Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

The secrets of Loulan have all been revealed. The Dragon Soul and the Chi You Sword are now in his hands. The remaining Demon God of War has no further value to him. How to deal with it afterward is entirely up to Master Ban.

Whether he planned to bring it back to the Central Plains, study it directly in Loulan, or dismantle it, Xu Qing had no idea.

Upon returning to the Central Plains, Xu Qing still did not rush to forge a fifth-order sword.

Although he had already mastered the sword-forging method of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, and breaking through to the fifth-order sword-forging master was a natural progression, he was still waiting for an opportunity, the best chance, and was unwilling to act hastily. He wanted to achieve success in one fell swoop and directly forge a fifth-order sword.

In his spare time, Xu Qing would often communicate with the dragon spirit in his robes, and day by day, he learned more about the secrets of ancient times.

He once thought that the dragon soul could transform into a small Pixiu as in the original story, but after some research and communication, he realized that the dragon soul here was not Yinglong's offspring, but rather a pure power left behind by Yinglong, a "clone" that was sticking to its duty.

It had no possibility of transforming into a real living being; its lifelong duty was to suppress and purify the Chi You Sword. Now, due to Xu Qing's intervention, this duty has been completed.

Although the Dragon Soul's duty has been fulfilled, it still retains power within it, which Xu Qing can control. Its powerful purifying force can probably still be used several more times.

Xu Qing never intended to exhaust this power. Compared to the temporary boost to his combat strength, he was more obsessed with exploring the essence of this power and the mysteries of ancient divine beasts and immortals.

The Celestial Realm is ultimately just the pinnacle of the mortal realm, while the Celestial God is the true being who transcends the mortal world; that power is a realm he has never touched before.

Time flies, and the Qin state's expansion has become increasingly rapid.

After unifying the world and becoming the First Emperor, Ying Zheng did not become complacent with his temporary glory. Instead, he rekindled his fighting spirit and wanted to conquer a wider world. The Qin army continued to advance into Central Asia, Europe, and Southeast Asia. On land, they fought continuously, and on the sea, warships set sail, expanding the territory day by day.

During this period, the Qin state also officially confronted the Xiongnu. Compared to the original historical record of Meng Tian's great victory over the Xiongnu, the Qin state in this world liberated productivity due to the development of mechanical technology, and its national strength reached an unprecedented peak. Defeating the Xiongnu was even easier, and the hidden dangers on the northern border were also completely eradicated.

The Central Plains were also constantly changing. The popularization of paper, the application of steam engines, and the prototype of trains brought about earth-shattering changes to people's lives and the operation of the country.

But all this commotion had nothing to do with Xu Qing. He remained detached from the conflict, focusing on studying the power of the Dragon Soul and the mysteries of the Chi You Sword.

Until this day, Xu Qing left Xianyang and headed west, stepping into the land of Shu.

His destination was Mount Shu.

Sichuan is a mountainous region with continuous, undulating mountains and overlapping peaks. The mountains are shrouded in mist all year round, enveloping the entire Sichuan mountain area in a hazy atmosphere and giving it a mysterious, secluded feel.

Unlike the hustle and bustle of the Central Plains, this place is so quiet that only the sound of the wind and birdsong can be heard in the mountains, as if time itself has slowed down.

Xu Qing walked through the mountains and fields, step by step heading deeper into the Shu Mountains. The closer he got to the heart of the Shu Mountains, the more ancient and profound the air became, which made him look involuntarily towards the distant mountains.

The distant mountains were shrouded in mist, but in Xu Qing's eyes, it looked like he was seeing a... sun.

That place is the true location of Mount Shu.

That was also the goal of his trip.

Even from such a distance, one can still sense its magnificent aura. From this perspective, Mount Shu seems to be quite extraordinary. Indeed, Mount Shu has a long history and many secrets. However, it is only many secrets. In terms of strength, Mount Shu is not particularly powerful.

In the original story, the Yin-Yang School, together with the Qin army led by Meng Tian, ​​easily conquered Mount Shu, causing many of Mount Shu's treasures to be lost. Even the legendary Fusang Divine Tree was transplanted onto the Yin-Yang School's mirage.

Xu Qing's sudden departure and arrival here was not due to the grudges and entanglements between Shu Mountain and the Yin Yang School.

Although the two schools do have some connection, in the process of the Yin-Yang School breaking away from Taoism and establishing its own school, it absorbed some of the inheritance of Shu Mountain, which is why it evolved into a style that is both shamanistic and Taoist.

He came to Shushan this time because the Shushan tradition has a very secret connection with Loulan.

They are all related to Chi You and the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady.

This was not a wild guess by Xu Qing, but the truth he pieced together little by little by studying the ancient history of Loulan and combining it with the memory fragments of the Chi You Sword and the information transmitted by the Dragon Soul.

In the Battle of Zhuolu in the past, Chi You was defeated and killed. His personal weapon, the Chi You Sword, and his weapon of war, the Demon God, were sealed in the land of Loulan by the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden, becoming a secret guarded by Loulan for generations.

The remaining tribes of Chi You, however, had completely different fates. Some tribes, because Chi You was originally from the lineage of Emperor Yan, were eventually accepted and integrated into the Yellow Emperor's tribe, and gradually merged into the Huaxia ethnic group. Others, however, were regarded as criminals and were relocated to this remote Shu Mountain, where they took on a heavier responsibility: guarding the seal of Yu Yuan.

Like Loulan, there is also a crucial seal hidden in the Shu Mountains, which echoes the seal of Loulan, but is fundamentally different.

What Loulan seals is Chi You's weapons and demon gods, and what it suppresses is the killing power left behind by Chi You.

The Yu Yuan Seal in Mount Shu contains the most important part of Chi You's corpse.

After Chi You's defeat, his body was dismembered and scattered throughout the world. The most core and demonic part was buried beneath the Yu Abyss.

Yu Yuan is the place where the sun is buried, extremely dark, and a place isolated from the world and devoid of spirits.

By burying Chi You's remains there, the possibility of his resurrection can be cut off, preventing him from receiving any replenishment of life force.

In addition, in order to dissipate its remaining demonic nature.

Of course, the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden also left behind corresponding countermeasures for Mount Shu.

What she left behind in Loulan was the soul of a dragon, but the people of Loulan used it as a tool to create water.

What he left behind in Shushan was a tree.

The Divine Tree of Fusang!

Legend has it that this tree is a divine tree where the sun dwells, and it can also connect the gates of the three realms.

The magnificent aura and the sun that Xu Qing felt when he stepped into the mountains originated from the Fusang Divine Tree.

Chapter 402 Divine Artifacts Meet, Shu Mountain Undergoes a Strange Change

The mountains in Sichuan are extremely steep, making the mountain roads difficult to traverse.

Not to mention, the Shu Mountain tribe is hidden among them. They are skilled in witchcraft and sorcery. In order to protect their secrets, they have set up special illusion arrays around the mountains centered on their tribe. Xu Qing discovered this during his mountain climbing.

Unfortunately, this so-called illusion array might affect ordinary people, but it couldn't interfere with Xu Qing.

In his eyes, all illusions vanished, leaving only a truly smooth path.

As for the treacherous mountain paths, they were as easy as walking on flat ground.

After traveling for a while, Xu Qing soon arrived at the core area of ​​the Shu Mountain tribe.

It was here that his figure was finally discovered by the people of Shu Mountain.

Who are you?

Several men with bronze skin, dressed in clothing somewhat similar to, yet different from, Miao ethnic costumes, appeared before Xu Qing and questioned him sternly.

They treated Xu Qing very rudely.

There's no need to be polite.

After all, the numerous illusion arrays in the nearby mountains are no joke. Those arrays will actively lead ordinary people in other directions, making it difficult for ordinary people to find the Shu Mountain tribe hidden in these mountains.

This is also why the Shushan tribe has lived in this mountain for thousands of years, and why the Fusang Divine Tree has always stood tall.

Some people may know of their existence, but finding them is extremely difficult.

Those who can penetrate the layers of mist and truly reach Mount Shu are definitely not ordinary people.

This is also why the guardians of the Yu Yuan in Shu Mountain are on high alert.

Facing the stern questioning and wary expressions of the guards from Yu Yuan, Xu Qing remained calm and spoke in a composed tone: "I am not your enemy. I have come here to relieve the worries of Shu Mountain."

His words were concise yet carried an undeniable certainty, but to the guards of Yu Yuan, they only elicited deeper vigilance and mockery.

"Relieve worries?" The leading guard sneered, gripping the staff at his waist. "Our Shu Mountain tribe has lived in seclusion here for thousands of years, never interacting with the outside world. What worries could we possibly have? You can penetrate the illusion array in the mountains; you are no ordinary person. Stop with your sweet talk and retreat immediately, or don't blame us for being impolite!"

In their view, Xu Qing's origins were unknown, and his intrusion into the core of the tribe must have been malicious. The so-called "relief from worries" was just an excuse to cover up his true intentions.

Xu Qing shook her head slightly, offering no further explanation.

His mind was made up to go to the top of Mount Shu and see the Fusang Divine Tree, and he would not back down because of the obstruction of these few guards.

Seeing that Xu Qing was still standing in the same spot, showing no sign of backing down, the head guard's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he shouted sharply, "Since you don't know what's good for you, then don't blame us for taking action to capture you!"

Before he finished speaking, several Yu Yuan guards moved swiftly, rushing towards Xu Qing like arrows released from a bow.

They were incredibly agile, leaping and bounding like monkeys in the forest, their punches and kicks carrying the fierce power of tigers and leopards. This fighting style was a secret technique passed down through generations of the Shu Mountain tribe, each move ruthless and aimed directly at vital points, making it difficult for ordinary masters to withstand.

Just as their fists and feet were about to touch Xu Qing's clothes, an invisible force suddenly burst out from Xu Qing's body, like an invisible barrier, and slammed into the guards.

With several muffled thuds, several Yu Yuan guards were sent flying by the force of the energy before they could even touch Xu Qing's clothes. They crashed heavily onto the mountainside, a trace of blood trickling from the corner of their mouths.

However, these Yu Yuan guards were far stronger than ordinary people. In the blink of an eye, they struggled to stand up. Their eyes were filled with horror as they looked at Xu Qing, but they still did not back down.

The lead guard's expression turned grave; knowing they had encountered a formidable opponent, he immediately shouted sternly, "Form ranks!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the guards quickly changed positions, their figures staggered and orderly, and a faint mist gradually rose around them. Their figures appeared and disappeared in the mist, instantly forming a strange formation.

This is the Wushan Cloud and Rain Grand Formation.

The name of this formation comes from the unpredictable changes of the clouds and rain in Wushan. The formation is filled with mist, and the figures of the Yuyuan Guards shuttle through the mist. Their attacks are completely unpredictable. Sometimes they launch a surprise attack from the front, sometimes they sneak attack from the side, and sometimes they disappear into the mist without a trace. It is completely different from the Farmer's Twenty-Four Formations of the Earth and Swamp.

The Twenty-Four Formations of Earth and Marsh are arranged according to the cycle of the four seasons and the growth of all things. Although they are varied and complex, they are still traceable.

However, this Wushan Cloud and Rain Formation is like the unpredictable clouds and rain in the mountains, without any rules or patterns, making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion. It makes it hard to predict the direction of the next attack, and if one is not careful, one will be surrounded and severely injured by the guards in the formation.

The fog grew thicker and thicker, and the figures of the guards completely disappeared into it. Only the faint sound of footsteps and the sound of something cutting through the air could be heard, sometimes far away, sometimes near, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, which was extremely eerie.

Xu Qing stood still, his expression calm, his aura still swirling around him. Even in the face of this ever-changing formation, he remained composed.

This kind of formation might be able to trap top experts, but it's not enough to pose a threat to him.

He had no interest in exploring the changes in the formation or looking for weaknesses.

Xu Qing raised his hand and slammed his palm down onto the ground.

boom!!

As if the earth were shaking violently, the ground trembled violently in all directions, with Xu Qing at the center.

The Yu Yuan guards who formed the Wushan Cloud and Rain Formation immediately lost their footing and were swept away by the force.

When all the members who formed the formation are defeated, the formation will naturally be broken.

Ignoring the fallen Yu Yuan guards, Xu Qing continued forward.

Because the commotion was loud enough, soon after, a series of chaotic footsteps came from the mountain path ahead, and a group of people dressed in the clothing of the Shu Mountain tribe rushed over and blocked Xu Qing's way.

The leader was an elderly man with white hair and a hunched back. He held a witch's staff engraved with ancient runes, with a dark green jade stone inlaid at the top. He exuded a calm and dignified aura.

His attire was more elaborate than that of ordinary guards, covered with strange patterns, and his face was painted with several dark brown paints that outlined mysterious totems. He was clearly the person in charge of the Shu Mountain tribe, in charge of all affairs of the tribe and the responsibility of guarding the Yu Yuan seal.

The old man's face was solemn, his eyes fixed intently on Xu Qing. A faint fluctuation of witch power emanated from his body, clearly showing his wariness and anger towards this uninvited guest who had easily broken through the Wushan Cloud and Rain Formation and injured his guards.

However, Xu Qing's gaze did not fall on the old man at all, but went past him and landed directly on a young girl next to the old man.

The girl was dressed in a light green outfit, similar in style to Miao clothing, but with patterns unique to the Shu Mountain tribe. Her skirt flowed gracefully, outlining her slender figure.

She did not walk, but sat on the back of a black panther with glossy fur. The panther was strong and had sharp eyes, but was extremely docile to the girl. It was clearly her mount and companion.

The girl was beautiful, with a lively yet aloof look in her eyes. Her fair skin contrasted sharply with the bronze skin of the guards around her.

Although it was their first meeting, Xu Qing still recognized the other person.