I became a prince in a martial arts world.

Chapter 69 Seven Swords Ascend Mount Tian

After discussing the Loulan treasure, Wang Yu naturally inquired about Fang Shaobai and the other two's journey to the Western Regions.

Fang Shaobai couldn't help but scratch his face. "This time, it's not just the three of us entering the Western Regions. Brother Liu is also leading another group of four factions to enter the Western Regions via the Starry Sea."

Niu Zilian couldn't help but ask, "Have all seven major sword sects arrived?"

Meng Wei nodded. "Indeed, each of the seven major sword sects unleashed a sword strike, seven swords ascending Mount Tian!"

"Tianshan?" Ma Bojun gasped. "You're going to challenge the Sword Demon Ye Tianlin?"

Shen Zhijun nearly stumbled. "We don't have that ability!"

Ye Tianlin, the Sword Demon, was the founder of the Tianshan Sect and one of the five most famous swords in the world. He was extremely old, of very high seniority, and possessed extremely high martial arts skills.

Seventy years ago, he defeated all seven major sword sects in the Central Plains. Sixty years ago, he traveled to the Tianshan Mountains to establish his own sect. Although the sect was established relatively recently and the disciples of the Tianshan Mountains rarely ventured into the Central Plains, his appearances each time caused a stir and his power was immense, ensuring that the name of the Sword Demon would not be forgotten for sixty years.

"Ye Tianlin is almost a hundred years old, isn't he?" Ma Bojun asked curiously.

"This year, on October 20th, Senior Ye will celebrate his 100th birthday," Fang Shaobai said.

Niu Zilian understood immediately. "Are you going to wish him a happy birthday?"

Meng Wei and Shen Zhijun grinned, while Fang Shaobai nodded and shook his head, "It's both a birthday celebration and a sword competition."

"A sword fight?" The crowd looked at each other in bewilderment.

Although the Sword Demon Ye Tianlin has been famous in the martial arts world for over seventy years and his reputation is outstanding, and the Tianshan Sect is also famous in the Northwest and spread far and wide, the seven major sword sects have been passed down for hundreds of years. Each of them is a powerful force in their own right, let alone the seven sects together.

It can be said that, apart from Ye Tianlin, each of the seven major sword sects is stronger than the Tianshan Sect if taken individually.

Although the Tianshan Sect still has its founding patriarch Ye Tianlin, the Seven Great Sword Sects also have Sword Saint Liu Suifeng, who is one of the five famous swords, and they are not inferior in terms of high-end combat power.

As for their own forces, the seven major sword sects are located in the Central Plains, each occupying a region, with a continuous stream of talents, while the Tianshan Sect is far away in the Western Regions, a land of suffering, with few disciples.

Under these circumstances, each of the seven major sword sects sent its chief disciple to Mount Tian to compete in swordsmanship.

Fang Shaobai nodded. "Every ten years, the disciples of the seven sects will go to Tianshan to compete in swordsmanship and win back the sword of the previous sect leader."

Everyone: ? ? ?

Meng Wei scratched his head and said in a low voice, "Actually, I think it's a bit unfair. Why limit it to a specific year? Can't we just go before we turn thirty?"

Shen Zhijun said calmly, "You talk as if you can become a grandmaster before you turn thirty."

Meng Wei snorted, "I may not be able to, but Brother Fang might be. That way, there will be two factions that can win."

Fang Shaobai shook his head. "The ten-year limit is meant to motivate the Seven Great Sword Sects. When Senior Ye went up the mountain to challenge them, he was only twenty-five years old."

Meng Wei fell silent, silently drinking a bowl of wine, his previous radiance gone. "Unfortunately, I lack talent; I haven't even reached the Innate level."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lu couldn't help but grin. "Brother Meng, you defeated three fiends with a single sword strike, conquered seven strongholds in two days, roamed the land with your sword, upholding justice and chivalry. How can you be so modest?"

The Shuntian Army raised an army in Henan Province, which is adjacent to Wanghai Province where the Laoshan Sect is located. Zhao Lü had also heard of Meng Wei's name, who was the chief disciple of the Laoshan Sect in this generation.

If he were to say that he lacks talent, then there wouldn't be many talented people in the world.

Although Fang Shaobai didn't elaborate, everyone guessed the general idea. After all, the Sword Demon had been famous throughout the world for sixty or seventy years, and his legendary story had already spread throughout the martial arts world.

The most famous of them all was the one who, at the age of less than thirty, single-handedly defeated all seven major sword sects and became invincible, earning the title of Sword Demon.

Previously, everyone only knew that Ye Tianlin had won, but now it seems that the sword fight back then also had a prize.

The sect leader's sword!

The group exchanged glances, thinking that since Fang Shaobai and the other two hadn't deliberately concealed the news, it wasn't a top secret. However, such explosive news hadn't been circulated for seventy years.

there is only one truth!

That is, everyone who knew this news did not spread it recklessly. After all, the sect leader's sword is the face of a mountain and a sect. The seven major sword sects may not care about it and can even use it as an internal incentive, but others cannot interfere.

In particular, this is not a single faction, but the entirety of the seven major sword factions.

Spreading rumors haphazardly is risky. The Tianshan Sect, far away in the Western Regions, might not even appreciate it. The Seven Great Sword Sects are behemoths in the Central Plains. Who knows if they really don't care!

It should be noted that the seven major sword sects are not lacking in innate masters, and even martial arts grandmasters.

"Let's drink! Let's drink!" Niu Zilian picked up his wine cup and said to Song Chengyue, "I am relieved that Brother Song has returned to the Northwest. Your father and I are from the same hometown. Although we have never met, we have a deep connection."

He was killed by the emperor, and I cannot bear to see him die without an heir. The Shuntian Army is engaged in a business that carries the risk of death, and the success or failure is unknown. It is indeed too dangerous for Brother Song to join the Shuntian Army, and going to the Northwest Army would only cause trouble for the emperor. What the Prince of Zhenxi said is very prudent.

Song Chengyue raised his glass, "Thank you for your understanding, strategist. It's good that you don't treat me as a deserter."

Duan Rui and Song Yuanjing raised their glasses in unison, saying, "Who knows, we might need to ask Brother Song and Sister Song for help in the Northwest someday!"

Song Chengyue raised his glass in return, "I'll do my best!"

Song Qingchuan, who had been following closely behind her brother and rarely spoke, also raised her glass, saying, "Uncle Duan, Uncle Song, you two absolutely have to come!"

At this point, she turned to Wang Yu, glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, then subconsciously looked at Li Yunxiu and Qianqian, her lips trembling slightly, "The Prince of Zhenxi—and his two consorts are also welcome."

Li Yunxiu pursed her lips, her expression a half-smile.

Wang Yu chuckled, "As long as General Wang doesn't mind, I'm available anytime!"

Fang Shaobai seemed to have thought of something, raising an eyebrow. "Brother Zhao, now that you've finished dealing with the Loulan treasure matter, are you in a hurry to return to Longshan Prefecture?"

Wang Yu looked at Fang Shaobai, "Of course there's no rush."

"Since there's no rush, Brother Zhao, why don't you come with me to Tianshan?" Fang Shaobai invited. "We will all be participating in the sword competition at Tianshan this time. Since you also practice swordsmanship, why don't you come and pay your respects and join in the fun?"

Fang Shaobai was being polite; in reality, he just wanted Wang Yu to observe the sword fight and broaden his horizons.

The sword competition between the Seven Great Sword Sects and the Tianshan Sect, held every ten years, can definitely be called a grand event in the martial arts world, and it is by no means that just anyone is qualified to go and pay homage to the event.

Without sufficient status and martial arts skills, do you think the Tianshan Sect will even let you in?

It was only because Fang Shaobai invited him that they were able to do so. Otherwise, given the Tianshan Sect's domineering behavior in the Western Regions, they might not have given Wang Yu, the Prince of Zhenxi, any face.

"Sure!" Wang Yu nodded immediately.

Besides the Tianshan Sect, there is also the Tianshan Snow Lotus on Tianshan Mountain, which is a rare and precious treasure. Baolun Temple picked a snow lotus and refined it into two Snow Lotus Jade Marrow Pills, which were of great help to them.

If one were to pick and consume a plant from the Tianshan Mountains, would one be able to directly enter the Innate Realm?

Wang Yu looked at Qianqian, "Are you going or not?"

Qianqian took Wang Yu's arm, "Wherever Brother Yu goes, Qianqian will go."

Wang Yu looked at Li Yunxiu, who smiled and said, "I've long heard of the magnificence of Tianshan. It's a rare opportunity to go there, and I don't want to miss it."

Tianshan is located in the northwest of the Western Regions, far from the Central Plains. It is unknown why Ye Tianlin wanted to establish his sect here. Could it be for the Tianshan Snow Lotus?

Fang Shaobai only invited Wang Yu, who brought his two wives, but it was inconvenient for him to bring anyone else, especially since this was a martial arts battle and it would be inappropriate to bring too many people.

Having witnessed Wang Yu's lightness skill and swordsmanship, and with Qianqian, a master of innate talent, by his side, Zhao Shan and Zhao He were not worried at all. They accepted Wang Yu's order to first escort the treasure back to the palace, while Zhao Rong would continue to handle military and political affairs, and they would discuss the matter after their return.

Then Wang Yu asked Ma Bojun to oversee the delivery of the Loulan treasure back to the Zhenxi Prince's Mansion. Of course, everyone who saw it would get a share, and two cartloads of treasure were also given to Baima Manor. Ma Bojun naturally did not refuse, so he led Zhao Shan and Zhao He, along with the Prince's Mansion's guards and three hundred Iron Eagle Cavalry, back.

The Shuntian Army also packed their belongings, disguised the remaining treasure with Western Region medicinal herbs and Persian carpets, and once again raised the flags of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency and the Tiancheng Escort Agency, heading towards Yumen Pass in a grand procession.

Wang Yu, along with Li Yunxiu and Qianqian, left behind more than a dozen fine horses for them to ride in rotation, and gave three to Fang Shaobai and his group. "You're all leaving Yumen Pass westward, aren't you going to ride horses?"

"We're faster than horses," Fang Shaobai replied, mounting his horse. "And we don't even need to prepare rations or water for them."

"Of course, something is better than nothing." Meng Wei mounted a sturdy blue horse and exclaimed, "What a fine horse!"

In the battle against the Black Qiang cavalry, in addition to protecting the Loulan treasure, they also captured hundreds of fine horses from the grasslands, a truly fruitful outcome.

Shen Zhijun landed lightly on the horse's back, cupped her hands in thanks, and said, "Thank you, Prince Zhenxi."

"You're too kind." Wang Yu waved his hand. "When you're traveling, you should use your official title."

Shen Zhijun smiled and said, "Brother Zhao."

Wang Yu laughed heartily, looked up at the sky, and asked Fang Shaobai, "Which way?"

Fang Shaobai unfolded the map. "We've arranged to meet Brother Liu and the others in Cheshi Royal City. We'll head northwest and rest at Luoheji, the border town of Loulan, tonight."

The group spurred their horses northwest and soon approached the ancient city of Loulan they had left earlier. To the south of the city, they saw billowing dust, indicating that several factions were engaged in a fierce battle. Although each faction was small in number, the fighting was quite intense.

Li Yun frowned and looked around. "There are Loulan cavalry, remnants of Qishan bandits, and some people with burlap sacks wrapped around their heads and carrying curved swords—they are bandits from the Western Regions!"

Qianqian smiled slightly, shook her head, and said, "How pathetic. They actually fought over the hooks left behind by the Shuntian Army."

Meng Wei's eyes lit up. "The notorious bandits of Qishan? Western Region bandits?"

Shen Zhijun smiled and said, "Since we've encountered this, let's rid the people of the Northwest of a scourge."

Fang Shaobai laughed heartily, dismounted, and leaped forward, kicking up a cloud of yellow dust that swept across the battlefield. Meng Wei and Shen Zhijun drew their swords and followed.

This is true martial arts!

Wang Yu felt his blood boiling. He laughed loudly, drew his sword, and his figure floated down like a swallow. Then, he burst out at high speed over a short distance, actually overtaking Meng Wei and Shen Zhijun, and crashing into the bandit group with Fang Shaobai.

Four people, four swords, cutting four lines, invincible!