Chapter 6: An Interesting Sword

Early the next morning,

Gu Yueyue came to the inn where Chu Feng was staying and brought Chu Feng and Su Yanran to the Gujian Sect to attend the Sword Homage Assembly.

The Gujian Sect was not built within the city. Instead, it stood atop a towering peak outside Gujian City.

The entire mountain was lined with sheer cliffs, and the whole peak resembled a drawn sword. Its sword-like summit pierced the heavens and hid itself among the clouds. Sunlight poured down from above, while the mist coiling around the mountain shimmered with seven-colored radiance, breathtakingly beautiful.

By the time Chu Feng and his companions reached the foot of the mountain, most of the honored guests who had come for the Sword Homage Assembly had already entered the sect under the guidance of Gujian Sect disciples.

With Gu Yueyue at their side, there was naturally no need for any token or for other Gujian Sect disciples to lead the way.

Under Gu Yueyue’s guidance, the three stepped onto the stone stairway leading straight up the peak and headed toward the sect.

Along the way, Gu Yueyue carefully introduced the various scenic sights on the mountain to Chu Feng. Chu Feng looked utterly at ease and nodded from time to time.

“Move.”

A cold and emotionless voice came from behind Chu Feng.

The three turned at the sound and saw that a few paces behind them stood a man in black with a broad sword strapped across his back, his stern face expressionless as he stared at them.

The three of them happened to be blocking his way.

Chu Feng and Su Yanran’s expressions shifted. They recognized the man. He was Li Xiao, the very swordsman who had shone brilliantly in yesterday’s Token Contest.

Gu Yueyue did not know him, and she had no intention of indulging him. She said coldly, “The stone path is so wide. If you are in a hurry, you can simply go around us. Why must we move aside for you?”

At her words, not the slightest ripple rose in Li Xiao’s stark black-and-white eyes. He stared at Gu Yueyue and repeated those same two words.

“Move.”

Gu Yueyue’s face darkened in anger. She had never seen someone so unreasonable. Just as she was about to step forward and teach him a lesson, Su Yanran beside her immediately stopped her.

Su Yanran shook her head at Gu Yueyue, then pulled her to the side and yielded the path.

Li Xiao lifted his eyes and glanced at the two women, then strode up the stone stairs with the broad sword on his back.

“That sword of yours is rather interesting.”

As Li Xiao passed by Chu Feng, Chu Feng suddenly spoke.

Li Xiao’s figure paused slightly, yet he walked on as though he had heard nothing.

Once Li Xiao had gone more than ten meters ahead, the hot-tempered Gu Yueyue finally could not hold back anymore. She looked at Su Yanran unhappily.

“Yanran, this is the Gujian Sect. Why were you stopping me?’’

“That kind of weirdo is asking to be taught a lesson. If I beat him properly once, he will learn to behave.”

Su Yanran rubbed her forehead helplessly. “That is Li Xiao. Are you sure you can beat him?”

“Li Xiao?! He is Li Xiao?” Gu Yueyue’s face changed as an exclamation escaped her red lips.

“That’s right.” Su Yanran nodded.

“Well then, this young lady is magnanimous enough not to stoop to his level. I’ll let him off this once.” Gu Yueyue’s eyes darted about as she put on a generous look.

Her cultivation talent was ordinary. Even now, her strength was only at the middle stage of the Fifth Rank. She was no match for Li Xiao at all.

Su Yanran seemed long since accustomed to Gu Yueyue’s temperament. On the contrary, what truly surprised her was that Chu Feng had signaled for her to give Li Xiao the way just now.

As soon as that thought arose, Su Yanran turned to look at Chu Feng, only to see that he was still staring at Li Xiao’s departing back.

Seeing this, Su Yanran could not help turning her gaze to Li Xiao as well. After only a short while, her eyes sharpened and her brows drew together.

“Young Master Chu, Li Xiao’s heavy sword...” Su Yanran said, shock in her voice.

Chu Feng withdrew his gaze and smiled faintly. “It is a fine sword, but it does not belong to him. Come, let us go.”

“Mm.” Su Yanran softly acknowledged.

“What are the two of you talking about? Why can I not understand a single word?” Gu Yueyue looked at them, completely baffled.

Chu Feng did not explain. He simply stepped forward, and Su Yanran followed close behind him.

Seeing this, Gu Yueyue stopped thinking about it and hurried after them.

After the three had gone, faint cracking sounds suddenly came from the stone stairway, and thin fissures appeared across the surface...

Continuing up the stone stairs, the three reached the mountainside.

There, a meteorite the size of a small house entered Chu Feng’s sight. Upon it were engraved the three words “Gujian Sect.”

The strokes resembled roaming dragons, flowing in one seamless motion. Even the slightest lingering look at them made it feel as though a heaven-rending sword aura might burst out from the words and rush straight at one’s face.

They did not stop by the meteorite. Gu Yueyue led Chu Feng and Su Yanran around the Gujian Sect.

Most of the Gujian Sect’s disciples lived on the mountainside, and this Sword Homage Assembly was being held here as well.

Within a lofty pavilion building, Chu Jingshan sat by the window, leisurely sipping tea as he admired the scenery of the Gujian Sect. At the thought that after today this Gujian Sect would submit to his command, his heart burned with excitement.

Gu Feng still kept his ancient sword at his side without letting it leave him for an instant. With his arms folded across his chest, he leaned against a wooden pillar.

“Elder Xiao, how are things on Gu Jianfeng’s side?” Chu Jingshan asked indifferently as he set down his teacup.

Xiao Shan, who had been standing behind Chu Jingshan all this time, immediately put on a fawning smile.

“Reporting to Your Highness the Imperial Prince, that Nether-Scale Soul-Scattering Poison truly deserves its reputation as the foremost exotic poison under heaven.’’

“Even a veteran late-stage Innate expert like Gu Jianfeng is powerless against it.’’

“When I went to visit him yesterday, I discovered that he can now only forcefully suppress the poison within his body with his cultivation. The moment he stops, the poison will instantly spread throughout his entire body. When that happens, it will be the moment of his sudden death.”

“Good. Very good.” Chu Jingshan nodded in satisfaction.

Now that Gu Jianfeng, the greatest obstacle, was as good as removed, there was no one else in the Gujian Sect worthy of his wariness.

“You have done well. After Gu Jianfeng dies, the position of Sect Master will be yours.”

Hearing that, joy immediately appeared on Xiao Shan’s face, and he quickly bent at the waist to pledge his loyalty.

“Please rest assured, Your Highness the Imperial Prince. From this day forward, the Gujian Sect will follow your lead in all things and harbor absolutely no second thoughts!”

Chu Jingshan smiled lightly and turned his gaze toward the scenery outside the window again.

“Hmm?!”

Chu Jingshan let out a soft sound of surprise. Outside the window, he had spotted an unexpected figure.

Curious, Xiao Shan craned his head out and followed Chu Jingshan’s gaze. There he saw Chu Feng and his two companions.

He naturally recognized Gu Yueyue, and he recognized Su Yanran as well, since he himself had been the mastermind behind the extermination of the Su clan.

The only one unfamiliar to him was Chu Feng, who stood beside the two women.

“Your Highness the Imperial Prince, what is it?” Xiao Shan asked cautiously.

“Nothing. I am simply a little surprised.’’

“Yesterday, I already sent Yue Chaoyang to invite my Seventh Brother to attend this Sword Homage Assembly with me, but he refused.’’

“I thought he would not come. I did not expect to see him here instead.” Chu Jingshan smiled lightly, yet his eyes were unusually gloomy.

The moment Xiao Shan heard that the man beside the two women was a prince, shock immediately flooded his face.

“Has it never occurred to you that he simply does not want to walk with you?” Gu Feng said leisurely.

Xiao Shan’s face twitched. He immediately lowered his head and pretended to be deaf, as though he had heard nothing at all.