She was young, after all, and accustomed to getting her way. With every wish fulfilled, she had never needed to hide anything; her thoughts were written all over her face.
Wu Chongxun and Wu Yanxiu took in every trace of her infatuation, frustration, and determination to have him, their expressions growing ever darker. They neither dared nor had the power to do anything to Princess Anle, so all their jealousy and humiliation poured onto the figure who had already left.
Lu Changfeng!
Some wild brat who had appeared out of nowhere had dared to use a handsome face and a few talents to bewitch Princess Anle in full view of everyone, dragging the dignity of her rightful prince consort (and lover) through the dirt!
Wu Chongxun's fingers whitened around his wine cup, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes. He was already calculating how to use the Wu family's influence to make this "guest retainer," who had no idea how high the heavens stood or how deep the earth lay, disappear without a sound.
Wu Yanxiu's face was harder still, like iron. Proud of his good looks, he had always been Princess Anle's favorite playmate. Now someone had suddenly appeared who eclipsed him in looks, talent, and bearing alike. An overwhelming sense of threat and jealousy stirred murderous intent within him.
Princess Taiping kept her gaze steady and her expression unchanged, seemingly enjoying the singing and dancing. In truth, she saw the murderous intent of both brothers and sighed inwardly. Each generation of the Wu family was worse than the last. Wu Chengsi and Wu Sansi had at least amounted to something, but what a pity that all their sons were mere wine sacks and rice bags!
For Mother's sake, I should rein them in a little and keep them from seeking their own deaths.
What this Master Lu truly specializes in is medicine and poison.
The fourth floor of the Pivot of Heaven Pavilion.
The place truly deserved its reputation as the repository of the Princess's Residence's prized weapons. The moment he stepped inside, a chilling cold rushed into his face.
Sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks stood in orderly displays, every one dazzling with cold light. The icy gleams flowing along their edges almost stung the eyes. Each weapon radiated formidable killing intent and spiritual resonance, harboring astonishing power in its silence.
Jinghong, who had led him there, bowed her head respectfully. "Master, Her Highness has given orders. You may choose any weapon here that suits your hand."
Lu Changfeng nodded slightly, his gaze flashing like lightning as it swept over this treasure house that martial artists dreamed of.
On the eastern rack lay a broad, thick-backed saber, its blood groove faintly visible and its chill oppressive. A small inscription on the plaque beside it read: "The Wave-Cutting Saber, treasured weapon of the Eastern Sea's Giant Whale Gang. Its former leader, Pang Zhengjiang, wielded it across the Eastern Sea for thirty years."
A pair of Wu hooks hung on the western wall, their design ancient and unusual, their edges shimmering with a deep blue sheen. These were none other than the Dragon City Hooks with which the previous head of Jinling's Murong Family had made his name. Their hooking techniques were said to be uncanny, specializing in locking opponents' weapons.
There was also a gilded cavalry spear handed down from the Northern and Southern Dynasties, over ten feet long, its blade white as snow. Once wielded by an officer under Northern Qi's Hulu Guang, its murderous aura had yet to fade. Beside it stood the immensely heavy Golden-Topped Zaoyang Spear once used by Shan Xiongxin, the "Flying General," a great commander of Wagang Stronghold in the late Sui.
The sword racks held an even more dazzling array.
There was the seven-foot Mourning Sword forged and tempered by the Bashu Tang Clan, with poison sacs hidden in its spine;
There was also an eight-sided Han sword presented by the descendants of Lady Xian of Lingnan, its guard inlaid with pearls, its splendor carrying an air of majesty.
The collection here encompassed practically every renowned weapon of the martial factions from the Northern and Southern Dynasties through the Sui and Tang, like a catalog of martial arms made real.
"Rich people..."
Lu Changfeng walked unhurriedly through the biting gleams. The internal energy of his Shennong Glazed Glass Art circulated naturally within him, faintly contending with the killing intent of the surrounding weapons.
Just as he reached a darksteel rack displaying seven or eight ancient-looking longswords, he abruptly stopped.
Humm-
An exceedingly faint sword hum, almost inaudible, seemed to ring directly in the depths of his sea of consciousness.
At the same time, he distinctly felt the internal energy in his dantian's sea of qi give a small, involuntary pulse, like a stone dropped into a still lake.
His gaze instantly fixed on the corner of the sword rack, where a longsword of ancient design lay.
Its scabbard was deep blue-green, its guard shaped like a swirling cloud vortex with green jade set in the center. Elegant and dignified, it gleamed with a biting chill. An inscription adorned the sword, its strokes like iron brushwork and silver hooks, unmistakably reading:
-Move through the nine heavens, hide beneath the nine depths!
The sword seemed dormant, yet in Lu Changfeng's perception, it was like a sleeping life just awakened. It radiated a buoyant, affectionate pulse, and a unique thought reached him-not blazing hot, but lively and sharp as a mountain breeze, carrying a trace of antiquity.
The Shu Eight Swords... Wind-Raising.
A name surfaced naturally in Lu Changfeng's mind.
Lu Changfeng was secretly startled.
That divine weapons possessed spirits was common knowledge in this world. Yet ordinary weapons had to reach the fifth tier as spirit weapons before showing signs of spirituality-hence the name "spirit weapon." Sixth-tier divine weapons could even choose their masters, protect them through a bond of minds, and stir extraordinary phenomena in heaven and earth!
Yet the spirituality of this fourth-tier renowned sword was already more active than that of an ordinary spirit weapon!
It was as though a complete spirit had been sealed within the sword, one that could even introduce itself to a person!
Could it... be connected to the resurgence of spiritual energy?
Lu Changfeng's thoughts raced. Strange beasts had begun appearing; were renowned swords beginning to awaken their spirits as well?
Seeing his attention fixed on it, Jinghong explained softly, "This sword is called [Wind-Raising]. It is one of the 'Eight Swords of the Sovereign of Shu,' forged by Liu Bei, Emperor Zhaolie of Shu Han, from refined iron mined on Golden Bull Mountain. It measures three feet six inches. On the day the eight swords were completed, Liu Bei kept one for himself and bestowed the others upon Crown Prince Liu Shan, Prince of Liang Liu Li, Prince of Lu Liu Yong, Marquis Wu Zhuge, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun. He also asked Marquis Wu to inscribe them. Marquis Wu personally named them after the Eight Formations. This Wind-Raising Sword was his own sword."
Reverence crept unconsciously into her voice. "Marquis Wu's arts reached the heavens; he had no need of anything to protect himself. Nor was this an ordinary weapon of slaughter. It was a ritual sword that carried his power to 'summon wind and rain, weave heaven and order earth'! When drawn, it flowed like a gentle breeze, penetrating every opening, yet swept through like a hurricane, scouring heaven and earth."
Her voice dimmed. "Sadly, after Marquis Wu passed into immortality, the sword concealed its radiance. With nearly five hundred years gone by, its spirituality gradually faded, leaving less than a tenth of its former power. From a divine weapon, it fell to a superior renowned sword..."
"..."
Lu Changfeng opened his mouth. He had suspected it might have an impressive history, but he had never imagined it was Zhuge Liang's own sword!
What was this supposed to mean?
Was this sword blind?
What about me makes you think I can compare with the Chancellor? What are you hoping to get by choosing me?
So hungry you'll take anything, huh...
Lu Changfeng never belittled himself, but he honestly saw little resemblance between himself and Chancellor Zhuge. Zhuge Liang's vow to "bend his back to the utmost and cease only in death" had won the praise of later generations. Lu Changfeng admired it, but he would never do the same... Had this been Sima Yi's sword, he would have found their dispositions quite compatible.
How could a true man living between heaven and earth remain gloomily beneath another for long?
Even if I don't want to rule anyone else, no one had better dream of ruling me!
Learning that it was Marquis Wu's sword actually made Lu Changfeng hesitate. His main worry was that it might "change its heart" once its spirituality recovered. What if it became a divine weapon again, took another look at the "disloyal and unbenevolent" master it had chosen in its hazy state, and decided to erase that shameful history?
Lu Changfeng was about to draw back his outstretched hand-
Clang!
A clear sword note suddenly rang out. Before he could react, the [Wind-Raising Sword] sprang from the rack of its own accord, turned into a streak of blue-green light, and "jumped" precisely into the palm he was about to withdraw!
The hilt felt warm and smooth in his grasp. The green jade at the center of the cloud-vortex guard instantly shone with gentle, clear light, blending with the internal energy of his Shennong Glazed Glass Art like milk mingling with water, until neither could be distinguished from the other. A feeling of joy and contentment, like a wanderer who had found his way home, passed clearly into Lu Changfeng's heart.
More strangely still, wisps of pale blue-green air, visible to the naked eye, began coiling around the blade of their own accord. They circulated like a gentle breeze, lightly stirring his robes and giving off a lively, keen aura.
Man and sword joined in harmony, and a clear breeze arose of its own accord!
This was unmistakably the sign of a divine weapon acknowledging its master and its spirituality awakening!
Jinghong stared from the side, dumbstruck. The Wind-Raising Sword... had awakened?!
Holding the sword, Lu Changfeng felt their connection, as close as shared blood, as effortless as moving his own arm and fingers. Feeling the unreserved affection and acceptance carried on the wind, the last trace of doubt in his heart vanished like smoke and clouds.
He smiled helplessly and murmured to the sword, "You chose this yourself. Don't regret it later."
As if answering him, the blade gave another faint, delighted hum.
Clang-
Before you continue