Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

"If this sword weren't so exceptional, I wouldn't have chosen to forge it here!" Xu Qing said calmly.

Bei Mingzi then thought of the array that had previously enveloped the area and gathered the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

He arrived earlier than the Taoists, a day earlier, when the primordial energy of heaven and earth had just begun to stir. After learning from Shao Siming Hei Bai that his master was forging a sword, he wanted to know what kind of sword it was. So instead of destroying it, he secretly observed it.

This observation revealed something extraordinary.

The primordial energy of heaven and earth converged here, all because of a formation.

Moreover, the profound mystery displayed by this formation is far from reaching its limit.

During this entire day and night, the formation operated continuously, causing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth here to become so concentrated.

Is this used for forging swords?

Is it really not a spirit-gathering array used for cultivation?

"That may be true, but for you Yin Yang School to openly forge swords on my Taoist territory seems to be a gross disregard for our Taoist school!"

Bei Mingzi spoke again in a low voice.

Upon hearing this, the elders of the Celestial and Human Sects felt a chill run down their spines once again.

Master Beiming is about to make his move!

Previously, both sects had formed sword formations one after another, but the results were meager, and they were at a disadvantage. One can imagine the frustration they felt.

Now that Master Beiming is going to make a move, that's wonderful.

"I have always respected Taoism." Xu Qing said calmly in response to Bei Mingzi's words, "However, as far as I know, although Zhongnan Mountain is indeed the ancestral home of Taoism, Taoism only occupies its main peak and the surrounding area."

"And this place, which is in the south and north of where your Taoist sect is located, is not strictly speaking your Taoist territory."

"You!" Upon hearing Xu Qing's words, a Taoist elder was about to retort.

Xu Qing guessed what the other party wanted to say and continued, "I know you want to say that this place is near Louguan, which is a sacred place left by your Taoist patriarch. However, all I have seen along the way is the ruins of Louguan. It is clear that you Taoists do not value Louguan."

"Using Louguan as an excuse now is just a pretext."

"Moreover, strictly speaking, Yin Xi was not only the patriarch of your Taoist school, but also the gatekeeper of Hangu Pass in the Qin state in the past. This Zhongnan Mountain was also the royal garden of the Qin royal family..."

Xu Qing spoke eloquently, arguing with the Taoists about the ownership of this land.

"quibble!"

Upon hearing this, some people immediately became enraged and were about to take action.

Previously, they were not afraid to attack Xu Qing, and now that Master Beiming is there to back them up, they are naturally even more fearless.

The sword light was sharp and arrived in front of Xu Qing in an instant.

Xu Qing made no move, but an invisible force burst forth from his body.

In an instant, the attacker was sent flying.

This scene horrified the others even more.

I thought that was the opponent's full strength before, but now it seems that the opponent is still holding back.

"Furthermore, I must emphasize one thing!"

For Xu Qing, sending this person flying seemed like a trivial matter.

"I am not a member of the Yin-Yang School!"

Even though he had previously used the Yin-Yang School's Nine Waters Wind to counter the Autumn Waters of Ten Thousand Rivers, and even though the maid beside him was the Yin-Yang School's Shao Siming, it did not mean that he was a member of the Yin-Yang School.

This is a matter of principle and needs to be explained.

However, it was clear that these Taoists did not quite believe Xu Qing's words.

Then, Xu Qing flipped his hand and pulled out another scroll.

With a flick of his wrist, the scroll flew through the air and headed towards Bei Mingzi.

Bei Mingzi raised his hand, took the scroll, unfolded it, and glanced at its contents.

A look of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he then said to the Taoists, "What happened today was a misunderstanding!"

"The things here have nothing to do with our Taoist school!"

"Master?" Upon hearing this, Chisongzi asked in confusion.

Bei Mingzi didn't say much, but simply handed the scroll to Chi Songzi.

Chisongzi took the scroll, read the text on it, and his expression changed. Then, he handed the scroll to Xiaoyaozi, who also read the contents.

After Xiaoyaozi finished reading, Xu Qing raised his hand again, releasing an invisible force that immediately pulled the scroll back.

"Now, do you understand?"

Xu Qing smiled strangely and asked the crowd.

Chisongzi, Beimingzi, and the others remained silent for a while. This result was extremely unexpected to them, yet they had no choice but to accept it.

"Let's go back!"

Xiaoyaozi spoke in a deep voice to the members of the Human Sect.

"you?"

Upon hearing this, Mu Xuzi was somewhat dissatisfied. He wanted to refute Xiaoyaozi, so how could he just leave in such a dejected manner?

Could it be because of Bei Mingzi?

If the Human Sect has to back down because of Bei Mingzi, will they still fight at the Miaotai Sword Viewing Competition?

"He was ordered by the King of Qin to forge swords here!"

With just one sentence from Xiaoyaozi, all the words that Muxuzi was about to say vanished into thin air.

Admittedly, Taoists are detached from worldly affairs and have been cultivating in seclusion on the main peak of Zhongnan Mountain. However, this is within the territory of the Qin state. Zhongnan Mountain, or what they respectfully call Taiyi Mountain, is near Xianyang. Therefore, it is naturally subject to the laws of the Qin state.

As long as the Taoists still wish to cultivate in seclusion here, they cannot disregard the Qin King's decree.

Even if the other party is very likely a member of the Yin-Yang School, as long as they do not trespass on the main peak where the Taoists reside, their forging of swords here is legally permissible, simply because they have the edict of the King of Qin, and their actions have been permitted by the King of Qin.

Xiaoyaozi, along with Muxuzi and other sect elders, left directly from there.

They had no choice but to leave. Besides the fact that Xu Qing had pulled out the Qin King's edict, it was also because Bei Mingzi had shown up. With the former leader of the Daoist Heavenly Sect, who had been cultivating in seclusion for many years, appearing, their Human Sect was already at a disadvantage in terms of momentum.

Staying here any longer would inevitably feel a bit awkward.

After the members of the Human Sect left, Chisongzi, along with the six elders of the Heavenly Sect, wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent. He then said to the six elders, "Let's go back too!"

With that, he used his movement technique to quickly leave the area with the six elders.

In an instant, the turmoil here completely subsided.

The originally dense fog completely dissipated the moment the sword was completed, leaving only the furnace fire that Xu Qing had set up still burning.

Aren't you leaving?

Watching the people from the Celestial and Human Sects leave, Xu Qing looked at Bei Mingzi, who was still there, and asked in a deep voice.

“I didn’t come with them, so there’s no need for me to leave.”

Bei Mingzi spoke calmly, his aged gaze falling on Xu Qing's face, "Over the years, the Yin Yang School has submitted to the Qin State and grown rapidly with the help of Qin's power. I thought that was all, but I didn't expect that a master like you would emerge."

Chisongzi and the others believed that Xu Qing was Donghuang Taiyi, but Beimingzi determined through his aura that Xu Qing was not Donghuang Taiyi.

This is a young person in the truest sense.

In Taoism and Yin-Yang philosophy, there are many techniques that can maintain a youthful appearance, but outward youth cannot conceal inner aging.

Donghuang Taiyi is not young.

"It seems you didn't heed my earlier words!"

Xu Qing sighed.

“I told you, I’m not a member of the Yin-Yang School.”

“But you used Yin-Yang magic!” Bei Mingzi said in a deep voice, “People are more willing to believe what they see with their own eyes than what they hear.”

“That’s certainly true.” Xu Qing nodded in agreement. “It seems I need to learn more of the unique skills of other schools in the future, such as a few of your Taoist techniques, so I can use them in front of the Yin-Yang School.”

"The Yin-Yang School will likely misjudge my origins!"

As he spoke, Xu Qing shook his head again.

"Why are you shaking your head?" Bei Mingzi asked curiously, noticing Xu Qing's change in expression.

"If it were before I had dealt with the Yin-Yang School, I might have been able to confuse their judgment, but now, forget it. I have dealt with the Yin-Yang School countless times. What my origins are probably not an important matter to Donghuang Taiyi."

"So, I don't know how to address you?" Bei Mingzi asked Xu Qing.

"Xu Qing!"

"Xu Qing?" Bei Mingzi murmured the name softly. At the same time, his mind raced, and some useful information was immediately extracted.

"That sword maniac from Yan?"

Xu Qing heard this title from someone else again, and he said bluntly, "I don't like this title that others have forced on me."

Although it wasn't a direct admission, this statement clearly revealed that the Sword Maniac was indeed him.

However, what Bei Mingzi guessed was far more than that. "There is a mysterious swordsmith in the State of Chu named Xu Zi, who once forged the Nine Swords of Heavenly Inquiry. You forged a divine sword in this Taiyi Mountain area and also have Xu as your surname. I wonder if you are Xu Zi in person?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Qing was genuinely surprised.

In recent years, when people hear his name, the first thing that comes to mind is the title "Sword Madman" that the Yan state government forcibly bestowed upon him; they only know him as a madman.

Little did people know that Xu Qing had already made a name for himself in the Chu Kingdom long before he acquired this title.

The emergence of the Nine Swords of Heavenly Inquiry added another chapter to the legends of the many famous swords of the Chu Kingdom.

Even though Bei Mingzi guessed his identity because of the reason he was forging swords here, Bei Mingzi's ability to guess these things is enough to show his wisdom.

"Not bad!"

Xu Qing readily admitted, "I am the Xu Zi you're talking about!"

Upon hearing this, Bei Mingzi sighed deeply. He recounted a past event to Xu Qing, "Years ago, I sensed a magnificent sword aura rising from the land of Chu. This sword aura was incredibly profound and perfectly aligned with my Daoist principles. So, I left Mount Taiyi and traveled all the way to Chu... Just then, I heard of several swords related to the 'Heavenly Questions' in the Chu Ci..."

"Li Yuan, the Prime Minister of Chu, obtained several swords, and I also went to his residence to observe those swords up close!"

"Those swords are indeed extremely mysterious. Each one is unique. The most famous of them, the Xuanpu Sword, has a hidden vitality within it, which is quite similar to the Qiuli Sword of my Taoism. Unfortunately, none of them are the swords I am looking for..."