Chapter 8: The Sword Whistles Through the Thousand Mountains Like Snow

At this thought, he joyfully retrieved the "Fuxi Classic" back into his embrace

"Hurry!" With another loud shout, Zhang Kuangyun moved with intention, silently reciting the sword control incantation of his sect, aiming to direct the flying sword to strike at the small pine tree nestled between the stone walls not far away.

When my esteemed mentor was alive, the Xianlu Hall remained in decline; after my mentor's sudden and untimely death, I found myself weak and powerless, and this already marginal scattered hall became even more precarious.

With the brilliance of the "Fuxi Classic" illuminating my mind and heart, some unfamiliar knowledge began to imprint itself upon my consciousness.

He took out the book "Fuxi Classic" from his bosom

The prayer had concluded, and he gazed at the "Fuxi Classic," only to see a flash of brilliance emanating from the ancient text, as if it were responding to him.

It would be one thing to die a tragic death, but this death is fraught with many doubts.

This is absolutely intolerable for the chivalrous Zhang Kuangyun

For instance, the senior brother of their generation, Meng Jinghong, who is the favored disciple of the sect leader Lang Cangzi and the deputy master of the first major sect, the Xuan Sect, possesses such a formidable presence of wind and thunder when wielding his sword

Immersed in this wondrous sensation, Zhang Kuangyun felt that his body was a universe, no longer able to attend to matters outside of himself

After tossing and turning in bed for a while, unable to fall asleep, he simply got up, donned his clothes, strapped on his sword, pushed open the door, and arrived at the Shiping Duyun Pavilion.

As soon as he thought of this, he discovered something strange

On the surface, it appears holy and bright, yet in reality, it is fraught with crises, concealing unknown secrets and deadly threats

He was greatly inspired and continued to turn the pages of the "Fuxi Classic". However, at that moment, the originally ethereal and flowing brilliance unexpectedly faded away.

It is precisely for this reason that, although he had only once attempted to wield the sword unsuccessfully, when he saw the sword he was controlling exuding the same imposing aura as that of his senior brother Meng Jinghong, he was utterly overjoyed

In the distance, there is mist rising from the remote ravine, swirling and undulating, gradually merging into clouds, spreading beneath like an ocean

Originally taken out, the scriptures were placed in the moonlight, the cover and the mysterious patterns inside merely revealed a faint radiance, just like during the day, with a slight sense of movement

Unknowingly, Zhang Kuangyun seems to have begun a process of "transformation".

This is not because he has a deep-seated grudge that he is indulging in wild fantasies

Therefore, he was unaware that at this moment, a stunningly beautiful young girl was peering intently through the window of the Xianlu Hall's guest room, gazing fixedly in this direction

This knowledge is not only mysterious, strange, and unheard of, but it also has a kind of audacity. Even if Zhang Kuang were to get drunk, let go of his imagination, and think wildly, he would still be completely unable to conceive of this knowledge

The sound of laughter, like the wind and the tide, shook the mountains and stirred the valleys, refreshing and exhilarating, sweeping away the past's worries and sorrows, causing the girl peeking through the window panes of the room to momentarily feel her heart flutter and her spirit sway

Or, truly know nothing at all

Once entered the dream of the immortal in the East China Sea, laughing at the wind and waves as the ancestral dragon lurks

This time, it did not succeed as it did earlier; the steel sword only flew a short distance before losing its momentum, landing on the ground with a "clang" and rolling twice.

The moon shines brightly in the sky, the mountains are cloaked in white snow, the wild clouds are influenced, and cannot help but let out a long howl.

In the brilliant flow just now, Zhang Kuangyun has, to some extent, established a mysterious connection with this ancient scripture; thus, upon seeing the final flash of radiance, he immediately understood in his heart: "The scripture acknowledges my conjecture, haste makes waste, let us return tomorrow!"

The brilliance faded away, and he wished to focus his gaze to discern the intricate patterns and characters on the page, only to find that he knew nothing about them

Indeed: On the peaks of Jiuyi Mountain, the immortal enjoys leisure, while the sword rain and immortal breeze are for the young.

However, just as he turned around, he suddenly felt a stir in his heart and stopped in his tracks

As the fanciful thoughts drifted here, Zhang Kuangyun suddenly felt that the mountain breeze blowing against him had begun to turn cold

The four walls are adorned with the colors of spring in the clouds and mountains, while the bright moon over the water gives rise to the tide of the day

In this light, does not the third gate of the world in which one finds oneself resemble the sea of clouds before us, which appears to be a celestial paradise?

He suddenly felt that the current Xuanling Sect was just like the sea of clouds under the moonlight

Without the talent for household chores, Bai Binglan felt somewhat hurried that evening as Zhang Kuangyun settled down

In the depths of the divine cave, my heart wanders freely, as thoughts ripple through the shimmering stars of the galaxy

In the distant ravine, one occasionally hears the calls of monkeys and cranes, while the cool night air and dew evoke a sense of solitude and melancholy

In destiny, the peach blossoms are sparse and fragrant, a pure breath of clarity encircles the nine heavens

In this day and age, conflicts are incessant, approaching a state of chaos. For ordinary people, who does not have a few painful matters in their family? However, Zhang Kuangyun is different

It is very likely that this is merely an illusion of light and shadow caused by a change in perspective

Beneath the faint and shimmering sea of clouds, the occasional sound of somewhat mournful bird calls and ape cries can be heard, though it is unclear what fierce beast has startled them.

Yet even so, one day, they met a tragic end unexpectedly

Oh, that's not right? She suddenly felt a stir in her heart, "In the past, I have often read scriptures under the moonlight at night, so why have I never encountered such a scene? Why is it that this mediocre young human boy can trigger the inspiration of this scripture?"

Beneath the bright moon, the sea of clouds at midnight is illuminated, appearing as crystal clear and bright, resembling the legendary jade paradise.

Upon reflecting on this, when she once again observed Zhang Kuangyun, her mindset had completely shifted to the opposite. She began to secretly encourage the young man, fearing that he would make no progress at all

What is going on? Suddenly faced with a dilemma, Zhang Kuangyun initially felt quite dejected, but soon he became enlightened.

However, at this moment, although Zhang Kuangyun did not know how he knew it, he felt an inexplicable confidence. Looking at the sword reflecting the bright moon in the sky, it floated and shimmered before him like a silver dragon, and he was not worried that it would soon fall down.

He discovered that as he turned the pages, the mysterious patterns on the Fuxi Classic reflected the moonlight, flowing like clear water

At a certain moment, a flash of inspiration crossed his mind: "Could it be that this ancient scripture truly originates from the ancient deity 'Fuxi'?"

At first, Zhang Kuangyun found it difficult to comprehend such a spectacle

Hmph! In the moonlight, Princess Tianhu thought angrily, "So this broken scripture is read like this, causing this princess to fall into a state of obsession!"

At this moment, he felt exceptionally well, as if immersed in a warm spring pool, with colorful butterflies fluttering above his head; it was as if he had already flown away from the rocky cliffs, riding the wind freely, carefree in the skies, overlooking the earthly world, where the mountains and rivers resembled a painting

He had just seen that, in the light of the bright moon, although his steel sword had only flown a short distance, the moment it broke through the air was akin to the roar of a tiger and the chant of a dragon, as if it had summoned the thunder and lightning of the nine heavens, its momentum was truly extraordinary

At this moment, the monkeys in the forest were stirred by the sound of the call, raising their necks to cry out in response. For a time, the echoes of their calls resonated through the nearby ravines and distant mountains, one after another, continuing for a long while without interruption

By that time, the notion of avenging my unclear and tragic death of my mentor will have become a joke; the idea of seeking revenge for my aunt's family will also have dissipated into thin air

As the radiance flowed to a certain extent, it gracefully took flight, scattering like fireflies on a summer night, resembling glistening snowflakes, fluttering gently to his forehead and chest

In that way, I will be able to rise with the tide, getting closer to the core of the Xuanling Sect and uncovering more secrets of the human race's Daoist teachings

Upon witnessing the scene before him, Zhang Kuangyun suddenly felt a sense of emotion

He discovered that, on the surface, there seemed to be nothing significant, and even a somewhat peaceful human world. However, those seemingly scattered and unrelated supernatural occurrences appeared to be weaving a grand web of conspiracy.

This vast net, with the cruel and terrifying "Ghost Guest" as its main thread, is silently and densely descending upon the world

He solemnly placed the "Fuxi Classic" on the stone table, offered a brief prayer in his heart, and then began to read with a sincere and focused mind

What causes him the most pain may not be these things, but rather a profound sense of helplessness

Those ethereal disciples who are theoretically of the same generation as him, even though they are generally much more outstanding than he is, he has only witnessed that kind of sword control aura in a few individuals.

Furthermore, it is evident that this young man holds a low status within the sect and is in a difficult situation. If he can master this skill, wouldn't he quickly rise to prominence?

In the past, the young man, despite his hard work, could only wield his sword over short distances and for brief moments; however, today, with a single thought, the sharp sword responds and dances in the air, swirling around him, not descending for the time being

Seeing this, Zhang Kuangyun also chased after it, bending down to pick it up, but his mood was vastly different from any previous occasion when he had picked up a sword

In the past, at this time, when I reluctantly took to the skies on my sword, I would feel a tense hope that it would not fall. But soon enough, it would indeed fall, landing with a clatter and rolling away, forcing me to chase after it to retrieve it, which was quite a predicament

Since entering the mountains, the diligent and studious youth, who had extensively read the scriptures, had never encountered what was about to happen next

Just at that moment, it is uncertain whether divine beings have manifested or if the heavens and earth have responded, the originally normal brightness of the moon in the sky suddenly became extraordinarily radiant, casting bright moonlight over thousands of peaks and ravines, illuminating the majestic mountain range spanning over two thousand square miles as if it were broad daylight

Indeed: With a heart full of melancholic thoughts, I face the empty mountains as the night stretches far away.

He placed the Fuxi Classic neatly on the stone table, then stood up and respectfully bowed, murmuring: "Brother Shu, Brother Shu, I understand your intentions. Let us conclude here for tonight; there is no rush, no rush, we shall come back to see it tomorrow evening."

He gazed at the distant mountains and nearby valleys under the moonlight, lost in thought.

As he picked up the sword, he shouted wildly in his heart, and the excitement was evident in his expression

But what can be done if one cannot tolerate it

not only flows between the pages of the book, but also flows onto his hands, his arms

There is the sound of wind and thunder! There is the sound of wind and thunder!

Not only were his relatives and mentors killed, but he also found it impossible to identify the exact murderer at that moment. Even if he wanted to risk his life for revenge, there was no way to seek it.

He began to feel weary from the fatigue of the journey and soon fell asleep; however, in the middle of the night, he occasionally opened his eyes and found that he could no longer fall asleep.

Throughout history, conspiracies have not been the most terrifying aspect; the most frightening thing is that those elites in power and control of resources are completely unaware of it

The light spot that flew to his forehead, like snow falling into a pond, silently vanished into his brow; the light spot that flew to his chest, like a firefly extinguished without a trace, danced and drifted before seeping into his chest

It flows not only.

On this night, the bright moon is like a wash, casting a white radiance all over the ground

What is even more puzzling is that, despite the numerous doubts surrounding this tragic event, within the Xuanling Sect, the investigation, which initially seemed vigorous and loud, gradually dwindled to the point where only I, a registered lay disciple, remained in pursuit of the truth

But remarkably, when he had a thought and wished to examine the scriptures closely, not only did the originally faint ethereal light suddenly become resplendent, but it also flowed with great clarity, like waves in a stream, no longer an illusion

Upon seeing this, Zhang Kuangyun's eyelids twitched, and he hurriedly sat down on a stone bench on the stone platform

However, she soon fell silent and chuckled softly, murmuring to herself: "Why should I be angry? This is a good thing. I only fear that he cannot grasp the essence of the ancient texts; otherwise, I will not be able to rely on him in the future to resolve the predicament of my body."

In a moment, she was filled with uncontainable resentment and even felt a twinge of jealousy towards Zhang Kuangyun's circumstances

If it is intentional, then it is even more terrifying

Feeling melancholic, Zhang Kuangyun prepared to return to his room

At this moment, if it were a group of literati and poets here, they might be inspired to compose poetry, claiming that they are "entirely like a vessel washed in ice." However, Zhang Kuangyun only feels a chill spreading from within to without, from heart to body.

To speak frankly, no matter how ambitious Zhang Kuangyun is, he will still respect those who are more accomplished. He is aware that the gap between him and the senior brother is as vast as the difference between heaven and earth

But soon he realized that this was actually "reading a book"!

Since the Nine Peaks, I have been diligently practicing my skills, yet I remain marginalized among the talented individuals of Nine Peaks Mountain; moreover, not only have I set aside my great grievances, but the reputation of the Immortal Path Hall is also precarious now

After thinking for a while, his head began to ache, so he shook his head, set aside his overwhelming sorrow, and gazed aimlessly at the empty mountains before him

The peculiar process of "reading" captivated Zhang Kuangyun, leaving him entranced.

On the surface, the Xuanling Sect appears serene and harmonious, but the death of his master is indeed quite suspicious

According to his subsequent meticulous investigation, the tragic death of his master was closely related to the ethereal spirits of the demon clan that have been wandering the world in recent years. However, the location of his master's tragic demise was precisely in the valley deep within the back mountain of the Xuanling Sect

Haha, I understand now! Under the moonlight, he dances with joy, this must be the divine scripture having spirit, wanting me to comprehend the principle that "haste makes waste." Good, good!

This scripture is by no means an ordinary object, he thought, previously I was too busy to examine it closely, now I shall take a look at it.

The wild song brightens the moon over three thousand miles, intoxicated, I drink in the rivers and skies for two hundred years

Such momentum, he had only seen before among a few senior elders wielding swords in the Xuanling Sect!

As Elder Shi Luming stated, "The debts are too many," even though he frequently descends the mountain to diligently capture demons, it still seems like a drop in the bucket

As a person of intention, over the past few years since descending the mountain, he has not merely sought to capture demons and monsters to accumulate merits for the Immortal Path Hall, but has been quietly and calmly observing in the shadows

Perhaps, in the eyes of Princess Tianhu, Zhang Kuangyun is merely an ordinary Daoist youth whom she encounters casually, serving as a potential bait. Therefore, it is difficult for her to comprehend the profound suffering that lies hidden within the heart of this young man

The day the Xianlu Hall ceases to exist will be the day when he, Zhang Kuangyun, departs from Jiuyi Mountain

Just as she changed her mindset and began to observe anew, Zhang Kuangyun suddenly made a sharp sound, his fingers crossed, and the sword at his waist swiftly unsheathed, resembling a swimming dragon circling in front of him

The master has a gentle temperament and is not in conflict with the world; if it were not for this, the Immortal Path Hall would not have fallen into decline