Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 458: Sword Breaking Bashan

Zhao Changhe was genuinely starting to enjoy the fight. When he challenged Lei Zhentang earlier, it was not just to provoke him—he truly wanted to fight.

Even though he knew he might lose, as someone who practiced the Vicious Blood Art, he could not help but crave battle, especially so when his blood had already begun boiling.

Fortunately, he managed to suppress that impulsive urge or the bloodlust in his eyes might have been hard to conceal.

In fact, with him restraining his Vicious Blood Art and relying on the sword instead, he was only able to exhibit about half of his usual strength. Yet, he found himself enjoying the fights even more. It felt a lot like the time he had charged through the Kunlun Secret Realm, constantly facing new challenges and pushing himself to think creatively. The thrill of inspiration and innovation in these moments was something he rarely experienced when wildly swinging a saber.

Perhaps he just liked novelty? No... It was the joy of a martial artist encountering new challenges, much like a gamer finding an exciting new area to explore.

He had always dabbled in the sword but never fully committed to it, and now he was finding it more and more fun. The feeling of using a sword was vastly different from a saber.

The saber was wild, fierce, straightforward, and powerful.

With a saber, there was raw power—brutal, straightforward, and capable of cleaving through armies.

With a sword, there was grace and freedom—offering the joy of complex maneuvers and variations as well as swift strikes of lethal precision.

He was no stranger to sword arts, having integrated some into his saber arts. But that fusion never fully unlocked the potential of the sword, as he was still fundamentally using a saber and a saber art. Now, as he separated them, he was beginning to truly understand the essence of the sword.

He could almost feel it—his blood and qi, which once surged and roared, now beginning to be honed into a sharp edge. Zhao Changhe immediately thought of the Sharp Blade Grass he needed for his physique, and of the body cultivation path that Li Shentong had mentioned.

It all made sense now.

Everything he had learned, seemingly unrelated, was beginning to converge into a unified understanding.

And the concept of gu arts was directly linked to the mysteries of the second page of the Heavenly Tome, which related to the unique powers of nature. Although that page was said to correspond to Tang Wanzhuang, did it not also perfectly align with this journey through Miaojiang? The VR-like capabilities of the Heavenly Tome were increasingly revealing more about the workings of gu, showing how they were, in essence, just part of nature.

What he had learned and what his enemies had revealed were gradually pointing him toward the same truth—a bridge between heaven and earth.

Buzz!

Suddenly, his internal energy surged chaotically, and it felt as though it was boiling over into disarray

Zhao Changhe looked up to see a woman standing before him, appearing somewhat apologetic. “Our curses require a medium. I used the corpse of the man you killed earlier to trigger the curse. I hope you don’t take this as a sneak attack or collaboration with others.”.

Strictly speaking, it was, but she was straightforward about it. Hence, Zhao Changhe did not mind and smiled, “Naturally.”

The woman let out a breath of relief and smiled. “This is a blood curse. It causes the blood and qi in your body to become chaotic. At best, you’ll lose strength, and at worst, you could explode and die. If you feel you can’t resist it, you can concede early.”

Zhao Changhe asked, “If I endure it, will that count as my victory?”

The woman shook her head, “I’ll still attack while you’re weakened. Otherwise, there’d be no point in holding you down, would there?” As she spoke, a Miao saber appeared in her hand, and she tested a light slash in his direction. “Be careful, Protector Si.”

“You don’t have to be so polite. That strike could have been much harsher.” Zhao Changhe smiled and suddenly moved—his sword shot out like a dragon, accurately striking the flat of her saber.

Sharp sword qi vibrated the woman’s saber, nearly making her lose her grip on it. She hastily retreated in shock. “You’re completely unaffected by the curse?”

Zhao Changhe grinned, “It’s nothing. I’ve just got the Blood Settling Gu inside me.”

The heck kind of gu is that?

Everyone looked at each other in confusion, unsure of what he was talking about.

Sisi giggled.

Blood and qi? That’s his forte. You should’ve used a different curse, maybe something like a Lust Gu... Though, that might not work either. After all, in the bath yesterday... You aren’t as pretty as me, and I didn’t even manage...

Just as Sisi was musing to herself, Zhao Changhe suddenly let out a puzzled sound and began to feel drowsy.

In the midst of battle, he felt overwhelmingly sleepy, as if he could stand there with his sword and fall asleep on the spot. His opponent’s Miao saber took advantage of the moment, slipping free from the entanglement with his sword and striking back.

The woman sighed. “This is the Sleep Gu. It already attached itself to you by the time—”

Slap!

Before she could finish speaking, a tiny gu suddenly fell off Zhao Changhe’s body. His eyes cleared instantly, and with lightning speed, he grabbed the woman’s wrist as her Miao saber came down, placing his sword against her neck.

The woman was stunned. “How did you do that? You clearly didn’t notice it. The gu had already attached itself to you...”

“Thanks for the match.” Zhao Changhe did not explain, though he was inwardly relieved.

He felt a lingering fear. Though it seemed effortless, it had been incredibly close. If he had been even a fraction of a second late in breaking free, the Miao saber would have been at his throat. The solution lay in the sharpness he had just recently mastered, which made the gu feel like it had crawled into a forest of swords and was thereby forced out. Luckily, this was a weaker gu. If it had been a stronger one, he would have been in real trouble.

Witchcraft and gu arts are truly unpredictable and difficult to fully guard against. They are genuinely fascinating.

The woman, somewhat impressed, shook her head and stepped back. Zhao Changhe took several deep breaths, realizing that he was starting to feel a bit tired.

Despite facing opponents with lower cultivation, he had to use every ounce of his skill, unable to relax for a moment.

Now, a strikingly handsome man slowly stepped forward. His posture was upright, his form sharp like a sword. He walked steadily toward Zhao Changhe, then raised his sword and pointed it directly at him. “I am Lan Wujiang of the She Tribe[1]. Protector Si, please enlighten me.”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his previously relaxed shoulders gradually straightened, his fighting spirit igniting.

This aura, this sword intent, the “Wu” in his name...

Bashan Sword Hut!

Wait, wasn’t Han Wubing supposed to just be a disciple? Now that I think of it, why does he have the same generational name as someone like Shi Wuding?[2]

This thought flashed by as he slowly said, “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Lan Wujiang squinted, studying him carefully, and slowly responded, “Same.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Are you truly from the She tribe?”

“Of course,” Lan Wujiang replied. “And you? Are you really from the Spirit Tribe?”

Zhao Changhe put his hands on his hips. “Obviously!”

Yue Hongling glanced at Sisi, who turned her head away.

“Good,” Lan Wujiang said. “Your swordsmanship is impressive.”

“Yours is lacking,” Zhao Changhe countered.

Lan Wujiang glared at him coldly.

Sisi whispered to Yue Hongling, “Do all swordsmen talk like this?”

Yue Hongling stifled a laugh. “Am I not someone who uses the sword myself? So is Tang Buqi, and none of us talk like that... Maybe he learned it from Han Wubing.”

Sisi added, “We should keep him away from Han Wubing... It’s terrifying.”

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe continued, “You should have been the first to step forward. That’s what a true swordsman would do.”

Lan Wujiang remained silent for a moment before replying slowly, “Perhaps.”

“Coming out when I’m exhausted shows you’re scared. Your heart faltered. You’re unworthy to be my opponent.” Zhao Changhe sneered. “I’ll let you strike first.”

A flash of anger finally flickered in Lan Wujiang’s eyes.

Suddenly, the air was filled with sword light.

There was no dazzling brilliance, no wild surge of energy.

Just a single streak of sword light cut through the void, and in the blink of an eye, it was at Zhao Changhe’s throat.

Yue Hongling stood up abruptly, “What an excellent sword art!”

Lan Wujian was clearly a top-tier swordsman at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate, just one step away from unlocking the Profound Mysteries.

Zhao Changhe, suppressing his Vicious Blood Art, as well using a sword rather than his usual saber, was already fighting at half his normal strength. Not to mention, he had endured multiple rounds of combat, exhausting himself considerably. Could he truly defeat such a formidable opponent right now?

Zhao Changhe shifted his footing slightly, so subtly that those with poor eyesight did not even notice he had moved. Yet, when Lan Wujiang’s sword light reached its peak, Zhao Changhe had already evaded it perfectly. In the next instant, Dragon Emperor tilted and struck the side of Lan Wujiang’s blade.

Clang!

Both men staggered slightly.

In the blink of an eye, sword lights flared, almost in perfect synchrony. It was as if thousands of pear blossoms bloomed in the hall, cascading down like rain.

Autumn rain fills the pools of Bashan.

Spring water meets the sky, azure waves endlessly span.

The sound of their swords clashing was continuous, like the pitter-patter of countless raindrops on a rooftop. Most of the audience could not keep up with the sheer speed of their strikes, becoming completely entranced by the spectacle.

“Is this really a battle in Miaojiang?” many whispered. “Isn’t this more like a duel between those on the Ranking of Man in the Central Plains?”

“Where are their gu?”

“...Weaker gu wouldn’t be able to penetrate such a dense sword net. They’re both using this method to prevent sneak attacks from gu. In a one-on-one duel, there’s no reason to use such a technique otherwise, as it’s very taxing.”

“I see... but what about gu that enhance their own abilities?”

Lan Wujian had one.

Yue Hongling could clearly sense the power flowing through Lan Wujiang, becoming stronger and sharper with every strike. His sword qi seemed to take on a life of its own, twisting and turning, each strand pinpointing Zhao Changhe’s position.

Sharp Blade Grass... Sharp Blade Gu?

In contrast, Zhao Changhe was using a similar method, spreading sword qi in all directions. But how could the technique he had learned from Tang Wanzhuang compare to the precise and honed sword energy of someone who had refined their sword qi through countless trials?

Yet, Lan Wujian did not feel at ease.

He could sense Zhao Changhe’s sword growing stronger and faster, each strike just a fraction more powerful than the last. After hundreds of exchanges, it felt like a river gaining momentum, becoming an unstoppable force.

What sword art is this?

Zhao Changhe was using the Sword of Avīci from the Sword Emperor’s legacy, known for its ability to absorb a small portion of power from each previous strike, gradually accumulating strength. He had previously integrated it into his saber arts, but as his opponents grew stronger, they learned how to contain their energy and prevent it from being stolen, so he had not used it in a long time. But now was the perfect time to make use of it once more.

Lan Wujiang mistakenly believed Zhao Changhe was using gu as well and thus matched his sword rain strategy, creating countless exchanges in a short period. It was the ideal setup for Zhao Changhe’s technique to shine.

By the time Lan Wujiang realized something was wrong, it was too late.

A single streak of sword light burst before his eyes, like the Milky Way suspended in the nine heavens, piercing the sky, accompanied by an endless wave of blood.

A fierce gleam flashed in Lan Wujiang’s eyes. In a last-ditch effort, he fused himself with his sword and charged straight into the heart of the surging waves.

Bashan’s ultimate technique—No Return.

Any sword rain technique has its flaws. What appears to be the strongest point is often the very core where the crossing of forces happens.

“Excellent sword art,” Zhao Changhe even had the time to remark. “I’ve learned something. Thank you.”

Clang!

Lan Wujian’s longsword viciously pierced toward him, but the momentum of Zhao Changhe’s sword suddenly shifted.

The surging waves and the suspended Milky Way abruptly shrank, converging into a single point, as if the endless wave of blood had condensed into a screaming vengeful soul, seeking to claim life and soul together!

Sword Emperor’s technique—Sword of Primal Slaughter!

The two passed by each other, standing back to back.

Lan Wujiang clutched his side, where blood began to flow steadily.

Zhao Changhe had a cut on his left arm, and to the astonishment of everyone watching, he suddenly swung his sword, slicing off a piece of flesh from his own arm.

A gu fell to the ground, convulsing as it died.

Even at the brink of life and death, Zhao Changhe was still defending against gu...

The crowd stared in silence, watching as he cut into his own flesh. The pain clearly caused sweat to drip from his forehead, yet both friend and foe felt a palpable feeling of respect and awe.

Truly a man among men.

Sisi and Yue Hongling, sitting side by side on their little stools, rested their chins on their hands, silently watching his back.

Thud!

Lan Wujiang collapsed to the ground. A group of his tribesmen rushed over, hurriedly treating his wounds while glaring furiously at Zhao Changhe. “Si Laoye, you’re too ruthless!”

“He’s not dead, so what are you yelling for?” Zhao Changhe, breathing heavily and utterly exhausted, replied, “Anyone else wish to challenge me?”

For a long while, no one responded.

The chief of the White Tribe spoke up loudly, “What’s the point of continuing? I recognize your right to the seat! If anyone thinks they can take the fifth seat from you, I’ll be the first to oppose them!”

The hall fell completely silent, with no one offering a rebuttal.

Even Lei Zhentang could not argue. His pride would not allow him.

In truth, the Sword Hut still had many disciples hidden among their ranks, but at this point, who would dare to step forward? It would be a clear affront to the crowd.

Is the fifth seat truly going to be taken by the Spirit Tribe like this?

Lei Zhentang clenched his hand on the armrest, his expression shifting between light and dark.

Zhao Changhe stood there for a moment. When no one responded, he cupped his hands and gave a formal bow to the crowd, smiling. “Thank you all for the recognition... but it isn’t my seat to take.”

He slowly turned and walked toward Sisi, bowing deeply before her. “Reporting to the saintess... I have not failed you.”

1. The She people are an ethnic group in China. They form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized within China. The She are the largest ethnic minority in Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi Provinces. They are also present in the provinces of Anhui and Guangdong. ☜

2. Just a reminder that a generational name is a character shared by all members of a family in the same generation, e.g. how Cui Yuanyong and Cui Yuanyang share the same “yuan” character. This makes it very odd that Han Wubing has the same “wu” character as Shi Wuding, someone from a senior generation. ☜