Chapter 228: Sword Qi Unleashed

Apologies for the delay.

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The Maoshan Sect traces its origins to the Shangqing tradition, venerating Yuan Shi Tianzun as its guardian deity. Its most renowned scripture is the “Shangqing Dadao Zhen Jing,” supplemented by practices derived from the “Lingbao” and “Sanhuang” scriptures. Within the sect, there are the Four Sacred Treasures of the Mountain—namely the “Seal,” the “Gui (ceremonial tablet),” the “Sword,” and the “Talismans.” These treasures, passed down from ancient times, have been refined by generations of sect leaders until they have achieved spiritual sentience, becoming genuine magical treasures.

Zhuo Wanchun hailed originally from Jurong and had cultivated on Maoshan since childhood. However, his personality was somewhat rigid and he was deeply devoted to Daoist techniques, leading him to avoid worldly affairs. Though his name remained obscure, his cultivation progressed rapidly. Such a mindset, while conducive to early advancement, often led to stagnation after reaching significant milestones, such as forming the Nascent Soul.

It was for this reason that he changed his name and descended from the mountain, seeking his destined path in the mundane world.

However, having lived secluded in the mountains, he found the outside world far different from what he had imagined. When people spoke of Daoism, they invariably praised the Celestial Masters of Dragon and Tiger Mountains first. His own Maoshan Sect was not only considered secondary, but many commoners viewed Maoshan Daoism merely as a technique for exorcising ghosts and evils. Furthermore, some unscrupulous wandering priests falsely claimed affiliation with Maoshan, using its name to swindle and deceive. Zhuo Wanchun, already inclined towards rigidity, regarded these charlatans as enemies and harbored resentment toward the Dragon and Tiger Mountains.

Nonetheless, Zhuo Wanchun was exceptionally intelligent and different from ordinary men. Rather than openly proclaiming his Maoshan heritage, he concealed his sect identity and disguised himself as an exorcist priest. Whenever he encountered someone claiming to be a Maoshan Daoist skilled in ghost hunting, he would challenge them—either through ghost-catching contests or magical duels—until he exposed them as impostors.

Over the years, Zhuo Wanchun’s natural talent, combined with his solid foundation from Maoshan, allowed him to develop unique Daoist skills. This journey further enhanced his cultivation. When he later crafted his own magical weapon, recalling that Maoshan’s Four Sacred Treasures were all made of jade, he innovated by using five-essence jade essence to forge a jade banner.

Whenever he hunted ghosts, he used this banner to suppress and absorb their malevolent energies into the banner itself. Gradually, the banner became attuned to his spirit, capable of manifesting the four treasures—seal, tablet, sword, and talisman—though not reaching the level of fully sentient magical artifacts, they were already rare and powerful tools. His relentless pursuit of ghosts and impostor Maoshan priests earned him growing fame, and he eventually became known as the “Little Immortal,” though no one ever discovered his true origins from Maoshan.

How Tao Zhongwen uncovered his background and formed an alliance with him remains a mystery.

Now arriving in Lu’an, Zhuo Wanchun harbored high expectations. Secretly communicating with Maoshan allies, he aimed to elevate the sect’s reputation through this confrontation. Upon seeing Mei Qing emerge, he sought to assert his dominance immediately. After a few words exchanged in discord, he swiftly ascended into the air, shaking his shoulders, and summoned a massive jade banner into the sky.

Mei Qing merely smirked, harboring similar ambitions in his heart. Briefly instructing Zhang Yuchong through mental communication, Mei Qing mounted his spirit crane and rose into the air, facing Zhuo Wanchun from a distance.

Tao Zhongwen and Zhang Yuchong exchanged glances and simultaneously acted, each displaying their prowess to seal the surrounding area.

Cultivators had their own rules of engagement, the most basic being to conceal their actions and avoid drawing public attention.

Thus, as the two prepared to fight, both sides simultaneously cast sealing spells—not only to prevent the combat’s energy from harming bystanders, but also to suppress any light or sound that might alert the mundane world.

Determined to make an immediate impact, Zhuo Wanchun unleashed his full force. With both hands hidden in his sleeves, forming magical seals, he chanted aloud: “Bound above by the Three Realms, born below into myriad things; emerging in chaos, returning in stillness. By the command of Yuan Shi Tianzun!”

Instantly, a massive jade sword, over a zhang in length, emerged from the banner, slicing through the air with a bluish-green arc, shrieking like a gust of wind sweeping across the wilderness, aimed directly at Mei Qing.

As the sword struck, eerie winds and ghostly mists surged from the blade, swirling with strange, grotesque apparitions appearing and vanishing around it, as if attempting to devour heaven and earth, sending ripples of chaotic energy throughout the area, creating a terrifying spectacle.

Zhang Yuchong, Liu Xing, and others watching from below felt increasing concern for Mei Qing. Although Mei Qing’s cultivation had progressed rapidly, matching or even surpassing Zhuo Wanchun’s, martial prowess, experience, magical tools, and techniques were all essential in battle—mere high cultivation alone did not guarantee victory.

Just considering Zhuo Wanchun’s jade banner, which contained countless trapped ghostly souls, was already a formidable challenge for Mei Qing.

Yet Mei Qing appeared surprisingly relaxed, watching the approaching sword with a faint smile.

I apologize for the delay. Here is the translation:

The Maoshan Sect, inheriting the Shangqing tradition, venerates the Primordial Lord as its guardian deity. Its most renowned scripture is the *Shangqing Great Cavern Scripture*, and it also practices the *Lingbao* and *Three Sovereigns* scriptures and rituals. The sect is traditionally known for its four treasures: the Seal, the Scepter, the Sword, and the Talisman. These artifacts, passed down through generations and refined by successive masters, have reached a spiritual level and are considered true magical instruments.

Zhuo Wanchun, a native of Jurong, began his cultivation on Maoshan from a young age. However, his somewhat extreme personality and deep obsession with Daoist practices kept him isolated, leaving him relatively unknown despite his rapid progress. Such a temperament, while beneficial in the early stages, made further advancement difficult after reaching the Infant Stage. Thus, he changed his name and descended the mountain, seeking his destiny in the secular world.

Having lived in seclusion, he was shocked to find that reality differed greatly from his expectations. When people spoke of Daoism, they primarily revered the Celestial Masters of Longhu Mountain, while the Shangqing Maoshan Sect was not only ranked lower but was often dismissed as mere ghost-catching and exorcism. Worse, some charlatans falsely claimed to be Maoshan practitioners, tarnishing the sect’s reputation. Zhuo Wanchun, already prone to extremism, viewed these imposters as enemies and harbored resentment toward Longhu Mountain.

Despite his temperament, Zhuo Wanchun was exceptionally intelligent and unconventional. Instead of promoting the Maoshan Sect, he concealed his affiliation and posed as a ghost-catching Daoist. Whenever he encountered someone claiming to be a Maoshan practitioner skilled in exorcism, he challenged them, either through ghost-catching contests or magical duels, forcing them to admit their fraudulence.

Years passed, and Zhuo Wanchun, with his innate talent and solid Maoshan foundation, developed unique Daoist techniques. This journey honed his skills, and when crafting his own magical instrument, inspired by Maoshan’s jade treasures, he ingeniously created a jade banner using the essence of five refined jades. During exorcisms, he used this banner to absorb ghostly energy, gradually merging it with his spirit. Although it didn’t reach the level of a spiritual artifact, it became a rare first-class instrument. Through his relentless pursuit of ghosts and imposters, he gained fame as the “Little Immortal,” though his Maoshan origins remained unknown.

How Tao Zhongwen discovered his true identity and allied with him remains a mystery.

When Zhuo Wanchun arrived in Lu’an, he harbored high ambitions and secretly communicated with Maoshan members, aiming to elevate the sect’s reputation in this battle. Seeing Mei Qing emerge, he sought to establish his dominance. After a brief, unfriendly exchange, he soared into the air, summoning a massive jade banner.

Mei Qing smirked, sharing the same intent. After a brief mental exchange with Zhang Yuchong, he appeared atop a spiritual crane, facing Zhuo Wanchun from a distance.

Tao Zhongwen and Zhang Yuchong exchanged glances and acted simultaneously, sealing the surroundings to prevent collateral damage and maintain secrecy, as per the unspoken rules of cultivators’ duels.

Zhuo Wanchun, intent on making a strong impression, attacked without hesitation. Concealing his hands in his sleeves, he chanted, “Above, unite the Three Origins; below, give birth to all things. Outward, chaos; inward, stillness. By the decree of the Primordial Lord!” A massive jade sword, spanning several meters, emerged from the banner, releasing a greenish sword aura accompanied by eerie howls, as if ghosts and demons swirled around it, creating a terrifying spectacle.

Zhang Yuchong and Liu Xing, witnessing this, grew concerned for Mei Qing. Despite Mei Qing’s rapid progress and comparable, if not superior, cultivation level, combat required more than just cultivation—experience, artifacts, and techniques were equally crucial. Zhuo Wanchun’s jade banner, infused with countless ghostly spirits, posed a significant threat.

Mei Qing, however, appeared calm and even amused. Standing on his crane, he raised his left palm and softly chanted, “Divine Thunder of the Five Elements, the Universe in My Palm, strike!” A black mist appeared before him, though the seasoned cultivators present recognized it as a delicate balance of the five elements, a testament to Mei Qing’s exceptional control and power.

As Zhuo Wanchun’s sword aura collided with the black mist, the green light intensified, and the eerie sounds grew louder. Zhuo Wanchun, with a fierce shout, “Primordial Truth, Uphold Righteousness!” directed his fingers toward the sword hilt, causing the sword aura to expand dramatically, filling the sky with green light and deafening howls.

Mei Qing, however, had no intention of a direct confrontation. With a gentle command, his crane flapped its wings, and the black mist absorbed the leading sword aura and ghostly apparitions, rendering them silent and invisible. Mei Qing then gracefully retreated, evading the remaining sword aura.

Frustrated, Zhuo Wanchun redirected the massive jade sword, launching another attack. Mei Qing remained composed, using the black mist and his crane to deflect and dissipate the sword aura, avoiding direct clashes and infuriating Zhuo Wanchun.

Finally, Zhuo Wanchun, unable to tolerate Mei Qing’s evasive tactics, split the jade sword into multiple copies, filling the sky with countless swords aimed at Mei Qing. Mei Qing, however, simply laughed and summoned dozens of smaller cranes, each leading away several swords, leaving only a few for the black mist to absorb.

Zhuo Wanchun, nearly enraged, realized the futility of his efforts. The mental strain of controlling so many swords was immense, and Mei Qing’s strategy of using illusions to divert them was far more efficient. Gritting his teeth, Zhuo Wanchun declared, “Fine, Mei Qing, you win this round. But don’t get too cocky—take this!”

A black mist appeared before him.

However, Zhang Yuchong, Tao Zhongwen, and the others, being accomplished cultivators, could clearly see that this black mist actually contained five colors, indicating Mei Qing had forcefully separated the Five Elements while maintaining their balance, resulting in the black mist before them.

This technique, though seemingly simple, required immense power to break the Five Elements and exceptional control to maintain their equilibrium. From this alone, Mei Qing’s current cultivation level was likely matched by only a handful across the land.

Tao Zhongwen and Liu Xing, practitioners of Plum Blossom Thunder techniques derived from the Shenxiao sect, were particularly impressed and alarmed.

Li Daoding and Zhang Jingding, while not as perceptive as Zhang and Tao, still recognized the difficulty involved, feeling a mix of awe and admiration.

In fact, Mei Qing’s technique was inspired by what he had witnessed when Zhang Liusun had broken Xu Fu’s magic. However, Zhang Liusun’s technique was both offensive and defensive, fluid and versatile, while Mei Qing’s was somewhat inferior in flexibility, leaning more towards defense.

In the blink of an eye, the leading edges of Zhuo Wanchun’s jade sword’s green light had already twisted and pierced into Mei Qing’s black mist.

Instantly, brilliant green light flared, accompanied by metallic screeches. Zhuo Wanchun raised two fingers, shouting: “Yuan Shi Chong Zhen, Chong Zheng Long Xing!” and pointed them toward the sword’s hilt.

The swordlight erupted violently, expanding dozens of zhang in an instant, filling the air with chaotic sword qi, casting a bluish haze across the sky, accompanied by piercing cries that were almost unbearable.

Seeing Zhuo Wanchun’s intent to end the fight in one strike, Mei Qing had no intention of clashing head-on. As his spirit crane flapped its wings, the five-colored light within the black mist rotated once, effortlessly absorbing the leading sword qi and the wailing ghostly faces into the mist, vanishing without a trace.

At this moment, Mei Qing softly called out: “Ji!” and, along with his crane, gracefully soared aside, effortlessly evading the violent green swordlight, retreating several zhang away.

Zhuo Wanchun had intended to teach Mei Qing a lesson with his first strike, pouring nearly seventy to eighty percent of his spiritual energy into it. But Mei Qing, rather than confronting him directly, merely neutralized the initial sword qi using the Five Elements, then swiftly withdrew. Zhuo Wanchun’s forceful strike met empty air, nearly causing his internal energy to spiral out of control. He quickly stabilized himself by circulating his golden elixir, regaining control. Seeing Mei Qing now safely outside the sword’s range, he felt both humiliated and enraged, roaring: “Where do you think you’re going!”

With a quick twist of his fingers, he pointed forward, and the massive jade sword in the sky turned, emitting a howling sound as it surged toward Mei Qing once again.

Yet Mei Qing remained calm and composed, his black mist unchanged, skillfully maneuvering his spirit crane to evade, dissipating much of Zhuo Wanchun’s sword qi and ghostly energy without engaging directly, further infuriating Zhuo Wanchun, who continued to shout in rage.

“Right embracing seven po, left grasping three hun. Let my spirit and form eternally remain. Zhe!”

After several failed attempts, seeing Mei Qing still appearing relaxed, Zhuo Wanchun could no longer contain himself. With a quick hand seal and incantation, the massive jade sword suddenly split into two identical swords.

The two swords attacked from front and back, but before long, each split again into two more jade swords.

Within moments, the sky was filled with dozens, perhaps hundreds of jade swords, each radiating fierce sword qi, their green light flashing, blocking every possible escape route for Mei Qing.

Seeing this, Mei Qing laughed heartily: “Hmph, trying to overwhelm me with numbers? Let’s see!”

With a light pat on his spirit crane, suddenly dozens of smaller cranes appeared around him, each identical in appearance and energy signature to his mount.

With a wave of his sleeve, these small cranes scattered in all directions.

Each crane lured away several jade swords. These small cranes were cunning, flying erratically, drawing the swords further and further away.

Soon, most of the jade swords had been led astray by the small cranes, leaving only a dozen or so, which were once again swallowed silently by Mei Qing’s black mist.

Zhuo Wanchun nearly choked with fury. Controlling so many swords required immense energy. His original plan had been to force Mei Qing into a direct confrontation by overwhelming him. But Mei Qing’s trick with the cranes—mere illusions infused with a trace of his spiritual essence—effectively lured the swords away, consuming his mental energy far more than expected. Continuing this battle would only exhaust him faster than his opponent.

Gritting his teeth, Zhuo Wanchun growled: “Fine, fine, Mei Qing—you win this round! But don’t get too smug. Witness my ultimate strike!”