Chapter 142
Chapter 142: Few Understand the Sword! Youngster, Lets Become Friends!
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âThere are seven great realms: the realm of steel swords, the realm of flexible swords, the realm of heavy swords, the realm of wooden swords, the realm of swordlessness, the realm of no no-boundaries, and finally, the realm of the Dao! These seven realms truly encompass the essence of the sword!â
âOnce, I thought I had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship and couldnât help but feel a hint of arrogance! But now I realize that I was like a frog in a well, ignorant and ashamed!â
âHowever, itâs never too late to mend the sheepfold! Today, to hear such invaluable advice and gain insight into the path ahead, itâs as clear as day!â
âHahahaâŚâ the sword immortal laughed heartily, continuously pouring himself wine and enjoying himself.
âYes, the path of the sword is long!â Guo Shaoshuai sighed, âToday, Iâve only realized that I am still at the most basic realm of steel swords, and there are so many realms ahead of me. There is still a long way to go!â
âYes, indeed. The path knows no bounds, and so does the path of the sword!â Mo Roushuang sighed.
Lin Beifan secretly chuckled, Have I completely fooled you?
I havenât even mentioned the concept of the infinite multiverse, where the Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, and three gives birth to all things!
I havenât even mentioned the concept of being unconstrained by realms, where all realms are defined by it!
I guarantee that it will scare you to death!
âYoung master, how did you come to know about these realms of cultivation?â Mo Roushuang curiously asked.
The other two perked up their ears, listening intently.
âKeep in mind that there are always greater heights beyond the heavens and more exceptional individuals beyond ordinary people!â Lin Beifan smiled and said, âExcept for the final realm, there are naturally people who have reached the other realms, which is why they have been summarized!â
The first five realms can generally be achieved by reaching the pinnacle of Grandmasters!
As for the sixth realm of no-no boundaries, Lin Beifan deduced it logically!
He suspected that Bai Guanyin, that woman who resembled a goddess and a demon, might have already reached this realm!josei
Otherwise, how could she possess such peculiar abilities? It doesnât seem like martial arts but more like fantastical cultivation!
As for the last realm, that one was truly made up by him logically!
As for whether anyone has reached it, he doesnât know, and he doesnât care!
Facing the inquisitive gazes of everyone, Lin Beifan spread his hands and said, âDonât look at me. I donât know those people, and I have no relation to them! I learned all of this from books!â
âFrom which book did you learn it?â the sword immortal pressed on.
Lin Beifan calmly replied, âI learned it from countless books, from tens of thousands of volumes! Reading a book a hundred times reveals its true meaning! Then I synthesized and shared it with all of you!â
âCan one really discern these things just from reading books?â The sword immortal was puzzled and highly skeptical.
âWhy not?â Lin Beifan said, âThere was once a scholar who served as an official in the court. He was a civil servant and had no knowledge of martial arts! However, while proofreading the Daoist Canon, he unexpectedly grasped the principles of martial arts and created an extraordinary technique, also known as the Martial Arts Compendium! With this technique, he became invincible in the world and sought revenge for past grievances!â
âIs there really such a person? Does such a technique truly exist?â the sword immortal continued to inquire, perplexed.
âOf course!â Lin Beifan calmly deceived, âThis technique is called the âNine Yin Manual.â It has long been lost, but I remember a few sentences. Let me recite them to you and see if they make sense!â
With that, Lin Beifan began reciting, âThe Dao of Heaven reduces excess and supplements insufficiency, therefore emptiness triumphs over substance, insufficiency triumphs over excessâŚâ
After reciting less than 50 words, Lin Beifan stopped.
Because he hadnât memorized the rest.
However, these few dozen words, when they fell into the ears of the sword immortal, were like pearls of wisdom, brimming with the profound truths of the universe.
âGreat insights, marvelous martial arts!â the sword immortal applauded, âWith just these few sentences, itâs enough to see that the person is a grandmaster-level figure! It seems that reading books is indeed beneficial!â
âNaturally!â Lin Beifan nodded and smiled.
âYoungster, there are few people like you who understand the sword!â The sword immortal looked at Lin Beifan with admiration and a sense of camaraderie, âItâs rare to find a kindred spirit in life! Letâs be friends after drinking this cup!â
Saying that, he lifted his cup, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Lin Beifan shook his head and said, âDrinking is fine, but being friends is unnecessary!â
âWhy?â The sword immortal was astonished.
âJust as they say, those who follow different paths cannot make plans together!â
Lin Beifan exclaimed, âYou are the Sword Immortal of Great Xia, and I am an official of Great Wu. Our positions are naturally opposing, so how can we be friends?â
âYou recognized me?â The sword immortal was even more astonished.
âOf course! With such profound expertise in swordsmanship, who else could you be if not the Sword Immortal?â Lin Beifan declared.
âHahaha⌠Youâre right! Absolutely right!â The sword immortal burst into laughter, then proudly proclaimed, âI am indeed the Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun from Great Xia!â
âAh! Youâre actually that Sword Immortal!â
âSword Immortal!!!â
Mo Rushuang and Guo Shaoshuai exclaimed in astonishment, filled with disbelief.
The sword immortal ignored them and continued to gaze at Lin Beifan, somewhat surprised. âI didnât expect you to be an official! However, I still want to be friends with you! Someone who understands the sword as well as you is incredibly rare. I have traveled throughout the world and have yet to find another like you. If we donât become friends, I will regret it for the rest of my life!â
âI absolutely refuse!â Lin Beifan firmly rejected.
âEven if you refuse, it doesnât matter. I have already decided!â
The sword immortal grinned mischievously and refilled Lin Beifanâs cup, saying, âCome on, after we drink this cup, weâll be friends!â
Lin Beifan was infuriated, trembling with anger. âHow can you force someone into a position they donât want?â
âWhat forcing? Why do you speak so harshly? I justâŚâ
At that moment, a large group of soldiers suddenly surrounded them.
âWeâve found the Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun!â
âQuick, surround him!â
âDonât let him escape!â
âŚ
A few experts were approaching swiftly, using their exceptional skills to leap and scale walls.
Among them was an old man, incredibly powerful and exuding a majestic aura that was no less impressive than the Sword Immortal.
âWhat a disappointment!â The Sword Immortal sighed, setting down his cup and picking up his sword. In an instant, he vanished from the spot.
Only a carefree laughter echoed from near and far, as if coming from the heavens.
âFriend, Iâll invite you for a drink another day! Hahaha!â
And on that day, news of the arrival of the Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun in the capital spread rapidly throughout the city.
âSword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun has arrived!â
âTruly free-spirited like an immortal! I heard he was surrounded by thousands of soldiers, yet he moved as he pleased! What style!â
âThe Sword Immortal has arrived, it seems the Knife Saint will be here soon too!â
âHahaha, it looks like the grand battle between masters is not far off!â
âŚ
The capital city was buzzing with excitement.
However, the court became tense, treating it as a major threat.
Heavy military forces entered the capital, keeping watch day and night.
Experts from the Six-Door Division, the Brocade Guards, and even the Eastern Agency were all dispatched to closely monitor the Sword Immortal and the impending arrival of the Saber Saint.
In the court, civil and military officials engaged in intense discussions and deployments.
Meanwhile, someone took the opportunity to trip up Lin Beifan.
âYour Majesty, I have something to report regarding Sir Lin!â Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, spoke loudly.
âWhen the Sword Immortal was discovered, many people saw Sir Lin sitting at the same table as Sword Immortal Shangguan Jianhun, drinking and chatting merrily! I suspect that Sir Lin is colluding with the Sword Immortal, intending to subvert Great Wu. I implore Your Majesty to investigate!â
âI implore Your Majesty to investigate!â The officials echoed in unison.
Lin Beifan sneered.
These old cunning individuals!
At this moment, someone still wants to bring up an old issue!
The Empress spoke, âSir Lin, is there any truth to this?â
Lin Beifan calmly saluted, âYour Majesty, there is absolutely no truth to this.â
Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, continued to attack, âYou dare not admit it? You should know that dozens of people in the entire restaurant witnessed it with their own eyes! Moreover, when the Sword Immortal left, he called you a friend and invited you for a drink! I ask you, if there wasnât a close relationship between you, would he refer to you as a friend and invite you for a drink?â
Lin Beifan responded calmly, âWhat does sitting together imply? I see Minister Gao every day, does that mean we have a good relationship? Furthermore, I often refer to Minister Gao as a colleague and have mentioned inviting him for a drink. Does that mean we have a close relationship?â
âYou should know that since I entered the court as an official, in less than half a year, Minister Gao, you have implicated me in at least 10 cases. Can such a relationship be considered good? Even a dog wouldnât be as persistent as you!â
Comparing him to a dog!
Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, turned red with anger, trembling all over. âMinister Lin, you are truly disrespectful! Unreasonable!â
Lin Beifan ignored this mad dog and saluted, âYour Majesty, this humble official only met the Sword Immortal today! At that time, I didnât know why, but he took a liking to me at first sight, abducted me and had a drink with me. At that time, I didnât know his identity! After a pleasant conversation, he insisted on being friends with me! I couldnât refuse, it was really difficult! I implore Your Majesty to investigate!â
At that moment, an old eunuch approached and whispered a report.
The Empress nodded and smiled, âSir Lin was indeed abducted by the Sword Immortal! It is understandable that Sir Lin, a powerless scholar, couldnât resist a grandmaster-level Sword Immortal!â
âThank you for Your Majestyâs understanding!â Lin Beifan saluted.
The Empress continued, âMoreover, when facing the Sword Immortal, Sir Lin remained fearless and conducted himself with courtesy, upholding the dignity and elegance of our dynasty. He deserves a reward!â
âA reward of ten thousand taels of silver!â
âTen rolls of silk and satin!â
âŚ
The civil and military officials were all dumbfounded!
Your Majesty, itâs already this late, why are you still thinking about rewarding him?
Gao Tianyao, the Minister of Personnel, regretted so much!
If he had known, he wouldnât have implicated him in a case!
Not only did he fail to bring him down, but he also allowed him to receive another round of rewards!
âAlright, letâs stop here. Letâs discuss how to deal with the two grandmasters!â
After the court assembly, Lin Beifan deliberately approached the Minister of Personnel, bowing and smiling, âI thank Minister Gao for earlier!â
âHmph!â Gao Tianyao left with a black face.
Next, the court dispatched a large number of experts, exerting all efforts to search for the Sword Immortal, Shangguan Jianhun, and the elusive Saber Saint, Ouyang Badao.
But no matter how they searched, they couldnât find them. It was as if they had evaporated from the earth!
Lin Beifan regained his composure, attending the morning court on time and carrying out his duties diligently.
Then, one day, a rugged-looking young man with a sword on his shoulder intercepted Lin Beifanâs path.
The manâs appearance was very casual. His black hair was tied behind him, leaving a few strands hanging in front of his forehead.
His face seemed unwashed, with some dirt stains, and he wore a short-sleeved coarse linen robe, resembling a commoner.
With one hand on his hip and the sword on his shoulder, he even shook his foot, looking completely relaxed and carefree, giving off an aura of being in need of a beating.
However, anyone who underestimated him would be in trouble!
Because the impression he gave Lin Beifan was no less than that of the Sword Immortal!
Especially that sword, although it seemed ordinary, it was undoubtedly made of divine iron. It was an extremely dangerous weapon that had drunk the blood of countless people!
The man looked Lin Beifan up and down, raised an eyebrow, and said, âYouâre Lin Beifan, the good friend of the Sword Immortal, Shangguan Jianhun, right?â
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