Chapter 145: Fang Lang’s Sword, the Sword That Kills
It was a rainy night in Changan City. The downpour was heavy.
However, the skies above Changan City were filled with a sense of suppression that seemed like a sea that seemed ready to explode at any moment.
The Tang Code radiated with a bright light. If anyone raised their heads towards it, they would be able to see the figure that appeared behind the Tang Code. The huge and imposing figure seemed to be overseeing the entire world from above.
A blood-colored arrow floated above the Tang Code and contained an incomparably frightening amount of energy. Everywhere the arrowhead pointed seemed to explode.
It was like the Sky G.o.d was in a rage. The thunder and lightning hidden behind the clouds were drawn out, tearing through the dark earth.
The officials knelt before Taiji Palace withdrew their gaze as the sense of oppression grew stronger. They glimpsed into Taiji Palace as their awe and reverence grew.
The storm continued to rage. Water covered the long corridor in front of Taiji Palace as the winds caused the luxurious dress of Empress Pei to flutter.
The fifth princess covered her nose and lips with a silk handkerchief that was flapping wildly in the wind.
Old Man Gao wore a serious expression. He dusted his arm as his gaze seemed to grow colder as he looked at the imperial officers kneeling.
It was completely silent before the palace.
After a long time, Empress Pei, who was beautiful, elegant, poised, possessed a peerless disposition and the aura of a warrior finally smiled.
Her eyes seemed to see through the endless rain to the mountain peak of the Main Path Guild and saw Zhao Taifeng. Zhao Taifeng, who was pinned to the ground by a sword, had a hole carved out of his chest.
The sound of her laughter lingered.
“I’ve said before that someone would crack down on him. Careless people such as those…”
“That’s not all.”
“As far as that traitor, Li Liancheng, someone will deal with him. I have more important things to attend to.”
As soon as Empress Pei finished speaking, she did not bother to see the response of the palace officials. Even though this sentiment was not for her to express, the officials should hopefully be more cautious since she had spoken up.
Empress Pei turned to leave with the fifth princess and the second prince followed behind her. They left with eunuchs leading the way and disappeared among the palaces.
The power of the Tang Code floating about Changan City began to fade away quickly. The phantom of the Tang Emperor also disappeared.
However, the terrifying power that remained upon everyone’s heart continued to make everyone feel tearful and full of terror.
The heavy rain continued non-stop, washing away the filth of the world.
The courtiers and imperial censors stood up. Empress Pei’s words continued to linger in their minds. They exchanged looks and then all turned their eyes towards Taiji Palace.
Deep within the palace, there seemed to be a pair of aloof and remote eyes paying close attention to them. It was as if everything that occurred on earth was entirely in its control.
The palace officials all bowed and quickly took their leave.
Before the Vermillion Bird Gate, the wheels of the horse carriages began to move after being drenched by the heavy rainfall for a long time. The wheels splashed through the puddles on the limestone path as they drove out of the Royal City.
…
It was completely silent before the Main Path Mausoleum.
The realm transcending ancestor Zhao Taifeng, who just entered the world, was pinned down to the mountain peak with a single attack and had his physical body torn apart.
This was an absolutely terrifying sight for everyone to see. The entire Main Path Mausoleum seemed to be shrouded in desolate air.
The dawn sky started to lighten. The stars appeared to dim. The first rays of the morning sun seemed to leap out of the horizon and illuminate the entire earth.
“Give chase.”
The sect leader Zhao Longshi was very calm. He merely frowned slightly and gave his order as he looked towards Chao Xiaojian and Huang Zhihe, who escaped with Fang Lang in tow.
On the top of the mountain, Zhao Taifeng, who was pinned to the ground, quickly recovered. His flesh speedily reformed. His torn and shredded chest was completely filled up as his flesh quivered.
This scene caused countless Main Path Guild disciples to cry out.
This regeneration technique was like a divine immortal technique, causing everyone to feel extremely shocked.
Zhao Taifeng’s eyes were extremely fierce and cold. Apart from that, there was also a trace of fear and shock.
Xuanyuan Taohua’s decision certainly exceeded his expectations. She used the Reincarnating Lotus Sword to absorb the thousand year Dao aggregates of the Main Path Guild but did not mind spending most of it on a single attack on him.
When this was combined with his fear of the person controlling the Tang Code in Changan City, Zhao Taifeng was forced to endure this attack.
Boom!
Zhao Taifeng adjusted out the long sleeves of his robes and put his hands behind his back. He took a step out but that incredibly imposing figure and the Tang Code appeared in his consciousness once again.
His figure that was about to rush out of the Main Path Guild came to an abrupt halt.
“If you give chase, your life will be in danger.”
This was the prompt given to him by the realm transcending divine sense.
Zhao Taifeng trusted this prompt wholeheartedly. Back then, he entered a self-imposed deep slumber for two hundred years because of this prompt and managed to escape the killing spree of realm transcending warriors by the Tang emperor with the Tang Code/
Hence, he decided not to give chase.
His gaze turned, landing upon Zhao Longshi, Zhao Zhenshi and the other Main Path Guild warriors.
“You guys should chase after them. Those who are higher than the fourth-cla.s.s realm should not attack Fang Lang. He has the Reincarnating Lotus sword. The Reincarnating Lotus Sword contains the thousand year Dao aggregates. The power of these Dao aggregates are sufficient for Xuanyuan Taihua to provide enough energy to use the ability of the sword!”
“However, Xuanyuan Taihua’s divine sense will only be triggered when Fang Lang encounters a powerful threat that he is unable to counter.”
“You guys should stop Chao Xiaojian and Huang Zhihe. As for Fang Lang… leave him for the disciples of the lower fourth-cla.s.s realm. The attack of the lower fourth-cla.s.s realm disciples will not trigger Xuanyuan Taihua’s divine sense in the Reincarnating Lotus Sword.”
Zhao Taifeng’s robes billowed as he stared at the three people who were speeding off into the distance, avoiding the Mountain Shield Rune.
He said, “I have a premonition that the turning of tables in the Tang Dynasty… is about to start.”
Zhao Taifeng’s words stunned all the warriors of the Main Path Guild.
Zhao Longshi seemed to understand and rode out on his crane.
Zhao Zhenshi and many other elders of the guild began to craft rune patterns under their feet.
Zhao Taifeng stared fixedly at Chao Xiaojian and the others in the distance. He raised his hand and instantly formed a rune. He quickly sent it out. The rune contained divine sense. As the divine sense spun around, a ma.s.sive rune enveloped all the cultivators in the Main Path Guild instantly.
In a flash, all the Main Path Guild warriors appeared a hundred miles away.
The Main Path Guild mountain summit abruptly became empty.
Zhao Taifeng’s complexion was slightly pale. He had expended a huge amount of energy by casting that forbidden Body Relocation Spell.
However, he did not mind because it would be worth it if it meant that they could retrieve the Reincarnating Lotus Sword.
He turned to look in the direction of Changan City. His eyes darkened immeasurably.
The longer he lived, the more he valued his life. Even though Zhao Taifeng could vaguely sense that the person in Changan seemed a little odd, he did not dare to gamble his life on that.
“If something strange has really happened to him, it will not stay hidden for long. There will come a day when it is exposed.”
Zhao Taifeng placed his hands behind his back. His torn robes whistled in the wind.
A thick fog suddenly appeared over the entire Main Path Mausoleum. There was a faint spiritual sense force that surged like a wave. It flowed into Zhao Taifeng’s body and replenished his energy.
…
Zhao Longshi was riding on his crane’s back when he narrowed his eyes. Was this a technique of a realm transcending warrior?
He had shifted them by over a hundred miles in an instant.
It was a G.o.d-like technique!
Transcendence… could allow one to travel across the world freely. It was truly admirable.
“Chase them!”
However, it did not overly astound him. Zhao Longshi called out softly to bring everyone else back to their senses.
The rays of the morning sun appeared, tearing through the dark night sky.
The three demon warrior heads hung on the back of the crane swung gently and crashed against each other, sounding like the dull ring of a bronze bell.
Zhao Longshi raised his head and looked towards Chao Xiaojian, who was flying rapidly towards them and Huang Zhihe, who carried Fang Lang.
As the current sect leader of the Main Path Guild, Zhao Longshi was a matchless genius in his youth. Even though Xuanyuan Taihua defeated him, no one could deny that he was extremely powerful!
Zhao Longshi clasped his hands together. A powerful spiritual sense rolled out, rippling out like waves.
On earth, tree after tree was ripped out of the ground, shooting into the sky at Chao Xiaojian and the others like arrows.
By then, Fang Lang had gained control over his own body. Chao Xiaojian still carried him as they flew at high speeds.
When they saw the Main Path Guild warriors appear out of the blue in front of them, their expressions faltered.
Chao Xiaojian’s eyes froze. They managed to break out of the Forest Shield Spell and rush out of there. However, Zhao Longshi and the others somehow chased ahead to appear before them.
“The first sect leader of the Main Path Guild, Zhao Taifeng, has mastered the Body Relocation Spell. It’s a top level forbidden rune. Only realm transcending spell masters can grasp this technique.”
Huang Zhihe said this quickly since he knew little about Zhao Taifeng’s background.
Chao Xiaojian swung his sword out and a mighty blade energy gushed out, slicing through the trees that were shooting into the sky like arrows. Pieces of wood flew out in all directions.
To the side, countless steel swords transformed into a huge hammer, and Huang Zhihe suddenly swung it.
Zhao Zhenshi and the numerous Main Path Guild elders acted to stop Huang Zhihe.
The bright rays of the morning sun were overshadowed by the brilliant exchanges between these two leveled cultivators!
Fang Lang’s face was bright red as he was caught in the midst of this fight!
This terrifying wave of disturbance seemed about to tear him apart.
He hid the Reincarnating Lotus Sword in his scabbard. After his master, Xuanyuan Taihua attacked Zhao Taifeng, and the sword went still.
At that moment, Fang Lang did not have the protection of Xuanyuan Taihua. He was like a tiny raft that was about to be torn apart by the huge sea waves at any moment since he was caught in a battle between two ninth-grade warriors.
Zhao Longshi was pretty strong. Even Chao Xiaojian did not have the confidence that victory was at hand. Hence, Chao Xiaojian was giving 120% of his energy as he faced Zhao Longshi.
On the other hand, Huang Zhihe found it extremely difficult to escape from the clutches of Zhao Zhenshi and a huge group of elders surrounding him.
“Chao Xiaojian. This can all end if you make Fang Lang return the Reincarnating Lotus Sword. In addition to that, Fang Lang will need to spend ten years in the Main Path Guild to repent for his sins,” said Zhao Longshi as he rode on his red-crowned crane, looking refined like an immortal.
“Eat sh*t Main Path Guild!” cursed Chao Xiaojian.
“Fang Lang is this year’s Imperial Examination’s champion. Is the Main Path Guild trying to go against the imperial courts by doing this!?”
“This matter has nothing to do with the imperial courts. This is a matter between the Main Path Guild and the Sword Guild. It’s a straightforward fight between cultivators… If the Tang Emperor has a different opinion about this, I’m willing to take the punishment for it. However, Fang Lang will still need to repent in the Main Path Guild. This is what Founder Taifeng has ordered.”
Zhao Longshi said all this in an indifferent manner. A rune began to spread across the sky with a flick of his fingers, heading towards Fang Lang like a ma.s.sive net.
Chao Xiaojian frowned.
He released a gust of blade energy with a flick of his fingers. The blade energy swirled around Fang Lang and sent him flying off into the distance.
Fang Lang carried Xuanyuan Taihua’s Reincarnating Sword. When it was necessary, his senior sister’s divine sense would appear and protect Fang Lang. Hence, Chao Xiaojian was not worried about Fang Lang’s safety.
He sent Fang Lang away so that he could focus. His green steel sword swirled around his body rang out with a soft sword cry as it flew directly at Zhao Longshi.
Zhao Longshi did not face it head-on. He dodged the attack as his gaze deepened.
He sat slightly angled on his red-crowned crane and looked intently at Chao Xiaojian. He then shouted loudly, “Listen to my orders, Main Path Guild disciples!”
“Fang Lang has the Reincarnating Lotus Sword. Disciples who are above the fourth-cla.s.s realm cannot attack him in order to avoid triggering the divine sense of Xuanyuan Taihua contained within the sword. Disciples of the lower fourth-cla.s.s realm can give chase and attack him! Make sure you capture Fang Lang!”
As soon as Zhao Longshi’s words rang out, the numerous blue-robed Main Path Guild disciples swiftly clasped their hands in acknowledgment in the forest below.
“Yes!”
An Fan, Li Yuanzhen and the other disciples’ eyes were filled with a complicated light. However, Zhao Longshi had given the order. They did not hesitate. As they moved, they turned into a blue streak that dashed into the forest, chasing after Fang Lang.
In the sky, Chao Xiaojian and Huang Zhihe’s expression’s faltered when they heard Zhao Longshi’s words. They did not think about this fact.
If Fang Lang was ganged up, he might really be taken back to the Main Path Guild.
Hence, the two of them began to attack more powerfully. However, Zhao Longshi, Zhao Zhenshi and the others did not fight hard. They merely used their superior numbers to block Chao Xiaojian and Huang Zhihe.
…
There would come a time when Chao Xiaojian’s blade energy would run out. Fang Lang fell into the dense forest like a meteor. His body fell in place, maintaining a steady position.
However, as soon as he landed, a surge of noise could be heard from the surrounding sea of bamboo.
After that, Fang Lang examined his surroundings. Among the dense bamboo grove, numerous blue-robed Main Path Guild disciples gently landed on the ground, stepping over the fallen leaves. They encircled Fang Lang, surrounding him completely.
Fang Lang swept an eye over them. His expression froze.
The leader of the group was a disciple who was of the fourth-cla.s.s realm. There were around seven to eight third-cla.s.s realm disciples surrounding him.
This was clearly a group of Main Path Guild disciples.
Fang Lang felt his heart sink. He heard Zhao Longshi’s words and understood the intentions of the Main Path Guild.
They planned to use disciples of the lower cultivation levels to capture Fang Lang.
Without being able to trigger the divine sense of Xuanyuan Taihua in the sword, Fang Lang would definitely struggle to escape since he was facing close to a thousand Main Path Guild disciples alone.
Even though they were all disciples under the fourth-cla.s.s realm, if Fang Lang began to fight back, even more disciples would rush over to trap him.
Since Fang Lang was just one person, the only end result was his capture!
“The sect leader’s orders are that it doesn’t matter if he’s alive or dead! As long as we retrieve the Reincarnating Lotus Sword!” said the fourth-cla.s.s phantasm realm disciple.
After that, he took out a spell talisman and crushed it. A signal rose to the skies. When the surrounding disciples saw the signal talisman, they would all rush over.
This fourth-cla.s.s disciple stared intently at Fang Lang, wearing an evil smile.
“Fang Lang, you really are a gifted powerhouse. You managed to defeat so many of the Main Path Guild disciples to become the first one up the Thousand Cloud Stairs. However, you’re only a third-cla.s.s realm. There’s a power gap here!”
“Be good and let us capture you without putting up a fight!”
As soon as that phantasm realm disciple finished speaking, his expression changed!
That was because Fang Lang was running directly at him even though he was surrounded. It seems as though he had decided to make a break for it!
As Fang Lang ran, he retrieved a sword from his scabbard.
A loud sound of thunder boomed out.
The Champion’s Blade transformed into a blade of Sword Thunder. It sped towards the surrounding third-cla.s.s disciples like a thunder dragon. Instantly, it disrupted the disciples who were forming a rune!
Fang Lang rushed towards the fourth-cla.s.s disciple, who was smiling evilly.
With a heavy step crushing down, Qi waves ripple out in all directions, agitating the fallen leaves to flutter unceasingly.
The Obsidian Sword glittered in the glow of the morning sun before Fang Lang’s power started to drop rapidly!
In the end, it turned into an ordinary sword. It looked absolutely plain as it moved slowly.
It was the Meta Sword Nurturing Spell!
A typical fourth-cla.s.s disciple would not be able to stop Fang Lang’s attack as a ninth-grade, sword-wave realm!
The evil smile on the face of the fourth-cla.s.s disciple did not fade away before he noticed the spiritual energy wall before him was destroyed instantly with just one swing of the sword!
Fang Lang landed and approached him with no hint of emotion on his face. The Obsidian Sword broke through the disciple’s shield rune and pressed against his neck.
The disciple opened his mouth as though he were about to say something.
In the distance, An Fan’s blue robes billowed as he jumped out of the morning sun in the horizon, stepping towards them among the bamboo grove.
When he saw Fang Lang’s action, he paled and quickly spoke up, “Stop!”
Fang Lang’s white robes billowed as he looked towards An Fan. An Fan walked towards him among the sea of bamboo along with another genius disciple of the fourth-cla.s.s realm that Fang Lang had seen previously on the Thousand Cloud Stairs. Fang Lang’s expression did not change.
Fang Lang gripped the Obsidian Sword and plunged the sword forcefully into the Main Path Guild disciple’s neck as sword wave gushed out.
Bloodshot up into the sky.
Droplets of blood splattered onto Fang Lang’s white robe, adding a sense of desolate harshness to his appearance.
Fang Lang’s Sword, the Sword That Kills.
The severed head spun as it flew across the sky, still wearing the evil smile that had not faded before it crashed heavily down on the ground.