Flying Dragon Spiral Armor

"Whoa!"

Yu Huatian gently tugged the reins, bringing his horse to a halt, and raised a hand to stop the procession.

"Director!"

Ma Jinliang and the others immediately rode forward, their expressions stern and killing intent glinting in their eyes.

Ma Jinliang said coldly, "Be careful, Director. This man reeks of killing intent. He probably means us harm. Let me deal with him!"

The West Depot agents and Embroidered Uniform Guard behind them were not top-tier fighters, but they too sensed something amiss. They gathered around Yu Huatian to protect him.

Even Lu Xiaofeng and his two companions grew solemn. Fu Hongxue's hand instinctively settled on his saber's hilt, a sign that he had sensed danger.

"Such powerful sword intent!"

Hua Manlou frowned. "With sword intent this terrifying, he ought to be well known in the martial world. Yet none of the famous swordsmen seem to fit him. His sword intent is strange-filled with killing intent."

Lu Xiaofeng gently waved his folding fan and narrowed his eyes in thought before saying, "Judging by his attire, he probably doesn't belong to any sect. He looks more like a lone assassin. With such powerful sword intent and killing intent, one man comes to mind..."

Hua Manlou rolled his eyes at him. "Stop keeping us in suspense. Out with it."

A smile touched Lu Xiaofeng's lips. "He should be Yan Shisan, a famous killer from the northwest. He practices his family's sword art, the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords. It's a first-rate sword art, but unfortunately, the Yan family's ancestors never produced any renowned swordsmen. Only in Yan Shisan's generation did an exceptional talent emerge. At seventeen, he had already mastered the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords and earned quite a reputation around Mount Hua in the northwest. People called him the Life-Taking Swordsman. He should be nearly thirty now, and his sword intent has grown even stronger."

"Yan Shisan?"

Everyone frowned slightly and began murmuring among themselves. Clearly, they had never heard the name.

Only Yu Huatian glanced at Lu Xiaofeng in surprise. "You certainly live up to your reputation, Lu Xiaofeng. You truly are well informed. Is there anyone under heaven you don't know?"

Lu Xiaofeng smiled modestly, though his tone was thoroughly confident and proud. "You flatter me, Eunuch. Mostly, I enjoy wandering about whenever I have nothing to do, so I've met martial heroes from many places. I can't speak for the other dynasties, but here in Ming, there may truly be no one I haven't heard of!"

"Heh."

Yu Huatian chuckled without disputing him, then turned and rode forward to meet the man.

"Director?"

Ma Jinliang and the others hurriedly called out. They were not worried about Yu Huatian; rather, as his subordinates, they would look useless if he had to handle everything himself.

"It's fine. Wait here. Don't follow."

Yu Huatian waved a hand, his gaze still fixed ahead.

He could sense that Yan Shisan had come for him.

As it happened, he also wanted to see how his Thirteen Life-Taking Swords differed from Yan Shisan's!

With that, Yu Huatian urged his horse slowly forward.

The blazing sun burned like fire. At some point, gusts of autumn wind had begun sweeping through the desert. Hoofbeats sounded in the distance as several more martial wanderers arrived to watch the excitement. Noticing what was happening, they stopped to observe.

Someone looked back and frowned slightly.

"Isn't that Yue Buqun, the leader of the Mount Hua Sect? He's here too?"

"It really is him! And that beautiful woman must be his wife, Ning Zhongze. Back in the western Mount Hua region, she was known as the Jade Maiden of Mount Hua. 'Matchless and peerless, a single sword of Ning'-countless dashing heroes fell under her spell. Who knows how many men envied Yue Buqun for marrying her!"

"Uh... is that the point? The point is, what's he here for? The Mount Hua Sect has never liked joining the excitement, but now Yue Buqun has brought people here. Could he have designs on the treasure too?"

"You have a point."

The crowd murmured quietly, but their gazes remained fixed on the two figures in the desert ahead.

Hearing them, Ma Jinliang and the others also glanced back, their brows creasing slightly.

Ji Xueyong narrowed his eyes. "They say that when the Director previously came to Dragon Gate Pass disguised as a wandering swordsman, he killed two people near Green Mountain Town. One was Yue Buqun's eldest disciple, Linghu Chong. Could his arrival now mean..."

A cold gleam flashed in Ma Jinliang's eyes. "Ignore him for now. Whatever he's here for, if he dares play any tricks behind our backs, we'll wipe out his entire Mount Hua Sect-not even a chicken or dog will survive!"

Ma Jinliang made no effort to lower his voice. He even spoke deliberately louder to ensure the martial onlookers behind them could hear.

At these overbearing words, many of the martial wanderers' expressions shifted. Given the imperial court's strength, it was certainly entitled to make such a threat. Still, the remark was not aimed at them, so everyone instinctively turned toward the newly arrived Yue Buqun, waiting to see his response.

No names had been named, but everyone could tell that the words were directed at Yue Buqun.

Under their gazes, even Ning Zhongze's expression darkened. Yue Buqun, however, remained as placid as still water. He even greeted several acquaintances with courteous humility, as though he had not heard Ma Jinliang at all.

Those who had expected another spectacle were disappointed, but they also felt some admiration.

He truly deserved the name "Gentleman Sword." Such restraint and composure were extraordinary!

What no one noticed was that, beneath his broad sleeves, Yue Buqun's fair hands had clenched into tight fists. Despite his outward air of a modest gentleman, humiliation and venom flashed deep in his eyes, and a faint killing intent swirled around him.

Seemingly sensing something, Ning Zhongze took his left arm in concern.

Yue Buqun drew a deep breath and slowly unclenched his fists. Smiling, he patted Ning Zhongze's delicate hand and whispered, "I'm fine."

Then he raised his head again and, like the other martial onlookers, watched the distant battlefield. The chill deep in his eyes never faded.

Under everyone's eyes, Yu Huatian slowly approached and stopped a hundred meters from the black-clad swordsman.

It was not that Yu Huatian dared not go closer. His horse seemed to have sensed danger, and no matter how he urged it, it refused to advance another step.

Helpless, Yu Huatian could only pat its head and scold it in frustrated disappointment. "Useless."

Still, a man of his standing would hardly hold a grudge against a horse. He floated down from the saddle, landed in the middle of the road, and looked toward the black-clad swordsman with narrowed eyes.

"I know who you are, Yan Shisan."

"What I don't understand is why a man of your temperament would do something this foolish. You should know the consequences of blocking my path and failing."

Beneath the sunlight, Yan Shisan lifted his head slightly at those words, revealing a face filled with desolation.

Yes, this was the first time desolation had been used to describe someone's appearance, yet it did not seem out of place at all.

Neither a wanderer nor a killer could ordinarily be described by desolation, yet that was truly the only emotion Yu Huatian saw on Yan Shisan's face.

His black attire and the sword in its black scabbard, meanwhile, symbolized sorrow, ill omen, and death!

This man seemed born to embody such contradictions.

"I know. Yu Huatian, chief eunuch of the imperial court's West Depot."

Yan Shisan's voice was low but not hoarse, and it seemed to sound right beside the listener's ear.

Yu Huatian frowned slightly. "Since you know who I am, why have you come to die?"

"Someone paid me to kill you, but that isn't the main reason I came."

As he spoke, Yan Shisan slowly raised his black-sheathed sword, then drew it.

The sword was slightly longer than an ordinary blade, about three feet seven inches. It was blue-black throughout, with even its hilt black. He seemed particularly fond of that color.

Studying the sword in his hand, Yan Shisan said softly, "Being alive is little different from being dead for me. But before I die, I have one unfulfilled wish. I must find someone and kill him to prove myself. Yan Shisan is Yan Shisan, not someone else's shadow."

Yu Huatian vaguely understood what he meant. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "Then why come to me instead of seeking him out?"

A trace of regret and indifference appeared in Yan Shisan's eyes as he spoke with something like a sigh.

"Because I know that, with my current strength, I'm still no match for him. I don't want to die at his hands now. To him, I would merely be one of his many challengers. Even if I died beneath his sword, no one would remember me. I could never close my eyes in peace."

"As it happened, someone asked me to kill you, so I came."

"Given your standing, even if I die at your hands, the world will remember the name Yan Shisan, rather than some Life-Taking Swordsman or another man's shadow."

Yu Huatian's gaze instantly turned cold.

"You don't want to die at his hands, so you're using me as a stepping stone to fame? Have you considered that, once you're dead, I could brand you a rebel against the imperial court-a villain guilty of unforgivable crimes? Your reputation might stink worse than it ever did while you lived!"

"It doesn't matter, as long as I'm not regarded as his shadow."

Yan Shisan shook his head slightly, then raised his sword and offered a formal salute. "This sword of mine has lain hidden in its case for nearly twenty years. None of the enemies I've encountered deserved to be my opponent, yet I haven't been confident enough to challenge him. So I've long wanted someone to measure my worth. You hold high office, and in the battle two nights ago, you laid a trap and slaughtered thousands of martial experts in one stroke. Your name resounds throughout the martial world. Would you grant me a lesson?"

Seeing this, Yu Huatian said nothing further. The Heavenly Sword suddenly sprang from his waist like a dragon rising from clear water, its silver radiance dazzling.

At the same time, an immensely powerful sword intent slowly rose from him.

"A fine sword!"

Looking at the blade in Yu Huatian's hand, Yan Shisan could not help praising it before continuing.

"They say Abbess Miejue of the Emei School also died at your hands during that rainy battle two nights ago. That must be the Emei School's Heavenly Sword, then?"

Yu Huatian replied impassively, "Do you think I'm relying on a superior weapon? I can use another sword."

"No need!"

Yan Shisan shook his head. "Dying beneath the Heavenly Sword would be an honor. But why does your swordsmanship feel familiar?"

Sensing the sword intent rising from Yu Huatian, a trace of puzzlement flashed in Yan Shisan's eyes.

"Because we practice the same sword art-the Yan family's Thirteen Life-Taking Swords."

Before Yan Shisan could respond, Yu Huatian's figure flashed forward. Cold light blazed from the Heavenly Sword, and before he himself arrived, his sword qi had already reached Yan Shisan.

This was none other than the First Sword of the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords-Sword Thrust to Seal the Throat!

Yan Shisan had thought Yu Huatian was joking. His pupils contracted, shock and confusion rising in his eyes. But there was no time to ponder how Yu Huatian knew his family's Thirteen Life-Taking Swords. Instinctively, he swung his sword in a slash.

The second form-Green Peak Slashes the Face!

Such was the essence of the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords. Every one of its thirteen forms attacked; none defended.

Moreover, long years without encountering a worthy opponent had instilled Yan Shisan with tremendous confidence. In his world, too, there was only attack.

But this time, he had overlooked one thing: this opponent was different...

Clang!

A clear clash of swords rang out. Two currents of murderous sword qi spread through the air. Though no force escaped, the thousands of spectators behind them felt a chill cut to their bones, as though the scorching desert had plunged into winter.

The instant the weapons met, Yan Shisan sensed something wrong. He tried to pull back his strength and retreat, but an incomparably fierce sword intent surged toward him even faster. Every hair on his body stood on end. Then his chest sank under the impact, and he hurtled backward, stamping a row of deep footprints into the solid road.

With that single strike, Yu Huatian had roughly gauged Yan Shisan's strength. He did not attack again, merely standing where he was and watching the shocked, bewildered man opposite him.

"You... how do you know my family's sword art?"

Once his initial shock passed, Yan Shisan could not help asking.

He could sense that, apart from some other elements mixed into Yu Huatian's sword intent, their sword techniques were almost identical. Yu Huatian's proficiency in the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords was no less than his own!

Yu Huatian said evenly, "As Director of the West Depot, a third-rank minister of the imperial court charged with overseeing the realm, learning a few supreme martial arts is hardly difficult for me."

Doubt flickered in Yan Shisan's eyes. He had never heard of the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords circulating in the martial world and did not know whether Yu Huatian was telling the truth.

Regardless, he could now be certain that Yu Huatian knew the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords. There was no point dwelling on how he had learned them.

Instead, Yan Shisan knew the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords better than anyone. He refused to believe he would lose to Yu Huatian in his own family's martial art!

Yan Shisan took a deep breath and said solemnly, "I can sense other sword arts within your sword intent. You may use those techniques against me. I don't wish to take advantage of you."

Yu Huatian shook his head slightly. "No need. I want to see how your Thirteen Life-Taking Swords differ from mine. By the way, you should have comprehended the Fourteenth Sword by now. Use it and let me see."

Yan Shisan froze, then stared at Yu Huatian with wide eyes. "You also believe there's a Fourteenth Sword beyond the thirteen?!"

Yu Huatian was taken aback as well. Since Yan Shisan had already decided to seek a duel with Xie Xiaofeng, he had assumed that, even if he had not comprehended the Fourteenth Sword, he would at least have begun considering it. He had not expected Yan Shisan to remain uncertain whether it even existed.

Recovering, Yu Huatian smiled faintly. "There's not only a Fourteenth Sword, but a Fifteenth Sword as well."

"The Fifteenth Sword..."

Yan Shisan murmured, his eyes blazing with fervor. Then he looked at Yu Huatian. "Have you already comprehended the Fourteenth Sword and the Fifteenth Sword?!"

"No."

Yu Huatian shook his head. "I've only learned all thirteen swords. For the Fourteenth Sword, I merely have a preliminary idea. I was about to test it against you."

His gaze burning, Yan Shisan nodded deeply. "Good. If you truly can comprehend the Fourteenth Sword, then dying beneath it would be an honor."

"Please, Eunuch!"

As his words fell, Yan Shisan's aura abruptly changed. His tall, lean figure became like a blade with its edge fully bared. His forefinger hooked against his sword, and his piercing gaze locked onto Yu Huatian, filled with fervor, anticipation, apprehension, and more.

To hear the Way at dawn, one could die content at dusk!

Yu Huatian slowly tightened his grip on the Heavenly Sword. His movements seemed unhurried, yet were clean, decisive, and flawless. Bone-chilling killing intent erupted from him alongside razor-sharp sword intent.

At that moment, both men's sword auras climbed to their peaks!

Countless eyes behind them stared fixedly at the battle about to erupt.

"This may well be a pinnacle clash of swordsmanship, second only to battles among the Ten Great Swordsmen!"

Lu Xiaofeng spoke with a grave expression.

Fu Hongxue tightened his grip on his saber. The sword intent emanating from these two men made even him feel threatened.

The others also watched solemnly, their attention fixed on the field. No one spoke to break the heavy silence.

"Whoosh..."

The wind grew louder. Wind and clouds shifted overhead, as though the weather was about to turn.

Shing!

At last, Yan Shisan struck.

He knew that, with both men practicing the same sword art, whoever attacked first would expose an opening first, allowing his opponent to find the best counter. Thus, both had kept gathering momentum and searching for an opening, neither making a move.

But he could wait no longer!

He wanted to see whether Yu Huatian could produce the Fourteenth Sword in this battle. He desperately wanted to witness just how terrifying that legendary Fourteenth Sword would be!

In an instant, his body followed his sword, and his sword followed his qi.

As the three-foot blade swept forward, it resembled an azure dragon breathing out. Even the solid road beneath it developed a thin, straight line stretching ahead.

The eighth form of the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords-Passing Flash!

While still three feet away, Yu Huatian felt the sharpness pierce straight toward his eyes. Sword qi rushed at his face, chilling him to the bone. Yet his expression remained calm. With only a slight lift of his hand, he unleashed the second sword, Returning Wind Seizes the Moon.

His sharp sword intent carried a skyful of yellow sand as he turned and thrust straight into Yan Shisan's sword qi.

A single point pierced the whole, and the sword qi shattered in an instant.

But at the same time, Yan Shisan twisted his body, changing techniques at the very instant before his sword qi completely shattered.

His sword hilt flicked lightly against his wrist. Sword qi as deadly as a venomous snake reappeared, instantly breaking Yu Huatian's sword intent and stabbing straight toward his throat.

The fourth form-Wrist-Breaking Sword Flick!

The first form-Sword Thrust to Seal the Throat!

In the midst of Passing Flash, Yan Shisan had switched through two sword techniques in an instant. In other words, Passing Flash was merely a feint; his true killing moves were the two swords hidden behind it!

A flash of admiration appeared in Yu Huatian's eyes. As expected of the first swordsman in the Yan family to bring the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords to their pinnacle, his attainment truly was extraordinary!

But through the system's infusion, Yu Huatian had likewise brought the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords to complete mastery. Combined with his Grandmaster-level perception, his reactions were no slower.

Just as Yan Shisan's sword was about to pierce his throat, Yu Huatian stepped back and thrust straight out again!

The seventh sword-Retreating Step, Returning Swallow!

Boom!

The two sword tips collided with perfect precision, but the sound was not the ring of clashing steel. It was a thunderous explosion, like a thunderclap out of a clear sky.

Their powerful sword qi collided, visibly warping the surrounding air. Dust flew into the sky, swallowing both figures from sight.

Before the spectators could react, a rapid clang, clang, clang of metal striking metal rang out from within the dust.

The two figures moved like roaming dragons through the haze. Every clash of their swords stirred another burst of dust, until a tornado seemed to sweep across the center of the road. Within it, the two men fought madly.

After only a few exchanges, both had gauged the other's swordsmanship. Now it was purely a contest of attacks and counters, a test of whose resilience was greater. Whoever exposed an opening first would die!

This was no exaggeration. Between swordsmen, a single mistake was often the instant that decided life and death.

Although Yu Huatian felt some admiration for Yan Shisan at that moment and did not particularly want to kill him, Yan Shisan had already put his mission out of his mind upon learning that Yu Huatian intended to comprehend the Fourteenth Sword, and no longer harbored any killing intent toward him.

Yet the terrifying aggression of the Thirteen Life-Taking Swords had put life and death beyond their control. They could only leave their fates to heaven!

The spectators behind them could not make out their figures, but even so, the unbroken ringing of their swords conveyed the terrifying danger within. Everyone watched tensely, eager to know who would prevail in this duel.

Whooo-

The wind grew ever more shrill, howling relentlessly as it gradually whipped yellow sand into the sky.

Everyone's attention was fixed on the center of the duel. At first, they assumed this was caused by the lingering waves of sword qi from the clash, but as the yellow sand grew denser, some began to sense that something was wrong.

"This is bad!"

Someone glanced back and immediately turned pale with alarm.

At some unknown point, the distant sky had darkened. Terrifying tornadoes, each a hundred zhang tall and more than ten zhang wide, were forming beneath it, sweeping in every direction.

Dense clouds of sand whirled upward, blotting out the sky and sun as though the end of the world had come!

"It's the desert's Black Sandstorm!"

Lu Xiaofeng's pupils contracted. He shouted, "It's heading this way! We can't stay here! Go!"

Before he had finished speaking, he unleashed his lightness technique, Phoenix Dance of the Nine Heavens, seized Hua Manlou and Fu Hongxue with one hand each, and flew backward at tremendous speed.

"I can walk on my own! Let go!"

Fu Hongxue found the way Lu Xiaofeng had tucked him under his arm rather humiliating and shoved him away in irritation. Still, he did not linger, instead hurrying after Lu Xiaofeng.

Though proud and aloof by nature, he was no fool.

He sensed an utterly terrifying danger within those tornadoes, one even more intense than the threat posed by the two men dueling before him.

Such power of nature was beyond any human strength to withstand!

"Chief, what should we do?"

Seeing Lu Xiaofeng and the others retreat, the men of the West Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard grew uneasy as well, turning their eyes toward Ma Jinliang.

Ma Jinliang knitted his brows tightly. As he watched the tornadoes drawing closer in the distance, tension stirred in his heart as well.

After a moment's deliberation, he gritted his teeth and said, "We'll retreat too. We'll return once the storm is over!"

"But what about the governor?"

Ji Xueyong looked toward the haze of dust ahead. The battle between the two men had reached fever pitch, and neither seemed to have noticed the approaching danger. They were still fighting madly to the death.

Ma Jinliang waved a hand. "Take the men and go first. I'll stay here and wait for the governor!"

Ji Xueyong's expression darkened. But if they did not leave now, these thousands of men would likely all perish here. The governor, on the other hand, had attained consummate mastery in martial arts and might be able to retreat safely.

At that thought, Ji Xueyong gritted his teeth and shouted, "Retreat!"

With that, he immediately led the men in a swift retreat in the opposite direction from the approaching tornadoes. Only Ma Jinliang and Ding Xiu remained where they stood.

Ma Jinliang looked at Ding Xiu and frowned. "You're not leaving?"

With the Miao Saber resting on his shoulder, Ding Xiu ignored the howling, apocalyptic scene in the distance. His gaze remained fixed on the battlefield within the dust ahead. At the question, he replied lazily, "Relax. A little Black Sandstorm isn't enough to kill me."

Ma Jinliang gave him a long look, a trace of approval entering his eyes, and said nothing more.

As the West Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard withdrew, many of the martial artists farther back dared not linger either and began fleeing.

But not everyone did the same.

At the sight of that terrifying scene, some felt no fear at all. Instead, they instantly recalled the cryptic saying about the Great White Upper Kingdom's treasure. Feverish madness blazed in their eyes, and they actually ran straight toward the storm.

"Flying Dragon Spiral Armor, the sea of sand reveals the divine gate!"

"The prophecy has come true! The treasure is about to emerge!"

"Hahahaha!"

"The treasure is all mine! All mine!"

Ma Jinliang and Ding Xiu watched those crazed martial artists with a trace of mockery in their eyes.

Ma Jinliang sneered. "Men die for wealth, birds die for food. There's never any shortage of fools like that in this world."

"The more fools like that, the better. Perhaps the martial world will be a little quieter, and fewer innocent people will die." Ding Xiu looked utterly unconcerned, his eyes still fixed on the haze of dust not far away.

Seeing this, Ma Jinliang turned to look as well, worry flickering through his eyes from time to time.

This combined installment is almost seven thousand characters long. Looks like the Fourteenth Sword will have to wait until the next chapter. The desert arc is nearly over too.

It's Friday. Please keep reading and send recommendation votes. Thank you, bosses!

(End of chapter)