Chapter 207
His gaze shifted to the Monument of Ten Thousand Swords, standing tall at the mountain gates. His eyes filled with admiration.
“I have nothing else to offer, but my swordsmanship is not without merit. Upon my death, I will imbue my sword intent into the monument as a token of gratitude for taking in my old friend.”
His eyes held a trace of pleading.
The Sword Demon, proud as he was, would only bow his head for the sake of his companion.
The crowd was deeply moved.
Their respect for the Sword Demon grew even stronger. He was a man who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, yet fate had brought him facetoface with the unparalleled genius of the Little Immortal.
Ning Changge nodded slowly.
“You have my word. The condor will stay at Wudang, and in time, he may even walk the path of the Immortal Dao.”
His gaze lingered on the condor, sensing the same innate spirituality as his Spirit Monkey.
This was no ordinary beast. Like the Spirit Monkey, it was a rare anomaly born of unique circumstances, its nature perfectly attuned to spiritual energy.
The Sword Demon’s eyes lit up with joy, and he laughed heartily.
Relieved, he patted the condor’s wings and said:
“Did you hear that, old friend? From now on, you’ll follow the Little Immortal and cultivate well. One day, at the Monument of Ten Thousand Swords, you can tell me of your progress. I’ll be watching over you.”
The condor let out a mournful cry, its tears flowing freely.
The scene was deeply moving.
The Sword Demon laughed softly, his voice gradually fading. He gave the condor one last pat on the wing, and the great bird finally stopped resisting. Bowing its head, it turned to Ning Changge and respectfully bowed.
It understood.
The Sword Demon’s time had come, and his final wish was for it to remain at Wudang.
Ning Changge accepted the bow with quiet composure.
With the Spirit Monkey already under his care, taking in the condor was no burden.
The Spirit Monkey, meanwhile, was visibly excited. At last, a kindred spirit had arrived. It grinned warmly at the condor, who returned the gesture with a respectful bow.
The Sword Demon watched this interaction, his smile growing even more serene.
Turning back to Ning Changge, he hesitated briefly before asking:
“Little Immortal, what is the Immortal Dao?”
His eyes were filled with curiosity. Though he had glimpsed the extraordinary nature of Ning Changge’s power, he couldn’t comprehend its full scope. How could someone be so far beyond the limits of reason, beyond the bounds of all known logic?
The crowd collectively held their breath.
This was the question that burned in everyone’s minds.
Even Yaoyue, her heart racing, leaned forward. She had once asked Ning Changge the same question, and his answer had been “the Immortal Dao.” But what did that truly mean? Despite her efforts, she had found no answers.
Even the Land Immortals—Li Changsheng, Xiaoyaozi, and the Old Celestial Master—stared intently at Ning Changge, their curiosity palpable.
Ning Changge raised his gaze to meet the Sword Demon’s.
“The Immortal Dao is a system of cultivation I created, distinct from martial arts.”
“To pursue eternal life is the Immortal Dao. To seek the truth of immortality is the Immortal Dao. To refine the forces of heaven and earth for one’s own use is also the Immortal Dao.”
He spoke simply, offering only a glimpse of the truth.
The time was not yet ripe.
For now, a seed of understanding was enough. When his cultivation advanced further, he would reveal the full scope of the Immortal Dao to the world. Preparations for that day were already underway.
But even these few words plunged Tianzhu Peak into an eerie silence.
The night wind whispered through the air, the only sound in the stillness. The crowd’s eyes widened, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.
“So the Immortal Dao… isn’t the path to becoming a Land Immortal, but an entirely new system of cultivation?” Yaoyue thought, her face pale with astonishment.
Her thoughts mirrored those of everyone present.
A collective gasp echoed across the peak. Even the Land Immortals abandoned all pretense of composure, their shock evident.
A new system of cultivation, distinct from martial arts, had emerged in the Nine Provinces.
The implications were staggering.
For countless generations, the martial arts of the Nine Provinces had evolved into the system known today—one that began with the Postnatal Realm, progressed to the Innate Realm, and culminated in the Land Immortal realm.
This was the natural order, the accepted truth.
But now, Ning Changge had introduced something entirely new.
And from what they had seen, the Immortal Dao seemed to surpass martial arts in every way.
The crowd’s minds raced with questions, but none dared to ask further. Ning Changge’s silence made it clear he had no intention of elaborating.
The Sword Demon stood frozen, his thoughts in turmoil.
He fixated on one phrase: “To refine the forces of heaven and earth for one’s own use.”
In the Nine Provinces, the strength of a Land Immortal depended on their ability to resonate with the forces of heaven and earth. This was an unchanging truth.
But Ning Changge spoke of refining these forces, of making them his own.
The Sword Demon’s voice trembled with awe.
“Such a path… I have no regrets in losing to you.”
“One day, the Immortal Dao will shine across the Nine Provinces. Too bad I won’t live to see it.”
Turning to the condor, he smiled.
“Old friend, you must live well. Witness the brilliance of the Nine Provinces for me.”
The condor let out a mournful cry, its tears flowing once more.
The Sword Demon bowed deeply to Ning Changge—a gesture of respect for the creator of the Immortal Dao, and a final thanks for answering his question.
“Thank you, Little Immortal, for enlightening me.”
With that, he turned and walked toward the Monument of Ten Thousand Swords.
His white hair glowed under the moonlight, his figure both majestic and tragic.
The crowd watched in reverence, their voices rising in unison:
“We bid farewell to the Sword Demon!”
The Sword Demon laughed one last time, his body crumbling into dust.
In his place, a radiant sword intent rose into the sky, merging with the Monument of Ten Thousand Swords.
The monument erupted with light, its sword intent surging to new heights. It seemed almost alive, its aura growing exponentially stronger.
The Sword Demon’s legacy had become part of Wudang’s foundation.
Ning Changge’s eyes gleamed with fivecolored light as inspiration struck him.
The Sword Demon’s final technique, “Nothingness,” had given him new insights.
A notification echoed in his mind:
[You have gained enlightenment from the Sword Demon’s swordsmanship. By integrating his teachings with your understanding of the Five Elements and space, you have created a new technique: the Five Elements Void Sword.]Ning Changge’s lips curved into a smile.
The Five Elements Void Sword was a formless, spaceless technique, capable of striking enemies from thousands of miles away. It was a powerful addition to his arsenal.
Satisfied, he turned to the condor and said:
“From now on, you will cultivate alongside the Spirit Monkey. Honor the Sword Demon’s legacy and strive for the Dao.”
The condor bowed deeply, its sorrow evident.
Ning Changge smiled warmly.
With the condor’s addition, Wudang’s strength would only grow.
The disciples of Wudang looked at Ning Changge with awe. His feats never ceased to amaze them, inspiring boundless respect.
Zhang Sanfeng, his eyes filled with pride, could only marvel at his disciple.
“What more could I ask for, with such a student?”
Ning Changge turned to Zhang Sanfeng and bowed.
“Master, I disrupted your celebration. Please forgive me.”
Zhang Sanfeng laughed heartily.
“The Sword Demon chose you for his final battle—it was destiny. This duel has brought honor to my celebration, ensuring it will be remembered for generations. How could it be a disruption?”
The crowd agreed.
The duel between the Little Immortal and the Sword Demon would be etched into history, a onceinacentury event.
As the celebration wound down, Zhang Sanfeng addressed the guests:
“Thank you all for attending my centenary celebration. If we have failed to meet your expectations, I ask for your understanding. The hour is late; please rest here on Tianzhu Peak and descend tomorrow.”
The Wudang disciples, led by Song Yuanqiao, began organizing accommodations for the guests.
The celebration had come to an end, but its impact would ripple across the Nine Provinces for years to come.
The Jianghu would never be the same.
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