The Name of Broken Swords; Madam Speaks Plainly: You Are Already Old-There Is No Peak in Martial Arts!

Li Xian and Wen Caishang had not seen each other for over a year since their parting at the Snow Mountain and Ice Lake. He was first hunted down as Flower Thief, and after many twists and turns, he returned to the Water Altar, only to encounter Zhao Ranran's attack on the altar. He spent several months recuperating at the bottom of the lake before heading to Jade City...

He encountered Wen Caishang once by chance, but then disappeared without a trace. He was both afraid of and infatuated with Wen Caishang, and if given the chance, he would try to find out about her and her recent situation. But Wen Caishang was not someone to be trifled with; she was not someone to be trifled with so easily.

He was unaware that the matter of Flying Dragon City was not yet over. It turned out that Madam Wen and the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance were actually involved in something else. Although he did not know the specifics, he guessed from the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance's cryptic words that the development of the matter was likely unexpected and involved a great deal.

I listened carefully immediately.

Huang Axia talked for a long time, her mouth dry. After drinking a few sips of wine and eating some broad beans and crispy meat, she glanced around and saw that there were quite a few people around her. Li Xian, Ding Heilang, and Fang Ming had all taken their seats in the pavilion.

Thinking to himself with smug satisfaction, "This important matter has been on my mind for a long time. Hehe, these sisters have gathered here, and we've been planning to talk about it for a while now. Now that there are more listeners, I'll speak even more enthusiastically. However, this matter involves the secrets of the Sword Alliance. It's fine to talk about it privately, but it would be inappropriate if it were to be spread." He then said, "This matter is confidential. I've told you here, but you must not spread it around. If the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance finds out, they will surely blame us." Yao Yin patted her chest and said, "Go ahead and speak, my Miraculous Healers Pavilion Renowned Physician..." "Renowned Physician would never recklessly divulge such information; otherwise, my Miraculous Healers Pavilion would not let them off the hook." Renowned Physician must practice medicine within the palace, inevitably hearing various secrets—some big, some small, some ugly, some embarrassing. Keeping these secrets to oneself is the first and foremost principle of medicine. Huang Axia nodded and said, "The Five-Mountain Sword Alliance's attack came to nothing, wasting over two months of effort. Jade Dragon has not been found, and everyone speculates that Jade Dragon is already in that woman's hands. However, this matter is of great importance, and we dare not make a hasty decision. Therefore, we will return to our sect first to discuss this further."

"The five elders who led the alliance of the five major sword sects at that time— Xiao Wanjian, Hu Yueyue, Duan Yixin, Wang Zongheng, and Hou Yuande —had fought against that woman. The outcome of the battle is unknown, but it is likely that she did not gain the upper hand. During the Sword Alliance meeting, the five elders will be instructed to recount the events in detail, estimate the woman's strength and abilities, and be completely truthful, without concealing anything."

"I have no way of knowing what happened at the meeting. I only know that after it, several elders of the Sword Alliance were furious, seemingly declaring, 'How can our mighty Five-Mountain Sword Alliance allow a mere woman to act so arrogantly over us?' and so on. The five leading elders were also punished." "My friend couldn't possibly find out the details of that matter, so I won't go into them. Let's get straight to the point. In short, after some discussion, Ke Jiannan of the Li Mountain Sword Ke Jiannan was chosen as the leader, with elders from each sword sect assisting, determined to find that woman."

Han Niannian frowned and said, "The Five-Mountain Sword Alliance prides itself on being righteous. Is their search for that woman to steal treasure? If so, it's highly inappropriate. The treasure in that tomb is essentially ownerless. That woman already possessed it; even if it's useful to the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance, they shouldn't forcibly take it." Bai Caiwei said, "Desperate measures are like grasping at straws. While the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance's actions are understandable, they are still very inappropriate."

Huang Axia nodded and said, "That's right. That's why the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance will treat her with courtesy first. We plan to find this woman, then try to purchase her or exchange her goods. Once she agrees, we'll settle old scores and have a duel. The Five-Mountain Sword Alliance has decided that even if we have a duel, we must not harm her in the slightest, only to dampen her spirits and regain our face."

Before setting off, the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance prepared six precious swords, including the Mist-Swallowing Sword of the Lake-Mountain Sword Sect Mount Yue Sword Sect, the Sea-Gazing Sword Sky Sword of the Yue Mountain Sword Sect, the Guardian Sword of the Jiushan Sword Sect House-Quelling Sword, the Fire-Li Sword of the Lishan Sword Sect, the Wind-Duan Sword of the Mount Yang Sword Sect, and the Black Ancient Sword of the Lishan Sword Sect.

Yao Yin asked, "These six swords are quite extraordinary, especially the Black Ancient Sword. Were they all given to that woman in exchange for the Jade Dragon?"

Huang Axia nodded and said, "Indeed. They also have many jewels, beautiful artifacts, Precious Extraordinary Treasures; their sincerity is truly remarkable! The Five-Mountain Sword Alliance's attitude is strange. They need something from us, yet they're unwilling to lower themselves. They don't want to steal the treasure, but they also want to save face—they're quite conflicted."

Upon hearing this, Li Xian thought to himself, "It seems even Huang Axia has overlooked something. The Mist-Swallowing Sword, the Sea-Gazing Sword, the House-Quelling Sword, the Fire-Li Sword Wind-Duan Sword were items lost by the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance elders to their wives in a sword duel. The Five-Mountain Sword Alliance should honor their promise, and since we've met, they might as well give away these five swords to settle the matter. The Black Ancient Sword, along with other jewels and fine artifacts, are the real bargaining chips for acquiring the Jade Dragon." He then inwardly grumbled, "But one thing is true. The Five-Mountain Sword Alliance is incredibly contradictory. Although they claim to be righteous, to put it bluntly, they are hypocritical..."

Ding Heilang pressed further, "Miss Xia, what happened next?"

Huang Axia said, "The Five-Mountain Sword Alliance are of one mind and one branch. After much effort, we found the woman's whereabouts. Ke Jiannan treated her with courtesy, first with politeness and then with force, hiding many jewels and famous swords in a red box and sending them to the woman's residence."

The woman said, "I wondered which gentleman had recently gone to such lengths to search for me. It turns out to be the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance. Elders, please come in and have a seat. I will prepare some tea for you." Her voice was melodious and gentle, quite pleasant, and without them even realizing it, she lowered the guard of the sword sects. Before they set out, the sword sects had been quite hostile towards this woman; it seemed that many of their disciples had died tragically at her hands. Although that matter was in the past, the old grudges lingered and could not be easily forgotten. But this encounter immediately changed things.

Han Niannian said, "This woman must be extremely beautiful, with a voice and smile that would make one forget hatred." Huang Axia said, "I think so. At that time, the Sword Sect elders were led by Ke Jiannan, and there were seven others. All of them were well-established, experienced, and capable elders from various sects." Li Xian asked, "Who is Ke Jiannan?" Huang Axia said, "Don't you know? This person has a resounding reputation; he is known in the martial arts world as the ' Blazing-Mist Sword King.'" Fang Ming asked, "Blazing-Mist Sword King?"

Yao Yin said, "The Five-Mountain Sword Alliance chooses its members by the sword. Those who obtain a famous sword, a precious sword, or an unusual sword choose their master and are given a title based on the sword's name. Ke Jiannan's sword is the ' Blazing-Mist Sword,' a sword with a long history, containing the complete martial arts of an entire school. Ke Jiannan is extremely talented, innovating and surpassing the previous and even the previous Blazing-Mist Sword Masters, hence the title ' Blazing-Mist Sword King.' His strength, ability, experience, and methods are all formidable."

Li Xian thought to himself, "Will this Five-Mountain Sword Alliance ever end? Although Madam is ruthless, I would not wish to be humiliated by others." Huang Axia continued vividly, "Ke Jiannan cupped his hands and said, 'I have long admired Madam's elegant name. Meeting you today, I find you quite extraordinary. I hope my visit today has not offended you.' Madam said, 'If your arrival were sudden, it would certainly be an offense. However, although the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance did not inform me beforehand, I knew in advance that they were coming to visit me. Therefore, it is not an offense.'"

"At this point, both overt and covert swords were already clashing. Ke Jiannan's expression was grim; he felt that this lady was composed and in complete control, and that she must have been prepared for the Sword Alliance's visit. At this moment, none of the Sword Sect members dared to step into the residence."

The lady opened the door and went inside. But the members of the Sword Sect looked at each other, unable to make up their minds. The accompanying disciples and elders all looked at Ke Jiannan.

Bai Caiwei said, "Ah Xia, you certainly have a talent for storytelling." Huang Axia raised an eyebrow and said, "That's what my friend said, and I'm just repeating it verbatim. Although there might be some inaccuracies, it's probably not far off."

Huang Axia continued, "After a short while, a sound came from inside the courtyard. It was a woman's voice, saying, 'Heroes and brave men, you've ventured into Tiger's Den's lair, slain bandits and rebels, and overcome tomb traps. Why do you hesitate before my humble abode? Come in, all of you. This is only a temporary residence. I've been busy with the relocation of the estate lately and haven't had time to set up any traps.' The swordsmen's thoughts were exposed, and even the adults blushed deeply. Ke Jiannan cupped his hands and said, 'Very well, Madam, I'm honored by your invitation. I'll humbly request to come inside for a chat.' They then went into the house to discuss the matter."

After everyone was seated, Ke Jiannan asked, "So, Madam, you seem to know everything about our actions?" The lady replied, "Just a wild guess. Judging from Elder Ke's reaction, I think you guessed a bit correctly. Gentlemen, please have some tea." She heated the tea and had a maidservant serve it to the elders. Ke Jiannan took the tea first, paused, savored the aroma, and then drank it with feigned composure. He then said with an awkward smile, "I've known Madam for a long time, and meeting you in person has truly broadened my horizons. I never expected you to be so Divine Jade... such a... such a person." The lady laughed, "So, the Sword Sect must be saying I'm heartless and utterly wicked, secretly calling me a poisonous woman, right?"

Ke Jiannan said, "This... this..." The lady smiled and said, "That's alright, let's get straight to the point. The Mist-Swallowing Sword, the Sea-Gazing Sword House-Quelling Sword- Suppressing Sword, the Fire-Li Sword, and the Wind-Duan Sword were originally mine. I'm grateful to the elders for bringing them all this way; I'll accept them and let my nemesis play with them someday. As for the Black Ancient Sword and the gold and silver jewels, I have no shortage of them, so please return to where you came from."

Li Xian listened intently. The word "enemy" that his wife used was obviously referring to him. He thought to himself, "I treated my wife like this last time in order to escape. I wonder if she holds a grudge against me."

This was a crucial moment, and no one dared to interrupt, fearing that Huang Axia would keep them in suspense and keep them in suspense.

Huang Axia continued, her voice rising and falling in cadence, "That lady, though we only met once, spoke softly and gently, yet she rendered the Sword Sect speechless. She was truly a formidable character. Ke Jiannan hesitated; today's events had taken him by surprise." At this moment, a female elder of the Lake-Mountain Sword Sect slammed her hand on the table and rose, angrily demanding, "You wicked woman, you don't know what's good for you! Is the Jade Dragon with you?" Ke Jiannan quickly silenced the elder and respectfully replied, "To be honest, Madam, besides delivering the sword, I have another request. I wish to purchase the Jade Dragon from you at a high price. I earnestly hope you will grant my request, so that both of us can achieve our goals."

"The lady said, 'If it's the Jade Dragon, this meager gift might not be enough,' Ke Jiannan said. 'Madam, please speak freely, I, Ke Jiannan, will report and do my best to obtain more compensation for you.' The lady's expression gradually faded, and she said, 'No need. I know you sought the Jade Dragon to save the life of that Old Sword Elder. Out of respect for the Old Sword Elder, I allowed you to enter the house for a cup of tea before leaving. Now that things have come to this, please return.' Han Niannian said, 'The elders of the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance are by no means weak. With such a large enemy force and a strong enemy, this woman's calm demeanor suggests a lack of understanding of the situation.' Yao Yin said, 'She seems polite, but she is actually arrogant. Out of respect for the Old Sword Elder, she only drank a cup of tea, and she might not even have finished it, yet she directly told us to leave.'"

Li Xian thought to himself, "That's just how Madam is. Since she ordered the guests to leave, she must be very confident. I'm quite relieved; this mere sword sect shouldn't be able to harm her."

Yao Yin pressed further, "What happened next?"

Huang Axia took a sip of water and continued, "Of course, a fight broke out. This whole affair was truly shocking. No one could have predicted that woman's skills would be so formidable. Initially, the elders disdained to bully others with their superior numbers. But one of the elders from the Mount Yang Sword Sect was the first to draw his sword and attack, saying, 'You vixen, how disrespectful! Putting everything else aside, I'll test your abilities first!' That elder was no ordinary person; his strength surpassed Elder Xiao Wanjian's. However, due to the elder's reputation, I cannot reveal his name, so I will use an alias instead."

"The elders were quite skilled, their abilities surpassing my friend's understanding. She couldn't discern the true depths of the battle, nor the fierce clashes, so she only recounted the events to me. She couldn't explain the specifics of the martial arts exchange. I only saw that the elder came quickly and left just as fast; the instant he drew his sword, his wrist was seized. With a gentle twist, his wrist bone shattered. His hand lost its grip, and the sword was taken from him."

Turning her head, she saw the woman gently stroking her sword, already seated in the main seat, her figure graceful and her bearing refined. She said, "This little skill is hardly enough to make you look foolish in front of me. But the sword is quite nice; here you go." With a casual toss, the sword shot out like a nail. The elder was instantly sent flying by the sword. "Then, the female elder of the Lake-Mountain Sword Sect immediately displayed her martial arts to fight back. At this moment, although the other elders of the sword sect sensed the woman's power, they were still unwilling to join forces to kill her. The female elder of the sword sect was very capable, a recognized expert, and also very old and experienced. But the woman was completely unaware, simply sitting in her seat, leisurely sipping her tea."

"This move, however, made Ke Jiannan worried about her safety. He secretly activated his Inner Steam, intending to use magic to save her if her life was in danger. After all, the Sword Alliance had already decided before setting out that they would not harm her in the slightest."

"But the female elder closed in from behind and swung her sword down, aiming directly for the woman's head and neck. The woman didn't flinch, calmly sipping her tea. But the elder's sword stopped just short of the woman's neck!"

Bai Caiwei asked, "Did the elder stop in time?" Huang Axia replied, "No! He was stopped by a strand of hair!"

"My friend was born with unusual eyesight, and his vision was exceptionally sharp. He was so focused that he could see clearly. The female elder swung her sword horizontally without any intention of holding back. If there had been a pavilion or a large ship in front of her sword, it would have been cleaved in two. But the sword was separated from her fair neck by only a wisp of hair, an inconspicuous detail, yet she managed to block it completely. Although my friend couldn't understand such a battle..."

"But their insight and knowledge were certainly not shallow. This matter is like... like... using something of the smallest size to block the mighty Yangtze River! Thinking about it carefully, I couldn't help but feel extremely frightened; thinking about it even more carefully, I was about to have a nightmare. My friend clearly saw that the female elder of the Lake-Mountain Sword Sect had goosebumps all over the back of her neck, and a few strands of cold sweat immediately appeared."

Upon hearing this, everyone gasped in shock. Yao Yin exclaimed, "The world is vast, and there are countless extraordinary people! This slight difference makes all the difference!" Huang Axia said, "Ke Jiannan also looked terrified. At this point, it was too late to stop. That female elder would surely be in mortal danger in an instant. How could the other elder care about anything else? He also unleashed an extremely high level of martial arts, but unfortunately, my friend couldn't grasp the essence of the martial arts' evolution. Words cannot express the shock he felt at that moment."

The woman glanced sideways, and somehow, with an incredibly strong force, she sent the elder flying. At that moment, several elders rushed forward to surround and attack, trying to rescue the female elder.

The woman remained unmoved, enduring the blows. Each sword strike, however fierce and powerful, vanished the instant it touched her skin or clothing!

Everyone was also baffled. Yao Yin kept asking, "What kind of martial art is this? It's so miraculous! If it were an ordinary sword, I could protect myself by using my defensive martial arts. But the elders of the sword sects, their swordsmanship is so powerful, their swords so sharp, and their moves are so profound and mysterious. How could they defend against it so easily?"

Li Xian also thought, "Although I have fought with Madam many times, she has never used her true strength. I don't know about this kind of self-defense martial art."

Huang Axia said, "What kind of martial art? Hehe, you're thinking too simply. Who said it's just one martial art? The elders attacked, but not a single sword could harm the woman. Afterwards... the elders were baffled and gathered to discuss the matter. Although they couldn't figure it out, they knew that the feeling of each sword being blocked was completely different. Every time the woman blocked a sword, her defensive martial art changed! After figuring this out, the elders were terrified and returned to their sect that very night." "But at the time of the battle, no one thought too much about it. They only saw the woman lightly..." After finishing her tea, she flicked her sleeve, sending everyone flying, and said, "The Five-Mountain Sword Alliance has always been rude. I have already been more tolerant. Since I am so easy to bully, then please spare your lives." At that time, the elders still held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that this woman might have strong defensive martial arts, but her killing power might not be that formidable. However, when the woman unleashed a palm strike, although the movement was slight, all the elders retreated several steps, their faces grave. Even before she struck, it seemed difficult to deal with. Ke Jiannan could no longer sit still and stepped forward, saying, "Madam, wait, wait!"

Seeing that the woman showed no sign of stopping, Ke Jiannan scoffed, "You lot, apologize immediately! Even if the lady is unwilling to relinquish the Jade Dragon, we should still maintain good relations even if the deal falls through. Your actions are no different from those of bandits, and they only tarnish the reputation of our Sword Alliance." The elders looked grim and had no choice but to lower their heads and admit their mistake. The woman said, "Since you know you're wrong, please break your sword to atone for your sins." The elders exchanged glances, their expressions grim, and they wanted to fight again. As elders of the Five-Mountain Sword Alliance, their swords were more important than their lives, and they should rather die than break their swords! But then they thought, this woman is so powerful and unfathomable. Fighting to the death would be valiant, but in the end, they would inevitably die with their swords broken. However, breaking their swords voluntarily would ultimately feel humiliating.

"Ke Jiannan said, 'Elders, since you know you were in the wrong, please break your swords quickly.' In the end, the elders broke their swords and left dejectedly. As they departed, the woman softly said, 'If the Old Sword Elder truly desires the Jade Dragon, he should personally seek me out to discuss this matter.'" After the elders left, reflecting on these words, even Ke Jiannan was confused, and the elders were even more bewildered, unable to grasp the specifics. The woman's attitude was strange, seemingly agreeing yet disagreeing. Furthermore, in their fight, she deliberately held back, causing no casualties. Ke Jiannan sighed, "This woman is exceptionally beautiful and far from being someone to be trifled with."

Bai Caiwei said, "The elders failed in their mission and returned without a fight. What happened afterward? What did the Old Sword Elder say?"

Huang Axia said, "The Old Sword Elder has come down from the mountain! The Old Sword Elder is a grandmaster of the Sword Alliance, with a highly respected position. This trip down from the mountain is of great importance, and the elders all wanted to accompany him. But the Old Sword Elder refused them all, determined to go down the mountain alone."

"But he had difficulty walking and was in poor health, so he always had someone to take care of his daily needs. Therefore, my friend became a 'sword boy,' following the Old Sword Elder and accompanying him down the mountain. In this way, he was able to learn about what happened later."

Ding Heilang said, "Miss Xia, your friend is destined for greatness. Her experience and knowledge are truly remarkable, rarely seen in the martial world." Yao Yin chimed in, "She was involved in all of these events." Huang Axia said, "Yes, she was imprisoned on the mountainside, emerged from the tomb, became a sword attendant, and accompanied the Old Sword Elder down the mountain. A series of coincidences and opportunities—it's hard to explain in words. If she hadn't kept so many things to herself, she would never have revealed them to me."

Li Xian asked, "What happens next?"

Huang Axia said, "Afterwards, the Old Sword Elder and his apprentice went down the mountain and found the woman's residence. However, they found it empty, and the woman had vanished without a trace. My friend angrily exclaimed, 'Ah! Could it be that the woman was deliberately playing us?' The Old Sword Elder laughed and said, 'She wasn't playing us; she was making us understand the situation. If we need something from someone, we should take the initiative to find them, not make them wait.'"

"And so, after nearly a month, we finally met the lady. The two sat down to discuss the matter. The lady said, ' Old Sword Elder is a grandmaster of the Sword Alliance. My daughter's joking remark years ago actually led to your Old Sword Elder down the mountain; it's truly astonishing.' The Old Sword Elder replied, 'I am old and nearing the end of my life, with little hope of survival. Therefore, I cherish my time. Please, Madam, get to the point.' The lady laughed, 'Excellent! The Five-Mountain Sword Alliance... is founded on the sword, and guided by the mountains. Old Sword Elder truly is a role model for us. Then let's speak frankly: even if Old Sword Elder were to come, the Jade Dragon... will ultimately not be found!'"

The Old Sword Elder frowned, and said calmly, "Young man, so you're saying you're deliberately trying to amuse me because I'm old but not dead, sick but not stiff?" As he spoke, a subtle aura emanated from him. My friend was already feeling extremely uncomfortable, struggling to breathe. But the lady seemed completely unaffected, simply sipping her tea quietly. She then said, "I've used up Jade Dragon, but since I summoned you, Old Sword Elder, I must have something to discuss." The Old Sword Elder asked, "Speak frankly." The lady said, "The Jade Dragon has been devoured by my Ancestor Silkworm. My Ancestor Silkworm will awaken soon, and at that time it can secrete Jade Nectar. Perhaps it will have the same effect as the Jade Dragon. I can give the Jade Nectar to you, senior Old Sword Elder." The Old Sword Elder said, "Conditions." The lady said, "I want you to also give me the Old Sword Elder Sword Repository Canon. You are a straightforward person, so I won't beat around the bush. I don't know the extent of your injuries, senior, so my Jade Nectar might not be useful. The decision is entirely up to you, senior."

The Old Sword Elder said, "The Sword Repository Canon... Why would you want this?" The woman looked at him strangely and said, "It may not be of much use, but it wouldn't hurt to have it to look at. Perhaps..." The Old Sword Elder said, "The Sword Repository Canon contains the insights of my My Sword. Although it doesn't contain any Swordsmanship, it is still quite extraordinary. Please explain more clearly."

The lady smiled and asked, "How old are you this year, sir?" The Old Sword Elder replied, "Hmph!" The lady said, "At your advanced age, your vision must be profound. Just watch my Swordsmanship, see the extent of its mastery..." She then gently swirled her teacup, without actually wielding her sword. The Old Sword Elder watched intently, a look of admiration on his face. "A truly formidable young man! Such profound Swordsmanship, reaching the Peak Mastery! Impressive, truly impressive!"

The lady smiled and said, "Senior, please don't be impatient, please continue." She swirled her teacup, as if demonstrating martial arts. The Old Sword Elder frowned and said, "This... this... even at the pinnacle of Peak Mastery, there are differences. I don't know why, but in your Peak Mastery, it seems some kind of breakthrough is secretly brewing? This... how is this possible? Strange, wondrous!" The lady said, "Senior, you are of advanced age, and have practiced swordsmanship for a very long time. Yet, even you, have you ever considered that beyond the Peak Mastery, there are even new horizons?"

The Old Sword Elder trembled, "You... you... what ambition!! Aren't you afraid of Qi Deviation? This delusional thought will ultimately be nothing but a pipe dream!" The lady shook her head and sighed, "Although you are a senior, and I respect you, you are already old. The scenery you haven't seen, I have seen. The realms you haven't experienced, I have deeply felt, and suffered greatly as a result. But then again, if I hadn't met that nemesis, I might have ended up like you. If I hadn't suffered that loss, how could I have experienced it deeply, how could I have found the clues? The martial path is boundless, and I must seek it. I have gained a deeper understanding now. Although that attainment is elusive, I will definitely reach it; there is no doubt about that. Otherwise, how could I subdue that brat in the future? The martial path has no peak, how can I not explore it?"

The Old Sword Elder was intimidated by this force and later admitted that he regretted his old age and that he would give way to that lady in the future, daring not to provoke her.