RNP Page 37
Page 37
"I thought Uncle Feng's swordsmanship would definitely be in the top ten."
"I didn't expect that even Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng could only barely squeeze into the top ten."
Yue Buqun chimed in from the side.
Upon hearing this, Feng Qingyang's face immediately darkened, and he sighed.
"Senior Dugu's swordsmanship is unfathomable and unparalleled in the world. It is because my comprehension is not enough that I have been unable to grasp its essence."
"I have long since become indifferent to worldly fame and fortune. The so-called ranking on the Sword Immortal List is nothing but an empty title and not worth worrying about."
"But it is truly unfair to Senior Dugu that his swordsmanship has been buried for this reason."
Yue Buqun had been waiting for Feng Qingyang to say this, so he immediately picked up the conversation:
"The fact that Uncle Feng failed to enter the top fifteen of the Sword Immortal Ranking this time has indeed caused a lot of discussion."
"Master Feng is indifferent to fame and fortune and unwilling to show his face, which will only make those who gossip even more arrogant."
"I heard that Uncle Feng has been instructing Linghu Chong in swordsmanship recently. Why not pass on the 'Nine Swords of Dugu' to him?"
"Linghu Chong is exceptionally intelligent. If he can master the Dugu Nine Swords, he will make a name for himself in the martial arts world and let people know that the Dugu Nine Swords is no less powerful than other sword techniques."
Feng Qingyang glanced at Yue Buqun, understanding his little scheme.
Once he passes on the "Nine Swords of Dugu" to Linghu Chong, he will become Linghu Chong's half-master, and he will be unable to ignore the affairs of the Huashan Sect from now on.
But he actually had the same thought in his mind, it's just...
“Linghu Chong has good comprehension and is more suitable to practice the Dugu Nine Swords than I am.”
"But I learned this sword technique from Senior Dugu. How can I pass it on to others without his permission?"
Feng Qingyang slowly expressed his concerns.
Yue Buqun had anticipated his response and quickly replied, "I've heard that Senior Dugu is currently residing in Snow Moon City. Why don't you go and ask him, Uncle Feng?"
If they could gain Dugu Qiubai's approval of Linghu Chong, then the Huashan Sect would have a true backer.
Feng Qingyang thought for a moment and then slowly said, "Very well. I have never had the chance to thank Senior Dugu in person for his kindness in teaching me back then."
Upon receiving Feng Qingyang's reply, Yue Buqun finally breathed a sigh of relief.
With everything prepared, Feng Qingyang, Yue Buqun, Ning Zhongze, Linghu Chong, and Yue Lingshan set off for Snow Moon City.
The Jianghu of the Ming Dynasty, in the Jiangnan region.
A swordsman, completely wrapped in black cloth, staggered onto the wooden bridge while drinking heavily, looking extremely drunk.
As he reached the middle of the bridge, waves suddenly surged up from below, and more than a dozen people emerged from the water, rushing at the black-clad swordsman from behind, their gleaming blades flashing with cold light.
The black-clad swordsman suddenly turned around, revealing a face covered in tattoos, his eyes cold as ice, showing no trace of drunkenness.
He drew a longsword wrapped in oilcloth, and in a flash, he passed through the dozen or so enemies.
Immediately afterwards, a series of thuds rang out as more than a dozen enemies died from sword wounds to the throat, their eyes still filled with terror.
But the black-clad swordsman seemed to have done nothing of importance; he sheathed his sword and continued walking forward.
"Yan Shisan, you stop right there!"
A servant sneaked over, glanced at the battlefield, and exclaimed, "The swordsmanship is too fast! Even if the Sword God Xie Xiaofeng were resurrected, he wouldn't be any better!"
In the Jiangnan region, Xie Xiaofeng is widely recognized as the greatest swordsman in the world.
Even if Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue are very famous, they cannot compare to Xie Xiaofeng in the hearts of the people of Jiangnan.
The servant didn't actually think Yan Shisan was comparable to Xie Xiaofeng; he was just praising his superb swordsmanship.
Upon hearing the name "Xie Xiaofeng," Yan Shisan abruptly stopped and turned around to stare at the other person.
The servant was startled and quickly handed over a bundle, saying, "This is your reward for the last mission. Don't misunderstand, these people have nothing to do with the employer."
Yan Shisan took the bundle, weighed it in his hand, and then turned and left.
He didn't care at all about the backgrounds of these people.
Now, he only has two things left in his life—making money and then using that money to buy alcohol and drink to his heart's content.
"Yan Shisan, wait a minute, I have something else for you."
The servant caught up with him, handed him a small booklet, and began to speak at length:
"This is the first part of the newly released 'Great Ming Sword Immortal Ranking'."
"The names of the fourth and fifth-rank sword immortals appointed by the Celestial Immortal are listed above."
"Those Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng, they always boast about their abilities, but in the end they only ranked fourth."
"You're a swordsman, you should be interested in this, right?"
"It's a pity there's only half a book; I wonder who the top three are."
"If Sword God Xie Xiaofeng were still alive, he would definitely be able to secure a place in the top ten."
Yan Shisan frowned slightly, and a rare glimmer of light flashed in his eyes, which were as still as water.
He carefully opened the book, looking at the names one by one, and said with squinting eyes:
"The Celestial Immortal? Is that the Celestial Immortal from Snow Moon City that everyone's been talking about lately?"
The servant replied, "Who else could it be?"
"If Xie Xiaofeng were still alive..."
Yan Shisan looked at the six empty seats in front of him and couldn't help but feel excited.
"Don't assign me any more tasks lately, I need to go out for a while."
Yan Shisan closed the book and strode out.
"Going out? Where are you going?"
The servant loudly asked about Yan Shisan's departing figure.
"Xueyue City."
Yan Shisan's voice drifted from afar, but he had already vanished without a trace.
If the situation in the Ming Dynasty was one of upheaval and turmoil...
Then the Liyang Dynasty is more like a place where undercurrents are surging.
Xu Fengnian is the eldest son of Xu Xiao, the King of Beiliang, and the future heir to the Beiliang kingdom, so he receives a great deal of attention.
Even if he always pretended to be a spoiled brat,
Even though he had been wandering the martial world for three years, weary from his travels,
The number of people secretly watching him did not decrease at all.
Therefore, when Xu Fengnian arrived in Snow Moon City, he was already known to all the major powers.
On the third day after he entered the seventeenth floor of the Ascension Pavilion, several major forces in Liyang also learned about this matter.
At this very moment, in Tai'an City.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Liyang sat behind the dragon throne, his eyes deep as he asked:
"What will Xu Fengnian ask when he enters the seventeenth floor of the Ascending Heaven Pavilion?"
Sitting opposite him was Yuan Benxi, the tutor of two emperors of the Liyang Dynasty, who had played a crucial role in the Spring and Autumn Period wars.
Upon hearing the emperor's words, Yuan Benxi did not answer directly, but instead asked in return:
"Does Your Majesty think Xu Fengnian is truly a playboy, or is he just pretending?"
"You and I both know that whether he's genuine or faking it, this kid can't be allowed to live."
Emperor Liyang said calmly.
"If that's the case, why is Your Majesty hesitating?"
Yuan Benxi said with a smile.
These words struck a chord with Emperor Liyang.
He really wanted Xu Fengnian dead, and he sent assassins to kill him several times over the past three years.
But each time he made a move, he left himself some leeway.
Because deep down he was always wary of Xu Xiao, who was behind Xu Fengnian, he didn't dare to really take drastic measures.
It wasn't until Xu Fengnian actually stepped into the seventeenth floor of the Ascension Pavilion that he felt flustered and confused.
Back then, the white-clad case in the capital was like an indelible wound between the Liyang royal family and Beiliang.
If Xu Fengnian were to reopen this wound, the relationship between Beiliang and the Liyang royal family would definitely fall out completely.
This is something that Emperor Liyang absolutely cannot tolerate.
"Perhaps you are right, sir."
"Hesitation in doing things will only lead to chaos."
"With the unpredictable factor of the Celestial Immortal, Xu Xiao will eventually find out the truth about the White-Clad Case in the Capital."
"Before that, we must stop Xu Fengnian from continuing to live."
"This time, I will send Han Diaoshi to do it personally."
Emperor Liyang said coldly.
"Since Your Majesty has made up your mind, I shall take my leave now."
Yuan Benxi stood up, bowed, and then turned to leave.
After leaving the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Yuan Benxi subconsciously looked in the direction of the Beili Dynasty and muttered to himself:
"Han Diaoshi?"
"He killed a Xuan Realm expert with his Heaven Realm cultivation, and he was hard to find a match for below the Earth Immortal level."
"Xu Fengnian, I'd like to see if you really have God's blessing."
Inside the Beiliang Royal Palace in Beiliang, at the Tingchao Pavilion.