Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 825 Knowing this sword, to offer sacrifice to the family master.

Pei Ye twirled his sword, then lowered his brows and sheathed it.

He didn't say a word. Firstly, his true energy was rapidly surging from his dantian to save his injured and exhausted body; secondly, he was somewhat stunned as he felt the lingering effect of the departing [Naked Heart Blade].

Winning against Yan Feiqing was significant to him; winning against Yan Feiqing with this mindset was even more significant to him.

The area around the Winter Sword Platform was silent, then gradually began to stir. In the distance, there were excited shouts, his name, cheers... He looked up and smiled as he glanced at the spectators whose faces he couldn't see, then suddenly looked up as if sensing something. On the western viewing platform, Ming Qitian was vigorously shaking a clapping slave's arm, looking at him with a smile.

Pei Ye smiled slightly, then looked away and his smile faded.

Amidst the clamor of voices, he lowered his head to wipe his sword, but did not leave the stage.

"The duel will begin in 25 minutes. Young Master Pei may go and rest first..." A clear voice echoed from the Immortal Platform.

“No need,” Pei Ye interrupted, her voice soft and indifferent. “Let him come up.”

The Winter Sword Platform, which had just become lively, suddenly fell silent.

But the boy did stand there without moving, wiping the sword clean with the hem of his clothes, and then looking up at the other end of the sword platform.

Following his gaze, Yong Ji stood there, spear in hand and sword at the ready, as if cast in iron.

Winter Sword Terrace fell completely silent.

Three breaths later, Yongji moved, step by step ascending the sword platform.

This figure was already very familiar to everyone: a ferocious and sharp right arm, a heavy iron spear, the wounds on his body had long since closed and were almost invisible, and the terrifying sword still hung at his waist.

Rumors about a feud between Pei Ye and the Crown Prince of Yan have been circulating in the capital for nearly a month.

But few people would have thought it would be so revealing.

Yong Ji walked up, and Pei Ye stared at him without moving. The Winter Sword Platform was eerily silent.

“I think we should treat this as a martial arts contest,” Pei Ye said softly, smoothing his hair. “Is that alright, Minister Wang? Or, if any of the remaining six have objections, they can come up and fight me first. It won’t take up too much time.”

The sword platform was quiet. There was a slight rustling on the viewing platform to the north. After a moment, a somewhat strained voice came from the sword platform: "Ministry of War, approved."

"Ring the bell," Pei Ye said calmly.

The crimson flames ignited on his body, closing the wounds, scorching away all traces of blood and filth, then swept across his face, washing away the stray black hair, and finally turning into a small ring of fire that bound it.

Countless onlookers held their breath. Yong Ji's ferocity was undeniable; even the deer tail hadn't inflicted significant damage. Just moments before, people had been incessantly discussing whether Yan Feiqing could defeat him, and whether that sword strike could be dealt with. They were even debating whether things would have been better if Tianmu had won instead.

Not many people, or perhaps most people, hadn't even had time to consider that it was Pei Ye who ultimately made it to this spot.

He still looked so weak, having just displayed a once-in-a-decade, unparalleled feat of defeating a stronger opponent at Yan Feiqing's arena, leaving everyone still deeply moved. But people certainly lacked the foresight to imagine his victory over Yong Ji.

However, the boy stood calmly, straight and relaxed, his sword hanging down to the ground, as if he were not the same person as the one who had just fought He Yaoyao and Yu Qing in the previous two battles.

Yong Ji looked at him and said indifferently, "If I have the chance, I will definitely kill you."

"Ring the bell," Pei Ye said calmly.

Three chimes immediately rang out above the Winter Sword Platform.

Yongji suddenly raised his spear, and the air roared and shrieked. This spear thrust was heavier and faster than any before, as if it contained a heart full of anger and the wind and thunder from the sky.

"Hou! Zhu Yan! Zheng!" Yong Ji shouted coldly in the air, his true energy of deep red and demonic white surging out, his right pupil turning into a white-yellow beast pupil. Within the first breath, he had completely unleashed his power.

Pei Yeyi's hair and clothes fluttered in the whirlwind of true energy. People had not yet recovered from his performance in the sword fight. His body still gave the impression of being slow and fragile, as if it would be torn to pieces by the howling spear with the slightest touch.

Yong Ji's power far surpasses Yan Feiqing's; countless people have already proven how terrifying he is.

The nerves that hadn't yet relaxed tightened again, and people imagined him using that sword to take them away again at the last second... but the boy didn't move.

He stood motionless in place, held his sword horizontally, and the sound of their clash reverberated loudly. The tip of the Yongji spear struck the sword surface directly, and the shaft of the spear bent into a crescent moon.

Pei Ye's sword seemed to be frozen in mid-air.

A vast and surging true energy rose from the boy's body, like a rushing river or sea. He had clearly just exhausted his life force, yet this terrifying power was so genuine!

Amidst the billowing of his clothes and hair, the man deflected Yong Ji's sword with a single strike, then forcefully slashed at the spear shaft that Yong Ji had raised. Yong Ji's arms trembled violently, and with a furious roar, he parried the attack.

Without any hesitation, Pei Ye slashed again in mid-air, and Yong Ji thrust forward with his spear. The two unstoppable forces erupted face to face, and then came the next time, and the next time after that.

Almost like a different person, Pei Ye was expressionless, and not a single move he used was defensive. All those graceful and beautiful sword turns and the exquisite technique of holding back one out of ten shots had disappeared. He was violent, fierce, and tough... No one expected that he would fight against Yong Ji in this way.

Seven metallic clangs rang out, and then Pei Ye thrust his sword forward, striking the very core of the spear shaft. A resounding, lingering echo sent a chill down everyone's spine.

Then, with the next sword strike, unimaginable power suddenly burst forth!

It wasn't one, nor two, but a dense, torrential symphony. The boy's slow and fragile body was like a fully drawn bow, taut steel, bearing and bursting with a heart-stopping power, yet you could clearly feel its resilience far exceeding that.

A certain exhilarating rhythm resounded from the clash of iron against iron.

The most violent offensive sword technique in the Yunzhongjun sword system, each strike far exceeds the swordsman's limits, but Pei Ye releases them infinitely densely in accordance with the rhythm.

The great zither, resounding with thunder, struck the Yongji spear. For the first time on this sword platform, such a pure and uncompromising confrontation occurred, a clash of strength against strength, iron against iron.

The only similar case should be the one involving Zhao Jiajia, but Zhao Jiajia was like an indestructible Vajra statue, mostly relying on strong defense, while this time both sides were launching fierce attacks without holding back.

For the first time, Yong Ji was slightly at a disadvantage in a contest of strength.

Pei Ye slashed his spear down onto his shoulder, slamming the shaft into his chest, listening to the rushing blood coursing through the connected metal parts... Pei Ye had once been troubled by these strong bones and muscles, but now he realized they were nothing special.

"If you want to defeat him, you must confront his strength head-on."

"I do not possess the blood of mountains and seas, nor do I have such great power."

“But you are stronger and sharper than him,” the woman said. “The most violent set of swords I prepared for you is meant to be reserved for your bright rage.”

Leiqin.

[Guangling] [Yu Meets at Tushan] [Lord of Water and Clouds].

The heavens were furious, and the summer sword was exhilarating. Pei Ye raised his hand, and in an instant, countless water droplets poured out from the air, making the sword platform look like it had countless round beads, encompassing all the floating dust and dazzling sunlight in the air.

A still, heavy rain.

The first thing to smash them was Yongji's retreating body.

Rainwork Manifold

Pei Ye dragged his sword and crashed into the enemy. Yong Ji retreated violently with his spear, creating a water dragon-like path. Countless drops of water transformed into sharp, thin blades that swept towards Yong Ji.

Yong Ji hugged his right arm, and the water splashed against the bone spikes, making a crisp jade-like sound, while the rest caused countless bloody marks on his body.

Yong Ji roared, and a heavenly roar erupted from his body. The sound of ancient mountains and seas echoed on the sword platform. Yong Ji suddenly stood still, shattering the water droplets into countless sharp darts that slashed across Pei Ye's body and face.

Pei Ye didn't flinch at all, staring calmly and directly at him, and uttered the word: "Fire."

The lamp was already exhausted, yet a hundred feet of crimson flame rose again.

Compared to Yan Feiqing's meticulously concealed fire, this was a true sea of ​​fire, with no place to land. The air, which had just been moistened, suddenly seemed to dry and crack, twisting unbearably.

Yongji unleashed the Heavenly Roar once more, but Pei Ye raised his hand, and a large imperial edict flew straight into his mind. Yongji froze for a moment, and the roar was forcibly interrupted. Pei Ye rode the soaring flames, broke through his spear, and pierced through his chest and abdomen with a sword!

The boy pressed him down and dragged him across the ground for more than ten feet. Within a few breaths, all the flames pounced like ferocious beasts, devouring his body.

Pei Ye gripped the sword with both hands, pressing it upwards, slicing tendons and breaking bones, almost splitting open the upper left half of him. But the intense pain pulled Yong Ji back first. He roared, twisted Pei Ye's arm, and thrust out with a whoosh, almost destroying Pei Ye's left waist. Pei Ye immediately drew his sword and floated away, standing five zhang away.

Yong Ji was breathing heavily, his muscles and bones visibly clenching together. He stared intently at Pei Ye, and for the first time had the opportunity to draw the sword from his waist.

Pei Ye remained expressionless as he shook the blood off his sword.

Silence reigned before the imperial city.

Yong Ji walked towards Pei Ye step by step: "Zheng".

He murmured again.

The suppressed, burning fighting spirit was rekindled, and Yong Ji's heart sank, but he pursed his lips tightly.

In terms of absolute strength, the young man before him was still weaker than him. Perhaps it was simply because of this, or perhaps it was due to the depletion he had suffered at the hands of Yan Feiqing.

But in terms of the strength of the confrontation, if you are like a wolf, he is like a tiger. That kind of attack, that kind of extreme burst, is completely breathtaking.

Looking at that expressionless face, Yong Ji suddenly realized... he wasn't the only one honing his fighting spirit.

Over the past three days, as soon as that sword appeared on the Winter Sword Platform, the same tempering in the furnace began within his body, except that he used the "Zheng" bloodline, while he used anger, pain, and killing intent.

Therefore, at this moment, there was such a violent and uncontrollable attack. Even though he did not have the bloodline of "Zheng", his own blood was just as cold and hot.

When they were three zhang apart, Yong Ji thrust out his spear and sword.

That unparalleled swordsmanship was once again displayed on the stage.

Now he can control these two weapons with ease, and when he uses a spear and a sword, his fierce fighting spirit is no longer concealed.

Pei Ye drew his sword, but when Yong Ji suddenly and precisely parried his attack, thrusting straight at him, he couldn't help but be taken aback.

This feeling of being ruthlessly defeated, this terrifying and deadly sword.

For a moment, his lips pressed tightly together.

Yong Ji has become at least twice as strong. In a contest of skill, you can hardly find any openings in his defense. The advantage he had against spears has completely disappeared. He now wields a sword as deadly as a serpent and a spear as domineering as a black dragon. From any angle, he has become extremely dangerous.

That's why he was able to compete with swordsmen like Shikao Akira on the sword platform.

His gun was good, but that sword was too strong.

Pei Ye tried to draw his sword twice more, but each time he was countered with a single strike, seemingly skipping many of the intermediate steps and relying entirely on his keen intuition.

And this intuition will never be wrong.

Pei Ye watched in silence as Yong Ji fought with increasing ferocity. The massive spearhead and gleaming sword blade flashed back and forth before his eyes, like some kind of dazzling dance.

So fast. So powerful. So heartwarming. So hard to part with.

That's how the old man used the sword; he did it when he was young.

Later, he lost his sight. Eighteen years later, the sword techniques he retained still roamed proudly on the Feather Scale Trial, and no one could withstand his edge.

But Pei Ye remained stunned for a long time because he realized that he could defeat it.

After nine lifetimes and acquiring two sword forms, he possessed an even sharper sword sense. He was originally a swordsman on this path, and he was very familiar with this leaping, direct approach to swordsmanship.

That's all there is to it, he thought.

Yan Feiqing is nothing special. Yue Muzhou is nothing special either.

Yong Ji launched a relentless attack, the clanging of metal echoing in the air. His swordsmanship was entirely based on the old man's youthful style, as if he were truly playing a game of chess against his younger self.

As Pei Ye walked out of the Bright Moon Palace on that rainy night, he thought that it was just an illusion.

It possesses no magical abilities, not even if it was named Yue Muzhou in its previous life. He felt a sense of familiarity with it, and when faced with adversity, he would plead with it for help, but it was ultimately meaningless. There was no question of teaching or not teaching it, and it could not truly use its "unrestrained" nature.

It was simply because that figure was too imposing in my memory.

He felt as if he were invincible and noble, and no one should offend him, so he was naturally willing to live in the shadow he left behind.

I always felt that I wasn't good enough, that I was far behind him and not worthy of being his successor... but in reality, it's nothing more than that.

He also has many things he can't do well.

Hesitating between love and conviction caused Ying, a senior, great sorrow; joining Empress Wei's forces, he ultimately failed to protect his close friend and left the capital alone; rescuing people in Yincheng, he was again reckless and ultimately caused the scholar's death...

Even in a desperate situation like the Bright Moon Palace, he lacked confidence. He was also reserved and hypocritical when facing Ying Suyu, and he was impulsive and vulgar, which Zhu Zhezi disliked very much.

Of course, he wasn't invincible. Before his death, he had only just reached the Heavenly Tower and had never been number one on the Crane Ranking. He also didn't have the flawless character of Ming Qitian and Yan Feiqing. He had many things he wasn't good at, he doubted himself, and he experienced many failures.

Pei Ye looked at the sword in front of him, which was "nothing special," and thought about the person who was "nothing special."

The truth is quite simple: when you're still complaining about him, you're still attached to him, so of course you can't believe you can beat him.

That's why you saw Wuju appear in Yongji's hands, that's why you went to Ying Suyu, that's why you sought help in Mingyue Palace, that's why you were so angry, that's why you were so pained.

But actually, those were just defeats he had experienced, and there was nothing unacceptable about them.

When you believe you can beat him, you will no longer be attached to him or resent him.

Actually, he's quite foolish. When he was young, he was very stubborn and said he wouldn't take on apprentices, but when he got old, he took it upon himself to treat people as apprentices.

He never agreed.

He barged into the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion like a fool, was tortured for a long time, had his eyes removed, and even had his sword used by the enemy.

Now it's up to me to get it back for you.

Pei Ye thought quietly that only by stepping out of sadness and shadows could she face all of this with equanimity.

Everything he has experienced in this world, his failures and triumphs, I will achieve in my own success.

This is the significance of passing on the torch.

Pei Ye glanced at Yong Ji, then suddenly drew his sword.

Two equally stunning sword lights grazed past, and Pei Ye pierced Yong Ji's right shoulder with his sword.

A gasp of surprise rang out around the sword platform.

Pei Ye stabbed again, and Yong Ji was wounded again; Yong Ji drew his sword, and Pei Ye broke through and was hit again.

Pei Ye stared at him, constantly improving, while Yong Ji began to retreat. Even though the spear was already dancing like a dragon, it still couldn't relieve the enormous pressure on the sword.

Blood holes kept emerging from his body until he suddenly unleashed his true energy, and his whole body floated backward.

Press your hand on your sword.

In an instant, everyone's heart leaped into their throats; people were all too familiar with this kind of moment.

In fact, in countless previous exchanges, this sword had always been like a sharp blade hanging overhead. No one knew when Yong Ji would unleash it; in any of the previous encounters, only he himself remained standing, while his opponent fell to the ground.

Injuries and being at a disadvantage are not important to Yong Ji; when he plans to unleash this sword is when the King of Hell will take his life.

Yong Ji paused for a moment and glanced at Pei Ye.

Just a fleeting moment.

The wind was too slow to move, and even the light seemed to be stunned.

A fleeting moment was cut off, a distance of three zhang was swallowed up... A divine sword appeared on the stage once more, and when Yongji had reached the finish line, the gleam of that sword still lingered in the air.

Pei Ye stood still, not moving an inch.

Everyone froze.

He raised his hand, holding it to his throat, his face expressionless. He gripped Yongji's sword tightly, like an iron clamp, blood trickling down his palm.

“You really dare,” Pei Ye whispered, “to use this sword in front of me.”

Yong Ji's pupils shrank suddenly, and he roared in pain as Pei Ye severed his left arm, the one that was holding the sword, with a single sword strike.

Yong Ji thrust his spear forward, and Pei Ye crouched down, leaping under his arm, grasping his sword, and piercing through his dantian with a single strike.

Yongji raised his knee, and Peiye struck with his elbow. Two sounds of bones cracking rang out simultaneously. Peiye, holding his sword, let out a low shout, and his true energy swept across the blade, severing his meridian tree.

"stop!"

Yong Bei's cold shout came from the northern stands, and the power of heaven and earth poured down, almost crushing Pei Ye into mincemeat in an instant, but the next moment it all disappeared, and Li Jian's gentle force separated the two.

Several figures flew down. Several grandmasters from the Yan Prince's Mansion first stood on the platform, blocking Yong Ji's way. Then, the feather inspectors and physicians from the Immortal Platform also went up to the platform and surrounded Yong Ji.

Pei Ye landed eight zhang away, sword hanging limply, quietly watching this scene.

There was no sound around the sword platform. No one expected the final trial to end like this. The image of that powerful hand gripping the sword remained vivid in people's minds.

“There’s one more thing,” Pei Ye said.

Several Northern Grandmasters around Yong Ji looked at him coldly, some of them already gripping their swords.

He looked up at the high platform to the north and said, "Don't worry, one day I will kill you just like that."

The area in front of the imperial city was so quiet it was as if no one was there.

The Northern Masters helped Yongji stand up, one of them staring coldly at him: "If you ever dare to step out of the capital city again, I will show you what it means to wish you were dead."

Pei Ye looked at them, shook his sword, and said calmly, "Then let's wait and see. But there's something I need to retrieve first."

He had a calm expression and a relaxed demeanor, speaking as if he were having a casual chat.

The two sides were separated by eight zhang. Six grandmasters surrounded the young prince, three of whom were palace attendants. They stood in close formation to prevent the young man from suddenly attacking.

Several clerks, doctors, and feather inspectors were present during this period.

But then a flash of cold light appeared.

Pei Ye slowly sheathed his sword.

A strange eye and a left ear held in his hand.

Before the blood started to seep out, he casually tossed the ear on the ground: "Sorry, I accidentally cut off too many."

"..."

"..."

Hundreds of thousands of eyes were present, including those from the Thirty-Three Sword Sects, the Five Clans of Noble Families, reclusive masters, and chivalrous heroes.

No one reacted in time, and no one saw it clearly.

People have never seen such a sword. If Yongji's vulgar sword strikes can make people pause, this sword strikes can make people feel bewildered.

It's as if I witnessed something, yet also as if I saw nothing at all; only a magnificent impression remains deep within my mind, leaving me inexplicably mesmerized. Perhaps such a miraculous experience is a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.

Many years later, this sword has reappeared in this world.

"Sword name: [Unrestrained]." Pei Ye raised his head and said, "Presented to Pei Ye, my master, Yue Muzhou."

(End of this chapter)