Chapter 780: Chapter 487: The 2nd Sword Discussion: Clash of Veterans and Rookies!

Another year.

The eighth day of May.

Cang Mountain, Chess Stone Peak, below the northern face of the mountain.

As the specific site of the ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’, ’Chess Stone Peak’ has long been famed across the Fifteen States with legends like the ’Innate Master’ Yan Chuan, the ’Sword Lord’ Chen Ze, the ’Overlord’ Wang Zhengyi, and other genius masters of the first Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, inspiring countless aspiring talents.

Until today.

Finally at the base of the mountain.

Chess Stone Peak is different on all four sides—

North is steep and strange, south is thick and solid, east is dark and deep, west is hidden and elegant.

Among them, the north is known for its ’steepness’, a pinnacle reaching a thousand feet, crowned with clouds above and connected to the earth’s veins below, as if sliced and sawn, steep and precipitous, daunting at a glance.

Last year, during the first Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, twelve arenas were set atop the Immortal Chess Stone, but the opening clash took place on the northern cliff of Chess Stone Peak, where Yan Chuan, Wang Zhengyi, and others first showed their talents.

"Look over there, that place was struck, precisely where the ’Overlord’ hurled the boulder to clear the path, leaving a mark on the mountain. I was present at the time, feeling the mountain quake, thinking Chess Stone Peak might collapse, like the end of days."

"The ’Overlord’ Wang Zhengyi, he made his name with unparalleled strength at the Cangshan Sword Discussion, even His Majesty praised him as ’truly an unrivaled brave general’."

"The ’Innate Master’ Yan Chuan loves to teach others. He was here, pointing out there on that rock, explaining the Qinggong movement techniques of one talented individual after another back then."

"Grandmaster Yan started a bad trend! This time at the Shengzhou competition, too many people are on the arena pointing and chattering, do they really think every one of them is Grandmaster Yan? What they say is often nonsensical, making everyone laugh their heads off."

"The ’Sword Lord’ Chen Ze is the true source of all evils! He proved his Dao at Cang Mountain, his double-handed sword is renowned across the land. Many tried to learn from him, but most failed, with only a few succeeding, although there was one in Ai Province, whose double-handed sword was smooth and proficient, unbeatable, truly unbeatable!"

...

Below Chess Stone Peak, talents gather.

Some attended the previous event, reminiscing at the sights.

Some are newcomers, full of longing and anticipation.

They are at the ’foot of the mountain’.

Discussing those who have already ’gone up the mountain’, like Yan Chuan, Wang Zhengyi, Chen Ze, standing worlds apart, inevitably causing emotions. This second Cang Mountain Sword Discussion also has over a thousand participants, but the quality has improved significantly from the first, yet those ranked at the bottom are mostly self-aware—

"Proving Dao and becoming innate is too distant."

"This Sword Discussion, being able to make a name for oneself across the Fifteen States like them is already worthwhile."

Who are they?

Look at the front row—

’Iron Fire Judge’ Peng Fannian!

’Half-human half-demon’ Ban Xianfu!

’Guan Sha Guan Mai’ Jing Bao!

’One Punch Seven Injuries’ Wang Ge!

’First Fast Sword’ Fu Yunzhan!

All of these were prominent figures during the first Sword Discussion, each with their absolute fame and undeniable prowess on the list—

Peng Fannian’s acupoint technique.

Ban Xianfu’s saber skill.

Jing Bao’s Crescent Moon Spade.

Wang Ge’s fist and palm techniques.

Fu Yunzhan’s swordsmanship.

Each has a story and a reputation, and in this past year, their performances in the Sword Discussion have spread throughout the Fifteen States, well-known and frequently discussed by everyone.

Each of them is a legendary figure, usually only heard in storytellers’ tales.

Yet now, they are alive and right before our eyes.

Not only them.

In the front row, there are also—

Liu Xin (Chasing God Blade), Ma Hongniang (White Bone Banner), Guo Xi (Golden Stick), Zhuge Zhen (Hornet Bag), Cai Ru’an (Five-Colored Stone), Chi Gao (Water and Fire Blade).

Each of these individuals possesses a treasure and in the first Cang Mountain Sword Discussion, they stood out and stole the spotlight.

But in this edition—

"Without the use of strange weapons and treasures, can these people still shine in this event?"

"They may well be bringing disgrace upon themselves!"

Many doubt that Liu Xin and others shone only with their treasures in the first edition, but the rules have changed for the second edition. In this new version, can they still stand out?

It may be difficult.

Looking at the other participants in the second edition, there’s the Hidden Dragon List—

Lei Ze Academy’s ’Seven Star Leader’ Feng Nandi.

Tianpeng Academy’s ’Sangmen Spear’ Gao Changyi.

’Constantly Defeated Expert’ Chai Hongshun.

’Instantly Create Mountains’ Shi Qingke.

Yanjing Academy’s ’Nine-appearing Divine Sword’ Liu Zongwu.

Immortal Origin Academy’s ’Linglong Hand’ Yu Tai.

Bi State’s ’Little Wutong’ Dai Xiangfeng.

...

And from the Chufeng List—

Black Hawk Sect, Jiyin Academy’s ’Lang Fan Yun’ Shi Mingzhu.

Immortal Origin Academy’s ’Fire Immortal’ Shen Xia.

’Red Robe Gold Saber’ Sun Gui Fen.

’Would Rather Die Than Suffer a Loss’ Zhang Qin.

Yanjing Academy’s ’Ten Thousand Mile Cloud Chaser’ Hong Ran.

Licheng Academy’s ’Infiltrate Everywhere’ Xiao Zhi.

Chuqiu Academy’s ’Fortune Star’ Du Ying.

...

And many more.

Both Hidden Dragon and Chufeng Lists are full of experts.

Even though Chen Ze, Yan Chuan, Situ Fei, Ding Xiang, Wang Zhengyi, and Ying Jifeng have all proved their Dao.

Even though Luo Qi, Tan Dou, Wei Lingshan, and Lu Yuru are absent from the second edition.

Even with these top figures from both lists missing, the Hidden Dragons and Chufengs are still teeming with talents, filled with aspiring prodigies—

Veterans who shone in the first edition and have returned stronger after a year.

Newcomers whose reputations have risen dramatically over the past year, such as the ’Yan’s Four Talents’ from Yan’s sect, like the ’Two Extreme Boxing Kings’—’Tai Chi’ Yu Jinpeng and ’Eight Extremes’ Jin Yutang.

So many, too many to count.

At this moment, over a thousand aspiring talents gather at the base of the northern side of Chess Stone Peak, with experience from the first edition, everyone knows that the first challenge of the ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’ tests ’cliff climbing’, which is ’Qinggong’ and ’movement technique’.

For this, countless have been diligently practicing Qinggong and cliff-climbing skills over the past year. This edition of the Sword Discussion starts with the appetizer of cliff climbing and is bound to be even more exciting.

...

Amidst the discussions.

Outside Chess Stone Peak.

Rumble!

A ’Dragon Chariot’ clears the clouds, spanning the sky.

The Dragon Chariot stands tall, flanked by Feather Guards.

On the vast Dragon Chariot, there are over a hundred Feather Guards, yet they are no ordinary beings, each with three heads and six arms, extraordinary and astonishing.

But on closer inspection, it’s clear these are not human bodies, but rather clad in armor, neither gold nor stone, but resembling wood, over two zhang tall, able to walk on air, three heads watching all directions, six arms wielding weapons. This isn’t merely armor; it’s like an ancient, wuxia, or mythical version of—

"Mecha!"

The mere sight of a ’Three-headed Six-armed Mecha’ is already shocking.

At this moment, over a hundred of them are arrayed in the sky, protecting the Dragon Chariot, creating an immense shock, beyond words.

At least.

Below the mountain.

The gathered talents gaze upward in silence.

...

The divine martial majesty in the sky.

The gathering heroes in awe on the ground.

Rumble!

As the clouds part, a divine Shen Wu Martial Guard strides forward, holding the Imperial List open with two of its six hands, its voice booming like thunder, echoing in all directions—

"Prepare to move on my command, to climb the cliff, the first to reach the top can be arena master of one of the twelve arenas."

"Reveal your divine skills in the climb."

"Fighting is permitted during the climb."

"This Sword Discussion strictly forbids the use of strange weapons and treasures; before setting out, each may receive one weapon."

The Shen Wu delivers the instruction.

As with the previous edition, the first to reach the top becomes the arena master, and no strange weapons or treasures are allowed, not only during the climb but also in subsequent matches on the stage, relying entirely on genuine martial prowess.

The command is given from the heavens.

The heroes on the ground spring into action.

The second Cang Mountain Sword Discussion officially commences.

In the clouds.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

On the Dragon Chariot, a man with long whiskers in a yellow robe, refined appearance, strides forward and steps into the air, the first on the ’Weapon List·Heavenly List’—

’Emperor Yan’ Ying Tianxing!

At the mountain peak, most of the martial artists are middle-aged or elders, about twenty in number, bowing to ’Emperor Yan’ with varying degrees of respect, some with reverent faces, others with casual demeanors.

The second Cang Mountain Sword Discussion features even more observing grandmasters than the first edition, but in the first edition, Jiang Bianliu, Huang Wuniang, and Tan Yunqing, all three followed Yan Chuan to Tan Valley and did not participate this time.

Yet, there are familiar faces—

For example, the thirteenth on the ’Heavenly List’, the Minister of Revenue and Great Minister, Linghu Gan, the one who sent Yan Chuan the ’Gathering Treasure Basin’.

Another is the eighteenth, the Mountain and Sea Department Director, He Hao, who once led Yan Chuan to the Mountain and Sea Realm to receive Tan Valley Royal City and also guided Yan Chuan and others into Heavenly Ladder City.

There’s also the thirty-fourth, ’All-Knowing’ Tian Jing, who shares an even deeper connection with Yan Chuan but has recently grown distant. He has been cultivating the ’Ladder Cloud Jump’ and ’Yitian Slaying Dragon Skill’ gifted by Yan Chuan, greatly advancing in strength and ranking.

These are individuals who have interacted with Yan Chuan.

Additionally, there are those who have not, like Yang Wang, the White Eyebrow Eagle King, one of the Four Great Dharma Kings of the Black Hawk Sect, Qian Lingyi, the Sword Shadow, one of the Four Elders of the Diancang Sect, Hui Zhenzi, the Wave Riding Micro Steps, one of the Three Saints of Wuji Palace, Xin Zhuang, the Stone Breaking Hand, one of the Eight Great Vajra of Eight Phases Mountain, Divine Monk Ming Chan, the Saint Hand Tathagata, one of the Three Divine Monks of Moni Temple, and Master Zhong, the Hidden Sword Immortal, one of the Five Friends of the Iron Clothes Sect.

There’s also Manor Master Wu Yu, known as Ghostly Shock, and Gongsun Diying, one of the Wushan Double Masters, called Cloud-climbing Hand, the Second City Lord of Wushan City.

All familiar faces from the first edition.

Furthermore, there are innate experts from the court—

The Six Ministries!

The Six Departments!

The Forbidden Army!

The Five Armies Commander’s Mansion!

Incredible figures from all departments of the Great Yan Court, a rare grand event that happens once a year.

Emperor Yan arrives.

Everyone bows.

Ying Tianxing chuckles, "The young ones haven’t come."

Indeed.

From the previous edition and over the past year, the newly innate—

Chen Ze, Yan Chuan, Situ Fei, Wang Zhengyi, Ding Xiang, Ying Jifeng.

All have not come.

"The young ones have recently acquired their innate prowess, a time of novelty, exploring all directions, understandable." Ying Tianxing is delighted by the new innate talents and Dao-proving prodigies of Great Yan, yet their absence from this Sword Discussion leaves this monarch somewhat disappointed.

Like a lonely elder, yearning for the children’s return, yet it is unattainable.

"They’re all busy."

"Being busy is good!"

Emperor Yan’s disappointment is hard to conceal.

By his side.

The Mountain and Sea Department Director, He Hao, boomed, "Yesterday, Luo Qi observed the sea tides, played the flute, and proved his Dao to become innate, becoming the seventh Dao-proving prodigy from the first Sword Discussion and the fiftieth master of Great Yan. I congratulate Your Majesty, and also Great Yan!"

He Hao, in charge of the Mountain and Sea Department, is particularly informed about the situation on the Mountain and Sea Realm, especially on his own side.

Luo Qi proved his Dao yesterday.

He Hao had already received the news the previous day.

"Luo Qi?"

"Luo Qi proved his Dao as well?"

"It turns out to be him!"

"As expected, it’s him! He once failed to prove his Dao, but his foundation is solid. I predicted long ago that Luo Qi would be the next to prove his Dao among the eight cities!"

"Is that the ’Bigfoot’ Luo Qi? I remember him. During the last edition, he wielded the ’Ancient Sound of the Primordial World’, performing splendidly on the qin. Who would’ve thought he’d ultimately prove his Dao through flute music."

"Luo Qi! It’s him! That makes perfect sense! I’ve heard he nearly reached enlightenment to prove his Dao in the Mountain and Sea Realm, only to be interrupted by the Beast King. Had it not been for Chen Ze and Yan Chuan’s rescue, he would’ve died. He lost the opportunity at that time, and after several months, he finally regained it!"

"The sea tides!"

"The Hong Sea!"

"The ’Sea Waves Raising Song’!"

"He also proved his Dao while practicing an absolute skill that Yan Chuan tailored specifically for him at the Hong Sea. Not long ago, the Third Prince—"

...

A riot amongst the innate experts.

In the Mountain and Sea Realm, the innate isn’t rare, even the first-rank divine generals aren’t impressive, only the sixth rank can attract attention. But in Great Yan, it’s different. Excluding the deceased Shen Gongtu, Great Yan only had forty-nine innate experts, making Luo Qi the fiftieth.

Fifty innate!

Of significant influence!

The birth of each innate master is enough to ignite conversation.

First, it was Chen Ze.

Then, Yan Chuan and Situ Fei proved their Dao together.

After that, Wang Zhengyi proved his Dao.

Then, Ding Xiang and Ying Jifeng proved their Dao together.

Each occasion has stirred enthusiasm across the Fifteen States, sparking countless discussions.

This time, it’s Luo Qi.

The person proving their Dao differs, but they all share a common link—

"Yan Chuan!"

...