The Path Toward Heaven

“Oh, it’s him.”

Bu Qiuxiao went on thoughtfully, “I heard he had entered the upper limit of the Broken

Sea State a long time ago. He is truly outstanding judging by his performance today.”

He of course had heard of this peak master of Shiyue on Green Mountain; but this

immortal master had always kept a low profile and stayed behind closed doors over the

years, and so they had never met each other.

He Wei and other sect masters nodded in silence. Those regular disciples had never

heard of this name, and they were still enthralled and in a state of shock and

bewilderment.

They didn’t expect to witness such a formidable swordsman of Green Mountain whom

they hadn’t even heard of.

The violent waves formed at the nearby patch of the ocean again.

The sword boat of Green Mountain was flying close to the surface of the ocean, and

fewer sword lights came out from it now.

Dozens of dark shadows suddenly emerged on the surface of the ocean below. They

should be the sea demons raised and trained by the West Ocean Sword Sect.

A flash of blood-red sword light dove into the ocean and traveled at a high speed in the

sea water, leaving countless traces of fresh blood behind. The sword light was so hot

that the sea water began to boil when the light passed it and turned into evaporating

steam. It then went back to the sword boat.

Every onlooker could see clearly that those shadows were dissolving and falling to the

bottom of the ocean.

The power of this blood red sword light was not as strong as that of the flying swords of

the Immortal Guangyuan and other elders, but the shocking effect of it was just as

enormous for the observing Cultivation practitioners.

The sea water, the size of one square mile, had turned red, looking like an endless

blood pond; it was an extremely gory scene.

Nobody asked about the owner of this sword light because they all knew that this blood-

red flying sword was the rumored Thoughtless Sword.

Zhao Layue had reached the middle state of the Free Travel at such a young age; how

did she lose to Zhuo Rusui last time?

…

…

The immortal Guangyuan didn’t come out after returning to the sword boat.

The powerful swordsmen like Chen Youtian, Mo Chi and Bai Rujing had done the same.

And Zhao Layue had only wielded her sword once.

The Green Mountain masters of the previous generation would strike only when the

disciples encountered overwhelming opponents, otherwise they let regular disciples of

Green Mountain do the attacking.

As they pushed into the deeper part of the West Ocean Islands, the disciples of

Liangwang Peak could fully employ the lethal sword work that they had learned and

practiced during their battles against demons and devils over the years. Their flying

swords rained down onto the surface of the ocean like a storm.

The most intimidating part was that the Green Mountain Sect could always find the most

proper way to demolish whatever obstacles the West Ocean Sword Sect threw in their

path.

The fallen snow of Shangde Peak, the striking thunder of Bihu Peak, and the formations

of Tianguang Peak…they were all achieved by the simple flying swords. These swords

could perform endless magic to overcome the magic treasures and formations of the

West Ocean Sword Sect at will.

The Immortal Liu Ci and Yuan Qijing hadn’t even struck yet, and many swords of the

Fairy State hadn’t shown up by then, but the West Ocean Sword Sect had already been

under such an overwhelming attack that they didn’t have enough force to launch a

decent counterattack.

This was absolute suppression.

Looking at the battle scene above the surface of the ocean that was magnificent but not

particularly intense, the sect mater of Kunlun, He Wei, suddenly asked, “How long has

the battle gone on?”

“It didn’t start until we came,” said Bu Qiuxiao, furrowing his brows.

Having heard the news that the Immortal Taiping came out from behind death doors

and hid at the West Ocean Sword Sect, the scholars of the One-Cottage House had

reacted faster than anybody else, and were the first to arrive at the scene.

It was obvious that the Green Mountain Sect could have started the attack earlier, but

they did it only after the Cultivation practitioners of other sects had arrived. What was

their intention?

It meant that this battle was launched for the observation of all Chaotian, which is why

they had waited until the spectators arrived.

The Cultivation practitioners of other sects were so shocked; after understanding their

point, that they couldn’t utter a word.

The West Ocean Sword Sect was a newly established major Cultivation sect that had

been around more than one hundred years; they had suppressed another powerful and

major sect, the No-Mercy Sect, and did so without mercy. Even though the West Ocean

Sword Sect had been damaged to a great extent after the battle of the Cloud Platform,

they were still one of the most powerful Cultivation sects in the world. However, the

Green Mountain Sect would attack such a powerful sect at will and do so at a time of

their choosing. How confident they must be in their prowess to behave this way!

Seventeen sword boats of Green Mountain headed toward the deep part of the West

Ocean Islands. The sword lights grew sparse, but the rubble and fresh blood filled the

ocean in their wake.

The rain fell onto the sea and islands along with the wind of sky, washing the blood

clean and smothering the smoke and dust that had arisen after the collapse of the

buildings.

Seeing this, the Cultivation practitioners of other sects produced a sensation of

helplessness.

“It is a war.”

Looking at the disappearing blood on the surface of the ocean and the ruined islands,

Bu Qiuxiao continued after a pause, “Only a war can demonstrate the true strength of a

Cultivation sect. As such, I have always had a high opinion of the Windy-Broadsword

Church, because they have participated in the wars, and grown stronger because of it.”

He made this comment for the benefit of the students of the One-Cottage House on the

Boat of Diligent Study; it was intended to be an instruction.

In the war between mortals, the fighting skill of any individual general was meaningless

no matter how powerful he was.

In the war between the Cultivation sects, the Cultivation state of a single practitioner

was not very significant for the outcome of the war, unless this Cultivation practitioner

reached the Dachen State or the Heavenly Arrival State; then they would have a chance

of altering the situation in the battlefield.

However, how many people were in the Heavenly Arrival State in the entire Cultivation

world?

There were two in the Heavenly Arrival State at the Green Mountain Sect.

In addition, Green Mountain had four Principal Guards.

Many people trained their gazes at a high spot in the sky reflexively.

A huge boat was intermittently visible amid the thin clouds near the Empty Realm.

That was the Cloud Boat of the Center Sect, and many highly achieved swordsmen of

the Cloud-Dream Mountain were on it. It was said that the Immortal Bai had also come.

The Center Sect was probably the only one that could compete with the Green

Mountain Sect, in terms of the resources, the overall strength of swordsmen, and the

number of the magic treasures and the swords of high state.

If these two sects were at war, which one would be the victor in the end?

Nobody dared raise the question, but everybody started thinking of it inwardly.

Seeing the disciples lost in thought, Bu Qiuxiao shook his head.

He believed it was useless to think about it.

Witnessing the prowess and audaciousness displayed by the Green Mountain Sect

today, who would in their right mind think that the Center Sect had a chance of winning

the war?

Liu Shisui didn’t dwell on this sort of thing.

As a former talented disciple of Green Mountain, he of course thought that the Green

Mountain Sect would win, no matter whether it was the war between Green Mountain

and the West Ocean Sword Sect or the imagined war between Green Mountain and the

Center Sect.

Standing on the Boat of Diligent Study and looking at the sword boat traveling to the

distance, Liu Shisui sighed.

That sword boat had the least sword lights coming out from it. It was evident that fewer

disciples were on that boat, and Zhao Layue was definitely on it, which meant it must be

the sword boat of Shenmo Peak.

He naturally felt proud when Green Mountain was demolishing the West Ocean, but he

couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful.

He thought that he would have been on that sword boat if those events hadn’t

happened.

A deep buzzing sound rang out as the sword bracelet on his wrist started quivering.

As the main sword of Liangwang Peak, the Lone Sword of course wished to participate

in this crusade against the West Ocean Sword Sect and kill the enemies along with its

peers.

Liu Shisui caressed the sword bracelet gently to comfort it, as he thought that the Green

Mountain Sect would have a complete victory if the Godly Swordsman of West Ocean

didn’t show up, and that there was no need for him and the sword bracelet to do

anything.

If the Godly Swordsman of West Ocean showed up, he could actually do nothing,

and…the sword would definitely pretend to be asleep, Liu Shisui thought.

Everybody was aware that the Green Mountain Sect would win this war, but nobody

knew how the price the Green Mountain Sect would pay, and how many lives they

would lose.

It was because the Godly Swordsman of West Ocean hadn’t shown up yet.

The rainfall suddenly stopped, and the wind in the sky vanished without a trace.

Yet, countless tides occurred on the surface of the ocean.

Bihu Peak of Green Mountain had employed the style of the Tide Sword, but it was not

as powerful as the tides forming on the ocean at present.

The word “tide” was contained in the sword instruction of the West Ocean Sword Sect.

The waves of the tides rose up high in the sky and landed onto the surface of the sword

boats, creating countless snowy sprays.

The sword boat in the front swayed a little as a result, but it steadied itself soon.

The disciples of Tianguang Peak extracted their flying swords, as they stared at the

tides, as if they were facing a formidable foe.

It was then that Zhuo Rusui lifted his droopy eyelids, seemingly excited.

The countless tides on the surface of the West Ocean had been produced by a sword.

The sword was consisted of many layers, resembling the pagodas in the Zen temples or

the tides piling upon each other.

The name of the sword was the Sword of Twelve Storey Building.

Speaking of the famous swords of the Fairy State, this sword should be ranked among

the top few.

When this sword was picked up by that person on a beach over two hundred years ago,

it was no different from a useless piece of iron or bronze.

The state of the Sword of Twelve Storey Building had improved along with the

increased Cultivation state of that person. It was a flying sword of the Fairy State now,

not even inferior to the First Child Sword of the old days.

A sword improved with its owner. Yet, that person was even more famous in

comparison, and more outstanding.

That person gave himself a Daoist title: A Sword from the West.

The important figures of the same generation were accustomed to calling him Jia Xilai

(aka. A Sword from the West).

Some masters of the previous generation were too lazy to call him by his full name; they

simply called him Xilai.

Yet, a vast majority of the Cultivation practitioners called him reverentially the Godly

Swordsman of West Ocean.

Now that he was called the Godly Swordsman, one could imagine how high a state this

person’s sword work was in, and how profound his Cultivation state was.

However, the Cultivation circle had a poor opinion of this Godly Swordsman as a

person, because his temperament was gloomy, reserved and dull, and he was also

narrow-minded and vindictive, devoid of the aura of an immortal man.

Under such circumstances, he was still considered one of the strongest swordsmen in

Chaotian. One could imagine just how powerful his true strength was.

His Cultivation state had been at its height since several decades ago. The Immortal Liu

Ci could only end in a draw when fighting against him, and Pei Baifa was knocked down

by him into the ocean with one swing of his sword.

It could be stated that the Godly Swordsman of West Ocean was one of the strongest

swordsmen in all of Chaotian, and an equal of Liu Ci, the Immortal Tan and the

Immortal Bai.

There was a view many years ago that this Godly Swordsman was a bit inferior to the

Broadsword King, but this view was nonexistent now.

The Sword of Twelve Storey Building appeared in the midst of the violent tides; who

would challenge it from the camp of Green Mountain?

Standing at the bow of the large sword boat in the front, Liu Ci looked at the sword with

narrowed eyes, his robe fluttering. It seemed that he had no intention of combating that

sword.

It was because he didn’t have a sword; he brought the sheath of the Inherited Heaven

Sword for another person.

Yuan Qijing sat inside the boat quietly, without any intention of striking, waiting for the

appearance of the Great Grandmaster of the Foggy Island.

The rooster paced back and forth anxiously on the boat, dragging his eerily long tail

behind him. “Where is that old guy? Where is he? It makes me worried,” the rooster said

in a human voice.

Yuan Qijing shot the rooster a glance, and knew that he wasn’t worried about the Great

Grandmaster of the Foggy Island, Nan Qü, but another person.

…

…

The sword lights illuminated the surface of the ocean. Three flying swords broke

through the air and arrived, encircling the Sword of the Twelve-Story Building.

These three flying swords were obviously in the Fairy State since they all had a crystal

clear sword will and were as bright as a mirror.

The three swords were: the Sword of Absolute Emptiness of Xingyun Peak; the Sword

of the Returning Sun of Shiyue Peak; and the Eight-Sides Sword of Bihu Peak.

Zhao Layue didn’t take part in the battle of this level because her Cultivation state was

still too low, which is why the Thoughtless Sword didn’t show up.

“The Green Mountain Sect is so arrogant that they only let three peak masters do the

fighting.”

Looking at the scene in the distance, He Wei continued with an air of admiration and

resentment, “Even if the Immortal Guangyuan could resist for a while, the other two

would be killed instantly.”

Liu Shisui shot him a glance, then looked at his wrist, realizing that the Lone Sword was

inactive, just as he expected.

The tides had gradually died down.

The figure behind the Sword of Twelve Storey Building became clearer.

The Godly Swordsman of West Ocean had finally shown up.

Facing the three famous swords of Green Mountain and seventeen sword boats, no fear

could be found on his countenance. He still looked nonchalant and dull as usual, like a

stone statue.

“What do you want?”

The Godly Swordsman of West Ocean said this with an even tone while looking at the

sword boat several miles away.

The Immortal Liu Ci looked like a fairy man standing at the bow of the boat, his Daoist

robe fluttering. “I just want to ask my Master to come back home,” he said; his voice

was as pleasing to the ear as honey is sweet to the tongue.

Hearing this, the Godly Swordsman of West Ocean sighed on the inside, though he

looked calm on the outside.

He had originally planned to kill or capture the Immortal Taiping in collaboration with the

Young Mysterious Dark Master when Taiping came to the West Ocean to steal the First

Child Sword, and also planned to allure that emissary of Taiping’s to come out from

Green Mountain and have him killed as well.

Unexpectedly, the Green Mountain Sect had come before he could carry out the plan;

and moreover, this time they had emptied their “nest”.

The Godly Swordsman of West Ocean said expressionlessly, “You people failed to

watch over him and let him escape. Why did you come here and ask me for his return?”

Liu Ci didn’t respond to him.

A brightly yellow scroll drifted over from the east and hovered in the sky. The inky words

came out from it along with the wind of sea; they were exceedingly visible under the

sunlight and entered the eyes of all the Cultivation practitioners present.

The message in the royal decree was: The Pure Heaven Bureau and the Curtain

Rollers had found out, after their respective investigations, that the Immortal Taiping

was indeed at the West Ocean Sword Sect, and that the orthodox sects should

cooperate with the Green Mountain Sect accordingly.

The sea wind stirred the surface of the ocean softly, and the golden glow had gradually

dissipated. It was very quiet in the vicinity.

No Cultivation practitioner followed the Green Mountain Sect to attack the West Ocean

Sword Sect, not even those from the Hanging-Bell Sect and the Great Marsh.

It was because they were all aware that the Green Mountain Sect needed no help from

anybody; all they needed was an acceptable reason for attacking the West Ocean.

As such, the Emperor had written a royal decree for the benefit of them.

“Without evidence, the royal decree is as good as a piece of useless paper.”

The Godly Swordsman of West Ocean went on expressionlessly, “The Green Mountain

Sect regards itself as the leader of the orthodox sects, but you people have killed so

many innocent practitioners. I don’t need various sects present today to be the

witnesses; all I want to know is: Do you have the dignity to meet your ancestors in the

future?”

Liu Ci said nonchalantly, “Just open the Protective Formation of the mountain gate. If

my Master were not found here, the Green Mountain Sect would find a way to pay our

retribution.”

“Paying retribution” sounded simple and a bit offhand; but anyone could imagine what

the Green Mountain Sect would pay was much more than having a few people killed if

the Immortal Taiping were not found on the West Ocean Islands.

The fact that Liu Ci dared make such a statement meant that the Green Mountain Sect

indeed had profound resources.

Countless gazes were fixed on the Godly Swordsman of West Ocean, as they wanted

to know what choice he would make.

The Godly Swordsman of West Ocean lowered his eyelids slightly.

Back when he told Su Ziye to inform the Immortal Taiping that the First Child Sword was

hidden on the Tianxuan Island for the purpose of alluring him to the West Ocean.

But, the Godly Swordsman didn’t even know whether the Immortal Taiping was at the

West Ocean or not at the moment.

If Taiping was here, why didn’t he know anything about it?

If not, why did Liu Ci dare make such a statement?

He realized that he was indeed not someone good at scheming.

The Godly Swordsman of West Ocean chuckled wryly, and then said to Liu Ci calmly,

“It’s simple if you want to come in; let’s fight.”

No sooner had he said this than a formidable sword will sprang out in the deep end of

the West Ocean Islands; the Protective Formation was mobilized to its fullest extent.

A huge dark shadow was rising up slowly from the bottom of the ocean; it should be the

divine guardian animal of the West Ocean Sword Sect, the Flying Whale.

The Cultivation practitioners of various sects suddenly wore a grave expression on their

faces.

Was it possible that the West Ocean Sword Sect was prepared to cause a maximum

collateral damage?

This place was in the central part of the West Ocean Islands, so the Protective

Formation of the mountain gate of the West Ocean Sword Sect would have the

uppermost power here.

No matter how powerful the Green Mountain Sect was, if they were to break through

this Protective Formation of the mountain gate, they would pay a dear price and lose a

great number of lives.

If the great formations of the mountain gate of a sect were so easy to be broken

through, how could the Mysterious Dark Sect survive for so many years right under the

hostile scrutiny of the Green Mountain Sect?

The intention of the Godly Swordsman of West Ocean was crystal clear.

He was willing to confront whatever scheme and goal the Green Mountain Sect had

conceived with his own blood and death.

Liu Ci fell silent for a long time, as if he was weighing if the action was worthwhile.

It was deathly quiet in heaven and earth.

All of a sudden, the Godly Swordsman of West Ocean had sensed something, as he

wheeled around and looked at a spot in the deep end of the ocean; a flabbergasted and

furious expression showed on his face.

It was then that he realized that Liu Ci was not evaluating the gains and losses, but

waiting for this moment!

There was an island on the other side of the ocean, called the Shaoming Island, about

one hundred miles away. It looked ordinary, but it was a place where the control center

of the Protective Formation was located.

A huge rock on that island had slowly changed its direction along with the loud noise of

friction.

Everybody sensed the sudden change of energy in heaven and earth.

What was to happen was corresponding to the foreboding saying “The eaves are

broken when it rains and the door is open when the thief comes to the house”.

The Protective Formation of the West Ocean Sword Sect had been opened!

The fog shrouding the islands had dissipated; and its true appearance revealed to the

world under the bright sunlight.

There was a mountain on the Shaoming Island.

A platform was situated on the top of the mountain.

There was an ordinary, old chair made of elm on the platform.

Yin San was seen drinking tea in the chair.

His appearance was handsome, even a bit comely, wearing an amicable smile. It

looked as if he enjoyed the tea in his teacup so much that he considered it the tastiest

thing in the whole wild world.

Sensing the opening of the Protective Formation of the mountain gate, Yin San seemed

to be surprised, as he looked at the outside of the island.

There were seventeen sword boats in the sky.

He stood up slowly while holding the teacup, displaying a complicated expression in his

eyes. In the end, his line of sight was fixed on the Immortal Liu Ci. Then, the expression

in his eyes grew colder, and his brows arched slightly, as he yelled tersely, “You, the

wicked disciple of mine, have even pursued me at this place. Are you truly going to

persecute your master until he’s dead?!”