I became a prince in a martial arts world.

Chapter 84 The Sword Duel Begins

Sun Wenzhu's lightness skill was obviously average, but the cliff was not particularly steep.

Just kidding. If it were really as smooth as a mirror, even monkeys would have trouble climbing it, and neither argali sheep nor snow leopards would have the ability to chase and escape on the cliff.

Sun Wenzhu climbed and leaped up the cliff, quickly reaching the blooming snow lotus. He then grabbed the rock with his left hand and reached into his waist with his right to pull out a medicinal hoe.

Then he started chiseling stones with a clanging sound.

Xin Yilong, watching from below, was a little confused. "What's he doing?"

Leng Jiangzhu replied, "He is gathering herbs."

Xin Yilong was speechless. "I know he's gathering herbs, but shouldn't gathering herbs just involve pulling them out?"

No one answered him, because everyone thought that picking herbs meant pulling them out. Snow lotus was not a root-type medicinal material like ginseng or polygonatum; all the medicinal power was in the flower's pistil.

Li Yunxiu's eyes flickered. "He wouldn't be thinking of raising the snow lotus, would he?"

Even Qianqian found it hard to believe. "Impossible! Snow lotus only blooms for ten days. How can he possibly keep it blooming year-round?"

A moment later, Sun Wenzhu had already chiseled away the rocks around the snow lotus, then took out the snow lotus along with large chunks of soil from the cracks in the rocks, and carefully descended the cliff.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Li Yunxiu stepped forward to ask.

Sun Wenzhu shook her head. "I don't have the ability to make the snow lotus bloom all year round. I just want to explore how much medicinal power the snow lotus root still has after it blooms, and whether it has any other effects."

Wang Yu understood; he hadn't expected this person to be a research-oriented talent.

Having obtained the Tianshan snow lotus, the group extinguished the remaining campfire, packed up their tents, and returned together.

Hearing that Sun Wenzhu had picked a newly opened Tian Shan snow lotus, everyone came to watch. Alde chattered on and on about the little incident that had just happened.

"The Red Lotus Sect?"

The Laoshan Sect was located in Wanghai Road. Meng Wei knew of the Red Lotus Sect's reputation. "This Red Lotus Sect is a rebel group that rose to power last year. They occupied two prefectures in Wanghai Road, using their doctrines to gather people's hearts. They call themselves the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, purifying the world and eliminating evil." The sect leader is called the Red Lotus World Honored One. Under him are two envoys, the World Peace Envoy and the World Purifier, both of whom are at the Innate level. There are also four Heavenly Kings and four Goddesses, all of whom are top-notch experts.

Xin Yilong clicked his tongue, "Since the name is Red Lotus, then go find the Red Lotus! What's the point of coming to Tianshan to look for the Snow Lotus? Don't you even understand the principle of ice and fire clashing?"

"Ouch!"

Xin Yilong had barely finished speaking when he was slapped on the back of the head. Startled, he turned around in surprise to see Yang Weiming giving him a disapproving look. "Tomorrow is our master's birthday, everyone's swamped with work, aren't you going to help?"

"I'm going right now!" Xin Yilong was most afraid of his master. Upon hearing this, he lowered his head and ran to the backyard.

Yang Weiming handed two wooden boxes to Wang Yu and Sun Wenzhu, saying, "These are the Tianshan Snow Lotuses that our master promised you. They are all top-grade and bloom for three or four days."

As mentioned earlier, the medicinal properties of the Tian Shan snow lotus are entirely contained in the seeds within the flower buds. These seeds will be carried away by the wind during the ten-day flowering period, so the shorter the flowering period, the stronger the medicinal properties of the snow lotus.

It's rare for ordinary people to obtain a snow lotus on the first day it blooms, so a snow lotus from the first day is considered top-grade. Snow lotus from the second, third, and fourth days is considered high-grade, snow lotus from the fifth, sixth, and seventh days is considered medium-grade, and snow lotus from the eighth, ninth, and tenth days of its blooming period is considered low-grade. Although the medicinal effects remain, the potency is much weaker.

The two snow lotuses that Yang Weiming presented were both of the highest quality, showing his utmost sincerity.

"Thank you!" Wang Yu and Sun Wenzhu thanked them and accepted the gifts.

Yang Weiming wasn't worried about Sun Wenzhu, but said to Wang Yu, "Snow lotus can be used in medicine or taken directly, but this snow lotus has a very strong medicinal effect. Take a small amount at a time to avoid wasting its medicinal power."

Wang Yu didn't answer, but instead said to Sun Wenzhu, "Brother Sun, now that I've obtained the main ingredient, could you lend me some of the auxiliary ingredients to help me refine the pill?"

On the way to Tianshan, Wang Yu had asked Sun Wenzhu to refine elixirs, but since the two had just met, Sun Wenzhu naturally declined. Now, the two were jointly treating Yan Xiangxue, making them comrades in a different way. Furthermore, Wang Yu had also persuaded Sun Wenzhu to go to Tianshan to seek medicine.

With Tian Shan snow lotus as the main ingredient, the amount of other auxiliary ingredients needed was small, and Sun Wenzhu could afford to buy them on credit. So he took the wooden box from Wang Yu and said indifferently, "I'll give it to you before I go down the mountain."

Wang Yu smiled broadly, "Okay!"

A day passed quickly, and on October 20th, Ye Tianlin celebrated his 100th birthday.

In fact, Ye Tianlin did not want to hold a grand celebration, but his disciples put in a lot of effort. After all, it was the centenary of the founding patriarch, and disciples from the seven major sword sects were also present, so it could not be simple and shabby.

In addition to the disciples of the seven sects, envoys from the Cheshi Kingdom, the Kucha Kingdom, and the Wusun Kingdom came up the mountain to present generous gifts. Yuan Nahe also delivered birthday gifts on behalf of the Black Qiang King and Shi Mo.

The birthday banquet went very smoothly.

Reality is not a novel. The Tianshan Sect has a legendary sword demon with a bad temper, and there is no disciple who has been missing for ten years and is involved in the world's most precious treasures suddenly returning. Naturally, there is no plot of various sects going to Tianshan.

After the birthday banquet, the guests descended the mountain.

Yuan Nahe seemed to have received the news. His gaze towards Wang Yu was extremely strange, containing a hint of resentment and ferocity, but he dared not show it at all. Instead, he hurriedly followed the envoys from the Western Regions countries down the mountain, seemingly afraid that Wang Yu would follow and pursue him.

"Hmm?" Li Yunxiu noticed something was wrong.

"What's wrong?" Wang Yu asked.

"The way he's looking at you is off," Li Yunxiu said in a deep voice.

Wang Yu chuckled, "I killed four of his senior brothers, do you think he'd look at me the right way?"

"He looked at you with malice and anger, but no fear," Li Yunxiu shook her head. "But on the first day we went up the mountain, he was actually very afraid of you."

"Maybe it's because he's about to go down the mountain and knows he's out of danger—" Wang Yu rubbed his chin, then immediately realized, "No, he probably doesn't know if we'll chase after him."

Li Yunxiu's eyes flickered. "It seems we need to make some preparations."

Once everyone has descended the mountain, the Tianshan Sword Competition will begin.

Ye Tianlin had no intention of watching the sword fight and returned to Lingxiao Peak. The sword fight was hosted by Ling Feiyun and Gu Nanfeng.

This was also Wang Yu's first time meeting Gu Nanfeng, a slightly plump, ruddy-faced old man. Xin Yilong had described him as...

He's a restless person who spends 360 out of 365 days a year away from Tianshan, meaning he can only be seen during the Lunar New Year and the patriarch's birthday.

The group moved outside the Sword Inquiry Hall and began their sword duel on the main square of the Woxiantai. Ling Feiyun and Gu Nanfeng presided over the event, while Yang Weiming and more than ten other middle-generation disciples stood on either side, and the new generation disciples stood and watched.

Yan Xiangxue and her apprentice, along with Wang Yu, were seated as guests of honor, but Sun Wenzhu was nowhere to be seen.

Although the disciples of the seven sects were given seats, they all refused and stood with the new generation of disciples of the Tianshan Sect to show their respect.

"It's finally about to begin." Wang Yu rubbed his hands together, expressing his anticipation.

Although he had been here for almost a year and had experienced martial arts battles and battlefield clashes, this was the first time he had participated in a martial arts competition between major sects, let alone witness the profound sword techniques of this world.

It should be known that the most profound martial arts in this world are so rare that even just seeing them is a rare opportunity for ordinary people in the martial arts world, let alone learning them.

Firstly, why would a master demonstrate their martial arts to you? Secondly, even if they did, a master could defeat an ordinary person in one move, and the ordinary person probably wouldn't even be able to see it clearly.

Wang Yu was able to cultivate "The Flowing Fire Reflection" and "The Seven Styles of the Setting Sun" as soon as he transmigrated, but that did not mean he could easily witness the martial arts and sword techniques of the Seven Great Sword Sects and the Tianshan Sect, unless he was willing to test them himself.

Xin Yilong swiftly appeared in the center of the arena, looked at the seven people with a piercing light in his eyes, and asked, "Which of you will go first?"

Liu Wuchen strolled out, his expression calm. "I'll go first."

In the sword competition at Tianshan, both the Tianshan Sect and the Seven Great Sword Sects hoped to get off to a good start, so Xin Yilong took the lead, and Liu Wuchen followed suit without hesitation.

As the eldest disciple of the Tianshan Sect, Xin Yilong was one of the seven sects' representatives, along with Fang Shaobai and Leng Jiangzhu. Although Fang Shaobai was the most confident, Liu Wuchen, as the nominal leader, was not about to back down.

"Very well!" Xin Yilong brandished his longsword, performing the opening stance of the Seventy-Two Styles of Wind and Snow, "Snowy Peak Plum Blossom," in a gesture of respect to the guests. "Please!"

"Please!" Liu Wuchen drew his longsword, the tip pointing diagonally, and it stirred a strand of Xin Yilong's hair like a gentle breeze.

As the saying goes, "The gentle breeze of Bashan welcomes guests, and the sound of willows in the night rain lulls guests to sleep." Liu Wuchen's move was the most famous Bashan Sect technique, the Returning Wind and Dancing Willow Sword. The long sword was like a gentle breeze blowing through the willows, as omnipresent as the wind and as unpredictable as the willows.

Gentle and ethereal, the gleaming blade almost transformed into a soft, warm breeze caressing the willows, making one feel no sense of vigilance and only wanting to enjoy the tranquil and cozy moment.

Xin Yilong felt that Liu Wuchen's sword tip appeared as a phantom before his eyes, which startled him. His Jade Snow True Qi surged within him, and the Seventy-Two Styles of Wind and Snow unfolded continuously. He simply treated the indistinct phantom of Liu Wuchen as real.

The next moment, Xin Yilong seemed to transform into a snow mountain dragon, his longsword becoming his dragon scales and claws. He stirred up a blizzard, his aura fierce and swift, engulfing himself and Liu Wuchen in the process.

With its fierce and domineering nature, it stands in stark contrast to that gentle warmth!

But amidst the endless wind and snow, Liu Wuchen remained unhurried, seemingly unaffected by Xin Yilong's sword intent. He was like a willow tree swaying in the wind, seemingly unpredictable, its branches wildly swinging, yet unaffected by external influences, standing firm and unmoved.

The two exchanged more than ten blows in the blink of an eye. Xin Yilong had already circled Liu Wuchen five times, creating a snowstorm and afterimages around him. He thrust out his longsword dozens of times, as if endless snowstorms were attacking him.

Liu Wuchen's longsword, however, resembled thousands of willow branches, seemingly traceable yet unpredictable. Each time, it blocked Xin Yilong's sword, and sometimes it could even thrust out from unbelievable angles, turning defense into offense.

The two had contrasting styles, yet their battle was extremely fierce. The Tianshan disciples watching held their breath and watched intently.

Liu Wuchen is a relative of Sword Saint Liu Suifeng and the leader of the seven major sword sects' disciples. His reputation is no less than that of Little Sword Immortal Fang Shaobai. Of course, they dare not be negligent, nor can they guarantee that Xin Yilong will win.

They could tell that Xin Yilong had given it his all, but they couldn't tell who had the upper hand at that moment.

"Of course it's Liu Wuchen," a serious-looking middle-aged man next to Yang Weiming said in a deep voice. "The Whirlwind Dance of the Willow Sword in Bashan is indeed worthy of its reputation."

This person is Gu Nanfeng's apprentice, and also Feng Rigang, the Twilight Wind Swordsman who is known as one of the Twin Eagles of Tianshan along with Yang Weiming.

Yang Weiming said calmly, "But our grandmaster fought against the seventy-two styles of wind and snow with his skills."

"I know." Feng Rigan nodded. "But Xin Yilong is not the grandmaster. In terms of internal strength, swordsmanship, and mental state, he is inferior to Liu Wuchen. He seems to be attacking wildly, but he can't break through Liu Wuchen's defense. As long as Liu Wuchen holds out for thirty moves, Xin Yilong will definitely lose."

Thirty moves pass in the blink of an eye.

Liu Wuchen's eyes flashed, and with a gentle flick of his longsword, a sliver of light appeared in the dense, seemingly impenetrable snowstorm, allowing him to place the sword on Xin Yilong's left shoulder, its cold gleam shimmering.

The two stopped abruptly. Xin Yilong's longsword was still a foot away from Liu Wuchen, while the tip of Liu Wuchen's sword was only an inch away from his left shoulder.

"Excellent swordsmanship, I've lost." Xin Yilong sheathed his sword and retreated, showing no sign of resentment.

"Thank you for the courtesy." Liu Wuchen smiled and returned the greeting, then stepped back into the group.