Chapter 78: Heroic Spirit
Cui Jing and Ji Xiao faced each other across the Tianjing. Raising their swords, they saluted in accordance with Han Shan’s ritual for sparring among fellow disciples.
The Red Flame Sword gleamed in the golden light of dawn, its fiery blade blazing as if wreathed in living flames.
Cui Jing said, “You’ve practiced swordsmanship too briefly. By rights, I shouldn’t be crossing swords with you.”
Ji Xiao said nothing, only nodded politely. The Hundred Generations of Time—a sword lightened and refined by countless tempers—looked too slim and delicate in his hand, as though he should instead be wielding a steadier, heavier blade.
Watching, Meng Xueli suddenly recalled the image of Xiao Tingyun holding the Endless Sky Sword. To his surprise, the thought struck him as perfectly harmonious. When they returned to Han Shan, as the champion of the grand competition, he could finally rightfully claim the Endless Sky Sword—and then place it in Xiao Tingyun’s hands. So he thought.
From the courtyard well came a piercing clash of blades. Cui Jing darted forward, and when he was three feet from Ji Xiao, his body abruptly rose into the air. He struck first—his red blade descending from above in a blaze, like a wildfire igniting the world, bathing the stone courtyard in scarlet flames.
The spectators erupted. Many, watching Cui Jing fight for the first time, could not help but exclaim: “Truly worthy of his reputation!”
Meng Xueli, “He’s opening with ‘Wildfire Spreads Across the Plains.’ He must want a swift victory, so he can move on to fight me. Only, unfortunately…”
Before he finished, Ji Xiao advanced instead of retreating. His sword shifted ever so slightly, colliding with Cui Jing’s head-on. The screech of steel grinding against steel rang out—harsh enough to set teeth on edge. Then the Hundred Generations of Time slid lightly past the Red Flame Sword. Ji Xiao twisted his wrist, flicking upward with elegance; the strike was as gentle as spring rain, and in that instant, the wildfire was quenched.
Some among the crowd gasped in confusion: “How did he manage to deflect Cui Jing’s sword?!”
In the Jingsi Valley, Yu Qishu wielded the Endless Sky Sword, deflecting the Seabound Silence Sword to free Qian Yuzhi from a desperate bind.
Meng Xueli frowned. Something about this duel felt off.
The battle pressed on, blow for blow. The Red Flame Sword surged like a dragon of fire, immense and overwhelming. By contrast, the Hundred Generations of Time glittered in fragments of light, as if scattered blossoms were drifting on the wind.
But only Cui Jing, locked in combat, felt the mounting pressure. His opponent’s gaze wavered—sometimes not even on him, but straying northward, toward Han Shan.
The crowd believed the two evenly matched. But Meng Xueli said, “Ji Xiao is pressing Cui Jing back.”
Jing Di nodded silently. Though reluctant to admit it, he knew: anyone who could suppress Cui Jing like this could likely suppress him as well.
Most people scoffed in disbelief. Someone said, “Elder Meng, your disciple may respect you, but surely you can’t…”—they left the rest unsaid, but their eyes accused him of blind favoritism.
Meng Xueli, “If you can’t read the footwork or sword forms, then just fix your eyes on one blade’s trajectory. Watch long enough, then switch to the other.”
Moments later, someone cried out, “It’s true! Daoist Xiao controls the pace of the fight—he’s leading his opponent’s advances and retreats!”
Suddenly, the battle shifted. Xiao Tingyun unleashed three rapid thrusts, swift as wind through a forest.
Meng Xueli exclaimed, “There it is! The turning point! Cui Jing showed a flaw—he’s retreating with his lightness technique, and Xiao Tingyun lunges in mid-air with another thrust. Wait—off target?!”
But Xiao Tingyun’s movement flowed on, seamless and unbroken. Meng Xueli corrected himself: “So it wasn’t off target. That thrust was exactly where he meant it to be, so it must be for…” He trailed off, nearly unable to explain. “Ahem—for intimidating his opponent.” Surely not for striking some unseen enemy.
The duel’s rhythm settled again into its earlier balance. They clashed, appearing evenly matched, to the wonder of the crowd—and their confusion. Yes, it could play out like this. But why must it?
Someone asked, “Why doesn’t Daoist Xiao press his advantage and finish it quickly?”
Meng Xueli’s head throbbed. I don’t know either. He said, “This is an exhibition match. Watch the sword trails, and feel the intent behind them. The Red Flame Sword—fierce, bold, unyielding. The Hundred Generations of Time—harmonious, fluid, turning aside force with gentleness, using four ounces to move a thousand pounds…”
Just as Ji Xiao had said before, Cui Jing fought with the brilliance of the arena—beautiful, dazzling. But Ji Xiao fought with his mind divided: part of him fixed on Han Shan, thousands of miles away. Here and now, he had to slow the pace. When the spectators focused carefully, those with higher cultivation saw the difference. Cui Jing’s sleeves whirled, his footwork agile, his sword a torrent of scarlet fire. It was undeniably beautiful—like something polished, calculated, and perfected to match a cultivator’s ideal of elegance.
Xiao Tingyun’s beauty was of a different kind. Each motion looked casual, effortless—but seemed, unknowingly, to align with the profound truths of heaven.
Drawn along by his rhythm, Cui Jing’s sword grew faster and faster. His spirit followed, and in some unseen way, he felt on the brink of revelation—transcending the very matter of winning or losing.
The tempo surged. Yu Qishu nearly failed to keep pace with the Endless Sky Sword, but the force of the jiao’s core surged into her blade like a tide. With Qian Yuzhi assisting from the side, Daoist Revered Tai Heng faced two at once. His protective essence was pierced; unwilling to continue, he wrenched himself free in fury. With a thunderous whistle tearing from his lips, he barked: “Cover the retreat—board the ship!”
With a thunderous crash, he took the strike of the Endless Sky Sword head-on, and his figure suddenly shot into the heavens, smashing straight through the great hall’s roof.
The Supreme Elder’s massive flying vessel descended. His clan’s nephews, disciples, and younger generations had already suffered heavy casualties in the fight against the Five Peaks faction. Knowing the tide had turned, they rushed to board the ship in a panic. The higher-ranked elders of his family stayed behind to cover the retreat—clearly this had been planned in advance. The colossal ship rumbled to life, shuddering violently as it shot skyward.
Yu Qishu chased with the Endless Sky Sword out of the hall. Seeing the situation turn dire, he decisively let go. As expected, the divine weapon lifted itself again, transforming into a streak of swordlight that pursued the fleeing ship.
Yet Yu Qishu did not feel relieved at all. Instead, he stood frozen, staring blankly into the night sky.
From the receding cloud ship, a hoarse voice descended: “Ji Xiao has colluded with the demon clans—his Dao companion is none other than a demon. The day Meng Xueli shows his face, the truth will be revealed! You are all blind and deluded! From this day forth, Han Shan shall know chaos!”
The shrill voice echoed across the valleys, reverberating endlessly: “The chaos of Han Shan begins today—!”
Only then did Yu Qishu snap out of it. He let loose a furious string of curses: “Bullshit! Turtle bastard—!”
Outside the hall, several elders tended to injured disciples. The younger disciples who had escaped without serious harm now crowded tightly around Yu Qishu.
Surrounded by their fervent gazes, Yu Qishu suddenly felt embarrassed and shut his mouth. Yet because of his dazzling display just now, the young disciples only thought he looked taller, brighter, almost radiant—so even his swearing felt full of heroic spirit.
After losing the duel, Cui Jing saluted Xiao Tingyun, and Ji Xiao accepted the gesture calmly. Leaving the courtyard, he returned the Hundred Generations of Time and carefully unfastened Meng Xueli’s cloak. In a low voice, he asked: “Did I fight beautifully?”
Meng Xueli had not expected that question. Rubbing his nose awkwardly, he answered, “That’s… unnecessary.”
Ji Xiao nodded, a little crestfallen. He wondered, What am I doing wrong?
When they had seen Cui Jing earlier escorting the mining squad, Meng Xueli had casually praised his fighting style as “beautiful.” Ji Xiao had etched those words deep into his heart.
Winning with the Hundred Generations of Time inside the secret realm, driving back an enemy from thousands of miles away with the Endless Sky Sword—these were no small feats. But Ji Xiao believed the most important thing was that his little Dao companion thought his swordplay looked beautiful.
The Chongbi Peak Master emerged from the hall, supporting the Sect Leader. Yueque and Liulan Peak Master flanked them protectively. The Sect Leader’s face was pale, yet he lovingly clasped Yu Qishu’s hand: “It was you who awakened the Endless Sky Sword and saved our sect in this crisis.”
Yu Qishu, battered and aching all over, felt like his body was about to fall apart. He answered honestly:
“It actually came out on its own! I was just muddleheaded the whole time…”
The Sect Leader only smiled gently: “We all saw it. Good child, there’s no need to be modest. We all owe you our thanks.”
Yu Qishu wanted to cry: “But it really wasn’t me—I don’t deserve thanks!”
……
Deep in the sea, the third jiao huddled together, its body curled tightly after losing its inner core, sobbing softly.
The eldest jiao snapped, “Stop crying already! When he comes back, just beg him to return it to you!”
The third jiao whimpered, “Why should I beg? He owes me that!”
The second jiao mocked, “Wake up. We’re in the human realm. Here, the debtor is king, and the creditor has to grovel like a beggar just to collect.”
The eldest jiao sighed regretfully, “That delicious-smelling human flesh—so close, yet untouchable. We’ve sacrificed too much.”
The third jiao nodded through tears, “It’s worth it… for the chance to ascend into true dragonhood.”
Suddenly, the eldest’s ears twitched at a noise. He whipped his tail nervously: “The sword is coming back! Move aside, quickly!”
Author’s Note:
Ji Xiao: “It still wasn’t beautiful enough. After I ascend, I’ll blow up a star and set off fireworks.”
Ferret: “Unnecessary. Really, that’s completely unnecessary.”
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
