Chapter 224: Chapter 216: One Sword Splits the Ship, Unfathomable Depths!

The black ship was forged from mysterious iron, solemn and majestic. The flags fluttered without wind, the black dragon patterns bared their claws, displaying great prowess.

The middle-aged man spoke loudly: “Friends on the Dragon Boat, please disembark. For the remaining thousand-mile journey, our Black Dragon Sect will take over.”

“After such a long journey, you must be exhausted. If you are willing to make friends, you can join us for a drink. Our Black Dragon Sect will arrange accommodations and entertain you well.”

Li Xian asked: “Madam, is the Black Dragon Sect well-known?”

Wen Caishang nodded: “The Black Dragon Sect has a great origin, with countless strong fighters.”

Wen Caishang asked: “You are quite domineering, may I ask your name first?”

“Not really anyone important.” The middle-aged man said: “One of the four guardians of the Black Dragon Sect, the Black Eyebrow Guardian.”

Wen Caishang said: “All four guardians are in action. I remember the Black Dragon Sect is not of the Yu Nan Dao or Longxiong Dao factions?”

“I didn’t expect a woman like you to be so knowledgeable.” The Black Eyebrow Guardian said: “That’s right, our Black Dragon Sect is indeed not from Yu Nan or Longxiong. But slaying the python dragon is a major event in the world. Our Black Dragon Sect came upon hearing the news, so what? If you are wise, it’s best to leave quickly.”

Wen Caishang said: “It is indeed the way of a great sect, always domineering. You are determined to humiliate a woman like me, but there’s no choice.”

“The old dragon elder is right here, if you have the ability, feel free to come over.”

The Black Eyebrow Guardian said: “Of course!”, wielding an iron chain, and fiercely casting it towards the python dragon. Wen Caishang raised an eyebrow slightly, and the White Snake unsheathed from her sleeve suddenly lengthened, soft as a ribbon, entangling with the iron chain.

The Black Eyebrow Guardian said: “Very well, since you insist on obstructing me, let me test your strength! Let’s see how formidable you women are!”

He channeled inner qi, attacking along the iron chain. Martial artists’ techniques are myriad and wondrous. But there are always specific scenarios where complexity is simplified, purely determining victory by inner qi.

Wen Caishang said: “I am happy to learn.” A glint of cold light flashed in her beautiful eyes. Sparks flew from the clash of iron chain and soft sword, causing ripples in the surrounding river water.

The lethality of martial arts is not necessarily dazzling. As they stalemated for a moment, the Black Eyebrow Guardian’s expression suddenly changed, realizing his inner qi was overpowered.

Wen Caishang flipped her sleeve, holding the sword hilt. Her wrist rotated slightly, and the White Snake Sword clamped to the iron chain swiftly lengthened, aiming at the Black Eyebrow Guardian’s heart.

Overcome with fear, the Black Eyebrow Guardian released the iron chain and retreated several steps. The White Snake missed, but the sword’s edge remained sharp, gleaming brightly.

The Black Eyebrow Guardian broke out in a cold sweat, knowing he was no match, his expression unsightly, saying: “Fine, with such strength, let’s see how far you can go! Our Black Dragon Sect is not to be trifled with!”

With a wave of his hand.

The black ship moved, making way. As the boat passed, Wen Caishang retracted her longsword, quietly sitting at the bow, saying: “Fetch me that treasure bow and stand by my side.”

Li Xian returned to the cabin to retrieve the bow. Wen Caishang’s bow was the “Yellow Dao Bow,” adorned with a Yellow Jade Pendant. Li Xian held the peculiar bow, observing it closely, feeling its strange elegance.

Bathed in sunlight.

The bow emitted a faint mist, like a golden glow. Wen Caishang said: “Try drawing the bow.”

Li Xian pulled the bowstring, suddenly feeling a profound silence. His senses magnified, the arrow’s speed, the arrow’s might, and the arrow’s intent, all distinctly different.

“Hmm?” Wen Caishang was slightly puzzled. Seeing Li Xian draw the string, resonating with the bow, manifesting an anomaly. He was enveloped by a protective Yellow Dao Qi.

She said: “Very good, you have great affinity with this bow. Each time you shoot an arrow, the Yellow Jade Pendant beneath the bow will gently tremble.”

“When you shoot, solely relying on the vibration caused by the arrow, making the Yellow Jade Pendant tremble in all directions, it triggers the bow’s extraordinary effect, with the arrow infused with Yellow Dao Qi, penetrating armor and injuring foes, its might tremendous.”

“It can even split into one, then two, then three, it’s possible.”

Li Xian immediately nocked an arrow, experimentally shooting toward the river. The Yellow Jade Pendant trembled lightly once.

Wen Caishang felt a pang of disappointment, thinking: “Since wielding this bow, even I have seldom triggered the Yellow Dao Qi. Though Li Xian’s archery is good, expecting him to activate the bow’s miraculous effect, it might be a bit too much…”

Suddenly, seeing Li Xian nock another arrow. This time, as he shot, the Yellow Jade Pendant trembled thrice. Wen Caishang said: “Good, try once more.”

Li Xian repeated again, remembering the feeling of shooting. At the moment the string was released, the arrow flew out rapidly. The Yellow Jade Pendant trembled in all directions, the arrow like wrapped in yellow light, its speed dramatically increasing, striking the black flag on the distant ship.

It turned out… on the open river, Li Xian’s view was vast. He already spotted the Black Dragon Sect’s ships. When shooting, he aimed at the flag.

The arrow embedded into the iron banner.

The remaining force burst out, with a “bang,” the black flag snapped.

All who witnessed were astonished. The python dragon said: “Excellent archery! Excellent archery!” Wen Caishang nodded repeatedly, full of praise.

Wen Caishang said: “Stand with the bow and do not move recklessly. When I call for you, shoot again.”

“Alright, I will follow your instructions, madam.” Li Xian said.

“When this journey concludes, I shall reward you well, reward you well.” Wen Caishang lightly caressed Li Xian’s cheek, filled with affection.

…

…

The Black Dragon Sect entrenched at the end of Benhua River, the last few hundred miles of riverway, guarded by the four Protector Dharma Kings.

Forty-eight thousand six hundred miles.

The Black Dragon Sect’s Purple Robe Dharma King and Red Eye Dharma King shared a ship. Seeing the python dragon rushing by, the Dragon Riding Boat drawing ever closer.

The Purple Robe Dharma King said: “Truly astonishing, to my knowledge, this dragon is already old. I initially thought at forty thousand miles, it could be slain, yet it has traveled all the way here.”

The Red Eye Dharma King said: “What a pity, what a pity. If not for the Young Sect Leader, needing dragon blood for a bath, dragon heart for an offering, dragon tendon as a treasure. And just knowing that there’s a python transforming into a dragon here, coming to intercept and slay. This old python reaching here, just a hundred or so miles from Guanjiangkou, has indeed almost succeeded in transforming into a dragon.”

“Why not do it,” said the Purple Robe Dharma King, “after all, we can share the ’Sorrowful Dragon Tears.’ Although it’s not in my diet, holding it certainly gives me more leverage.”

The Red Eye Dharma King said, “We mustn’t be careless. The python dragon has reached here, meaning it has passed Black Eyebrow’s guard. We still need to act cautiously.”

The boat approached, and at the bow, the dragon-guarding figure turned out to be a woman in a white dress.

The woman was exceptionally beautiful, with the river breeze lifting her skirt. Her hair was like a waterfall, black and thick.

Wen Caishang wiped the White Snake Sword and asked faintly, “Which Dharma Kings of the Black Dragon Sect are the two of you?” She looked at the longsword and observed the two with her peripheral vision.

Li Xian mumbled, “Madam strikes harshly, but always exchanges courteous words with others, without losing manners in her speech. But now arriving here, it seems she has finally drawn her sword.” He noticed subtle differences.

“The two of us are…” The Red Eye Dharma King and the Purple Robe Dharma King took a step forward.

“Enough,” Wen Caishang said. “Hearing it is useless.” The White Snake Sword swung out, the sword light shot out like a rainbow.

The two Dharma Kings dodged to the sides, just about to perform their techniques when they suddenly noticed the wooden planks beneath them spreading with cracks. They exchanged a glance, pupils trembling, focusing their observations.

Seeing the cracks slowly spread, gradually covering the entire ship. Suddenly, a “crack” sound was heard, and the entire black ship split from the middle, with a clean break, sinking into the river. The two Dharma Kings leaped out of the ship, standing on the water, with an expression of shock beyond words.

Li Xian was shocked to the core, considering the outer iron paint and solid wood inside, the ship was over ten zhang long, yet was split with one sword strike, how formidable!

Wen Caishang sat quietly, her beautiful eyes glancing over. The two felt a chill run through their bodies. Wen Caishang softly said, “You may leave.”

Li Xian couldn’t help but mutter, “It’s no wonder I hide my clumsiness; Madam is also hiding hers. With so many formidable martial arts, not even a bit is passed on to me. Oh well… in life, one must rely on oneself. Let me first master my current martial arts and seek more profound techniques step by step.”

The Dragon Ship sailed away. The two Dharma Kings did not dare to hinder.

Meanwhile.

At the estuary of the river to the sea, a grand seat was set up on the coast. The last seat of the Dragon Slaying Banquet, personally presided over by the Young Sect Leader of the Black Dragon Sect.

The Black Dragon Sect had the Yin-Yang Envoys, Four Dharma Kings, Five Lakes Wanderers, Four Seas Heroes, and Nine Great Experts. For this Dragon Slaying Banquet, the Young Sect Leader of the Black Dragon Sect, Sheng Yunfei, brought three Dharma Kings, the Four Seas Heroes, and four experts to attend.

Among the Four Seas Heroes, there was one “Ocean Viewing Hero,” who had washed away his mortal form, revealing unique eyes. He was observing from a high mountain.

Upon seeing the ship split by a sword, his face changed dramatically. He immediately used his lightweight skill and rushed back to the river’s end seat, saying, “Little…Little Sect Leader, this is not good! Not good!”

Sheng Yunfei appeared young, with arching eyebrows and eyes as sharp as an eagle’s. He calmly said, “What makes you so panicked? Where has it reached?”

“It reached the Red Eye Dharma King and Purple Robe Dharma King,” the Ocean Viewing Hero said.

“Couldn’t stop it?” Sheng Yunfei raised an eyebrow, saying, “To reach this place, it must have some skill. Not stopping it is within expectations.”

“No… It’s not just that they couldn’t stop it,” the Ocean Viewing Hero shook his head, “that dragon-guarding woman split the ship down the middle!”

“What!” Sheng Yunfei’s heart was shocked, but he feigned calm and asked, “Are you sure? If she’s a master swordsman, it’s not impossible. How many swords did she use?”

“One sword!” the Ocean Viewing Hero said.

Suddenly hearing a “crack” sound, the cup in Sheng Yunfei’s hand fell, spilling the fine wine onto the ground.

Sheng Yunfei thought, “Martial artists have different strengths. Some martial arts are deadly but with minimal destructive power. For example, Qingyuan Sect’s ’Floating Dust Palm’ can’t even split rocks but is extremely formidable against people. While some martial arts have great destructive power but are poor in killing, like Celestial Blade Sect’s Earth Destruction Slash, which can cut a boat in half… Perhaps this woman is like that.”

He forced himself to stay calm, lightly nudging the cup with his toe. The cup flipped back to his hand, and the alcohol on the ground flowed back into the cup. He said, “Alright, go investigate again. Report back immediately if anything happens!”

The Ocean Viewing Hero used his lightweight skill, rushing to the mountaintop, observing from a height.

Half an hour later.

He saw the Dragon Ship and the old python dragon, covered in scars, travel over a hundred miles… arriving at the place where the four experts were stationed.

The four experts sat on both banks, simultaneously surrounding and setting up formations.

The Ocean Viewing Hero thought, “The four experts have set up formations, they should be able to stop this woman now!”

Yet within moments, he was dumbfounded, witnessing a terrifying scene, and immediately dashed down the mountain, saying, “Not good, not good… Young Sect Leader, not good!”

Sheng Yunfei strode over, saying, “What happened?”

“The four…four experts lost!” the Ocean Viewing Hero said, “It wasn’t one sword this time.”

Sheng Yunfei was slightly relieved, thinking that although the four experts lost, the fact that both sides could be entangled for a while was a good sign.

The Ocean Viewing Hero said, “It was one sword per person!”

“How is that possible, wasn’t it instructed to form a formation!” Sheng Yunfei’s brows furrowed deeply, his joy vanished, heart floating with concern. “Why did they lose so quickly?”

“They did form the formation,” the Ocean Viewing Hero said. “But that woman saw through the formation with just one glance.”

“A…a remarkable woman indeed, the formation of the four experts involves changes of stars and seasons, not something easily cracked!” Sheng Yunfei said, “Go investigate again!”

Half an hour later, the Ocean Viewing Hero rushed back, saying, “Young Sect Leader, not good again, still couldn’t hold it!” He swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

Sheng Yunfei slapped the armrest, standing up in anger, “Again a sword?”

The Ocean Viewing Hero nodded numbly.

At this moment, a light voice was heard from afar, “Young Sect Leader of the Black Dragon Sect, I, Cai Shang, greet you.”

On the river, a ship was slowly approaching.

The woman at the bow was clothed in white, outshining snow, holding a longsword in her arms, her clothes fluttering, her gaze cold as ice.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep