After Sheng Jun Chapter 30 (Part 1)
Translated by Sylver (ko-fi)
Chapter 30 Exquisite Beauty in His Eyes (part 1)
Jiang Xingzhi looked at You Suqing with excitement. "The Xuantian Sword! Isn't that the ancestral sword of that kid Lin He?"
Could You Suqing be the founding ancestor of the Xuantian Sword Sect?
You Suqing happily received his spiritual sword, then turned to see Jiang Xingzhi's expression—the latter actually looked even more excited than himself.
...? He didn't understand.
"What's the matter, Brother Jiang?"
Being questioned, Jiang Xingzhi realized his reaction was too intense. He slightly composed himself, though his lips still unconsciously curled upward, "Nothing, just happy for you."
You Suqing was stunned: Brother Jiang's happiness seemed so genuine... could this be the legendary pure friendship?
"Brother Jiang..." he was touched again.
The two gathered around a sword, creating a warm and lively atmosphere.
Zhong Ming stood to the side, coldly watching while gripping the ancient sword at his waist, his heart filled with bitterness: Here we go again, the Xuantian Sword Sect everywhere!
Getting so excited over just a sword, does Jiang Xingzhi like that pup that much?
While he was bubbling with jealousy, Jiang Xingzhi, having finished admiring the Xuantian Sword, turned to see him standing far away and called him over, "Bai Mu, aren't you the most formidable sword cultivator of this age? Come take a look at this sword."
The most formidable sword cultivator.
Zhong Ming felt somewhat appeased, automatically ignoring the "of this age" qualifier, and walked over to look, "Hmm."
Hmm? What kind of "hmm" was that?? Jiang Xingzhi said, "Give us a proper evaluation."
Zhong Ming opened his mouth, "Not bad."
These two words conveyed thick perfunctoriness. Jiang Xingzhi made excuses for him to You Suqing, "When 'not bad' comes from Bai Mu's mouth, it means extremely good."
You Suqing understood, "With Brother Bai's strength, he has the right to say so."
Jiang Xingzhi looked at the Xuantian Sword and asked tentatively, "Does Pavilion Master You have any plans to establish a sect?"
"Why would I establish a sect? I have the Hidden Sword Pavilion, which is enough."
"A sense of mission." Jiang Xingzhi stared at him steadily, "Holding this sword, don't you feel a mission to help the world naturally arising within you?"
"..."
You Suqing pondered for a moment. Perhaps because the gaze from the other side was too firm and bright, he actually wavered, "A little."
As he spoke, the Xuantian Sword in his hand emitted a clear ringing sound, as if in agreement.
Seeing his persuasion succeed, Jiang Xingzhi's face showed a gratified smile:
Lin Xiao He, you'll have to thank me when I get back. Without heaven, how can there be earth? Without me, how can there be you?
His smile was heartfelt, his eyes bright. Zhong Ming looked at him and couldn't help but jealously nudge his arm, "Who are you thinking about?"
Zhong Ming felt he was being ridiculous—he knew the answer in his heart yet still asked self-tormentingly.
Jiang Xingzhi came back to his senses, pursed his lips, and said, "Even if I told you, you wouldn't know him."
Zhong Ming fell silent. How could he not know?
Though he wasn't familiar with that Sword Sect kid, he still knew of this person—someone who often hung around with Jiang Xingzhi.
Especially that kid, he had encountered him several times. He had ridden horses together with Jiang Xingzhi during spring outings; he was always on the pleasure boats; and last time at the Kongxuan Secret Realm, Jiang Xingzhi had originally been walking with that kid—if he hadn't gone over and knocked Jiang Xingzhi on the head with his sword hilt, provoking him into chasing after him, the two of them might have traveled together the whole way.
Thinking about this, Zhong Ming let out a slight huff. Jiang Xingzhi looked at him tolerantly: No matter how much you "huff," you still won't know him.
Meanwhile, You Suqing had already begun to envision how to establish a sect according to Jiang Xingzhi's suggestion, holding the Xuantian Sword.
Seeing Jiang Xingzhi's attention still fixed on the former, Zhong Ming spoke as his thoughts flowed, "I wonder what a sect established now will be like after a thousand years."
Jiang Xingzhi's attention was drawn back, "Perhaps it will be the number one sect in the world."
Zhong Ming remarked casually, "Hmm, perhaps we will be too."
Jiang Xingzhi waved his hand with grand momentum, "Of course, our Gui—" His voice paused, suddenly freezing. Wait, his Guixue Sect seemed to have been passed down as "Kunlun." If it continued to spread this way...
Damn, could it be...
An immense sense of unreality washed over Jiang Xingzhi—no way, that Kunlun was revered as the "Imperial Capital of the World" and the "Dwelling of Hundred Gods"! It was worlds apart from their bare mountain corner, not to mention the "Kunlun" now being spread was due to his casual misspeak.
As Jiang Xingzhi thought about it, he suddenly fell silent again.
That phrase "Dwelling of Hundred Gods" sounded so familiar? It seemed like that's what he had claimed when pretending to be divine.
"........."
Oh boy.
The three continued walking forward.
Jiang Xingzhi fell into self-doubt, You Suqing contemplated establishing a sect, and Zhong Ming was naturally not talkative, so the team became quiet for a while.
Until they reached the steep cliff below.
The cliff soared into the sky, surrounded by enclosed stone caves, with seemingly only one path forward.
Jiang Langhao poked his head out from behind Jiang Xingzhi's shoulder, "Ancestor, didn't you say the place you want to go is called Tongtian Hall? Look, isn't this 'to reach the heavens'?"
(TL: 通天 tōng tiān = "To reach the heavens" or "to communicate with heaven.")
Jiang Xingzhi temporarily pulled himself out of self-doubt and looked up at the gray sky above.
They had just come down following the quicksand to retrieve You Suqing. Although the path was different from the one he remembered leading to Tongtian Hall, the general direction upward was correct.
"Tongtian Hall?" You Suqing also came back to his senses.
"I have some personal matters to settle there."
"I see."
Zhong Ming didn't waste time, "Let's go."
The three activated their spiritual power, rising upward along the cliff. The pressure from above transmitted again, growing stronger as they ascended.
Boom! Suddenly a loud noise, and broken rocks fell down.
Large shadows covered their heads. Jiang Xingzhi looked up to see a jiao’s body breaking through the wall, its blood-filled mouth facing them as it rolled, with long fangs dripping viscous poison.
"Be careful..." Just as Jiang Xingzhi began to speak, a fierce ancient sword shot out from his side, "bang" knocking the jiao's head askew.
Zhong Ming accelerated forward, his dark clothes fluttering, forcefully cutting off one of the jiao's horns.
Hoaaah------! The piercing cry of the jiao echoed throughout the valley.
Jiang Xingzhi grabbed You Suqing, whose cultivation was slightly lower, and looked up at the figure above. Faint daylight filtered through the misty clouds, as the dark figure and the huge blue-black jiao body tangled in combat.
Using the sky as a mat, the sword breaking through the azure vault------
The visual tension was truly shocking.
A sword cultivator at the peak of Mahayana was indeed an earth-shattering existence.
Jiang Xingzhi pulled You Suqing behind to circle around the tumbling jiao body, with the Tingxue Sword moving according to his will, like flowing water wrapping around the jiao dragon.
During the latter's momentary stillness, the ancient sword unsheathed, illuminating the surroundings with brightness.
Slash! The jiao body was cut into two sections.
Zhong Ming turned sideways to sheathe his sword, the splashing blood and poison blocked by his spiritual barrier. His temple hair fluttered in the wind as he looked down with cold indifference.
You Suqing involuntarily felt his scalp tingle.
Able to slay a jiao with such ease, what profound strength...
Jiang Xingzhi felt the body under his hand stiffen and spoke to reassure him, "All sword cultivators are like this, you'll get used to it."
His tone suggested he was already accustomed to it. You Suqing's scalp tingled again: No joke, besides Brother Bai, where else in the world would you find such a sword cultivator?
With the obstacle cleared, Zhong Ming flew back to Jiang Xingzhi's side. He glanced at the latter's hand gripping You Suqing's back, his eyes darkening.
You Suqing keenly sensed a chill and quickly withdrew from under Jiang Xingzhi's hand!
Hehe, he had no desire to challenge Bai Mu now.
"Let's go," Zhong Ming withdrew his gaze and said to Jiang Xingzhi.
The Tingxue Sword flowed back to Jiang Xingzhi's waist, and he patted the handy long sword, "Alright."