Chapter 608: Side Story: Sword Pavilion
A few days after the arrival of the twelfth disciple, a pair of figures landed on a rocky outcrop that overlooked the valley. The main manor was several hundred meters below on the valley floor. From this vantage point, one could see in all four directions, from the tall snow-capped mountains to the north to the round, verdant mountains that flanked the sect to the east and west.
It was an excellent location, fitting all the requirements for a new sect building, one dedicated to the way of the sword. It would be called the Sword Pavilion and it had been Peng Lingxi's idea.
Chen Wentian looked to the right at his companion, his new disciple. The wind gusted and swept a few strands of black hair across her face. Now that he had gotten over the fact that she wasn't a man, he had come to appreciate her beauty.
She was unique among his disciples. Since it was easy for her to pass as a man, her physique naturally lacked the obvious curves and sexual appeal, even more so than Bei Yingluo. However, Peng Lingxi's slender frame only emphasized her natural grace. Her face could also rival the most beautiful women of the subcontinent and was only inferior to angels such as Jasmine and Long Yifei.
He felt that there wasn't a single thing he would change about her. She was already attractive enough as she was.
"Lingxi, is this the place? It is quite nice." He said.
Peng Lingxi turned to him with a bright smile, "Yes, master. The way of the sword as I have learned emphasizes the four cardinal directions. This place is perfect."
He responded, "Good. Ziyun will handle the construction of the pavilion. Her people will come up with several design proposals and you can choose the one you like. As for the sword truths, aside from Qianyu, I will hold onto the sword truths the others obtained. After the pavilion is finished, we can store them inside."
This was the other consideration for constructing the Sword Pavilion. In addition to serving as a place for practicing sword arts, it would also serve as a place of meditation with the help of the sword truths obtained from the Forest of Swords.
If he added up everyone's contribution including Peng Lingxi, the sect managed to obtain a total of forty-seven sword truths. It was quite a large number but still a finite resource. Each sword truth contained sword energy and sword intent that would be gradually used up. However, if so many were gathered together, their auras would reinforce each other and the degradation would slow to a trickle and last many decades.
There was also another secret that Peng Lingxi knew about, a secret way to replenish the sword truths so that they could last many times longer.
"Are you sure this will work?" Chen Wentian asked as he drew the Purple Jade Sword.
"I think so." Peng Lingxi said and retrieved the thirteen sword truths she had from her own spatial bag.
She stuck them into the ground in a rough semi-circle and stepped back.
"The deceased sect master of the Tower of Swords used to practice with his Desolate Sword within their own version of the Sword Pavilion. He told me that his Spirit Lord Realm heavy sword had been a legacy of the mysterious sword expert known as Dugu Qiushen. As such, there was a mysterious connection between it and these sword truths. Nobody was really sure but after he would finish his cultivation sessions, the sword truths stored there would always be much more vibrant than before."
Chen Wentian stood at the center of the semi-circled made of tree branches and raised his sword, "Alright, then let's give this a try. Watch carefully, this is also senior Dugu's legacy. It is called Dugu's Tenth Sword."
His robes flapped in the wind as a sudden surge of sword intent swept the area. It was thick and impenetrable, with edges keen enough to cut everything in his path. There was no color, no visible sign of danger, but Peng Lingxi could sense it, a supreme sharpness that was suffocating.
She held her breath as she watched, excitement making her heart pound hard and fast. This was her master, her man, performing for her. She was thrilled beyond measure.
Chen Wentian swiped the blade upward and said in an even voice, "First Movement, Slash the World!"
An arc of purple light shot out, sending a massive surge of sword energy toward the sky. It quickly disappeared but not before cleaving the clouds in two.
Before Peng Lingxi could clap, sharpness once again gathered along his purple blade.
"Second Movement, Pierce the Heavens!" He stated as he twirled the blade around his body.
And after a moment of concentration and preparation, he released it all in a narrow beam of purple light that ascended to the endless heavens.
He drew the sword back and sword intent once again gathered around him but with twice as much intensity as the first attack.
"Third Movement, Decimate All Hells!"
The Purple Jade Sword became a blur as it shot a rapid series of attacks, spraying the sky with purple beams of sword light. If this had been directed at the ground or a solid target, it would have been turned to dust with nothing left.
Chen Wentian finished up and put away his sword. Dugu's Tenth Sword only had these three movements but it was enough. Quantity was useless in the face of profound quality. Each movement performed a specific task and there was no overlap.
"Wow..." Peng Lingxi breathed, her eyes shining with happiness, "Wow! That was amazing!"
Chen Wentian smiled. Once again, it always felt great to be praised by a beautiful woman. It never got old. It felt especially good from a new voice too.
He pointed to the sword truths around him and said, "You were right. Look, the sword truths are glowing."
True to his words, the thirteen misshapen tree branches each had a dim glow around them. There were a variety of colors for the various species of trees and unique attributes.
Peng Lingxi studied them for a long time and then turned to him with a peculiar expression, "Master, if I may, could you try your other sword art? I want to see if it could also draw a reaction from these sword truths."
"My other sword art? What other art?" He asked.
She didn't hesitate and said, "That sword art you used within Dugu's Cavern."
He stared at her. That was the last thing he expected. A long-buried memory suddenly surfaced and he remembered.
"That was you! We met back then!" He exclaimed.
Peng Lingxi smiled, "Yes, we did. Though it was only a brief moment, it was enough to leave a deep impression."
"Really?" He asked.
He walked over and stood in front of her. He studied her. She was quite tall so she only needed to tilt her head slightly to stare into his eyes.
"I didn't realize the threads of fate and fortune had already found the two of us. It seems you and I were destined." He said softly, "But I still have to apologize. The origin of that sword art is very sensitive. I can't show it to you right now because not even the other disciples know about it."
She tried to hide it but she was clearly disappointed. He grabbed her hand to try and comfort her. As he held her slender hand in both of his. Her fingers and palm were cool like steel, a sharp contrast to his own which contained a deep warmth fueled by dragon flames.
Her cheeks became pink and she looked away. No man had held her hand so intimately before. Although she was an expert in the way of the sword, she was still a complete novice in the way of romance. Although she had long since chosen him as her man, she was still unprepared for his sudden action.
"Master..." She squeaked.
He smirked, "What's wrong, are you nervous? Didn't you say you wanted to be my concubine?"
"That... that..."
"That what?" He tugged at her hand and pulled her closer. He could now feel her breath and there was only a sliver of daylight between them, "I'm sure you've heard of all the rumors about me and my female disciples, how I am an insatiable beast. Haha. Are you regretting it now?"
Peng Lingxi shook her head. She raised her hand which was still trapped with his and placed it against her chest, "Master, you are nothing like the rumors. Being with you has been my dream ever since that day within Dugu's Cavern. I have admired you for so long and now I am here, so close to you. I have no regrets. No regrets at all. Just as you have said. It is as if the heavens wish for us to be together so how can I have complaints? I am simply happy beyond words. There is nowhere else I would rather be."
Chen Wentian was stunned. He didn't expect this sudden turn and her fervent confession. He felt that he had only just gotten to know her. How could she have such feelings for him already?
"Uh..." He said dumbly, "You sure?"
She tilted her head and smiled a teasing smile, "Master, if you need time, I can wait. Just don't make me wait too long because my heart already belongs to you entirely."
With that, she let go of his hands and ran away, leaving behind a stupefied Chen Wentian who didn't move from his spot for a long time.
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