Chapter 32: Meeting Upon the Star River

As on every previous day, after smoothly completing his meridian cultivation, Jiang Wang guided the newly born dao essence into its proper position within the Heaven-Connecting Palace, bringing himself one step closer to foundation establishment.

After finishing his meridian cultivation, Jiang Wang did not rest. Instead, he sat before the desk by the oil lamp and began copying the High and Wondrous Supreme Scripture of Purple Void.

Since only the siblings lived here, they occupied the main room, so the south room had simply been turned into a study.

His senior brothers had long warned him about Iron-Faced Xiao’s lack of leniency, so Jiang Wang copied with a very proper attitude, meticulous in every stroke. Needless to say, classes that taught dao art techniques were extremely important. Missing even one class was a tremendous loss. So Jiang Wang tried to copy both quickly and well.

Until…

“Brother, what are you doing?”

At some point, Jiang An’an had slipped into the study, her large dark eyes wide with curiosity.

“…”

Jiang Wang said, “Practicing calligraphy.”

“Why are you suddenly practicing calligraphy?”

Jiang Wang said seriously, “As the saying goes, handwriting reflects the person. By observing handwriting, one can know sincerity and falsehood. Your teachers have taught this before, right? Practicing calligraphy is very important. An’an must also remember to practice more.”

“Then how much longer do you have to practice…”

“…Quite a while,” Jiang Wang said. “You should sleep first tonight.”

“Oh…”

“What’s wrong? Is something the matter?”

“No, no…”

After turning and leaving the study, Jiang An’an sighed like a little adult.

Stinky old man, punishing me by making me copy so many words. Now the study is occupied too. Where am I supposed to copy?

It was not that the study could not fit both her and Jiang Wang. It was just that she did not want her brother to know she had been punished with copying.

Jiang An’an thought for a moment, moved a small stool into the bedroom, took out paper and brush, spread them out properly, and crouched before the stool to begin copying by herself.

“Heaven and earth, dark and yellow; the universe, vast and wild. Sun and moon wax and wane; stars and lodges arrayed in rows…”

She turned her head and glanced toward the study. The lamp was still lit. Mm, keep copying…

…

The moon hung at the center of the sky.

Jiang Wang rubbed his wrist, blew the ink dry, extinguished the oil lamp, and rose to return to the bedroom. Even with his physical strength and speed, he was still far from copying one hundred times, but right now he had something more important to do.

Because tonight was the fifteenth day of the ninth month, the blessed land challenge day in the Taixu Illusory Realm.

When he returned to the bedroom, An’an was already asleep. Jiang Wang tucked in the corner of her quilt, then lay back on his own bed.

The silver moon mark on his palm appeared and began to heat. Jiang Wang closed his eyes, and his divine sense entered the Taixu Illusory Realm.

The ink words on the sundial had already changed:

The master of the Azure Jade Altar has confirmed the challenge. The challenge will begin in fifteen minutes.

The master of the Azure Jade Altar had finally decided to challenge!

Seeing this line of words, Jiang Wang felt both the urgency of time waiting for no one, and also the relief of a boot finally dropping.

On the fifteenth day of the eighth month that had already passed, the master of the Azure Jade Altar had likewise chosen to forfeit. It seemed that in the past, Zuo Guanglie had left too heavy a shadow on this person. But this also meant that after forfeiting several times, the opponent was determined to win this challenge.

Jiang Wang did nothing unnecessary. He only emptied his thoughts and silently waited for the time to arrive.

When the sundial finally changed, a circular jade-colored stone platform rose beneath Jiang Wang at the same time, then lifted him away from the Cave True Ruins Blessed Land and flew into the brilliant star river.

This stone platform was simple in design and had no decoration, but it naturally carried an ancient aura. Its surface was mottled with traces: saber marks, sword marks, burn marks, scorch marks… countless in number, carrying a strong murderous atmosphere.

Jiang Wang understood that this was his Sword Discussion Platform.

Ever since obtaining the Void Key and entering the Taixu Illusory Realm, he had never used the Sword Discussion Platform before. First, because he knew that with his strength, in the Taixu Illusory Realm he would probably only be slaughtered without gaining any training effect. Second… because every activation of the Sword Discussion Platform required ten merit points.

Aside from the natural production of the blessed land, Jiang Wang could not gain any benefit from the Sword Discussion Platform, so he was even more reluctant to spend merit. Especially after experiencing the power of the Purple Qi Comes from the East Sword Manual, he understood even more how precious merit was.

Before long, Jiang Wang could see another Sword Discussion Platform of the same form flying toward him from the depths of the star river. On it stood a figure in fluttering black clothes.

The two Sword Discussion Platforms instantly accelerated within the star river and collided together.

Two small platforms merged into one large platform.

Jiang Wang and his opponent stood on opposite sides of the Sword Discussion Platform. This merged and expanded Sword Discussion Platform was no different from before, except in size. Judging by sight, it was a hundred meters across. Jiang Wang knew that this was the true arena.

Because of the special rules of the Taixu Illusory Realm, Jiang Wang could not see his opponent’s appearance clearly. But he heard his opponent’s voice.

“Ever since my crushing defeat at your hands last time, I have prepared for this battle for an entire half year! I have finally cultivated a remnant move of the ancient Gentleman’s Nine Swords. Please test it!”

The ancient Gentleman’s Nine Swords? It sounds very powerful… A Confucian disciple?

As Jiang Wang thought this, he had already silently circulated his true essence, preparing to respond. The true essence consumed in the Taixu Illusory Realm was not real, so he dared to fight with his full strength. The Purple Qi Comes from the East Sword Manual was itself a transcendent sword canon, and only when infused with abundant true essence could it truly display its power.

Thus, what he would display next would be his strongest state, one never before shown to anyone.

“As heaven moves with vigor, the gentleman strengthens himself without ceasing!”

Then Jiang Wang heard the master of the Azure Jade Altar softly recite this line.

And then he saw a sword.

A sword that looked perfectly ordinary, without the slightest special quality.

It simply moved forward.

Forward.

If there was a mountain before it, it pierced through the mountain.

If there was a river before it, it severed the river.

If before it was the vast and boundless sky, it stabbed straight into the sky!

It was unyielding.

It advanced without hesitation.

Breaking stone, cutting forests, slaying demons, executing evil…

This sword stabbed toward everything that obstructed it, no matter what that thing was!

Jiang Wang still held his sword. The dao essence accumulated in his Heaven-Connecting Palace was boiling and surging. The killing forms of the Purple Qi Comes from the East Sword Manual had almost merged into instinct.

But that sword had already pierced into his heart.

He had died in battle.

The master of the Azure Jade Altar looked at the suddenly empty Sword Discussion Platform and froze.

He had considerable confidence in the Gentleman’s Nine Swords, which had been lost in the river of history, but he also remembered how powerful his opponent had been.

Yet this battle had been complete suppression.

A sweep.

He had won.

The master of the Azure Jade Altar—no, now the master of the Cave True Ruins. The new owner of Blessed Land Twenty-Three stood dazed upon the Sword Discussion Platform, his emotions surging.

As for Jiang Wang, who had fallen to the Azure Jade Altar, he had already accepted the reality of defeat.

According to the merit production rules for the upper thirty-six blessed lands, each rank increased production by one hundred merit points. This month, he would only receive 1,750 merit points, a full one hundred fewer than before.

The blessed lands in the Taixu Illusory Realm were only titles and had nothing to do with true blessed lands in the real world. Therefore, from Cave True Ruins to Azure Jade Altar, the environment had not changed. It was still the same dreamlike space filled with immortal mist, and even the sundial was identical. The only change was the merit produced.

Jiang Wang thought for a moment and silently summoned the Dao Deduction Platform.

He had not touched the 1,850 merit points from August. Added to September’s production of 1,750 merit points, he had accumulated a total of 3,600 merit points. Jiang Wang invested all of this merit into the Purple Qi Comes from the East Sword Manual and began deduction.

The ancient Gentleman’s Nine Swords had shaken him too greatly. It was swordsmanship he had no way to resist at all. Not even the slightest chance.

So he needed an even stronger sword canon.

Even if he had to exhaust everything he currently possessed.

The jade book on the green bamboo desk changed slightly, then suddenly stopped.

Then a line of ink words appeared on the jade book:

The current sword manual has reached the limit of the first-level Dao Deduction Platform and cannot be deduced. Remaining merit: 3,590 points.

Jiang Wang’s eyelid twitched. This damned Dao Deduction Platform had not completed the deduction, yet it still deducted ten merit points!

So the Dao Deduction Platform’s deduction of cultivation methods and dao arts could not be raised infinitely. It had an inherent foundation and limit. Furthermore, different levels of Dao Deduction Platform had different exploration limits.

And the Purple Qi Comes from the East Sword Manual had originally been deduced on the basis of mortal martial arts. It had already reached its peak. Unless the Dao Deduction Platform was upgraded, it could no longer progress.

Jiang Wang had no stronger moves on him, and he had no desire to go onto the Sword Discussion Platform again to be abused. Thus, after slightly collecting his mood, he exited the Taixu Illusory Realm.

But no matter what, this month he had lost one hundred and ten merit points for nothing.

Thinking of this, Jiang Wang let out a deep sigh.

“Brother, what are you doing?”

Jiang An’an’s voice sounded in the room, full of concern. No one knew whether she had woken up in the middle of the night or had never fallen asleep in the first place.

Jiang Wang said irritably, “I’m staying up late to stew myself. I’ll call you when I’m cooked.”

In the darkness, Jiang An’an’s eyes instantly lit up.

“Is it tasty?”

(End of Chapter)