Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 792 The Illusionary Feast (Part 7)
Not only Ji Jiuying's eyes widened, but the entire banquet hall fell into silence.

Ji Jiuying subconsciously turned her head to look at Shi Zanxue, whose beautiful eyes were looking at her innocently.

"Now you can try it out for yourself," she said with a smile.

Ji Jiuying pursed her lips, stood up, and picked up the Shuangcheng Sword.

The beautiful woman, with her hair slightly cascading down her back and her tall, elegant figure, looked at the young man on the stage and said, "From what I hear, you're going to pick all the top twenty Fuxia (a type of martial arts expert)?"

Pei Ye clasped his hands in a fist salute again: "I was away from the capital last month and missed many sword gatherings. I only recently met you heroes. Now that we have this good opportunity to meet friends through swordsmanship, it is my wish."

Ji Jiuying said calmly, "I hope you won't give up halfway. I can't beat you. When it's Junior Sister Qunfei's turn, she will repay you."

Pei Ye smiled. At this moment, he felt that the several Heavenly Mountain Jade Maidens he had met were all different in appearance and temperament, and could be remembered at a glance. This [Shuangcheng] was the first time he had met her. Zuoqiu, Miss Shi, and Qunfei were not as heroic and aloof as her, nor were they as impolite as her.

Pei Ye took two steps back and lowered his sword to the ground.

Ji Jiuying stepped down and stood opposite.

Whether the twenty Fuxia warriors want to fight or not, everyone definitely wants to watch.

A newcomer, whose position is not yet secure, competes against everyone who is already on the list.

Some people have even begun to speculate that the sword banquet held by the Eastern Palace, which extended invitations to the capital, might actually be a platform for this young man to demonstrate his swordsmanship.

Since the Linxuan Grand Ceremony the day before yesterday, countless people have been searching for the lineage of this Prince Jinyang in the Tang Dynasty. People know the Prime Minister of the court and Xu Chuo, the Master of Xiuwen Pavilion, but only today have they realized who his favorites are in the martial arts world.

In fact, Pei Ye had already written the name "Jinyang" in the national newspaper in March, based on his prediction.

Therefore, this was a fight that had to be fought. Although it was a "sword-fighting friendship" between Pei Ye and the heroes present, and there was no tense atmosphere during the competition, it was actually the way this prince observed the martial arts world.

You came to the banquet at the Illusionary Tower precisely to draw your sword in front of the Crown Prince.

This young man was the yardstick she used to measure the heroes of the world.

If you back down before the ruler, then why come today?

"Nice to meet you. Please, Miss Ji."

"I've heard so much about you. Young Master Pei, please."

Ji Jiuying drew his sword and unleashed a [River Rush Down the Mountain] strike. The two swords clashed with a resounding clang, and Pei Ye felt a jolt from his sword to his body.

Ji Jiuying's mastery of the "Queen Mother of the West Sword" is extremely profound. She is the most skilled among the younger generation of Tianshan. Even Qunfei learned from this senior sister.

Pei Ye was indeed seeing this sword technique, which was considered one of the two great swords alongside the "Mu Wang Sword," for the first time. The sudden shift from the "Fei Huo" and "Li Sheng" techniques of the North to the high heavens of the West was already jarring to the viewers, so Pei Ye's feelings need not be elaborated upon.

However, he was not caught off guard and only needed to disassemble the sword twice to fully adapt.

When practicing swordplay with Miss Ming, it was even more impressive than this. She could come up with any kind of sword technique from her hands. Often, it wasn't just a switch between two sword techniques, but a reversal or change in a single move or half a move. Pei Ye's biggest gain from playing swordplay with such an unpredictable woman was learning how to form a safe circle with his limited sword moves.

In the past, he could only pursue quick victories; now he has learned to remain undefeated.

It's still "Jade Sword".

This was the first sword technique Pei Ye learned, and it was also the sword technique Pei Ye was most familiar with. Its essence was a first-rate clumsy sword technique. However, in the past, Pei Ye relied on its power, and learning a single move of it would help him defeat a powerful enemy. Now, it relied on Pei Ye's sword ladder and remained a reliable and intimate tool.

Ji Jiuying's sword, like herself, is swift, powerful, and elegant; it is not like snow, but like the wind.

The exchange between Pei Ye and this woman was purely a contest of sword techniques. What surprised Pei Ye was that the woman also frequently clashed with him in terms of strength. With each clash of their swords, the woman seemed to be trying to knock his sword away.

In the competition for the ranking of the Fu Ranking, everyone has naturally already reached the top of the Pulse Realm. The confrontation between the eight students is actually a contest of physical strength.

In the context of swordplay, the contest of strength should not be the main theme; the correct approach is for both sides to engage in a sword battle with similar amounts of true energy.

However, the woman seemed completely unaware that there was anything wrong with her exertion. Indeed, her physical attributes were somewhat beyond Pei Ye's expectations. She possessed the most outstanding talent Pei Ye had ever seen, and it was very likely that she could contend with cultivators of the Four Realms even before she began cultivating.

Now, each strike against Pei Ye's sword feels like forging iron.

At first, Pei Ye only felt strange, but gradually, a strange anger rose up, because those handsome eyes were staring straight at him, and every exertion of force was like a scrutiny.

Pei Ye narrowed his eyes. When the sword came down again, he didn't try to deflect the force. Instead, he swung his sword and rammed into it. Both of their arms jolted at the same time.

Then Pei Ye did not retreat any further. Of course, he did not use the true energy of Jiu Sheng. He only learned the feeling of true energy for the first time nine months ago. For many years before, he only knew how to use his muscles and bones to wield the sword.

He repeatedly clashed with Ji Jiuying's power, head-on collisions with her outbursts, relentlessly pursuing her stubbornness, breaking free from her restraints, and suppressing her resistance... until after several exchanges, he staggered a few steps, and with a powerful strike of [Hao Bailu], he struck Shuangcheng Sword with a clang. Ji Jiuying clutched her wrist, released her grip, and lost her sword.

Pei Ye looked down at her. The woman's face showed no emotion. She bent down to pick up the sword, pursed her lips, and remained silent.

Pei Ye clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Miss Ji, you flatter me. The name of the 'Queen Mother of the West Sword' is well-deserved."

“If Young Hero Pei comes to the West in the future, we can have another match.” Ji Jiuying glanced at him, sheathed his sword, and turned back to his seat.

Shi Zanxue looked up at the returning woman, whose hair was slightly disheveled and who was gently rubbing her wrist.

"They suffered a defeat?"

"Seventeen against seventh, how can they possibly win?"

"Then why did you provoke him in the first place?" Shi Zanxue laughed. "Are you itching for a beating?"

Ji Jiuying sat down next to her and whispered, "Say it again, I want to hear it."

Shi Zanxue obediently said, "Senior Sister, let's not talk about it anymore."

Since the Tianshan Sword Banquet, Kongtong has naturally stopped showing up in the capital. Although an invitation was sent, Ji Zhuowu was not present at the banquet today.

The next person to take the stage was Tang Fubing from Taihang.

This was the first time I had ever seen the swordsmanship of Taihang outside of books. This sword sect was also located high in the snow-capped mountains, but unlike the ethereal atmosphere of Tianshan, it was bitterly cold and harsh. Before learning swordsmanship, disciples had to first learn how to survive in the snow-capped mountains and forests with just a bow and a sword.

Tang Fubing's sword was far less slender and sharp than Yang Zhenbing's, but its killing intent was far superior; every strike seemed to unleash the fiery blood of tigers and leopards.

The Jade Cicada Bird was somewhat at a disadvantage against such a sword, but this kind of "overcoming the strong with the weak" was exactly the situation Pei Ye was most familiar with. After fifty-four moves, he defeated it with a move called "Carrying a New Corpse".

Next up is Zhao Jiajia from Yunlang.

The woman was barefoot and dressed in a single layer of clothing, with bandages wrapped around all four wrists. Her sword was old, and her clothes were not new either. After she came up, she bowed and asked Pei Ye if he had any news about famous swords. Pei Ye hesitated and said no. So she nodded and seriously assumed a fighting stance.

For the first time, Pei Ye felt real pressure from this woman. "Vajra" was probably the most fitting title, as her swordsmanship was extremely powerful, perfect, and flawless. Pei Ye could hardly find any fault with her.

When they talked about it later, Ming Qitian said that this fellow disciple had a morbid pursuit of perfection and certainty. She would be precise about her daily meals, sleep, and how many steps she planned to take. She would not accept any flaws in her sword either, so her sword was the most solid, which also made her lose a lot of her forward momentum.

In this scene, Pei Ye used the "Collapse Snow" technique. Both of their swords flew away at the same time, but Pei Ye's sword, like a sentient bird, flew back faster and pressed against her throat.

Then there's Liang Yanni, also known as "Childhood Swordsman".

Yun Lang's fourteen-year-old son still looked like he hadn't fully grown up. He looked at Pei Ye with a blank expression, while Pei Ye looked down at him.

This young man was so intelligent that even Pei Ye was amazed. Although he was ranked two places higher than Zhao Jiajia, he was not as difficult to fight as Zhao Jiajia. He did not know much about swordsmanship, but he was very good at using swords, just like Pei Ye.

Pei Ye has gone further down this path than him.

After nine moves, Pei Ye defeated him.

Eleventh place, Shang Yun Ning is outrageously strong.

Fu Bang was originally ranked tenth, and even though he had lived in Tianshan for a long time, he was still ranked after Yan Feiqing.

Bai Yi, who was as serene as a cloud, gave Pei Ye a sense of being a young lady of three generations. He knew a great variety of swords and was highly skilled in them. He was also proficient in swordsmanship and had a well-structured approach to swordsmanship. He had no weaknesses in any aspect.

Pei Ye unleashed all six forms of the Spring Sword and the first three forms of the Summer Sword before him. Half of the [Cicada Fish Pavilion] unfolded on the sword platform. Pei Ye and Pei Ye fought fiercely, exchanging blows for two hundred and fifty-one rounds. Pei Ye, with his superior comprehension, grasped the swordplay and won by half a move. The two exchanged respectful greetings and departed. Pei Ye invited him to come to the Sword Repair Academy to play swordsmanship sometime.

Chen Quan is slightly easier to fight. While "Spring Serpent" is an extremely powerful sword technique, the sword techniques of the Youdu lineage are extremely biased towards "intention," and Pei Ye also possesses extremely powerful sword techniques in the area of ​​intentional swordsmanship.

Chen Quan, wielding a black water serpent, and Pei Ye, with wings of an immortal growing on his back, one a dark and mysterious figure, the other a graceful and ethereal immortal, together create a scene of breathtaking beauty within the Illusionary Tower.

But after a few exchanges, the immortal flew into the underworld, and Chen Quan lost control of the netherworld.

This was the first time the Sword of the Ghost Immortal had appeared before everyone. Amidst the myriad threads, the winged youth standing silently resembled an omnipotent immortal.

Mei Jianxi is like a mirror reflecting Pei Ye.

Pei Ye thought that if he had joined Yunlang when he was young, he would probably be in the same situation as Mei Jianxi when he was seventeen.

Although he is a year younger, his understanding and experience with swordsmanship far surpasses Pei Ye's. Moreover, he is extremely talented, has studied a great deal of swordsmanship, and his strokes of genius during swordplay are numerous. In some ways, he is similar to Ming Qitian, who lacks the clear and discerning mind of a true swordsman.

But he is not.

In the sword fight based on half of the [Cicada Fish Temple], Pei Ye was under great pressure and faced defeat at one point. However, when the sword was transformed into an artistic conception, Pei Ye calmed the entire banquet with a move called [Clouds Obscuring the Eyes and Losing Feathers], which was as clear as ice and snow.

This also includes Yun Lang, the number one youth of this generation.

Many people say he might be the next Ming Qitian, but Pei Ye believes he is far from being the same as Ming Yun at the age of sixteen.

The sixth in line, [Prince] Qunfei.

This beautiful and elegant young lady wielded her sword with the same graceful and unrestrained style. She smiled throughout, and was the only one who kept talking to Pei Ye while they were playing swordsmanship.

They would either discuss the moves they had just exchanged, or ask the boy where he had learned that sword technique. After a while, the conversation would drift to idle chatter about Ming Qitian. And there were all sorts of other topics that came to mind at any moment.

Pei Ye's swordsmanship style is almost indescribable; if one had to describe it, it would be described as effortless and unrestrained.

She seemed most relaxed wielding the sword, but she brought Pei Ye unprecedented pressure. Pei Ye was happy to chat with people, especially Qun Fei, who seemed like a great conversationalist, but most of the time he couldn't answer her questions—at which point Qun Fei would ease the pressure a little and let him speak.

But Qunfei could never defeat him.

[Eat Leaves] [Jade Old Man] [Drifting Back Wind]

[Willow Catkins] [Cloudy Cold] [Flying Feather Immortal]

Pei Ye was like an unpredictable ghost, relying on his sword skills to move among countless opponents far stronger than himself.

Before Qunfei could catch Pei Ye's weakness on the level of "clumsiness," Pei Ye had already sealed her throat with a single sword strike on the level of "intention."

[Lost Feather] failed to judge the jade maiden's state of mind, but [Soul Shock] wiped the smile off her face. Qun Fei staggered two steps, and Pei Yejian stopped in time. Her face was pale, and her eyes were looking at him with a strange brightness.

Is there something she's terrified of?

Pei Ye silently sheathed his sword, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Thank you for your kind offer, I apologize."

Qunfei returned the greeting and put on a smile again: "Qunfei is completely convinced, Young Hero Pei. Let's have another match in the Feather Scale Trial."

After this victory, the banquet hall fell silent.

Pei Ye took a deep breath, stretched his tired body, and looked up at his seat again.

【Baihai】Autumn Temple.

At twenty-four, Sanshan Fucha is the contemporary face of the business.

The Three Mountains Floating Raft is a sect far removed from the martial arts world because it is located at sea.

Sometimes it's the East China Sea, sometimes the North China Sea, sometimes the South China Sea... It's unpredictable because it's a large ship.

The mountain-like immortal ship has existed for an unknown period of time. Some say it has existed for hundreds of years, others say for thousands of years, and some even say that this was the ship that the First Emperor sent out to seek immortality.

Pei Ye didn't know if it was that ship, but this adversary was indeed on par with Qun Fei.

His swordsmanship was not as elegant and free as Qunfei's, which showed that he was somewhat lacking in talent, but his skill was much more profound, obviously because he had put in much more effort.

In the end, he was still defeated by Xue Jian. Today's process of challenging strong enemies one by one is also a process of Pei Ye sorting out and verifying his own sword system. It is clear that the sword that Grandpa Yue taught him the earliest is still his strongest and most reliable weapon to this day.

Then Pei Ye turned his gaze to the woman in the yellow dress at the table.

No one moved. Pei Ye turned back to confirm the name again, then turned to look at her once more.

"..."

"..."

"Go ahead and hit me."

"Let me see your Escape Sword."

He Yaoyao reluctantly stood up.

Pei Ye was unable to secure another victory against Huang Yunxian and Shan Ying.

He Yaoyao was not only skilled in swordsmanship, but also in swordsmanship. The two fought for four hundred rounds, and Pei Ye could not lift his head. She could not beat Pei Ye either. The fight was indeed exhilarating. He Yaoyao's cheeks were flushed and her eyes were bright. She was so engrossed in the fight that she forgot about the audience below the stage.

Finally, Pei Ye said, "I will use two Snow Sword techniques. If you can catch them, you win."

He used [Lost Feathers] and [Soul Startled], yet He Yaoyao was not defeated.

The two are roughly tied.

Deer Tail was far superior to him.

The pressure he exerted when he stood up beside Zhao Wu'e and Zhu Gaoyang was already immense, and it only intensified when he reached the sword platform.

Since Luwei arrived in the capital, Zhao Wu'e has rarely shown his face, and Zhu Gaoyang has been nowhere to be seen. Only Luwei has represented Dongting in many sword banquets, but apart from practicing some instructional swordplay, he has never seriously fought.

Only now can people glimpse the strength of the number one person below [Tianmu].

His sword ladder had already reached the third level, and it was huge and stable, no less than Pei Ye's, which showed the great ambition that the elders of Dongting had placed on this junior.

This was Pei Ye's most serious match, and also his last.

Because Ming Qitian had told him that Luwei should be ranked first among those he absolutely could not defeat in Yijian, Pei Ye had always been curious about the swordsmanship of this Dongting True Disciple.

This was the most exciting sword game of the entire sword banquet.

Pei Ye still used the same techniques: six types of Spring Sword, five types of Summer Sword, three types of Intent Sword, and dozens of other sword techniques of various sizes. However, in his all-out effort to win, these swords exuded a charm that made the Illusionary Tower silent, exclaim in amazement, and become intoxicated.

Luwei didn't seem to be struggling, but he was indeed extremely serious. The sword techniques of Dongting Nine Songs came one after another in his hands, truly like a dance of gods. The sword moves intertwined and the sword intents collided and merged. The wine at the banquet could be dissolved by true energy. Only this sword fight could not wake people from their intoxication.

In the end, Pei Ye lost by a single move. Lu Wei took a deep breath, clasped his sword, and said earnestly, "I am honored to have won."

Pei Ye smiled slightly and returned the greeting: "I am not as good as you in swordsmanship, so I dare not say I am inferior."

He stood on the sword platform, alone in the arena.

Few people noticed that the boy's sleeve never caught fire.

But everyone remembered that at the Illusionary Pavilion Banquet today, he played twenty-one games in a row, defeating all twenty of the top players on the Duck Ranking List, including six of the top ten.

With nineteen wins, one draw, and one loss, he returned his sword to its sheath.

All victories were achieved solely through a single sword strike, without any element of luck.

(End of this chapter)