Everyone, including experts like Sword Spirit and Lu Yuanzhen, retreated again and again, not daring to face the blades' edge.
"A sword has a spirit and chooses its own master!" Sword Spirit murmured. "I thought it was only a legend. Now I see it's true!"
The sword light subsided and descended. The black and white swords came to rest at an angle behind Tang Changsheng's back.
"Congratulations, Junior Brother! With these swords, you're a tiger given wings."
"And thank you, Senior Sister, for bringing them all this way. Please tell the Sect Leader that I will hold Cloudtail Mountain!" Tang Changsheng declared.
Qin Qingyan shook her head gently. "Junior Brother, the Sect Leader said people matter more than land. If you must, you can give up Cloudtail Mountain for the time being and retreat to Great Expansion Peak!"
Preserve the people and lose the land, and both can be regained. Preserve the land and lose the people, and both are lost!
Tang Changsheng understood that well enough, though he had plans of his own. For now, he said, "Very well. If I'm left with no choice, I'll retreat to Great Expansion Peak. And Senior Sister, please thank the Sect Leader and my master for me..."
After seeing Qin Qingyan and her party off, Lu Yuanzhen shook his head and sighed. "The wind fills the tower before the mountain rain..."
Tang Changsheng gave a wry smile. "That mountain rain has already arrived!"
They exchanged a glance and both burst out laughing.
Tang Changsheng asked, "Martial Uncle, how much longer until you become a True Immortal?"
"Eight or ten years, at most," Lu Yuanzhen replied calmly.
A faint look of delight crossed Tang Changsheng's face. To a cultivator, especially one at the Yang Spirit Level, eight or ten years was hardly long.