After Sheng Jun Chapter 25 (Part 2)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 25 Master of the Hidden Sword Pavilion (part 2)
However, he couldn't draw his sword in front of Jiang Xingzhi. With less than half a month before entering the Kongxuan Secret Realm, which was fraught with dangers, how could he protect Jiang Xingzhi without a sword?
Jiang Xingzhi didn't understand. "Why?"
Zhong Ming's gaze rested on him for a few breaths, then slowly shifted away, looking toward the distant sunrise and sea of clouds. "Because of a person."
Jiang Xingzhi: ??
A person? Who? It couldn't be because of himself. But Bai Mu had too many secrets; it was probably another untouchable past.
He didn't ask further, just nodded and said, "Alright, I'll go with you."
…..
The Hidden Sword Pavilion Zhu Yan mentioned was located in Lingxi City in central Jiuzhou, also known as "Three Thousand Graves."
Rumor had it that all the forged swords in the pavilion were stored in one place, all masterless. Their quality varied from high to low. As long as one paid three thousand spirit stones, they could enter and choose any sword to subdue.
If one failed to subdue it, the three thousand spirit stones would not be refunded; if one succeeded, even the treasure that guarded the pavilion could be taken away freely.
The two descended onto the city street, already able to see the octagonal tower of the Hidden Sword Pavilion from afar.
Jiang Xingzhi schemed with Zhong Ming, "Later, you should pick the most expensive treasure that guards the pavilion."
Zhong Ming couldn't help but smile. "It might not suit me."
Jiang Xingzhi said, "Then first pick one that suits you, then steal the pavilion's guarding treasure. Then sell it back to the Hidden Sword Pavilion for six thousand spirit stones. The profit difference would exactly offset the cost of selecting your sword, essentially getting a treasure sword for free."
Zhong Ming's eyebrows twitched as he listened. "And then when we run out of money, come back and steal another one?"
Jiang Xingzhi replied shyly, "I see you've mastered the essence of making money."
"......"
This unscrupulous money-making scheme was quickly suppressed by their conscience.
They arrived at the entrance of the Hidden Sword Pavilion. The attendant, unaware his establishment had just narrowly escaped a scam, warmly welcomed the two inside. "Esteemed guests, please enter."
There seemed to be some kind of formation inside the pavilion. Only upon entering did they realize how vast the internal space was.
Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming followed the attendant up to the second floor.
Zhong Ming said, "According to Zhu Yan, the Pavilion Master is a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and might have already reached Soul Split."
Jiang Xingzhi replied, "That would make him one of the world's strongest practitioners."
Neither used voice transmission. The attendant leading the way listened to their casual conversation behind him, their tone as flat as if they were evaluating disciples' homework.
He walked ahead nervously: anyone who dared to speak like this was either truly powerful or completely insane.
Walking into the reception room on the second floor, they found a slightly plump man waiting. Jiang Xingzhi scanned his cultivation level—not the pavilion master, probably a manager of some sort.
Feng Yuan, the Hidden Sword Pavilion manager, approached them. "Three thousand spirit stones grants one entry to the Hidden Sword Tomb. Are you ready?"
Jiang Xingzhi stood idly aside with his hands in his sleeves while Zhong Ming handed over a bag of spirit stones. "I'll enter."
"No problem. If you're ready, I can take you there now."
"Lead the way," Zhong Ming said.
Feng Yuan led the two through a hidden door in the side of the room into a passageway, accompanied by four guards.
Jiang Xingzhi followed alongside. "Can I observe too?"
Feng Yuan was accommodating. "Of course, but you cannot help him."
"That's perfect."
After passing through several mechanisms and formation doors, the full view of the Hidden Sword Tomb appeared before them—a massive space like the hollowed interior of a sphere, with various swords hanging and inserted upside down from the ceiling and floor.
A narrow extending stone path snaked into it like a serpent's tongue.
Just as Jiang Xingzhi was slowly scanning across the jumble of swords, Zhong Ming's voice came from beside him. "Will you pick one for me?"
"The sword you'll use should be chosen by yourself."
Zhong Ming smiled. "Which one do you think suits me? I'll listen, but might not choose it."
Jiang Xingzhi looked into the Hidden Sword Tomb, his gaze locking onto the sword directly opposite the "serpent's tongue"—an ancient-looking sword with its blade concealed in its sheath. It exuded an aura of arrogance and dominance, looking down like an emperor amid the dazzling gleam of swords.
He pointed. "That one."
Zhong Ming's lips curved, appearing pleased. "Dengdeng knows me well. I had my eye on that one too."
Beside them, Feng Yuan looked in shock toward that pavilion-guarding treasure.
Is this a joke? Since the sword pavilion's establishment, countless cultivators had perished under that ancient sword.
He warned, "This is the pavilion's guarding treasure, extremely fierce and brutal. Sir, please measure your strength against it carefully."
So they really did pick the pavilion's guarding treasure? Jiang Xingzhi was surprised, then regretful. "What a pity, we can't sell it."
Zhong Ming gave a light laugh.
Feng Yuan didn't understand: What can't be sold??
"Wait for me to bring it back."
After saying this to Jiang Xingzhi, Zhong Ming turned to face forward, resuming his cold and proud expression. He tightened his wristguard with one hand and straightened his back as he looked toward the ancient sword that was faintly emitting sword hums.
His figure moved, cutting through the vision like a frost sword unsheathed.
****
Outside the barrier, Feng Yuan and the guards anxiously watched the Hidden Sword Tomb.
It wasn't clear if they feared Zhong Ming's demise or the loss of the pavilion's guarding treasure.
Or perhaps both.
Compared to their anxiety, Jiang Xingzhi was much more casual. He had already sprawled in a circle chair, blowing on tea while waiting for Zhong Ming to snatch away their treasured sword.
He even took out some snacks and began munching...
The figure who had entered the Hidden Sword Tomb moved like thunder and wind, so fast that only afterimages remained. Under the terrifying pressure, over a thousand stored swords trembled as if in fear.
Clang, clang, clang... The sound of hundreds of sword bodies trembling rose and fell throughout the entire space.
Feng Yuan and the others were dumbfounded; they had never encountered such a situation.
It was as if before that suspended figure, submission was the only direction all swords could point.
......
A cup of tea's time passed.
Boom! The intertwining shadows of man and sword violently collided, sending shockwaves that broke the "serpent's tongue" path inch by inch.
Zhong Ming hovered in midair, looking at the ancient sword before him that had lost all ability to resist. As the latter gathered strength for a final attack, he hesitated in his evasive movement.
Suddenly raising his hand to meet it, he directly grasped the blade!
A hiss as the sharp edge cut his palm.
"Bai Mu!?"
Jiang Xingzhi's surprised voice came from behind.
Zhong Ming's lips curved slightly as he looked down at the ancient sword's spirit completely suppressed in his palm. Fresh blood trickled down the blade, which hummed in surrender, scalded by his supreme divine consciousness.
He casually flicked off the blood drops, turned back, and landed outside the barrier.
Outside the barrier, Jiang Xingzhi rushed up. "How's your hand?"
Ignoring the stunned crowd from the Hidden Sword Pavilion, Zhong Ming looked down at the worried Jiang Xingzhi. After thinking for a moment, he said, "It hurts a lot."
The ancient sword that had been scalded by his blood: ......
Damn, am I hurting more than you?
Blood was still dripping "plop, plop" along the blade.
Jiang Xingzhi watched with alarm. "Let me see."
Zhong Ming switched the ancient sword to his other hand and spread his palm before him.
Across the center of his broad palm was a diagonal sword wound. For some reason, though the wound didn't look deep, the bleeding wouldn't stop.
The sight was disturbing.
Jiang Xingzhi quickly took out a bottle of hemostatic powder from his storage pouch. Unable to care about anything else, he took Zhong Ming's bleeding hand and sprinkled the medicinal powder on it. "How did you get wounded? Is this sword that powerful?"
The ancient sword, unintentionally insulted: ......
Damn, what's that supposed to mean?
Ignoring the trembling sword in his hand, Zhong Ming's gaze fell on Jiang Xingzhi's furrowed brow. The latter applied medicine with great care, as if afraid of hurting him, even puffing his cheeks to blow on it.
The warm breath brushed his palm like a feather tickling his heart, soft and tingling.
Zhong Ming tried hard to suppress his rising smile, while his other hand's index finger happily tapped on the sword. Tap, tap, tap~
Jiang Xingzhi kept his head down while treating the wound. "I asked you a question?"
Zhong Ming spoke softly, as if truly in pain, "I was distracted during that last strike, and this sword's killing intent is too strong."
"Oh..." Jiang Xingzhi didn't doubt him and continued applying medicine, finally sighing in relief as the bleeding slowly stopped. "With your physique, it should heal quickly."
While treating him, he had been holding Zhong Ming's wrist with his other hand to prevent movement. Just as he was about to let go, that injured large hand suddenly contracted, fingers closing—his fingertips were caught in Zhong Ming's palm.
Zhong Ming pressed his fingertips. "Thank you, Dengdeng."
"......"
Jiang Xingzhi quickly withdrew his hand, giving him a scrutinizing look. "Your fingers seem quite nimble. It doesn't look that painful after all."
"After losing so much blood, how could it not hurt?"
As they bantered, the mechanism door to the Hidden Sword Tomb suddenly opened with a "click."
The sword pavilion staff, who had been sweating nervously nearby, jolted and turned toward the door, kneeling in unison. "Pavilion Master!"
Jiang Xingzhi looked over to see a tall man striding in, waving a folding fan. A pure white mask covered his face, with a golden inverted sword drawn on the forehead. Judging by the exposed skin and bone structure of his hand, he appeared quite young.
He transmitted to Zhong Ming, "He just broke through to the Soul Split stage. Zhu Yan's intelligence is quite accurate."
Zhong Ming replied, "Hmm, his cultivation would rank in the top ten."
As the two secretly evaluated him like a student, they heard the man say, "I heard that you have subdued the Hidden Sword Pavilion's guarding treasure. This master..."
His voice suddenly paused.
Jiang Xingzhi and Zhong Ming looked up to see the other's gaze fixed on Jiang Xingzhi. After a stunned moment, he suddenly spoke, "There is a treasure sword in our pavilion that would be extremely compatible with you. Would you like to try it?"
As he finished speaking, two wary gazes fell upon him.
Secret voice transmissions simultaneously sounded in their minds—
Jiang Xingzhi: "He's trying to trick me into spending money."
Zhong Ming: "He's flirting with you."
The two looked at each other: "......?"