Chapter 63: The Beginning of Elimination

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 63: The Beginning of Elimination

Xie Changsheng took a deep breath. “Can you not always speak in such a patronizing tone?” he said angrily.

Xie Rou smiled, her face beaming. She stared at Xie Changsheng defiantly and said, “If you don't want to be patronized by me, at least surpass my cultivation and beat me.”

Xie Changsheng clenched his fists, his face slightly pale as he said angrily, “I will definitely surpass you.”

Xie Rou maintained her smile and said, “That would be best. Otherwise, if you can't defeat one of Prince Li Ling's retainer in the future, it would be truly embarrassing.”

Xie Changsheng lowered his head and said nothing.

On the stage, Duanmu Lian had finished stating all the rules of the sword trial festival.

Most of the crowd's gazes were once again focused on He Zhaoxi.

Of all the participating disciples, He Zhaoxi, Zhang Yi, and Su Qin had the highest cultivation levels, realm three second class and above. Zhang Yi and Su Qin might be closer to realm three first class compared to He Zhaoxi, but the difference would not be too great. Furthermore, the Thriving Withering Art that He Zhaoxi had cultivated might possess an unimaginable effect.

In terms of strength, He Zhaoxi, who had obviously spent time training his body, would be even stronger.

Given the rules, it was predictable that He Zhaoxi would be the most promising contestant.

However, among those closely watching He Zhaoxi, Mo Chen was an exception. He was confident he would surprise everyone at this sword trial festival.

 

All the participating disciples in the sword trial festival began following the mountain path towards the valley entrance.

No one checked to see if there was any food hidden on their bodies. For the next three days, everyone in the sword trial valley would be unable to see anything above them and would even get lost and make detours. However, the spectators could clearly see their actions from the platform above.

Ding Ning walked in the center of the group. The path gradually widened down the mountain, but ultimately did not reach the valley floor. What appeared before them was a cliff about a hundred feet down. Hundreds of green vines hung down from the cliff.

Although he had never seen the Green Vine Sword School’s sword trial festival, Ding Ning could guess that all the disciples had to enter the valley through vines like this. Even a slight difference in time and the formations below would separate them.

Duanmu Lian, who had also walked to the cliff, did not waste any words. He spoke sternly and coldly. “Everyone choose a vine and climb down. Allow twenty breaths between each step.”

“You have to be careful.” Nangong Caishu looked at Ding Ning and whispered worriedly. “Don’t be rash.”

Ding Ning knew the true meaning of her words. So, he smiled faintly and said, “Same goes to you. If you can’t win, just run. In a trial as long as this, no one knows what will happen in the end.”

Nangong Caishu pondered over the meaning of his words. Seeing the disciples in front sliding down, she glanced at Ding Ning. “Will you go first or shall I?”

“Me.”

Nangong Caishu looked at him. “I hope you’ll always be ahead of me.” she said seriously.

Ding Ning smiled. “I accept your kind words.”

 

When his turn came, Ding Ning moved slowly and carefully.

He crouched down and grabbed a vine with both hands. He let his body hang down, then his legs squeezed the vine like a bamboo pole as he slowly slid down.

Seeing the figure slowly descending into the forest, Nangong Caishu, who was waiting behind him, had her eyes filled with worry.

No matter how great his cultivation talent and comprehension abilities were, he still needed time to practice certain movements and reactions. Ding Ning's movements compared to the other cultivators looked much more clumsy.

But for Ding Ning at this moment, the most difficult thing was how he could appear clumsy enough so that he could hide his agility from the large spectator.

Today’s battle could not be compared to the battles in the alleys against the gangsters. This was his first step to officially appear before the cultivators of Changling. He could not afford to be unrestrained.

His feet landed firmly. He made sure the grass beneath him could support his weight before he began to survey his surroundings. From above, the valley, filled with various giant vines, appeared clear, but it was divided into a maze of small trees and giant vines. However, when he actually landed, and his feet touched the soft valley ground, he saw only a thin mist surrounding him.

This mist was not the usual white mist, but a strange light green mist.

This was a type of mist that did not obstruct his vision but had a strange ability to reflect light, making everything nearby appear slightly distorted and blurry.

The surrounding vines looked completely different now compared to when viewed from above. From above, there seemed to be some empty spaces between the trees and vines. But standing here, amidst them, all he could see were the dense trees and vines forming a curved shape.

A complete silence enveloped the area. The disciples who arrived almost at the same time as him should not have been far away, but he did not hear any footsteps. It seemed the formation here also blocked sound. This way, it would be difficult to evade and pursue enemies through sound. The chance of a fight would be higher, and this would increase the difficulty of hunting.

According to the detailed rules Duanmu Lian had set, if one did not immediately leave this place after entering the valley, it would be a violation of the rules. So, Ding Ning began walking towards one of the openings in front of him. At the same time, he closed his eyes and sensed with his mind.

He sensed the chaotic primal energies of the universe here. Under the interference of countless green vines absorbing the special energy they released, the primal energies of the universe here floated in the air like countless swords. This kind of arrangement may not be useful for all cultivators above realm six. They could use the vital energy stored in their bodies to form a vital energy passageway with the primal energies of the universe. But for disciples at his level, this was sufficient.

Looking down from the observation platform suspended between the green vine bridges, the entrance to the sword trial valley was crowded with people. Because nearly a hundred disciples had glided along the vines to this area several miles wide, to those watching from above, the area was packed with people.

There were four or five disciples moving around in an area several dozen feet wide. But they could not detect each other even at such close range. It was a truly comical sight.

Xie Rou's gaze continued to follow Ding Ning.

At this moment, a disciple of the Green Vine Sword School was less than a hundred feet away from Ding Ning.

This disciple of the Green Vine Sword School was called Zhao Qing. He was originally from Pinghu in the Land of Zhao. He had joined the Green Vine Sword School in the eighth year of Yuanwu through an examination, two years before Nangong Caishu. Even now, he only had Energy Refinement first class cultivation and, like most disciples of the Green Vine Sword School, still had not been able to reach realm three.

However, the cultivation places in Changling were stricter in their examinations for disciples from territories not previously part of the Qin Dynasty, such as the Land of Zhao, the Land of Han, and the Land of Wei. Zhao Qing was able to join the Green Vine Sword School because he naturally possessed extraordinary qualities compared to ordinary disciples of the Green Vine Sword School.

His arm strength was naturally many times greater than that of youths his age. This was simply an innate ability. His father was a renowned strongman in the land of Zhao. With extraordinary strength in his arms, he not only wielded a sword but was also a master swordsman beyond comparison. Therefore, he usually used a broadsword that was several times heavier than an ordinary long swords, and his technique was the forceful Wild Wind Sword Manual.

When such an extremely heavy sword possessed the speed of wild wind, its power was naturally astonishing. Therefore, deep in Zhao Qing's heart, he did not think that he had no hope at all. He had already participated in the sword trial festival once before, so he knew this was not a competition where whoever walked faster would win. Therefore, he walked even more cautiously and slower than Ding Ning.

As he slowly walked through a small arched opening, countless green vines suddenly stretched out silently from the trees and bushes behind him, rapidly approaching from behind him. When these green vines were only a few feet away from his back, the wary Zhao Qing finally reacted. With a shout, his right hand drew the broadsword he carried on his back and swung it backward.

Many soft popping sounds rang out. Many green vines shattered into tiny green fragments. But before he could breathe a sigh of relief, another green vine appeared from the forest beside him, stabbing at him. that radiated from this green vine was different from the ones that had appeared before.

Zhao Qing realized something and his expression changed. He once again let out an urgent scream. His vital energy flowed rapidly into his broadsword. Several straight seal lines lit up on his broadsword, and snow-white sword energy shone from it. The sword energy at the tip of the broadsword was so powerful, it made one feel as if he was not wielding a sword, but an axe.

With a loud bang, the sword and the vine collided, emitting a metallic sound. His body trembled slightly. He had managed to cut through the distinctly different green vine with a single slash. However, at this moment, he felt a wave of coldness.

He instinctively looked down at his feet. The fallen leaves near his feet suddenly jumped as if boiling. Numerous small vines wrapped around his ankles. Their pull caused his body to lose balance, and he fell to the side.

The broadsword in his hand flashed again, and he slashed towards his legs. With a few pops, he severed the vines around his legs. But at the same time, he was unable to block the numerous attacks coming from in front of him. He was pulled dozens of feet along the ground and then slammed into a tree wall. More and more vines tightened around him. He could not even breathe, let alone swing his sword; his face was flushed red.

Zhao Qing wailed miserably.

He felt extremely discontented. However, he knew that the only thing he could do at this moment was remain motionless and not put up any resistance.

“Why is this year’s sword trial festival so much more difficult than previous years?” Unknowingly, a question arose in his mind.

The screams of many people echoed in the sword trial valley, but they were all blocked off by special formations. Looking down from the suspended observation platform, the forest surrounding the valley entrance was now a turbulent sea of green.

Many people were facing the battle in panic. Branches, leaves, and vine fragments flew through the air. There were also those who were unable to move and accepted defeat early on. Many other disciples of the Green Vine Sword School had the same thought as Zhao Qing.

Why was this year’s sword trial festival so difficult?

In past years, this type of powerful vine, commonly called the emperor vine, would not appear in an area like this. This year, they seemed to be facing more attacks, and every attack point seemed to have an emperor vine.

Di Qingmei, who was standing at the edge of the observation platform, a faint smile curled the corners of his lips. He naturally understood the shock and confusion these disciples felt, as he was the one behind the change.

Despite the difficulty, it was fair to everyone. However, this ensured that those he wanted to win, like He Zhaoxi, would have a better chance.

 

On the other side of the observation platform, Xie Rou’s brow furrowed slightly. Compared to other places, Ding Ning's path seemed relatively calm. But at this moment, she detected a slight movement from the wall-like vine frost next to Ding Ning. The previously soft, hanging vines suddenly stiffened as if some power had been infused within them. They were like numerous small swords suddenly stabbing out.

 

Notes:

This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a Chinese web novel written by Wu Zui

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