Chapter 384: Chapter 284: The Battle for National Destiny Shakes the World Chapter 384: Chapter 284: The Battle for National Destiny Shakes the World On the sixth of September, at the royal court of Houjin, outside a sealed chamber.

Since Zongzheng Huachun had arranged to have a final battle in Ba Mountain with the Ghost Swordsman, he entered the sealed chamber to meditate in an attempt to break through his limitations and reach the Great Grandmaster realm.

Outside the chamber, Zongzheng Yue, along with the elite of the royal court and remaining Dharma Kings of the Great Snow Mountain, sat in meditation at the door of the chamber, protecting Zongzheng Huachun day and night, ensuring that no one disturbed him in the slightest.

As the day of the duel drew nearer, there was still no sign of activity within the chamber.

Everyone waited anxiously yet patiently, knowing that the fate of Houjin and their own destinies were tightly bound to the person inside that chamber.

Just then, the stone door of the chamber began to loosen.

“Hmm!?”

Zongzheng Yue hurriedly stood up to look, and the others also nervously peeked over, their hearts pounding.

“Boom! Boom!”

The stone door of the chamber slowly opened, and Zongzheng Huachun appeared before everyone.

Compared to before, he seemed to have not changed much, his hair still a mix of gray and white, wrinkles still marking the corners of his eyes.

To become a Great Grandmaster, the True Qi inside one’s body could transform into True Yuan, which could refine a person’s internal organs and greatly increase their lifespan, making them appear younger.

But at that moment, Zongzheng Huachun’s appearance was just as old as before, and he didn’t appear any younger. Could it be that he had not achieved a breakthrough to the Great Grandmaster level?

Instantly, the hearts of the experts present sank.

“Father Emperor!”

“Holy Master!”

Zongzheng Yue and the other high-ranking masters from Great Snow Mountain hurriedly bowed to Zongzheng Huachun.

“There’s no need to be so formal.”

Zongzheng Huachun said indifferently, “This meditation was not without gains. I’ve completely fused with the spirit of the Earth Veins, and my strength has greatly increased compared to before.”

“Congratulations, Holy Master!”

Upon hearing Zongzheng Huachun say this, everyone present felt a slight consolation in their hearts.

Although Zongzheng Huachun hadn’t reached the Great Grandmaster realm, at least his cultivation had greatly improved. The Ghost Swordsman was also a Five Qi Grandmaster, and it was still uncertain who would win or lose between the two.

Zongzheng Yue sighed and felt little optimism, although Zongzheng Huachun’s cultivation had increased. However, it was said that the Ghost Swordsman’s strength had also increased, achieving the level of a Five Qi Grandmaster, and among the Five Qi Grandmasters he had fought, only Xiao Qianqiu escaped death, and all other Five Qi Grandmasters had perished, indicating the terrifying power of the Ghost Swordsman.

Had Zongzheng Huachun broke through to the Great Grandmaster level, this duel would have been utterly safe, but if not, what chances did Zongzheng Huachun have against the undefeatable Sword Immortal in battle now?

Zongzheng Huachun glanced at the high-ranking masters behind Zongzheng Yue and waved his hand, saying, “You all must be tired too, you can go back and rest.”

“Your subordinates will take their leave.”

Upon hearing this, everyone stood up, bowed, and left.

Zongzheng Yue wanted to caution everyone not to divulge this news, but noticing that Zongzheng Huachun remained silent, she didn’t say anything further. After all, Zongzheng Huachun had always managed these matters flawlessly in the past. Could his attitude today be intentional?

Zongzheng Huachun asked, “How has the royal court been lately?”

Zongzheng Yue saluted and replied, “To report to Father Emperor, everything is normal within the royal court. I have eliminated some fickle supporters and have also rooted out spies from Great Yan and the Demon Sect.”

Zongzheng Huachun sneered, “Don’t bother with them anymore. After the battle at Bashan, we can deal with them then.”

Not everyone is going to die loyal to Houjin, as in this world, the majority are like grass on top of a wall.

Zongzheng Yue nodded slightly, then thinking of something, he said, “After Zhao Zhiwu’s demise, Princes An Le, with the support of the Ghost Swordsman, became the new Human Emperor, known as the Emperor of Yong’an. According to intelligence, she quickly took control of the royal power and the court, her ruthless and decisive tactics being astonishing.”

When Zhao Zhiwu frequently summoned Zhao Xuening, Houjin’s spies had targeted her, since she also was a potential successor to become the Great Yan Emperor.

The spies from Houjin needed to monitor all potential heirs to the Human Emperor’s position.

At this moment, the situation also confirmed Houjin’s speculation as this princess had overtaken Zhao Chongyin, becoming the Great Yan Emperor.

If it had been just relying on the Ghost Swordsman, solving the court side of things wouldn’t have been so easily accomplished. Obviously, this new Human Emperor had her own iron-blooded methods, cutting through the court chaos swiftly like a hot knife through butter.

Zongzheng Huachun narrowed his eyes and said, “Zhao Zhiwu was no simple character. He left behind Princess An Le for a deeper purpose. What is the princess’s strength?”

Zongzheng Yue thought for a moment and then said, “Previously she was considered a martial arts waste and did not focus on that area. Since ascending the throne, there has not yet been a sighting of her in action.”

Zongzheng Huachun said indifferently, “Zhao Zhiwu is an old fox. He likes to keep a trick or two up his sleeve. Even if Princess An Le has no cultivation, he must still have other methods to protect the royal family. The remains of a Great Grandmaster will produce a strand of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. It’s not truly an invaluable treasure; we still don’t know where this Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence has gone.”

As each person has a different position, so too does each treasure vary in significance to each individual. Zongzheng Huachun, being such a figure, deems Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence extremely precious, indicative of its true value.

Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, being the true essence of heaven and earth, was formerly found in places with caves and blessed sites.

Nowadays, such sites in the world are much fewer, and it has become impossible to locate this Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence. Only amongst the remains of a Great Grandmaster can a thread of Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence be found.

Zongzheng Yue nodded, “The person Zhao Zhiwu picked, this Human Emperor really likes to manipulate political tactics, and surely it’s not so simple.”

Zongzheng Huachun looked towards the south and, somehow thinking of that sword, he felt like there was a flame burning in his heart.

This swordsman has not been defeated to date, much like how this world has not been unified yet; for him, it was something no outsider had ever achieved.

And the road must be taken one step at a time, each barrier crossed one after another.

Zongzheng Yue suddenly exclaimed, “Father, could it be that the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence was given to the Ghost Swordsman?”

If the Ghost Swordsman received the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence, coupled with his own accumulation, could his cultivation break through to Great Grandmaster?

Thinking of this, Zongzheng Yue broke out in a cold sweat.

Zongzheng Huachun shook his head and said, “Impossible, the Ghost Swordsman is not a person Zhao Zhiwu trusted but rather someone he was wary of. How could he possibly have given this extremely precious Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence to the Ghost Swordsman?”

Upon hearing this, Zongzheng Yue finally eased his breath slightly.

Right, the Ghost Swordsman is from the Demon Sect, and Zhao Zhiwu had always been wary of the Demon Sect. How could he possibly have given the Heaven and Earth Spirit Essence to the Ghost Swordsman?

“Let’s go out and walk around; I want to have a look at the Royal Court.”

Zongzheng Huachun said as he proceeded to walk out of the chamber.

“Yes!”

Just then, Zongzheng Yue saw a spark of light in Zongzheng Huachun’s eyes. Although it was fleeting, Zongzheng Yue still caught it.

…..

Yujing City, Lv Mansion’s grand hall.

An Jing sat in the guest seat, holding the fine tea served to esteemed guests at the Lv Mansion, and then he gently sipped it.

Tomorrow, he would set out for Houjin Bashan, but on this final day, An Jing wanted to visit this once paramount scholar of Ruyun and unravel some of the perplexities in his heart.

Soon, an aged figure emerged from the back hall.

“Master Lv.”

An Jing slowly stood up and greeted the elder with a fist salute.

Since the destruction of the Literary Palace, Lv Guoyong had aged considerably, his already elderly visage now enshrouded in an air of twilight.

From ancient times to the present, the twilight years of heroes have always been among the most poignant of themes.

Yet, from this twilight aura, An Jing perceived a distinct sentiment that involuntarily invigorated the spirit.

“Sit.”

Lv Guoyong took his seat at the head and smiled, “I’ve long known you would come, lad.”

An Jing also sat down and said, “Every time I plan to visit, Master Lv seems to know. I really thought Master Lv had planted a pair of eyes around me.”

“Hahaha.”

Upon hearing An Jing’s remark, Lv Guoyong couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

An Jing did not laugh, his expression retaining a degree of seriousness.

Lv Guoyong shook his head with a smile, “You really are an interesting young fellow.”

An Jing asked, “Is that not so?”

Due to Tan Yun’s relationship, coupled with the elder’s display of friendliness and his aged body, An Jing gradually lowered his guard, yet the elder before him had dominated the Great Yan Dynasty court for sixty years with bloodier hands than An Jing’s from mere killings.

One of his disciples was the head of the Demon Sect, and another was the Grandmaster Zhao Tianyi.

Lv Guoyong himself had once battled three Five Qi Grandmasters, even slaying one of them. If not for the special intervention of Xi Hafu, and Qin Shan’s decisive action to protect Qi Xuan Dao by staying back, possibly all three would have perished.

The elderly man in front of him with one foot in the grave was no simple character.

Lv Guoyong shook his head and said, “That’s not right.”

An Jing responded, “If Master Lv says it’s not right, then it isn’t.”

Lv Guoyong solemnly said, “You’re thinking too much. The smart people in the world make one fatal error–overcomplicating things.”

An Jing calmly replied, “Though I am not smart, I do tend to think a lot.”

Lv Guoyong slowly said, “Thinking too much is not good, it’s better for people not to have too many distractions, just proceed step by step, like the sun rising every day, and people eating, drinking, and breathing.”

An Jing indifferently said, “So you mean like a walking corpse without thoughts?”

Lv Guoyong picked up his tea cup and earnestly said, “You are wrong. The less people know, the happier they are.”

Knowing too much is never a good thing, for anyone.

“Master Lv is right about that, so I try not to pry too deeply into things.”

An Jing acknowledged noncommittally with a nod, “But there are some things I would still like to have clarified. Can Mr. Zhou now represent Master Lv?”

Lv Guoyong said, “Zhou Xianming is Zhou Xianming, and I am me. He has his own path to follow, and he can only represent himself.”

An Jing indifferently stated, “Yet, I feel Mr. Zhou seems to be walking the path Master Lv wants to walk.”

Zhou Xianming had imperceptibly replaced Lv Guoyong’s position in the royal court, gradually becoming the foremost scholar of Ruyun, and the confidant of the Emperor of Yong’an.

Zhou Xianming’s career had progressed too smoothly; his rise among the courtiers had been meteoric. Although Zhou Xianming was talented, it was nearly impossible to assume such a significant role within the court in such a short time without major backing.

Everyone knew it was Lv Guoyong, yet everyone also overlooked him, believing Zhou Xianming to be merely his promoted successor.

However, in An Jing’s view, the matter was not just about a simple successorship.

Establishing the Martial Arts Academy was effectively controlling Jianghu, which Zhou Xianming might have realized from previous discussions with An Jing. But alone, he couldn’t have had the nerve and capability to do this, even with the support of the Royal Family.

So who was behind it all?

After much thought, An Jing could only think of one person–the paramount scholar who shattered the Literary Palace.

Zhou Xianming’s actions were merely supported by Lv Guoyong.

Zhou Xianming was the will of the elderly man before him, or simply put, Zhou Xianming was his puppet.

This ambitious foremost scholar of Ruyun intended to completely demolish Jianghu or, by recruiting it entirely, accomplish an unprecedented reform.

Lv Guoyong looked at An Jing and softly said, “That is the path he chose himself, and it has nothing to do with me.”

An Jing nodded, slowly stood up, “I understand now. Since my doubts have been cleared, I shall take my leave.”

Saying so, An Jing walked toward the exit of the hall.

Lv Guoyong watched An Jing’s departing figure until he completely vanished from sight.

Before long, Lv Fang came in and whispered, “Father, An Jing has left.”

Lv Guoyong, still looking in the direction where An Jing had disappeared, quietly said, “Do you know what a sword is?”

Lv Fang, sensing the depth of the question, honestly shook his head, “I do not.”

Lv Guoyong let out a long sigh, “A sword has two edges, both cutting sides; sometimes it wounds the enemy, sometimes it wounds oneself.”

Lv Fang asked, “Father, are you referring to An Jing?”

Lv Guoyong nodded, “This sword is the biggest variable.”

Upon hearing this, Lv Fang’s face briefly changed, but he quickly recovered, “Father, what do you mean?”

Lv Guoyong slowly stood up and took a few steps toward the exit of the hall.

“A sword is ultimately a sword, it must be firmly held in hand.”

…..

In the backyard of the Lv Mansion.

Tan Yun squatted on a stone stool, holding a box of cakes wrapped in cowhide paper, blissfully indulging in the treat.

“Woof woof!” “Woof woof!”

The little black puppy gazed longingly at the cakes, continuously pawing at Tan Yun’s pleated skirt.

Li Fuzhou stood by, irritably said, “Look at you now, lacking posture in sitting, lacking manners in eating.”

Tan Yun glanced over, muttered, “My fiance is better, he never scolds me, you all nag endlessly.”

“What did you say?”

Li Fuzhou furrowed his brows.

Tan Yun blinked her large eyes, saying, “I didn’t say anything.”

Li Fuzhou glanced at Tan Yun, then turned his back, hands clasped as he looked toward the distant horizon.

Just then, a figure slowly approached from afar.

“Son-in-law!”

Upon seeing the newcomer, Tan Yun immediately ran over excitedly.

An Jing watched the bouncing Tan Yun and couldn’t help but laugh, “Look at you, your mouth is all covered in food.”

Li Fuzhou also walked over, “Son-in-law.”

An Jing nodded slightly, “Yes, I’ve said all that needs to be said.”

Li Fuzhou’s eyelid twitched and he nodded subtly.

In this fleeting moment, which most people would not have noticed, An Jing saw it all clearly and couldn’t help saying, “Third Master, it seems you are very curious about what I discussed with Old Master Lv.”

Li Fuzhou said, “Curious is not the word, but if son-in-law wishes to share, I am all ears.”

An Jing said, “Old Master Lv said that you are his good student and his most proud pupil.”

Upon hearing this, Li Fuzhou couldn’t help but laugh dryly, “The teacher would never say such words.”

An Jing countered, “Then what do you think Old Master Lv would say?”

Without hesitation, Li Fuzhou replied, “The teacher is not one to speak much, he wouldn’t say anything.”

An Jing patted Li Fuzhou’s shoulder, “He indeed didn’t say anything.”

Li Fuzhou glanced at An Jing’s action and sighed deeply within, no longer speaking.

At this moment, the atmosphere gradually became delicate.

Tan Yun, oblivious to the subtle mood, played with Xiaohui while saying, “Son-in-law, are you going to Houjin? Can I come with you this time?”

Li Fuzhou immediately scolded sternly, “Nonsense! What are you going for? Just stay home and behave.”

Seeing Li Fuzhou so stern, Tan Yun shrank her neck and whispered, “I’m just worried about son-in-law.”

She really wanted to witness this decisive battle. She didn’t care about the situation concerning everyone else; she was only concerned about An Jing’s safety.

An Jing chuckled, “Wait for my return.”

Li Fuzhou grunted, “Don’t sneak along, you would only make a mess.”

While others might not follow, Tan Yun, being bold and carefree, might just sneak behind despite repeated warnings.

“I understand, Master.”

Tan Yun opened her mouth, then bowed her head, “Son-in-law, go ahead without worries, I won’t cause you any trouble this time.”

An Jing chuckled, stroking Tan Yun’s hair bun, “No, I have never felt that you were a burden.”

Upon hearing this, Tan Yun instantly felt a warm flow in her heart.

It seems only son-in-law never disdained her, never thought of her as a nuisance.

Seeing this, Li Fuzhou sighed within his heart.

…..

Zhao Country, Cloud Tower.

The tower top, soaring high into the clouds, was biting cold.

The Cloud Tower is the sacred place of Zhao Country; the tower top is even more sacred, rarely visited by people. Anyone who reaches it would be greatly surprised, for there lies a place beyond the mundane there.

Here sat a not too small Jade Tower, where strands of blood seeped out, dyeing the surrounding clouds red.

From time to time, chilling cries could be heard from within.

Atop the floor of the tower was a large stone slab, embedded with grooves that twisted and turned, nine bends and eighteen turns; currently, these grooves were flowing with golden blood, originating from an exotic beast.

The beast resembled a fox with horns on its back and was golden in color.

This extraordinary exotic beast, known as Chenghuang, was the guardian beast of Zhao Country.

The blood of Chenghuang is immensely precious, capable of greatly increasing one’s lifespan; the one capturing this Chenghuang was none other than Jianghu’s renowned Old Man Qian Qiu, the Immortal.

At that moment, his palm wielded a short knife, continuously drawing Chenghuang’s fresh blood.

These golden blood quickly filled the grooves. Seeing this, Qian Qiu threw Chenghuang aside; it cried out in pain, fearfully glanced at Qian Qiu, and cautiously crawled away.

Qian Qiu paid Chenghuang no further attention but lifted his shirt, revealing a chest crisscrossed with dense, ghastly scars, with some wounds even showing stark white bones.

An ordinary person would have died several times from such injuries.

While these thoughts crossed his mind, Qian Qiu suddenly released streaks of yellow light from the grooves; these lights, as if sentient, surged toward Qian Qiu’s chest.

Under this glow, the ghastly wounds began to stop bleeding, and the flesh over the bones started to heal.

After dozens of breaths, Qian Qiu finally exhaled, then gently closed his robe.

“Teacher.”

Qi Xuan Dao, seeing this, spoke softly, “Has your wound not healed yet?”

He remembered being shocked the first time he saw these injuries; could a regular person really sustain such severe damage?

This could only mean one thing: the person before him was not an ordinary human.

Qian Qiu spoke indifferently, “These injuries were inflicted during the killing of four Great Grandmasters; their dying strikes were desperate, especially the Daoist Master of the Mystical Sect. They are not so easily healed.”

Even Qi Xuan Dao felt a chill at that notion, realizing just how fierce the battle between Qian Qiu and those grandmasters had been.

Thinking of something, Qi Xuan Dao spoke with concern, “Teacher, it’s said that another Great Grandmaster has appeared at the Dragon Locking Well.”

Even though the Great Yan Dynasty tried to suppress the news, none can seal it completely; the news of Wang Yangsheng attempting to forcefully enter the Dragon Locking Well still reached the Black Ice Platform.

Qian Qiu indifferently asked, “What’s his name?”

He had seen too many Great Grandmasters, and he had encountered every sort of genius and powerful master there was.

Therefore, when he heard that a Great Grandmaster had appeared, he would remain as calm as a gentle breeze and drifting clouds, undisturbed by the news.

Qi Xuan Dao said, “Wang Yangsheng.”

“So it was him.”

Qian Qiu pondered for a few moments before saying, “I have seen this man before. He wanted to rebel and overthrow the Great Qin Emperor, seizing the Earth Vein Spirit from the Emperor’s hands, but he ultimately failed. I did not expect him to have survived.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Xuan Dao suddenly realized, “So he was after the Earth Vein Spirit back then!”

In the historical records, Wang Yangsheng was indeed a rebellious conspirator, but the history books recorded that he launched a coup for the emperor’s throne, and ultimately, the Great Qin Emperor thwarted him, turning him into a mere speck of dust under the wheels of rolling history.

Qian Qiu sneered, “Throughout history, Great Grandmasters have always been after the Earth Vein Spirit. Could it possibly be for that readily obtainable throne?”

In his view, the so-called throne was nothing readily obtainable after all, whereas the Earth Vein Spirit was an artifact that could alter the heaven and earth’s creation.

Qian Qiu continued, “While the Earth Vein Spirit has not yet fully matured, whoever holds it finds it to be a hot potato. Therefore, this old man shall not take it for now; I’ll just wait until it matures and pick it then.”

Qi Xuan Dao expressed his worries, “Right now, both Xi Hafu, Wang Yangsheng, and other visible and hidden masters from the Great Yan Royal Family covet the Dragon Locking Well. Teacher, you are also severely injured; when the time comes….”

With so many masters in the world, if Qian Qiu were in his prime and without any injuries, dealing with a group of masters would naturally not be difficult. But now that Qian Qiu had suffered such severe injuries, how could he compete with the numerous heroes of the world?

Qian Qiu calmly said, “Don’t worry; by that time, your teacher will naturally have restored his full strength.”

Qi Xuan Dao’s eyes flashed with shock, “Teacher, do you have a way to restore your full strength?”

This Great Grandmaster, who had slain countless masters throughout history, how terrifying would it be if he could restore his full strength?

Qian Qiu slowly said, “I can sense that the maturation of the Earth Vein Spirit is nearing. What needs to be done now depends on the third one.”

“That Ghost Swordsman, he is a threat.”

The voice of Qian Qiu deepened slightly. Even he was taken aback by the five Qi Grandmasters in their twenties, especially when they were recently continuously slaying other Five Qi Grandmasters, which only intensified his unease.

A swordsman worthy of being called a Sword Immortal was invincible among his peers. If he reached the Grandmaster Realm, he might become a significant threat to him at that time.

Qi Xuan Dao pondered for a long while before saying, “The third absorbed a wisp of the Earth Vein Spirit’s consciousness; reaching the Grandmaster Realm should not be difficult.”

“I am still not reassured; I have been plotting for a thousand years just for this moment, and there must not be any negligence or slip-ups.”

Qian Qiu took a deep breath and said, “You must go to Houjin Bashan immediately, and be sure to strike at the most critical moment to deliver a fatal blow to that Ghost Swordsman. I need only one result, and that is his death.”

Qian Qiu uttered these final words almost syllable by syllable, his tone remaining very calm as if he were discussing a trivial matter.

For centuries, he had been doing one thing — waiting for the maturity of the Earth Vein Spirit and eliminating those who posed a threat to him.

In his view, the only current threat to him was Xi Hafu of Buddha, a master as formidable as Buddha in life, but he also had a way to deal with him. Next was not the suddenly emerged Wang Yangsheng, but the Ghost Swordsman.

He had not been concerned about this prodigy swordsman who suddenly came into the limelight. However, it was not until this swordsman rapidly reached the rank of Five Qi Grandmaster and successively slew several Five Qi Grandmasters that he finally sensed a hint of dangerous aura.

Preventing disaster before it happens is his credo.

Qi Xuan Dao took a deep breath and said, “I will set off now.”

Having said that, Qi Xuan Dao turned and walked outside.

After all, Zhao Country was very far from Houjin, and the time for the decisive battle between Zongzheng Huachun and the Ghost Swordsman was also imminent.

An Jing watched the receding figure of Qi Xuan Dao, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes.

…….

Nanping Dao, the borderland between the Southern Barbarians and Yan Country.

The distant mountains, shrouded in a veil of light mist, appeared indistinct, fluctuating between near and far within the elusive clouds as if imperceptibly connected and separate. They resembled faint ink strokes against the blue skyline.

The ruler of the Southern Barbarians stood atop a mountain peak in the Great Hundred Mountains, gazing at the distant sea of clouds.

He was a sensitive man. At that moment, watching the solitary clouds, he couldn’t help but think back to the time when he proudly set out with ten Great Wizards of the Southern Barbarians, only to have all of them killed by Xiao Qianqiu alone.

The strength of this State Preceptor of Great Yan had truly startled him.

Those were ten Great Wizards, making up seventy percent of the master-level experts compared to the weak Southern Barbarians.

The ruler of the Southern Barbarians suddenly realized that the world’s situation was still tumultuously changing, and he had acted too early.

It was due to his misjudgment that the Southern Barbarians had already stepped into a plight from which they could not recover.

Now that Great Grandmasters were frequently appearing, how could the Southern Barbarians maneuver among these powers?

“Cong Yue.”

The ruler of the Southern Barbarians said softly.

“Present.”

A woman approached, her figure as finely sculpted as if chiseled, and her demeanor shy like rain, bashful like clouds, with every movement exuding charm. Especially when she turned to smile, it brought countless allures that danced at the corners of her eyebrows.

She was Cong Yue, the daughter of the Great Wizard Cong Chu from the Southern Barbarians.

The ruler of the Southern Barbarians said, “The decisive battle between the Ghost Swordsman and Zongzheng Huachun is about to start, isn’t it?”

Cong Yue nodded and said, “Many top masters from all around have gone there, taking positions in Bashan. It is said that the tea houses and taverns there have already opened.”

Now the top masters of the world gather in Bashan, solely to witness the battle between the Holy Master of Houjin and the Ghost Swordsman.

The two of them, one being the top master of Great Yan and the other the top master of Houjin, graphically speaking, their fight essentially will decide the fate of the two nations and also influence the current world situation.

The ruler of the Southern Barbarians sighed deeply and said, “This is indeed interesting.”

Curious, Cong Yue asked, “My lord, have you seen Zongzheng Huachun?”

The ruler of the Southern Barbarians fell into reminiscence and said, “I met him once many years ago; the man indeed has an extraordinary demeanor.”

Cong Yue continued asking, “Then have you seen the Ghost Swordsman, my lord?”

The ruler of the Southern Barbarians shook his head and said, “No, the Ghost Swordsman has only been around for about three years.”

At this point, he paused, struck by a thought.

The Ghost Swordsman had only been around for three years.

Cong Yue remarked, “It is said that he is very young; I wonder just how young he is.”

A gleam flashed through the ruler of the Southern Barbarians’ eyes, and then he slowly said, “Come, let’s also go to Bashan to see this epochal battle.”

….