Thriller Paradise Chapter 234: Cangling Debate of Swords (Forty-Two) - Novel Cool

Chapter 234: Cangling Debate of Swords (Forty-Two)

Chapter 234: Cangling Debate of Swords (Forty-Two)

[Current task completed, main quest updated]

[Participate in the Cangling Debate of Swords and survive until the Formless Devil Lord is defeated]

As Feng Bu Jue and Si Yu eliminated the Bell Demon, the system prompt sounded appropriately. The task [Defeat the Ling Demon] was checked off, immediately replaced by the new task above.

Xiao Tan, Bei Ling, and Ji Bu knew Lin Chang had mastered the Great Emptiness Formless Cultivation, but since they'd never seen Lu Qingning, they couldn't confirm Lin Chang was the scenario's villain. They could only speculate he was the boss based on the "Formless" title. Feng Bu Jue and Si Yu hadn't even heard of "Great Emptiness Formless Cultivation" yet—they only knew Lin Chang was a powerful antagonist Npc, so they could only guess he might be the Formless Devil Lord.

Only after the five regrouped could they truly confirm the final task's objective.

At this moment, in Cangling Town, dusk fell on the third day.

The Full Moon would rise in just a few hours, yet the two great swordsmen still hadn't appeared.

The nameless swordsman Xie San had vanished mysteriously yesterday evening; Sword God Ye Cheng hadn't shown his face at all.

That day, disciples sent by various sects from Cangling to Tongqiu for reconnaissance all disappeared without exception. Even the Pigeon Messenger Guild's carrier pigeons failed to return—none reached Cangling. The entire town seemed sealed off, isolated from the outside world.

As twilight approached, martial artists gathered in Cangling Town grew increasingly perplexed... Could this duel be a hoax? What purpose would such a deception serve? To boost the Ghost Village's economy? Had Azure Spirit Inn bribed Ye Mansion? Or was Ye Cheng simply amusing himself by toying with Xie San and the entire martial world?

None of these explanations made sense, yet no one could determine the truth.

Beyond confusion... unease simmered in people's hearts. But all they could do was wait, anticipating the unfolding of this unknown conspiracy...

...

Full Moon Night, in Cangling Town.

Moonlight fell like frost, illuminating the earth as bright as day.

First Mansion, Second Floor, the Three Sects, Four Gates, plus secondary sects and independent Jianghu martial artists—over four hundred people—unconsciously gathered on the main street before Azure Spirit Inn. Even the inn staff came outside, curious to glimpse whether these legendary sword heroes truly had "three heads and six arms."

Yet until this moment, neither Ye Cheng nor Xie San had appeared.

Suddenly, a shadow shot upward, landing on a rooftop facing the inn. The figure stood about three meters high—a modest height, but offering an expansive view while keeping the entire street in sight.

"Everyone, the time has come", the figure declared. His voice, low and hoarse, carried clearly to every ear—a testament to his formidable internal cultivation.

Some younger Jianghu disciples didn't recognize him, but sect leaders did. This was Shang Fei, the most elusive of the Huaying Six Swords, known as "Shadowless Sword."

Dressed in black, his gaunt frame stood stark against the moonlight. After speaking, he swiftly retrieved a bamboo tube from his robe, followed by a fire starter, igniting the fuse at the tube's base.

Seconds later, a firework soared skyward with a piercing whistle.

As the saying goes... One arrow pierces the clouds, summoning a thousand armies. While Shang Fei's flare wouldn't bring a thousand armies, it certainly promised a thousand warriors.

Another figure leapt onto the rooftop. "Shang Fei, what does this mean?" Ji Tong, master of Bafang Tower, demanded. The man loved meddling in every affair.

"This question, I shall answer", Lin Chang's voice abruptly rang out.

His words seemed to descend from the heavens, echoing through the street and shaking everyone's spirit. Simultaneously, Lin Chang soared from the inn's upper levels, gliding effortlessly with Tavrin Step to join Shang Fei and Ji Tong.

Today, the Azure Sky Sword had abandoned his usual white-robed swordsman appearance. Now clad in black brocade, he wore a sword at his waist and carried twin blades on his back—three swords total. His sharp brows and bright eyes remained, but his hair hung wild, his face shrouded in ominous blackish-purple qi.

Since that afternoon, Lin Chang and Shang Fei had vanished. Even Ye Muhan, Su Shang, and Miao Shaoqing didn't know their whereabouts.

No one expected them to make such a dramatic entrance now.

"The Nameless Sword!"

"Broken Snow Sword!"

Recognizing the twin blades on Lin Chang's back—Xie San and Ye Cheng's signature weapons—those with expertise instantly identified them.

For swordsmen, especially top-tier ones, their swords were like limbs. As long as they lived, they'd never part with these extensions of self. Yet here Lin Chang held both legendary weapons, leaving everyone stunned.

"When that flare reached the heavens, nearly two thousand Imperial Guards began advancing from Tongqiu's main road toward Cangling, surrounding this town completely. No one leaves Cangling alive—unless I say so." Lin Chang's voice trembled slightly, betraying his inner exhilaration. He'd waited too long for this day, this moment.

"What did you say!" Ji Tong gasped.

The crowd's reaction mirrored his shock. Lin Chang's words struck like thunderclap, igniting chaos and uproar.

A rustle of wind through cloth sounded as four more figures landed on the rooftop—Wanxia Tower Master Gongsun Qian, Shaolin Abbot Faming, Renwu Sect Leader Song Kuan, and Xiao Yao Sect Master Zhong Lian.

"Amitabha", Faming asked politely, "Master Lin, is this truly your intent?"

Song Kuan pressed, "Is this Ye Mansion's command?"

Zhong Lian demanded, "Why do you carry Xie Daxia's and Ye Menzhu's swords?"

"Master Lin", Gongsun Qian cut to the heart, "the Imperial Court and martial world have long maintained non-interference as iron law. Yet you conspire with the Brocade Guards..."

"Conspire?" Lin Chang interrupted. "As a subject of the Great Ming Dynasty, serving the Imperial Court—how is this conspiracy?" His gaze swept the five before him—excluding Shang Fei. "You hypocritical old villains, each cloaked in false virtue, entrenched in your mountain strongholds, defying government authority." He sneered. "Call you 'Sect Leaders' politely, or less kindly—a pack of fame-grabbing frauds no better than third-rate martial artists."

Lin Chang's scathing remarks sent the crowd into absolute chaos. The sea of people erupted in fury, their voices rising in a cacophony of curses and outrage. If not for the sect masters from the second floor's three sects still standing on the stage, dozens of weapons would've already been hurled at Lin Chang.

"As the saying goes", Lin Chang continued calmly, his voice carrying through the uproar like a bell through fog, "one trains in martial and literary arts to serve the imperial court. I, Lin Chang, have been honored by Commander Qian of the Jinyi Guard's recognition. I now pledge allegiance to the imperial court and serve His Majesty the Emperor."

"Spit on you, you traitorous dog!" "Traitor!" "Never thought Azure Sky Sword would become such a shameless wretch!"

As Lin Chang finished speaking, another wave of abuse crashed over him. The remaining three of the Huaying Six Swords could no longer stand idly by. Three figures leapt onto the rooftop beside the civilian residence.

Miao Shaoqing wore an expression of stunned disbelief as he demanded, "Senior Brother! Have you gone mad? What's going on? How could you possibly defect to the imperial court?"

Ye Muhan, never one to hold her tongue, spoke even more harshly, "Lin Chang! Are you trying to make the Ye Mansion the target of the entire martial world with this nonsense?" Her eyes locked onto the Broken Snow sword in Lin Chang's back, "Where's my elder brother? Why do you have his sword?"

"Oh... Senior Sister Ye." Lin Chang slowly turned his head, "Perfect timing." As he spoke, he raised one hand and unleashed a burst of adamantine qi, roaring like a descending tiger toward Ye Muhan.

Ye Muhan had never seen inner energy manifest such terrifying power and speed. Unprepared for the sudden attack, she took the full force of the strike head-on, blood spraying from her mouth as she flew backward.

"I suppose this should clear up any connection between the Ye Mansion and myself." Lin Chang said mockingly.

At the same time, he drew the Azure Sky Sword from his waist and flicked it toward Ye Muhan. A sword qi shot forth, arriving before the attack itself.

"As for your elder brother", Lin Chang smiled, "you can meet him at the Underworld Court."

Mid-air and with no escape, Ye Muhan was pierced through the neck by sword qi, her life extinguished in an instant. Su Shang and Miao Shaoqing's faces turned deathly pale, frozen in shock. They could do nothing against what had just occurred. The strength and speed of Lin Chang's sword qi was beyond anything they could match - even throwing themselves bodily into the fray wouldn't have been fast enough.

Lin Chang turned back toward the five sect masters, their faces contorted in utter disbelief, and pointed at the two swords behind him, "Now you understand how I came to possess these two swords?"

Silence fell like a tomb.

Unlike Feng Bu Jue's mysterious tricks, Lin Chang used techniques this world's martial artists could understand. He wielded inner energy, practiced martial arts, every movement following laws they recognized.

Precisely because of this, his display filled them with fear and despair.

"Listen well." Lin Chang sneered at the astonished faces before him, watching the mouths of those who'd cursed him moments ago clamp shut in terror, "Tonight, with all the sect masters, experts, and seniors gathered here, I offer you two choices."

No one interrupted. All held their breath, hanging on his every word.

"First choice: From today onward, recognize me, Lin Chang, as the Martial World Alliance Leader. From now on, every Jianghu cultivator must obey my commands. Each sect and individual must submit their martial arts techniques in writing to the imperial court, withholding nothing. Only those who surrender their techniques may leave Cangling."

"As for the second choice..." Lin Chang smiled, "Die."

"Absurd!" Ji Tong roared, "Even if you've brought two thousand imperial guards to surround Cangling, they're just common soldiers. How could they stand against hundreds of experts here?"

"They don't need to defeat you", Lin Chang replied calmly, "They only need to delay you momentarily. The killing, I'll handle myself."

"I'll kill you first!" A roar split the air.

Bamboo parted in two, a sword emerging from the split. Recovering from his initial shock, Miao Shaoqing's fury boiled over. His true qi surged to its peak as he slashed with his Bamboo Sword.

Su Shang followed closely behind, seeking vengeance for her senior sister. She and Ye Muhan had been as close as sisters, and she'd respected Lin Chang like an elder brother. Witnessing her senior sister's brutal death had shaken her deeply. Though she forced herself to focus, tears welling in her eyes, when she unsheathed her Autumn Orchid Sword, her "Solitary Orchid Bloom" technique remained as ruthless and merciless as ever.

"Hmph... Ridiculous." Lin Chang scoffed, returning Azure Sky Sword to its sheath. He crossed his hands, gripping the Broken Snow and the Nameless Sword on his back.

The two divine blades unsheathed simultaneously, their energy shaking the heavens and earth, their intimidating force radiating in all directions.

The mere pressure from this sudden display forced the five sect masters nearby to retreat three steps.

Miao Shaoqing and Su Shang, mid-attack, were blocked by an invisible force, unable to approach within ten feet of Lin Chang.

"Tonight, during the Full Moon Night, my divine technique reaches its peak. Even I didn't expect to become this strong..." Lin Chang held a sword in each hand, tilting them downward at his sides, "You fools are too stupid. I'll make myself clearer...

Ye Cheng is already dead. The duel invitation for the Cangling Debate of Swords was written by me for Xie San. The news, I spread myself. From the moment you entered Cangling, you've been trapped.

Cangling Town is surrounded on three sides by mountains. The two paths leading out of town are now blocked by imperial guards. You cannot escape. I have all the time I need to kill every last one of you."

He paused, then added, "The only variable in my plan was the spies sent by the Divine Marquisate, but none of them survived entering the town. So you won't find anything. If you're hoping for a third force to intervene, abandon that thought now."

"Hmph... Seems you've planned thoroughly..." Ji Tong coldly remarked.

"Ji Tong, I know exactly what you're thinking. Many of you share the same idea. Heh... You believe if you all join forces, you can kill me. Then your hundreds could break through Cangling or hide in the mountains temporarily." Lin Chang exposed the thoughts of most present, "Hahahah... Show your courage then. First to attack dies first. When enough of you have died, the rest will naturally surrender your sect's martial arts to save your lives."

As he spoke, dark energy began to radiate from his body. This wasn't merely killing intent - it was a bloodthirsty desire.

"Esteemed Jianghu cultivators, didn't you all come here to see a peerless expert's sword stained with blood? Then why not use your own blood to witness my sword techniques?" His face twisted with madness, his black-and-purple features contorted into a menacing grin, "Of course, I allow you to submit. The choice is yours... Those who obey me shall thrive; those who defy me shall perish." At this moment, Lin Chang's face became inhuman, blackish-purple energy gathering on his forehead, refusing to dissipate, his pupils equally dark and sinister, resembling a demon from the netherworld.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end

Report