Chapter 118: The Death of Xiongba, the Arrival of Boros!
With no interference from Bu Jingyun and the Sword Saint he was fully prepared to unleash Sword Twenty-Three, Xiongba was doomed.
Chu Yang's shadow clone carefully observed the Sword Saint's Sword Twenty-Three. The moment Xiongba perished, the clone vanished.
At the foot of the mountain, a flood of new memories surged into Chu Yang's mind.
Before long, a group of martial artists emerged from the World's First Tower, their faces filled with panic.
Many shouted, "Xiongba is dead! The members of Tian Xia Hui have turned against each other!"
With Xiongba's demise, every member of the sect believed they had a chance to seize the position of leader, especially the Twelve Fiends of Tianchi.
They were essentially Xiongba's personal guard. Aside from Qin Shuang, Nie Feng, and Bu Jingyun, they held the most power within Tian Xia Hui.
No one dared intervene in the sect's internal strife. Most feared getting caught in the crossfire and fled the World's First Tower as quickly as possible.
Some Tian Xia Hui members even blended into the escaping crowd, among them—
Wen Chouchou.
This sycophantic scoundrel had risen through the ranks solely by currying favor with Xiongba.
Now that Xiongba was dead, his status had plummeted. Given his past arrogance and countless enemies, if he didn't leave now, his fate would be sealed—death.
As Wen Chouchou was secretly congratulating himself on his quick thinking, a strong hand suddenly gripped his shoulder.
Terrified, he shivered and didn't even dare look at the person's face. Instead, he clasped his hands together, shut his eyes tightly, and pleaded, "Great master, spare my life! I'm just a nobody, barely associated with Tian Xia Hui. Please have mercy!"
"Wen Chouchou, is Xiongba really dead?"
The voice sounded familiar, prompting Wen Chouchou to open his eyes. Seeing the person before him, he gasped in shock. "Bu Jingyun? You're alive?"
Bu Jingyun cared only about Xiongba's fate. He stared intently at Wen Chouchou. "Is Xiongba really dead?"
Wen Chouchou shuddered and hastily replied, "Dead! Dead! Completely dead! Not even the gods could bring him back!"
Bu Jingyun released Wen Chouchou's shoulder and stood there in a daze. He had been consumed by the desire for vengeance, but now that Xiongba was dead, where would he seek justice for Kong Ci? Where could he direct his seething rage?
Turning his gaze toward Chu Yang, Bu Jingyun's eyes burned with fury. "You stopped me from taking my revenge—you'll pay for this!"
Just as he was about to make a move, Jian Chen held him back tightly and whispered in his ear, "This man's martial arts are no weaker than my master's. You can't win. Don't be reckless."
Chu Yang ignored Bu Jingyun and instead grabbed Wen Chouchou, who was trying to sneak away. With a cold expression, he ordered, "Tell him about Xiongba's plan to divide the three of you, so he doesn't keep acting like a fool."
"Yes, great master."
Wen Chouchou obediently complied. Although he had no idea how Chu Yang knew about it, he still recounted the Mud Buddha's prophecy and all the related events to Bu Jingyun.
Bu Jingyun's expression turned complicated after listening. "I misunderstood Senior Brother Qin and Junior Brother Feng…"
"If you don't go up there now, Qin Shuang will be killed by the Twelve Fiends of Tianchi," Chu Yang reminded him.
"I'll settle the score with you later!"
Bu Jingyun shot Chu Yang a cold glare.
Oh? Acting tough?
Chu Yang smirked and delivered a powerful kick to Bu Jingyun's backside, launching him straight up the mountain. Bu Jingyun clutched his rear, rolling on the ground in pain.
By the time he recovered and wanted to retaliate, Chu Yang had already disappeared with the Sword Saint's body.
Bu Jingyun had no choice but to swallow his anger and rush to the World's First Tower. Given Qin Shuang's loyalty to Xiongba, he might really fight the Twelve Fiends of Tianchi to the death.
After leaving Tian Xia Hui, Chu Yang carried the Sword Saint's body to Zhonghua Pavilion, moving far faster than before.
It seemed that Wuming had anticipated Chu Yang bringing back the Sword Saint's remains and had already prepared a burial site.
The two of them conducted a simple funeral for the Sword Saint.
"I foresaw that Xiongba's fate shouldn't have ended like this. That's why I advised the Sword Saint not to take risks. Yet, I never expected Xiongba to die as well."
Wuming sighed, still unable to pinpoint where things had gone wrong.
He had accounted for everything—except Chu Yang, an unpredictable variable from another world.
"Before the Sword Saint passed, he entrusted Sword Twenty-Three to me and asked me to find a suitable successor. I wish to stay at Zhonghua Pavilion for a while and explore its mysteries with you, Senior."
Wuming had long been curious about Sword Twenty-Three, so he readily agreed.
With Wuming (Nameless)' guidance, Chu Yang would comprehend Sword Twenty-Three even faster.
But Chu Yang had an even more pressing matter to address. Knowing that Wuming had yet to master Ten Thousand Swords Return to One, Chu Yang decided to accelerate his progress manually.
During his stay at Zhonghua Pavilion, while discussing Sword Twenty-Three with Wuming, Chu Yang also subtly hinted at the core principles of Ten Thousand Swords As One.
"Senior, do you think there are martial arts that require one to abolish their previous cultivation to learn?"
"Abolish one's martial arts? Where did you hear such an idea? It doesn't sound like a righteous path."
"It was from the Taoist who taught me swordsmanship. In his youth, he suffered a great calamity, losing all his martial arts and becoming a blank slate."
"A blank slate?"
"Yes, he had learned many different arts, like a chaotic canvas. But after becoming a blank slate, he could focus entirely on painting with a single color."
"You mean the Taoist who taught you the Taiji Sword Intent?"
Chu Yang nodded. To guide Wuming toward mastering Ten Thousand Swords As One, he had to invoke the name of Zhang Sanfeng.
And the results were excellent.
By attributing key insights to Zhang Sanfeng, Chu Yang successfully fed Wuming crucial concepts about Ten Thousand Swords As One.
Wuming had already gained significant insights from his previous duel with Chu Yang. Now, with these additional pointers, inspiration flooded his mind.
The next day, Wuming personally requested Chu Yang to guard him while he entered a deep meditative retreat, instructing that no one disturb him.
As a result, he completely missed the emergence of the Peerless Sword.
Although Xiongba was dead, Bu Jingyun was still highly likely to visit the Sword-Worship Manor to obtain the Peerless Sword, as he had hidden Kong Ci's remains in the imperial tomb.
The tomb was sealed by a massive, impenetrable stone that weighed ten thousand pounds. Breaking it required the Peerless Sword.
Ultimately, Bu Jingyun had created trouble for himself.
However, with Duan Lang already dead at Chu Yang's hands, the subsequent events at the Sword-Worship Manor might deviate from the original storyline.
After all, Jian Chen's descent into depravity was triggered by Duan Lang feeding him the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Pill.
Two months later—
The storm surrounding the Peerless Sword had subsided. Bu Jingyun had seized the blade and vanished, while Jian Chen returned to Zhonghua Pavilion, appearing perfectly normal.
Just as Chu Yang was regretting not being able to kill Jian Chen, Wuming emerged from seclusion, his sword aura and intent refined to an unparalleled level.
"Many thanks, my young friend. With your protection, I was fortunate enough to master Ten Thousand Swords Return to One!"
Having achieved mastery, Wuming agreed to duel Chu Yang once more.
Thus, they returned to the same forest, though this time, Sword Saint was absent.
It was a poignant moment.
Jian Chen, despite his dislike for Chu Yang, was thrilled.
This was possibly the highest-level sword duel in the world.
And he was the sole witness.
This time, Wuming wielded his Hero Sword from the start, while Chu Yang emulated the Sword Saint's technique, using sword energy to control his blade.
Their battle was not just a duel—it was an unspoken tribute to the Sword Saint.
Sword Twenty-Three versus Ten Thousand Swords Return to One—the lifelong obsession of the Sword Saint.
The true pinnacle of swordsmanship had arrived.
Countless sword energies erupted, destroying everything around them. Even Jian Chen, who was merely an observer, had to retreat from the battlefield to avoid the overwhelming force.
In the next second, Jian Chen gazed at the battle once more, his expression filled with yearning.
The usual countering effect of the Nameless Sword Techniques against the Saint Sword Techniques seemed ineffective against Chu Yang. Wuming was not gaining any obvious advantage.
Time passed.
Wuming gathered his sword aura once more and finally unleashed the supreme secret technique passed down by his sect for generations—Ten Thousand Swords Return to One.
A sharp, boundless sword aura burst forth from Wuming, his figure turning into a swift wind. The sword energy scattered in all directions, sweeping through the battlefield like a storm, filling the sky with dazzling blades.
The sword aura formed a vast net—a breathtaking spectacle.
Chu Yang stood firm. His entire body was covered in Armament Haki, further protected by Nine Yang Divine Skill. He allowed the sword energy to rage around him.
The clash of metal and iron rang incessantly.
Standing within the torrential storm of sword energy, Chu Yang resembled the legendary Immovable Vajra. Wuming' Ten Thousand Swords Return to One could not harm him in the slightest.
Wuming' expression changed slightly.
"How can such a powerful body-tempering technique exist in this world?"
He recalled his first encounter with Chu Yang, when the latter repelled Hero Sword with a single finger, causing it to tremble incessantly.
From that moment, Wuming had concluded that Chu Yang was a formidable body cultivator. However, he never expected that even Ten Thousand Swords Return to One would fail to injure him.
"Senior Wuming, I'm about to strike."
Chu Yang's voice rang out, breaking Wuming from his thoughts.
Wuming immediately refocused, concentrating his sword aura. This time, Ten Thousand Swords Return to One was no longer an offensive technique but a defensive shield.
Golden light burst from Chu Yang's body.
Time seemed to freeze!
With a single step, Chu Yang instantly closed the distance, appearing before Wuming in a blink. He used his Sword Finger to strike Wuming' vital points.
Ten Thousand Swords Return to One instinctively responded, forming layers of solid sword-energy barriers to protect Wuming.
Yet, Wuming' eyes flickered with fear and shock!
In his eyes, Sword Twenty-Three had transcended swordsmanship itself.
It was more than a technique—it was a law.
"Such an astonishing sword technique… It is indeed stronger than Ten Thousand Swords Return to One."
Wuming murmured in awe. Suddenly, he realized he could move again. When he looked up, Chu Yang had already retracted his attack.
"Senior, you are mistaken. Sword Twenty-Three is indeed powerful, but it still has a flaw—the wielder themselves. Ten Thousand Swords Return to One, on the other hand, perfectly compensates for this weakness."
"Hahaha! I understand your intent. I will no longer keep Ten Thousand Swords Return to One to myself. Consider it my repayment for your repeated kindness."
Wuming felt that, without Chu Yang's unintentional guidance, he might never have fully comprehended the profound secrets of Ten Thousand Swords Return to One.
And today, Chu Yang had demonstrated Sword Twenty-Three before him without reservation.
The two began exchanging insights.
Time passed—the sky darkened and brightened again, the sun rising and setting multiple times.