Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 1714 – Older Sister, Do You Dare to Make a Bet?

Chapter 1714 – Older Sister, Do You Dare to Make a Bet?

In the darkness, anguished wailing filled the place. However, the scene in front of him could be said to be strange.

Countless Sword Demons were constantly retreating. Under the light, their bodies continuously emitted black smoke.

The group of swordsmen were surrounded by layers and layers of Sword Demons, as far as the eye could see. The swordsmen were massively outnumbered by the Sword Demons. Even in terms of strength, they were nowhere close to that of the Sword Demons.

Above their heads, light gathered and condensed to form a light sword that was like a bright sun in the underground!

If those swordsmen in the outside world – who were stupefied and in disbelief at the changes in the two boards – could see this scene now, they would definitely be so shocked that their eyes would be falling out of their sockets.

There was no bloody battle at all – all they did was walk with the light sword above their heads, and their battle records slowly accumulated like that.

Not to mention that the Sword Prison was out of control, even under normal circumstances, there were not many sword cultivators who could have an easy time here.

However, at this moment, Qin Yu’s face did not look very relaxed.

This was because even though the Sword Demons were still howling in pain under the light, the speed at which they were retreating was decreasing bit by bit.

Furthermore, there were simply too many Sword Demons. There were so many that they spread all the way to the far horizon. It was as if Qin Yu and the rest were lost in the great ocean. Even if they died one batch after another, they could not see the numbers of Sword Demons decreasing at all.

Intuition told Qin Yu that the light sword would probably continue to kill these Sword Demons. However, at some point, their retreat would stop…this was because as the Sword Demons retreated slower and slower, the darkness in the Sword Prison became heavier and heavier.

It seemed to be as thick as ink and as it turned in the air, it felt like it could swallow everything here.

This thick darkness adhered to the surface of the Sword Demons’ bodies. It acted like a layer of protective membrane, and this layer was becoming thicker and thicker.

Qin Yu was not sure whether the light sword’s power could continue to support them as they walked towards the Sword Prison core level. From what Xu Jing said, the legend of Swallow Mountain’s sealed item could very much be true.

Since Rourou made him go into the deep level of the Sword Prison, perhaps her goal was to possess that sealed item at the core level of the Sword Prison.

Could it be a legendary immortal sword?

……

Opening Heavens Sword Sect.

The sect’s great formation was activated. Countless strands of sword aura surged and transformed the interior into a sea of swords.

Near the stone steps, Rourou sat at an open-air round table. She picked up her tea cup and took a sip.

“Hey? Do you have to be so heartless? We were once sisters, back then, we even roamed the human realm together.”

A coquettish and gentle voice sounded out, but there was also a hint of grievance in it.

As she said these words, she held the pot and poured a cup of tea for herself.

Her hand was very pretty, giving people the feeling that it was perfect. Every vein on it looked perfectly placed.

Adding just one more vein or making even the slightest change would be committing a blasphemy to beauty.

“Can you drink that?” Rourou was expressionless.

The coquettish voice could be heard again, “Whether I can drink it or not is my problem, but whether or not you are willing to give me some tea is your problem.”

After a slight pause, she laughed cheerfully, “Rourou, I’ve got to say, your name is rather interesting. After all, as sworn sisters once, you know me quite well. I was born to be a woman who cannot live without meat.”

Rourou looked up at her with an ice-cold expression, “So, you’re thinking of eating me?”

“Ah, don’t say it so directly like that. I was just thinking about it but I didn’t do anything.”

“The fact that you’re thinking about it is enough for me.”

“Rourou, don’t be angry with me. How would I dare to eat you? We were sisters once; I’m still waiting for you to rescue me.”

Rourou put down her cup with a loud ‘pa’ sound and said firmly, “You cannot eat Qin Yu too.”

The person with the pretty hand holding the tea cup paused for a while and said helplessly, “My dear elder sister, aren’t you being a little too unreasonable? I have been suppressed for so many years and I’m starving. It was not easy for me to finally encounter a brat that doesn't taste bad.”

Rourou’s gaze became even colder, “If you don’t want to agree to my requests, you can try to eat me now…or, you might be killed by me.”

Dead silence.

In the air, countless invisible sword auras from all eight directions charged towards that beautiful hand that was still holding the tea cup. However, the moment they touched the hand, they instantly shattered into powder, unable to injure that hand at all.

There was really no damage done at all; not even a hair on it was hurt.

“Alright, alright. I’ll listen to my older sister, I won’t eat him.” The beautiful hand put down the cup and knocked lightly against the table’s surface, “Older sister, do you dare to make a bet with me?”

“You want to bet on whether he dares to go in?”

Pa –

She slammed her hand on the table and laughed delightfully, “Older sister, you are indeed very clever. No wonder you are living more comfortably than I am. As long as he dares to go in, I will lend this hand to him for a period of time, no problem at all. However, if he does not dare…”

Rourou blandly replied, “If he does not dare to go in, I will break one of my arms to supplement your body.”

“Wonderful, then it’s a deal!”

……

Frost Cold Sword Sect.

The protective sect array was activated. Han Zhengyang announced that he was closing his sect to find a method to open the Sword Prison. On the main peak, fourteen sword sect elders were gathered here. With the guidance of the sword aura, they went to stand at their positions.

They did not know what they had to do next, but no one dared to go against the Sect Master’s orders.

The mountainside was hollowed out and a sword array that had been built secretly was hiding within it. Han Zhengyang, who had declared himself to be in seclusion, was standing at the center of the sword array.

Opposite him, there was an old swordsman with a head full of white hair and a face that was dry and filled with wrinkles. He looked like a shriveled piece of wood with a dwindling life aura, as if he was going to die at any time.

However, this withered body contained an incomparably terrifying and majestic sword aura.

“It’s here, the day I’ve been waiting for is finally here. Good, hahaha, good!” The old swordsman laughed loudly and struggled to breathe for a while after that.

His weak body seemed to be unable to even withstand the movements of his chest caused by laughing, giving rise to a pain that was reminiscent of his heart and lungs tearing apart.

Han Zhengyang said in a low voice, “Master, please take care of your body.”

This old swordsman standing in front of him was the previous Sect Master of the Frost Cold Sword Sect. He had the great reputation of being extremely powerful in swordsmanship, but a thousand years ago, he had declared that he would be stepping down.

Who would have thought that he would live until today?

The old swordsman panted for a few breaths and waved his hand, “It doesn’t matter, I am about to go soon; there is no need to worry so much.”

He looked directly at Han Zhengyang and his yellow-colored pupils erupted with light, “Remember, countless swordsmen from my Frost Cold Sword Sect have been waiting bitterly for many years for this chance. Finally, the time has come.”

“You have to get that sealed item at all costs. You just need to refine it to break past the Celestial Threshold and become the first King realm swordsman in this world. In the future, you will be remembered as the founder of the sect. Then, the lineage of my Frost Cold Sword Sect will rise to glorious heights and establish our Sword Dao as the orthodox way of practicing swordsmanship!”

Han Zhengyang bowed, “Grandmaster, rest assured. I will definitely do my best and live up to your expectations…however, those elders outside the sword peak are the pillars of our sword sect…”

“Soft-hearted!” The old swordsman glared fiercely at Han Zhengyang. “Remember, everything in this world comes at a cost. This is a fair deal we are making. They’re just a bunch of sword sect elders, including me. It doesn’t matter if we die, but you must get your hands on that sealed item. There can be no mistakes!”

Han Zhengyang lowered his head, “Yes, Grandmaster.”

……

In the deep level of the Sword Prison, the darkness was as thick as ink.

The speed at which the Sword Demons retreated became slower and slower. Similarly, the area covered by the rays produced from the light sword above their heads started to shrink.

They were reaching their limits!

The deep and heavy darkness weighed on everyone’s hearts, making them feel depressed and it was extremely difficult for them to breathe. Apart from Qin Yu, no one knew why they had to come to this place.

The members of the underdog team did not dare to disobey Grand Elder’s orders. Additionally, Qin Yu was the one who chose to come here, so they could not leave.

As for the members of the South Sea Sword Sect…they had even less of a choice. They could leave anytime they wanted, but they were afraid that if they left the radius of the light rays, they would instantly be torn to pieces.

“Sect Master,” Zhang Xiashan suddenly said.

Qin Yu turned around to look at him, “You’ve reached your limit?”

Above them, the runes that were producing the light rays were burning at a high temperature, drying out one’s flesh. Everyone was suffering.

And this was just what could be seen on the surface. Activating these runes required them to exhaust their own power. Even though they were just playing the role of a catalyst and they did not use too much energy to activate the runes, sustaining them for a long period of time had also placed a heavy burden on them.

Zhang Xiashan looked at the other members in the squad. He clenched his jaw and said, “We can hold out for a while more…”

Qin Yu thought about it for a while, “Half an hour. If we still have zero gains after half an hour, then we will leave this place.”

“Thank you, Sect Master!” Zhang Xiashan’s eyes were full of gratitude.

The depressing atmosphere amongst the squad was alleviated along with Qin Yu’s words. It was quite difficult for them to tread on like this in the deep level of the Sword Prison, without knowing what their goal was and when this would all end.

Now, finally, the end was in sight.

Moments passed, and in the heavy darkness, the squad progressed little by little, accompanied by the anguished and pained wails of the Sword Demons.

Half an hour passed.

Qin Yu stopped in his tracks. The darkness was still the darkness and nothing had changed. At least from what he could sense, there was no difference at all compared to where they were half an hour ago.

Had they failed?

Qin Yu felt slightly indignant, but he was very aware that Zhang Xiashan and the rest had indeed reached their limits. More accurately, they had already reached their limits half an hour ago.

They only persevered for another half an hour because Qin Yu had given them hope which stimulated their potential.

He could not continue moving forward anymore, otherwise Zhang Xiashan and the rest would definitely die. And after losing the light sword, Qin Yu was also not confident that he would be able to kill his way out through countless Sword Demons.

Taking a deep breath, Qin Yu plastered a resolute expression on his face. He was about to open his mouth to speak, but suddenly, there was a surge of movement in the darkness in front of him.

It was like a huge fish had swum across and the darkness separated without a sound. Sword Demons stepped aside for it and a light nearby could be seen.

Qin Yu frowned slightly and focused on where the light was coming from. It was a rock wall that was covered with moss that was so densely packed together that it managed to illuminate the area around it.

Over there, there was a hole.

In the deep level of the Sword Prison, with countless Sword Demons blocking this place, a hole suddenly appeared…the Sword Prison’s core level!

Sealed item!

This thought instantly flashed past Qin Yu’s mind.

At this moment, Xu Jing had a realization. He finally understood why Qin Yu had ventured into the deep level of the Sword Prison.

The place that he was looking for was right here!

The entrance of the Sword Prison’s core level…but now, the Opening Heavens Sword Sect’s swordsmen had evidently reached their limits. Even though the entrance did not look too far away, they would not be able to hold on much longer.

Furthermore, the darkness in front had separated by itself. The fact that the Sword Demons gave way to them somehow felt like they were inviting them to their deaths.

Would Qin Yu dare to go there?

One must know that back then, Swallow Mountain once sent an extremely strong team of swordsmen to kill their way towards the Sword Prison’s core level. In the end, none of them came back alive!

“Zhang Xiashan!”

“Present.”

Qin Yu turned around and said, “All of you, leave the Sword Prison at once. This is an order issued by me. If Grand Elder blames any one of you, tell her what I said.”

Xiu –

His figure moved, charging out of the light sword’s radius. In the next moment, it merged with the darkness and he could no longer be seen, as if he was swallowed by it.

“Sect Master!”

Zhang Xiashan’s eyes widened and he looked visibly shaken.

Xu Jing, too, looked extremely shocked. He never thought that Qin Yu would have made such a resolute decision just like that.

Was he not afraid of death?

Jin Hua and the other South Sea Sword Sect disciples fell silent.

Zhang Xiashan took a deep breath and said, “Opening Heavens Sword Sect disciples, retreat from the Sword Prison!”

Then, they slowly made their way out.

The deep level of the Sword Prison fell into complete darkness once again, without any sign of life.