As the words fell, Wan Jianyi slowly raised the sword in his hand.
His eyes gleamed with a sharp, radiant sword intent, so piercing it was difficult to meet his gaze.
With a deft gesture, Wan Jianyi formed a sword seal with his fingers and declared in a clear voice:
"Righteous energy of heaven and earth, enduring forevermore;
Not seeking to slay immortals, but to cleave through ghosts and gods!"
The true intent of Slaying Ghosts and Gods erupted.
Yet the full force of his sword intent did not descend.
Wan Jianyi deliberately moved slowly, as if he wanted Ji Changfeng to see clearly—
to understand exactly how this sword was unleashed.
As he gathered the sword intent in his hand, Wan Jianyi glanced at Ji Changfeng with a faint smile. "Well, kid? How's this sword compared to your Two Sleeves of Green Serpents?"
"Impressive," Ji Changfeng replied with a light smile.
But his tone shifted, and his eyes sparkled with mischief as he looked at Wan Jianyi. "Senior, I've got something even more impressive. Care to take a look?"
"Oh?" Wan Jianyi's gaze brightened.
A spark of anticipation flickered in his heart—a pursuit of sword intent, a yearning for the path of the sword.
"Hahaha!" Wan Jianyi let out a hearty laugh. "Show me, then! Let's see who's got the sharper style!"
Ji Changfeng nodded with a chuckle. "Senior, please forgive my humble display."
The moment the words left his lips, Ji Changfeng's expression turned solemn.
Boom—
His aura briefly retracted before exploding outward, unleashing a sword intent entirely distinct from his Green Serpent Sword Intent.
It bore some resemblance to Slaying Ghosts and Gods—equally relentless and unyielding—but it was far more indomitable, as if it could sunder the heavens with a single stroke, shattering all shackles in its path!
Whoosh—
Ji Changfeng exhaled softly, his eyes clear and radiant with an incomparably brilliant sword intent.
"Where the sea ends, the sky becomes the shore;
At the pinnacle of swordsmanship, I stand supreme!"
Ji Changfeng took a slight step forward.
A contest of style?
A battle of flair?
Sorry, Senior, but you're getting on in years.
This is the era of the young—my era, Ji Changfeng's era!
"Watch this sword closely, Senior!" Ji Changfeng said with a faint smile.
He raised his sword.
And brought it down.
Clang—
In an instant, a dazzling sword intent erupted, its unstoppable force surging toward Wan Jianyi.
At the same time, a clear, resonant voice rang out:
"This sword of mine—
It can open the gates of heaven!"
"What do you think, Senior?"
Wan Jianyi's eyes blazed with excitement.
His own aura surged, and the long-gathered Slaying Ghosts and Gods intent roared forth.
Boom—
The two indomitable sword intents collided.
The "swords" in Ji Changfeng and Wan Jianyi's hands—mere branches—shattered into dust.
They had fulfilled their purpose.
In this clash of pinnacles, ordinary branches could not withstand such power, even without the use of any spiritual energy.
"Hahahaha!" Wan Jianyi roared with laughter, his eyes burning as he looked at Ji Changfeng. His voice carried a trace of eagerness. "Kid, what was that sword called?"
Ji Changfeng smiled faintly. "Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate."
"Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate?" Wan Jianyi murmured, savoring the words.
A relentless momentum, an indomitable sword intent—capable of cleaving the heavens and shattering all bonds?
"What a Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate!
What a Ji Changfeng!"
Wan Jianyi's tone grew serious as he looked at Ji Changfeng. "I have to admit, kid… you're sharper than me!"
Especially that line, "Where the sea ends, the sky becomes the shore"—where did this kid get all these flashy phrases?
It somehow feels even cooler than the incantation for Slaying Ghosts and Gods…
Damn it!
Why else did Wan Jianyi always shout his incantation aloud when unleashing Slaying Ghosts and Gods?
Because it was stylish, of course!
A man remains a youth at heart until his dying day, and style is a lifelong pursuit.
Alas… Ji Changfeng sighed inwardly.
What can I do?
Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate doesn't have any flashy incantations.
And Wan Jianyi's Slaying Ghosts and Gods is just too stylish.
So I had no choice but to outdo him.
After all, style is a lifelong pursuit!
"Come here!" Wan Jianyi beckoned, leading Ji Changfeng to a stone table nearby. From somewhere, he produced a jug of wine.
Thud—
The jug landed heavily on the table.
Wan Jianyi looked at Ji Changfeng with a bold grin. "Kid, can you hold your liquor?"
Ji Changfeng cupped his hands respectfully and smiled. "If Senior wishes to drink, this junior would hardly refuse."
"Haha, good!" Wan Jianyi lifted the jug's seal, and a faint, fragrant aroma wafted out. He laughed heartily. "This spiritual wine was brewed a hundred years ago. I planned to share it with a worthy rival someday, but who'd have thought… you'd be the one to taste it first!"
"It's truly an honor for this junior," Ji Changfeng said, rising to offer a bow.
Wan Jianyi waved dismissively, a hint of irritation in his voice. "None of that nonsense here. Sit!"
Ji Changfeng obediently sat.
Splash—
The rich, aromatic spiritual wine poured into bowls, its frothy surface promising an exceptional vintage.
"Such fine wine—might a humble Daoist beg a bowl to sample?"
A soft chuckle interrupted the moment.
A figure approached—a Daoist clad in an ink-green robe, holding a horsetail whisk.
Ji Changfeng quickly rose and bowed. "Disciple Ji Changfeng greets the Sect Leader, Martial Uncle."
"Sit," Dao Xuan Zhenren said with a gentle smile.
"Hmph." Wan Jianyi let out a cold snort, his warm expression vanishing, as if he had little interest in engaging with Dao Xuan.
"Junior Brother, might I trouble you for a cup of that wine?" Dao Xuan asked with a smile.
Wan Jianyi said nothing, merely producing an empty bowl in silence.
At the sight, a faint smile spread across Dao Xuan's face.
And so, the three sat together.
Facing two figures who were likely at the Supreme Purity Realm, Ji Changfeng showed no trace of unease. He raised his bowl in a respectful toast to the seniors and took a small sip.
The spiritual wine was smooth and fragrant, transforming into a wisp of pure spiritual energy as it entered his body.
Truly a wine aged for a century!
Dao Xuan savored a sip and sighed in admiration. "Junior Brother, I've coveted this wine of yours for a hundred years. Today, I finally got my wish."
"Hmph!" Wan Jianyi snorted again, half-suspecting Dao Xuan had summoned Ji Changfeng here just to mooch a drink.
After finishing his bowl, Ji Changfeng didn't linger.
He stood and bowed to the two. "Sect Leader, Martial Uncle, Senior, this disciple will take his leave."
He sensed that Dao Xuan and Wan Jianyi had matters to discuss and had no intention of staying to intrude.
Dao Xuan nodded with a smile.
Wan Jianyi's eyes gleamed as he looked at Ji Changfeng. "Kid, come back next time and show me how much stronger you've gotten."
Ji Changfeng gave a faint smile. "I'll make sure Senior is satisfied."
With that, he turned and left without hesitation.
Dao Xuan watched Ji Changfeng's departing figure, lost in thought.
"Pfft—" Wan Jianyi let out a derisive scoff. "What? Worried this kid will steal the Sect Leader position from your precious disciple?"
Dao Xuan shook his head. "I can't hide anything from you, Junior Brother."
Wan Jianyi said indifferently, "The position of Sect Leader goes to the capable. They're all Qingyun disciples—does it matter who it's passed to?"
"That's true in theory," Dao Xuan said, shaking his head lightly. "But the Sect Leader's position must remain with the Longmen Peak. The other peaks…"
Wan Jianyi didn't respond, sipping his wine in silence.
Then Dao Xuan turned to him with a smile. "So, Junior Brother, why not take him as your disciple?"
If Wan Jianyi accepted Ji Changfeng, wouldn't that make him a Longmen disciple?
"He's already apprenticed to Tian Buyi," Wan Jianyi said, shaking his head.
"And does apprenticing to Tian Buyi mean he can't apprentice to you?" Dao Xuan countered.
He shook his head again. "If you ask me, you're a far better fit to be his master than Tian Buyi."
Wan Jianyi opened his mouth to reply but paused, a sudden thought crossing his mind—Su Ru.
His expression darkened.
Damn it!
Ji Changfeng was his now.
If that fat fool Tian Buyi had any complaints, let him come find me!
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