Chapter 144: The Bad-Tempered Xuanyuan Taihua
There was a blood-red lotus flower blooming in the night sky. It was extremely eye-catching and beautiful to look at. It was like fireworks that were set off in Changan City on the Emperor’s birthday celebration.
The earth instantly became dead silent.
This was a contention to transcend the realm of warriors. It was a tentative exchange.
The end result was one that no one could have expected. No one expected the ending to be this destructive.
The old man, Zhao Taifeng, was terrifyingly powerful. His might was so powerful that it could change the weather.
That old man, who lived for thousands of years, was the true most powerful warrior in the two worlds, overlooking everything in the human realm.
Despite his powerful existence, his arm had been blown away by a single sword attack.
The blood-red lotus flower bloomed in the sky.
Zhao Taifeng’s hair billowed around him as he narrowed his eyes. His robes were stained with blood.
The Reincarnating Lotus Sword gently vibrated and emitted a clear sword’s cry among the pieces of flesh that exploded from the arm. It no longer spun around. A gust of sword intent was released and time seemed to return to the previous second as it hurtled back to Zhao Taifeng’s chest!
Zhao Taifeng felt a chill!
This sword intent... was completely different from Chao Xiaojian’s unimpressive space sword intent. This was the time sword intent that truly transcended the realms of warriors. It was a sword that could affect time!
It seemed like it was about to stab him to death in the sky.
“What a ruthless kid!”
Zhao Taifeng wore an expression of utmost sternness. However, he was not flustered despite losing an arm to a blast.
Zhao Taifeng’s other arm swung in front of him as he faced the incredibly powerful time sword intent.
He displayed the ability of a warrior who has transcended the realms and instantly activated a rune.
In an instant, the hundreds of runes that he was about to send shooting out behind him were now stacked up ahead of him.
A single slash of a sword caused hundreds of runes to explode!
Zhao Taifeng’s body flew backward in the sky. The old man who maintained the upper hand like he was ascending into the heavens was now sent flying back to the mountain peak with a single sword attack.
Gusts of strong winds crashed into the peak of the Main Path Mausoleum unceasingly like mighty waves.
Blade light tore through the sky as the Reincarnating Lotus Sword floated around Fang Lang.
The world was deathly quiet.
A rapid-fire exchange that was this quick and powerful managed to suppress Zhao Taifeng, who had the power to cause the skies to change, with a single sword attack!
Everyone was shocked. All they could do was focus their gaze fearfully at the two figures in the skies.
Chao Xiaojian’s expression was full of emotion and respect.
He managed to see his senior sister, the sect leader’s peerless sword technique. She truly deserved the title of the Tang Dynasty’s First Sword.
So what if he was a realm transcending warrior? He was being beaten up all the same!
So what if she was not truly here? He was still being defeated by a single sword!
Huang Zhihe was full of praise and gratitude to this woman. This woman was worthy of being admired. How could anyone fail to adore and admire her?
The Reincarnating Lotus Sword was not stained by the slightest trace of blood as it returned to Fang Lang’s side soundlessly, circling around his body.
A lotus flower blossomed in Fang Lang’s eye. The mysterious phantom behind him seemed to become larger and more miraculous.
There was complete silence in the Main Path Guild.
Zhao Zhenshi, who had spat blood after being stabbed by Chao Xiaojian, looked extremely terrified.
How could this be!?
How could the elder of his family be so weak!?
Was Zhao Taifeng really a realm transcending warrior!?
Zhao Zhenshi was full of doubt and uncertainty.
However, Zhao Zhenshi quickly banished all his doubts from his mind. This was because muscles and sinew were continually forming on Zhao Taifeng’s arm as he stood on the mountain peak where he returned to. In the end, it was a perfectly healthy arm.
His severed arm had regenerated!
This miraculous arm was beyond the realm of ordinary humans.
Zhao Zhenshi was stunned as a feeling of awe and respect rose in his heart. He could not say that his own ancestor was weak. He should instead say that Xuanyuan Taihua... was too powerful!
“What an impressive girl. You’ve merely cultivated for 200 years, yet you have managed to achieve this level.”
“Your mastery of the time sword intent is comparable to the demon tribe king in the world of the demons that controls the power of time!”
Zhao Taifeng took a deep breath in. He felt a little sense of fear.
He knew that Xuanyuan Taihua was trapped in the demon world with no way of returning. She needed to retrieve the remaining three swords before she could return.
At that moment, a powerful drive arose inside Zhao Taifeng’s heart. He must retrieve the Reincarnating Lotus Sword so that Xuanyuan Taihua would not be able to return to the Tang Dynasty!
Zhao Taifeng turned his head to look in the direction of Changan. The Tang Code seemed ready to jump into action. However, it did not give him a terrifying sense of threat.
Zhao Taifeng was not an idiot. He seemed to realize something.
Xuanyuan Taihua might have attacked so powerfully because she was hiding something!
“Even though you’re exceptionally gifted. However, since you’re not truly here, I fear that it’s impossible for you to defeat me!”
“I promise you, if you leave your sword here, this youth will be allowed to leave. The Main Path Guild will not stop him.”
Zhao Taifeng raised his head as his white hair billowed non-stop in the wind. He stared fixed at Fang Lang, who was floating in the air as he spoke.
Of course, he was speaking to Xuanyuan Taihua, who was behind Fang Lang.
“You won’t be able to kill me. However, I acknowledge your power... Leave your sword. This is my last concession.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions of Chao Xiaojian and Huang Zhihe faltered slightly.
This was because Zhao Taifeng was saying this even after he experienced Xuanyuan Taihua’s might. This must mean that Zhao Taifeng was certain that he would win.
Both of them were aware that this was still home ground for the Main Path Guild. Perhaps they had a secret trump card.
In the sky, the mysterious figure behind Fang Lang overlooked Mount Tongtian from above. A faint voice reverberated in the skies. “Leave my sword? Why don’t you give it a try... you old fellow?”
Xuanyuan Taihua’s voice rang out clearly in the night sky. It made the atmosphere which had just started to calm down to become tense once again.
The Reincarnating Lotus Sword floated in the sky, glowing with a limitless brilliance. It was like the blazing sun in the sky, eye-catching and glorious!
The sword that had been covered in dust for over ten years in the Main Path Mausoleum was now shining brightly.
“What’s the need for this, girl? Your sword has absorbed the Dao aggregates of the Main Path Guild that goes back several millennia. You must have a reason for this. There’s no way that you’re going to give up everything just to fight to the death with an old fellow like me.”
“Hence, leave the sword at the Main Path Guild. When you return, you can retrieve the sword from here. When the time comes, I will hand it to you without a fight.”
“If you don’t agree and insist on fighting across the realm... I’m afraid that if you wish to kill me, you’ll need to come here in person,” Zhao Taifeng said coolly.
His deep eyes seemed to see through everything. After a long time, he slowly stood up.
In the distance, Zhao Zhenshi, who was covered in blood, could feel a shiver spread across his body.
After that, his body suddenly felt empty and hollow. Zhao Taifeng had taken over the Mountain Shield Forbidden Spell Rune.
All the disciples of the Main Path Guild seated on the large square were all shocked. After a while, they could sense an extremely powerful figure appear in their minds. It was like a divine spirit who ruled the heavens.
...
In his consciousness, Fang Lang looked at the mysterious figure sitting across him with an expression of the utmost seriousness.
“Master, this old man is like a rock in the toilet. He’s smelly and stubborn. He’s not an easy opponent,” said Fang Lang.
“Your description is very fitting. Old fellows are like this,” said Xuanyuan Taihua with a smile.
So he wanted her to leave her sword in the Main Path Guild and return to get it in person.
He clearly knew that she could only return once she retrieved all three swords, for him to say that Zhao Taifeng revealed that he did not want to hand over the Reincarnating Lotus Sword to prevent her from returning.
“However, this old man might not dare to fully unveil his realm transcending power because he’s still slightly fearful of the Tang Code in the sky.”
“If he really fought with all his might, he fears that the Emperor will kill him with the Tang Code.”
“Then should we just fight him?” asked Fang Lang through gritted teeth.
Xuanyuan Taihua’s phantom shook her head.
“Why should we fight him? It’s true we can’t use up all the Dao aggregates that the Reincarnating Lotus Sword has absorbed in this one match. Hence, we should leave. However, the old man is being arrogant that I can hardly look past it... Even if we leave, I need to give him a good beating.”
As soon as Fang Lang heard her words, he was speechless.
His master... seemed to be in a bad mood.
However, this bad-tempered Xuanyuan Taihua seemed more human, causing Fang Lang to feel less in awe of her.
“Disciple Fang, do you understand the time sword intent yet?” asked Xuanyuan Taihua.
Fang Lang rubbed his head. “No. I don’t understand.”
Xuanyuan Taihua smiled.
“It’s alright that you don’t understand. However, remember this attack and slowly gain an understanding. In this manner you’ll increase your understanding of time sword intent.”
Fang Lang nodded his head as though he understood.
...
Mount Tongtian covered an area spanning dozens of miles. It was completely shrouded in a thick mist.
Zhao Taifeng stood at the peak of the mountain. He had taken over the control of the rune from Zhao Zhenshi, causing the Mountain Shield Rune to appear even more mystical.
He stared intently at Fang Lang, who was floating mid-air with an extremely cold expression.
Chao Xiaojian and Huang Zhihe flew rapidly to Fang Lang’s side as the thick mist that was formed from the Mountain Shield Rune transformed into an even thicker protective wall of clouds. It enveloped all three of them within it.
“Senior sister. What do we do now?” asked Chao Xiaojian with a solemn expression.
Huang Zhihe turned to look at Fang Lang instead and said, “How about we step out of this?”
Fang Lang gripped the Reincarnating Lotus Sword. He sent a message to Chao Xiaojian and Huang Zhihe through a ripple of his divine sense. Their eyes slowly lit up.
Chao Xiaojian chuckled, “As befitting of my senior sister. That’s her style.”
Chao Xiaojian knew that he had worked hard to earn his title of the White-Haired Sword Demon. However, it was still all due to his senior sister’s sound teaching that helped him achieve this.
Boom!
The laughter stopped.
Chao Xiaojian tapped his green steel sword. A gust of blade energy surged out from his lungs and rushed towards the rune behind him.
Huang Zhihe roared fiercely and countless flying blades transformed into a giant hammer that sped towards the huge rune behind him.
At the peak of the mountain, Zhao Taifeng instantly understood Xuanyuan Taihua’s decision. He sighed.
“It seems that you people are unwilling to leave this sword behind!”
In the next instant, Zhao Taifeng raised his hand. A powerful divine energy began to spread out like waves of water in all directions.
After that...
The sea of clouds surged as pillars of clouds rose one after another, converging and interweaving in the sky before finally transforming into a cloud palm that covered the entire world.
The palm was extremely enormous and was formed from the Mountain Shield Rune of the entire Main Path Guild. Even though it looked extremely fine, it was stronger and sturdier than the mountain itself. Its power was absolutely frightening!
The dark night seemed to struggle to cover the brightness of the white clouds. At that moment, the darkness seemed to retreat and it looked as though dawn was approaching!
In Zhao Taifeng’s hand, the forbidden Mountain Shield Rune was about to truly explode with a terrifying might.
This was completely different from the Mountain Shield Rune when it was under Zhao Zhenshi’s control!
At that moment, Chao Xiaojian’s sword that was headed towards the mountain entrance suddenly quivered.
It suddenly turned towards Fang Lang as it leaped through the air, traversing a huge distance. It was like a pencil-straight white line as it shot through the air with a terrifying attacking stance, heading towards the many disciples on the mountain peak!
It looked like it was heading to destroy the great rune!
Zhao Taifeng was shocked. Zhao Zhenshi and the many elders of the Main Path Guild were also shocked!
He was not escaping!? In fact, he was even launching a counterattack!?
However, Zhao Taifeng’s expression was as cold as ice.
“Stop him.”
The Mountain Shield Rune was formed out of the energy of the many disciples. As soon as the disciples were injured, the Mountain Shield Rune would be destroyed!
This would mean that they would have no chance of stopping Fang Lang and keeping the Reincarnating Lotus Sword.
“Everyone, attack together!” Zhao Zhenshi felt a chill inside him and shouted fiercely.
He dare not act alone. He would not be able to stop Chao Xiaojian’s attack on his own!
At the peak of the mountain, gust after gust of energy rose. The Main Path Guild elders had joined forces as they linked their hands with Zhao Zhenshi to block Chao Xiaojian’s attack!
However, Chao Xiaojian’s sword leaped with a flash of light and disappeared before their eyes. It was as though it had burrowed into space and passed them to land on the square at the top of the mountain.
The sword continued to head in the direction of the many disciples sitting cross-legged on the square.
“Useless things!”
Zhao Taifeng saw what happened and his expression changed instantly. How could so many people fail just to stop Chao Xiaojian!?
However, space sword intent was extremely mysterious and mighty. It was extremely difficult to deal with.
These disciples were the foundation of the Main Path Guild. Zhao Taifeng could not let these disciples get hurt. Not merely because if the disciples were injured, the Mountain Shield Rune would be destroyed.
“Ancestor, there’s no need for you to bother with Chao Xiaojian. I will deal with him.”
A faint voice rang out from the mountain peak.
Zhao Taifeng stopped mid-attack suddenly as a smile appeared on his face. He turned around as he controlled the enormous cloud palm, sending it towards Fang Lang.
Chao Xiaojian’s sword abruptly quivered when it saw the ripple of the rune before it. After that, the space rune appeared in the air. A hand appeared from within the space rune. With a push from that hand, a mighty wall of energy seemed to roll out!
Chao Xiaojian’s sword caused thousands of holes to appear on that wall of energy. Countless flows of energy spread out in all directions. However, it was unable to disrupt the formation of the Main Path Guild disciples.
Within the rune, an old man riding on a crane appeared.
He wore a faint smile as he looked at Chao Xiaojian. Three demon realm warrior heads were dripping with fresh blood hanging on the crane that the man was riding.
“Zhao Longshi!”
Chao Xiaojian inhaled deeply. The look in his eyes became serious.
Zhao Longshi’s appearance would boost the spirits of the entire Main Path Guild.
On the other side, Huang Zhihe was also soaring on his flight sword in the direction of the mountain peak. He made a gesture as countless steel swords condensed above his head. After that, it transformed into a gigantic sword hammer that sped towards the Main Path Guild mountain square.
Zhao Zhenshi and the numerous Main Path Guild elders sent out a rune that enveloped the entire square. The rune resisted this hammer attack!
A terrifying energy spread across like a mighty wave rolling out in all directions.
Zhao Taifeng controlled the cloud palm and smacked it towards Fang Lang.
However, he had just started moving when the Reincarnating Lotus Sword trembled and sword intent gushed out. Time began to flow backward.
After that, the giant palm moved towards him and returned to its position a second ago.
Fang Lang wielded his sword and stepped out in the air!
His speed increased rapidly because the boundless Dao aggregates within the Reincarnating Lotus Sword continuously provided a powerful supply of energy!
Zhao Taifeng’s expression changed instantly!
He never imagined that Xuanyuan Taihua would leave her sword in the Main Path Guild to absorb its thousand year Dao aggregates in order to achieve this attack!
However, he saw the mysterious figure behind Fang Lang make a gesture with both palms. With a turn, the Reincarnating Lotus Sword shot out.
It seemed to turn into a line in the palm as it sliced through the space!
It appeared before Zhao Taifeng in an instant!
Zhao Taifeng’s hair fluttered. The strong threat made him unable to continue suppressing his cultivation. He completely unleashed his realm transcending aura without holding back.
As he was unleashing his realm transcending aura...
Changan City.
In the sky above Taiji Palace.
All of a sudden, a mighty figure appeared whose face could not be seen clearly. However, that terrifying energy that seemed to spread across the air caused the skies to change.
The Tang Code trembled slightly as a blood-colored arrow slowly materialized, aiming directly at Zhao Taifeng.
The peak of Mount Tongtian.
If Zhao Taifeng wanted to use his realm transcending cultivation, he would be shot by the Tang Code arrow. He could not help but recall the realm transcending warrior whose physical body was completely crushed under the punishment of the Tang Code over 200 years ago.
In an instant, a sense of terror emerged in Zhao Taifeng’s heart!
How could there still be the existence of realm transcendence in Changan City?
Was it possible that... nothing had happened to the Tang Emperor yet?!
Zhao Taifeng’s actions froze from the shock he received due to the Tang Code in Changan City.
A sense of blade energy blew across his face. Time sword intent flowed over him like flowing water causing Zhao Taifeng’s consciousness to stop at that moment a second before.
His resistance to the Reincarnating Lotus Sword faltered for a moment.
After that, the Reincarnating Lotus Sword shot over in a pencil-straight line. In an instant, it plunged into Zhao Taifeng’s chest with a shocking amount of force. The force lifted Zhao Taifeng’s body and pinned the realm transcending warrior to the ground.
Fang Lang wore a cold look as he clasped his hands together and crossed his fingers.
He tore them apart and the Reincarnating Lotus Sword rotated and carved out a huge hole in Zhao Taifeng’s chest!
The entire Main Path Guild was plunged into a daze!
Even Zhao Longshi and Zhao Zhenshi looked shocked!
Swoosh!
The Reincarnating Lotus Sword did not continue attacking after it had carved a hole in Zhao Taifeng.
“That was great!”
“Retreat!”
A clear voice rang out.
After that, Fang Lang, who held the Reincarnating Sword, ran out of energy and plunged straight down to the earth!
Chao Xiaojian and Huang Zhihe were shocked! They took the chance as the Main Path Guild warriors were still stuck in fear and terror to rush up into the skies without hesitation.
They picked up Fang Lang who was completely devoid of energy and flew straight out of the Main Path Guild at rapid speeds!
How exciting it was to execute deceit then escape right after!