Chapter 8, The Lone Sword Comes from the South
At that moment, a servant entered the hall, holding a name card with both hands and presenting it to Luo Niudao: "Master, there is a middle-aged man outside who has submitted a request for an audience, insisting that you personally come out to greet him"
Upon seeing his "Snow Shadow Sword" injure Luo Niu with a single strike, Gui Feng's momentum surged. He fully channeled his true essence to wield both the solid and the illusory swords, launching another fierce assault.
Luo Niu was furious, treating human life as insignificant as that of a dog. He originally intended to take this opportunity to apply the principle of "Great Abundance Like a Void" from the second volume of "Tian Dao" to completely eliminate his icy ghostly aura, in order to prevent further harm to the world
At this moment, a faint sense of melancholy rose in his heart, as if there was a kind of loss that he could not articulate. He secretly raised his eyes to look at Luo Yushan across from him, seeing her smiling cherry lips as she turned her profile to glance at Luo Niu, unaware of his presence. Yet, in the depths of her pitch-black bright eyes, there seemed to be a subtle ripple of softness, but who could truly understand it?
A wisp of pale mist rose and emanated from Gui Feng's body. He turned his slender and emaciated figure, and the rainwater beneath his feet suddenly froze into frost. He said to Luo Niu: "Please take your sword, I will wait for you"
"No need for that," Luo Niusong released his fist and said, "I will consult Brother Guifeng on this matter right away!"
Lei Peng also heard the news and hurried over, retreating to Qin Rou's side to observe the battle. He could barely make out the techniques being employed by both sides, yet he still found it dazzling; often, before he could fully comprehend one move, Gui Feng's Heartbreaking Snow Sword had already executed three more techniques.
Little Dan sat aside, unable to fathom Luo Niu's intentions. He silently pondered: "My injury has mostly healed. Even if I study the Heavenly Dao Star Map for a few more days, I still won't be able to memorize it completely. If Uncle Luo and the others are to set off for Cui Xia Mountain, then my godfather and I will truly have to leave this place."
The vigorous emerald essence flowed through his body in several cycles, and the coldness that rushed towards him gradually faded. He embraced the unity of the primordial and spoke aloud: "Brother Gui Feng, please enlighten me!"
Luo Niu did not express his opinion and turned to Gu Zhi Dao, asking: "Brother Gu, have you discerned anything?"
Little did he know that just as he released his grip, the Broken Heart Snow Sword suddenly revealed a third Snow Shadow Sword, which shot out from the sword's edge without any warning, piercing towards his chest!
Gui Feng casually remarked: "If you do not agree to fight, I will kill one person from your residence every day. My patience is quite limited, and in a couple of days, I will also challenge Senior Brother Sheng Nian at Cui Xia. Therefore, you better make your decision quickly." After saying this, he turned around as if no one was present and slowly added, "I will come again at this time tomorrow"
In a brief moment, the two engaged in fierce combat for over thirty rounds, with both sides' true energy circulating to the utmost limit. Each palm strike and sword swing carried a weight exceeding ten thousand jun, rendering them indestructible. Within a radius of five zhang, rain could not penetrate, and snowflakes danced like a rainbow. Those with slightly lesser cultivation, such as Xiao Dan and the siblings Luo Yushan, could no longer discern the figures of the combatants in the arena, nor could they determine who had gained even a slight advantage.
His body trembled increasingly, to the point that even Huzi could see he was at the end of his strength. The true energy of Cuiwei continuously surged into his body, and his resistance gradually faltered, becoming utterly futile.
"Yes, and there is also Brother Jingzhe!" Huzi pleaded, shaking Luoniu's large hand, "I miss him!"
Gu Zhihei said: "What a bold claim, who does he think he is?"
Luo Niu handed the name card to Gu Zhi and asked, "Did this person mention who he is?"
The immortal sword behind the demon's edge emitted a long, cold, piercing sound, vibrating slightly within the black and *illustrated* scabbard, like a snow dragon eager to leap out of the abyss and sweep across the heavens
At this moment, his gaze could no longer keep up with the ghostly and elusive sword techniques that were faster than lightning. He relied entirely on the clear reflection of his opponent's movements in his mind, almost instinctively striking back with his palm. In the interplay of offense and defense, he fully demonstrated the mastery of his palm techniques honed over decades of diligent practice, executing them with remarkable precision.
Without waiting for Luo Niu to respond, he suddenly swayed and darted to the side. The crowd only heard a sharp "ding" sound in their ears, and it seemed as if a dazzling white lightning bolt had flashed across their vision, instantly returning to calm.
At this thought, a surge of pride arose, and with a leap, he soared into the air like a snow crane, emitting a chilling long cry akin to the sound of metal striking stone. The Heartbreaking Snow Sword manifested a second Snow Shadow Sword, which, alongside the first, cleaved downward towards the swirling shadows of hands with a force that seemed to carry a myriad of snow and wind.
The pupils of Gui Feng contracted like a sharp blade, fixing on the composed face of Luo Niu, and said: "You can call for a halt and draw your sword at any time"
In fact, he still harbored another consideration in his heart, which was for the peculiar illness of Xiao Dan. Considering that Nong Baicao, who traveled the world to save lives, rarely spent more than a few days at home throughout the year, taking Xiao Dan to seek medical help would likely be in vain. It would be better to first go to Cuixia Mountain to hear the opinion of his senior brother Sheng Nian; perhaps there would be an unexpected delight.
On this rainy afternoon, everyone gathered in the living room to chat. Luo Niu spoke about the upcoming sword competition of the Cui Xia Sect, which is held every five years. Hu Zi, full of enthusiasm, insisted on wanting to join in the excitement. Luo Niu laughed and said, "You are still young; you probably won't be able to discern much. It would be better to wait for the next sword competition, and your father will take you and your sister along then"
Upon seeing Luo Niu turn the tide from defense to offense, Qin Rou and the others were all invigorated. Chang Yanwu was also filled with excitement, but more so with jealousy and envy, thinking to himself: "Needless to say, this is truly the divine skill he comprehended from the latter volume of 'Tian Dao'. Yet this fool, Xiao Dan, believes Luo Niu's words to be true, constantly thinking about what ridiculous fireworks to set off. It infuriates me."
With a shout, a palm struck out, and the rainwater in front of the ghostly edge suddenly transformed into countless sparkling white ice particles, like furious clouds striking the sky and waves crashing against the shore. The sound of freezing echoed as the rainwater in its path was sealed, converging into a magnificent river that surged like rolling waves, rushing towards the Luoniu Mountain with overwhelming force.
Hearing the cheers of Huzi and the others in his ears, it was evident that they were celebrating Luo Niu rather than himself. Gui Feng felt a chill in his heart and bitterly said: "I have endured years of solitary cultivation in the desolate snow-covered mountains, aiming to comprehend the true meaning of the Dao amidst the fleeting moments of life and death. What great ambition that was! Yet, unexpectedly, in the second battle against Luo Niu, I find myself in such a situation. What qualifications do I have to challenge the likes of Sheng Nian and Ding Yuan?"
"Indeed." Luo Niubu stepped down the stone steps, clasped his fists in salute, and said: "May I ask how you are addressed, esteemed sir?"
With a rumbling sound, a flurry of rocks and dust filled the air, as the stone walls on either side of the main entrance, each over three zhang high, were reduced to rubble. Gu Zhi, Liao Feng, and others waved their sleeves, sweeping away the bricks and stones that were flying towards them.
Chang Yanwu could not tolerate his arrogant demeanor and mockingly said: "Where did this madman come from? He doesn't even weigh himself first to see how much he weighs, yet he shamelessly dares to challenge the master of the Luo residence. If everyone were to follow your example and line up at the Luo residence's door looking for a beating, wouldn't the line stretch for twenty miles?"
The Snow Shadow Sword, like the relentless vitality of the Luo Niu Palm, is also exhausted and dimmed, silently transforming into fragmented shadows that vanish in an instant amidst the shimmering light.
The majestic spirit of the emerald green energy circulated slightly, expelling the cold poison from within his body. He was astonished and exclaimed, "This seems to have been refined using the essence of his celestial sword, truly incredible!"
Gui Feng said lightly: "He has disappointed me greatly. I hope that the battle with you will be more interesting"
The vibrant true energy surged and flowed through both palms into the Broken Heart Snow Sword, while the ghostly blade, suspended in mid-air, trembled and lowly exclaimed: "Break!" Channeling ten parts of its strength to strike at its edge.
The sword shadow returned to its sheath, and the ghostly blade stood calmly before Luo Niu, as if it had done nothing at all, its pair of cold, penetrating eyes gazing at him with profound inscrutability
Gui Feng pressed his thin lips together and, after a moment of silence, replied: "He deserves to die"
Even more terrifying is that his body resembles a gradually burning bronze furnace, continuously eroding the myriad meridians. The 'Xuanbing Ghost Qi' that he had painstakingly cultivated for decades is slowly melting away like frost and snow. In less than half a cup of tea's time, as Luo Niu's Cuiwei True Qi surged forward like a bamboo being split, his entire cultivation would be utterly obliterated in an instant
Suddenly, the world fell into silence. Only the celestial sword hummed joyfully, resonating in everyone's eardrums
Liao Feng dismissively said: "Another madman trying to gain fame through his master, I will send him away!"
A sudden downpour rages, with rain swirling and scattering in all directions. The condensed water turns to ice, reflecting a pure, snow-white brilliance that spreads outwards, enveloping the figures of Gui Feng and Luo Niu.
Gu Zhi held the name card in his hands and examined it for a long time, then slowly said: "Good handwriting, each stroke exudes a strong aura of killing intent. The eight characters are executed in one breath, resembling a set of flawless and extremely fierce sword techniques. I fear that I am not his match."
After more than twenty moves, Luo Niu's palm technique suddenly changed. A faint green halo emerged from his palms, as he positioned his hands in front of his abdomen, one lifting and the other pressing down, resulting in a loud "bang" that erupted into a burst of starlight. In an instant, Luo Niu's figure vanished from Gui Feng's sight, replaced by countless green palm lights that shifted and transformed like the stars, layered and overlapping, resembling a rapidly expanding and rotating cosmic void approaching!
Ghost Edge? Luo Niu silently repeated it in his heart, truly unable to recall when Tian Lu had produced such an extraordinary figure. He resembled a demon god who had just awakened from a millennium of deep ice, with a name that was human-like, eerie and cold, peculiar and aloof
Hmph! With a low sound, the Broken Heart Snow Sword of Gui Feng retreated half an inch once again, and the azure light generated by the power of the Luo Niu Palm on the sword's edge silently pressed down to the bottom.
With a sharp clap, Luo Niu brought his palms together, firmly pinning the Broken Heart Snow Sword against the top of his head, the cold, sharp blade hovering less than an inch from his brow.
Soon, wisps of steam began to rise from the top of his head, and just as they ascended, they instantly transformed into a swirling, white mist that lingered in the air. The ethereal sword of light swiftly coalesced into a distinct form, and together with the Heartbreaking Snow Sword in Gui Feng's hand, it surrounded Luo Niu, creating bright white snow waves that almost threatened to engulf the opponent
The pure white clouds collided violently with the gusts generated by Luo Niu's palm strike, akin to a surging river suddenly encountering an indestructible boulder, inevitably splitting to the sides and slanting past, ultimately crashing against the walls of the courtyard behind.
Each movement is strikingly clear to the utmost degree, yet it appears as natural and lucid as the sun and moon traversing the heavens. The force of each gesture is vast and boundless, seemingly endless, yet at the moment each form is about to conclude, it heralds a brand new beginning. Thus, life continues endlessly, and the path is infinite.
But when a faint tremor passed through Gui Feng's eyes, he suddenly thought of his young junior brother Ding Yuan from his youth, looking into those lonely, proud, and unyielding eyes. Unaccountably, his heart softened, and Luo Niu sighed with resignation, saying "Enough," as he pushed his palm forward, sending the Broken Heart Snow Sword soaring diagonally into the distance.
Everyone was taken aback, and Luo Niu exclaimed, "You killed the leader of the Yanshan Sect, Xiao?"
The complete loss of cultivation is far more terrifying to Gui Feng than death itself. He had long since become indifferent to the life and death of others, but deep within his heart, a slight stir finally emerged, rippling through to the depths of his eyes, which he had frozen himself.
Gui Feng said indifferently: "In the distant past, there are no grievances; in recent days, there are no enmities. It is merely because you have been renowned for a long time that I have come to seek your guidance."
Gui Feng was forced to retreat step by step, losing the initiative, and could only barely defend the entrance, struggling to avoid defeat. However, as Luo Niu unleashed the "Endless Vitality Palm," the consumption of his true essence surged dramatically, and the moisture above his head grew increasingly dense.
Luo Niu regained his composure, his piercing gaze fixed on Gui Feng as he asked in a deep voice: "Can you tell me the reason you killed him?"
Chang Yanwu curiously asked, "Brother Gu, may I take a look?" After taking the name card and examining it closely, he assumed a serious expression and said, "As the saying goes, 'the character reflects the person'; this fellow has some skills.
Although Luo Niu disapproved of Gui Feng's style of conduct, he greatly admired his open and upright demeanor, nodding and saying, "Let’s put it this way"
Luo Niuyuan stood at Yue Zhi, calmly dissipating the overwhelming killing intent that surged from his opponent in waves, gradually entering a state of empty clarity where self and object were forgotten. For many years, he had not experienced this suffocating feeling of being besieged by a formidable enemy. However, who exactly was the ghostly edge standing opposite him, and why did they want to kill Xiao Huanchen and also target him and Sheng Nian?
Gui Feng fell silent, his indigo long hair swaying in the wind like waves, while his immaculate white robe rippled with subtle undulations from top to bottom, creating an oddly mesmerizing sight. His figure gradually became enveloped in a milky white mist, leaving only his eyes, which flickered like ghostly flames, growing increasingly profound and distant.
Following the incident involving Luo Yushan, the Luo family has heightened their defenses. Each time the Huzi siblings leave the estate, there are always more than ten skilled protectors accompanying them, both openly and covertly. Clearly, it is no longer possible to replicate the events of Baishigu.
In this way, each of his sword strikes was effectively disrupted midway by the overwhelming force of Luo Niupai's palm technique, preventing them from taking shape. After several exchanges, it felt as if he was on the verge of falling into a dream, only to be abruptly awakened by the clamor of gongs and drums, leaving him with an indescribable sense of frustration in his chest, possessing extraordinary swordsmanship yet finding it utterly useless.
Upon encountering a formidable opponent, Gui Feng felt a surge of competitive spirit and secretly marveled: "Luo Niu, relying solely on his bare hands, actually fought to a standstill with my Broken Heart Snow Sword. My journey has not been in vain"
The ghostly blade emitted a piercing low howl as he drew his sword with a swift motion and struck downwards. When he raised his hand, there was still a distance of three zhang between him and Luo Niu, yet at the moment the celestial sword descended, it was suddenly within arm's reach.
The hooves of the ox quietly sank into the ground, and in the blink of an eye, a chilling frost enveloped the surroundings, rising in a hazy white mist. This was naturally due to his conversion and release of the sword energy from the Ghost Blade through his body into the ground beneath him
In the blink of an eye, Xiaodan had been staying at the Luo residence to recuperate for more than half a month. As his injuries gradually healed, he continued to accompany Tushu every night to the Black Ice Snow Prison to observe the star maps, and he still came up with a bunch of peculiar names, yet he could only remember them as a muddled mess, lacking coherence.
Luo Niu took the name card and unfolded it, momentarily taken aback. It bore just eight simple characters, the ink still wet: "A solitary sword comes from the south, only for a battle." Moreover, there was even no name of the sender written on it.
The energy stirred, and both Luo Niu and Gui Feng's bodies swayed gently, secretly admiring each other's profound skills, which were far from ordinary. Chang Yanwu, hiding behind Gu Zhi, gasped in astonishment, muttering to himself: "Goodness, this is strange. What kind of palm technique is this? It actually resembles the mental techniques of our North Sea Sect a bit"
A trace of mockery flashed across Gui Feng's face as he calmly asked, "Are you afraid of death?"
The sword energy surged and the fierce winds howled, as Luo Niu's powerful palm swept through the tumultuous waves of sword light, resembling a towering mountain that remained steadfast despite the chaotic clouds and the sounds of wind and cranes at its peak.
Luo Niu furrowed his brow. Although there had been strangers who had come to challenge him in the past, it was rare to encounter someone as aggressive as Gui Feng. He pondered for a moment and asked, "Is it possible that there is a deep-seated grudge between you, Brother Gui Feng, and me?"
Luo Niu Angran said: "I have been out since the days of Cuixia for more than twenty years, having fought bloodily over a hundred times, facing death and life. For my brothers and friends, I have braved fire and water, shedding blood without ever furrowing my brow. As a man of seven feet, how can I entertain thoughts of fearing death or clinging to life?"
The Heartbreaking Snow Sword trembled violently, and the sword tip gradually shifted back by half an inch
A group of people exited the living room and arrived at the entrance of the residence, where they saw a man in white standing at the bottom of the stone steps. He appeared to be in his thirties, with an expression so cold that it seemed to repel others from a distance. A chilling aura emanated from him, penetrating to the core. Perhaps due to years of practicing a rare magical technique, his long hair, which fell loosely over his shoulders, was an indigo color, subtly shimmering with phosphorescent hues.
Gui Feng did not even glance at Chang Yanwu, and slowly said: "Xiao Huanchen, you should know him. Three days ago, he died"
Suddenly, the Heartbreaking Snow Sword shone brightly, and from its trembling edge, a light sword identical to it materialized. There was no need for the Ghostly Edge to be wielded by hand; it seemed to be guided by the owner's thoughts. With a crisp sound, it slanted towards the left rib of Luo Niu.
Luo Niu was swayed by their words and nodded, saying, "Alright, let me think about this matter some more; after all, there is still time"
Gui Feng paused for a moment and said, "So... you disdain to engage in combat with me?"
Luo Niu smiled leisurely and said, "I have not wielded a sword for over ten years, and I have nearly forgotten my sword techniques. It would be better to exchange a few moves with Brother Gui Feng using just my bare hands; I hope you will not take offense."
Even with the best of temperaments, Luo Niu could not help but feel anger, and said: "What if I still refuse to engage in a fight with you?"
The ghostly edge fiercely suppressed the injuries from the counterattack, as he stood high above, striking down once more with the broken Heart Snow Sword in hand, the murderous aura turning to frost in the direction of his blade
With two explosive sounds, the Snow Shadow Sword sliced into the magnificent and resplendent starry sea of blue light, forcefully dividing it into three parts. The collision and friction of the three streams of immense power created a dazzling shockwave that burst apart, causing people to squint their eyes and involuntarily stagger back several steps.
Luo Niu put away his name card, stood up, and instructed the servant, "Open the middle door; I will personally go to welcome them."
With a low exclamation, Luo Niu swiftly pressed down with his left elbow in a moment of critical tension. The light sword, seemingly solid, suddenly rebounded, tearing through his sleeve and creating a gash that drew blood. A chilling coldness surged into his body, causing his left arm's meridians to go numb, making him oblivious to the pain of the wound.
The house servant shook his head: "He seems like a mute, not responding to any questions, only instructing us to show you the invitation. I find him quite unfamiliar, dressed in a thin white robe with a long black-sheathed sword inserted at his back, likely here to cause trouble"
With a thud, a servant from the Luo residence standing on the left side clutched his bleeding throat and rolled down the stone steps. Those present not only failed to save him, but even did not clearly see how the ghostly blade was wielded.
Luo Niu's left hand, with fingers splayed like blades, transformed his palm into a sword, executing a move from the Cui Xia Sect known as "Zhong Liu Di Zhu." Effortlessly, he held it upright before his chest, the mighty palm wind billowing his sleeves.
Luo Niu's fists involuntarily clenched tightly as he struggled to suppress his anger and said, "Should he also die?"
This was akin to two ghostly blades simultaneously attacking Luo Niu, causing the battle situation to take a sudden and increasingly thrilling turn. In the blink of an eye, after more than twenty exchanges, Luo Niu's outer thigh and right arm were struck by swords, staining his ochre-colored clothing with blood. Fortunately, it was merely a superficial wound from the sword's energy, and the cold air that penetrated his body was quickly dispelled, thus not causing him significant harm
In the crowd, he seemed to have accurately found Luo Niu at first glance, his eyes igniting with a dark purple flame, as if he had suddenly come to life from the dead ashes, a glimmer of vitality emerging. In a hoarse voice, he slowly articulated: "Luo Niu?"
The Broken Heart Snow Sword and the Snow Shadow Sword wielded by Gui Feng still launched fierce and formidable attacks. However, whenever the sword edge made contact with the layers of seemingly natural and cyclical palm shadows, it would immediately rebound as if struck by a startled swan.
Gu Zhi also said, "Master, it has been quite a few years since you last visited Cuixia Mountain. Why not take this opportunity to go back and pay a visit to your esteemed senior brother Sheng Nian along the way"
You should have already understood my intention, "Gui Feng said: "Time and place, feel free to arrange as you wish.
The white robe of Gui Feng fluttered violently, as if a stream of water was surging and flowing within it, emanating a faint halo. His eyes burned with a dark purple ghostly flame, reflecting the flawless brilliance of the Broken Heart Snow Sword, as if it could erupt at any moment and reduce everything to ashes
Qin Rou's heart was tightly clenched, fearing that her husband would be distracted, and she bit her lower lip hard, not daring to make a sound. The others also wore serious and tense expressions, each silently cheering for Luo Niu in their hearts.
As the words fell, everyone suddenly felt the biting north wind rise outside the empty gates of the Luo residence, as if the air had solidified into countless tiny, cold silver needles sweeping in from all directions, piercing the skin painfully, requiring the use of internal energy to withstand it
A glimmer of excitement flashed in Gui Feng's eyes as he stopped and said, "Very good"
"Ghost Blade," the man in white coldly announced his name, saying: "You are the first opponent qualified to know my name"
The crowd quietly retreated several zhang, gathering under the eaves of the Luo residence. Even so, the biting cold wind that pressed against them made it hard for everyone to breathe. Madam Luo, Qin Rou, shielded Huzi and Luo Yushan behind her, her gaze fixed intently on her husband’s sturdy and robust back, her palms already damp with cold sweat
Gu Zhi seems to have struck up a friendship with Chang Yanwu, and their daily delight consists of dragging the elder to drink and chat, not parting ways until well past midnight. Although Chang Yanwu harbors grand ambitions, he finds himself helpless, so he simply resigns himself to being a distinguished guest at the Luo residence.
Everyone was taken aback, not expecting that Gui Feng would actually be willing to risk a mutual destruction to confront Luo Niu in a life-and-death struggle. As he swung his sword, both were already in a situation from which they could not retreat; neither could afford to harbor thoughts of concession, and they could only fight to the death.