Volume Two: Snow Over the Qin River, Chapter Twelve: The Sword Debate at the Peaks (Part Six)

There is much discussion about Feng Qi. It is not merely a conversation between the peak masters, but more so the exclamation of the disciples.

Even those unfamiliar with the true swords of each peak could tell from the scene before them just how astonishing the techniques Feng Qi was displaying were. Once the discussions from Wind-Thunder Peak and Wuhen Peak spread, the entire Snow Cloud Sect was in an uproar.

They had never imagined that someone could wield two true swords simultaneously.

Compared to his battle with Mo Gu, Feng Qi’s control over these two true swords had improved significantly. At the very least, the "Silent Sword Treasury" would not trigger on its own, and the "Sword Treading Mountains and Rivers" would not reveal its edge prematurely.

He was waiting.

Waiting for any of the swords in the "Annihilation Scene" to fall. That would be the moment to strike.

Perhaps guessing Feng Qi’s intention, the thousands of swords forming the gladiatorial arena all began to hum in unison. From out of nowhere, a sword flew out, piercing directly toward Feng Qi’s throat.

"Hah!" Feng Qi let out a roar.

The Silent Sword Treasury opened wide, and a surge of sword intent flew from its dual wings, slashing at the incoming blade. The sword intent had no physical form, and the Annihilation Scene, composed of sword shadows, also lacked physical substance—yet a jarring, metallic clang echoed above the Sword-Washing Creek!

Immediately after, a second sword shot from the Annihilation Scene, and a second surge of sword intent flew from the Treasury. Several straight sword marks appeared on both banks of the Sword-Washing Creek, and the current quickened slightly.

Then the third, fourth, and fifth swords emerged, followed by ten thousand swords like a surging tide. Correspondingly, the sword intent from the Silent Sword Treasury streamed out one after another, whistling as it slashed toward Wu Fan.

The sword intent and sword shadows wove a vast river of blades in mid-air, churning the waters of the Sword-Washing Creek and sending countless ripples outward.

A light descended from Wuhen Peak, carrying a majestic primordial energy that froze the mountains, rivers, and the trickling stream in place. Guan Men waved his sleeve, thinking to himself: *You two little brats think you can turn the world upside down? Maybe in a few years, but not now!*

It was unclear which surge of sword intent collided with which sword to become the final straw, but the river of blades shattered with a boom, turning into a torrential rain of swords. The Sword-Washing Creek remained frozen, without a single wave stirring.

Wu Fan panted heavily, thinking that he had indeed been too careless, and that this prince from Yanbei was truly formidable. But he had forgotten one thing.

He had forgotten that Feng Qi was not merely using the Silent Sword Treasury.

And so, the sword intent rose again.

Dozens more deep and shallow sword marks were added to the banks of the Sword-Washing Creek. A gale blew. Sword energy filled the air. A straight path of blades formed between Feng Qi and Wu Fan, brimming with ferocious intent.

The watching disciples cried out in shock, thinking that even if Wu Fan had questioned him, there was no need for such a lethal blow. Wu Fan was not well-liked, but that did not mean anyone wanted him dead. In the past, when a Hunyuan-realm disciple of the Snow Cloud Sect had died in Youzhou during a sword-offering ceremony, all five peaks had mobilized, led by several elders of the Yin-Hui Upper Realm, and had practically turned all of Youzhou upside down—a testament to how much they valued their fellow disciples.

If he were to die at the hands of one of his own, what would happen? How unsightly would that be?

At the critical moment, someone stood in front of Wu Fan. That person caught the path of blades in their hand, and with a slight effort, shattered all the sword intent within it.

Feng Qi frowned.

He knew Wu Fan had no power to fight back. He also knew someone would step in to save Wu Fan’s life. That was why he had so decisively activated "Sword Treading Mountains and Rivers" at that moment.

However, the person who intervened was a bit too young. He suddenly thought of the Taixuan Mountain Daoist who had shone so brilliantly at the Wind and Sand Festival, wondering who was older between the two.

"It is only a sword discussion; Brother Feng, your methods are a bit too heavy," the newcomer said softly.

*Brother?* Was this person only a third-generation disciple? Feng Qi raised an eyebrow, thinking: *Can someone who breaks 'Sword Treading Mountains and Rivers' with a single hand really just be a disciple?* He was certain that even if Mou Linhan or Mei Qinghan were here in person, they could not have crushed a true sword of Wind-Thunder Peak so casually.

Who was this? He did not ask, for he soon learned the answer.

Wu Fan gritted his teeth and said in a rage, "Sheng Yun! I haven't lost yet! Who the hell gave you permission to interfere in my battle!"

So, it was the Sword Heir of Treading Snow Peak. What was his cultivation level now? Peak of Hui-Xin? Early Yin-Hui? Early Yin-Hui... Feng Qi had seen many battles at this level; even the eighteen riders of Yanbei were at least at the early Yin-Hui level. Could those people act with such nonchalance?

Before he could reflect further, Feng Qi heard Wu Fan’s desperate roar again, "Damn it, I'd rather be slashed to death by him than be saved by you! Who needs your hypocritical help?"

Hearing this, Feng Qi generally understood why Wu Fan was so unpopular. No one could handle a temper like that.

Sheng Yun shook his head. "Who said I came to save you?"

Wu Fan demanded angrily, "Then why are you standing here?"

Sheng Yun pointed his chin toward Feng Qi and said, "I am saving him."

Wu Fan was slightly stunned, suspicious. "Really?"

Sheng Yun sighed. "Naturally. After your battle with Wan Jiang, you were not at your peak. Then, when your sword momentum was exhausted, you forcibly gathered the Annihilation Scene. That would have been fine otherwise; you are a strong practitioner of the Hui-Xin Upper Realm, and with a bit of meditation, you could have regrouped. But what did you do? You tried to launch a forceful attack with the chaotic primordial energy in your body? Both the Silent Sword Treasury and Sword Treading Mountains and Rivers were already formed—did you really think you could break your enemy with a brute-force attack? When has your Annihilation Scene ever been that effective? Why don't you ask Uncle-Master Mo Yang to try that in such a situation? Do you think he would dare to launch a desperate attack at such a time? Do you think I would stand in front of him to block this path of blades?"

Feng Qi thought: *It's over.*

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Wu Fan’s anger grew even more intense. "How dare you insult my master!"

Before he could finish, Sheng Yun interrupted him bluntly, "I have no intention of insulting Uncle-Master Mo Yang, I am merely... fully expressing my skepticism regarding your judgment. In this regard, Uncle-Master Mo Yang is far wiser than both of us; how could he not understand what I meant?"

Having said that, Sheng Yun ignored Wu Fan and turned to Feng Qi. "Do you know what you are doing?"

Feng Qi replied, "Is a sword discussion not about demonstrating one's understanding of the sword?"

Sheng Yun nodded. "In that case, why would you use the 'Immovable Intent' of the Zen Sect?"

Feng Qi raised an eyebrow. "I felt it aligned with my sword; what of it? Does using the Immovable Intent mean I am no longer using a sword, or that I am no longer using Snow Cloud sword techniques?" He paused, then said seriously, "I can even apply the Overlord Spear to my sword, let alone the Immovable Intent. As long as it can be used by me, used by my sword path, why should I care if it comes from the Zen Sect or Yanbei? Even if it were the 'Blood-Weeping Record,' as long as my conduct is upright, why should I fear the storms of blood?"

Sheng Yun narrowed his eyes slightly. *As long as one's conduct is upright, one fears no storms of blood?*

"Well said." A voice echoed, and another young man in a sword robe appeared beside the Sword-Washing Creek.

"Brother Zhang Chen," Sheng Yun nodded slightly.

"Brother Sheng Yun," Zhang Chen greeted him with a sword salute, then turned to Feng Qi. "I have no objection to you showing your understanding of the sword, but that is no reason for you to deal a lethal blow to a fellow disciple."

Feng Qi frowned. "Who told you I dealt a lethal blow to a fellow disciple?"

Zhang Chen said coldly, "With everyone watching, you still want to deny it?"

Although the connection was weak, Feng Qi inexplicably thought of the recent war for the nation's defense, and then of the fame the Divine Emperor had gained from that war, causing him to retort with a touch of irony: "Is 'everyone watching' the same thing as the truth?"

Zhang Chen’s voice remained cold. "Or is your sophistry the truth?"

Feng Qi shook his head and pointed at Wu Fan. "He is still alive; that is the truth." He spread his arms. "There are so many fellow disciples around; that is the truth." He turned to look at the observation platform where the elders and peak masters were seated. "The elders of the five peaks and the peak masters are all watching here; that is the truth."

He looked at Zhang Chen, his expression very serious. "So, Brother Zhang Chen, since you mentioned 'everyone watching,' may I ask: under their gaze, did I have any possibility of killing Brother Wu Fan?"

He chuckled. "If a mere Hunyuan disciple like me could achieve that, wouldn't the long-standing reputation of the Snow Cloud Sect be a joke?"

...

When that path of blades slashed toward Wu Fan, not a single peak master had felt even a hint of concern. With so many powerful figures in the Snow Cloud Sect, did they, as masters of the Dao Realm, really need to intervene in a fight between Hunyuan disciples?

What they had not expected was that Sheng Yun would be the one to intervene. And even more surprisingly, Sheng Yun had chosen to pour oil on the fire.

The Peak Master of Qianren Peak remained expressionless, as if Sheng Yun were not speaking of him.

Xue Qianzhang was furious. "This brat, he dares to say anything! Junior Brother Mo Yang, please do not be angry. After the Sword Discussion Conference ends, I will certainly discipline him severely."

The Peak Master of Qianren Peak still had no expression and said calmly, "Sheng Yun is right; why shouldn't he say it?"

Xue Qianzhang let out a sound of surprise, thinking: *When did you change your temperament?*

The Peak Master of Qianren Peak suddenly asked, "Sheng Yun... has he reached the Yin-Hui realm?"

Xue Qianzhang was speechless, thinking: *Are you waiting here for this?* He felt troubled. "Yun'er probably won't participate in this year's Dao-Seeking Conference."

Once one reaches the Yin-Hui realm, they are no longer considered a disciple and cannot participate in the Dao-Seeking Conference. However, the person leading the delegation must be at least in the Yin-Hui realm. Traditionally, a peak master leads, accompanied by two elders. If Mo Yang led the team and Sheng Yun accompanied them, there was no telling how much trouble would be stirred up.

As the peak masters were still talking, that boy Zhang Chen had also entered the scene, immediately accusing Feng Qi. Thus, the peak masters and elders, who had not intended to appear, were even less inclined to do so. The future of Snow Cloud would eventually have to be shaped by them; they also wanted to see how Zhang Chen and Sheng Yun would handle this.

Seeing Feng Qi’s rapid-fire responses, Yuan Yulong’s expression was very ugly. The ancestor of Zhuyue Peak continued to drink, laughing heartily.

Fortunately, Xue Qianzhang used primordial energy to soundproof the area; otherwise, it would not have been good for the disciples to hear. But the person with the ugliest expression was not Yuan Yulong, but Xue Wuji.

A wind passed by.

Xue Wuji vanished.

The next moment, he appeared beside the Sword-Washing Creek, roaring: "Rebellious disciple! You have committed a grave error, yet you do not wake up to it? How dare you still spout such nonsense?"