Novel Full Chapter 449 - 217: Pure Yang Mansion_3
Chapter 449: Chapter 217: Pure Yang Mansion_3
“But I seldom had the chance to cross swords with the Three Great Demon Sects in Tianqu City.
“Finally, when an opportunity arose, I thought I could test the depth of a Commander’s power, only to have you spear him to death with a single sword thrust.”
“…”
Su Mo was momentarily at a loss for words.
Inside the Xuanji Valley, the Three Commanders and their matches awaited.
Both Yang Xiaoyun and Wei Ziyi, for instance, were eager to challenge one.
Yet, Su Mo had seized all of their opportunities, skewering three men with a single thrust, briefly practicing the Death-Defying Thirteen Sword.
“However, the true prowess of the Three Flag Order does not lie merely in their individual martial arts.”
Duan Song and the others paused slightly before adding, “It lies in the Arrays they lead their minions to deploy, which yield peculiar effects within the Chimei Forest. On open ground or within alleyways, these Arrays are extremely difficult to contend with.
“And should these three unite, I fear no one could penetrate the Chimei Forest.
“If one is missing… the Array’s power would decrease, but I fear it would be more than a mere measure.
“Xiao Mo, if you encounter them in the future, you must ensure that you do not give them the chance to form their Array.”
“Understood, thank you for the reminder, Master Duan.”
Su Mo said solemnly as he bowed with his hands clasped.
Duan Song nodded slightly, then suddenly pointed and announced, “We have arrived at the Pure Yang Mansion.”
The so-called Pure Yang Mansion turned out to be a cave.
A gateway had been installed, guarded by two Ziyang Sect disciples.
Of course, this was only the visible arrangement; upon his arrival, Su Mo could feel no fewer than a dozen pairs of eyes upon him.
Focusing his breath, he heard many hidden pulses and heartbeats surrounding him.
Seeing Duan Song approach, the two promptly stood to pay their respects.
Duan Song waved his hand dismissively and approached the mansion’s entrance, saying with hands cupped and bowed,
“Disciple Duan Song, in the company of Ziyang Sect’s thirty-second generation successor Su Mo, along with Wei Ziyi of the Lengyue Palace, seeks an audience with the Sect Leader.”
Su Mo and Wei Ziyi stood behind Duan Song; Su Mo spoke,
“Undeserving disciple Su Mo, pays respects to the Grandmaster.”
Whereas Wei Ziyi said, “Lengyue Palace disciple Wei Ziyi, greets the Ziyang Sect Leader.”
After a brief moment of contemplation, the gate of the Pure Yang Mansion suddenly paused, emitting a thunderous rumble.
Then, a voice of someone dignified by the Dao emanated from within:
“Lengyue Palace’s Wei Ziyi? Are you the disciple of the Third Palace Master, Yun Jiuying?”
“I am indeed.”
Wei Ziyi was somewhat shocked and flattered by the acknowledgment.
“Hmm, observing your breath, form, and footwork, you have acquired seventy percent of Yun girl’s True Inheritance. The remaining thirty percent is hidden and not revealed.
“Generations produce their own talents, each dominating their epoch for centuries, good, Lengyue Palace has a worthy successor.”
As the voice concluded, the mansion’s door cracked open slightly, and an object flew out, heading straight for Wei Ziyi.
Wei Ziyi instinctively caught it and, looking down at it in her palm, was taken aback.
“The Zhai Xing Sword?”
She looked up at the gate unconsciously.
She then heard the Ziyang Sect Leader’s voice once more,
“The Zhai Xing Sword belonged to a departed friend of the Lengyue Palace, held in my hands for over thirty years.
“Today, I pass it on to you, hoping you will cherish it.”
“Thank you, elder.”
Wei Ziyi bowed with her hands clasped.
“Hmm…”
The voice paused slightly, and then the doors to the Pure Yang Mansion opened:
“Mo’er, come in, your old master… wants to see you.”
Su Mo pondered briefly, then nodded in agreement: “Yes.”
After exhaling lightly, he stepped into the Pure Yang Mansion.
The door behind him closed abruptly; within, there was nothing else but a steaming pool of water.
Amid the swirling white mist, an old man sat with white hair and beard, lips devoid of color, appearing frail.
He looked on eagerly, his eyes filled with hope.
Upon seeing Su Mo approach, he let out a long sigh of relief.
He examined him carefully.
His gaze was not that of a Sect Leader watching his disciple.
Rather, it was that of an old man seeing a long-absent descendant return home.
While he observed Su Mo, Su Mo was also observing him.
Although the man showed signs of age, his tendons and bones remained robust.
His eyes held a hidden radiance, yet now they radiated nothing but kindness and gentleness.
This man was the current Ziyang Sect Leader, Li Zhengyuan!
And he was the one Su Mo had seen in the portrait the night before, the archetypal Daoist-like elder.
“Disciple Su Mo, pays respects to the Grandmaster.”
Su Mo hesitated briefly before beginning the formal kowtow.
Yet Li Zhengyuan gestured with his hand, and his Pure Yang Inner Breath scattered, halting Su Mo’s gesture.
He only sighed softly, “When your father left Ziyang Sect, he was a gallant young man, eager to immerse himself in Jianghu and find a place where he could be free.
“Hmm… he was probably even younger than you are now at that time.”
Su Mo fell silent, unsure of what to say.
“In my lifetime, I’ve only had one disciple, your father.
“Despite heaven and earth separating us, I’ve gone from black hair to white in my longing.
“Fortunately, the Su family’s lineage maintains a sliver of continuation.
“At that time, I had intended to bring you to Ziyang Sect to raise you.
“Yet Yang Yizhi claimed you were worthless, that even if you entered Ziyang Sect, you could achieve nothing.
“That recklessly involving yourself in turmoil would only cost you your life for nothing.
“I, in fact, disagreed with that notion.
“I thought, despite the Su family’s tradition of only one male heir per generation, every male has been a personage of prominence.
“You are a son of the Su family; how could you possibly be worthless?
“Even if a dragon lies dormant in the abyss, it will ultimately find its moment to soar to the heavens.
“Therefore, I made a wager with him.
“Betting that you would inevitably rise from the depths and ascend to the heavens.
“When that time comes, should you wish to return to the sect, Yang Yizhi shall not obstruct you.
“I never expected that the first few years would be fine, but these last two years he’s been deceiving me in his letters.
“Claiming you spend your days amongst flowers and your nights in revelry, having long abandoned your martial arts.
“It wasn’t until Master Duan saw you at Haoran Academy that I realized that scoundrel Yang Yizhi had deceived me to such an extent.”
As he spoke, the old man’s emotions seemed to stir the water in the pool, causing waves to surge and churn suddenly.
Su Mo hurriedly said, “Grandmaster, do not be angered, Uncle Yang… he had his own difficulties.”
“Alas… how could I not know?”
Li Zhengyuan calmed down immediately upon hearing this, nodding and saying, “He and your father were sworn brothers, and he has always been more concerned about these matters than I.
“The goals and schemes he pursues are worthy of their sworn brotherhood.”