Green Mountain

Chapter 541 403: Bixi

The summit was only fifty feet away.

Chen Ji dashed madly towards the mountain top, the oppressive presence of the Centurion kept him from daring to look back.

Dozens of the Five Mad Soldiers pursued him, and the flames dancing in the wilderness seemed to merge into a sea that threatened to engulf him, to burn him to ashes.

Chen Ji could hear his own heavy breathing, the thunderous pounding of his heart, and the mountain wind swirling in his ears.

In the next moment, his view suddenly widened. The distant mountains and the sky were laid bare before him.

For a climber, the moment of reaching the summit is an unparalleled sense of achievement and conquest, accompanied by joy.

But there was no joy in Chen Ji's heart.

He looked around blankly, the flat expanse at the top of Incense Burner Peak was about fifty meters square, paved with large stones like the foundation of a palace, who could have had such great strength to bring these stones up?

Could it be the mountain-moving gods of myth? It didn't matter anymore.

What mattered was, there was no stone turtle here, nor any stele, just bare and empty.

At the end of the mountain's red leaves, the stone turtle swallows the sword... but there is no stone turtle here!

Chen Ji was puzzled, had he found the wrong place? Could it be that the mountain's red leaves didn't refer to Fragrant Mountain, but possibly Shallow Mountain? Or Jizhou's red leaves?

The gamble was lost...

Chen Ji heard the footsteps of the Five Mad Soldiers closing in, as if they would ascend the summit any moment.

He suddenly felt a bit tired.

He wondered if Second Miss Zhang had escaped, if there were others lying in wait along the way? Had Xiao Man and the little monk managed to avert danger?

In the midst of his thoughts, the Five Mad Soldiers had already climbed from all directions, surrounding the summit tightly.

The Centurion held a long knife, guarding the south, while two Soul Collectors wielding White Bone Banners guarded the northeast and northwest. The three formed a triangle, securely trapping Chen Ji.

Chen Ji retreated step by step to the center, ready to burn the patterned mark for a desperate fight... this was his last card.

But Chen Ji suddenly realized that the Five Mad Soldiers were no longer pressing on him with the same intent to kill, there seemed to be a hesitation as if they wanted to say something.

He maneuvered the two sword seeds around him cautiously, keeping an eye on the Five Mad Soldiers.

At this moment, the Centurion took a Bone Spear from a Cultivator and tossed it through the air to Chen Ji, "Jiang Zian, go test him, beat him, and you become the squad leader."

The Bone Spear was thrown over.

Chen Ji raised his hand and caught the Bone Spear, glancing around with his peripheral vision, looking for a chance to break through the encirclement, but the Five Mad Soldiers had it sealed tight, leaving no openings.

Chen Ji was silent for a moment, then simply retracted the sword seeds into the patterned mark.

He saw a Cultivator holding a Bone Spear approach him, muttering, "What's the point of becoming a squad leader, why not bet on the Centurion's position?"

The Five Mad Soldiers burst into laughter, "You think so? Win first, then talk."

Jiang Zian spread his stance, as he set it the moment his stance was formed, both hands grasping the spear vigorously, making its tip tremble incessantly.

Virtual step collapsing thrust.

Jiang Zian casually twisted, and the spear tip came to a halt, changing from extreme motion to extreme stillness in half a breath.

This was a display of skill.

The wild fire in Jiang Zian's eyes flickered, he asked Chen Ji, "How is it?"

Chen Ji stood with the spear, quietly catching his breath, his gaze scanning Jiang Zian from top to bottom.

Moon blade, year stick, a lifetime spear.

To master wielding long weapons is no easy feat, it takes a lifetime of effort. When the spear tip becomes as sensitive as a finger, then it is truly mastered.

Within the Five Mad Soldiers, Jiang Zian, who wasn't even a squad leader, was already one of the finest positioned in the Imperial Three Camps, one in a million.

Chen Ji sincerely said, "A master."

Jiang Zian was intrigued, he loudly told the Five Mad Soldiers, "Did you hear that?"

The next moment, Jiang Zian's spear struck like a dragon, directly stabbing towards Chen Ji's throat.

The essence of the spear thrust is straight, with the centerline as its soul, breaking ten thousand techniques with one point.

Chen Ji lifted his spear with one hand, grazing it against the incoming Bone Spear, deflecting it outward.

Jiang Zian immediately flicked his wrist, attempting to swirl out a spear flower to bypass the obstacle, but Chen Ji's Bone Spear followed like a shadow, seemingly fused with Jiang Zian's spear.

No matter how hard Jiang Zian tried, he couldn't shake off Chen Ji's Bone Spear.

Suddenly, with a flick of Chen Ji's wrist, the force in his Bone Spear transmitted into Jiang Zian's, making Jiang Zian feel as if his obedient Bone Spear suddenly acted up.

Attempting to retract the spear and retreat, Chen Ji's spear aimed straight for his underarm.

Jiang Zian was startled, as if he himself had drawn Chen Ji's Bone Spear against him.

The Centurion outside the circle murmured, "Human and spear as one, Smooth Force and Acupoint, it's 'Listening Force'."

With the words 'Listening Force' spoken, all the Five Mad Soldiers straightened up, stood seriously without joking, the wild fire in their eyes ceased flickering, focusing intently on Chen Ji's every move, committing it to memory.

The Centurion solemnly instructed, "Four Points Alignment!"

The so-called Four Points Alignment refers to the alignment of tiptoe, knee tip, nose tip, and spear tip into one, using the waist as the axis, thrusting like a bursting bow, retracting like drawing silk, it is the purest method of exerting force.

The wild fire beneath Jiang Zian's white bone mask leaped, the force grounded from the earth ran up the spear shaft, forcefully discarding Chen Ji's spear.

But just as he withdrew from Chen Ji's Bone Spear, he saw Chen Ji suddenly imitate him, swirling a spear flower.

Chen Ji's spear flower was rounder, more powerful, the rotating spear point stirred the air into a humming sound.

Jiang Zian hurried to hold his spear horizontally in front of him, but Chen Ji's spear flower broke through his spear, aiming straight at his wrist. Jiang Zian was still attempting to forcefully pull back the Bone Spear to block, but Chen Ji's spear tip had already stopped at his chin.

The Centurion calmly said, "Smooth and effortless, drawing arcs to deflect force, is the 'Circle within a Needle'.

Chen Ji raised his spear to Jiang Zian's chin and slowly surveyed his surroundings. Everywhere was silent; all the Five Mad Soldiers stood straight with eyes fixed on him intensely.

Feeling a stir in his heart, Chen Ji slowly withdrew his bone spear, sparing Jiang Zian's life.

Jiang Zian silently retreated into the ranks of the Five Mad Soldiers. No one mocked him, as losing to Chen Ji seemed perfectly acceptable.

...

...

The Centurion suddenly asked Chen Ji, "Small... what is the essence of the Broadsword?"

Chen Ji casually replied, "Wildness."

The Centurion paused, "Wildness?"

Standing with his spear, Chen Ji casually explained, "Danger hidden in clumsiness, ambush born in defeat; charging in bodily, the sword follows the wielder. If spear technique emphasizes controlling distance, then blade technique emphasizes breaking distance; without wildness, there is no breakthrough."

The Centurion remained silent for a moment, then fetched a Broadsword from one of the Five Mad Soldiers and tossed it to Chen Ji from afar, "Jiang Ziheng, you come."

Chen Ji returned the bone spear to the temple-tavernen, hefting the Broadsword in his hand, "Come."

A soldier of the Five Mad Soldiers stepped forward, blooded from the opening cut.

Jiang Ziheng didn't flaunt a set of flashy moves like Jiang Zian but charged directly with his blade, its momentum fast like the mountain wind.

This time, Chen Ji took just a small step forward, seeming to intrude into Jiang Ziheng's embrace, his Broadsword cutting upwards from below, slicing a two-foot-long gash across Jiang Ziheng's chest.

Jiang Ziheng retreated silently, "Jiang Ziyang, you go."

Another blooded soldier of the Five Mad Soldiers advanced, brandishing his blade. Chen Ji casually met the blade head-on, both bone blades clashed crisply together with a clang, and Jiang Ziyang's broadsword unexpectedly snapped.

The Centurion was astonished, "Gold Grinder!"

Jiang Ziyang lowered his head, staring dazedly at the broken blade in his hand, murmuring, "It's Gold Grinder."

A spirits collector stepped forward holding a severed head, "Let me..."

The Centurion looked up at the sky, "Time is short, I'll go."

The spirits collector had no choice but to retreat sullenly.

The Centurion walked up to Chen Ji with a long sword and unexpectedly handed it to Chen Ji, "You use the long sword, I'll use the broadsword; you won't use Gold Grinder, I won't use Sword Gang."

Chen Ji looked down at the long sword in his hand, surprised the Centurion had exchanged weapons with him.

He furrowed his brow slightly, then looked up directly at the face of the Centurion's white bone mask, and the flame in his eyes.

It was Chen Ji's first time examining the opponent so closely, first time realizing the white bone mask had texture: on the left cheek, there was the fishbone comet tail banner held by the spirits collector.

Chen Ji gripped the long sword and handed the broadsword to the Centurion, "What is this for?"

The Centurion casually replied, "What is the essence of the long sword?"

Chen Ji sincerely replied, "Might."

The Centurion muttered to himself, "Might..."

Chen Ji backed away a step with the long sword, "Its momentum like thunder, the blue dragon stirring the sea, the long sword is concerned with the tyrannical ease of slashing through thousands, mighty without anger."

He surveyed the Five Mad Soldiers on the mountain top again, seeing them stand solemnly, with a demeanor as if listening attentively, like a group of students.

Chen Ji felt somewhat dazed.

The Centurion lifted the broadsword, "Come."

In an instant, Chen Ji swung the long sword, surging forth like spilling the sea, the blade coming down like Mount Tai crushing the summit.

This time, as Chen Ji swung, he even explained, "The sword's momentum falls like the heavens collapsing; before the blade arrives, the wind pressure cracks armor."

The Centurion easily blocked the long sword with his broadsword, but Chen Ji remained indifferent, nor did the Five Mad Soldiers care.

One is Seeking Dao Realm, the other is Innate Realm; Chen Ji wanting to wound the opponent was akin to dreaming. He displayed "skill," not "strength."

Chen Ji used the momentum to whirl his body, sweeping the long sword horizontally, "Sweeping through thousands, breaking horse legs with ease, tearing formations like ripping silk."

The Centurion lightly leaped, dodging the swing.

Chen Ji swung the empty long sword in a continuous rotation, crafting the blade into a spinning crescent moon, twisting towards the Centurion, "Using the handle as a divine pivot, follow the flow."

In front of the rotating long sword, the Centurion's face remained unchanged. Suddenly, Chen Ji leapt, swinging the sword overhead in a powerful downward cut.

The sword roared in the air, like a tiger roaring through the mountains.

The Centurion's expression changed, quickly retreating.

He should have caught that strike, yet when that roar sounded, he dared not wager.

The Centurion murmured, "This is 'Might'."

But just as Chen Ji leapt into mid-air, his gaze fell upon the distant mountains and was suddenly surprised.

Wait.

Utilizing the dawning light, Chen Ji analyzed, feeling an inexplicable oddity about the distant mountains.

Stone tortoise?

Stone tortoise!

Ancient tales often speak of stone tortoises, one of the nine sons of dragons, called Bixi (bi, xi), also known as Baxia.

Rumor has it Bixi often carried mountains, creating chaos in rivers, lakes, and seas. Later, when Dayu controlled the floods, it subdued Bixi, pushed mountains, dug channels, and planned rivers ceaselessly. After floodwaters settled, Dayu feared Bixi would rampage again, so he erected a mighty stone monument detailing Bixi's exploits in flood control, pinning Bixi from causing further chaos.

Yet in Xuanyuan's era, there might be Bixi, but Bixi wouldn't carry the monument. So from the beginning, Chen Ji misunderstood; the stone tortoise Xuanyuan spoke of was definitely not the monument-bearing stone tortoise.