulation, the pairings were exceedingly interesting.

Zhang Chen versus Qiu Yue.
Mou Linhan versus Wu Fan.

"Four years ago, Senior Brother Zhang Chen’s Wind and Thunder Sword narrowly lost to Senior Brother Sheng’s Treading Snow and Plucking Plum. Now, four years have passed, and who knows how much more refined his Wind and Thunder Sword Intent has become. I suppose he will be the champion of this Sword Discussion Assembly."

"Hard to say. Senior Sister Qiu Yue’s Flying Swallow Chases the Moon is no weak technique either. It is said that she has even comprehended the Mist and Clouds Filling the Sky. With the two complementing each other, even Senior Brother Zhang Chen cannot take her lightly."

"Let us not forget the Senior Brother of Traceleass Peak. Everyone knows he possesses the bearing of a Sword Heir. Though I know not why Sword Patriarch Fa Jian has long delayed bestowing the title of Sword Heir upon him, his Traceleass Sword Intent is stronger, not weaker, than the current Traceleass Sword Heir. That is a peerless technique hailed as unbreakable!"

Hearing the discussions among the disciples of various peaks, the disciples of Thousand Precipices Peak wanted to say something, but after opening their mouths, they ultimately uttered nothing.

The Hunyuan realm Sword Discussion was past, and the room they had to make an impact was terribly small.

Wu Fan was strong, but compared to the three mentioned above, he still lacked something.

The spectator stands were abuzz with heated discussions, yet the sword arena was quiet enough to hear a pin drop.

Being the strongest disciples of their respective peaks, they had interacted frequently during ordinary times, and upon reaching this stage, there was not much left to say.

The only thing on the sword arena that ought to make a sound was the sword!

Wu Fan made the first move.

A completely bright silver flying sword streaked across the vast sky, roaring as it slashed toward Mou Linhan, accompanied by a faint dragon roar.

"Could this be... Azure Dragon Emerging from the Water?" Gasps of shock erupted from the spectator stands.

Mou Linhan was somewhat surprised by Wu Fan's choice. Based on his understanding of Wu Fan, his opening move should by no means have been so indomitable. Although Azure Dragon Emerging from the Water was the Snow Cloud sect's sword technique with the most ferocious momentum, its flaws were equally obvious.

His figure shifted slightly, leaving behind an afterimage in place as he gracefully retreated several body-lengths, precisely dodging the sword qi of the Azure Dragon Emerging from the Water.

"Swallow Returning to the Morning Sun... A swallow returning to the morning sun actually managed to dodge Azure Dragon Emerging from the Water?"

"It depends on who is wielding it. Senior Brother Wu’s sword technique is swift and fierce; without Senior Brother Mou’s level of mastery, one simply cannot dodge it!"

Wu Fan pressed forward a step, a deafening hum of swords resounding within his body. Over two hundred strands of sword intent erupted from within him, converging in mid-air into a river of sword intent that slashed straight toward Mou Linhan’s face.

Simultaneously, the momentum of Azure Dragon Emerging from the Water was spent, and the flying sword whirled backward, piercing toward Mou Linhan’s back with lightning speed.

"Great River Sword! Returning Blade Sword!"

Mou Linhan frowned.

Several rays of silver light suddenly illuminated his surroundings.

The two hundred-plus strands of sword intent halted before the silver light, clanging loudly yet unable to advance an inch.

"Clang!"

The flying sword was likewise batted down by the silver light.

"This is... Traceleass Sword Intent?"

Before anyone else could answer, the situation on the field shifted once more.

Wu Fan struck with a sword.
Mou Linhan likewise struck with a sword.

The speed at which the two exchanged blows constantly accelerated, leaving the disciples on the spectator stands only able to occasionally catch the name of a sword technique amid the countless strikes they unleashed.

As the sect of ten thousand swords, the Snow Cloud Sect possessed countless hidden swords within its vaults, and precious few disciples ever resorted to sword techniques from outside the sect. In truth, the utility of most sword techniques in the world could find a substitute method within Snow Cloud. Even so, the disciples on the stands could still only faintly recognize a portion of the sword moves on the arena, which showed how vast their repertoires were and how deep their mastery of the sword ran.

"Was that the Morning Farewell Sword?"
"The Opening Gate Sword!"
"The Cloud Terrace Sword actually managed to break Cleansing Creek Sands? Marvelous!"
"Could this... could this be the Heavenly Dao Sword!?"
"Bright Sword versus Heavenly Dao Sword! As expected of the Senior Brothers of the various peaks; their comprehension of the Dao of the Sword is truly extraordinary!"
"..."

"How many swords has it been?"
"Three hundred and seventy-seven, and they are still striking—three hundred and seventy-eight!"

True ferocity had been unleashed upon the arena. Even the fluctuations of primordial essence emitted merely from the clashing of their flying swords left the watching disciples awestruck.

"We are all cultivators of the sword; how on earth can they reach such a level?" Liu Quancheng sighed.

"We are all cultivators of immortality; yet they have already touched the threshold of Attracting Brilliance," Song Ci retorted unceremoniously from the side.

"A sword discussion every four years, and every sword breaks one's heart. I am not coming anymore," Wenren Xue said, full of indignation.

Listening to their conversation, Murong Xue felt a sense of powerlessness regarding the word "talent" for the very first time.

"There is no need to belittle yourselves. When you reach their age, you may not necessarily fail to attain their height," Sheng Yun spoke indomitably from the side. "People are ultimately consumed throughout their lives by things unattainable in their youth. I only hope that you will not so easily determine that something is beyond your reach."

A sudden uproar broke out in the spectator stands.

Thousands of precipices moved in unison on the sword arena as Wu Fan finally unleashed the strongest move he could wield—the Thousand Precipices Scenery.

Ten thousand swords formed a dragon.

Opposite him, Mou Linhan’s expression turned slightly grim. He drove his Traceleass Sword Intent to the absolute limit, the silver light around his body nearly materializing into reality, forming a cocoon-like barrier.

"Pity, the sword arena is too small." Seeing this, Sheng Yun shook his head.

In his view, victory and defeat had already been decided.

Perhaps after this move, both sides would still have the stamina to exchange a few more blows, but that would no longer have anything to do with victory or defeat—it would, at best, merely be a display of their respective sword daos.

Ultimately, the giant dragon formed by ten thousand swords failed to bite open that tiny cocoon.

Wu Fan’s figure emerged from within the dragon, panting heavily.

Fresh blood seeped out from every pore across his entire body; viewed from afar, he looked like a bloody man.

"I have lost again." He smiled desolately. "Whether it is Junior Sister Zihan or Junior Brother Fengqi, I can accept losing to them. After all, they are Sword Heirs, while I am merely a useless wretch who failed to keep the position of Sword Heir."

The deacon in charge of the Sword Discussion Assembly hurriedly rushed onto the stage, pristine primordial essence surging from his body to protect Wu Fan’s entire meridians.

Mou Linhan’s gaze was somewhat complex.

The Great River Sword rolls on ceaselessly.
Ten thousand swords form a dragon for a thunderous strike.

Clearly employing the same framework, Wu Fan had managed to puzzle out a completely different usage.

If his comprehension of the Traceleass Sword Intent had been slightly weaker, or if Wu Fan’s control over the Ten Thousand Swords as a Dragon had been slightly stronger, the outcome of this battle would have been reversed. It was only because his opponent was him; had it been anyone else, Wu Fan could have used this move to render himself invincible.

Even Zhang Chen would have been able to endure for only a short while under such an offensive.

Of course, had Zhang Chen been in his place, Wu Fan would never have been given the opportunity to unleash this move.

Mou Linhan saw it very clearly: all the sword techniques Wu Fan had displayed earlier were merely paving the way for this final sword strike. The swords of Wind and Thunder Peak were renowned for being fast, accurate, and ruthless; they would never have dragged the fight out until now.

Not far away, Zhang Chen watched this scene with a solemn expression.

Whether it was Mou Linhan or Wu Fan, the combat power they displayed at that very moment could be called the strongest in the same realm. Even Sheng Yun at that realm would have been no more than this.

"They have finished fighting; it is our turn." Qiu Yue drifted onto the stage, looking at Zhang Chen with battle intent reaching the skies.

The sound of wind and thunder rang out.

Zhang Chen stepped upon a sword and landed opposite Qiu Yue.

"I do not wish to fight like them; it is too unsightly and does not align with my Dao."

"And what does the Sword Heir of Chasing Moon Peak propose?"

"Aren't the swords of Wind and Thunder Peak renowned for their speed? Let us condense our respective sword daos into every single strike and decide the victor within ten moves."

Zhang Chen thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "Agreed!"

First move: Chasing Moon Peak’s Flying Swallow Chases the Moon versus Wind and Thunder Peak’s Wind and Thunder Single Sword.

Qiu Yue retreated two steps, while Zhang Chen remained motionless.

Second move: Chasing Moon Peak’s Vast Cold Falling Snow versus Wind and Thunder Peak’s Wind and Thunder Single Sword.

Qiu Yue retreated another two steps, her gaze turning solemn.

This time, Zhang Chen stepped back once and raised an eyebrow.

Third move: Chasing Moon Peak’s Two or Three Dots versus Wind and Thunder Peak’s Wind and Thunder Single Sword.
Fourth move: Chasing Moon Peak’s Tianshan Bright Moon versus Wind and Thunder Peak’s Wind and Thunder Single Sword.
Fifth move: Chasing Moon Peak’s Mist and Clouds Filling the Sky versus Wind and Thunder Peak’s Wind and Thunder Single Sword.

Qiu Yue was already panting softly, thinking to herself whether the gap between her and him was truly so vast that she could not even force him to use a second sword style.

Zhang Chen said calmly, "Junior Sister Qiu Yue, if you continue to fight like this, you will lose."

Qiu Yue took a deep breath.

Her sword momentum condensed slightly.

Sixth move: Chasing Moon Peak’s Moon Upon the Tree Branches versus Wind and Thunder Peak’s Descent of the Azure Firmament.

Descent of the Azure Firmament was the preceding stance of the Wind and Thunder Single Sword; strictly speaking, Zhang Chen had still only used a single sword.

The disciples of Chasing Moon Peak began to grow dissatisfied, and even Yang Zhengshu’s gaze grew much deeper.

In her generation, her strength had been slightly inferior to her several senior brothers, but that was because she was naturally lively, and with several senior brothers shielding her from the wind and rain, she had never needed to invest too much painstaking effort into her path of cultivation.

Was it ultimately because they had been too lenient with the disciples, allowing them to be humiliated to this extent by Wind and Thunder Peak?

"Zhang Chen is different from the others; Junior Sister need not take it to heart." Perhaps sensing the heavy atmosphere in the arena, Yuan Yulong actually took the initiative to speak up in explanation.

"How is he different?" Xue Wuji snorted. "In the past, you were always the harshest toward Junior Sister. Now look, the entire Wind and Thunder Peak has learned your bad habits!"

Yuan Yulong had no intention of entertaining Xue Wuji at all, but he still patiently added one more sentence: "Unlike the others, Zhang Chen... purely cultivates Wind and Thunder."

Yang Zhengshu raised a slender brow. "I recall that during the last Sword Discussion Assembly, Zhang Chen knew quite a few sword techniques."

Yuan Yulong nodded. "Yet in the end, he lost to Sheng Yun."

Xue Qianzhang remained silent until now before finally speaking, "You want him to walk your old path?"

Yuan Yulong replied coldly, "What is wrong with walking my path?"

Xue Qianzhang shook his head and did not argue with him on this matter.

Regardless of the process, Yuan Yulong was, after all, a supreme figure of the Integration Realm, naturally placing him among the absolute pinnacle in terms of realm, and even more formidable when it came to combat power.

Yet his Dao was too bitter—so bitter that Xue Qianzhang felt he could never achieve the same feat himself, nor did he believe anyone else in this world could accomplish the exact same thing.