Chapter 120: The First Breakthrough in the Sword Forest!
(This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation)
Ji You, despite having made a striking impression, was not truly known by Yan Ye, Yan Qing Chi, or Yan Shu Jing. Only Gong Shu Chou had any profound understanding of him—of a physical nature, that is.
From their chance encounter in the Second Layer Forest, when Gong Shu Chou had curiously observed Ji You’s swordplay, doubts began to take root in his heart. Ji You’s greatest technique was undeniably the Seven Swords Return to Their Origin, yet why did he insist on using a single sword to traverse the forest?
With Ji You’s mastery of Sword Mastery and his immense Spiritual Consciousness, clearing the Sword Forest would not have required such exertion. It wasn’t until Yan Shu Jing returned to attempt the forest again that Gong Shu Chou realized Ji You’s intent. Ji You used a single sword not for efficiency, but to immerse himself deeply in the Sword Qi’s Dao.
The Art of Sword Flying might allow him to cut through the fragmented sword forms in the forest, but it would shroud the clarity of his Heart of the Sword. Having now comprehended the sword of the forest through a single blade, Ji You revealed a secret known only to himself—he had six more swords.
Suddenly, the resonant hum of seven blades sang through the air, sharp and piercing. In the Third Layer Forest, the technique Return and Come surged once more.
Ji You’s Sword Intent boiled over, and his swords flew with arrogant precision. The roar of the blades heralded the Seven Swords, whose synchronized assault cleaved through Return and Come, scattering its formidable Sword Qi.
“It’s the Little Overlapping Mountain! That’s the true Little Overlapping Mountain,” Yan Ye exclaimed.
“No, this is the Sevenfold Mountain,” Gong Shu Chou corrected him, furrowing his brows.
Amid the chaotic clash of Sword Qi, the once-mighty Return and Come was crushed under the force of the Sevenfold Mountain. The violent Sword Intent shattered into waves of turbulence, surging wildly between the bamboo groves.
Ji You’s white figure melded into the brilliant sword light, disappearing into the depths of the Third Layer Forest.
His earlier cautiousness was to comprehend the Dao. Now, his fierce assault was a matter of pride.
Witnessing this, Yan Ye and Yan Qing Chi hastened after him, rushing into the Fourth Layer Forest. Yan Shu Jing had already entered ahead of them. Gong Shu Chou, unwilling to miss this opportunity to witness Ji You’s swordsmanship, was about to follow when a sudden Sword Qi erupted before him, blocking his path.
In that instant, Gong Shu Chou realized the truth. He had lingered in this layer for five days yet had not overcome the challenge of Return and Come.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Layer Forest was already a tempest of Sword Qi.
Two elders and Yan Shu Jing, who had just arrived, saw that Ji You was no longer methodically stimulating and dismantling the Sword Qi. Instead, his Seven Swords encircled him as he charged forward.
The forest erupted as every trace of Sword Qi was triggered, recklessly converging on him in deadly strikes. But Ji You’s resolve was unshaken. His eyes gleamed with golden brilliance, and the seven swords surrounding him whirled like a storm, shredding every incoming thread of Sword Qi.
The bamboo forest trembled violently, leaves scattered in the gale, and the intense shockwaves nearly surged back into the Third Layer Forest.
Suddenly, a shrill hum pierced the chaos. A bolt of concentrated Sword Qi hurtled toward Ji You, catching him off guard. It struck his chest fiercely but failed to penetrate, dissipating against his protective Celestial Aura.
However, the impact shredded half of his white robes, revealing his muscular chest. The three observers’ eyes widened in shock.
Their astonishment wasn’t solely due to Ji You’s physique. What stunned them was the sight of unfamiliar patterns emerging on his skin as his surging Sword Intent coursed through him. Energy seemed to flow visibly beneath his skin, forcefully stretching his meridians.
“His physical body…?”
“How could such a powerful physique exist in this world?”
“It’s absurdly strong. Even without consuming pills, the fragmented sword forms wouldn’t be able to wound his vital areas.”
In a single moment, the trio understood the source of Ji You’s confidence in challenging the Sword Forest head-on.
It was then that they noticed something they had previously overlooked, being too entranced by his swordsmanship. Ji You was only at the Mystic Enlightenment Stage, yet he had progressed from the First Layer Forest to the Third without sustaining a single injury. His robes bore cuts, but his skin remained unscathed.
Even the more formidable swords of the Fourth Layer Forest were struggling to harm him. With the aid of ample Spirit Pills, Ji You’s endurance remained unwavering.
At that moment, a clear and pristine sword rose high into the air, its radiant Sword Qi transparent and penetrating. It was the Guardian Sword of the fourth layer—a strike from Elder Qi himself, known for its unparalleled precision and purity.
Because of its upright and pristine nature, it was the strongest sword in the entire Bamboo Forest.
At this moment, Ji You stood with a heart aligned with his sword, his Sword Intent vast and overwhelming. He swung his blade towards [Thought Without Evil], his muscles rippling with explosive tension like a coiled dragon. His blood surged with fervent energy.
With a thunderous roar, heavenly radiance descended. Two arcs of Sword Qi clashed and spiraled upwards, causing tremors throughout the bamboo grove. The atmosphere grew charged as their auras collided, the trembling bamboo leaves swaying in the shockwave—a stark contrast to the serene stillness of the First Layer of the forest beyond.
Only the gentle afternoon breeze stirred, creating a soft rustle that added to the solemn silence. Ding Yao and Huang Hui stood perplexed, their gazes fixed on the still and quiet bamboo forest, uncertain of what to make of it.
Elder Yan Ye had initially taken interest upon hearing that Ji You was about to face [Return and Come]. He had intended to observe briefly between matches of the Inquiry of the Dao contest, planning to leave soon after.
Yet, half an hour into the second match, the elder had yet to emerge from the forest. Down the mountain, the echoes of clashing swords and resonating Dao techniques filled the air, but there was still no sign of him.
“Senior Brother, should we check what’s happening in the forest?”
“I… I can’t handle [New Willow Color] yet,” Huang Hui replied, hesitation and unease written across his face.
Ding Yao frowned slightly but kept her disdain hidden, showing only a hint of worry. She reasoned that since the first duel had been resolved in just over an hour, the second would likely follow suit and conclude within one. If so, the Heavenly Script Academy’s Direct Disciple would lose the contest.
When that moment came, Elder Yan Ye would surely appear on stage to summarize and officially declare the academy’s defeat. However, with half the match already gone and time dwindling, his absence made her uneasy. Could he have fallen asleep in the forest?
Meanwhile, Wen Zheng Xin and Pei Ru Yi were also filled with mounting anxiety. They had initially considered breaking through the Second Layer of the Sword Forest to fetch their junior brother but changed their minds upon hearing he had entered the Third Layer.
The two deliberated. Traversing the Sword Forest required time, and the Third Layer was reputedly even more formidable. They decided Ji You would likely finish quickly and emerge on his own.
But as the sun dipped lower in the sky, there was still no sign of him. Earlier, Wang Yue had come to the scene, loudly ordering Ji You to descend the mountain. When his calls went unanswered, he returned to the base of the mountain, as he was more concerned about the outcome of You Bu Yu and Zhuang You’s duel.
As the four of them wrestled with their thoughts, the sound of slicing air erupted from above. Two elders flew towards the Sword Forest, their expressions grim as they entered its depths.
“Why are more elders coming here? What’s going on?”
“I… I don’t know,” Huang Hui stammered, his unease growing.
Ding Yao pondered whether to descend the mountain but stopped as the slicing sound of flight continued. This time, a celestial glow accompanied it. A breathtakingly beautiful woman, dressed in a scarlet Mirror Master’s Immortal Robe and crowned with a Glazed Immortal Crown, descended gracefully. Her presence filled the mountain with a delicate, lingering fragrance.
All four raised their heads to watch as she entered the Fourth Layer of the Sword Forest. Huang Hui stood dumbfounded, unable to fathom why the Little Mirror Master herself would personally visit the Sword Forest. Wen Zheng Xin and Pei Ru Yi, taking longer to process her identity, grew equally astonished.
Only Ding Yao maintained relative composure, though her expression flickered with uncertainty. She reasoned that one of the men inside the Sword Forest must be favored by the Mirror Master, making her arrival not entirely unexpected. What puzzled her was the reason behind the gathering.
What could have occurred within the Sword Forest to draw so many?
To their greater surprise, the Little Mirror Master was not the last to arrive. Before long, Ban Yang Shu and Bai Ru Long ascended the mountain, their expressions dark and severe as they approached Wen Zheng Xin and Pei Ru Yi.
“Where is Junior Brother Ji?”
“He’s still in the forest…” Pei Ru Yi replied, a sense of foreboding creeping into her voice. “Why?”
Ban Yang Shu and Bai Ru Long exchanged a glance.
“The situation is dire. I fear You Bu Yu will lose,” Ban Yang Shu said gravely.
“How could it end so quickly?” Wen Zheng Xin asked, astonished.
“That Zhuang You is wielding a Sword Dao that defies common reason,” Bai Ru Long replied, his tone heavy.
Before more could be said, a loud and piercing Sword Chant echoed from the valley. It was accompanied by a fierce wind that roared like a tiger, enveloping the surrounding peaks.
At that moment, atop the Sword Gazing Platform, Zhuang You stood gripping his iron sword, his face twisted in a ruthless expression, his killing intent surging like an unstoppable tide.
The battlefield of the Sword Gazing Platform was steeped in blood as You Bu Yu, his body riddled with wounds, stumbled backward in a desperate retreat. Before him, a dazzling sword light swept across the platform, a radiant arc that was impossible to evade. His wide, fear-stricken eyes betrayed his shattered will to fight. Yet, he had no choice but to channel the Thunder Technique to meet the oncoming strike, his wrist nearly fracturing under the immense force. A greater dread seeped into his heart as the attack left him trembling.
Witnessing this dire scene, the Heavenly Script Academy disciples lost all hope. In contrast, the disciples from Dao Seeking Sect, Mountain and Sea Pavilion, and Spirit Sword Mountain erupted into unabashed laughter, turning their mocking gazes toward the defeated Heavenly Script Academy students.
“Hah! What’s this? Why are there fewer people on the Heavenly Script Academy’s side?” one asked.
“Perhaps they realized their loss was inevitable and slinked away in shame!” another jeered, laughter echoing in the air.
“Not necessarily. I saw two of them heading toward the Sword Forest on Heavenly Sword Peak earlier.”
“Ah, now that you mention it, isn’t there still a disciple from their academy attempting the Sword Forest trial?”
“Indeed. They must’ve gone to fetch them, hoping to escape unnoticed once the match concludes. Such cowards!”
“How dare they arrive with such arrogance, only to flee after defeat? Such audacity!”
Their taunts barely ceased before a surge of even more ferocious Sword Qi erupted on the platform. Zhuang You, cloaked in his own sword light, emanated a deep red glow from his eyes, his sword intent boiling over to its zenith. The air grew heavy as You Bu Yu clenched his fists in defiance. His opponent’s sword arm was enshrouded in wisps of ominous Black Qi, which churned ominously.
Then, a golden light flashed in You Bu Yu’s pupils. His aura surged as a majestic radiance enveloped him. This was the culmination of a skill passed down to him as a direct disciple of the Hall of Tranquility! Summoning every ounce of his power, he unleashed his might against Zhuang You.
With an earth-shaking roar, Zhuang You’s sword descended like a thunderclap, splitting the heavens. The battlefield was consumed in blinding white light, rendering the spectators momentarily sightless. A sickening sound followed—the proud You Bu Yu was sent hurtling from the Immortal Gazing Platform, blood spraying mid-air before he crashed violently onto the ground. Crimson streaked his back as he lay unmoving, defeated.
“Senior Brother Zhuang has won…”
“Senior Brother You has lost…”
These words spread among the stunned spectators, igniting contrasting emotions. The Heavenly Script Academy disciples rushed to You Bu Yu’s side, their faces etched with worry. Meanwhile, the Spirit Sword Mountain disciples erupted in jubilant cheers, their long-awaited celebration finally within reach.
“The Heavenly Script Academy’s direct disciples have both fallen to Spirit Sword Mountain!”
But before their cheers could fully resound, a deafening explosion reverberated from the peak of Heavenly Sword Peak, silencing the crowd. All eyes turned toward the mountain’s summit, where a colossal wave of brilliant Sword Qi radiated outward. The winds roared down the mountain, carrying with them a force so overwhelming that even the elders on the high platform rose in alarm. Even the Son of the Demon Emperor, with his piercing blue eyes, turned to gaze at the phenomenon, a flicker of astonishment crossing his face.
The Sword Forest, designed to isolate both sound and Sword Qi, was an impenetrable challenge. Yet now, a sword’s essence soared freely, signaling that the final layer of the forest had been breached. Such an event could only mean one thing—the Sword Forest had been broken!
Unbeknownst to the crowd, the Little Mirror Master of Spirit Sword Mountain had grown bored earlier and ventured into the forest. Now, as the onlookers watched in awe, they assumed this feat marked the first time Elder Qi’s Sword Forest had ever been conquered.
“Was it Junior Sister Yan?” someone speculated.
“It must be Junior Sister Yan! She’s been stuck at the fourth layer for days. It makes sense she’d break through now!”
“A double blessing! A resounding victory in the challenge and the Sword Forest’s first breach! This is a glorious day!”
Excitement swept through the crowd surrounding the Sword Gazing Platform. Yet the mountain responded not with triumph but with an unexpected sight. A lone figure ascended into the sky, bare-chested and swaying unsteadily. Blood soaked his body, and the pungent metallic scent followed him on the roaring winds. Despite his precarious state, the figure’s voice rang out boldly:
“Standing in the fierce wind, I yearn to dispel the endless heartache!”
“Behold the heavens, where clouds gather; with sword in hand, who dares challenge me as a hero?”
The sharp, song-like declaration, laced with lingering Sword Intent, echoed across the mountains. It silenced the onlookers, leaving even the jubilant disciples of Spirit Sword Mountain speechless.
On the high platform, the Son of the Demon Emperor, arms crossed behind his back, paused at these words, a flicker of intrigue crossing his face. Meanwhile, a figure clad in a fluttering crimson Immortal Robe hovered mid-air, her delicate brows arching in surprise as astonishment slowly filled her gaze.