novelhk Chapter 42 But I really am the Lone Peak Sword.
Chapter 42 But I really am the Lone Peak Sword.
Chapter 42 But I really am the Lone Peak Sword.
Another day of fierce fighting came to a temporary halt in the afterglow of the setting sun, but the smoke and faint smell of blood lingered in the air for a long time.
"You're injured!" Cui Yuling rushed forward and supported the red figure that had gracefully descended from mid-air. A warm, blue glow emanated from her fingertips, and her voice was filled with barely concealed anxiety.
Tu Shan Honghong lightly touched the city wall with her toes, gracefully landing, and raised her hand to wipe away a trace of crimson from the corner of her lips. Even as a powerful demon king, possessing unparalleled demonic power in Tu Shan, she could not withstand ten consecutive days of relentless battles against the Southern Divine Mountain Manor and various powerful families. Below the Demon Emperor, demonic power has its limits; unlike a true emperor, one cannot effortlessly draw upon the boundless power of heaven and earth with a mere gesture. And this was precisely the Achilles' heel that those cunning humans had so meticulously calculated and exploited.
Beneath the city walls, the river, bombarded by violent spells for days, steamed up murky mist. On the opposite bank, on the menacing giant ship, banners fluttered, and the spiritual light of various magical treasures flickered in the deepening twilight, like countless greedy eyes staring intently at this demon kingdom that was already showing signs of exhaustion.
The powerful families of the Southern Territory have grand ambitions this time. They intend to take advantage of the Southern Kingdom's weakened state and the uncertain fate of the Demon Emperor Huan Du Qingtian to swallow Tu Shan, the weakest of the four demon kingdoms, in one fell swoop. Their deeper calculation lies in the alluring "living wealth"—controlling the Tu Shan fox demons would be like grasping an inexhaustible treasure trove, a hidden river of astonishing profits leading to major cities in the human realm and even other demon kingdoms.
"If this continues, your demonic essence will be damaged, and your cultivation level may even drop!" Cui Yuling gripped her friend's slightly cold hand, her voice tightening. She could clearly sense the subtle tremors beneath Hong Hong's immense demonic power and the emptiness caused by excessive consumption.
"Even if we can't hold on, we must." Tu Shan Honghong's gaze swept past the lingering smoke outside the city, landing on the menacing silhouette of the ship. Her eyes were as calm as an ancient, unyielding pool, yet deep within burned an unwavering flame of will. She was the Queen of Tu Shan, with her homeland and countless people behind her; one step back meant certain death.
"I'll go and ask those demon kings who are continuing their predestined relationships under the Bitter Love Tree to help! If Tushan falls, won't their reincarnations and continued relationships be in vain?" Cui Yuling was anxious and turned to leave.
"They won't make a move." Tu Shan Honghong gently shook her head, her voice carrying a hint of worldly wisdom and an imperceptible weariness. "The enemy who has invaded this time doesn't seek to completely annihilate Tu Shan, but rather to force us to sign a humiliating treaty, paying tribute annually and offering up a batch of clansmen every year. As long as the Tu Shan lineage survives and the Bitter Love Tree remains, there is still a glimmer of hope for reincarnation and continued destiny. Those demon kings—with the Lone Peak Sword's formidable reputation and the human race's current rise to power, would they risk a direct conflict with the entire human cultivation world for the sake of Tu Shan?"
They can't afford to gamble.
"What about Shi Kuan, the Demon Emperor of Beishan? He rules Beishan and is incredibly powerful! There's also Fan Yunfei, the former prince and top expert of the Western Regions. They all formed a bond under the Bitter Love Tree! As the great demon emperor of a nation, surely he wouldn't be afraid to offend the Lone Peak Sword?" Cui Yuling refused to give up, trying to grasp any possible hope.
"Shi Kuan cannot be moved." Tu Shan Hong Hong's tone was resolute. "If he moves, it will be Bei Shan's formal intervention in the affairs of the Southern Territory. At that time, the aristocratic families of the Northern Territory will not sit idly by, and even the royal power and those dormant ancient families of the Central Plains may find a plausible excuse to swarm in. The situation will completely spiral out of control, and Tu Shan will become the source of chaos." She sighed softly, a distant memory flashing in her eyes. "As for Fan Yunfei—he has been missing for nearly a thousand years, and the Western Regions have been searching for him for nearly a thousand years... If he wanted to appear, he should have appeared long ago."
The legendary first emperor of the demon race is actually the most unreliable one, this useless sand fox.
Although the four demon kingdoms appear to act independently, they are secretly closely connected and have engaged in considerable exchange and even cooperation. This is because the pressure exerted on them by the human race is simply too great.
On the surface, the human race appears to be the weakest, far inferior to the four great demon kingdoms or even the combined strength of two of them. However, almost every generation, every hundred years, and in times of crisis, heroes emerge and geniuses appear, turning the tide and holding up the sky with their own hands!
If it weren't for their short lifespans and the intense internal strife within the One Qi Alliance, the demon race would have been wiped out long ago, without a doubt.
Their positions differed, and their perspectives were worlds apart. Standing atop Mount Tu, Tu Shan Hong Hong saw things more clearly than anyone else: the current situation between the human and demon realms was as delicate as a fragile egg, where a single misstep could have far-reaching consequences. The human race, having survived the battle at Nantian City, though not directly involved, was riding high on their momentum. They were not afraid, and might even be anticipating another great war that could reshape the boundaries of power.
It should be noted that in the earth-shattering battle beneath Nantian City, none of the major clans of the Dao Alliance truly intervened; they all remained coldly on the sidelines, preserving their strength. Lone Peak Sword alone nearly eliminated half of the great demons of the Southern Kingdom, along with the Demon Emperor Huan Du Qingtian.
The demon race, which originally held a seemingly powerful position with three demon emperors, suddenly found itself in a strategically passive and weak position.
"Then... are we just supposed to sit here and wait to die?" Cui Yuling finally saw through this suffocatingly grand scheme, and genuine panic surfaced in her eyes. Although she was a renowned physician in the demon realm with extensive knowledge, she still felt a deep sense of powerlessness in the face of such a cruel game that concerned the survival of her race and affected the fate of two races.
"Don't worry." Tu Shan Hong Hong gently grasped her friend's slightly trembling hand, and a calm and firm strength was quietly transmitted to her. "Tu Shan has been able to stand in this world for thousands of years and have gone through many storms. How could we not have some trump cards up our sleeves?"
Over the years, the deeper she came into contact with the strange sword hidden in the core veins of the Bitter Love Tree, the more she could appreciate the immense power it contained, which almost reached the realm of an emperor. The sword was pure and flawless, forming its own domain, naturally cleansing all filth and impurity.
Although she didn't know why it remained deep within the roots of the giant tree, she had tried several times to summon it to the ground using her own demonic power. Each summoning was extremely difficult, and the duration was extremely short, only a few breaths—but those few breaths were enough to unleash a sword strike powerful enough to turn the tide of battle and shatter the heavens. If they were truly at their wits' end, the power of this sword might just be enough to intimidate their enemies and carve a path to survival for Tushan.
"You—you actually have a trump card I didn't know about?" Cui Yuling's eyes were filled with surprise and doubt, but a glimmer of hope, almost extinguished, was quietly rekindled within her. "What is it? Why have you never mentioned it to me?"
"You will know in time." Tu Shan Honghong didn't explain further, but instead cast her gaze deep into Tu Shan, to the towering tree that bore witness to countless marriages and hopes. The origin and existence of that sword were connected to a vague yet unforgettable experience from her childhood. Now, in the entire Tu Shan, besides herself, perhaps only the former Tu Shan king—Feng Qi—who had long since betrayed her and whose whereabouts were shrouded in mystery, knew about this sword.
These days, Zhou Yi's life was peaceful to the point of being monotonous. Every day, he meticulously prepared three meals for the three fox demons, and silently practiced breathing exercises in solitude to replenish the vast magical power within his acupoints. The rest of the time, he wandered leisurely through the picturesque scenery of Tushan like an ordinary traveler.
One day, while passing by Lingbao Pavilion, he caught sight of an old zither covered in dust in a corner. With a slight thought, he traded it for a few days of work. At his level of cultivation, his control over his essence, energy, spirit, and will had reached a state of perfection. Not to mention Tushan Honghong, even an ordinary demon emperor in front of him would find it difficult to sense even the slightest fluctuation of magical power from him unless he deliberately probed.
This extreme restraint of power allowed him to focus intently, resulting in an even purer sound from his fingers. With each casual pluck of the strings, a clear and melodious tone flowed naturally, seemingly in harmony with the rhythms of nature, sometimes like a mountain stream cascading over rocks, sometimes like a long wind rustling through pines in a deep valley. Whenever the music began, spirit birds would be drawn by the sound, circling the beams and lingering, their melody lingering for days.
Tu Shan Ya Ya loved to sit on a small bamboo stool to the side, her hands cupping her cheeks, listening intently, her amber eyes sparkling with the music. When a piece ended, she would always jump up, grab Zhou Yi's sleeve and shake him: "9527! Your cooking is so delicious, and your playing is so beautiful! Can't you stay? Stay a few more years! I'll have Rong Rong give you double—no, triple—your pay!"
Zhou Yi always smiled gently, lightly brushed her small hand away, carefully put away the zither, and said little. He did indeed cherish the tranquility of this mountain dwelling, watching the morning clouds drift by and the evening flowers bloom and fade. But deep within his mind, the long-dormant sword intent grew clearer each day, like an undercurrent beneath the ice, silently surging, constantly reminding him of unresolved karma and the promises he had to fulfill. The carefree life of a hermit will eventually come to an end. There will eventually be a time for him to return home.
But farewells always come unexpectedly.
That afternoon, warm sunlight streamed through the carved wooden windows of the small building, casting dappled shadows on the polished floor. The melodious strains of a piano, like a babbling brook, flowed to a point where they should have reached a soaring climax, but abruptly ceased without warning.
The lingering sound abruptly ended, leaving behind a stark and profound silence.
Tu Shan Rongrong, who was bent over a long table, intently calculating with a mountain of account books and an abacus, suddenly paused in her use of the vermilion brush. She slowly raised her eyelids, her eyes, which always seemed to hold a smile and were slightly narrowed, and looked at the white figure playing the zither by the window.
The zither rests quietly on my lap.
"It's time to go..."
Zhou Yi gazed out the window, then slowly turned around, his gaze calmly landing on the butler's handsome face. His voice was gentle: "I have troubled you here for many days and thank you for your care. Now it is time to take my leave."
"But you still have—" Tu Shan Rongrong began instinctively, her gaze darting to the wooden board on the wall recording working hours and debts, but the rest of her sentence caught in her throat—
She watched as the man before her, whom her sister had personally examined and determined to have no cultivation, and whom she had repeatedly and carefully verified with her sorcery to be an ordinary mortal, took a step forward in such an ordinary manner.
He stepped out through the open carved wooden window.
There was no glowing light from burning talismans, nor clouds stirred by magic.
He stood there steadily, even with a touch of leisure, in the void outside the window. The afternoon mountain breeze blew, lifting his plain white clothes and ink-black hair, but his posture was as upright as a lone pine tree on a cliff, motionless, as if the air beneath his feet was not invisible and intangible, but solid and transparent steps.
Just a moment ago, he was a refugee who needed the protection of Tushan and had to work to earn a place to live.
The next moment, however, he was like a dragon emerging from a deep pool, or wings suddenly unfurling from the clouds. His aura remained calm and restrained, without a trace of the overwhelming and oppressive spiritual power leaking out, but this soaring, seemingly natural posture was the most undeniable declaration.
"Thank you for taking care of me these past few days." He turned slightly, smiling at the little fox demon who was standing there speechless. The smile was gentle and warm, but his eyes seemed to hold the brilliance of a sky full of stars, bright and far-reaching. "We—may meet again someday."
As soon as he finished speaking, without any hand seals or spells being cast, his figure transformed into a hazy wisp of smoke, or like a white crane resolutely soaring against the wind, rising into the sky at a speed beyond human perception, disappearing in the blink of an eye into the flowing milky-white clouds above Mount Tu.
Only a lingering, faint fragrance of zither wood remained inside the window, along with a faint, lingering melody that seemed unwilling to be severed, still subtly entwined between the beams and pillars, echoing softly and faintly in the sudden silence.
Tu Shan Rongrong moved to the window in a daze, her small hands unconsciously gripping the cold windowpane tightly. She looked up at the vast, clear expanse...
The azure sky has vanished without a trace.
Suddenly, memories surged.
That day in the study, the warm sunlight slanted in. He stood before the desk, pen in hand, his face showing a helpless yet earnest expression as he was forced to paint by Sister Ya Ya.
And then there was that lighthearted remark, which the two sisters had dismissed as a joke: "But I truly am the Lone Peak Sword."
yes----
If it weren't for him, who else in this vast world could conceal their astonishing cultivation level so perfectly and flawlessly, appearing like a mere mortal, while being constantly by the side of their beloved sister, the Queen of Tushan, Honghong?
Outside the city, the battle has reached a boiling point.
Shouts of battle, explosions, the roar of magical artifacts, and the howls of demonic power intertwined to create a deafening cacophony. Various magical lights flashed, collided, and annihilated wildly, rendering most of the sky bizarre and colorful, with spiritual energy as chaotic as boiling water.
Tu Shan Ya Ya's small red figure had already charged into the fiercest battle like a blazing fire.
Though still small and childish, she possessed extraordinary talent, her demonic power already touching the threshold of the Demon King realm. At this moment, she ripped off the enormous gourd behind her, almost as tall as herself, and gulped down several mouthfuls of the clear demonic wine. As the wine entered her throat, a vibrant blush instantly spread across her fair face, and with a deafening boom, a surge of azure demonic energy erupted from her body!
Faxiangtiandi!
Her figure rapidly expanded in the light, transforming into a Dharma Body over ten zhang tall, slightly immature yet already possessing astonishing power. The hairs on her tail, formed from demonic energy, were a deep, crystalline blue. The Dharma Body swung its enormous fists, carrying terrifying force capable of shattering mountains and splitting rocks, and slammed them one after another into the giant magical warship on the river, which resembled a mobile fortress!
"Thump—! Thump—!"
The fist collided violently with the thick array of light surrounding the warship, producing a muffled, terrifying sound like the beating of a giant drum. The light shield twisted and rippled violently, creating shocking waves that caused the ship to rock violently. The cultivators on the deck were thrown about, screaming in alarm.
The battle raged even higher in the sky.
Tu Shan Honghong was surrounded by more than ten elderly men whose auras were as solid as mountains. These men all had white hair and youthful faces, some wearing black Daoist robes embroidered with Bagua stars, and others wearing brocade robes representing the glory of their noble families. Their eyes gleamed with sharp light, and their auras were connected. They were all the current heads of the major families in the Southern Qi Dao Alliance, or the previous heads of the families who had long since retired and whose cultivation was even more profound and experienced!
This naturally included Chi Yan, the head of the Chi family in Nantian City, who was supposed to be guarding the southern gateway, and Shi Lei, the head of the Shi family! They actually came here in person to participate in the siege.
If we only consider individual cultivation and accumulated demonic power, these dozen or so people combined probably wouldn't be enough to defeat Tu Shan Honghong with one hand. However, each of them possesses at least one, or even several, magical treasures shrouded in spiritual light—all clan-protecting treasures passed down through generations and meticulously nurtured and refined over countless years!
The "Demon-Suppressing Cloud Fire Pearl" in Chi Yan's hand was as red as fire, transforming into a raging fire cloud that could scorch the heavens and boil the seas when unleashed; the "Mysterious Peak" phantom hovering above Shi Lei's head, though only an inch in size, exuded a terrifying pressure that slightly distorted space itself. There were also the "Demon-Binding Rope," which automatically traversed and specifically locked demonic energy; the "Soul-Locking Bell," which jingled and disturbed the soul; and the "Law-Breaking Golden Needle," as thin as a cow's hair and specifically designed to break through protective demonic auras—more than a dozen unique magical treasures, each with different effects but all possessing extremely strong restraining power against demons, intertwined with spiritual light and linked by laws, forming an almost impenetrable, chilling net of killing intent.
The magical artifacts pierced the air, tearing through the atmosphere and emitting a sharp whistling sound; various magical lights surged like a tide, colliding and annihilating each other, bursting out with a deafening roar.
Even with the demon realm's number one physician, Cui Yuling, providing full support nearby and continuously scattering vibrant emerald healing light that fell upon Tu Shan Honghong, rapidly repairing the hidden injuries and cracks in her demonic power left by continuous fierce battles, she still felt immense pressure, and her demonic power began to stagnate.
These old adversaries are incredibly cunning, and their magical weapons are used in an extremely shrewd and sophisticated way. They can always accurately seize the slightest, imperceptible gap when her old strength has been exhausted and her new strength has not yet been generated, and launch a fatal combined attack, causing even she, the dignified Queen of Tushan, to repeatedly fall into dangerous situations.
A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the Crimson Flame Clan Head. He stared intently at the fleeting moment of hesitation that Tu Shan Hong Hong experienced after her demonic power repelled several demon-binding magic treasures. A ferocious smile spread across his lips: "Witch! Let's see how you dodge this time!" Before he finished speaking, he suddenly bit his tongue, and a mouthful of pure heart blood shot out like an arrow onto the fiery red pearl in his palm.
"Demon-Suppressing Cloud Fire Pearl—Suppress it for this old man!"
The pearl flew out of his hand and swelled in the wind! In an instant, it transformed into a crimson fire cloud covering hundreds of feet in diameter. The cloud churned, within which several ferocious fire dragons coiled and roared. Intense heat waves surged into the sky, burning the heavens and eroding the earth, dyeing half the sky a terrifying blood red.
The river water below instantly boiled and churned, steaming up a cloud of mist that blotted out the sky.
Almost simultaneously, four or five patriarchs who had been preparing for a long time roared in unison and unleashed their respective abilities. A golden "Heavenly Net" descended from above, two jet-black "Demon-Binding Chains" emerged from the void like venomous snakes and coiled around it, and several gravity-type magical artifacts were pushed to their limits, causing the invisible force field to suddenly multiply!
Several powerful forces specializing in suppression and control instantly overlapped, causing Tu Shan Hong Hong's vast demonic power to stagnate, pinning her to the spot and making it difficult for her to teleport or dodge.
In the blink of an eye, a terrifying fire cloud that blotted out the sky and contained the power of destruction crashed down with the violent momentum of burning everything!
"elder sister--!!!"
Tu Shan Ya Ya, who was being tightly bound by the magical artifacts and talismans of the elite disciples of the aristocratic families below, caught a glimpse of this scene out of the corner of her eye. Her heart pounded with fear, and she let out a piercing scream. She frantically swung her giant fist, her azure demonic power surging wildly, trying to tear through the encirclement. However, more cultivators fearlessly blocked her path, and various spiritual lights exploded violently around her.
The young nobles were given a death order: to hold off all the fighting force except for the King of Tushan. Not only were Tushan Yaya and the Silver Moon Guardians tightly bound, but even several demon kings who were on good terms with Tushan and had come to help were now locked in a fierce battle. These demon kings were peaceful by nature and not good at fighting. Although they possessed profound demonic power, their combat methods were clumsy. Facing a group of young nobles who were not highly skilled but wielded magical weapons specifically designed to counter demons and worked together seamlessly, they were being overwhelmed and left in a sorry state.
The blazing fire clouds had already engulfed the red figure. The intense light was blinding, and the terrifying heat even caused the bricks and stones of the distant city wall to soften and flow.
The hearts of all the Tu Shan demons sank into an icy abyss.
Cuiyu Ling's face turned deathly pale, her heart filled with panic: Why hasn't Honghong revealed her trump card yet? Could it be—that was just empty talk to appease her?
In that critical, utterly hopeless moment, "Zheng Yi!"
A sword cry, clear as an ice spring striking jade, yet chilling like an ancient, cold wind, came from beyond the clouds in the heavens without warning!
The first sound is ethereal and distant, like the wind chimes on the eaves of an ancient temple deep in the mountains being stirred by the wind, cleansing away all dust.
Immediately, the swords rang out! Like the roar of a hidden dragon, like the howl of ten thousand swords, a pure, sharp, and all-severing sword intent swept across the entire battlefield! The clouds in the sky were stirred and cleansed by the invisible sword energy, and even the scorching hell brought by the burning clouds was covered and suppressed by an extreme sharpness that froze the soul at this moment!
The towering crimson cloud was cleaved in two by a clear, bright sword light that appeared out of nowhere!
The sword light was not dazzling or blinding; instead, it was so condensed that it seemed almost tangible. Wherever it passed, the raging flames that had burned the eight wastelands were silently extinguished, and the thick fire clouds, like snow under the scorching sun, rolled and dispersed to both sides, revealing the clear blue sky that had been hidden for so long.
Sword energy crisscrosses, clouds disperse and flames vanish, and the bright world reappears!
Under the gaze of countless horrified, stunned, and incredulous eyes, a figure in white robes descended from the clouds like an immortal, his clothes fluttering as he slowly landed in front of Tu Shan Hong Hong, blocking all the remaining blazing waves and sinister hostility behind him.
The mountain breeze ruffled his unbound long hair and plain white robes, his posture as upright as a lone peak facing the snow. He did not turn around to check on Tu Shan Honghong's condition, but calmly raised his eyes, his gaze as deep as an ancient well, looking at the family heads opposite him who were suffering from the backlash caused by the forced destruction of their natal magic treasures. Their faces turned ashen, and their eyes were filled with horror and fear.
His voice wasn't loud, yet it resounded with crystal clarity across the suddenly deathly silent battlefield, each word seemingly imbued with a chilling abyss: "You all have mobilized so many troops, gathering at Tushan—"
99
"Are you looking for me?"
"—Lone Peak Sword!!!"
After a brief silence, gasps of horror and incredulous growls erupted from the crowd. Unlike the Tu Shan demons, who only had vague rumors about the Lone Peak Sword, these people from the major families of the Southern Territory, some of whom had even participated in or witnessed the Battle of Nantian City, had all seen at least a portrait or photograph of that legendary swordsman! Even though the person before them had both arms, contradicting the rumored one-armed image, his unique aura and the astonishing sword intent that had just cleaved through the fiery clouds unmistakably revealed his identity!
There's no mistake!
This person is none other than Lone Peak Sword, Zhou Yi!
"Lonely Peak Sword?" Tu Shan Ya Ya murmured blankly below, looking up at the familiar yet now utterly unfamiliar white figure.
Was she her personal servant whom she named "9527"?
Is he the ordinary person who cooks delicious food, plays the piano beautifully, and is always bossed around by her?
As if sensing her confused gaze, Zhou Yi lowered his head slightly, his gaze falling on her small face filled with shock and confusion.
At that moment, Tu Shan Ya Ya suddenly remembered that she had once angrily questioned him, "Where is your sword?!"
At this moment, no words are needed.
The sword light that cleaved through the blazing clouds and cleansed the universe, and the figure that stood alone before thousands of troops, whose sheer power alone was enough to awe the entire scene, were the best answers.
"My sword resides in my heart."
I'm crying, please give me your monthly tickets and tips!!!
Brothers, you promised a monthly pass reward, how come you guys still can't keep up with my update speed?
It was updated with 80,000 words in four days, which is equivalent to a month's worth of updates for others.
I promised to add 10,000 words for every 100 monthly votes.
And these past few days have been double monthly passes, one pass is equivalent to two, isn't that great, you guys?