Taiji Sword, Taught by an Immortal

The front hall of the Li residence.

Li Ziye arrived.

He wore embroidered silk from Yun Province and green jade from the East Sea at his waist, his face as flawless as polished jade, his bearing that of a banished immortal.

Judging by his looks and bearing alone, Li Ziye was truly a striking young talent, far above the ordinary.

Even the holy sons and holy maidens of immortal sects could probably do no better.

In short, Li Ziye looked outstanding, exceptional, and very convincing.

Inside the hall, an unusual gleam also flashed through Third Prince Mu Yao's eyes when he saw Li Ziye's extraordinary bearing.

What a prodigy of the Li Family. He truly lives up to his reputation.

Those rumors in Yuzhou City and across the Great Shang Dynasty weren't wind from an empty cave.

"You must be Brother Ziye."

Before Li Ziye could speak, Mu Yao rose and approached, smiling as he spoke with great courtesy.

"This commoner, Li Ziye, pays his respects to Your Third Highness."

Looking deeply apprehensive, Li Ziye prepared to bow. He flicked the hem of his robes, then shook out his sleeves, looking so solemn that he seemed ready to perform three kneelings and nine kowtows.

"No need for such formalities, Brother Ziye."

Mu Yao caught him and held him up, smiling. "We aren't in the palace. We can dispense with the elaborate etiquette."

This was the Li residence. Naturally, he could not allow the Li Family's young master to perform such a grand salute.

"Thank you, Your Third Highness."

Li Ziye, who had never intended to bow in the first place, took the opportunity to straighten, smiling just as brightly.

"Please, Brother Ziye."

Mu Yao returned to his seat and looked at the youth sitting opposite him. "I heard of your great reputation before coming to Yuzhou City, Brother Ziye. Now that we've met, your presence is indeed extraordinary."

"You flatter me, Your Third Highness. Your own reputation for virtue is known throughout the world. This commoner has admired you for a long time," Li Ziye said softly.

Their pleasantries sounded so sincere, yet as rivals who both sought to become Qin Enuo's disciple, their exchange was truly hypocritical.

"I hear your attainments in the sword are exceptional, Brother Ziye. Might you offer me a little instruction?" Mu Yao asked after taking a sip of tea.

"Before Your Third Highness, how could this commoner dare claim to understand the sword?" Li Ziye replied with a smile.

"There's no need to be so modest, Brother Ziye. Nearly everyone in the Great Shang Dynasty knows you're a genius of the sword who created his own sword art at ten. Even that senior Sword Fanatic praised your talent endlessly," Mu Yao said softly.

"Rumors are only rumors, after all."

Li Ziye smiled. "Unlike Your Highness, who is a true master of the sword. How could this commoner's firefly glow dare compete with a bright moon like Your Highness?"

"Heh, heh."

In the seat of honor, Li Baiwan merely grinned along as he listened to their conversation, without interrupting.

Mu Yao silently set down his teacup, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

This father and son really won't take oil or salt. They're difficult to deal with.

"Your Third Highness, which Divine Repository have you opened?"

Li Ziye took a sip of tea and suddenly asked.

The martial path emphasized cultivating the body. Humans had five viscera, which governed the five kinds of Qi.

Cultivators called them the Five Divine Treasures!

Legend had it that great cultivators existed in this world who had opened all Five Divine Treasures and possessed the power to level mountains and tread the seas.

"The Second Divine Treasure."

Mu Yao did not conceal it and answered truthfully.

Envy appeared on Li Ziye's face at his answer. What a gulf.

"And you, Brother Ziye?" Mu Yao asked in turn.

"I haven't opened a single Divine Repository," Li Ziye said with a smile.

Slightly surprised, Mu Yao said, "You must be joking, Brother Ziye."

"How would this commoner dare joke before Your Highness?"

Li Ziye smiled. "That is why this commoner is so anxious to become the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal's disciple. I hope Your Highness will oblige me."

Mu Yao narrowed his eyes at this. A moment later, he smiled calmly. "That is for Fairy Qin herself to decide. It isn't something either of us can influence, is it?"

"Your Third Highness is absolutely right."

Li Ziye set down his teacup and smiled. "Whatever the outcome, I hope Your Highness will stay in Yuzhou City a few more days, so that our residence may fulfill its duties as host."

"Then I shall accept rather than stand on ceremony."

Mu Yao did not refuse and agreed courteously.

He had never intended to leave so easily on this visit.

Over the past ten years, the Li Family of Yuzhou City had developed at a truly astonishing pace. Its accumulated wealth had already begun to make the imperial court wary. He had to discover whether the Li Family had any further hidden depths unknown to the court.

But had this Li Ziye really not opened a single Divine Repository, as he claimed?

Why?

Seated opposite him, Li Ziye watched the thoughtful expression on the Great Shang Dynasty's third prince, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

That old fox, the Shang Emperor, really does intend to move against the Li Family. In that case, our family will have to fulfill its duties as host properly over the coming days.

Amid their thoughts, the two exchanged smiles and quietly drank their tea, each harboring his own schemes.

During the long wait, the setting sun traveled west.

Just then, plum blossoms drifted down above the Li residence.

"She's here."

Inside the residence, Li Ziye spoke when he saw them.

Li Baiwan and Mu Yao turned their heads. Seeing plum blossoms drifting across the sky, they immediately rose to welcome her.

A moment later, Sword Qi crisscrossed the sky above the Li residence. The Plum Blossom Fairy arrived riding a sword, her sashes fluttering, graceful as an immortal.

"Badassery spilling everywhere."

Li Ziye made no attempt to hide the envy on his face as he watched Qin Enuo's entrance.

Why did he want to practice martial arts? Was it to fight? Of course not.

He just wanted to show off.

Like Old Qin, turning heads wherever she went.

Two breaths later, amid a sky full of Sword Qi, Qin Enuo descended from above and walked up to the three of them.

"Fairy."

Li Baiwan still wore the look of a complete simp, his fleshy face wreathed in smiles as he stepped forward to bow.

Mu Yao was much more proper. He bowed courteously, neither servile nor overbearing, fully displaying his royal bearing.

"Old... Fairy."

The words "Old Qin" nearly slipped out. Li Ziye jolted in fright, hurriedly swallowed what he had been about to say, and cupped his hands in salute.

Beside him, Li Baiwan was also so frightened that cold sweat covered his forehead and his legs went weak.

Qin Enuo's delicate brows creased at the father and son's reactions. Though she did not understand what was happening, she asked no further questions and said calmly, "Let's dispense with the pleasantries and begin."

Mu Yao exchanged a glance with Li Ziye and said, "Brother Ziye, would you go first?"

"I wouldn't dare. Your Third Highness, please go first," Li Ziye replied politely.

"Very well."

Mu Yao did not decline, taking a sword from the servant behind him.

The instant he grasped the sword, Mu Yao's presence changed. From a refined, courteous prince, he became a keen-edged sword.

The sword moved like startling thunder, like a sweeping rainbow. The blade in Mu Yao's hand resembled a ribbon of blue light, and in a dazzling instant, ten moves had already flowed together.

"Son, how's his swordsmanship?"

Li Baiwan secretly poked Li Ziye's arm and asked in a low voice.

"I can't make sense of it, but it seems pretty impressive."

Li Ziye answered just as quietly.

"His sword is like a startled swan. Quite good indeed."

Beside them, Qin Enuo seemed to have heard their conversation. She said calmly, "The Great Shang Dynasty's third prince has the makings of a sword immortal."

Li Ziye and Li Baiwan exchanged glances at her words, surprise in both their eyes.

Old Qin seems to think very highly of the third prince. This isn't good.

Could Old Qin have taken a fancy to him?

That won't do.

"However."

Just as their thoughts began to stir, Qin Enuo's tone shifted as she gave an honest assessment. "Though his swordsmanship is good, unfortunately, most of the moves can be traced to existing sources. He did not create them himself."

"Ahem, all martial arts under heaven reach the same destination by different paths. Similarities are hardly surprising. I believe His Third Highness still put some effort into these moves."

Seeing Old Qin's tone change, Li Ziye cleared his throat and offered the third prince an utterly insincere compliment, amply demonstrating his generosity.

Qin Enuo turned her gaze toward him and studied him for a moment before looking away. She nodded. "Perhaps. Since you're speaking on his behalf, I'll count this test as a pass for him."

Smack!

The corner of Li Ziye's mouth twitched, and he immediately slapped himself.

That'll teach you to run your damned mouth!

"Your turn."

The corners of Qin Enuo's lips lifted slightly as she spoke.

Li Ziye gathered himself out of his urge to slap himself to death, took a sword from the attendant behind him, and stepped forward.

At that moment, Mu Yao finished his swordplay and walked over.

They passed shoulder to shoulder, their gazes clashing fiercely, yet neither said a word.

Under the watching eyes, Li Ziye drew his sword, his expression turning serious.

Then his sword rose.

By the lake in the rear courtyard, Zhang Lata raised his head, looked toward the front courtyard, and smiled faintly.

Taiji could be called the sword of a grandmaster.

Had he not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that sword moves so unmatched through all the ages had come from that boy's hands.

Had the boy created Taiji? Perhaps he had, perhaps he had not. In any case, this old man did not believe it.

There had to be something peculiar behind it, but the boy would not say, and he could not guess.

Qin Enuo, don't let this boy fool you.

The front courtyard.

The Taiji sword rose, perfectly rounded in primordial unity. A sword without desire, demands, or contention fully displayed a grandmaster's grace.

Through the sword forms, Li Ziye stepped and turned, constantly shifting between fast and slow at exquisitely precise moments.

Mu Yao froze, his face filled with shock and disbelief.

How was this possible!

"Taiji."

Qin Enuo softly uttered the name, her expression equally shaken. Was this the sword art spoken of in those rumors?

Under their astonished gazes, the sword in Li Ziye's hand shifted faster and faster, its defense so tight that no wind could penetrate, its attacks as fierce as lightning.

Faintly, wind and thunder sounded above Li Ziye, while rosy light rose and fell.

Qin Enuo raised her head and watched the phenomenon in the sky, imperceptible to ordinary people, her expression growing ever more shocked.

Heaven and earth bearing witness!

She had not seen such a phenomenon for many years.

The last time such a phenomenon had appeared was when the master of the Divine Oracle Temple in the Western Regions reproduced the Divine Oracle Scripture. That day, wind and thunder resounded together for a hundred li around the temple, shaking heaven and earth.

Compared with that, the phenomenon now was far weaker. Yet the master of the Divine Oracle Temple was a great cultivator who had opened all Five Divine Treasures.

This boy has astonishing talent. His future is limitless!

Watching Li Ziye beneath the phenomenon of wind and thunder, Qin Enuo made that judgment with utter certainty.

A long while later, under everyone's eyes, Li Ziye finished his swordplay, and the phenomenon of wind and thunder vanished with it.

"Did you truly create this sword art?"

Recovering from her shock, Qin Enuo asked.

"An immortal taught it to me in a dream."

Li Ziye smiled and gave an answer that was half true and half false.

After hearing this, Qin Enuo nodded and asked no further questions.

What immortals were there in this world? Even the "immortal" in sword immortal was not that kind of immortal.

"Fairy, did he pass?"

Li Baiwan asked, his face full of anticipation.

"He passed."

Qin Enuo answered, her gaze sweeping over Li Ziye and Mu Yao as she slowly continued, "One final test."

At her words, Li Ziye immediately pricked up his ears.

Mu Yao also listened intently, a trace of nervousness rising in his heart.

"At this time tomorrow, the two of you will fight. I will take the winner as my disciple," Qin Enuo said calmly.

Li Ziye's expression stiffened, and his heart sank.

By contrast, a smile appeared on Mu Yao's face, and he inwardly sighed in relief.

Victory is certain!

"Fairy!"

Li Baiwan grew anxious. Stepping forward, he said gravely, "This is unfair to Ziye."

"Fair?"

Qin Enuo said indifferently, "Where in this world is there absolute fairness? The victor becomes king, the loser a bandit. That is fairness. Prepare yourselves well. At this time tomorrow, I will take the winner as my disciple."