Starting with the divine power of the Great Vajra, he traversed the heavens.

Chapter 49 The Magnificent Sword God (5k-word chapter, please vote!)
"Kunlun Sword Technique? That's too general." Ren Shaoyang began to examine it carefully.

The first line that catches the eye is: "The Kunlun sword bleeds into a vast ocean, driving straight for a thousand miles to the Yellow River!"

Ren Shaoyang was taken aback, but quickly continued reading.

[Obtained the Kunlun School's swordplay outline—the Thirteen Swords of Kunlun!]

[Sword Cold, Sword Gu, Sword Shadow, Sword Wave, Sword Leopard, Sword Gale, Sword Python, Sword Flight, Sword Escape, Sword Thunder, Sword Evil, Sword Overlord, Sword Demon]

(Note: By thoroughly understanding the Thirteen Swords of Kunlun, one can comprehend the sword's aura and achieve the prestigious title of 'Sword God'. The Kunlun Sword Technique can also be upgraded to a sword technique admired by all.)
"Oh my God!"

Ren Shaoyang's eyes widened, his joy evident in his expression.

"We both have the surname Zhuo, but what kind of sword god are you, and what kind of sword god am I!"

"What Kunlun Sword Technique? This is clearly the sword technique of 'Sword God' Zhuo Lingzhao!"

The "Thirteen Swords of Kunlun" awarded this time comes from the novel "Heroes' Chronicles" by the old eunuch Sun Xiao, and is the essence of the Kunlun School's swordsmanship. It was compiled by Zhuo Lingzhao, one of the four grandmasters in the book and the head of the Kunlun School.

Although this person was cruel and cold-blooded, and unscrupulous in his actions, he pursued the ultimate skill in swordsmanship throughout his life and never gave up on his ideals.

He can be described as a villain with many admirable qualities.

Taking the "Kunlun Thirteen Swords" as an example, they shone brightly in Zhuo Lingzhao's hands, and their ferocity in attacking them could definitely be ranked in the top tier in the book.

"Very well, so it's swordsmanship." Ren Shaoyang pulled out the iron rod, held it in his hand and examined it closely. "Treasure, oh treasure, perhaps this is destiny?"

"receive!"

A thunderclap suddenly struck his mind, and the familiar, intense itching surged up simultaneously from his upper, middle, and lower dantian.

Ren Shaoyang's vision went black, and a sense of emptiness swept through his body. Suddenly, he regained his balance and heard screams and the sound of weapons clashing.

When he opened his eyes, he found himself above a grand mansion with a vermilion gate. Hundreds of musketeers blocked the entrance, while monks and Taoist masters led Imperial Guards to reinforce the rear.

Shifting the gaze to the courtyard, one sees a scholar in white standing tall, holding an iron gall bladder in his hand.

It was none other than the "Sword God" Zhuo Lingzhao.

At this moment, Zhuo Lingzhao's clothes were covered in blood, and his face showed panic.

It was all because a group of swordsmen dressed in the same white robes as him were pointing their swords at him!
Ren Shaoyang knew that this was the final battle that would mark the end of the "Sword God's" life.

Zhuo Lingzhao is a man who believes in force and never leaves room for maneuver in his actions.

You can succeed or fail because of force. If you don't leave others any room for maneuver, you'll eventually lose your own.

Over the years, he has condoned the Kunlun disciples' murders and arson, and acted irrationally. Where are the loyal and righteous men left in the sect? In this battle, the Kunlun disciples, either bribed or frightened, have all betrayed him!

But the Sword God is the Sword God after all. He channeled his inner strength into the iron sword in his hand, which became known as the "Divine Sword Capturing the Dragon".

In an instant, countless sword blades shot out, swaying around him like seaweed.

"Holy crap!" Ren Shaoyang's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in shock. "This thing is like Cthulhu, it's so mind-blowing!"

Zhuo Lingzhao, despite his severe injuries, cleaved the traitor in two with a single sword stroke. Then, his blade, like countless giant pythons, sliced ​​the front-row musketeers in two.

Blood gushed from Zhuo Lingzhao's chest, but this also fueled his madness. He ran like lightning, killing anyone he saw without mercy.

Ren Shaoyang floated beside him, watching intently as the Kunlun Sect Leader unleashed his divine power and displayed his ultimate sword skills.

"Just one touch and his face turned deathly pale and his body went limp. Hmm! This must be 'Sword Chill'."

"Hiss~! How did a stab to the shoulder blow Niu Niu away? Oh, that's a 'Sword Gu'!"

"Wow! That speed, that wave, that momentum! It's a combination of sword shadow, sword wave, and sword poison, all in one, so fast you can't even see a shadow! Holy crap, how can anyone compete with this combination?"

"Hey~? Why did he throw away the Dragon-Capturing Divine Sword?"

Ren Shaoyang was taken aback.

The sword gall hummed in mid-air, emitting a blue light, and suddenly transformed into a hundred or so sword blades, like a giant sea urchin. In the blink of an eye, it pierced and killed a hundred soldiers, leaving no survivors.

"My god, is this 'Sword Flight'?" Ren Shaoyang found it outrageous and couldn't help but laugh. "Originally, it was just a trump card move, but when combined with the Divine Sword Dragon Capture, it can have such a transformation. How is it any different from a flying sword?"

As Zhuo Lingzhao casually unleashed the "Thirteen Swords of Kunlun," the sword techniques that Ren Shaoyang had been instilled in his mind became increasingly clear.

With a thought, the extraordinary power of the "Mind-Sacrifice Style" appeared instantly. He emptied his mind, his eyes showed a blank expression, but his body naturally began to move.

If viewed from God's perspective at this moment, a wondrous sight would be revealed.

A white-clad swordsman appeared, his entire body covered in azure blades, which moved with incredible speed and power.

Behind him, however, floated a transparent figure, which foolishly mimicked his movements.

He raised his hand, and he raised his hand too; he kicked his foot, and he kicked his foot too.

In this way, from the initial appalling state to the later posture correction, and finally to the unity of body and form.

Gradually, they became identical, indistinguishable from one another.

Suddenly, Ren Shaoyang woke up with a start.

The moves and techniques of the "Kunlun Thirteen Swords" were already imprinted in his mind. He was overjoyed and just wanted to go back and practice diligently, combining them with the retrospective function to fight to the death against formidable enemies such as Cao Shaoqin and Blood Saber Ancestor.

In a short time, I will be able to master this sword technique!
Just then, a loud shout was heard.

Ren Shaoyang looked down and saw that Zhuo Lingzhao, who had been displaying great power, was now on the verge of death. However, he was not dead. Instead, he was saved by a strong man who ran incredibly fast on his legs and was gone in the blink of an eye.

Ren Shaoyang quickly followed, knowing that what followed was the Sword God's most brilliant finale.

On a cliff, Zhuo Lingzhao handed over the "Ancient Sword God Manual," which recorded the essence of his life's martial arts, to Wu Dingyuan, a great man and his mortal enemy.

He then resolutely leaped into the deep valley, looked up at the sky with a sigh, tears streaming down his face, and softly said, "May I be a swordsman again in the next life!"

With a flash of sword light, the legendary swordsman Yan vanished into thin air.

Ren Shaoyang floated in mid-air, silently watching his fall, the iron spike at his waist trembling as if it were about to break through the air and fly away.

He didn't like Zhuo Lingzhao; the man had committed numerous evils and deserved to die. At the same time, he admired Zhuo Lingzhao's unwavering devotion to the sword and his relentless pursuit of its secrets.

Just as he was deep in thought, a voice full of arrogance and domineering suddenly rang out.

"I knew it! I felt a chill down my spine when I was at Jiang Chong's residence. Turns out, there really was something supernatural at work!"

Ren Shaoyang, unfazed, smiled and turned around to look.

But behind him stood a man in white who looked refined, humble and polite.

This man was around fifty years old, with a sharp, angular face, two arched eyebrows that slanted upwards towards his temples, and a pair of very bright eyes.

Ren Shaoyang clasped his hands in greeting and said, "Junior Ren Shaoyang greets Sword God Zhuo."

Zhuo Lingzhao squinted at him, his gaze sharp, like two long swords forged through countless trials.

Ren Shaoyang looked up and met his gaze, only to feel a stinging pain in his eyes, as if pricked by needles.

Zhuo Lingzhao stared for a while before laughing, "Junior? Then you're not a ghost or god?" A smile appeared on his lips, and his tone became more like that of an elder, "Nephew, stealing secret martial arts techniques from other families is against the rules of the martial world, and you'll be beaten to death!"

Ren Shaoyang took a deep breath and said with a wry smile, "Even if you die, you'll still be this wicked."

"Hahaha~" Zhuo Lingzhao burst into laughter, "I, Zhuo, can't change!"

“It really can’t be changed,” Ren Shaoyang said. “If it were changed, it wouldn’t be Zhuo Jianshen.”

"well said!"

Zhuo Lingzhao pointed to Ren Shaoyang's waist and said imperiously, "Kid, show me your fire poker."

Ren Shaoyang said angrily, "You really don't hold back."

Zhuo Lingzhao put his hands on his hips and laughed, "You've stolen all of Kunlun's secret techniques. You're the right person to be a member of Kunlun, and as the sect leader, what's wrong with you taking a look?"

Well, this old rascal is starting to play tricks.

Ren Shaoyang had no choice but to pull out the iron rod and hand it to him.

Zhuo Lingzhao picked it up with one hand and saw that the iron rod that had been trembling was now motionless, like a dead snake, at his mercy.

"Kid," Zhuo Lingzhao suddenly asked, "I just threw the Dragon-Capturing Sword down the valley, how come you still have the Dragon-Capturing Divine Sword?"

Ren Shaoyang said frankly, "You should just consider this as me in a dream."

Zhuo Lingzhao raised an eyebrow and asked in surprise, "Could it be that Mr. Xiyi's 'Hibernating Dragon Skill' appeared in my dream?"

He smiled and stopped searching, instead looking at the dark iron rod in his hand.

"Old friend, how did you get trapped in this iron cage?"

With a slight exertion of force, a soft hum was heard, and a flash of blue light appeared at the tip of the iron rod as the blade suddenly extended forward several feet.

That wasn't all. The blade trembled, becoming as supple as a strange vine, dancing wildly in the air.

Ren Shaoyang frowned deeply: "Can it really be played like this?"

Zhuo Lingzhao waved his hand, his brows furrowed, and with a cold snort, tossed the iron rod back.

Ren Shaoyang reached out and caught it.

Zhuo Lingzhao, his face filled with murderous intent, coldly said, "They really went all out, using meteorite cold iron to make the outer shell and lock the Divine Sword Dragon Capture in place. They have no intention of letting it see the light of day again."

Seeing his displeasure, Ren Shaoyang wasn't afraid and said with a grin, "Sword God Zhuo."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhuo Lingzhao snorted coldly, "Why are you being so formal? Just call me Sect Leader!"

Ren Shaoyang chuckled and said, "Sect Leader, do you know how to unseal it? The Kunlun Sword Technique is best paired with the Divine Sword Capturing Dragon." Zhuo Lingzhao laughed heartily, seemingly very pleased, but after his laughter subsided, he shook his head.

"I can't solve it, even if I live, I still can't solve it!"

"Huh?" Ren Shaoyang was taken aback. "This thing is so sturdy?"

Zhuo Lingzhao smiled and said, "Starfall Cold Iron is the hardest material in the world. The famous sword Zhanlu and the fierce sword Tiannu were both made of this iron, which is why they have remained intact for thousands of years."

Ren Shaoyang gave a wry smile: "Sect Leader, stop keeping me in suspense. Judging from how familiar you are with the subject, you probably already know how to unseal it."

Zhuo Lingzhao pointed at him, shook his head and laughed, "Lazy boy!" Then, he changed the subject, "Everyone has their own expertise. You need to find Ouyang Nan of 'Jiangnan Casting' and have him use the 'Hongwu Heavenly Furnace' to help you melt the cold iron. Then you will be able to release the Dragon Capture."

Ouyang Nan?
Isn't this a character from the Jingtai era?

I'm in Apocalypse. Even if a massive explosion blows me back, I won't be able to reach it.

Ren Shaoyang sighed inwardly, but still composed himself and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Sect Leader."

Zhuo Lingzhao smiled, his expression becoming inexplicably kinder, and his figure becoming more ethereal: "Ren Shaoyang, what do you think the world will think of me in the future?"

Ren Shaoyang's expression turned serious. After thinking carefully for a moment, he hesitated and said, "It's a mixed bag of praise and criticism."

"What a mixed bag of praise and criticism!" Zhuo Lingzhao laughed. "It's beyond my expectations."

Ren Shaoyang shrugged: "People naturally admire the strong."

"Well said!" Zhuo Lingzhao clapped his hands in praise. "Shaoyang, I hope you remember this: good people and bad people don't matter. What matters is becoming the strongest!"

At this point, the Sword God gazed into the distance and recited in a low voice: "Sincerity to people, sincerity to the world, and uprightness are the true meanings of a gentleman's sword."

"fart!"

Zhuo Lingzhao laughed heartily, his figure vanished with the wind, leaving only one sentence that resounded throughout the heavens and earth.

"Be sincere to the sword, be sincere to the Way, and never regret your decision; only then can you witness the magnificent spectacle of the Way of the Sword!"

Ren Shaoyang bowed deeply, then stood up and smiled freely: "Master Zhuo, may you be a swordsman again in your next life!"

As he spoke, his figure slowly disappeared from this world.
-
"Crippled man, it's time to get up!"

The little beggar's voice rang in my ears.

Ren Shaoyang yawned and muttered, "Six o'clock, it's not even dawn yet," before getting up from his makeshift bed and sitting there trying to wake up.

"Hurry up, I asked the boss, and he said the morning noodles and guokui at the south end of the city are delicious, and they'll be sold out if you go too late."

The little beggar stood with his hands in his pockets, pacing back and forth, full of energy, showing no sign of weakness after last night's battle.

When they saw Ren Shaoyang, who was still half asleep, he was completely lost in thought.

Hongxiu cried out in distress a few times, then brought him a washbasin and grabbed a towel to roughly wipe his face.

"Crippled man, even if you were injured in the past, you would be lively and energetic the next day. Why are you so listless this time?"

Ren Shaoyang, with a blank expression as if he had just been given a mouthful of knowledge, subconsciously replied, "Huh? Oh."

Hongxiu's face darkened: "Alright, wake up, I'm starving."

Ren Shaoyang rubbed his head, which relieved the dizziness a little, and then immersed his face in the basin.

Yes, it's warm water. That little beggar is so thoughtful!
After regaining his senses, Ren Shaoyang led Hongxiu and Ding'an out of the inn.

Bathed in the soft morning light, the three of them strolled through the streets and alleys.

At this moment, the smoke from each house's chimney drifted together, resembling a sea of ​​clouds in the sky.

The willow leaves swayed in the morning breeze, bringing a touch of coolness as summer approached. This coolness was just right, neutralizing the dryness.

Looking at the clear sky that resembles the waves of the sea instantly lifts one's spirits.

Ren Shaoyang walked and laughed, thinking to himself that it was good that Hongxiu had called him to get up early. This was the most enjoyable time of day, when everything and everyone was fresh and pleasant.

My heart is also bathed in a new joy, just like the three of us now leisurely searching for food together; everything is fresh and youthful.

Even the "Great Vajra Divine Power" within his body became increasingly active, resonating even more perfectly with the blazing, fiery sun.

Ding'an couldn't help but tease, saying that the cripple was like a golden Buddha in the main hall who had transformed into a stone Buddha overlooking the earth in a grotto, from being unbearable to look at at first to being carefree and at ease now.

The changes overnight were truly enormous.

The little beggar bowed furtively, then took out a copper coin and handed it to Ren Shaoyang, saying it was for incense offerings.

Ren Shaoyang laughed and scolded that this was not enough, but still put it away.

The three of them, laughing and joking, found the noodle stall at the entrance of the alley, which was now bustling with people.

The little beggar hurriedly went to reserve a spot, Ding An ordered three bowls of morning noodles from the owner, while Ren Shaoyang went to a nearby stall and bought more than a dozen guokui (a type of flatbread).

Well, give half to the little beggar.

She said she didn't have an appetite today and would eat less.

When Ren Shaoyang returned with the guokui (a type of flatbread), the morning noodles were already on the table.

There were three large bowls filled with thin, round alkaline noodles, topped with dried eel shreds, pork slices, chicken, and other ingredients, all glistening with oil and moisture.

It can be described as having thick, oily toppings, rich flavor, and delicious broth.

Ren Shaoyang also felt a surge of appetite upon seeing this. He placed the guokui (a type of flatbread) on the table, and then the three of them picked up their large bowls and took a sip of soup.

Wow~!

(￣▽￣)︿，︿(￣︶￣)︿，(uu)
A sweet and oily flavor shot straight to the top of my head, then transformed into a warm flame that traveled down my esophagus and into my stomach.

The little beggar was so excited about the delicious noodles that he slurped them up.

Ding'an teased, "Hongxiu, is Jiangnan still not good enough?"

Hongxiu's cheeks were bulging from eating, but she still grabbed a guokui (a type of flatbread), took a big bite, and the crunchy sound burst in her mouth.

After chewing for a while, the sweetness of the flour brought her a sense of satisfaction, making her squint her eyes comfortably, just like a cat.

Hearing Ding'an's teasing, the little beggar snorted, "I may be annoying, but I'm not." Her big eyes blinked, and she said earnestly, "I don't mind eating noodles!"

Ding'an was taken aback, and after a long while, he exclaimed, "You even drew a clear line in the code?"

Ren Shaoyang laughed and said, "Isn't this great? Keeping your distance from irrelevant people doesn't affect your ability to eat noodles. That's called being content."

"Yeah~!"

The little beggar slurped up another big mouthful, stuffing his mouth full. He couldn't speak, but he nodded repeatedly.

"By the way, Ding'an," Ren Shaoyang said, wiping his mouth after finishing his noodles, "weren't you going to visit your master?"

Ding An nodded and put down his chopsticks: "Yes, after my master parted ways with me at Dishui Cliff, he went to the main family in Jingzhou to take refuge. He said that if you want to find him, come to Xiangjia Village, fifty miles east of Jingzhou City."

Ren Shaoyang nodded: "Okay, let's rest for a bit and then head to Xiangjia Village."

Ding'an was conflicted at this moment, and seemed hesitant to speak.

Hongxiu picked up a piece of guokui (a type of flatbread), swallowed it in two bites, and muttered, "What's wrong now?"

Ding An said, "Actually, I'm going to Xiang Family Village, yes, yes."

Ren Shaoyang frowned: "Spit it out already, stop beating around the bush."

Ding An sighed: "It was in a letter my master gave me before, mentioning Xiang Ling and Tie Tou's wedding."

"Let's eat!"

The little beggar's eyes lit up.

"All you ever think about is eating!" Ren Shaoyang and Ding An shouted angrily together.

Hongxiu shrank back, looking aggrieved, and secretly picked up a piece of guokui (a type of flatbread).

Ren Shaoyang tilted his head and looked at Ding An, his eyes sparkling with gossip.

"You're going to attend your childhood sweetheart's wedding, oh! So you're resentful and want to crash the wedding?"

Ren the hooligan straightened his expression and said, "Skimming a bride will cause big problems."

"Oh dear, that's not what I meant!" Ding'an exclaimed anxiously, finally revealing the truth, "What I meant was, this outfit is too shabby, could you please change into something nicer?"

Boom~!

The little beggar dropped his flatbread as if struck by lightning.

Looking at the incessantly talking Ding'an, tears quickly welled up in her big eyes, and she immediately began to sob.

Ding'an knew things were going wrong as soon as he finished speaking, and hurriedly tried to calm him down.

Ren Shaoyang looked at the two of them and fell into deep thought.

Ding An looks a lot like Feng Shidi.

Are you attending a wedding?
It was the senior brother who married his childhood sweetheart.
Ren Shaoyang's lips curled up, gradually forming a wicked arc that grew wider and wider.

Damn, I hope I don't witness a famous scene?
P.S.: The five swords, Jian Yi, Jian Lei, Jian Xie, Jian Ba, and Jian Sha, are not mentioned in the original novel; they are fictional additions.

(End of this chapter)