Chapter 170 The Sword Post of the Four Sword Masters

Chapter 170: Four Symbols Sword Ancestor's Sword Scroll.

"Demonic Cult Leader!? How did it end up in his hands?"

An Jing raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by Zhao Chongyin's words, as he never expected the incomplete Jade Emperor Scripture from the Xuanmen to be in the Demonic Cult Leader's possession.

"Don't you know?" Zhao Chongyin asked, seeing An Jing's expression.

"I'm not familiar with that past." An Jing shook his head.

Back then, Yan Shaoshan had only passed on the Great Luo Heart Method to him, likely feeling disheartened.

"It seems Yan Shaoshan didn't tell you."

Zhao Chongyin looked at the chessboard before him and said indifferently, "The Da Luo Sect initially possessed the complete Great Luo Heart Method. Unlike the Ghost Valley Sect and Zhenyi Sect, which were thriving and full of vigor, the Da Luo Sect had been in decline for the past century. Even their mountain stronghold was taken by the Imperial Court. Later, the Zhenyi Sect, wanting to obtain the Great Luo Heart Method, deliberately instigated internal strife within the Da Luo Sect, luring a Disciple named Feng Zhijun to steal the Great Luo Heart Method. After Feng Zhijun successfully stole it, he exchanged benefits with the Zhenyi Sect as agreed."

"But at that time, the Zhenyi Sect didn't want to uphold Jianghu ethics and planned to kill Feng Zhijun directly and take the Great Luo Heart Method. Feng Zhijun was no match for the Zhenyi Sect. At this critical moment, the Da Luo Sect Leader appeared. The Da Luo Sect Leader's cultivation was at the Half-Step Grandmaster Realm, and even facing two peak Masters of the Zhenyi Sect, he was stretched thin. After a bitter struggle, the Da Luo Sect Leader snatched half of the Mind-Cultivation Technique from Feng Zhijun's hands and fled back to the Da Luo Sect, eventually dying at the Sect's entrance. Feng Zhijun also escaped in the chaos and disappeared from the Jianghu."

An Jing nodded upon hearing this. "Then why did it end up in the Demonic Cult Leader's hands?"

If the Demonic Cult obtained this Incomplete Manual, it would be a huge threat to the Zhenyi Sect.

Zhao Chongyin picked up a white piece and smiled, "This Great Luo Heart Method was split in two. Half of it is in Yan Shaoshan's hands, and the other half is in Feng Zhijun's hands. The Zhenyi Sect searched for Feng Zhijun's whereabouts for several years without success; it was as if he had suddenly vanished. Until two years ago, he appeared at Dongluo Pass."

An Jing's eyes narrowed slightly. "So that's how it is. This Feng Zhijun is truly bold. Isn't he afraid of the Demonic Cult double-crossing him?"

The Zhenyi Sect was dishonest but still tried to hide it, but the Demonic Cult didn't need to.

It seems the Demonic Cult Leader is quite capable, at least more ethical than the Zhenyi Sect.

Zhao Chongyin smiled and said, "This newly appointed Demonic Cult Leader has some methods, and it's said he's also very young and promising, but it's a pity…"

"A pity for what?"

An Jing asked as he placed a piece.

Zhao Chongyin said, "This person's ambition is even greater than Jiang Shang's."

"Too much ambition may not be a good thing."

An Jing's heart stirred. Back in Yu Prefecture, the Demonic Cult and Tianji Pavilion had teamed up to kill Liu Qingshan. It was almost certain that the Demonic Cult had dealings with the current Second Prince. Jiang Sanjia's final letter had also told him that the Second Prince, Zhao Mengtai, was also on good terms with the Zhenyi Sect.

This made things very interesting.

Zhao Mengtai was not only the mastermind behind Tianji Pavilion but also colluded with the Zhenyi Sect and the Demonic Cult simultaneously. Was this a three-way entanglement?

Logically speaking, it would be best for Zhao Chongyin to reveal this news to the Zhenyi Sect, allowing the two factions to fight and him to reap the benefits. But why was he telling himself now?

Was he afraid that the Demonic Cult would use this as an excuse, or even reconcile with the Zhenyi Sect?

"All in all, we have common enemies, whether it's the Demonic Cult or the Zhenyi Sect."

Zhao Chongyin placed a white piece, and a fierce killing intent appeared on the chessboard.

The Great Yan Crown Prince actually regarded the Zhenyi Sect as a thorn in his side, which was absolutely unbelievable.

"Demonic Cult."

An Jing slowly placed a chess piece. He thought of the Heaven Flipping Seal left by Zhao Qingmei, of Li Fuzhou, of Tan Yun, and couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

Whether the Demonic Cult was friend or foe was still unknown.

Zhao Chongyin's words implied quite clearly that the enemy of his enemy was his friend, obviously wanting to cooperate with An Jing.

Although The World's Number One Swordsman Lou Xiangzhen's fate was unknown, the mere fact that An Jing had a ferocious beast like the Black Serpent under him made him not to be underestimated. It was a significant fighting force, no matter how one looked at it.

And with him, the Zhenyi Sect could be constrained.

An Jing was not interested in the Imperial Court's Jianghu struggles, but as Lou Xiangzhen once said, once you embark on that path, you can no longer turn back.

"I still need to consider this matter," An Jing said.

He didn't outright refuse, leaving himself some room.

"Good."

Zhao Chongyin nodded slightly, then thought of something: "In three days, there will be a feast at the Four Symbols Gate. I wonder if Your Excellency is interested."

An Jing asked, "A private feast? What kind of private feast?"

"A private feast hosted by Jia Shiwu of the Four Symbols Gate."

Zhao Chongyin said indifferently, "In today's Jianghu, besides the Zhenyi Sect, there are the Six Factions and Five Gangs. The Imperial Court and Jianghu are inseparable. The Four Symbols Gate is currently at the bottom among the Seven Great Factions, and it's very likely that in a few years, it will be like the Da Luo Sect, stripped of its right to establish a Sect on a mountain. Jia Shiwu invited me to discuss this matter."

In Great Yan, to establish a Sect, one needed a Sect Gate Order to do so, and could also enjoy some subsidies and allowances from the Imperial Court.

However, Great Yan also had certain assessments for Sects. If the assessment indicators were not met, the Sect Gate Order for the spiritual land would be reclaimed.

Among the Seven Great Factions, the Four Symbols Gate was at the bottom in terms of strength. The highest-cultivated individual in the Sect was only Jia Shiwu, a Half-Step Grandmaster. After that, there wasn't even a Sky Flower Realm expert, only two Earth Flower Realm Elders, and then no other First Rank cultivation Realm Masters.

For an ordinary School, this level of strength would already be quite impressive, but for the Seven Great Factions of Great Yan, it seemed a bit shabby.

The Four Symbols Gate was able to become one of the Seven Great Factions because, three hundred years ago, a Grandmaster expert who was skilled in both sword and finger techniques, the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor, emerged.

This person was The World's Number One Swordsman at that time, whose Sword Dao cultivation suppressed the current era, and one of only two Sixth Realm swordsmen in the world. His Heaven's Will Four Symbols Sword Secret shook the world. The Yuheng Sword Sect's Four Symbols Sword Art was merely an imitation of the Four Symbols Gate's Heaven's Will Four Symbols Sword Secret, and its power and subtlety were far inferior to the original Heaven's Will Four Symbols Sword Secret.

Not only that, but the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor's finger techniques were also extremely remarkable, considered a unique skill in the Jianghu.

With such an extraordinary figure, the Four Symbols Gate was at its peak then, unparalleled for a time, not even weaker than the Yuheng Sword Sect of that era.

Things change with time. After the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor, no more brilliant figures appeared in the Four Symbols Gate, and Grandmaster experts never emerged again.

Without a Grandmaster for three hundred years, the Four Symbols Gate naturally couldn't escape its decline.

If not for the Four Symbols Gate's formidable reputation from before, and Jia Shiwu's strenuous efforts to support it, the Four Symbols Gate might have long fallen out of the ranks of the Seven Great Factions.

An Jing nodded slightly, seemingly having understood the deeper meaning.

A so-called private feast was a secret banquet. Zhao Chongyin also said that the Imperial Court and Jianghu were inseparable. Jia Shiwu of the Four Symbols Gate inviting Zhao Chongyin probably already harbored intentions of allegiance in secret.

An Jing chuckled and said, "Since it's Sect Master Jia's private feast, it might be inconvenient for me to attend."

"This private feast will be very interesting."

Zhao Chongyin smiled meaningfully, "And there should be something inside the Four Symbols Gate that you'll be very interested in."

An Jing stared at the chessboard and asked, "What thing?"

Zhao Chongyin was confident, saying calmly, "A sword scroll left by the Four Symbols Gate's Ancestral Master. It is said to contain a Sword Intent that lingers for a long time, and it is the Four Symbols Gate's most treasured possession. Countless swordsmen in this world have wanted to see it but have never achieved their wish."

"Clack!"

Saying that, Zhao Chongyin placed another piece.

At this point, black and white pieces were intertwined on the chessboard, and the battle had reached a fever pitch.

An Jing smiled after hearing this and asked, "I am indeed very interested."

It was impossible not to be tempted. He had felt his Sword Intent greatly increase and benefited immensely from observing Lou Xiangzhen's Sword Intent. If he could further observe the sword scroll left by the Four Symbols Sword Ancestor, his Sword Dao cultivation would surely advance further.

"So, Your Excellency is willing?" Zhao Chongyin asked as he placed a piece.

"It's a pity, but I need to find my wife first."

An Jing shook his head. He had already delayed a lot of time on this journey. Although he also wanted to comprehend this sword scroll, he still needed to wait a few days in Bu City, and then comprehending the sword would require digestion and contemplation, which would take a lot of time.

"That is indeed a pity, but Your Excellency should be careful, the mountain roads are often treacherous."

Zhao Chongyin didn't insist on him staying, and suddenly said, "I've heard some bad rumors. Old Man Qingfeng hasn't returned to Donglin Province since Yuan Lake."

Old Man Qingfeng!?

Upon hearing Zhao Chongyin's words, An Jing frowned.

These four words were like a thunderclap. This person was an expert of the same generation as Lou Xiangzhen, but he had also disappeared from the Great Yan Jianghu for decades.

Lone experts like Lou Xiangzhen and Old Man Qingfeng, after reaching the pinnacle of Jianghu cultivation, mostly lived in seclusion in some unknown corner to Cultivate, hoping to reach the Great Grandmaster Realm, or saw through the Mortal World and completely withdrew from Jianghu.

Because they had long since obtained ordinary fame and fortune.

And top Sects in the world, similar to the Zhenyi Sect and Yuheng Sword Sect, must also have centenarian experts cultivating diligently within their Sects.

So, in this vast Jianghu, there were always a few thousand-year-old turtles hiding in some pit.

Old Man Qingfeng belonged to the older generation of experts. After reaching the Grandmaster Realm thirty years ago, he became semi-reclusive in the Jianghu.

If it weren't for his second Disciple, Yan Sheng, appearing in the Jianghu in recent years, many people would have thought Old Man Qingfeng had turned into a handful of yellow earth.

An Jing remembered very clearly that he had seen Old Man Qingfeng at Yuan Lake.

"Your Highness means because of Superior Moyun?"

An Jing said, pausing his chess piece.

Zhao Chongyin nodded and said, "Superior Moyun is Qingfeng's eldest Disciple, and he was very fond of him back then. Moreover, the year before last, for Old Man Qingfeng's eightieth birthday, Superior Moyun even spent a lot of money to make two golden peaches as a birthday offering. At Yuan Lake, because Sword God Lou was there, he didn't act rashly."

"And then, with the extremely ferocious Black Serpent by your side, he was also powerless."

Since the battle at Yuan Lake where the Black Serpent swallowed Song Chengbiao in one gulp, the Jianghu had been extremely wary of the Ghost Swordsman's terrifying power.

That was a Half-Step Grandmaster expert, yet he was swallowed in one bite.

This was truly too horrifying!

Seeing An Jing remain silent, Zhao Chongyin reached for a white piece and said, "Not just Old Man Qingfeng, Feng Lingyue also hasn't returned to the Five Venoms Sect."

Feng Lingyue!?

Upon hearing Zhao Chongyin's words, An Jing immediately understood and said, "So that's how it is."

Although Old Man Qingfeng was a Grandmaster-level cultivator, he would never dare to trouble him, because the Black Serpent had the strength of a Two-Qi to Three-Qi Grandmaster.

But adding Feng Lingyue changed things. If Feng Lingyue could hold off the Black Serpent, then with Old Man Qingfeng's strength, there would be enough opportunity to kill him.

After all, although the strength he had displayed was higher than a Half-Step Grandmaster, it was still a considerable distance from a Grandmaster.

"This matter was initiated by the Zhenyi Sect, a classic case of borrowing a knife to kill!"

Zhao Chongyin placed his white piece.

An Jing smiled and said, "The retaliation came really fast."

After Lou Xiangzhen and Xiao Qianqiu's battle, he definitely couldn't protect An Jing. The Zhenyi Sect Leader was severely injured, and at such a delicate moment, it was also inconvenient for him to act.

This borrowed blade assassination came both skillfully and swiftly.

A flicker of imperceptible light flashed in Zhao Chongyin's eyes as he slowly said, "Your Excellency, why not stay here for a while and consider it?"

An Jing naturally sensed Zhao Chongyin's kind overture.

"What's meant to come will always come. This journey north is something this commoner must undertake. Thank you for Your Highness's kind intentions."

An Jing pondered for a moment but still refused, then glanced at the chessboard and praised, "Your Highness's chess skill is truly profound. This commoner feels ashamed of his inferiority."

At this moment, the black pieces had been forced into a desperate situation, with the tide already turned. He simply abandoned the game and conceded defeat.

Hearing An Jing say this, Zhao Chongyin smiled and shook his head, saying, "Since that's the case, a twisted melon isn't sweet. If Your Excellency changes his mind, the door here is always open for you."

"Aunt Bai, please see our guest out."

Everything that needed to be said had been said; saying more would only lead to unpleasantness.

An Jing rose, cupped his fists, and said, "This commoner will remember Your Highness's kindness today. I shall take my leave now."

The moment An Jing stood up, he suddenly noticed an old man standing behind Zhao Chongyin.

The old man had a short, stiff, walrus mustache, and beneath a messy head of gray hair, a pair of black eyes were deeply set in his sockets.

A Master!

An Jing was startled, realizing that he hadn't noticed such a person standing behind Zhao Chongyin until now.

The old man didn't look at An Jing, but kept observing the chessboard.

"Please."

It wasn't until Aunt Bai's voice echoed in An Jing's ears that he came back to his senses.

"Old Su, what's wrong?"

Zhao Chongyin couldn't help but ask when he saw the old man behind him staring at the chessboard.

Old Su took two steps forward, took a black piece from the chess basket, and placed it in an inconspicuous spot on the board.

"Clack!"

A crisp sound was heard.

This single move reversed the situation, completely changing the previous decline of the black pieces.

The previously sickly black pieces seemed to transform into ancient beasts.

Just moments ago, the white pieces had held a great advantage, but in an instant, the situation shifted dramatically, forcing them into a desperate state with no chance of recovery.

"This…"

Zhao Chongyin was momentarily stunned, then laughed wryly, "This Ghost Swordsman, he really is…"

The Ghost Swordsman had let him win, and he hadn't even realized it.

Old Su looked at An Jing's departing back and shook his head, saying, "The Qi in this person's body is extremely restrained. He must have cultivated the most powerful Qi-concealing technique in this world."

Zhao Chongyin frowned and asked, "Even with Old Su's cultivation, you can't see through him?"

Others might not know the strength and identity of the old man before him, but he was very clear. If even the old man couldn't see through him, then no one in this world likely could.

Old Su shook his head and said, "However, he definitely hasn't reached the Grandmaster Realm."

At this point, the old man's tone paused, as if he had something more to say but hesitated.

"He's a truly interesting person."

After a long while, Zhao Chongyin narrowed his eyes and said, "I wonder if he can withstand Yu Ying's offensive now that Lou Xiangzhen is gone."

Lingnan Province, in a small city, within a separate courtyard.

The early summer evening breeze, carrying the faint fragrance of jujube blossoms and roses, drifted in.

Li Fuzhou sat on a stone chair in the courtyard, looking at the secret letter from Dongluo Pass, his brows furrowing involuntarily.

The top powers in the Jianghu all knew that Jiang Shang had returned to the Demonic Cult.

However, the Demonic Cult members knew better than anyone that the Demonic Cult now seemed even more perilous than before Jiang Shang's return.

After Jiang Shang returned, he quickly disappeared again. His mind was not on Demonic Cult affairs at all, and the Demonic Cult Leader, Zhao Qingmei, was trapped in the Demon Sealing Well and couldn't get out.

For a time, the Demonic Cult was leaderless, and Duanmu Xinghua, under Yu Qiurong's command, had to take charge of the overall situation.

That's right, Duanmu Xinghua's position was still below Yu Qiurong's.

"Why has it come to this?"

Li Fuzhou shook his head as he read the secret letter from Duanmu Xinghua.

Yu Qiurong's secret letter asked him to return, ostensibly to preside over the overall situation, but covertly, it was to unite Duanmu Xinghua, the Chief of the Black Tortoise Seat, Li Fuzhou, and other Masters from the Azure Dragon Seat and White Tiger Seat to break into the Demon Sealing Platform.

"No, I still need to appease them. This matter cannot be rushed."

Li Fuzhou thought for a moment, then picked up a pen and paper and wrote a secret letter.

He had not yet gone to Yujing City to settle his affairs, and furthermore, his cultivation was only at the Half-Step Grandmaster Realm. Returning to Dongluo Pass would be useless.

After writing the secret letter, Li Fuzhou carefully wrapped it up, then picked up the next secret letter and began to read it.

"Hmm!?"

Seeing this, Li Fuzhou raised his eyebrows and muttered to himself, "That old fellow Yu Ying is really fast. He doesn't dare to act himself, so he wants to use a borrowed blade assassination?"

"Two Grandmasters, what a grand scheme."

This secret letter detailed the Zhenyi Sect's plan.

Two Grandmaster experts taking action was extremely rare in the Jianghu. One must know that when the Demonic Cult stirred up trouble in Great Yan, there were only three or four Grandmasters fighting in total, and they merely tested each other.

The main reason was that Duanmu Xinghua acted first, killing two Great Perfected Persons of the Zhenyi Sect, which completely triggered the great war.

Grandmaster experts would not easily make a move; this had almost become an iron rule in the Jianghu.

And now, two Grandmasters were dispatched just to kill one person.

"Master, Master."

Just then, a clear voice came.

Tan Yun was seen carrying a blackened plate, running out quickly.

Her rosy cheeks were smudged with black and red, like a cute calico cat, but her face held a smile. "Master, look what I made?"

Li Fuzhou frowned and asked, "What is this?"

Tan Yun said with anticipation, "This is peach blossom crisp! Master, do you want to try it?"

"No need."

Li Fuzhou shook his head. He knew very well that besides boiling water, she could only burn down the kitchen.

Hearing this, Tan Yun said somewhat dejectedly, "Master, even you think what I made is very unpalatable?"

"This also depends on talent and effort."

"But I've already tried very hard!"

"Then perhaps your talent isn't enough, or rather, your talent isn't in this area."

"I understand."

Tan Yun sighed deeply, then walked towards the kitchen, disheartened.

"What are you going to do?"

Li Fuzhou called out to Tan Yun.

"I want to go back and try again."

Tan Yun said seriously, "Master, didn't you say that as long as you work hard, there will definitely be a reward? I want to work hard at this."

"I want to work hard at this" seemed to have a double meaning.

She had always lived carefree and thoughtlessly, but her words today were exceptionally serious.

Li Fuzhou frowned, his face stern. "When I told you to Cultivate martial arts, why were you never this serious? If you could be as diligent and serious as you are now, how could you only have a Second Rank cultivation?"

Tan Yun took a deep breath and asked, "Master, can cultivating martial arts capture a man's heart?"

Li Fuzhou: "…"

Tan Yun continued to count on her fingers, saying, "The Sect Leader is very powerful, right? But why does the son-in-law like her? Isn't it because she cooks well, and is gentle and virtuous?"

Li Fuzhou retorted, "That's because the Sect Leader is beautiful. That cunning Little Doctor is just a mercenary, lustful fellow."

He was so clever and resourceful, yet he suffered the most setbacks from that Little Doctor. There were very few people in the world who could make Li Fuzhou suffer in silence.

Thinking of this, Li Fuzhou sighed endlessly.

Tan Yun said somewhat sadly, "I don't think the son-in-law is cunning, and he is very good to me."

"Let's not talk about him. Maybe that kid is already busy reincarnating."

Li Fuzhou paused, then asked with a serious expression, "Do you like that Ghost Swordsman?"

Li Fuzhou's words were direct and to the point.

"I can't forget him. I guess it's a kind of liking."

Tan Yun bit her lip.

"He might be dying soon."

Li Fuzhou handed the secret letter in his hand to Tan Yun, letting out a long sigh of relief in his heart. Yu Ying, oh Yu Ying, you've done one good deed. Thankfully, this little girl hasn't completely fallen for him yet.

Li Fuzhou, no matter how he looked at it, was very dissatisfied with that Ghost Swordsman. He didn't feel like a responsible, good man.

Especially since Sanmiao Mountain inexplicably used violence against him.

Dying!?

Tan Yun heard Li Fuzhou's words, quickly took the letter, and was instantly stunned.

"Two Grandmasters. How could this be?"

Outside Bu City, in the dense forest.

After An Jing left Bu City, he came to a small lake outside the city.

"Splash!" "Splash!"

As the water splashed, a huge black flood Dragon burst out of the small lake.

"Let's go."

An Jing leaped, landing directly on the black flood Dragon's back.

"Roar!"

The black flood Dragon let out a low roar and transformed into a black shadow, passing through the forest.

At this moment, a woodcutter carrying firewood was walking through the forest when he felt a blur before his eyes, as if something had flown past.

"Hmm?"

The woodcutter rubbed his eyes and muttered to himself, "Am I seeing things? Why does it feel like something is flying in the sky?"

The speed of a Millennial Black Serpent's crawling could not compare to that of a black flood Dragon. In a short while, they were already nearing the edge of Bu City.

To say that An Jing felt no ripple in his heart about Old Man Qingfeng and Feng Lingyue's ambush was impossible.

After all, it was two Grandmaster experts making a move, and Feng Lingyue was even a Two-Qi Grandmaster.

In the Jianghu, those who could become Grandmasters were not ordinary people. Each one was cunning and their strength was unfathomable.

After approximately several hours, An Jing had completely left the vicinity of Bu City, even exceeding a hundred li.

South of Pingle Ridge was Lingnan Province, and north of Pingle Ridge was Jingji Province.

An Jing now stood before Pingle Ridge. Ahead was an almost boundless dense forest and mountain range. Once Pingle Ridge was crossed, it would be Tianmen City, which was the gateway to Yujing City.

At this moment, An Jing's heart was filled with impatience, but at the same time, he felt a mix of nervousness and apprehension.

He wanted to know Zhao Qingmei's true identity, and he also wanted to ask Zhao Qingmei why she married him, yet he feared receiving some unacceptable answers.

A complex and subtle emotion arose spontaneously in his heart.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, a cold light shot from afar, incredibly fast and powerful like thunder.

A faint sound of air being torn accompanied it.

"Not good!"

An Jing's heart turned cold, his scalp tingled, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

"Thud!"

The cold light heavily struck the black flood Dragon's body. Even though the black flood Dragon's scales were incredibly hard, under such a powerful impact, its body couldn't help but shake.

"Your Excellency, where are you going?"

A leisurely, familiar voice came from afar.

PS: I'm sorry, I'm short and weak.