Chapter 601: Final Night
As Chen Wentian's primary soul drifted away to paradise, his other souls were still hard at work. This day was the last day for the entrants to the Forest of Swords and this night was their final one. The demon ambush that had taken place outside in Everblade City was unknown to those within the secret realm but immortals outside also had no idea what had occurred inside the forest or what was occurring at this very moment.
Because they would be expelled the next morning, there was no rest for all the competitors. Some were desperately searching for one last sword truth. Others were desperately defending their profits, either fleeing or directly clashing with their opponents. There was even a group in the midst of an unrelenting, ferocious battle.
There were still a few hours till dawn. A small group consisting of Lin Qingcheng, Li Yuechan, Su Yue, and Peng Xiling of all people, had their backs against a cliff overlooking a waterfall. A veritable army surrounded them on three sides. They consisted of disciples from all four of the Four Greats.
Swords were drawn and glinted under the moonlight. Fallen, unmoving bodies littered the ground. Blood flowed into streams and spilled over the edge of the tall precipice. A heavy, gloomy aura hung in the air, a testament to the combined mortal might of so many sword cultivators that had assembled under regrettable circumstances.
The front row of seven or so disciples of the Four Greats stepped over their fallen brothers and sisters and stalked toward Lin Qingcheng and her group. Their swords waved in front of them, taking the shape of the unique sword arts of each sect. Their ugly expressions were filled with killing intent but their eyes belied a great sense of panic and uncertainty.
A cloud drifted over the moon, plunging the battlefield into darkness. With a flurry of spiritual energy, the two sides clashed together. The trio of Lin Qingcheng, Li Yuechan, and Su Yue blocked four attackers between them each while Peng Xiling managed to resist three at the same time. The sound of swords clashing together created a perilous concert.
Peng Xiling defeated three no-named sword disciples in quick succession and then went over to assist Lin Qingcheng. In the midst of it all, a phantom clad in glittering golden scales slithered to and fro, defending the three women against wayward stray sword strikes. It didn't take too long before seven more bodies fell to the ground to join their compatriots.
A hush fell over the battlefield and the two sides eyed each other warily.
The quiet was broken by a small, frightened voice from somewhere within the large crowd of disciples of the Four Greats, "Senior brother, this is insane! Let's just leave!"
Before anyone could respond, another person chimed in, "Yeah! We're just dying without reason, it's impossible!"
"Silence!" A furious roar made all of them quiver. A tall man with a beard near the front let out a burst of spiritual energy and a defiant fighting aura, "All four sect masters have given out the same order. Don't pretend like any of you have suddenly. These women of Ten Thousand Flower Valley must die at all costs! No exceptions! Even if your bones grind to dust and shed every single drop of blood in your body, you still have to fight until you draw your last breath!"
Another senior-brother-level figure stood tall and added with their own booming voice, "That's right! Our lives do not matter if it is for the glory of the sect. Our families will be richly rewarded for our sacrifice, the sect masters have all promised and their words are as good as gold. Do not waver, do not retreat! Attack!"
This was followed by a rousing shout from the disciples of the Four Greats. Buoyed by their leaders and peer pressure, they had no path of retreat. Another squad of them charged ahead to attack Lin Qingcheng and her group.
Swords clashed and blood flowed. Time seemed to slow as the fight went on and on without end. A tinge of morning glow appeared on the eastern horizon but the sun refused to show its face.
Blasts of ice and snow swept the battle, at the behest of Li Yuechan and Su Yue. They still utilized their ice swords for close-range defense but they had largely abandoned pretenses and no longer fought as sword cultivators but as cultivators of a supreme ice Dao. Nobody could approach them unless their strength was at the peak of the Spirit Initiate Realm or at the lesser realm. Li Yuechan was especially formidable since her breakthrough could easily freeze people into icicles if they were not careful.
Although she still had qualms about killing people needlessly, she understood the severity of the situation so her attacks were filled with much more deadly intent than before. These disciples of the Four Greats were also unredeemable. They had constantly attacked her and her sisters the last few days, culminating in a combined assault on the final evening. Her patience had already run out so she didn't hold back.
Compared to Li Yuechan, Peng Lingxi's attacks had always been ruthless and to the point. She didn't enjoy slaughter but she enjoyed fighting. The way of the sword was something that couldn't be honed through self-practice or hacking away at a wooden dummy. It was a path of bloodshed and endless battles.
"Hmph," Peng Lingxi snorted with indifference as her sword dispatched another hapless person.
As a disciple of the Tower of Swords, she thought little of those from the Four Greats as they had been rivals for countless generations. No matter how many she killed, her master would not blame her. In the process, she was also helping Chen Wentian's disciples and further ingratiating herself with them. It was truly killing two birds with one sword. There could be no better situation.
"Watch out!" Lin Qingcheng suddenly cried.
A layer of golden energy extended from her arm and arrived behind Peng Lingxi, blocking a sneak attack. However, Peng Lingxi had already been aware so her sword had also arrived at the same location without even the need to turn around.
"Sister Lin, thank you for your assistance," Peng Lingxi said with a handsome smile, "Your defensive treasure is so wonderous. I am in awe every time you use it."
Lin Qingcheng chuckled, "My friend, you are so carefree and straightforward with your words. If my master heard you calling me Sister Lin this and Sister Lin that, I think he will be very unhappy."
"Hahaha," Peng Lingxi laughed brightly as she blasted the opponent who had sneak attacked her far away, "Since you consider me a friend, I am already satisfied. But if you can call me Brother Peng one time, I shall be the happiest man in the world!"
Lin Qingcheng rolled her eyes. If this had been any other man saying such words, she might have punched their face directly. However, this was Peng Xiling, a beauty pretending to be a man so she naturally didn't mind. In fact, she liked their personality and felt it was a great loss that such a talent was the disciple of another immortal. It would be amazing if Peng Xiling could become her master's disciple but she knew this was too much to ask for.
During a lull in the fighting, Li Yuechan also joined their conversation, "Sir Peng, Sister Lin is playful but her words are true. My master is a peculiar person and he dislikes men. It is best not to act too familiar with us in his presence or else it will definitely leave a bad impression on him."
"Aiya, Immortal Chen is truly great. He treasures his disciples so much! I am unbearably jealous!" Peng Lingxi cried out.
Her tone was light-hearted but it caused an uncontrollable surge of sour feelings. She wasn't really jealous of Lin Qingcheng, Li Yuechan, or Su Yue. Her chosen man was the most handsome and capable in the world so it was natural for him to attract so many beauties and talents. It wasn't possible to have him to herself so she never had such a wish. She simply wanted to be in their shoes, to be by his side every day. Being around them these past few days only made those feelings stronger and stronger.
The four women each had their own thoughts as they continued to defend a thin stretch of ground. With the power of the Golden Serpent Robe, there was never going to be any real threat from the schemes of the Four Greats. The chosen location beside a cliff merely gave Lin Qingcheng and the rest a suitable location to adequately defend and hone their skills and instincts through battle.
Eventually, the stubborn morning sun finally rose completely above the hills and endless forest. As the whole secret realm was cast in a warm, orange glow, all the entrants felt a rising surge of mysterious energy all around them.
"We're too late!" A disciple from the Mount Yun Sect exclaimed.
"No!"
"Kill them now!"
"Charge!"
They shouted furiously and surged forward.
But it was indeed too late as everything suddenly disappeared as a great burst of sword might, which could seemingly split the heavens and open the void, swept over everything in an instant.
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