Chapter 167 The Sunset Sword Immortal

Chapter 167: The Sunset Sword Immortal

Above Yuan Lake.

Xiao Qianqiu gazed silently at the disappearing figure in the distance, as if lost in thought.

From simple to complex was the experience of his first half-life; from complex to simple was the Cultivation of his latter half-life.

The Great Dao is simple, the Great Dao is silent.

At that moment, he had an epiphany.

The light from the celestial venerable dharma mirror in his palm dissipated, clearly indicating it couldn't be used again for a while.

"Senior Brother Xiao, are you alright?!"

Ling Yuanjing hurried over, asking.

"I'm fine."

Xiao Qianqiu shook his head, sighing softly: "Just now, Junior Brother Song was swallowed by the evil dragon, and my Aura was broken, so I couldn't stop it."

When the black dragon charged out, he saw it, but he was powerless to do anything.

Ling Yuanjing and Sima Changlin both looked dejected. In the blink of an eye, the Senior Brother they had spent decades with died before their eyes, without even leaving a corpse.

"Senior Brother, who won between you and Lou Xiangzhen?"

Sima Changlin asked.

At the last moment, Lou Xiangzhen's Sword Intent was pressed against Xiao Qianqiu's glabella. If he had pushed it forward one more step, he dared not think, yet he couldn't help but wonder—

Did Xiao Qianqiu really lose?!

"Winning or losing is no longer important."

Finally, he withdrew his gaze. Xiao Qianqiu chuckled, a laugh of unknown meaning, yet profound. He shook his head again, "Let's go."

With that, Xiao Qianqiu flew off into the distance.

Ling Yuanjing and Sima Changlin exchanged glances.

They also quickly followed.

Jia Shiwu noticed that the man with the bamboo hat beside him hadn't spoken, and couldn't help but say, "Sir."

"Lou Xiangzhen, ah, Lou Xiangzhen, why did it come to this?"

The man in the bamboo hat shook his head, then said no more.

"Old Ancestor, who won and who lost?"

Five Venoms Lord looked puzzled, turning to Feng Lingyue, whose face was solemn.

Although Xiao Qianqiu had blood on his face and looked disheveled, appearing to be severely injured, he could still perform movement techniques on the lake surface. This indicated that he had not yet reached a dead end. In contrast, Lou Xiangzhen…

"Let Lou Xiangzhen win, then."

Feng Lingyue sighed. As for who won or lost, everyone had their own thoughts, for what seemed like a life-and-death battle to the crowd, yet no one had died.

Luo Chongyang looked at Xiao Qianqiu's retreating figure, thinking to himself: "Xiao Qianqiu's great Aura was broken, which may not be a bad thing for him. Perhaps he will achieve an extreme sublimation!"

Xiao Qianqiu was mature beyond his years, with an extraordinary state of mind. Since his debut, he had been a prodigy among the younger generation, far surpassing his peers. Even when facing senior Masters, he had never suffered a defeat.

Such a figure would be a peerless talent in any era.

Now, Lou Xiangzhen's sword strike, while seemingly breaking his momentum, also gave Xiao Qianqiu a glimmer of hope.

The Dao follows nature; without breaking, there is no establishing.

If he were to establish himself, how terrifying would Xiao Qianqiu become?

"Let's go."

In the carriage, Zhao Chongyin said slowly.

"Yes."

Aunt Bai nodded, and then the sound of carriage wheels rose, heading into the distance, gradually fading away.

Wang Yue also took a long time to recover. He said nothing, but turned and left. The experts of Blue River Sect looked at each other and followed behind him.

Between heaven and earth, experts from all directions sighed endlessly. This battle filled them with many emotions. Two top experts of the world clashing was so earth-shattering. After a long time, everyone dispersed.

Yuan Lake became calm again, with only a white-haired old man lingering for a long time, unwilling to leave.

The white-haired old man looked at the calm lake surface, as if dreaming back to half a lifetime, full of emotion, and couldn't help but murmur: "Who knows me across the four seas? A sword across the sky, how many times has it passed?"

Canglang River, sunset.

The vast waves stretched a thousand li, with surging foam.

The Canglang River originates from the endless Eastern Sea, flowing ceaselessly, traversing Yunhua Road and Lingnan Province, with Northern Wilderness Road marking its end.

This river passes through high mountains, winds through plains, flies through canyons, leaps over hills, roaring and surging, embracing countless towering peaks, with a magnificent Aura.

The black dragon coiled above the Canglang River, and the surrounding river water seemed to come alive, controlled by the black dragon to form streaks of water curtain.

As the sun set, the river water was covered with a halo, and everything in heaven and earth became silent at this moment.

Lou Xiangzhen's Peach Blossom Sword was plunged into the riverbank, his entire body seemingly leaning on the hilt. His face was extremely pale, and blood continuously flowed from the corner of his mouth to the ground, seeping into the soil.

An Jing looked at Lou Xiangzhen before him. This Lou Xiangzhen, who killed Grandmasters with two swords and single-handedly fought the Great Yan Jianghu's number one expert, was in such a disheveled state for the first time.

"They won't catch up," An Jing said from the side.

Lou Xiangzhen reached out and touched the bloodstain at the corner of his mouth.

"They won't catch up. That Song Chengbiao was swallowed whole by your black dragon, and Xiao Qianqiu is also injured. They definitely won't pursue us."

An Jing breathed a slight sigh of relief, saying, "Let me help you heal first."

Lou Xiangzhen shook his head, gazing into the distance. In that appearance, he no longer resembled the Sword Immortal renowned throughout the world for decades, but rather an ordinary old man.

"Let this old man look at this sunset a few more times."

An Jing's heart trembled, and he said no more.

Lou Xiangzhen's voice was calm, with a hint of weakness, and it was hoarse, no longer as resonant.

"Xiao Qianqiu, ah, he has the Cultivation of a Four Qi Grandmaster. Among the Five Qi of the Grandmaster Realm, there is a huge gap between any two Qi. Although my Sword Dao has reached the sixth Realm, Xiao Qianqiu is not far behind. His Dao already has a雏形, and coupled with the celestial venerable dharma mirror in his hand, that is a rare treasure left by the Xuanmen Ancestral Master."

An Jing stepped forward, supporting Lou Xiangzhen's body.

He knew that Lou Xiangzhen's last sword strike had exhausted all his strength; he was already at his wit's end.

The so-called combat, when it reaches a profound Realm, emphasizes the right time, the right place, and the right people.

Xiao Qianqiu had great Aura and a rare treasure in hand, which could be said to fully occupy the right time.

As for the right place, both occupied half, so no advantage could be determined.

The right people refers to Dao and technique. On the Dao, Xiao Qianqiu again held the advantage, and only in terms of technique… Lou Xiangzhen gained the upper hand by virtue of his seniority.

Considering all these factors, Lou Xiangzhen must have exhausted all the vital essence in his body to shatter the celestial venerable dharma mirror!

"Originally, I thought my last sword, ha, never mind, never mind, it was just a thought. Boy, you don't need to support me. Next, I have some things to tell you."

Lou Xiangzhen pushed An Jing away, then sighed softly.

An Jing nodded and said, "I'm listening."

Lou Xiangzhen propped up his body and said, "Xuanmen split into three, and the great Luck also split into three. Xiao Qianqiu is an unparalleled figure of Zhenyi Sect. He will definitely find a way to gather the Jade Emperor Scripture. Only with the Jade Emperor Scripture can he have a greater chance of reaching the Great Grandmaster Realm and legitimately reviving Xuanmen. Therefore, you are bound to have a battle with him."

"And reviving Xuanmen is not as simple as it seems on the surface. As the former number one Sect in the world, countless people do not wish to see Xuanmen reappear, and even the Great Yan Emperor is of the same mind. So, your path is long and arduous."

"You have already embarked on this path. Either you follow this path to the end, or you become a corpse on this path, waiting for others' footprints to step on your remains, tiptoeing over this Dao."

An Jing nodded, feeling a bit wistful in his heart, "I know."

Countless experts of Zhenyi Sect had died by his hand.

Some paths, once trodden, have no turning back.

This is the path he must take!

It is also the only path, and the only path he can take… Lou Xiangzhen continued: "This battle can barely be considered half-fought. Although I broke Xiao Qianqiu's great Aura and severely injured him, allowing him no time to deal with you for a short period, if you fight him again in the future, and if he hasn't broken through and established himself after this battle, your chances of winning… will increase by a few points, but…"

Lou Xiangzhen paused slightly, his expression somewhat solemn, "But if he breaks through and establishes himself, comprehending his current Realm, and achieving extreme sublimation… I'm afraid countless dangers await you."

He took out the Holy Essence Gu that had emerged from its cocoon from his bosom.

"The Holy Essence Gu has hatched. You must keep it safe. There is still a wisp of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Essence left inside. If you feed it well in the future, it will continue to produce more Heaven and Earth Spiritual Essence."

"…"

An Jing carefully took the Holy Essence Gu, remaining silent.

He knew in his heart that he not only cultivated the Ghost Valley Heart Sutra but also possessed a fragmented Great Luo Heart Method, making him a thorn in the side of Zhenyi Sect.

If he wanted to stand firm in the world, he and Zhenyi Sect would inevitably clash sooner or later.

"Xuanmen is the number one Sect. If you unify Xuanmen, you will surely go down in history. Ghost Valley Sect, Da Luo Sect, and Zhenyi Sect will all become mere wisps of smoke from then on."

Lou Xiangzhen's eyebrows drooped.

He gazed at the distant sunset, the surging river water, where sea and sky met, his eyes slowly growing dim.

"A true man should wield a three-foot sword and establish an unparalleled name. The things he desires, he must give to himself."

His eyelids seemed to grow heavier and heavier.

The strength in his body was also continuously dissipating.

But Lou Xiangzhen's words were not yet finished!

"In my life, I gained fame in my youth, my prominence unmatched for a time. Everyone in the world called me a Swordsman not seen in a hundred years! My future was bright and boundless!

In middle age, I was defeated by Sword God Liu Moyuan, and then I languished for decades, losing myself in this Jianghu. Later, I thought I had seen through worldly fame and fortune, and lived in seclusion from the court and common people.

It was only after Sanjia's death that I truly understood and realized: how can a true man, born between heaven and earth, live a lifetime of mediocrity?"

Lou Xiangzhen asked, as if asking An Jing, and also as if asking himself.

"Life has its ups and downs, like the clouds in the sky, gathering and dispersing without permanence. The things I have pursued my entire life are now in my hands, but there are some regrets in my heart that I fear will be difficult to achieve Perfection in this life."

An Jing remained silent. He knew what Lou Xiangzhen's regrets were.

Lou Xiangzhen felt increasingly weak, as if he had no strength left to speak: "It's normal for life not to achieve Perfection. In the past, I didn't understand how to choose; later, I understood but gave up. For someone in my situation, this is already the best."

"Boy, I really want to see that day, the day you become the Xuanmen Daozhu."

"Aren't you still going to settle one last matter?"

"Yes."

Lou Xiangzhen looked at the orange sunset, the golden light gently swaying with the ripples of the seawater.

Within that light and shadow, there were layers of ripples, as if reflecting his entire life's journey.

This life, fleeting like a passerby in the Mortal World, inviting the clear breeze and bright moon to drink and sing, how many times can one get drunk in life?

Seventy years of wind and rain, spring flowers and autumn fruits, coming and going.

Dreaming back to his homeland, he first joined the Ghost Valley Sect to learn swordsmanship, then made a name for himself, vowing to become The World's Number One Swordsman.

He Cultivated day and night, heedless of starlight or the return journey.

At fourteen, he entered the Peach Blossom Sword Intent, defeating the chief Disciple of the Blue River Sect at the time. At twenty-two, he traveled the Jianghu, traversing thousands of li of mountains and rivers, defeating a host of young Swordsman experts, making his first appearance.

Thereafter, he steadily progressed, reaching the fifth Realm at thirty-eight. Upon first entering the fifth Realm, he defeated three Swordsmen who had been immersed in the fifth Realm for a long time, truly making his name known throughout the world.

Some called him the Ghost Valley Sword Immortal, while others, because his swordsmanship seemed to conjure peach blossoms, dreamlike and illusory, called him the Peach Blossom Sword Immortal.

At forty!

Lou Xiangzhen, alone with his sword, went to Yuheng Sword Sect and defeated two great Sword Attendants.

In the current Jianghu, he was the only one who, in his prime, had defeated these two great Sword Attendants, his prominence at its peak, unmatched for a time.

Unexpectedly, the Sword God emerged, and with just three sword strikes, defeated the newly rising number one Swordsman of the Jianghu, making the name of Sword God resonate throughout heaven and earth once again.

No one noticed the lonely Swordsman, lost in disappointment in the corner.

Those three sword strikes broke Lou Xiangzhen's spirit and severed his Sword Dao path.

Unbewildered, unbewildered, should be unbewildered… Yet Lou Xiangzhen fell into confusion.

After that, he drifted for decades, his Swordsmanship Cultivation basically stagnating. He roamed the Jianghu, wandering the four seas, without a home.

Zhao State, Great Yan, Later Jin, Southern Barbarians, Pure Land. His footprints and traces were everywhere.

The sharpness of his sword quietly faded.

It wasn't until he reached his sixtieth year that he finally let out a long sigh, willing to draw a line in the sand, no longer bothering with Jianghu grievances. He let go of all right and wrong, let go of sixty years of obsession, and even let go of the Peach Blossom Sword in his hand.

It wasn't until Jiang Sanjia, in Yuqing City, inquired about a hint of heavenly secret, and was ultimately struck dead by lightning.

That bolt of lightning not only killed Jiang Sanjia but also awakened Lou Xiangzhen.

All the right and wrong, the grievances and enmities in this world, apart from life and death, are merely trivial matters.

On Blue River Sect, he killed Bai Qun with two swords. On Five Poison Mountain, he reached the Three-Qi Grandmaster Realm overnight, shocking all heroes.

Above Yuan Lake, his sword pointed at the Great Yan Jianghu's number one, a Three-Qi Grandmaster fighting alone against a Four Qi Grandmaster Sect leader.

On this day, he finally became The World's Number One Swordsman.

Late is better than never… Lou Xiangzhen had no regrets.

In thousands of years of Swordsmanship, few have shone for a hundred years.

Some once called him the most top-tier Swordsman in the world, holding him in reverence, while others scorned him, dismissing him.

His life, with its ups and downs, its ebbs and flows, was like a stage. Until the very last moment, one never knew the climax, the true brilliance of this life.

Life is but a few hundred years. Wielding a three-foot green peak, to be The World's Number One Swordsman for once, with drums resounding, yellow sand stretching, carving out an unparalleled name, leveling the turbulent four seas, and severing the ten thousand zhang Mortal World.

Wine entered his stomach, filling him with boundless heroism. He couldn't help but exclaim, "A true man should be like this!"

And all of this has now turned into fleeting clouds.

The sunset fades, the sunrise begins again; this is an eternal truth.

Lou Xiangzhen leaned on the hilt of his sword, as if he had fallen asleep.

"Let's go. This beautiful landscape, this old man wants to admire it alone."

"…"

An Jing remained silent, not speaking.

After a long while, he nodded in response.

"Good."

Then his body leaped onto the back of the black dragon, slowly drifting away with the waves.

Lou Xiangzhen's eyes were somewhat unfocused as he gazed at the vast misty expanse in the distance, the river glowing with an orange hue.

As the sun set, he watched the surging river for a very, very long time.

Five days later.

Great Yan, Saibei, a small border town.

At the end of the small town, there was a tofu shop.

The owner of the tofu shop was a woman in her fifties. She was not tall, her hair was as white as silver threads, her eyes narrowed like shuttles when she smiled, and the wrinkles on her forehead were like mountain ridges, like gullies, deeply carved with her life and the vicissitudes of time.

At this moment, she was meticulously slicing tender tofu.

Just then, a young boy carefully walked over. It was Zhu Kai.

"What are you doing here again?" The woman looked at the boy, her brow furrowed.

Zhu Kai chuckled twice and said, "Aunt He, I just came to look, just to look."

Doufu He sized up Zhu Kai and said, "You rascal, since that old man left, I haven't seen you in a long time. Tell me, what are you doing today? Has that old man returned?"

Zhu Kai scratched his head and said, "He hasn't returned, that's why I want to ask. My dad said you definitely know."

"What the hell do I know?"

Doufu He said irritably, "He and I have nothing to do with each other. How would I know where he went or what he did?"

Zhu Kai was a little disbelieving and wanted to say something, but he didn't know how to say it.

Doufu He said with interest, "You rascal, do you really believe that rotten old man knows Swordsmanship?"

Zhu Kai nodded seriously and said, "I believe Old Xiang. He basically never lied to me. He said he would come back as long as he became The World's Number One Swordsman."

Doufu He chuckled lightly, "The World's Number One?"

"Yes."

Zhu Kai nodded.

"Then you just wait," Doufu He said, continuing to slice the tofu in front of her.

These words seemed to be spoken to Zhu Kai, and also to herself.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Kai sighed softly, then reluctantly left.

"The World's Number One?"

Doufu He looked at the tofu in her hand and whispered to herself, "Perhaps this is the Dao he pursued his entire life, and I am just an insignificant blade of grass on this path."

She understood Lou Xiangzhen very well; this was his lifelong obsession, something he pursued his entire life.

Yes, wasn't this precisely why she had fallen for Lou Xiangzhen back then?

Wielding a three-foot green peak, sweeping across all directions, that Sword Qi had to be unleashed.

The story isn't long, nor is it hard to tell.

Her heart, suspended in mid-air, could no longer fly over a thousand mountains and ten thousand waters.

Later, the wind from Nanshan scattered the grain piles, and the waters of Beihai submerged the tombstone.

Have people, after all, just missed each other like this?

Yuqing City, Feihua Alley.

Inside the house, a scholar was carefully reading a letter in his hand.

This scholar was none other than Zhou Xianming.

"Alas, the world is unpredictable."

After a long while, Zhou Xianming finally let out a breath, a hint of sorrow in his brows.

The letter was signed Lin Wan Hong.

And the news she conveyed was about the recent changes in Yu Prefecture City.

Zhou Xianming clutched the letter in his hand, unable to help but whisper, "Little Dr. An is dead, Officer Han has entered a Buddhist monastery…"

He hadn't expected that in just a few months, Yu Prefecture City had already changed beyond recognition, undergoing earth-shattering transformations.

His voice and smile remain, but his warm words and nagging are hard to hear again.

He still remembered how little Dr. An used to tell him to take care of his health, to go to the Brothel less, to avoid cold drafts, and often praised him as a 'simp.' Now, he probably wouldn't hear those words again.

The first time little Dr. An called him a 'simp,' he was very surprised and confused. Afterwards, little Dr. An explained that he was very serious and deeply devoted in relationships.

This made Zhou Xianming sigh with emotion, thinking that a thousand pieces of gold are easy to obtain, but a true confidant is hard to find.

Wasn't little Dr. An also like this towards Madam Zhao?

"Little Dr. An, such a good person like you, why did you die so young?"

"When I was beaten up by the men in black, only you came to visit me, and you even took me to the Brothel to listen to music, soothing the wounds in my heart. You were also a generous person, knowing I was poor and destitute, you often treated me to drinks, and even the travel expenses for my imperial examination were provided by you and your wife."

Thinking of this, Zhou Xianming couldn't help but let out a long sigh, then shivered. "So, does that mean I don't have to return the silver?"

"When I return to Yu Prefecture City, I will definitely make a huge tombstone for little Dr. An, and then invite the most famous paper crafting Master to make a Brothel for you to burn. And then make some beauties…"

"Rest assured, I will absolutely not let your sister-in-law know. This is all I can do."

Zhou Xianming chattered on, and before he knew it, a morning had passed.

He had actually been talking to himself in the room for an entire morning. Then he suddenly woke up with a start, realizing he would never see little Dr. An again, and his nose tingled with sadness.

Life and death, in an instant.

"Brother Zhou, Brother Zhou."

Just then, a voice rang out from outside the door.

"What is it? Come in and speak."

Zhou Xianming's voice was a bit low.

As the door opened, a young scholar walked in, excitedly saying, "Teacher Lu is hosting a banquet at the Manor, inviting the top twenty scholars from the imperial examination to attend! Aren't you going to prepare?"

Zhou Xianming's brow furrowed upon hearing this: "Teacher Lu is hosting a banquet?"

Teacher Lu was precisely the chief examiner of the imperial examination, Lu Fang.

If Zhenyi Sect was renowned throughout the Jianghu, standing out alone, then in the current imperial court, the Lu Family was the Zhenyi Sect of the court.

Lu Guoyong, a Three-Dynasty Grand Secretary, and also the Three-Dynasty Grand Secretary, held office for over sixty years, wielding power and influence, controlling the entire court. His Disciples formed their own faction in the court, known as the Lu Family.

However, Lu Guoyong himself remained silent on this matter, keeping to himself, and even strictly restraining his Disciples and old subordinates.

It could be said that any scholar who could cling to this great tree would see their future official career soar, rising rapidly through the ranks.

However, recently there were rumors that the head of the Lu Family, Lu Guoyong, had not attended court for a long time due to ill health. Some said he already had intentions of retiring, but the truth of the matter was unknown.

"Yes, hurry up. Xu Zongshun and Zuo Zixin have both gone."

The scholar quickly pulled Zhou Xianming's arm and walked towards the door.

Zhou Xianming naturally dared not neglect, and then followed the scholar towards the Lu Family.

Yuqing City was divided into inner and outer cities. Feihua Alley was in the outer city, while the Lu Family was next to Shizi Square in the inner city.

The two walked through the bustling, crowded streets, and before long, arrived at the entrance of the Lu Family.

The vermilion gate exuded an ancient charm, grand and magnificent, with an imposing Aura.

"Who are you two? Are you scholars coming to attend the banquet?"

The gatekeeper asked immediately upon seeing the two in a hurry, his tone gentle, without any aggressive posture.

The scholar quickly took out a seal, "Yes, this is my personal seal. I am Gao Wenzhu, a scholar from Donglin Province. This is Zhou Xianming, the top scholar of the imperial examination from Jiangnan Province."

The gatekeeper's heart jolted when he heard the three words 'Zhou Xianming,' and he quickly said, "So it's Scholar Zhou, please come in quickly."

It was said that in this imperial examination, this top scholar's paper greatly surprised the family head, Lu Fang, who even believed this person possessed astonishing talent. Others might not know about this banquet, but the servants of the Lu Family had heard a hint of gossip, that it seemed to be prepared specifically for this top scholar.

"You're too kind."

Zhou Xianming cupped his hands, then walked into the Lu Family.

Upon entering the Lu Family, one could see white jade paving the ground, and glazed tiles reflecting brilliant light. Pavilions, towers, and small bridges over flowing water were arranged in a staggered yet harmonious manner, a truly elegant and refined scene.

Under the guidance of a Lu Manor servant, they soon arrived at a lively main hall.

At this time, the hall was already bustling with people, singing and dancing, a scene of joy.

Seated at the head was a middle-aged man, in his fifties, with thick eyebrows and large eyes, a face full of honesty and sincerity, looking slightly younger than Li Fuzhou. This person was Lu Guoyong's son, and the chief examiner of this imperial examination, Lu Fang.

"Family Head, Scholar Zhou has arrived."

The Lu Manor servant stepped forward and bowed.

Instantly, everyone's gazes turned and converged on Zhou Xianming.

"Oh? Has Xianming arrived? Please, quickly take a seat."

Upon hearing this, Lu Fang immediately smiled and said.

"Teacher Lu, you're too kind."

Zhou Xianming cupped his hands towards Lu Fang, then took his seat.

Besides Zhou Xianming and Gao Wenzhu, the hall was already filled with scholars, all of whom were among the top twenty students in this imperial examination, including Zhou Xianming's old acquaintances, Zuo Zixin and Xu Zongshun.

When the two saw Zhou Xianming, their expressions were somewhat displeased.

PS: In the previous Chapter 163, Old Liu was incorrect and has been changed to Hao Lao. Today, I experienced some writer's block earlier and didn't write much. I didn't have time to finish Zhou Xianming's storyline later, as I still need to revise it. The Jianghu journey still has one last storyline.