Chapter 18

"Oh, how did you know I would come?" Feng Qingyang, dressed in gray and white, his silver hair flowing.

"I didn't know. I originally planned to stay on this Cliff of Reflection for a few months, searching every inch of Mount Hua. I didn't expect that on the first day, you would appear on your own." Su Zhong's eyes were full of fighting spirit, looking at Feng Qingyang with enthusiasm.

"You want to duel with me, but I have long retired and no longer engage in combat with others." Feng Qingyang said.

"No, no, no, you misunderstood. I want to exchange sword techniques, not to compete in internal energy. I have created a set of deadly sword techniques, and to perfect them, I must see a hundred schools of sword techniques. You possess the 'Nine Swords of Dugu,' making you the best choice." Su Zhong explained.

Feng Qingyang became interested. At his age, he had few desires left. Only a lifetime of practicing the sword could still resonate with him.

"Can you tell me more?" Feng Qingyang asked tentatively. It wasn't that he was being cautious; the rivalry between sects had a long history.

"Of course." Su Zhong agreed readily.

"My sword technique is called the 'Twelve Deadly Swords.' There might be thirteen, fourteen, or even fifteen in the future. The first twelve represent my understanding of sword skills, with the main body being the basic sword techniques. I want to use it to encompass all sword skills and achieve the pinnacle of swordsmanship. Like the 'Nine Swords of Dugu,' it is the general outline of sword techniques..."

Su Zhong spoke confidently, holding nothing back about his 'Deadly Sword Technique.'

Feng Qingyang was initially calm, but the more he listened, the more surprised he became: "Wait, aren't you afraid others will learn your sword technique by you telling them?"

Su Zhong smiled disdainfully: "Copying others' ideas, I don't believe they can understand the 'Deadly Sword' better than I do."

Su Zhong glanced at the three people beside him, who were listening intently. They smiled awkwardly and remained silent.

Feng Qingyang's face was full of admiration: "What a bold spirit."

Su Zhong smiled darkly: "I dare to say this not only because of my confidence. Mainly because this sword technique is linked to internal energy. If they just borrow ideas, there's no problem. But if they try to follow my path, they will suffer severe consequences. Without my guidance on the key points, they will surely die if they force it!"

Feng Qingyang was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "What a clever move!"

The three looked at each other. Lin Pingzhi marveled at his brother's prowess. Linghuchong admired his spirit and skill. Yue Lingshan's face turned pale, secretly cursing Su Zhong for being devious. She had been thinking of learning Su Zhong's sword technique and then defeating him.

At first, Su Zhong was just describing, but later he drew his sword and began to demonstrate the 'Twelve Deadly Swords.'

"Powerful, powerful, your sword technique seems simple, but it encompasses a vast array of skills! The 'Nine Swords of Dugu' focus on breaking, but your sword technique, I see, focuses on encompassing! Powerful." Feng Qingyang praised endlessly.

He itched to try it out, reached out, and Linghuchong's sword at his waist flew into Feng Qingyang's hand as if pulled by an invisible thread.

Feng Qingyang held the sword, his long hair flying, and a powerful sword intent rose.

Su Zhong laughed heartily, turned his sword, and immediately engaged in combat with Feng Qingyang.

...

"Bang!" Zuo Lengshan slapped the tea table beside him.

With a crack, the tea table turned to powder, and a light frost formed. A pile of wood chips turned into snow.

"Please punish us, Master!" Lu Bo and the other three bowed to beg for forgiveness.

This operation in Hengshan City was a complete failure for the Songshan Sect. Not only did Liu Zhengfeng escape, but even the hidden hand, Yu Canghai, was killed in front of everyone.

"This is a disgrace!" Zuo Lengshan said coldly.

The three bowed again to beg for forgiveness.

Zuo Lengshan, a true strategist, suppressed his anger and quickly calculated the gains and losses.

"You said the young man's internal energy is cold, similar to my Ice True Qi?" Zuo Lengshan asked after a moment of thought.

"Yes. It's said that Tian Boguang was frozen to death by this person using Ice True Qi." Lu Bo said with hatred. Su Zhong killing Yu Canghai right under his nose was a great humiliation, and he couldn't help but hate him.

"Have you investigated this person's identity?" Zuo Lengshan asked.

Lu Bo's expression was strange: "We have investigated. He is from the Fuyi Escort Agency, the eldest son of Lin Zhenan."

"Fuyi Escort Agency? Eldest son? Isn't his eldest son a fool?" Zuo Lengshan was surprised, then suddenly understood: "No wonder, no wonder he went to kill Yu Canghai."

"What about Mu Gaofeng?" He suddenly had a bad feeling.

Lu Bo cautiously looked at Zuo Lengshan: "Yesterday, we received a report from Fuzhou City. Mu Gaofeng was killed in a bamboo forest thirty miles outside Fuzhou City. He was killed with a single sword strike to the forehead!"

"What a sharp sword! Could this be the 'Evil-Exorcising Sword Technique'?" Zuo Lengshan thought: "Although I could also freeze Tian Boguang with Ice True Qi, it wouldn't be easy. This Lin Yang is only at the early stage of innate cultivation, far inferior to me, yet he could easily freeze Tian Boguang. His internal energy must be extremely cold. It's said that Lin Yuan Tu's sword technique was ghostly. Could the 'Evil-Exorcising Sword Manual' be so powerful? Not only is the sword technique fierce, but the internal skill is also so formidable?!"

"Where are the Lin family members? Can you find them?" Zuo Lengshan asked coldly, his interest in the 'Evil-Exorcising Sword Manual' suddenly rising.

"Their last known location is near the East Sea, and it's said they have set sail." Lu Bo said cautiously.

Zuo Lengshan's face darkened.

"But the youngest son, Lin Pingzhi, has joined Huashan." Lu Bo added.

"Huashan? Good!" Zuo Lengshan thought of his disciple from many years ago and was shaken: "Yue Buqun, Yue Buqun, did you think I had already planted someone in your sect? You went to great lengths to take Lin Pingzhi as a disciple, all for the 'Evil-Exorcising Sword Manual'? I will make you pay!"

"The plan remains unchanged. Have Cheng Buyou and the others cause chaos on Huashan." Zuo Lengshan said.

...

Luoyang, Green Bamboo Lane

"You mean this Lin Yang told Qu Yang about Zuo Lengshan's plot and asked Qu Yang to send you to me?" Ren Yingying asked the mischievous little girl beside her.

"Yes, that bad guy. He was so fierce, talking about the whole family being killed and both families being wiped out. It was quite scary." Qu Feiyang pouted, recounting Su Zhong's actions.

Ren Yingying was curious: "How did he know I was here?"

"He is the young head of the Fuyi Escort Agency, and his grandfather is Wang Yuanba from Luoyang. Wang Yuanba might have told him." Qu Feiyang guessed, tilting her head.

"Golden Saber Sect? They could know my identity?" Ren Yingying smiled disdainfully: "They probably don't even know who Green Bamboo Elder is."

"True. In Luoyang, I am just an old bamboo craftsman." Green Bamboo Elder said proudly.

"Hehe, Grandpa Bamboo has fooled the whole of Luoyang. If those famous sects knew that a divine sect elder lived in Luoyang, they would be scared out of their wits! Haha." Qu Feiyang clapped her hands and laughed loudly.

Ren Yingying's face turned cold: "A lady should speak properly, not use foul language!"

Qu Feiyang stuck out her tongue and said nothing.

Ren Yingying was curious: "How did this person, younger than me, know about me? And he seems to have good martial arts skills."

...

Su Zhong arrived on Huashan to exchange sword techniques with Feng Qingyang, and they ended up fighting.

The next day, Yue Buqun learned that two more people had appeared on the Cliff of Reflection.

Su Zhong wasn't a big deal, but the appearance of Feng Qingyang shocked him. He had never known that Huashan had such an elder.

When Yue Buqun arrived at the Cliff of Reflection, he was stunned by the scene.

Within thirty meters, sword qi was flying everywhere. The hard surface of the Cliff of Reflection was covered with sword marks. Just looking at the marks, one could feel the cold and sharp intent.

Linghuchong and the others could only hide in the cave on the Cliff of Reflection, not daring to stand near the two.

The two were exchanging moves, each move simple but, upon closer inspection, exquisitely crafted.

Yue Buqun felt uneasy: "Our Huashan Sect uses qi to control the sword. But these two, not only are their sword techniques exquisite, but their internal energy is also extremely powerful. Those sharp sword qi would create bloody holes if they hit someone."

Seeing the vigorous and deeply skilled Feng Qingyang, Yue Buqun felt even more uneasy: "The Sword Sect's people have such abundant internal energy, while I, the leader of the Qi Sect, have made no achievements in internal energy? I am ashamed of my ancestors!"

"Good! What a good 'Deadly Sword Technique.' Simplifying the complex, truly a great sword technique!" Feng Qingyang laughed heartily, feeling extremely satisfied after this fight. For years, he had been depressed, and this was the first time he felt so happy.

Su Zhong nodded in satisfaction: "The 'Nine Swords of Dugu' are truly the masterpiece of the Sword Demon. Breaking all techniques, it deserves its reputation!" He also gained a lot.

"Disciple Yue Buqun pays respects to Uncle Feng." Yue Buqun bowed deeply: "Uncle Feng's presence is a great fortune for our Huashan Sect. Now that Uncle has come out of seclusion, I respectfully invite you to come down the mountain and take charge of Huashan affairs."

Feng Qingyang's face turned cold: "If I really came down, would you welcome me?"

"Of course!" Yue Buqun said excitedly.

"Hypocrite!" Feng Qingyang shouted coldly and turned away from Yue Buqun.

Yue Buqun was not embarrassed, bowed respectfully, and turned to speak to Su Zhong. After all, this was Huashan's forbidden area, and Su Zhong's appearance here naturally required an explanation.

But before he could ask, Feng Qingyang spoke directly: "Little Brother Lin was invited by me to discuss sword techniques on Huashan. If you want to watch, stay quietly to the side and prepare food for us. Don't interfere with other matters."

Yue Buqun nodded quickly, maintaining proper etiquette. He didn't mind Feng Qingyang's tone; he had the grace to handle it. However, he was extremely interested in Feng Qingyang's proposal. Being able to watch Feng Qingyang discuss sword techniques was a great opportunity.

From then on, two more people joined to watch the two discuss sword techniques: Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze. If it weren't for Feng Qingyang's preference for quiet, Yue Buqun would have brought all the Huashan disciples to listen.

Feng Qingyang didn't like Yue Buqun, but he greatly appreciated Ning Zhongze and Linghuchong, answering their questions without hesitation.

One day, while discussing sword techniques, they talked about the Lin family's 'Evil-Exorcising Sword Manual.' Su Zhong didn't hide it and demonstrated the 'Evil-Exorcising Sword Technique.'

Yue Buqun was excited, his mind racing, and he memorized the 'Evil-Exorcising Sword Technique' in his mind.

"This 'Evil-Exorcising Sword Technique' is not that great." Feng Qingyang suddenly said.

"Did you see through it? It's just an ordinary sword technique, the most important part is speed. When fast enough, any sword technique can become a supreme technique." Su Zhong explained.

"Reasonable. Lin Yuan Tu's sword technique was as fast as a ghost. But why didn't you practice it? Why did you create the 'Deadly Sword Technique'?" Feng Qingyang asked curiously.

Yue Buqun's face also turned unpleasant. He saw that the 'Evil-Exorcising Sword Technique' was indeed just an ordinary second-rate sword technique, not even as good as their Huashan sword technique.

"This has to do with the origin of the 'Evil-Exorcising Sword Manual.' Speaking of which, it also has a connection with your sect." Su Zhong suddenly looked at Yue Buqun with a smile.