The reputation of “Bai Xiaosheng” could not be sustained without overwhelming strength. Otherwise, one would inevitably be hacked to death by a flurry of blades for “knowing too much” and “controversial rankings.” Meng Qi glanced at the current “Sword-Shaking Star Sea” Zhuo Chaosheng, then looked down at his own hands, suddenly feeling his physique was too frail to bear such burdens.
Fortunately, he had listed the “Ten-Thousand-Year-Icy Solitude Sword” and the “Endless Eight-Diretions Sword” among the Seven Greatest. The Heaven and Earth Sword Sect and Snow Mountain Sword Sect did not get involved, while the other five major sword sects, although powerful and deep in heritage, ultimately lacked a Celestial Immortal to safeguard them. Surely they wouldn’t mobilize all their forces just because of a casual ranking?
Rankings were like this: the less seriously one took them, the less real they became. If one showed too much concern, others might think the rankings held some truth, spreading like wildfire.
As a newly arrived Dharma Body, if it weren’t for the gathering of numerous Dharma Bodies in Luocheng to jointly pursue the Supreme Devil, his “commentary over wine” within a tavern would have merely become local gossip, never reaching the ears of renowned experts. Now, with several sword sects jointly inviting him for “evaluation,” it seemed this ranking might gain legitimacy.
“Wudao is about striving and surpassing oneself, overcoming hardships, and breaking through limits,” Meng Qi sighed, putting on a serious and solemn expression, seemingly scorning the sects’ obsession with sword ranking.
Zhuo Chaosheng nodded in agreement: “To stir up such a fuss over a mere reputation, I indeed find it hard to watch. That’s why I came to remind you, young friend. However, you needn’t worry for now. They won’t let this distract them from their main mission, giving the Supreme Devil an opportunity.”
Reputation… If I hadn’t listed the “Endless Eight-Diretions Sword” among the top seven, you wouldn’t be here to warn me—you’d be here begging for an evaluation… Meng Qi inwardly grumbled, then smiled and said, “Thank you, Senior, for the reminder.”
“I still have a bit of reputation left. If they hassle you too much later, just mention my name,” Zhuo Chaosheng said with a venerable air, then left satisfied.
Meng Qi watched his figure disappear and couldn’t help but mock himself: “I really am a man who always finds himself in the spotlight, no matter where I go…”
…
The crescent moon sank westward, and the rising sun bathed Luocheng in morning light, dispelling the darkness.
Rather than heading directly to listen to the Benevolent Sage Emperor’s lecture, Meng Qi leisurely strolled to Yaoguang Pavilion. He had already inquired and learned that while the pavilion wasn’t the best, its morning tea and dim sum ranked second to none in Luocheng.
Though he had long surpassed the need for food to satisfy hunger, he could now appreciate delicacies more purely. Arriving in the ancient era, he naturally wanted to taste authentic ancient cuisine and later brag to his little foodie friend back home.
Since he was already here, he might as well try everything thoroughly and make the most of being a “time traveler”!
“Crab Roe Buns,” “Steamed Phoenix Claws with Black Bean Sauce,” “Water Chestnut Cake,” “Fresh Meat Xiao Long Bao”… dish after dish of breakfast delicacies were placed before Meng Qi. A variety of aromas wafted into his nostrils, each scent separating and unfolding its own unique fragrance. Even with his eyes closed and without focusing his spiritual senses, Meng Qi could vividly picture each dish just by smell alone.
Picking up his chopsticks and reaching for a Xiao Long Bao, Meng Qi began leisurely enjoying his breakfast.
But just then, a man in a blue scholar’s robe entered the pavilion, walking straight to Meng Qi’s side. With a smile on his lips but deep eyes, he said, “I implore Daoist Su to evaluate my sect’s ‘Meteor Storm Sword Technique!'”
Before his words had even faded, his left hand summoned a white veil, enveloping both Meng Qi and himself. The surroundings blurred, vaguely showing people coming and going in the pavilion, yet their voices were inaudible, and their forms indistinct, as if suddenly transported to another world.
At the same time, the scholar in the blue robe swung his sword with his right hand. Brilliant swordlight shot skyward, exploding like fireworks and scattering countless blade arcs downward.
These arcs carried immense, overwhelming power, radiating brilliant light. As they descended, they condensed further, finally transforming into actual meteors, seemingly converting energy directly into matter.
The meteors were enormous, ablaze with flames, trailing luminous tails as they rained down from all directions upon Meng Qi, nearly apocalyptic in scale.
He came faster than Zhuo Chaosheng predicted… Meng Qi inwardly sighed at his knack for attracting trouble, already holding an otherworldly five-colored immortal sword. He slashed out casually.
A vast sword beam surged outward, eroding the structure of matter, transforming it back into energy. In an instant, blinding white light filled the area covered by the white veil.
As the light faded and the veil fluttered down, it landed precisely on the blue-robed scholar’s shoulder. He stared blankly, lips tightly pressed. Initially intending to accuse Meng Qi of relying on a Celestial Immortal-grade divine weapon, upon reflection, he was astonished to find that Meng Qi’s sword strike had precisely countered his “Meteor Storm Sword” in reverse, neutralizing it exactly.
To achieve such precision required either a sword cultivation at an astonishingly high level or a sword technique rooted in the fundamental Dao, capable of manifesting others!
As the scholar’s heart churned with emotion, Meng Qi set down his bamboo chopsticks and smiled gently: “The ‘Meteor Storm Sword’ condenses a single arc of swordlight into a collapse that draws upon ten or even a hundredfold the power of heaven and earth, achieving a leverage of four ounces against a thousand jin, thus forming meteors and embodying the mystery of creation. Truly remarkable. Unfortunately, it involves too much circuitous movement, much of it wasted effort. It cannot be called top-tier.”
He had pinpointed the core essence of the “Meteor Storm Sword”… He could see through it at a glance… The scholar suddenly felt disheartened, sighed deeply, and said, “Thank you for your instruction.”
He turned, sword in hand, and walked out of Yaoguang Pavilion.
Meng Qi shook his head, about to resume his breakfast, when he suddenly sensed a familiar presence approaching.
Looking up, He Qi strode toward him with his characteristic boldness!
“How fortunate,” Meng Qi smiled, feeling relaxed.
He had planned to find He Qi through the Benevolent Sage Emperor’s lecture, yet here he was, meeting so effortlessly!
He Qi grinned and sat opposite Meng Qi: “Fortunate? Not at all. Last night, I learned of a certain arrogant fellow named Su Meng who evaluated all sword techniques under heaven, listing the Seven Greatest, instantly becoming famous throughout the city. How could I not find you?”
Meng Qi chuckled dryly, mimicking the manner of Lord Chu Xiang by stroking his nose, feigning wistfulness: “Ah, I seem to have a natural tendency to seek the spotlight, like a firefly in the dark night, impossible to hide.”
I probably don’t need to go out of my way to find Master Lu and the others. With my knack for drawing attention, they’ll come looking for me…
At this, he activated the “Dao Yi Liulideng” and Yuan Xin Seal, secretly transmitting his voice: “Senior, you should understand the current situation, right?”
“I do. We’ve returned to ancient times,” He Qi’s expression turned serious. “Initially, I couldn’t believe it, but after wandering around for a few days and listening to the Benevolent Sage Emperor’s lecture, I no longer doubt.”
Wandering for a few days… Meng Qi nodded slightly, confirming his earlier suspicion. He bore the mark of the Shoreless, resisting the erosion of time to some extent, hence the time difference with others.
“Still, this could be an opportunity. I’ve listened to the Benevolent Sage Emperor’s lecture and exchanged insights with experts from other sword sects. I’ve gained much,” He Qi sighed, then turned solemn. “But I’m worried that villains like Gourdo and Han Guang might try to alter history. The inheritances of the Zhenwu Sect, the Sword-Washing Pavilion, the remains of the Celestial Court beneath Jade Emperor Mountain, and the “Sanqing Manifestation” technique within the tomb of Master Chunyang have yet to appear. If they seize them prematurely, there will be no Zhenwu Sect, no Su Wuming, no Chonghe.”
“And without them, we would have suffered a crushing defeat in the previous righteous-evil battle array, our existence corrected and erased directly by the flow of time.”
Meng Qi frowned: “Such a drastic alteration of history would incur unimaginable resistance and correction forces. Even if they succeed, they might not survive afterward. Are they planning mutual destruction?”
He then grew increasingly serious: “But Gourdo wields the Heaven’s Curse Axe. With its protection, he might dare attempt it, having a certain chance of survival.”
“Therefore, we must find them quickly and return to the future,” He Qi exhaled.
Meng Qi nodded and casually asked, “Senior, have you encountered Master Yunhe since arriving in ancient times? He was with you in my sleeve.”
“He and I were together initially, but he acted mysteriously, telling me to come to Luocheng first,” He Qi said, puzzled.
So Master Yunhe indeed knew about the siege of the Supreme Devil in Luocheng… Meng Qi suddenly understood.
After a moment of puzzlement, He Qi furrowed his brows: “Yunhe has always been greedy for treasures. I’m a bit worried he might go seeking ancient relics and legacies, thereby altering history.”
Meng Qi couldn’t help twitching his lips. Had Yunhe’s greedy image become so deeply ingrained?
“Don’t worry, Senior. Master Yunhe still knows how to prioritize the bigger picture,” Meng Qi reassured.
Suddenly, He Qi let out a soft exclamation: “Yunhe told me to pay attention to Madam Wang’s tofu shop in Luocheng.”
Madam Wang’s tofu shop? For some reason, Meng Qi suddenly felt a chill run through his heart.
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