Chapter Twenty: Endless Rivers and Autumn Waters

As the words fell, Tian Meng and the other two from Lieshan Hall immediately fell silent. They shifted their bodies and swiftly approached the Tiger Soul Sword, which had just been drenched and purified. Sensing its immense power, Tian Meng struck out with a palm infused with thick, overwhelming force, seizing the sword from thin air and placing it carefully into a long wooden box that had been prepared in advance.

Without hesitation, he lifted the box, his feet stepping upon the surging mysterious light beneath him, his figure like an arrow released from a bow. He followed the path already cleared by the farmer disciples and departed directly. The Zhu family from the Divine Farmer Hall and Situ Wanli from the Four Mountains Hall closely pursued him, accompanied by a large number of farmer disciples guarding from behind.

However, all of this rapid activity was already enough for the vigilant forces surrounding Tiger Leap Gorge to prepare. Upon seeing the Tiger Soul Sword taken away, countless illusory figures appeared in pursuit.

Within merely ten breaths, all the presences that had previously gathered around Tiger Leap Gorge vanished into the eighth layer of the void. The sound of rushing wind was incessant, and the surrounding whirlwinds in the void stirred the trees to the east.

“Hahaha, Chief Gonggong of the Hall, why do you still linger here?”

Watching a great number of experts from the Hundred Schools depart, several dozen remained unmoved on the spot. Looking down, Zhou Qing’s gaze revealed shadowy figures—disciples of Confucianism, local forces from Qin, and various other factions.

The loud voice belonged to a warrior from Zhao State clad in sturdy armor, flanked by three others of similar innate realm cultivation, each wielding crescent-shaped long knives that gleamed coldly. They stepped forward slowly, eyeing the several dozen farmer disciples who had yet to leave beneath Tiger Leap Gorge.

Judging by the man wearing the icy snow mask’s attire, his identity was clear. As he spoke, the remaining few dozen figures drew near, among whom the assassins sent by the Luo Network from Qin were the most prominent.

They spoke no nonsense with the farmer group. According to their intelligence, the farmers had ostensibly forged only a single deadly weapon this time, but in truth, there were two. Years ago, on Mount Taiyi, a fierce battle had raged between the soaring eagle and the fierce tiger, both perishing.

If the previously obtained Tiger Soul Sword was forged from the essence of the tiger, then the lingering Chief Gonggong was surely waiting for the Eagle Sword. Their mission was clear: to seize the Eagle Sword.

Heavenly killers and earth-slayers, fiends and spirits—top assassins were best equipped with top-tier blades. Swordlight flashed fiercely as five grim figures from the Luo Network swiftly swept past the Zhao warriors, closing in to assassinate the farmer’s Chief Gonggong.

“You who have lurked in darkness for so long, why dare you emerge today?”

“Nineteen years ago, in the Battle of Changping, if you hadn’t caused chaos in Handan, would over 400,000 Zhao soldiers have been slaughtered? Since you dare show yourselves, there’s no need for you to leave alive!”

The five warriors from Zhao seemed well aware of the Luo Network’s presence. Feeling the sudden chill in the void’s primal energy, four of them gathered in a corner, brandished their long knives, and moved with grace and no hesitation, launching attacks on the five from the Luo Network.

Though divine weapons were precious, here, in the presence of the deadly Luo Network, old national and personal grievances erupted simultaneously. The clear, crisp sounds of blades clashing echoed non-stop before the frozen spring. The whirling winds stirred sharply, cutting fiercely.

“Senior brothers, if we delay much longer, those who just left will return in great numbers. We should seize the Eagle Sword and depart immediately!”

Amidst the towering flourishing trees, emerald leaves swayed gently in the breeze. The nine Taoists standing on the leaves watched the unfolding scene quietly, just as they had predicted: the farmers intended to use the Tiger Soul Sword as bait to avoid pressure and then take the Eagle Sword.

From the clear perceptions of Chisongzi and Mushanzi, among the four hall chiefs who came this time, the three who had already left from Lieshan Hall, Divine Farmer Hall, and Four Mountains Hall were all of the innate realm.

However, the man wearing the silver snow mask was a spiritual warrior of the Divine Spirit realm, harmonizing heaven and earth and manipulating the primal energies. With the five assassins from Luo Network and the four warriors from Zhao, none could match his might.

Blades flashed violently; the residual waves of energy assaulted the area, causing ripples to appear on the frozen spring. The weaker farmer disciples nearby continuously retreated.

When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman benefits. For the Confucian scholars, naturally, this was a golden opportunity. Though they did not understand why the farmer’s Chief Gonggong lingered, it did not hinder their aim.

Since the strongest among the four hall chiefs had already left, there could only be one reason. Pondering this, a group of Confucian scholars clad in splendid embroidered robes, each wielding a long sword, stepped briskly past the Zhao warriors and Luo Network assassins engaged in battle, heading straight for the frozen spring—the very spot where the farmer’s Chief Gonggong remained.

“Hm!”

Zhou Qing had no intention of prolonging the fight. Whispering to his two senior brothers, a gentle breeze rippled around him as he executed the "Wind Riding Technique" from the Book of Lieshi. In an instant, a blue light flashed, and he descended from the void directly into the frozen spring beneath Tiger Leap Gorge.

“Taoists!”

Despite the presence of the Luo Network and Zhao warriors, the farmer’s Chief Gonggong paid them no mind. Not having reached the Divine Spirit realm, he could suppress them with a mere flick of his hand. They were incapable of displaying any trickery. To seize the Tiger Soul Sword here, only a Heaven-rank assassin could pose a real threat.

Though the Confucian scholars attempted to seize the chance amidst the chaos, a single palm strike from Zhou Qing emitted a chilling frost energy that repelled the entire group of ten, forcing them back. Sensing spiritual fluctuations, he struck again with a palm, causing waves atop the frozen spring to surge and assault him as he descended.

“I think I’ve begun to understand the fate of the Eagle Sword.”

The water path’s cultivation methods and battle techniques were unmatched by a mere farmer’s hall. Beneath the myriad rivers and autumn waters, everything obeyed his will. His delicate, pale hands moved gracefully, dispelling the water waves aimed at him.

Sensing the increasingly powerful aura of the Eagle Sword below, the fierce and free spirit of the eagle was embedded within, yet it was forcibly suppressed by external forces in the frozen spring.

To perfect the Eagle Sword’s emergence, yin and yang must harmonize, extinguishing the sword’s domineering aura. The frozen spring’s power would merge with the noon sun’s peak energy, and only then could the Eagle Sword be completed.

But from what he knew, the Tiger Soul Sword should remain with the farmers, while the Eagle Sword had never appeared. Facing the current situation, the Eagle Sword’s likely fate was to have been removed prematurely, discarded due to imperfection, and thus dissolved into the world.

“Ten thousand rivers and autumn waters... a member of the Heavenly Sect... a Divine Spirit realm warrior... you... how is this possible!”

The man wearing the silver snow mask was no stranger to Taoist secrets. His powerful aura blossomed, and he muttered continuously under his breath. His sharp eyes glimmered with disbelief.

From this man, Zhou Qing detected a similar spiritual resonance, one that harmonized heaven and earth—this was the mystique of the Divine Spirit realm. To reach this level was to be among the strongest in all Zhuxia.