Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Chapter 1112 – They’re Everywhere

One could catch fish in a lake because there were fish inside, but there were no swords in a lake.

And besides, Chen Changsheng had not caught a sword—he had just taken it out.

This was a simpler action that indicated that he knew there was a sword there.

Like he was performing a magic trick, he took a sword out of the lake.

And then he thrust it at Shang Xingzhou.

Water spilled off the sword while a sword glow rose from it, revealing the sword with dazzling clarity.

The lake shore became bright, the splashing water like trees of silver or stars in the night sky.

Ten-some points of starlight brightened as a figure blurred, following the orbits of the stars in the night sky.

Shang Xingzhou retreated along the stars, instantly appearing ten-some zhang away.

Squelch.

A tear appeared on his collar.

Blood seeped out, a petal of an inky plum blossom on his blue Daoist robe.

“Master, just concede.”

Chen Changsheng said to Shang Xingzhou.

Water trickled down from the sword in his hand and fell against the rocks on the shore, the dripping almost hypnotizing.

Shang Xingzhou did not reply. He calmly stepped forward, once more appearing before him.

Both hands on his sword, he raised it over his head.

His bare arms glimmered under the sun. He was like a statue, perfectly sculpted to exhibit its strength.

Still there was no technique or profundity, just a simple slash.

The air screeched as the sword chafed against it, sparking a brilliant flame.

The blazing and brutal Qi rose from both Shang Xingzhou’s body and the sun.

The stain of blood on the Daoist robe instantly evaporated.

The water on Chen Changsheng’s sword also vaporized into nothing.

The bright and beautiful sword glow rose once more, but it was not aimed at Shang Xingzhou.

Chen Changsheng knew that Shang Xingzhou would not react to his sword, so it did not matter how fast it was.

He could only block.

Bang!

Two swords met once more.

Another thunderous boom spread out from the lake shore, surmounting the academy walls to resonate over the entire capital.

Another downpour descended as walls tilted and trees fell. The howling wind threw the loose rocks on the shore all over the place while lake water irrigated the surroundings.

Ten-some pools, big and small, appeared on the lawn.

Shang Xingzhou and Chen Changsheng had vanished.

They next appeared on the lawn in front of the library.

The stone steps leading to the library were covered in cracks and had slightly sunk into the ground.

Chen Changsheng was lying on the steps, his hands propped on the ground as he prepared to stand.

The sword he had taken from the lake had also been sent flying.

His Stupid Sword had not been broken, but it had also failed to receive Shang Xingzhou’s tyrannical sword.

Wind flapped against the blue Daoist robe, which was now sporting several new holes.

Shang Xingzhou walked toward the library.

Without turning his head, Chen Changsheng thrust his right hand into the shattered steps and pulled.

Metal scraped against rock as a sword appeared in his hand.

His movements were so natural that it seemed like this had been long-prepared, practiced countless times.

Even the most inconceivable event would find it hard to surprise someone if it was repeated several times.

Shang Xingzhou’s expression did not change.

Chen Changsheng stood up and sincerely said, “Master, just concede.”

Shang Xingzhou still said nothing. He silently walked forward, his hands slashing his sword down.

Sunlight glimmered on his sword and bare arms.

The inscriptions on the sword and the veins of his muscles were crystal-clear.

The aura of life and the odor of death were equally intense, intoxicating or frightening like a strong wine.

With a giant boom, dust exploded into the air.

An extremely deep furrow appeared in front of the library.

The glossy ebony floorboards were thrown into the air where they burst into splinters.

Old books flew everywhere amongst the fallen shelves.

He had once spent night after night here, observing the stars.

Luoluo had spent many nights here as well, keeping him company.

But his master had spent even more time here.

The windows shattered.

Chen Changsheng fell into the fountain in the front courtyard, his body drenched.

The fangs of the sacred lion statue were also spurting water.

Columns of water the size of fingers dribbled onto his head in a rather comical fashion.

This place was already very close to the academy gate, so it was possible to hear the anxious breathing and shouts from Hundred Flowers Lane.

The crowd in Hundred Flowers Lane heard him fall into the water fountain.

Wang Po, the Prince of Xiang, the Prince of Zhongshan, Linghai Zhiwang, and other such experts could even use their ears to roughly ‘see’ what was going on in the Orthodox Academy.

The fountain was suddenly cast into shadow.

A massive figure blocked out the sky.

Shang Xingzhou gave no chance for Chen Changsheng to catch his breath, appearing once more.

Several dozen zhang away, Wang Zhice and Tang Thirty-Six appeared on the lawn.

Yuren was probably still in the Hundred Herb Garden.

Xu Yourong appeared by the forest on the other side, her white wings flapping behind her.

Where had the little Black Dragon gone?

“I’m very curious.”

Wang Zhice watched Chen Changsheng stand up from the fountain, and asked, “Could there still be swords? Then where would they have been placed?”

The statue of the lion was imposing and the fountain itself was very large, but its pool of water was very shallow.

The teachers and students of the Orthodox Academy passed by this place every day, so it would have been very difficult to conceal a sword inside.

Tang Thirty-Six said nothing while Chen Changsheng used his actions to reply.

He stood on tiptoes and thrust his hand into the lion’s mouth. As water spurted out around him, he took a sword out.

When she saw this, Xu Yourong seemed to think of something that rather disgusted her, leading her to cover her mouth.

Wang Zhice sighed, “This is also okay?”

Tang Thirty-Six arched his brow and asked, “Why isn’t it okay?”

Wang Zhice sighed, “I originally thought that it was just that one sword.”

Tang Thirty-Six replied, “Wrong, I’ve hidden many swords here.”

Wang Zhice asked, “Just how many swords are there?”

“They’re everywhere.”

Tang Thirty-Six spread out his arms and closed his eyes in rapturous intoxication.

“As long as he’s in the Orthodox Academy, he can’t lose.”

……

……

The fountain was suddenly cut through, the lion’s tail dropping down, leaving an extremely smooth surface.

Shang Xingzhou’s and Chen Changsheng’s swords clashed once more.

Thunder pealed again.

This time, however, it persisted for a very long time without any pause.

The cries of swords could be heard all over the Orthodox Academy, punctuated with terrifying booms.

The figures of master and disciple could not be seen.

Occasionally, a sword would fly out of the forest or the library, stabbing into the grass or a broken wall, where they quivered.

In this period, Chen Changsheng found many swords, but they were also sent flying out of his hands by Shang Xingzhou.

Suddenly, the cries of swords stopped.

The Orthodox Academy became abnormally silent.

The quietest place was a building to the west.

The style of the building indicated that this was a seminar hall for preaching the Dao, but for some reason, the walls had been painted a cinnabar red, making it stand out.

Two rows of maple trees lined the building. Perhaps because of an array, they were an autumn red regardless of the season.

The blue Daoist robe was covered in a dense patchwork of holes, still stained with sword intent.

Blood was constantly seeping out from them, making for a fiendish sight.

Shang Xingzhou had suffered many wounds.

Chen Changsheng had suffered even greater ones. His face was pale and his body was covered in blood. The hands hanging at his side were trembling.

“Do you still have any swords?”

Shang Xingzhou asked.

Chen Changsheng took a short sword from out of the flower pot next to him and said, “This is the last one.”