God of Swords

Huqiu, a mountain's name, originally called Haiyong Mountain, is located outside Lumen in Suzhou. According to old legends, King Helü of Wu is buried within this mountain, with mercury for his coffin and gold and silver for his tomb.

Historical Records: Helü's tomb is outside Lumen in Wu County. Ten thousand men were employed to build the tomb, and the earth was taken from Lin Lake. Three days after the burial, a white tiger squatted atop the mountain, hence the name Huqiu.

This mountain is not high, but it is filled with beautiful legends and myths. Since ancient times, it has been a must-visit place for talented scholars and poets.

He Heng and the others traveled safely, arriving in Gusu.

They did not bypass the city but passed through it. Li Yuhan and Liu Wumei still chatted and laughed, neither betraying the complexity of their thoughts.

Soon, they passed through the city and arrived outside.

Seven li outside the city was Huqiu Mountain.

But upon exiting the city gate, one could see the verdant and majestic mountain range from afar, like a fierce tiger crouching there, full of vitality, with a dignified head and tail.

He Heng looked up at the mountain's posture and praised, "What a magnificent mountain, like a tiger crouching and a dragon coiled! The Li family's ancestors indeed had foresight in choosing this place to establish Yongcui Mountain Villa. This mountain is truly grand."

Li Yuhan's face was also filled with pride, and she said, "My Li family is also one of the three most renowned aristocratic families in the Central Plains. When we built Yongcui Mountain Villa, we naturally had to choose a place blessed by both heaven and man."

He Heng said nothing more. He glanced at Li Yuhan and her husband and continued forward, soon arriving before the main mountain gate.

Outside the mountain gate was a small market. A small river meandered through, with three to five painted boats moored along its banks. From time to time, tinkling laughter could be heard from the boats.

Entering the mountain gate, there were many small stalls on both sides, as well as numerous beggars. Seeing people arrive, they would surround them to beg. Some, from afar, would bow and smile, saying, "Is Young Master Li back? Greetings, Madam." He Heng glanced around and had already reached the famous Thousand Man Stone.

It was a large, flat stone capable of seating a thousand people. At a glance, one could not see its edges, nor even a single blade of grass. To the north of the large stone was a small stone platform.

Then, Liu Wumei said leisurely, "According to old legends, King Helü of Wu built his tomb here, employing a thousand craftsmen. After the tomb was completed, the King of Wu, fearing they would leak the secrets of the tomb's mechanisms, buried all one thousand men alive beneath this stone. Thus, this stone is called the 'Thousand Man Stone'." She recounted this cruel story as if it had no trace of bloodlust. Someone couldn't help but ask, "What is that stone platform then?" Liu Wumei replied, "That is the scripture-preaching platform of the divine monk Zhu Daosheng. Above it are four seal script characters by Li Yangbing of the Tang Dynasty, which read 'Sheng Gong Lecture Platform'. The stone beside the White Lotus Pond is the famous Nodding Stone. As the saying goes, 'When Sheng Gong preaches, even stones nod.' This idiom originates from here." Her steps were as light as her voice. The mountain wind blew from behind the stone, scattering her hair and fluttering her clothes. She seemed about to ride the wind away.

He Heng glanced at her briefly, saying nothing more. Since arriving here, he had barely spoken.

Soon, they walked onto Sword Pool.

The surroundings were dense with trees, lush and verdant. A wooden bridge lay across the pool like a rainbow. The pool water was green and cold, with scattered duckweed on its surface.

He Heng stood by the pool and felt a chilling aura rush towards him. Within the green pool, it seemed as if waves of killing intent were hidden.

In the distance, autumn clouds gathered, and the sound of a distant bell drifted faintly in the breeze.

He Heng smiled slightly and said, "The famous Tang Dynasty scholar Li Xiuqing ranked this water as the fifth best spring in the world. However, I wonder if this water is most suitable for tempering swords. It is indeed a place for ancient swordsmen to temper their blades. The name 'Sword Pool' is truly fitting."

Liu Wumei said charmingly, "It is said that this name also has an origin."

He Heng asked, "Oh?"

Liu Wumei said, "Legend has it that King Helü of Wu's tomb is beneath this Sword Pool. When he died, thirty famous swords were buried with him, including the Fish-Hidden Sword used by Zhuan Zhu. That is why this place is called Sword Pool."

"Is that so? Then this King of Wu was truly wasteful. If those famous swords were still in the world, they could have forged more legends, wouldn't that be better than being hidden in this pool?" He Heng shook his head and looked further ahead.

Liu Wumei listened carefully to He Heng's words, her expression unchanged, and said, "Since you know this is the fifth best spring in the world, do you know that the third best spring in the world is also here?" Passing around Sword Pool, one could see a very large stone well, over ten feet wide. Beside the well was a hexagonal mountain pavilion with a red railing winding around it.

He Heng glanced coldly and said, "This must be the third best spring in the world, 'Lu Yu Tea Well'. In the past, Li Guanyu invited famous swordsmen from all over the world to brew tea and appreciate swords here. Their elegant demeanor was truly admirable." However, he immediately let out another sigh and said, "It's a pity that though the mountains and rivers remain the same, the faces have all changed."

By this time, dusk had arrived, and the sunset was beautiful. Amidst the silhouette of the Huqiu Pagoda on the mountain peak, a lone eagle circled, making this picturesque scene appear incredibly desolate and bleak.

This sigh was also one of immense desolation and bleakness.

"Hmph, things change, people remain the same. Who said that?"

Just as He Heng uttered that sigh, a cold snort suddenly came from the hexagonal mountain pavilion. A wisp of solitary smoke gracefully floated out from the pavilion, instantly dispersing. In the misty smoke, in the desolate pavilion, a white-haired old man in feathered robes and a high crown sat alone, brewing tea. His loneliness seemed to be the same as the lone eagle circling beside the towering pagoda. He looked coldly at He Heng.

"You said it, things change, people remain the same. Do you think we are all old?" The old man suddenly stood up and let out a long cry to the heavens. The autumn leaves on all four sides of the pavilion were shaken by his cry, falling like snowflakes.

He Heng looked up, his expression unchanged, and said, "I absolutely did not mean that. If the elder insists on thinking so himself, I can do nothing about it."

"You mean to say that I, the old man, was wrong, and I am unwilling to admit my age, and you are being wronged?" The old man suddenly looked coldly at He Heng, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

He Heng looked at him and said faintly, "What the truth is, everyone knows in their hearts. Elder, why do you need to ask again?"

"Good, good, 'everyone knows in their hearts'!" The old man's eyes suddenly widened, and he stared intently at He Heng, asking, "Do you know who I am?"

He Heng, not showing any weakness, met his gaze directly and said, "Do you know who I am?"

As their eyes met, the atmosphere became somewhat frozen.

At this moment, the old man suddenly burst into laughter and looked at He Heng, "Well said, Bai Yu Jing! Well said, Longevity Sword! No wonder Li Guanyu thought so highly of you back then, saying you had the potential to become the Number One Under Heaven sword."

"Your praise is too much, I dare not accept it." He Heng stood tall and straight, his posture imposing. He looked at the old man, "As for you, Elder, who once moved three mountains with a single sword and slew the heavenly star, the 'Star-Plucking Daoist', your demeanor remains as magnificent as ever."

Shuai Yifan glanced at He Heng and sighed, "What a pity. If it were at another time, another place, I, upon seeing such an excellent sword dao master as you, would surely become friends with you..."

Shuai Yifan's words were cut short by He Heng. He stood proudly and looked coldly at Shuai Yifan, suddenly saying, "Actually, Elder, there is no need to sigh. Whether it was at any time or any place, if you met, you would not be able to become friends. This has nothing to do with anything else, it's just that our personalities and views are different. Moreover, we who use swords do not need friends; we only need to trust the sword in our hands."

Shuai Yifan was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "You are right. Therefore, I will take your head next. Do not blame me in the netherworld."

He Heng suddenly smiled and looked at Shuai Yifan, saying, "I will never blame you. Otherwise, I wouldn't have come to Yongcui Mountain Villa."

In fact, the reason Shuai Yifan was still waiting for He Heng according to Li Yuhan's original instructions was He Heng's own intention. He merely wanted to see if the sword formation, personally founded by Li Guanyu and composed of the six great swordplay masters of the current era, was truly invincible and could put some pressure on him.

Although this formation was broken by Chu Liuxiang in the original work, it was only successful because Chu Liuxiang used a clever method. Moreover, Shuai Yifan was not present at the time, and Liu Wumei, who was not originally part of this formation, replaced him, causing the formation's Perfect Harmony to decrease somewhat.

This time, He Heng was prepared to face the complete version of the sword formation and did not intend to use any tricks, aiming to break it with absolute strength.

He Heng looked coldly at Shuai Yifan, and Shuai Yifan looked coldly back at He Heng. A gentle breeze blew, chilling the face.

Ching!

He Heng and Shuai Yifan drew their swords simultaneously. The sword qi was fierce and crisscrossed, illuminating the entire mountaintop. Brilliant sword light swept out, and inch by inch, the sharp edges split the leaves on the ground. Cold light enveloped everything.

Shuai Yifan drew his sword first, a surging sword intent erupting and sweeping in all directions. His entire being transformed, becoming a sharp blade, an endless killing intent contained within.

No one would have expected this elder, with his feathered robes and high crown, who seemed to harbor transcendent thoughts, to become so sharp and terrifying in an instant.

The mountain wind blew, making his robes flutter wildly. His footsteps continued outward without pause, yet others seemed unable to perceive his movement.

This was because he had channeled his entire spirit, energy, and strength into a single sword qi. Others could only feel the oppressive aura of his sword qi, forgetting his physical presence.

His person had merged with the sword qi, permeating heaven and earth. Thus, when he moved, he seemed still; when he was still, he seemed to move.

This was an exceptionally terrifying realm of the sword dao, only slightly inferior to the initial great success of Ximen Chuixue that He Heng had witnessed before.

And Ximen Chuixue was one of the most outstanding swordsmen in the Jianghu over the past few centuries, with the potential to contend for the title of Number One Under Heaven.

Shuai Yifan, possessing this sword dao realm, was already formidable.

However, He Heng was far more terrifying than him.

Suddenly, He Heng moved too!

His sword was as fast as lightning, as thunderous as a storm, actually several times faster than Shuai Yifan's.

Every move, every strike, his sword qi, sword intent, and sword momentum were perfectly integrated with his sword techniques, forming a natural whole. This was an invincible sword dao realm, at least in this world.

To perfectly blend intangible sword intent and momentum with sword techniques and sword qi, as if naturally formed, was no longer within the domain of mortals. It could be called the God of Swords.

And in this world, there was only one person who could be called a God of Swords: Xie Xiaofeng.

Everyone else, whether Ye Gucheng, Xue Yiren, or Ximen Chuixue, or even Li Guanyu in the past, was still a step short.

And now, He Heng had reached that level as well.