Riding the Sword on the Wind, Free and Unfettered Between Heaven and Earth

"Senior Sister Ge Shuang!"

"Senior Sister Ge Shuang!"

The edge of another arena was likewise packed with male disciples. They kept cheering and shouting from the sidelines, spittle flying everywhere, spraying who knew how many faces.

On the arena stood a woman with an icy expression and a graceful figure. The longsword in her hand flashed with cold glints again and again.

"The way she wields that sword is like a female streamer dancing. Pretty nice to watch."

Chen Xun chuckled as he looked toward Ge Shuang's arena. This trip had truly not been in vain. "Old Bull, isn't she nice to watch?"

"Moo~"

Black Bull nodded repeatedly. Nice, nice. It did not even turn its head toward Chen Xun, telling him not to disturb it.

"Ah, how did she lose? I was really rooting for that one!"

"Moo~~"

"Oh, Old Bull, look at that junior sister. She got beaten into tears, hahaha..."

"Moo moo moo~~"

"Yo, why's that shorty putting on airs? Did he eat your family's rice or something?!"

"Moo!"

"Old Bull, look! A spirit beast! Incredible, incredible."

"Moo?"

Beneath the shade of a tree, one man and one ox alternated between roaring with laughter and hurling curses. Then Chen Xun's expression suddenly changed, and he fiercely slapped the ground.

"Moo?" Black Bull was startled. What was with that expression on Chen Xun's face?

"Old Bull, don't you feel like something's missing?"

"Moo? Moo!" Black Bull shook its head, then nodded. It did seem as though something was missing. Something felt off.

"Sunflower seeds!" Chen Xun suddenly slapped Black Bull. They had actually forgotten something so important.

"Moo moo?"

Black Bull slapped Chen Xun with a hoof as well. Why hadn't he brought sunflower seeds? No wonder it had felt as though something was missing.

"Damn it!" Chen Xun's face was full of regret. "Let's plant sunflower seeds this year. I'll stir-fry them, then add some secret seasoning."

"Moo moo~~" Black Bull rubbed against Chen Xun and bared its bovine teeth. Now that was more like it.

After the first match of the Sect Tournament, participants could either continue fighting or rest for a day before fighting again. Rankings were determined by the number of victories.

Naturally, disciples who lacked confidence in their strength wanted to keep fighting. The intensity on the second day would not be anything like today's.

The strong, however, were naturally unhurried. After a battle, they would regulate their breath and recover, ensuring they returned to their peak condition before fighting again. There could be no carelessness whatsoever.

The Sect Tournament grew increasingly white-hot. Even Chen Xun and Black Bull moved much closer, no longer watching from afar.

On the fifth day, the inner disciples officially joined the battle, pushing the Sect Tournament to its greatest climax. Chen Xun and Black Bull also joined the army of cheering spectators.

"Who but us outer disciples? Senior Brother Bai Shi, go! You're the best!"

Chen Xun raised a wooden sign and let out a full-throated roar. Countless disciples turned their gazes toward him and gave him thumbs-up. He had nailed it.

"Junior Brother, is Senior Sister Ge Shuang not one of our outer disciples too?!"

Several people strode over aggressively. Why did it feel as though Senior Sister Ge Shuang's momentum had suddenly been crushed?

"What a joke!" Chen Xun looked at them disdainfully and patted Black Bull.

Black Bull understood. A wooden sign slowly rose up, bearing the words:

"Senior Sister Ge Shuang, go! When the sword rises, Five Aggregates rises!"

The few of them were stunned. A scalp-tingling sensation swept over them, and their thumbs unconsciously rose.

The way they looked at Chen Xun conveyed only two words: damn impressive!

Chen Xun gave a cold smile and continued shouting at the top of his lungs with Black Bull. Their sense of participation had reached its peak.

On arenas throughout the grounds, inner disciples in white robes drifted up with a leap, sleeves sweeping wide. Their expressions were cold as they frowned at their respective opponents.

A faint killing intent drifted across the arenas. The ancient trees around them rustled violently in the cold wind, while several yellow leaves slowly fell.

The arenas were deathly silent, and anticipation shone in the eyes of the important figures seated in the viewing stands.

Hiss—

Countless disciples sucked in a cold breath. These people were the true future great figures of the Five Aggregates Sect, the ones who would lead the sect into the future.

This was true public attention. Even the disciples below the arenas turned solemn, feeling the powerful pressure.

"So awesome."

"Moo~"

Chen Xun spoke softly, unable to keep his heart from stirring. Black Bull gave a low call as well. This was spectacular.

Yet a trace of disappointment appeared in Chen Xun's eyes. Why were they all pretending to be masters without saying a word? He had wanted to see a battle of words, the part where they exchanged harsh threats.

The ringing of a bell echoed through the mountain peaks. The Sect Tournament finals officially began!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Countless shrill sounds tore through the air. The pupils of everyone on the arenas contracted slightly as the magical artifacts in their hands and the spiritual power within their bodies erupted at once in a blaze of color.

Boom—

Boom—

A great battle erupted on every arena. Some unleashed overwhelming clouds of flying swords, kicking up dust all across the arenas.

Some cast mist-like spells, making it impossible to see what was happening within. Only the ceaseless clanging of metal revealed the ferocity of the battle.

Other disciples wielded formation flags and released puppets, sitting firmly in the rear as they launched their battles.

Sword gleams flashed everywhere, and the sounds of surging spiritual power filled the air. Everyone had gone all out, no longer holding back their strength.

Violent gales swept through the area. Disciples standing closer even had to use spiritual power to withstand them.

"Holy shit... holy shit..."

Chen Xun's pupils shrank violently as he kept turning his head. These Qi Refining Realm disciples were terrifying. They were not even in the same league as Rogue Cultivators.

"Moo moo!!" Black Bull kept turning its head like Chen Xun, dazzled by the sight. What kind of spells were these?

The entire final battle lasted two days and two nights. Chen Xun and Black Bull sat on the ground watching, unwilling to pause for even a moment. When they got hungry, they ate flatbread.

Bai Shi and Ge Shuang ultimately stopped at the top hundred. The outer disciples all sighed. The foundation of those inner disciples truly could not be compared to that of outer disciples.

At last came the time for the sect elders to distribute rewards and encourage the disciples, saying a great deal of meaningless nonsense.

As the great figures and elders of the Five Aggregates Sect departed, this year's Sect Tournament finally came to an end.

On the way down the mountain, Chen Xun and Black Bull kept letting out lewd, raspy cackles.

"Old Bull, that inner disciple was pretty sinister. Why'd he attack someone's vital spot like that?"

Chen Xun looked at Black Bull's rear and could not help laughing again. The key was that the other guy had actually fallen for it. His chrysanthemum had suffered grievous devastation.

"Moo moo~~" Black Bull kept baring its teeth too, still wanting more.

"Next year, we'll join too. We'll sneak into the sect's top five hundred and earn some contribution points."

"Moo!"

"Let's go, let's go. First, we're heading back to plant sunflower seeds."

"Moo~"

One man and one ox jogged away, their raspy cackles echoing through the mountains.

After returning to Medicine Valley, they first began tending the medicinal fields. Then they secretly picked several Spirit Medicines used for Grain-Avoidance Pills, cultivated the seeds, and put them back.

"Old Bull, I'll leave the Spirit Medicine to you. I'm going to study the Sword Flight Technique."

"Moo~" Black Bull fiercely nudged Chen Xun. Cultivating Spirit Medicine was its specialty.

Chen Xun nodded and headed into the cave dwelling without worry. He opened the Sword Flight Technique manual, took out the immortal sword from his storage bag, and his eyes gleamed.

Whether he could take flight depended on today. Chen Xun calmed his mind and began cultivating.

One morning a month later, Medicine Valley was filled with birdsong and flowers, peaceful and tranquil.

Chen Xun and Black Bull stood in an open space. The immortal sword lay before them, and backpacks were strapped to their backs.

Chen Xun had made two parachutes himself, just in case something went wrong. Safety came first in all things.

"Riding the sword on the wind, free and unfettered between heaven and earth!"

Chen Xun formed a strange hand seal. Murky spiritual power flowed into the immortal sword. "Rise!"

The immortal sword on the ground slowly floated up, hovering half a meter above the ground and stirring up a cloud of dust.

"Moo! Moo!" Black Bull leaped about excitedly, bellowing without pause.

"Old Bull, get... get on the car—no, get on the sword."

Chen Xun's voice trembled, his heart pounding furiously. In his eyes, he was already imagining them riding their swords through the air, soaring across this vast and magnificent land.