Chapter Ninety-Two: A Sword Parting Worlds

At the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm, on a cliff overlooking Heavenly Net Sea Isle.

A lone figure slowly drew his sword. The instant the blade left its scabbard, the sky and wind around him changed color.

Below the cliff, the sea surged violently; a fierce gale swept across the entire island, and the azure waters rose into monstrous waves. An immensely oppressive aura quietly gathered above the island.

Clang!

Suddenly, the figure vanished. In his place, high above, appeared a domineering and razor-sharp beam of sword light. Sword qi raged with the wind, and the sky dimmed in an instant.

Above the whole island, there was only that single streak of light, as if it sought to pierce the heavens, gleaming with a cold, ruthless brilliance that cared for nothing at all.

As though one sword could shatter the void.

Whoosh!

The sword light split the firmament and plunged into the depths of the sea, sending water sprays soaring a thousand zhang high.

The vanished figure appeared once more in the air, standing with hands behind his back and facing the wind. His robe billowed, his long hair streamed freely—it was Lin Cheng, who had been in seclusion for many months.

By now, he had successfully cultivated the second move of the Heavenly Peak Five Clouds Sword, the technique that only the second layer of the Five Elements Sword Body could practice. His cultivation had also broken through once again to the ninth level of the Spirit Realm, reaching the pinnacle of the Heavenly Spirit Realm.

One sword, severing life from death.

It was truly that formidable.

Watching the water spray drift slowly downward and feeling the overwhelming power of the second move of the Heavenly Peak Five Clouds Sword, Lin Cheng smiled in satisfaction.

He would need to find a sword sheath for the Heaven-Pointing Sword. If he had used the Heaven-Pointing Sword just now, its might would surely have been even more astonishing.

Thinking of this, he took out the third item left to him by the former Lord of Heavenly Net Manor: that sword case.

The sword case was only the size of a palm. When he opened it, four swords lay side by side within, faintly glowing with green, white, red, and black light. These were the four spirit swords that formed the Four Directions Sword Formation.

After this period of study, he could now control the formation to a limited extent.

It was time to leave.

He cast one last long look across the island, then drew his gaze back from the garden behind the ten halls. With a thought, the Heavenly Net Token in his hand emitted a soft glow.

His figure vanished from the space.

------

“This Three Sects Grand Competition is truly fierce...”

“I never expected the Western Sand Sect to produce a disciple with dual spiritual roots this time. He used to be completely unknown. It seems they’ve been secretly nurturing him for years...”

“Exactly. I thought they’d end up at the bottom again this year, just as always. Yet out of nowhere, they produced someone with dual spiritual roots, and he has even reached the peak of the Spirit King Realm. He might even suppress the rest and take the championship this time...”

“You mustn’t forget that the Azure Sun Sect still has Liu Feng and Dongfang Yu, while the Purple Sun Sect has Dong Wuwang. True, the Western Sand Sect has produced a dark horse, but those people are all famous veterans. It won’t be easy to snatch the title from their hands...”

In White Crane Tower in the City of Chang'an, Lin Cheng sat in a corner on the first floor, a wine cup in hand, quietly listening to the conversation in the main hall.

So the Three Sects Grand Competition had already begun. It seemed he had arrived one step too late.

He sighed inwardly, drained the fine wine in his cup in one gulp, and was just about to rise and leave.

“Speaking of the Azure Sun Sect, that was unexpected too. They produced a disciple with a special spiritual root, did you know?”

Hearing his own sect mentioned, Lin Cheng sat back down without a word and listened.

“How could I not know? I heard she defeated one of their inner sect’s chief disciples, who was at the Earth Spirit Realm, while she herself was only at the Minor Spirit Realm. That earned her the qualification to participate in the Three Sects Grand Competition...”

“A special spiritual root, too. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen one. It’s a pity her time in cultivation has been too short and her level too low. Otherwise, she would surely have dominated the rest...”

“Ah, and she’s also a rare beauty. I wonder which pig will end up getting her in the future...”

“Let’s not even think about it...”

“Just wait for the finals three days from now!”

...

“A few friends, I’ve just arrived from afar and don’t know much about this Three Sects Grand Competition. Might I trouble you to explain a little?”

Unable to hold back, Lin Cheng stepped forward and asked.

At his words, one of the men—a handsome young gentleman in white—smiled and said, “No trouble at all. Ask whatever you like, little brother...”

Lin Cheng asked, “I just heard that the Three Sects Grand Competition has not yet ended, is that right?”

The young man in white nodded. “Yesterday the top ten were just decided. Three days from now will be the official finals, where this competition’s champion will be chosen.”

Lin Cheng asked, “Who are the top ten?”

The young man in white slowly replied, “Dong Wuwang, Li Zhentian, Ba Xing, and Xi Shan from the Purple Sun Sect; Liu Feng, Dongfang Yu, and Wine Fool from the Azure Sun Sect; and Yu Zhantian, Wang Zhen, and Li Yuan from the Western Sand Sect.”

“Didn’t I just hear you say that the Azure Sun Sect’s female disciple with a special spiritual root is also taking part in the Grand Competition? Didn’t she make the top ten?” Lin Cheng frowned slightly.

The others laughed. “So, little brother, your interest isn’t in the wine after all. You’ve got your eye on that lady, do you?”

Lin Cheng gave an awkward smile. “No, that’s not it...”

The young man in white said, “No need to hide it. A gentleman loves beauty; that has always been the common sentiment.”

“Though that girl named Xu Xin'er did not enter the finals, someone like her—a daughter of heaven’s pride—is not something ordinary people like us are fit to covet...” As he spoke, the young man in white shook his head. In his regret, he could not help but give a self-mocking smile.

Lin Cheng said, “Thank you all for telling me. I’ll take my leave.”

Leaving White Crane Tower, he rose directly on his sword and shot toward the direction of the Purple Sun Sect.

At the foot of Purple Sun Sect mountain, a rainbow light descended and turned into Lin Cheng’s figure.

“Who goes there?”

Two Purple Sun Sect disciples guarding the mountain gate stepped forward and asked.

Lin Cheng cupped his hands. “I heard that the Three Sects Grand Competition is being held here, so I came especially to watch.”

“State your name, your background, and whether you possess our Purple Sun Sect’s invitation tablet.”

Lin Cheng frowned. “Is it really that complicated just to come watch?”

“You think our Purple Sun Sect is a place anyone can enter? If you do not have an invitation tablet, leave at once.” Seeing that Lin Cheng could not produce one, the two gatekeepers immediately changed their expressions.

Lin Cheng said, “I am a disciple of the Azure Sun Sect, Lin Cheng. Would you stop me as well if I came up the mountain to see my master?”

The two men froze and studied him, their tones softening a little. “And who is your master?”

“True Person Zangfeng.”

True Person Zangfeng?

The two exchanged a glance. They clearly knew of the reputation of Zhao Kingdom’s foremost sword cultivator, and so they no longer obstructed him. One of them led the way and brought Lin Cheng up the mountain.

He escorted him to the area arranged for the Azure Sun Sect and said, “The courtyard ahead is the residence assigned to your Azure Sun Sect...”

Before he could finish, Lin Cheng burst into laughter, opened his arms wide, and strode toward the courtyard. “Senior Sister Han Meng, I missed you so much...”

Han Meng, who was practicing swordplay in the courtyard, looked over at the sound. Her eyes instantly lit up with joy, and she hurried forward. “Little Junior Brother, you’re all right...”

Seeing Lin Cheng with his arms spread open, Han Meng paused, then gave him a strange look. She shot him a reproachful glance and flicked his forehead hard. “It’s been half a year, and your courage has grown, has it? What now? You even want to eat your senior sister’s tofu?”

Lin Cheng gave an embarrassed laugh and scratched his head. “It’s just that it’s been too long since I saw you. I missed you too much, Senior Sister. I couldn’t help myself...”

Han Meng rolled her eyes. “Such slick talk. Tell me, how did you get out? When we learned you were trapped in the secret realm, we waited anxiously outside for months before leaving...”

Lin Cheng said, “I’ve worried you all, Senior Sister. Actually, I was fine. I just spent some time cultivating inside...”

Han Meng gave him a sideways glance.

So you were enjoying yourself in there, and we worried ourselves sick for so long!

Not far away, the gatekeeper looked at the two of them laughing and talking, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

Lin Cheng?