Chapter 838: Unworthy to Speak of Swords With Me

Chen Changsheng looked toward the gradually transforming green snake. He paused, then raised his hand, summoning Listening to Rain.

Right at that moment, a figure approached.

"Mister." Yunxiang looked at Chen Changsheng, hesitating to speak.

Chen Changsheng recovered his focus. "This Chen is fine," he said.

He paused. "Take Song Bao back first. I will return shortly."

With that, he took to the air on his sword, chasing after that streak of golden light.

Zhao Yuqing flew away on his sword. A moment later, he suddenly sensed an aura trailing closely behind him. He glanced back and came to a halt.

Riding the Listening Rain Sword, Chen Changsheng arrived before him.

Zhao Yuqing glanced at him. "What is it?"

"There must always be a reason for one's actions. Truthfully, This Chen does not understand, so I came to ask."

"When has Zhao Yuqing ever needed a reason to act?"

Chen Changsheng gave a slight nod. "That is a reason in itself," he said.

He was Zhao Yuqing, after all.

The fiend whom both the Cultivation World and the Mortal World went out of their way to avoid.

Zhao Yuqing gave him a calm glance. Without a word, he turned to leave.

Chen Changsheng suddenly spoke. "Years ago, This Chen saw a Flood Dragon in the memories stored within the Prayer Bead. Its name was Aman."

Zhao Yuqing paused his steps. "You already guessed," he said indifferently. "Why ask?"

This was simply who he was; he never minced words or bothered to hide the truth.

"You had a connection with Aman?" Chen Changsheng asked.

Zhao Yuqing thought for a moment before replying, "The mountain lord."

"Mountain lord?"

"Lord of Yunfu Mountain."

Long ago, Yunfu Mountain had not actually belonged to Zhao Yuqing. It was the domain of a Flood Dragon. It had not been called Yun Manor back then, but rather Jiaolong Fallen Mountain. Only after the old mountain lord—Aman—passed away and entrusted the territory to Zhao Yuqing did it receive its current name.

Chen Changsheng nodded in understanding.

He paused, then added, "This matter is rather difficult to handle, however."

Zhao Yuqing chuckled. "She decides what she is. Must a demon necessarily be evil? Do you not understand this better than anyone?"

"This Chen naturally understands," Chen Changsheng said. "It is just that her current state leaves This Chen somewhat conflicted."

Zhao Yuqing fell silent for a moment before speaking. "You kill her, I kill you."

Chen Changsheng did not doubt his sincerity in the slightest.

He paused, then laughed as if suddenly enlightened.

"Good."

Zhao Yuqing could naturally see Chen Changsheng's current condition.

He was absolutely certain he could kill him.

Whether Chen Changsheng would simply return to life, however, was another matter entirely.

Chen Changsheng raised his hand, grasping the Listening Rain Sword from beneath his feet.

Zhao Yuqing's expression flickered.

He watched Chen Changsheng flick his wrist, raising a gleam of sword light. "Then This Chen will kill her!" he declared softly.

Zhao Yuqing froze. Seeing no trace of hesitation in the man, he hurriedly fired off a streak of Sword Qi to block the strike.

The Sword Qi shattered midway through the air.

Zhao Yuqing's gaze grew cold. He stared at Chen Changsheng. "You wish to die?"

Chen Changsheng met his gaze. "This Chen has died a thousand times," he said, "and has never been afraid."

He leveled his sword beside him and faced Zhao Yuqing. "I kept you here to make you watch her die! Just to spare myself further complications down the road."

Anger surged in Zhao Yuqing's chest. "Must you be like this, Chen Changsheng?" he demanded. "Must you divide the matters of this world so rigidly into black and white?"

"She deserves to die." Chen Changsheng shook his head. "Whether for public justice or personal grievance, she should not live."

"The atrocities she committed in her early years are enough to warrant a thousand deaths. Serving as a Water God while rearing river ghosts to nourish her own Spirit—that is for the public. As for the personal, she was bold enough to scheme against This Chen, disregard the lives of the common folk, and even drag a mortal woman into her trap."

"Her life has been tragic, but that is no excuse for her to live."

Chen Changsheng took a step forward. "And whatever she was in her past life has absolutely no bearing on this one."

Zhao Yuqing spoke coldly. "You do not need to say so much. I, Zhao Yuqing, have never cared for good or evil. Since I was old enough to understand the world, I have only respected my own capabilities. Whoever provokes me is evil, and whoever provokes me dies! I have no use for your high-sounding principles."

Chen Changsheng gave a slight nod. "You are right. So she plotted against This Chen, and This Chen kills her. Am I wrong?"

Zhao Yuqing paused. "Naturally, you are not wrong. But you must also consider who is protecting her! To kill her, you must get past me. Are you bullying the weak and fearing the strong, Chen Changsheng? Do you only dare to reason with me, but not draw your blade?"

Chen Changsheng's expression remained perfectly calm. He took another step forward. "When we tested our swords years ago, we fought to a draw. Although I am not what I once was, I am willing to try. I ought to try."

"Draw your sword."

Zhao Yuqing had clearly not expected Chen Changsheng to be so decisive.

He had never even considered that Chen Changsheng would genuinely refuse to give him any face.

Understanding seemed to dawn on Zhao Yuqing in an instant. He shook his head with a laugh. "Right. This is just how you are. You only ever care about reason."

He raised the Wooden Sword in his hand and faced Chen Changsheng.

Chen Changsheng raised his own sword, and the two confronted each other in the sky.

The surging of their sword stances forced the clouds and mist to part, as if ready to pierce a hole straight through the heavens above.

The two men stood at opposite ends of the sky.

Their Sword Intents erupted completely. Two phantoms formed entirely of Sword Qi materialized before them, instantly followed by countless more.

It was as though they had incarnated into countless copies of themselves, forming thousands upon thousands of soldiers clashing in a grand melee.

"Clang!"

The clatter of clashing steel rang out from the Sword Qi in mid-air, echoing endlessly.

It was merely Sword Intent, yet it had transformed into sweeping armies battling in the skies.

Every figure carried the shadows of the two men. Every strike and stance was born from their own profound understanding. There were victories and there were defeats. Amid the ringing cacophony of Sword Intent, they were perfectly matched.

Zhao Yuqing was slightly surprised. He realized that Chen Changsheng's Sword Intent had not just improved a little; it was much, much stronger than it had been on Yunfu Mountain all those years ago.

Chen Changsheng's face, however, appeared rather pale and weak.

Although this was merely a clash of Sword Intents with no relation to Magical Power, the mental exhaustion was very real. Zhao Yuqing possessed the bearing of an immortal, while Chen Changsheng, severely lacking Magical Power, amounted to nothing in comparison.

Chen Changsheng raised two fingers, projecting his Spirit outward.

A Spirit spanning hundreds of zhang manifested behind him, stabilizing his situation. At the very least, it ensured he would not collapse from the sheer exhaustion.

"Cold Mountain Snow."

Chen Changsheng murmured softly, swinging the sword in his hand.

Snow drifted through the air, the flakes flying forward with the piercing sharpness of needle tips.

Zhao Yuqing merely raised a hand. A single flash of sword light slashed forward, obliterating it all.

Zhao Yuqing said indifferently, "I, Zhao Yuqing, am the number one fiend in the world. I am also the world's number one Immortal Sword. Even if you are Chen Changsheng, you are unworthy to speak of swords with me!"

With that, the Wooden Sword trembled, emitting a resonant chime.

In the blink of an eye, the phantom figures formed by the Sword Qi were completely wiped out. The Sword Intent surrounding Chen Changsheng instantly shattered.

A metallic sweetness filled Chen Changsheng's mouth, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.