Martial Cultivator

Yellow Dragon Prefecture was much better off than its neighboring White Deer Prefecture when it came to demon troubles, especially around Sword Qi Mountain, where it was hard to come across any demons. Moreover, the swordsmiths on the mountain did not disturb the people, so as time went on, the human population in the vicinity increased. After the founding of the Great Liang Dynasty, a new commandery was established here called Sword Proximity Commandery. The meaning was straightforward: close proximity to Sword Qi Mountain. In this commandery, which boasted the shortest history in the Great Liang Dynasty, many swordsmith workshops had emerged. They focused solely on forging swords, and some of these workshops were known for their excellent craftsmanship. It was said that several of these swordsmiths had previously worked on Sword Qi Mountain but left for various reasons to establish their own workshops. Of course, this claim was quite common among the swordsmiths at the foot of Sword Qi Mountain, almost all of whom boasted about having forged swords on Sword Qi Mountain. Sword Qi Mountain had no interest in debunking these claims, so the area was a mix of truth and falsehood, and one's ability to find hidden treasures there depended entirely on their own skills.

Three days ago, the Xu couple arrived in Sword Proximity Commandery. They visited over a dozen swordsmith workshops but could not find the flying sword they desired. Xu Bai felt somewhat discouraged, while Jiang Ying was even more anxious.

Originally, after getting the demonic antlers, she thought that she would be able to request a flying sword from Sword Qi Mountain no matter what. Putting the quality aside, just the flying swords that emerged from Sword Qi Mountain did not have any lousy ones. But now, her plans had fallen through. She had no choice but to accompany her husband and try their luck in this area.

Entering another swordsmith workshop, the two looked at dozens of flying swords displayed inside. Xu Bai could not help but sigh and shake his head before leaving the shop with a disappointed expression. Seeing her husband like this, Jiang Ying could not help but comfort him softly, "Husband, let's take another look. Maybe we'll find a suitable flying sword."

Xu Bai nodded, squeezing out a smile. "No rush."

Although the battle with Chen Chao was not a so-called life-and-death struggle, the fact remained that his flying sword was damaged. However, even in this situation, he could not find any reason to blame the other party. Losing his flying sword felt like losing an arm to him as a sword cultivator like Xu Bai, which was a pain he could not express.

But he could not show this pain, otherwise Jiang Ying, who had always felt guilty, would feel even more guilty.

Jiang Ying suggested tentatively, "How about climbing the mountain again to request for a sword? Last time didn't work out, but maybe it will work this time."

Xu Bai had gone up Sword Qi Mountain before to seek a sword, but the last time, Xu Bai did not obtain the flying sword he desired.

Xu Bai sighed, "Whether it's the previous time or this time, I doubt there will be any change. A place like Sword Qi Mountain would never look favorably upon itinerant cultivators like us."

Jiang Ying also wore a worried expression and whispered, "But Husband is worthy of their flying sword no matter what."

Xu Bai quickly brightened up and reached out to hold the hand of the woman by his side, smiling as he said, "It's alright. There will always be opportunities."

Jiang Ying nodded with a bitter smile, realizing that there was nothing more to say at the moment.

Actually, she even harbored some dissatisfaction towards the young martial artist who had damaged her husband's flying sword.

Seeing through Jiang Ying's thoughts, Xu Bai shook his head and said, "Let me say this one more time, don't hold a grudge against that Fellow Daoist. If it weren't for him, I might have been separated from you forever."

Jiang Ying nodded and said gently, "I understand."

Xu Bai continued, "Let's try our luck at the foot of Sword Qi Mountain."

Jiang Ying nodded and did not refuse.

……

……

Heading south from Sword Proximity Commandery, after the swordsmith workshops gradually disappeared, there was a landscape of green mountains and clear rivers. There were many villages built along the mountains, living a life of working at sunrise and resting at sunset. However, what was strange was that these villagers, who had lived here for generations, had virtually never suffered any invasion by demons.

It was just that in such a remote area, no one looked deeply into such matters.

Fields of rice paddies surrounded the brown mud houses of each family, creating an extremely beautiful landscape.

A farmer had just finished his work in his own paddy field and came to the waterwheel to wash away the mud from his legs with mountain spring water. Then, he sat down on the edge of the field, took out some dried tobacco from his pocket, and started smoking. As the smoke curled around, it seemed as if all his fatigue dissipated at that moment.

However, as the man smoked his tobacco, he noticed a young man slowly approaching the waterwheel from the path leading out of the village.

Seeing the unfamiliar face, the farmer man became interested and greeted him, "Where are you from, stranger?"

Hearing the voice, the young man stopped by the waterwheel, first scooping up some clear water and taking a few sips before responding with a smile, "From afar."

Hearing this vague answer, the man did not get angry either. He just asked cheerfully, "I haven't seen outsiders come for a long time, who are you looking for? I know everyone in this village, big and small."

The young man shook his head and just replied with a smile, "I'm just passing through."

Hearing this answer, the farmer was taken aback and asked rather curiously, "Are you planning to pass through the back mountain?"

The young man had never been to this place before, but upon hearing this, he was quite certain that it was indeed the place he was looking for. So he nodded and asked, "Elder Brother, are you familiar with it? Could you tell me more?"

The farmer looked at the young man somewhat baffled, then said, "On the top of the mountain behind, there's an iron chain leading to the innermost mountain, which is several thousand feet high. There's only one iron chain. None of the folks in the village dare to climb up there, but I heard that you outsiders come every few decades."

Talking up to here, the man made a puzzled sound as he continued, "The old people in the village say that you outsiders come here with swords, don't you?"

The young man did not say anything. Instead, he reached out, and a flying sword appeared in his hand, which he then fastened to his waist. He smiled and said, "I was originally worried about scaring Elder Brother. But now that you mention it, I guess I was overthinking."

The farmer took a drag of his tobacco, saying indifferently, "Although us ordinary folks can't go to the back mountain, people occasionally come out from there. They all carry swords and have good tempers. Sometimes they even help us with planting. The old people in the village say there are immortals living there. Without them, our village wouldn't be so peaceful."

The young man nodded, smiling, "Sounds pretty good."

The farmer nodded and said with a smile, "Actually, you're not bad yourself. It seems like the immortals who came here before weren't as pleasant as you. They always had a cold face and didn't want to say a single word."

The young man smiled but remained silent.

Suddenly, the farmer asked, "Haven't eaten yet, right? How about having a meal at my place before you leave?"

After thinking about it, the young man did not refuse and just said with a smile, "That would be great, Elder Brother."

The farmer chuckled and stood up, picking up his hoe, then led the young man towards his house.

Along the way, the farmer spoke quite a bit.

"I've also heard that you outsiders come here to challenge the immortals in the mountain, something about competing in the sword, is that true?"

"More like a sword inquisition, that's the saying." [1.]

"Ah, I haven't seen any outsiders who came before, but from what I've heard, some people came here all excited but left dejected in the end. That means they lost?"

"Wouldn't they have left happily if they won?"

"Actually, winning or losing doesn't matter. Who wouldn't experience losses in life? But I've heard that some people who went there never came back. I don't know if they just stayed there."

"They are most likely dead."

"Ah? Then it's not worth it. Why would they risk their lives?"

The young man smiled, "Some people like to be stubborn, can't stop them."

The farmer sighed, not knowing what else to say. Finally, when they reached his house, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Woman, take out some of last year's cured meat and slaughter a chicken, we have a guest!"

Hearing her husband's call, a woman immediately popped her head out, took a quick glance in their direction, then smiled and went to catch a chicken from the coop.

Later, the farmer dragged out a long bench from the house and sat with the young man on the stone slab in front of his house. He happily took a puff of his dry tobacco and then grinned, "I've heard that there was a child in the village who was chosen by an immortal and brought back to the mountain. But that was hundreds of years ago, I wonder if that child is still alive."

The young man thought for a moment, did not say anything, just glanced at the child who was secretly sizing him up from behind the door not far away. Then, he waved at him.

"You brat, stop acting like a girl, come out and greet our guest!"

The farmer also noticed his little brat, beckoning his hand in annoyance.

The seven or eight-year-old child walked out hesitantly, but when he reached the young man, he hesitated for a while, not knowing what to say.

The young man reached out and ruffled the child's head, then smiled as he took out a piece of candy from his bosom and handed it to the child. Afterward, he said, "Elder Brother, if your kid were chosen by the immortals from the mountain for cultivation, would you be willing?"

The farmer was taken aback, then immediately chuckled, "If this stinking brat were chosen, it would be his good fortune. Why would I be unwilling?"

The young man nodded, smiling without saying anything.

Afterward, the two of them chatted about miscellaneous matters before finally sitting down to eat.

The child probably had not eaten such a sumptuous meal in a long time, so he chowed down heartily, paying no attention to anything else.

After the meal, the farmer took the young man to the back mountain.

It did not take long before they arrived at the iron chain at the top of the mountain.

The iron chain extended into the dense fog ahead, unable to see its end. But the height in between was definitely more than a thousand feet. A fall from here would only mean death.

Pointing at the iron chain, the farmer said softly, "I've seen those immortals come out from here before. But if it were up to me, I wouldn't dare to venture forward. Anyone who can cross this chain must have some skills."

The young man smiled, "If I can make it back, I'll come and chat with Elder Brother again."

The farmer was puzzled, not understanding what the young man meant, but he did not dwell on it. He just nodded and smiled, "Then I'll treat you to a meal when the time comes."

The young man nodded, then took a step forward, landing on the iron chain. Just like that, he walked forward calmly.

The farmer stood on the spot, not finding it strange. He just took a few puffs of his dry tobacco, lamenting, "They are all immortals."