Yinshan Record

Chapter 556 The Night Battle on the Qinhuai River Reveals Clues (Part 2)
On a painted boat on the Qinhuai River, a young man in a brocade robe with a jade hairpin in his hair and a crane cloak on his body exuded countless charms. He was playing with a jade flute in his hand, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"The scenery in Jiangnan is indeed different from that in the North."

A charming woman lowered her head and said, "Thanks to Your Highness, I have finally witnessed the brilliance of the talents here."

This elegant young man was none other than Princess Ning'an herself.

"The three powers are Heaven, Earth, and Man. Heaven and Earth are beyond my control, so the most important thing is Man. The court must nurture the people and ensure that talented people are in their proper places. Otherwise, there will be disharmony between the upper and lower levels, and what was originally a help will turn into an obstacle."

Princess Ning'an gazed at the surface of the river.

Using the sword-fighting competition on the Qinhuai River to recruit talent and quell the unrest in Jiankang City is only the first step.

The most important step was for Wei Huaiwen and Su Gui to insert a nail into the political situation that the two of them were working together on.

"Ping'er doesn't understand so many principles."

That charming woman was Zhen Ping'er, the head of Zhu Hua's class. She was tall and slender with skin as white as snow, her crimson lips held a hint of a smile, and her eyes sparkled with light.

"I feel that the scenery of Jiangnan is different from that of the North, and the talented people are also different."

"Miss Zhen, among these people on the river, whose swordsmanship do you think is the most superb?"

"Your Highness is joking. Ping'er knows nothing about swordsmanship."

Princess Ning'an was originally a practitioner who aspired to the way of the sword, and she smiled slightly.

"Those who aspire to master the sword must be diligent and sincere. Although Qi Tan has put in a lot of hard work, his mind is not pure, and he will ultimately fail to achieve his goal."

"As for that unsophisticated swordsman, although I don't know his name, his sword has a desolate and lonely feel to it. If it could be polished, it might be considered a fine and talented sword."

Princess Ning'an looked to the other side as she spoke.

"What does Elder Gongshu think?"

On the other side, a middle-aged man with white eyebrows had his eyes closed. This man was an elder of the South Sea Sword Sect named Gongshu Yun. He had already reached the peak of the Core Formation stage and was only one step away from achieving the Void Step stage. He was one of the most famous sword cultivators in the Great Liang Kingdom.

"Your Highness has a keen eye for detail. Qi Tan's swordsmanship is superficial, and in terms of sword spirit, it is already of low quality. Although the sword spirit of that rogue cultivator is not clear, he has not lost his spirit of striving for progress. In my humble opinion, the rogue cultivator is more skillful. If Your Highness needs someone, you should recruit him into your ranks."

Zhen Ping'er's eyes flickered: "Then the one from the north, Zuo..."

"This person's aura is uncertain, he probably has some other intentions. Perhaps I should test him."

When Su Che appeared, he had already changed his aura using the Nine Netherworld Reincarnation Technique passed down by the Yin Yang Dharma King. How could Gongshu Yun, with his keen eyesight, possibly see that?

"Why bother Mr. Gongshu?"

Princess Ning'an's eyes revealed a hint of disgust.

"Let Qi Tan give it a try."

An order was given from the pleasure boat. Gongshu Yun immediately transmitted the message to the Qinhuai River.

"I, Gongshu Yun, will be your witness. Young Master Qi, it is time for you to have a duel with this Mr. Zuo."

For a moment, the banks of the Qinhuai River were once again filled with noise.

Everyone knows that Gongshu Yun is a newly recruited master of the court, and Gongshu Yun's words are equivalent to Princess Ning'an's will.

Even though Qi Tan was extremely unwilling, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and endure it.

"Very well, since it is Elder Gongshu's idea, then I will learn from Mr. Zuo's skillful methods."

Qi Tan waved his long sleeves, and the sword box behind him flew out, shining brightly and resonating in the night.

"This sword was used by the previous generation swordsman Yan Changyun. There are seven swords in total, each representing Yin and Yang and the Five Elements. Please be careful, Brother Zuo."

Su Che, however, remained standing on the river.

"Did your master's wife teach you swordsmanship? Why do you ramble on and on before you even draw your sword? Why are you being so long-winded?"

Qi Tan was not angry. He merged his mind with the sword box and bowed to it.

This bow was not to the sword itself, but to one's own indomitable spirit.

"please."

Young Master Qi gave a shout, made a sword incantation with his hand, and a beam of crimson light leaped out from the sword box.

"Flaming light, please."

A sword light, swirling with endless flames, descended from above.

"As expected of what my master's wife taught me, this sword strike is just right for starting a fire to cook."

Su Che slightly shifted his body, not making a move, but merely moved three feet to the side, landing precisely outside of Qi Tan's sword light. Qi Tan was furious, and the heat on his sword light increased even more, with flames swirling around it as he unleashed three consecutive sword strikes.

However, Young Master Su remained calm and nimbly dodged the sword light.

The sword energy swept across the river, steaming up a cloud of white vapor.

"A fine sword, just right for steaming rice in a hot pot."

Su Che let out a loud shout, which echoed along both banks of the Qinhuai River.

"Tai Su cuts off emotions, Hei Shui breaks the army, Huang Long dances, Sen Luo Kui Lei."

Qi Tan summoned all five swords. With a flick of the sword light, red, white, yellow, blue, and black sword lights attacked one after another, almost engulfing Su Che's figure.

No matter how fierce the sword light was, it just couldn't actually land next to Su Che.

"What a fine sword! This swordsmanship was truly learned on my master's wife's kang (heated brick bed)."

"Elder Gongshu..."

Princess Ning'an looked at Su Che in the midst of the battle.

"It is the method of Yin-Yang Yuan-Magnetic".

Gongshu Yun naturally understood what Princess Ning'an wanted to ask, and he said directly, "This person must be proficient in the Yin-Yang Yuan Magnetic Technique. Qi Tan relied too much on this sword set, and was sensed in advance by someone using the Yuan Magnetic Technique. Therefore, before his sword was about to strike, the other party had already seen through the path."

"Even if one could discern the sword's path, it would only take a split second. How could this person have reacted so quickly?"

Princess Ning'an gazed towards the Qinhuai River.

"It must have been a clever interference, but Qi Tan still hasn't noticed. If I were in his shoes, I would have already given up and surrendered."

That's incredibly clever.

Princess Ning'an looked towards the battle, surprised to find someone so skilled in the Yin-Yang Magnetic Aurora. The Yin-Yang Magnetic Aurora was extremely effective against all kinds of magical artifacts, making it a perfect counter to a cultivator like Qi Tan, whose cultivation was unstable and who relied on external objects.

"Your Highness, let's call a halt. If Qi Tan had unleashed all seven swords earlier, he might have been able to force out this man's true nature. But with the current fighting style, he's only bringing shame upon himself."

Gongshu Yunwang cautiously said to Princess Ning'an, "Qi Tan is, after all, the leader of the noble young men in Jiankang City. If Your Highness intends to employ him, it is best not to let him fight too fiercely with Qi Tan, or things will get complicated later."

Princess Ning'an thought for a moment and shook her head, saying, "Teacher Gongshu truly cherishes talent, but it's a pity that this person's background is unknown. Let's observe him further."

I'm from

Gongshu Yun sighed softly and continued to look into the battle.

Qi Tan had already unleashed the Yin-Yang Swords, but it was still no match for Su Che.

Along the Qinhuai River, only Su Che laughed incessantly.

"Today I'll show you what real swordsmanship is."

"Awaken the bright moon of the day, let it shine upon my heart full of ice and snow, and I shall depart."

Su Che used his finger as a sword, and a chilling sword aura swept across the Qinhuai River. The spectators on both banks felt a chill in their hearts, as if a peerless divine sword was flying past their ears.

The sword light was chilling, freezing the heavens. With a single, sweeping strike, Qi Tan's seven swords were all shattered, and he took a solid hit.

"What a fine sword! This person must have the cultivation level of the Core Formation Realm."

Gongshu Yun exclaimed in surprise.

Princess Ning'an frowned, finding the man's swordplay somewhat familiar.

"Zuo Lengchan of Songyang, today I ask the heroes of Jiangdong, who dares to test the edge of my sword?"

Su Che looked down with an air of superiority, and the Qinhuai River was utterly silent.

"May I ask, Mr. Zuo, what sword technique did you just use?"

It was Li, a disciple of Yuyang Mountain. She was already standing on the Qi family's painted boat, asking cautiously.

"What, you're not convinced?"

Su Che didn't give him a friendly look either.

"Mr. Zuo's swordsmanship is very similar to our sect's Returning Wind and Withered Snow Sword Qi. Hence this question."

You have a really good eye.

Su Che just used the Returning Wind and Withered Snow Sword Qi, and it was the authentic Returning Wind and Withered Snow Sword Qi that he learned from Liu Yidao's clone.

"The Returning Wind and Withered Snow Sword Qi? What's so great about it? If you want to see it, I can even show you the Lesser Yang Lingguang Sword Qi."

As Su Che spoke, he waved his hand, and a cold, desolate sword aura soared into the sky, like a cold dragon flying through the air.

The disciple of Yuyang Mountain widened her eyes. Although she was not qualified to practice these two great skills, she had seen the elders of the sect demonstrate them. The skills that Zuo Lengchan used were even more skillful than those of the masters in the sect.

"This……"

"Sir, please board the ship for a moment."

Gongshu Yun's voice came directly over.

This was the first reward for the sword duel in Qinhuai, which also meant that the swordsmen had gained the appreciation of Princess Ning'an and were qualified to meet the princess.

"What did Zuo Lengchan just say?"

"It seems they say he knows the secret techniques of Yuyang Mountain."

The reputation of Yuyang Mountain among the people of the Central Plains is even more renowned than that of the true Xuanmen sects such as Huangtiandao, Tianshidao, and Shenxiaodao.

After all, they were all high and mighty immortals, while Yuyang Mountain was a reputable and righteous sect that truly protected the people.

As for the unique martial arts techniques that are the most treasured skills on Yuyang Mountain, they are known to almost everyone in the Central Plains, accompanied by countless legends.

"Could this man surnamed Zuo really be a master from Yuyang Mountain?"

"It must be a swordsman from Yuyang Mountain. He couldn't stand by and watch someone insult his sect like that, so he took action."

"Sigh, I wonder how Young Master Qi is doing."

"Go back and cultivate yourself properly."

Su Che looked at the Yuyang Mountain disciple below and said, "With such temperament and swordsmanship, how could Yuyang Mountain dare to let you leave the mountain? I'm afraid you've been tricked into having a child and having to raise it with all your might. It's a real loss."

"May I ask if you are a senior member of the sect, and how you learned this skill...?"

“I am not from your Yuyang Mountain. Like Chu Yuan, I am a disciple of the Yuyang Sect. You should be glad that you met me. If you had met one of my other disciples, things would not have been so simple.”

Su Che sneered, flicked his sleeve, and headed towards the painted boat on the Qinhuai River.

Only the disciples of Yuyang Mountain remained, muttering incessantly.

Where did this Yu Yang Zhengzong come from? Why does this person say that Senior Brother Chu Yuan is also a disciple of Yu Yang Zhengzong?
The thought of the sect suddenly locking its gates made her heart flutter; she knew she had to report this news to the sect immediately.

How did the sect's secret techniques get leaked out?
Su Che secretly chuckled to himself.

Brother Chu, since we are sworn brothers, I will grant you the destiny of being reduced to ashes.

(End of this chapter)