After lunch, Lü Chonglou continued to teach Chen Xuanze and San Zang spear techniques. Chen Xiaogu also joined in. Most of the blood and flesh from the big snapping turtle had entered Chen Xiaogu's belly. It was unclear how her small frame could accommodate so much.
At this moment, Chen Xiaogu, who used to be skin and bones, had transformed into a beautifully crafted little girl. Dressed in a red embroidered robe, she looked exceptionally charming. Chen Xuanze confirmed that Chen Xiaogu was indeed a girl.
Seeing Chen Xiaogu following along, Lü Chonglou didn't say anything. One sheep can be herded, and a flock of sheep can be let loose. This little girl was not only cute but also affectionate, calling Lü YeYe (Grandpa Lü) in a friendly manner.
Chen Xuanze and San Zang continued their stance training, while Lü Chonglou prepared to give another bone to Chen Xiaogu. Unexpectedly, the little girl ran to a corner, picked up the snake spear casually thrown there by Wang Qingzhi, stood next to Chen Xuanze, raised her arm, and lifted the serpent spear toward the river in front of her.
Lü Chonglou shook his head; he had momentarily forgotten that this little girl was a transformed Xuanbone. After two days of this routine—sailing, eating, practicing spear techniques, and cultivating—without encountering any demons or monsters, Lü Chonglou scolded Chen Xuanze and San Zang, drenching them in criticism.
Originally, it wouldn't have been so severe. Since Chen Xiaogu joined, she quickly comprehended what Lü Chonglou taught, and her spear techniques improved significantly. Chen Xuanze and San Zang, while not inferior in their own right, were in danger of being outshone.
Two days later, in the evening, the boat approached the vicinity of Dadoshan. Before going ashore, Lü Chonglou took out three books from his bosom and threw them to Chen Xuanze and the others. One was yellowed, and the other two were brand new. The yellowed one went to Chen Xiaogu, and the two new ones went to Chen Xuanze and San Zang.
Not that Chen Xiaogu was not considered a person, but Lü Chonglou had developed a deep fondness for the little girl. The two new books were freshly copied by Lü Chonglou these past nights. They contained the cultivation method derived from the Sword Art: Sword Mastery Technique, named "Sword Control Art."
The moment they caught sight of Dadoshan, Chen Xuanze stared for a long time. The Tian Shui River resembled a giant sword, dividing Dadoshan into two. The cliffs on both sides of the river were straight and smooth like mirrors.
No wonder people said that Dadoshan was split by an unparalleled power. Since seeing this mountain, the moods of Wang Qingzhi and San Zang had dropped significantly.
At the bow of the boat, Wang Qingzhi asked, "Little Taoist, do you know why Tianxuan Mountain is called Dadoshan?" Wang Xuanqing nodded, and with a melancholic expression, he replied, "Sir, the disciple knows."
"Speak."
"Tianxuan Mountain is the place closest to the heavens in the Nine Provinces, hence the name Tianxuan Mountain. Emperors of various dynasties held their ascension ceremonies here, gathering the Qi of the Nine Provinces. At its peak, two of the Four Great Buddhist Temples resided here, along with seven Daoist lineages. It held the authority over both Dao and Buddhism. Later, due to the 'heavenly punishment' suffered by our two families, the sects within the mountain gradually moved away. Qingyun Pavilion and Shasheng Monastery declined, losing their prominence. In the past thousand years, no emperor has been willing to perform the ascension ceremony here. Over time, it was called Dadoshan because the mountain is to the east. With the dispersal of Qi, why call it Tianxuan?"
In the end, the last sentence seemed less like asking someone else and more like asking himself. At this moment, Chen Xuanze spoke up to comfort him, "The mountain's height is not important; if it has immortals, it deserves its name. Qingxuan, don't be melancholic. One day, Dadoshan will be renamed Tianxuan Mountain because of you and San Zang. When that time comes, if you don't like the name Tianxuan Mountain, you can call it Qingxuan Mountain or Sanzang Mountain. It's up to you. We men don't need to be so hard on ourselves."
After these words, Wang Qingzhi, Wang Xuanqing, and San Zang's gloomy expressions faded away. Indeed, who could say that they couldn't revive Tianxuan Mountain?
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Between the mountainside paths, the group walked slowly, appreciating the scenery. The ancient trees towered, and the cliffs were rugged. On both sides of the mountain path, the stone walls were covered with mottled carvings left by literati, warriors, and monks over thousands of years.
Rows of inscriptions ranged from exquisite to repulsive. The marks included sword scars, bullet holes, and fist imprints, reflecting the styles of different sects. The demeanor of the sects was evident.
After walking for half a day, the group stopped in front of a stone over ten yards high halfway up the mountain. The stone was full of mottled marks, and three ancient characters vaguely visible on the front carried ancient meanings. After careful identification, Chen Xuanze recognized, "Sword-Unlocking Stone."
Next to the big characters, there was also a line of small characters: "Those from the Sword Pavilion who come here must unlock the sword; otherwise, they cannot climb the mountain."
After a long pause, Wang Qingzhi burst into laughter. Lü Chonglou and Wang Xuanqing also laughed, and so did Chen Xuanze. San Zang kept quiet, his smiling expression evident.
The laughter echoed in the mountains, one wave after another. After a long time, when the laughter ceased, the group continued to walk down the mountain.
Chen Xiaogu had just been reborn not long ago, and her blood and flesh recovery consumed a lot of energy. At this moment, she was carried on Chen Qianqian's back. The laughter of the people made her feel a little uneasy. Chen Qianqian gently shook the little bone on her back.
Feeling blessed, Chen Xiaogu asked, "Grandpa Lü, what were you all laughing about just now?"
Lü Chonglou, who had finally stopped the laughter, laughed two more times before explaining, "We were laughing at this Sword-Unlocking Stone standing here for over three thousand years. The Sword Pavilion, the supreme authority in the sword domain, still dares not ascend Tianxuan."
Chen Xiaogu didn't understand, and she wrinkled her brows, asking, "Grandpa Lü, why? Aren't the people from the Sword Pavilion practicing swords just like my big brother Qingxuan? Why don't they dare to climb this mountain, as Brother Qingxuan said earlier, Tianxuan Mountain has already declined?"
This time, Chen Xuanze explained; he had read this anecdote in the records of the Exorcism Division's Yellow Archives.
"Little Bone, this Sword-Unlocking Stone is specifically for the Sword Pavilion. Over three thousand years ago, a young man from a village at the foot of Tianxuan Mountain joined the Sword Pavilion. The Sword Pavilion judged his aptitude as extraordinarily poor and unsuitable for sword practice. Ten years later, this young man's swordsmanship reached profound levels, transcending the first level. With a single sword, he cut off the peak of the Thousand Swords Mountain in the Sword Pavilion, bringing it back to Tianxuan Mountain. Yes, it is the stone we just saw—the Sword-Unlocking Stone, originally the peak of the Thousand Swords Mountain, the sacred place of the Sword Pavilion. Furthermore, the inscriptions on that stone were written by him."
Chen Xiaogu nodded, pondered for a moment, and asked again, "Big Brother Xuanze, transcending the first level requires either ascending to the heavens during the day or turning into yellow earth after five hundred years. That person should no longer be in this world. Why don't the people from the Sword Pavilion dare to come? Brother Qingxuan said earlier that Tianxuan Mountain has declined, right?"
Chen Xuanze shook his head; he didn't know about this story.
Lü Chonglou took the lead in answering, saying, "Few people know the answer to this question. Little Taoist and Little Monk, do you know?"
Wang Xuanqing and San Zang shook their heads together.
Lü Chonglou smiled and continued, "Little Bone's words are correct. After a person transcends the first level, they either ascend to the heavens during the day or turn into yellow earth after a hundred years. Since then, three years later, the Sword Pavilion's highest-ranked martial artists entered Tianxuan Mountain. However, as soon as they crossed the Sword-Unlocking Stone, they shattered into powder. Since then, the Sword Pavilion has lost three top-ranked martial artists within a hundred years. Later, the Sword Pavilion had a 'blind eye' and acted as if nothing had happened."
Except for Lü Chonglou and Wang Qingzhi, no one knew this story.
After careful thought, it was indeed not easy for the Sword Pavilion. When the person was alive, they went to the Sword Pavilion to show off their skills; when they died, they continued to show off using the stone from the Thousand Swords Mountain; three thousand years in total.
Chen Xiaogu, being a Xuanbone, had no memories from her past life, but she had various knowledge and information from her past life. At this moment, everyone secretly pitied the Sword Pavilion.
Chen Xiaogu then asked with a playful smile, "Grandpa Lü, does the Sword Pavilion still dare to claim itself as the supreme authority in the sword domain? Is this the 'as long as I don't make a move, no one in the world is stronger than me' attitude?"
After hearing Chen Xiaogu's unreserved words, Wang Qingzhi, the great lord Wang, burst into laughter. It took a long time for him to stop before saying, "Yes! As long as they don't make a move, they are still the supreme authority in the sword domain. As long as they don't admit it, there has never been such a stone on the Thousand Swords Mountain."