On a clearing in Yunmeng Mountain, Zuzong held a black sword, while Xuan Jian wielded a white one. The two clashed fiercely, their sword strikes intertwining, but neither used internal energy or soul power, relying solely on pure swordsmanship.
Standing nearby, Wei Zhuang and Gai Nie watched the match intently. Especially Wei Zhuang, whose Sharktooth sword emitted a faint hum.
Gai Nie remarked calmly, "Even though Brother Lan has not been practising swordsmanship for long, he has already reached a level that would take others more than a decade to achieve. It's truly astonishing."
Wei Zhuang snorted and turned to leave. Without a doubt, he was off to practice his sword skills secretly. He was well aware of Zuzong's talent for learning. A few months ago, they had sparred several times, and Zuzong mastered every technique Wei Zhuang used after just seeing it once—and often performed even better. Even Wei Zhuang's newly acquired Hengguan Bafang technique had been copied by Zuzong, leaving him infuriated. Since then, Wei Zhuang has not dared to rechallenge Zuzong for a while.
After a short while, the sparring session came to a halt.
Zuzong twirled his sword and deactivated his Sharingan. "Let's call it a day."
"Your talent is truly astonishing, my benefactor," Xuan Jian praised. "It won't be long before you surpass me. What you lack now is battle experience."
"Oh?" Zuzong's eyes lit up with interest. "Are you suggesting I seek out renowned swordsmen to challenge?"
Xuan Jian nodded. "For most people, I wouldn't recommend it. Failing in such challenges often means death. But with your abilities, even if you lose, no one could hold you down. What you lack now are worthy opponents."
Xuan Jian glanced briefly at Gai Nie and the departing Wei Zhuang. "These two disciples of Guigu will be great opponents for you in the future, but they still need time to mature. However, by then, you will likely have reached a level far beyond ordinary swordsmen."
Zuzong nodded in agreement and, with a flick of his hand, the black sword's scabbard flew into his grasp. "I'll take this black sword with me. I'm sure some skilled fighters will come to me soon enough. As for the white sword, keep it to protect Miss Wei. Guigu may be safe, but it's not absolutely so."
With that, Zuzong turned and left.
Xuan Jian bowed. "Thank you, my benefactor."
Watching Zuzong leave, Xuan Jian smiled wryly. He understood Zuzong's intent—by carrying the Black Sword, one of the Eight Swords of Yue, Zuzong would inevitably attract attention from the powerful Luo Net organization, who would hunt him. Zuzong was essentially using them as a whetstone to hone his skills.
Gai Nie walked beside Zuzong, saying, "Brother Lan, are you leaving?"
Zuzong shook his head. "Not exactly. I'm planning to stay in the capital of Qin, Xianyang, for a while. When do you plan to set off, and will you join me?"
Gai Nie was surprised. "How did you know I would choose Xianyang?"
With a mysterious smile, Zuzong replied, "Among the seven nations, the kings of Qi, Chu, Yan, Zhao, Han, and Wei are all indulgent in pleasure and lack ambition. Only the new king of Qin, Ying Zheng, has grand aspirations.
"Although the King of Qin is currently restrained by his mother, Empress Dowager Zhao Ji, and the powerful chancellor, Lü Buwei, once he frees himself, he will soar.
"Moreover, Qin, having undergone reforms under Shang Yang and built upon the efforts of six generations of rulers, is stronger than ever. All it needs is an enlightened ruler to sweep across the lands, unite the seven kingdoms, and end the nearly 800 years of chaos. I can tell you are a man of righteousness, Brother Gai Nie, and cannot bear to see the common people suffer from endless wars. If not to Qin, where else would you go?"
After saying all this, Zuzong mentally sighed—such lofty rhetoric could be quite exhausting.
Gai Nie clasped his hands in respect. "I have been enlightened, but my skills are not yet perfected. I must stay in Guigu to train for a few more years."
Zuzong nodded. "Very well, then I will go ahead."
Just as he finished speaking, Zuzong mentally commanded, "System, teleport me to outside Xianyang."
[Ding! Teleporting to 'Qin's Xianyang' will cost 1,000 hatred points. Teleporting now.]
The space around Zuzong warped, and in an instant, he vanished.
Watching Zuzong disappear into thin air, Gai Nie murmured, "What an extraordinary man."
The Yin-Yang Clan was one of the most mysterious among the various philosophical schools.
Five hundred years ago, it branched off from Daoism, forging its own path in pursuit of the ultimate harmony between heaven and humanity. The Yin-Yang Clan developed many powerful techniques and was composed of the leader, two protectors, five elders representing the five elements, and many disciples, all of whom adopted names from characters in the poet Qu Yuan's "Li Sao."
Their leader was titled Donghuang Taiyi, and under him was the Eastern Monarch (Dongjun), second in rank only to the leader, and above the two protectors: the Left Protector Star Soul and the Right Protector Moon Goddess.
The five element elders were Yunzhong Jun (Lord of the Clouds), Shao Siming (Lesser Commander), Xiang Furen (Lady Xiang), Da Siming (Great Commander), and Xiang Jun (Lord Xiang).
The Yin-Yang Clan's headquarters was at Roseng Hall.
Since Zuzong rescued Xuan Jian's family four months ago, Donghuang Taiyi had been uneasy, sensing an otherworldly presence in this world. He attempted to divine the identity of this intruder, but Zuzong, being from another world, had no corresponding star in the heavens, so the astrology failed. However, as the balance of fate remained unchanged, Donghuang Taiyi did not dwell on it.
But today, he noticed that the Emperor Star, which had always shone brightly, had become erratic and unpredictable. Suspecting the intruder had approached the Emperor Star—linked to the destiny of the Yin-Yang Clan—Donghuang Taiyi knew this could not be ignored.
After deliberating, he used his yin-yang techniques to send a long-distance message. "Eastern Monarch, come to Roseng Hall at once."
Moments later, a girl, around sixteen or seventeen, entered the hall.
She was dressed in a dark blue gown, her long hair tied up with a hairpin inlaid with deep blue gems. She was none other than Yan Fei, the Eastern Monarch from The Legend of Qin.
Yan Fei bowed. "Greetings, Lord Donghuang."
Donghuang Taiyi said, "Eastern Monarch, you must depart for Xianyang immediately."
Yan Fei hesitated. "Has the plan changed?"
According to the original plan, in a few years, she was to approach Crown Prince Dan of Yan, who was a hostage in Qin, to seize the bronze box of the Azure Dragon Seven Mansions from the Yan kingdom.
"No, that mission will be entrusted to someone else in the future. Your task now is to protect Ying Zheng and keep an eye on someone in Xianyang."
"May I ask, Lord Donghuang, who this person is?"
After a moment of silence, Donghuang Taiyi replied, "You will know when you see him. If possible, kill him."
Yan Fei did not question the order. In the Yin-Yang Clan, Donghuang Taiyi's command was absolute, and not even the Eastern Monarch could defy it.
--
Check out my pa**on to read 100 advanced chapters. Link is in synopsis/description of this fic.