Chapter 385: Chapter 285: An Epoch-Defying Battle Shocks the Winds and Clouds Chapter 385: Chapter 285: An Epoch-Defying Battle Shocks the Winds and Clouds On the seventh day of September, the sky was clear, and the air was crisp.

Auspicious for marriage, moving house, and breaking ground.

Inauspicious for opening a business, installing a bed, and performing a consecration ceremony.

The warm sunlight filtered through the air, filled with a leisurely, lingering scent of sandalwood that suffused the deep autumn, satisfying the emptiness between heaven and earth.

Atop Wangjing Mountain, a fierce Black Flood Dragon was coiling around in the forest.

An Jing gently stroked the scales of the Black Flood Dragon, feeling the icy cold glint through them.

Seeing this scene, he couldn’t help but recall the year when he, along with the Black Flood Dragon and Lou Xiangzhen, roamed Jianghu.

Time had flown swiftly, nearly two years had blinked by.

Zhao Qingmei, carrying a sword box on her back and holding two jars of wine, approached without a word, her gaze steady on An Jing.

The Demon Sect’s experts had already set out for Ba Mountain; at this moment, they were either on their way or had already arrived early to prepare in the surroundings.

“Here!”

Zhao Qingmei handed one of the wine jars to An Jing.

An Jing took the wine jar, then glanced at the sword box on Zhao Qingmei’s back and couldn’t help but laugh.

Zhao Qingmei glared at An Jing, “What’s so funny?”

An Jing pinched Zhao Qingmei’s tender cheek with his hand, “I just think it’s quite cute.”

“Hmph!”

Zhao Qingmei huffed, “Can’t you use another word? I’m sick of hearing that one.”

An Jing took a big gulp from the wine jar, “Then I won’t say it anymore.”

“You dare not!”

Zhao Qingmei halted the jar she was holding and then turned to An Jing, “I may be sick of it, but you still need to say it.”

“Sick of it and still want to hear it?”

“Sick of it, but still need to hear it.”

“Then I’ll just use a different word.”

“What word?”

“I think it’s pretty amusing.”

“Then just say cute.”

“Hahaha!”

Upon hearing this, An Jing couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Zhao Qingmei hammered An Jing’s arm with her left hand, “What are you laughing at?”

An Jing replied with a smile, “I’m laughing at how my wife can be so adorable.”

“Hmph.”

Zhao Qingmei turned her head away, a slight smile tugging at her lips.

An Jing raised the wine jar and said, “My lady, let’s drink.”

Zhao Qingmei eyed the jar close at hand, “What for?”

An Jing replied, “To clink jars! It’s all about the sense of ritual. Don’t you want to do that with me?”

“Clink!”

Zhao Qingmei lifted the jar slightly and tapped it against his.

Both took a big swig of wine, and with Zhao Qingmei having been raised in Jianghu, the fiery liquor was nothing to her.

“Once finished, you throw the jar out like this.”

After finishing her drink, Zhao Qingmei hurled her wine jar into the distance among the broken stones, where it hit with a crisp snap and shattered into pieces.

An Jing, puzzled, asked, “Why?”

“Dolt, it signifies wishing for peace year after year,” Zhao Qingmei retorted, her big eyes blinking rapidly, urging him, “Come on, throw yours.”

“Alright then.”

An Jing too threw his jar toward the rocky ground, where it broke apart upon impact.

Zhao Qingmei nodded in approval, “Alright, let’s go.”

Just then, a gigantic bird descended from the sky amidst swirling leaves in the forest–Honghu.

Zhao Qingmei leaped gracefully onto Honghu’s back.

An Jing sat on the Black Flood Dragon’s back, and with a laugh said, “My lady, let’s see who’s faster.”

“Childish.”

Zhao Qingmei rolled her eyes at An Jing, then, with her True Qi flowing into Honghu’s acupoints, the bird transformed into a streak of red light and flew northward.

“So you play tricks!”

Seeing this, An Jing quickly urged the slumberous Black Flood Dragon beneath him, “Hurry, get going.”

The Black Flood Dragon yawned lazily before leisurely taking to the sky.

In the sky above, the pair were one behind the other.

Under the warm sunlight, there they were–the enigmatic, solitary, and elegant shadows of their former selves.

……

Imperial City, the rear garden.

Even though it was autumn, the garden still flaunted many evergreens standing tall.

The Yong’an Emperor lounged lethargically on a couch, watching the fat carp swim in the distant pond.

She was clad in a white gauze dress that gave an impression of purity and transparency, with a light purple sash draped over her shoulders. A breeze revealed her fair, smooth legs–the gauze dress and sash clinging to her body, distinctly outlining her delicate figure.

Before long, Bai Mei, the eunuch, made his way over slowly, “Your Majesty, the Ghost Swordsman has departed.”

“We are aware,” the Yong’an Emperor replied indifferently. “Now that the Ghost Swordsman has left, and so has Xi Hafu, it’s probable that some miscreants may attempt to penetrate the Dragon Locking Well. Pay extra attention to the situation there.”

Although Fa Wu of the Buddhist sect, along with Tianyi Bodhisattva, guarded the Dragon Locking Well–particularly as Fa Wu had absorbed all the relics of the Buddhist sect to become a Five Qi Grandmaster, and Tianyi Bodhisattva was already a long-renowned Four Qi Grandmaster of the Buddhist sect, coupled with many other mighty experts of the Royal Family–it was still necessary to be vigilant.

Fa Wu had attained the status of Five Qi Grandmaster primarily through the assistance of Shariputra relics, likely making him the weakest among the Five Qi Grandmasters. His strength was probably comparable to that of Su Tianze, who stood beside Zhao Chongyin and was also a Five Qi Grandmaster–perhaps even slightly weaker, considering Su Tianze had reached the realm quite some time ago while Fa Wu seemed to have achieved it only recently.

“This servant understands,” Bai Mei replied, nodding his head before standing aside with his eyes slightly closed.

The Yong’an Emperor gestured dismissively, “You should rest, Eunuch Ming.”

The aged Bai Mei had served under three Emperors and thus was considered exceptionally long-lived.

Opening his eyes, Bai Mei spoke softly, “This servant does not wish to be troublesome.”

The Yong’an Emperor responded coolly, “We are now ordering you to rest.”

Upon hearing this, a touch of warmth filled Bai Mei’s heart, “This servant obeys.”

With a slight bow, Bai Mei slowly retreated backward.

His movements were still meticulous, extremely rigorous and serious.

The Human Emperor of Yong’an watched as the white-browed eunuch left before turning her head to gaze at the distant horizon, where the fluffy white clouds seemed to morph into the shape of the person in her heart, causing her to be slightly dazed.

It was as if there was a poison that infected one unknowingly, but as time passed, the poison grew deeper and the heart ached more intensely.

……

With the arrival of the Double Ninth Festival in September, the situation in the world changed unpredictably, and countless masters headed towards Ba Mountain to witness the duel between the two top masters of the day.

Ever since Xi Hafu became a Great Grandmaster, he had vanished from sight, his reputation naturally needed no elaboration-being the only visible Great Grandmaster in the world and moreover a Buddhist one.

Aside from this rarely seen Divine Dragon, the other two currently most sought-after masters were none other than Zongzheng Huachun and the Ghost Swordsman.

As the Holy Master of Houjin, Zongzheng Huachun had previously been rumored to be a top-tier Five Qi Grandmaster in the world. The Demon Sect master Jun Qinglin had died indirectly at his hands, and later on in Yujing City, he was even more fortunate to receive a thread of the Earth Vein Spirit’s consciousness, which granted him enormous benefits. Thereafter, he remained in seclusion, eagerly hoping to break through his limits with the assistance of the Earth Vein Spirit’s consciousness.

As for the Ghost Swordsman, needless to say, he was an undefeated Sword Immortal of the current age, who had never been bested and had defeated countless masters, including several Five Qi Grandmasters. In his possession were the first- and third-ranked famous swords, the Dulu Sword and the Evil Suppressing Sword.

The duel between two top-tier masters was already very attractive, not to mention that the current battle between the two concerned the national fate of Great Yan and Houjin, as well as the future direction of the world.

At this moment, on a mountain peak far away from Ba Mountain, someone had already built a teahouse and constructed a viewing platform.

Those daring enough to build a teahouse and craft a viewing platform here were naturally no ordinary people but backed by a formidable power, none other than the Outer Heaven Island Master Wu Bai.

Last time, he received an invitation from Houjin and Zhao Country, and although shocked in his heart, he still felt some unease, so he only sent two masters to join the royal hunt at Yujing City.

But this time was different, it was a decisive battle concerning the global situation, and Outer Heaven Island naturally could not stay out of it.

Not just Outer Heaven Island, masters from Yan Country and Zhao Country also came in large numbers, including masters from Bibo Island, White Mist Sect, and the Seven Snakes Association, all present.

It could be said that all renowned forces and masters of the current world had now emerged.

Moreover, there were some unfamiliar faces among them, each exuding an extraordinary aura, with no lack of Grandmaster Qi mechanisms, all of them old turtles that had hidden away in the pond to cultivate in seclusion.

The surroundings of Ba Mountain were a mix of dragons and snakes, with masters from all over the world gathering together-a truly lively and bustling scene with debates and discussions erupting everywhere.

“This is really interesting; so many masters have gathered here,” said the Island Master of Bibo Island.

The Sect Leader of the White Mist Sect indifferently said, “After all, both of them are top-tier masters of this era.”

“This Ghost Swordsman’s reputation has long been established, but I’ve never had the chance to witness his elegance,” the Island Master of Bibo Island noted with a sense of yearning.

Bibo Island, a top force in Jianghu within Zhao Country, did not get along with the Black Ice Platform and was often oppressed and sanctioned by it, gathering many masters who opposed the Black Ice Platform.

Therefore, Bibo Island held the Ghost Swordsman, who killed Qi Shu, in high esteem.

“Today will surely be a battle for the ages,” the Sect Leader of the White Mist Sect stated.

The Island Master of Bibo Island nodded in agreement; a duel between such top-tier masters would be determined by a hair’s breadth.

On a mountain peak in the distance, two Daoists dressed in robes appeared, none other than Xiao Qianqiu and Luo Chongyang.

Luo Chongyang asked, “You’ve fought with him and know his strength. In your opinion, what are his chances of winning?”

Xiao Qianqiu pondered and said, “I’m unsure about the odds, nephew, but if he gives his all, I think no Five Qi Grandmaster would be his match.”

A glint of sharpness flashed in Luo Chongyang’s eyes as he said, “So, unless Zongzheng Huachun has reached the level of a Great Grandmaster?”

Knowing well Xiao Qianqiu’s strength, if he spoke so, then An Jing was invincible at his level, unless Zongzheng Huachun had reached the realm of a Great Grandmaster.

However, rumors suggested Zongzheng Huachun had completely assimilated the Earth Vein Spirit but had not reached the Great Grandmaster realm, so it seemed that An Jing stood a good chance of victory today.

“Victory is not determined by my pronouncement, nor by Heaven’s decree,” Xiao Qianqiu remarked as he gazed towards Ba Mountain in the distance, “it’s decided by the two combatants in the decisive battle.”

Luo Chongyang nodded slightly and then fell silent.

At this time, around the Ba Mountain, high-ranking experts from all over the world hid in the mountains, all of them quietly waiting for the arrival of Zongzheng Huachun and the Ghost Swordsman.

“Look over there!” someone exclaimed.

“The iron cavalry of Houjin, that’s Houjin’s iron cavalry!”

“What a majestic imperial chariot!”

…….

Just at that moment, a rumbling sound like thunder came from afar, and the ground began to tremble. Everyone hurriedly turned toward the source of the noise.

Rows of black cavalry charged forward, each rider clad in black armor that reflected a cold light under the sun. They bore long swords specially made by Houjin at their waists and the steppe’s crab bows on their backs. Their faces were devoid of any expression, which made onlookers solemn.

These were the elite of the elite from Houjin, and many martial arts masters from Jianghu felt a chill in their hearts upon seeing this formidable cavalry filled with a deadly aura.

Even the top Jianghu masters, if surrounded by such a fierce army, would see no escape.

The oppressive ranks of the black cavalry came hurtling from afar. Through the smoke of battle, one could clearly see an imperial chariot, drawn by eight robust and muscular white horses.

The coachmen leading the horses in front of the chariot were two grandmasters from the Great Snow Mountain, both Dharma Kings.

Seeing this scene, numerous Jianghu masters retreated to make way.

Ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains bow to the supreme, the Yulin iron cavalry gathers like clouds.

With the elite Houjin cavalry clearing the way and the Great Snow Mountain Dharma Kings driving the chariot, the identity of the person within the chariot seemed obvious.

Everyone looked toward the imperial chariot.

One of the Dharma Kings said respectfully to someone behind the curtain, “Holy Master, we have arrived.”

“I know.”

A vigorous voice came from behind the curtain.

The curtain was lifted, and Zongzheng Huachun walked out slowly, his demeanor calm and unfathomable, much like a deep and bottomless cold pool.

Xiao Qianqiu watched the Holy Master emerge and said, “Unfathomable.”

Luo Chongyang’s face slightly changed, his brows furrowed tightly. The deeper one felt the Heavenly Human Communication, the deeper was the sensing of danger. From this Houjin Holy Master, he felt an unprecedented crisis.

In the distance, the leader of the Southern Barbarians watched Zongzheng Huachun emerge and said, “Is this the power of the Earth Vein Spirit?”

Being a Five Qi Grandmaster himself, he felt there was a vast difference between himself and Zongzheng Huachun.

At the scene, ordinary Jianghu martial artists were amazed at the imposing entrance of Zongzheng Huachun, but the top masters had discerned something different, and each of their expressions grew grave.

They understood better than anyone the terrifying aura emitted by Zongzheng Huachun.

Zongzheng Huachun leaped onto Ba Mountain with a single bound, his hands clasped behind his back and his yellow dragon robe fluttering loudly in the fierce wind.

“When will the Ghost Swordsman arrive?”

“There shouldn’t be any mishap, right?”

“How could there be? Unless he doesn’t dare come.”

“Would the Ghost Swordsman not dare to come?”

……

Seeing Zongzheng Huachun’s appearance, the Jianghu martial artists at the scene were all abuzz with discussion, their hearts becoming incredibly fired up as they looked forward even more to this unparalleled decisive battle.

“What is that!?”

All of a sudden, billowing dust rose in the distance, and then, before everyone’s eyes, a flag unfurled in the wind with a giant ‘Qiu’ character written on it.

Hundreds and thousands of cavalrymen charged forward in a mighty flood, with the leader being a man in black armor, as round as a barrel–the big-bellied general.

This man was Qiu Lun.

Ever since Pingyang Guard Qiu Heng was imprisoned in the dungeons of Yujing City, his son, Qiu Lun, had taken control of the Pingyang Guard, and it was well known that this man was the Ghost Swordsman’s close friend. After following the Ghost Swordsman into North Field, he had been stationed there all along, confronting Houjin’s army.

Even when the Ghost Swordsman returned to Yujing City, the Pingyang Guard’s army did not retreat in the slightest, with its spears still firmly aimed at Houjin’s royal court.

It could be said without exaggeration that Qiu Lun was the Ghost Swordsman’s army.

……