Chapter 1524 - 1523: Sparring with an Old Friend

Chapter 1524: Chapter 1523: Sparring with an Old Friend

Near Tiandang Mountain.

The mountain terrain is rather treacherous, initially lush and green, but upon reaching here, it is covered by a layer of pure white snow. Nestled here is a sect renowned in the nearby area, Hanmei Villa.

Inside the villa.

Clang clang clang!

Two young women are engaging in a swordsmanship duel in the villa’s training field. The swords in their hands continuously clash, sparks fly, emitting crisp sounds.

Their swordsmanship is roughly similar, sword qi drifting down like petals of plum blossoms from mid-air.

After a long while, both women finally withdrew their long swords, a smile simultaneously appearing on their faces.

"Miaoyin, I didn’t expect your swordsmanship to have improved so much during this time."

One of the women in white smiled softly.

"It’s because Sister Xuan Yu, you didn’t use your full strength, otherwise, I would have lost earlier." Miaoyin shook her head, knowing full well that the opponent had held back during their duel.

Just then, suddenly a sound of wind breaking came from mid-air outside the villa, drawing the attention of the two women.

"Someone’s coming!"

Their beautiful eyes shrank; they looked toward the rapidly approaching figure in mid-air, filled with vigilance.

The figure swiftly flashed, finally landing in the villa—two figures, a young swordsman and a woman in red.

"You are...?"

Xuan Yu and Miaoyin, faces solemn, were taken aback at the sight of Ling Chen, their eyes suddenly filled with shock.

"It’s you!"

Xuan Yu and Miaoyin both recognized Ling Chen almost simultaneously.

"I’m glad you two still remember me."

A smile spread on Ling Chen’s lips. It had been several years since he last met these two women.

"Why did you suddenly come here?"

Xuan Yu and Miaoyin were both quite surprised. Ling Chen was now a prominent figure in the Nine Provinces; over the years, they had often heard news about Ling Chen—the Heavenly Sword Tournament, the Nine Streams Gathering, the challenge at Mount Kunlun... these events shaking the entire Nine Provinces were all associated with Ling Chen, and this name was almost ringing in their ears.

They truly didn’t expect that someone who was once an unknown individual from the Wildlands would grow to this point.

Now, Ling Chen to them was entirely a formidable figure, no longer a peer from their past.

"Passing by, thought I’d drop by,"

Ling Chen said with a light smile.

His words had barely fallen when suddenly a figure swiftly appeared from deep within Hanmei Villa—a middle-aged man in white. Ling Chen followed the voice, seeing the man arriving, adorned with elegantly embroidered plum blossoms on his white garment, moving gracefully as if his feet were wind-bound, exuding an extraordinary Sword Intent, swiftly landing before Ling Chen.

"Master Mei."

Seeing the newcomer, Ling Chen also smiled, clasping his fists, a rarely seen expression on his face.

The middle-aged man in white before him was none other than Mei Fangzhi, the villa owner of Hanmei Villa.

For Ling Chen to achieve his current feats, Mei Fangzhi had not insignificant contributions. Although Ling Chen had clues about the Sword Immortal Jade Tablet, he couldn’t fathom its intricacies until Mei Fangzhi’s guidance helped him locate the rising purple smoke at the incense burner, find the Sword Immortal Jade Tablet, and comprehend the Green Lotus Sword Song.

Thus, Mei Fangzhi was one of Ling Chen’s benefactors.

"Little friend Ling Chen."

Mei Fangzhi was initially surprised, his eyes lighting up immediately, clearly not expecting Ling Chen to appear here.

"I hope you’ve been well."

Ling Chen politely greeted.

"I’m well, but you, little friend Ling Chen, are now the rising star of the entire Nine Provinces," Mei Fangzhi remarked with sentiment.

The last time they met, Ling Chen was merely at the Sky Apex Realm of cultivation. Although gifted, there was quite a vast distance between then and now, like the difference between heaven and earth.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Ling Chen proposed a sparring session to Mei Fangzhi.

"Use your Nine Sky Flowing Swords Technique for a bout,"

Ling Chen casually suggested.

"Alright!"

Mei Fangzhi did not refuse and agreed, convinced that Ling Chen’s intention was not just to defeat but to offer guidance, as he wished to repay Mei Fangzhi for the small favor he had shown him back then.

"My swordsmanship has become considerably stronger since, watch out!"

Mei Fangzhi was quite confident in his swordsmanship; if Ling Chen suppressed his cultivation to the same level as Mei Fangzhi, it wouldn’t be easy to defeat him swiftly.

Without hesitating, Mei Fangzhi drew his treasure sword from his waist and suddenly swung it towards Ling Chen.

A fierce sword light burst forth in a moment.

Like shrouded in a layer of purple smoke, Mei Fangzhi’s sword was indeed much more powerful than before!

"As the sun rises, purple smoke rising, watching the waterfall cascade in the front vale!"

Like moving clouds and flowing water, Mei Fangzhi thrust his sword straight forward at Ling Chen.

Seeing this strike from Mei Fangzhi, Ling Chen’s eyes couldn’t help but brighten. That sword indeed had the essence of the Taibai Sword Immortal, though it merely captured a fraction. It barely touched a bit of Taibai Sword Immortal’s realm, far from the exquisite sword techniques of Taibai Sword Immortal.

When Mei Fangzhi’s sword approached face-to-face, Ling Chen responded by one of the techniques from the Green Lotus Sword Song, "Immortal Points the Way."

Clang!

The two swords collided together, Ling Chen used merely a third of his strength, yet Mei Fangzhi still retreated, his sword-wielding arm trembling incessantly.

"That sword just now?"

Mei Fangzhi was astounded—not only at the power of Ling Chen’s sword but at the profound intention encompassed within it. Ling Chen’s sword technique bore curious similarities to his Nine Sky Flowing Swords, resonating harmoniously.

Upon exchanging blows with Ling Chen, he seemed to perceive a bright lamp illuminating the path. His swordsmanship had been stagnating for a long time without finding a breakthrough. Yet now he felt an instant enlightenment, a marvelous realm he always yearned to experience.

This realization filled Mei Fangzhi with immense joy!

At this moment, he suddenly felt as if he was dueling not with Ling Chen but Taibai Sword Immortal himself!

"Streaming down three thousand feet, like the Milky Way falling from Nine Skies!"

Driven by this exhilarating feeling, Mei Fangzhi wielded his sword once more—the momentum doubled, and the sword light spread like a rolling sheet of silver, a river. From top to bottom, it fell, carrying an unstoppable, ceaseless flow.

"The water of the Big River descends from above, rushing to the sea, never to return!"

Ling Chen stood his ground, face unchanged, yet his Sword Momentum surged like the water of the Big River; flowing ceaselessly, clashing with Mei Fangzhi’s sword technique like a river against a waterfall, an enormous wave erupted in the center of their confrontation!