Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 724 - 654: Stone Jiao

Thunderous roars echoed through the mountains, and continual lightning strikes ignited dozens of fires on the hillsides, sending flames shooting into the sky and illuminating the night.

The searing heat driven by the firestorm howled along the mountain ridges, startling countless birds and beasts into flight.

At the Xia Mountain, within the Academic Palace Cemetery, beneath the eaves of the ancient temple, the two Academic Palace Directors had their hands tucked into the sleeves of their brocade robes as they gazed together into the distant horizon, at the slowly approaching Thunder Cloud.

"I had anticipated who might rebel. Generals, Prime Ministers, garrisons, noble families, even the Crown Prince," Xi Yangyu sighed deeply. "But I never expected it would be Prince Guang."

"The cause of times past, the effect of today." Cui Yixian’s expression was indifferent. "Seven years ago, the Academic Palace allowed Prince Guang to enroll; twenty-two years ago, His Majesty, to exhibit the victor’s grace, admitted Wu Guifei into the palace; forty years ago, the court failed to thoroughly purge the Holy Empress’s old ministers; even three hundred years earlier, when the Academic Palace compromised with the noble families, agreeing to ’not interfere with each other’s waters,’ the myriad seeds of disaster planted in the past have only now come to fruition."

Despite the sigh in his words, there was no hint of blame in his tone. Instead, there was a touch of relief.

He withdrew his hand from his sleeve and placed it on the handle of his sword at his waist, gripping it tightly.

Suddenly—

Cui Yixian soared into the sky, his slender figure piercing the night, blocking the path of the Thunder Cloud.

The Canglong, having burst from the fortress and entered unopposed territory, finally stopped. Its dragon whiskers and mane moved on their own without wind, its cartwheel-sized round eyes slowly focusing, gazing at the tiny human figure.

CLOMP, CLOMP, CLOMP.

Li Shan climbed onto the Dragon Head, standing with support from the Dragon Horn, and said with a bitter smile, "Teacher."

This address of "Teacher" was not directed towards Cui Yixian, but to Xi Yangyu who hovered behind him.

"..."

Xi Yangyu wore a complex expression. He and Li Shan shared many similarities. Both were born into large families and both suffered bullying in their youth due to their mothers’ statuses, learning from an early age to read the faces of others.

That’s why, years ago, he had agreed to help Princess Le’an, Li Nanlei, by giving Li Shan a push behind the scenes when it came to his enrollment.

"Mr. Cui, Mr. Xi? Thank goodness, you must help my Shan’er!" The voice of Wu Guifei came from the dragon’s back. She clambered onto the Dragon Head using her hands and feet, and after adjusting her appearance, her lovely face squeezed out a hint of a smile. "There’s just one last step. If you two are willing to assist, the future positions of Academic Palace Master and Sacrificial Officer will be yours, blessing your descendants and gracing your posterity, your lineage will prosper for as long as the nation endures!"

Xi Yangyu looked at her nearly crazed state and sighed, then asked Li Shan, "Is it worth it?"

"If it’s not worth it, what can one do?" Li Shan gave a wretched smile. "My maternal grandfather was executed by my paternal grandfather; my uncles, aunts, and cousins were all killed by my father. To bear the Wu surname within Yu Country is in itself a sin, always ready to be held against us."

With nothing left to say, Xi Yangyu lowered his eyes and extended his hand to pull out a small and exquisite yellow jade seal from within his clothing. The ancient words "Xia Mountain Lord" were carved into the base.

Vast Spiritual Energy surged along the palm lines into the seal, steaming up a misty white smoke, which formed towering mountains within the span of a palm, indistinguishable from the undulating Xia Mountain below.

"Activate the mountains."

Xi Yangyu’s eyes narrowed slightly, veins on his forehead bulging, as he forcefully twisted his palm, causing the Xia Mountain formed of white smoke to tremble violently.

RUMBLE! RUMBLE—

The sound was deafening. The creatures that had just escaped the mountain fires crouched in the river valleys, fearfully looking up.

The entire range of Xia Mountain trembled, and large chunks of stone peeled off the mountainsides, defying gravity as they floated upward.

Great trees ignited by the fires were uprooted and flew toward the sky.

It was as if an invisible hand had skimmed over the landscape, peeling away a layer of the earth.

The terrifying sight of mountains crumbling and the world turned upside down was so startling that the Disciples remaining at the Academic Palace forgot the urgent warning bells, each one standing frozen in astonishment.

It was only when a Professor shouted, "What are you doing standing around?! Everyone to the rear mountain for shelter!" that they finally snapped out of their daze and hurriedly ran off.

"ROAR! A threat." The Canglong did not wait for Li Shan’s instruction, letting out a piercing roar and sweeping its claws forward.

High-altitude thunderclouds also became involved, as several bolts of straight lightning descended, booming towards Xi Yangyu.

CLANG!

The sounds of gold and iron clashing stirred the air. Cui Yixian drew his sword and struck upwards, repelling the dragon claw. His sharp Sword Intent stood firm like a pillar against the current, clearing the path for Xi Yangyu by fending off the lightning.

"Water Rock."

Xi Yangyu squeezed out two difficult words from between clenched teeth. His expression was ferocious, veins on his face bulging wildly, as he continued to rotate the seal in his hand.

WHOOSH!

The still water suspended in midair began to flow again.

The water passed over the floating rocks like glue, tightly connecting boulders, trees, and vines.

From high above... it resembled a Jiao Dragon.

"Cui Siye," Li Shan took a deep breath and said solemnly to Cui Yixian, who stood with his sword blocking the way, "The Cui Family is involved as well."

"I know." Cui Yixian expressionlessly took out the slip of paper from his chest, crushed it effortlessly, and reduced it to pieces.

Li Shan paused at these words, then continued, "Right now, the Cui Family and other noble families have already gone to assassinate His Majesty."

"I know." Unmoved, Cui Yixian swung his sword again, fending off the lightning for Xi Yangyu.

Li Shan furrowed his brows. "If this fails, the Cui Family of Qinghe will no longer exist in this world."

"I know." Cui Yixian paused for a moment, then said with a hint of resignation, "If it’s gone, then it’s gone."

That Near-Cliff Realm Protective Talisman had a limited duration. Li Shan, along with the Canglong, rushed towards the Academic Palace, not to destroy its buildings—that would be meaningless.

The sole target was the stele stored deep within Dongjun Tower, engraved with the Mountain and River Guardian Talisman.

Once the stele was destroyed, it would interrupt the effects of the Mountain and River Guardian Talisman, lift the seal on Yu Country’s borders, and allow cultivators from the Haotian Countries to march straight in, invading the heart of Central Plains and slaughtering at will.

Even annihilating the nation in one fell swoop.

Whether as the Academic Palace Director or a member of the Cui Family, first and foremost, I am a person of Yu Country...

Cui Yixian sighed inwardly, continuing to slash relentlessly.

Thunderclouds relentlessly sent down bolts. The might of the lightning from the ninth heaven was boundless; even with a Grandmaster’s exquisite control of the Sword Dao, it was impossible to deflect all of it.

CRACKLE, CRACKLE—

The edge of the longsword melted, turning into dripping molten iron, as the sleeve on the side holding the sword burned intensely.

Fortunately, it bought some time.

"Jiao Transformation!"

As Xi Yangyu bellowed, the giant Jiao Dragon formed from the rocks of Xia Mountain let out a sky-piercing roar and rapidly ascended, charging towards the Jiao Dragon.

BOOM—

The Ink Jade Talisman burst into dazzling light, illuminating thousands of miles of the long night.

Cui Yixian timely retreated, flicking the hilt of his sword to shake off the molten iron from the blade.

As the light faded, both Dragon Species could be seen tightly entwined with each other, locked in combat.

The Canglong, protected by the talisman, swung its claws, each movement capable of gouging out large rocks and shattering lush ancient trees.

Meanwhile, the Stone Jiao, insensible to pain, allowed the other to tear and bite while it carried on swinging its long tail, coiling around the Canglong, continuously tightening until it wrapped them into a sphere.

The Ink Jade Talisman could withstand any attack below Near-Cliff Realm, but it could not eliminate the concept of mass.

With its head buried deep, the Stone Jiao dove with the Canglong from the sky, plummeting towards the ground.