Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 142 - 115: Ascend to the Nine Levels, Retrieve the Immortal Sword

Chapter 142: Chapter 115: Ascend to the Nine Levels, Retrieve the Immortal Sword

A stick of incense had burned down, and the intense fighting gradually subsided. Chi Yu Zi, Jun Yan, and Jade Sword Buddha each stood at one end of the Sword Pond, gasping for breath. Their states revealed the slight differences in their combat capabilities.

Jade Sword Buddha was the strongest, only breathing slightly rapidly. Jun Yan followed, and due to the defensive power of the Demon Sword and the ability to drive the Great Demon’s dharma form, he was the least injured. As for Chi Yu Zi, she was in the worst condition, covered in wounds, but uniquely, she was not out of breath.

Gu Wen could only attribute this to the effect of the Nine Revolutions Golden Pill; perhaps Chi Yu Zi’s attacks were not the strongest, but she was the most enduring.

The combined mana of the other two likely did not match Chi Yu Zi’s.

The attacks of Jade Sword Buddha, the defense of Jun Yan, and the endurance of Chi Yu Zi—none had managed to gain a decisive advantage. Who would emerge victorious was still uncertain, plus there were the three of them observing.

Gu Wen glanced at Xiao Yunyi and asked, "Don’t you want the Immortal Sword?"

The Immortal Sword was transformed by the founder of his Broken Sword Mountain, and by the Law, he was the most qualified to claim it. Besides, which swordsman wouldn’t yearn for the rare and unique Immortal Sword?

But Xiao Yunyi appeared unnaturally calm, eerily so.

Xiao Yunyi indifferently said, "Do you see the sword?"

Gu Wen looked, and only a jet-black sword scabbard stood erect, within a hundred meters, no wind or waves stirred, and any residual waves from their battle were neutralized into nothingness.

There were only golden roots besides that; beyond these, there was nothing else. Even if one could describe a sword as inherently formless, he couldn’t even sense the sword itself.

He shook his head honestly and replied, "No, so what are they fighting for?"

"Nine is the ultimate, but here it’s only the eighth level, the scabbard must exist before the sword," Yu Hua explained. "The changes in Heavenly Spring Mountain and the conditions here are unrecorded by any Sect, but the ultimate paths lead to the same conclusion; some laws are unchangeable."

The Mystical Sect’s Five Elements, the Buddhist Sect’s Law of Cause and Effect, the Demon Sect’s Innate—all are interpretations of the natural laws of heaven and earth, with the Law preceding the Daoist Skill. Thus, by observing the layers of Grotto Heavens, Yu Hua could infer that a ninth level with the Immortal Sword existed.

A simple reasoning, but Gu Wen had practiced for less than a year, hardly enough time for training, let alone learning these common knowledges.

Nor did he have the time to nurture the perspective to ’see three, know nine’, to understand how fire brings forth earth through the Five Elements. It was akin to Gu Wen knowing the usual price of fabric while walking down the street, and inferring price fluctuations from that.

Holding his usual attitude of asking when in doubt, Gu Wen continued, "There’s no path here, and the scabbard is central, so is the scabbard the key?"

At the end there were no stairs, he couldn’t think of a ninth level, but reminded, he couldn’t not guess.

"Exactly."

This time, it was Xiao Yunyi replying, also seizing the opportunity to voice his initial doubts, "I naturally want to fight for this scabbard, but I’m pondering one thing, what’s the meaning of this?"

"Please be clear, Fellow Daoist."

Gu Wen disliked riddles and directly pursued an answer.

"I feel that fighting for the scabbard is meaningless. The premise for the strong to win is that chance is an inanimate object, yet the Immortal Sword is not a mere tool. If it doesn’t approve, even if one is the best in the world, what of it?"

Xiao Yunyi took two steps forward, his stern face took on a hint of confusion, momentarily transforming from a swordsman into a poetic youth.

Gu Wen wanted to criticize the nihilism, but knew it wasn’t the time for casual chat, and then asked, "How do you know without trying?"

"Your words are logical, yet illogical."

Xiao Yunyi slightly shook his head, "The common saying of elders from various Sects, ’how do you know without trying?’ In reality, for most without special circumstances, their attainable level is already set, everyone is merely seeking the best within a fixed, narrow range."

This Xiao Moutou was becoming more verbose.

Gu Wen really wanted to kick him off; had he the perfected Sixth Level Dao Foundation, he’d make those below submit entirely.

He was the least to believe in fate; whatever it was, he’d pocket it first.

"In the end, I’m still going to compete, the sword is at least currently the unparalleled in the world."

Xiao Yunyi drew his Soft Sword, a streak of sword light soared into the sky, overshadowing the Buddha Light, Demonic Qi, and golden light below.

All three unconsciously looked up, seeing a swordsman in white coming by air, sword light flashing with one step, dharma form manifesting with two, and with the third step, the Sword Intent shattered the entangled aura of those fighting.

Jun Yan’s eyes flashed with surprise, "You, the blockhead, didn’t expect you to figure it out now."

He understood Xiao Yunyi well, as they were close friends who knew each other through and through, second only to Yu Hua in terms of reluctance to face each other.

Because Xiao Yunyi’s sword had no flaws, and each aspect was at least eighty percent as good as theirs. Such bucket-like capabilities formed an almost insurmountable advantage.

Jade Sword Buddha’s strong attacks could be blocked, Chi Yu Zi’s undying nature could be overwhelmed, but Xiao Yunyi could only be countered by sheer absolute strength.

"How would it be if you stray into madness, do you have the Immortal Skill?"

Chi Yu Zi’s fierce gaze was evident, she was the least afraid of Xiao Yunyi because even a bucket could be drained.

On the other hand, Jade Sword Buddha posed the greatest threat to her, one careless move could result in being cut, even if blocked, she would be injured.

Jade Sword Buddha only murmured in prayer, she didn’t recognize Xiao Yunyi, nor Chi Yu Zi, nor Jun Yan whom she had chased countless times.

Only those who hindered her from attaining Buddha-hood would die, this remained unchanged.

Vajra’s sword struck down like a collapsing mountain, the Golden Man Fist moved the heavens and earth, and the Great Demon’s dharma form attacked from all directions.