Divine Brilliance

“To think he can actually laugh?”

“He is arrogant but the Elders in the Sect treated him like a treasure. But what happened now? In front of Jueyu and the others he couldn’t even block one sword. Thanks to Senior Brother Ruotao, if not for him our Sword Sect would have lost face…”

“This kid seems humble but is actually arrogant, having no one else in his eyes. Today, then he knows that he underestimated the people of the world. It was only that Senior Brother Ruotao didn’t want to compete with him for it!”

“What I can’t believe is that Gantian Mountain Monster King really fought the six of them and didn’t lose? In this world is there really such a talent? He is truly unrivaled. Who knows whether there is anyone of the same age who can match him? Compared to Feng Taiji, they are like mars and the moon…”

“It seems like the ancient overlords were just like that. Although Senior Brother Ruotao lost, he brought us honor!”

Feng Taiji’s ears caught all these words. It was tough for him to block them out and calm down, he could only try his best to not listen to them.

Luckily, after ten minutes a bell rang out.

A white shirt shadow suddenly flashed into the hall and sat at the elevated portion in the center.

Feng Taiji bowed slightly and knew that this person was the head of the Ten Thousand Sword Vast Habitat. His name was Lingchen.

He had held this position for close to 74 days. 74 years ago he was once famous through the entire Cloud World and at that time he was already peak Grade-9. Who knows what level he had reached now.

He was always in seclusion, after he entered the Sword Sect, he only met him twice.

Along with everyone greeting Lingchen spoke calmly, “Today I gathered the Ten Thousand Sword Vast Habitat disciples here to tell all of you all two matters. Firstly, the restrictions within Yin Dragon Canyon have been removed. The day the Spiritual Wave begins will shift forward three years! To our Cloud World it is the beginning of numerous calamities but also many rare opportunities. You all must work harder, take the chance to break through. Don’t regret it when the chaotic time arrives…”

When those words were spoken, the stone hall was totally silent. Close to ten thousand Sword Sect disciples, all with different expressions on their faces. Some were shocked, some excited, and some uneasy.

Following this, Lingchen looked over to Ruotao, “I have heard about the Yin Dragon Canyon matter. The few elders made a decision to designate Feng Taiji as the leader. I heard you were arrogant and untamed, not following your Senior’s orders.”

The Elders sitting on the sides of the hall all opened their eyes and looked over towards Ruotao.

A sharp intent descended down onto his body.

His expression didn’t change and he replied flatly, “Everything disciple does goes against my conscience!”

Feng Taiji was expressionless, he could really feel that Senior Brother Ruotao had wiped his hands of everything and didn’t care at all.

His heart was relaxed, feeling no guilt at all.

“What words!”

Lingchen scoffed coldly, his handsome face was like ice that couldn’t melt even after ten thousand years, there was no change in expression.

“Then in these past few years have you had any regrets and grievances?”

“Yes!”

Ruotao actually nodded his head, “I hated the Sect for being unfair, my thoughts nearly went to the extreme. However, thanks to a kind person I came to my senses. I thought through it so it doesn’t matter anymore. Swordsman like me just need to search for answers through the sword, who cares about anything else?”

As Feng Taiji listened on, his mouth felt more and more bitter.

If he heard these words half a month ago, his face would be filled with approval, but his heart wouldn’t really care.

However today he already understood this theory. Unfortunately, it was already too late…

Lingchen kept silent for a moment before he laughed out loud, shaking the mountain peak.

“Great! Listen up, the second thing today is that our Sword Sect has disciple Ruotao who strives to improve, comprehending his heart well. He is our sword-wielding disciple, able to go into seclusion in the Mysterious Sword Cave for three years. After three years, he will inherit the role of head of the Vast Habitat…”

Although he predicted it, when those words fell on his ears, he felt a heavy hammer smack his mind, smashing down heavily.

He only felt his mind go dizzy and he felt himself losing consciousness.

As for what Lingchen continued to say, he didn’t pay much attention. Who knows how long it took for him to regain his senses.

At this moment, Lingchen was coming to the end of his speech.

“The rise of the chaotic times in the Cloud World, when you go out all of you must be more careful! If you face things there’s no need to worry too much…”

As he said this, Lingchen hesitated slightly and still said, “Gantian Mountain has risen up and is at their strong period. At least at Donglin our Sword Sect disciples need to give in!”

When he said this, he didn’t even look at Feng Taiji as he left the stone hall.

Those Elders all didn’t say a word, their bodies disappearing from the hall. Many disciples all grouped up, discussing whilst they headed outside.

Those Sect disciples who were usually close to him all purposely avoided him, not even daring to exchange glances with him.

Not long later, he was the only one within the large stone hall.

The ten thousand foot space was totally empty and silent. Even Feng Taiji who had a resilient heart felt a strong chill spread through his entire body.

His lips curled up as he let out a self-mocking laugh. Were they treating him like he didn’t exist?

No consolation, no blame, totally disregarding him…

He didn’t have much grievances in his heart, he knew about human nature. When he ostracised Ruotao at the start, he should have thought about the outcome.

What happened today was also due to him so he couldn’t blame others.

However, in his heart there was a wave-surging-like intent, a will to reach that peak, to take back what he had lost.

To share the stage with Zong Shou…

A sigh could be heard just as he was about to stand up. At that moment, a fierce and old voice spoke into his ears.

“Are you unhappy?”

Feng Taiji’s heart jumped, looking around in shock. However, there was no one to be seen.

Of course he was unwilling, how could he be happy to see others step on him with their feet?

“Your Senior Brother Leidong has left the Cloud World to go to the outer region. Is Feng Taiji willing to head to the outer region? Many worlds can help you train your sword path!”

Outer region?

Feng Taiji’s pupils constricted. He took in a deep breath, changing from sitting to kneeling as he bowed down.

“Disciple is wiling, Senior please allow me!”

The voice no longer spoke into his ears and his expression returned back to normal.

His mind once again calmed down. He had placed down all honor and humiliation, everything he gained and lost. He subconsciously touched his waist.

Whatever a Sword Sect disciple wanted, as expected they could only ask for it from the sword.

At this moment, in the sky of the Ten Thousand Sword Vast Habitat…

An old man retracted his gaze from the Sword Chasing Mountain.

“This kid has a good heart and as expected he didn’t disappoint.”

The tone was filled with satisfaction but when the old man looked to the side, it was filled with contempt.

“Who knew that there would be a time when you would be at the losing end of a deal!”

There was no one around, just a sword. However, shaking the sword body and causing the metal to clang, the tone could also change.

“Since he joined our Sect than we will feel glory and humiliation together…”

It seemed like he didn’t answer the question but the old man knew what he meant. His words were simply too inappropriate. If people in the Sect heard that, wasn’t he afraid they would be unhappy?

He is lips curled up, “Since you have already done the matter then you must naturally allow others to speak about it. This Feng Taiji is truly far weaker than this person!”

Other people might not know but he knew. Tanqiu from Common People Path and Zong Shou from Gantian Mountain were the same person.

Sword sect was just a step away from recruiting him. However at that time Feng Taiji merged spirit and martial arts, shocking the sects. Thus they made such a deal, what a pity!

Looking back at it a few years later, Zong Shou could fight Shui Lingbo, Yuan Wushang and the other four and not lose. On the other hand, Feng Taiji could only look on from the side, without the right to even join in.

It was right to say that it was a huge loss.

Apart from being really skilled in his sword techniques, one had to mention that Gantian Mountain was rising up.

Balancing the pros and cons, one could metaphorically illustrate the situation through the phrase ‘to strain at a gnat and swallow a camel’.

At this moment there were already people grumbling within the Sword Sect. Although they didn’t say it upfront, he knew that many people felt regretful about it.

“Even if it was wrong, it was my fault. That deal had nothing to do with Feng Taiji!”

The voice was firm, then the sword shadow flashed and sped into the void. Only leaving a voice, “What matters isn’t now but the long term. The cultivation path is long and far, who knows what will happen in the future. Zong Shou is decent but he has barriers from Heaven, now he only broke a human barrier. Whether he can break the next one is an unknown factor. Feng Taiji suffering this defeat might not be a good thing. As for you, before the Spiritual Wave arrives, everything will change. You guarding the Cloud World, you have to be even more careful!”

“I don’t need you to say!”

The old man smiled and then shook his head. That was true, after the Spirit Realm, cultivation was measured in hundreds and thousands of years.

At this moment, the wins and losses didn’t amount to much.

Thinking back to Zong Shou, who knows whether this kid could cross the Heaven Barrier?

He was already a Grade-8 Martial Cultivator and a Grade-9 Spirit Master. That pass was right in front of his eyes.

　　※※※※

The aura was dark, Jueyu forcefully sucked in a breath. Walking from the Cloud World into the void outside of it.

He also totally tossed aside the chasing Spiritual Senses behind him.

Three days and nights of intense fighting, escaping, counter-attacking… Even someone as resilient as him felt exhausted as if about to fall asleep at any moment.

His current body was tough to look at; wounds everywhere and nearly falling apart. His veins and meridians were in chaos.

Jueyu bit the tip of his tongue to wake himself up. Then, he rotated his remaining internal energy to heal his injuries.

However, following this, his eyes froze up as he looked at the dark void in the distance.

“Why are you in such a bad state?”

Along with the voice, a person stepped out, his face wearing a smile that deserved a beating as he looked over with a mocking expression.

Actually he himself wasn’t in much of a better state, his body covered in wounds. However, it was a little better than Jueyu…

Jueyu took a look and felt that it was expected whilst also a little unexpected, “You really went to Liao King palace?”