The aroma of wine filled the air, but no one at the table paid any attention.
Leng Wuming, Zhang Qingning, and Sun Wufei were mainly intimidated by the advancing Sword Qi.
For several Sixth Rank- and Seventh Rank cultivators, Zhou Wuji's use of wine as a sword to write poetry was so powerful that it was like thunder in their ears, leaving them terrified and unable to control themselves.
The maids were even more so, all of them intimidated by the Sword Qi.
Yue Wuying and Leng Wuyou, however, saw the variations in sword techniques and the essence of Sword Intent hidden between the lines.
Although the poem is unrestrained and free-flowing, every single character, from horizontal and vertical strokes to diagonal strokes, exhibits extremely delicate and subtle variations.
The poems on the wall are actually Zhou Wuji's sword moves.
Of course, no matter how much others study it, they can only see the imagery of sword moves; they cannot learn Swordsmanship through poetry.
Swordsmanship is not just about sword moves; it has a complete set of complex operating Method Formula, visualization diagrams, and methods for circulating Divine Sense.
Even if one receives the True Disciple, one wouldn't dare say they could master it. Let alone comprehend Swordsmanship based on a single poem.
If such a genius existed in the world, he could ascend directly to immortality simply by observing celestial phenomena; why would he need to learn any Swordsmanship?
Yue Wuying and Leng Wuyou weren't actually trying to learn it; they were just using poetry as a metaphor to observe swordsmanship.
Both of them were geniuses in sword cultivation. The more they pondered the Sword Intent in the verses, the more they marveled at Zhou Wuji's superb Swordsmanship, which had reached a level that was beyond their comprehension.
Leng Wuyou forgot the humiliation of his defeat in poetry and watched with complete concentration.
Yue Wuying felt heavy-hearted. She knew she was far inferior to Zhou Wuji, who used wine to transform into sword techniques.
Looking at the Sword Intent in the poem on the wall, it far surpassed hers.
If it really came down to a sword fight, could she withstand Zhou Wuji's attacks?
Of all those present, only Wuming was interested in the imagery of the poem itself; she particularly liked the line, "The bright lamp outshines the moon, the beautiful person surpasses the lamp."
She felt a little uneasy, unsure whether Yingying referred to her, Leng Wuyou, or both of them.
Even when there were no outsiders around, she could only keep this question to herself.
A smart woman wouldn't ask such a stupid question!
Thinking of this, Wuming gripped Zhou Wuji's hand tightly. Zhou Wuji also felt there was no point in staying any longer, so he stood up and laughed heartily, "I came here in high spirits tonight, and I'll leave in high spirits."
"Fellow Daoists, Miss Zhang, farewell."
Before anyone could speak, Zhou Wuji had already led Wuming to his seat and left. He noticed that Wuming seemed a little sullen; although he was clever, he couldn't guess what a woman was thinking.
When you're out having fun, you should make sure your girlfriend enjoys it too.
Zhou Wuji had an idea, and he led Wuming straight to the outer corridor.
With each step he took, faint clouds surged beneath his feet, carrying away Wuming and raising him half a foot higher.
Having walked out of the corridor, the two had already crossed the railing.
Wuming saw a patch of lights at her feet, and could vaguely make out densely packed human figures. Her heart jumped.
Falling from that height, someone with her cultivation level could very well die.
She knew in her heart that with her senior brother there, nothing would happen. But suddenly walking on air at such a height, she felt as if she could fall at any moment.
That intense tension and unease made her grip her senior brother's hand tightly. If it weren't for the other people watching, including Leng Wuyou, she would have screamed out loud.
Zhou Wuji smiled and activated his sword, guiding the two of them downwards as if riding the wind.
A child looked up at the moon and saw two figures reflected on it. He pointed to the sky and shouted, "Mom!"
immortal!"
The child's mother was about to scold him when she looked up and froze.
Everyone around noticed the people in the sky, tilting their heads back with their mouths agape. The children were all chattering and shouting, "Gods! Gods!"
"Fairy!"
"What a huge bird!"
Cloud Immortal Tower is the heart of Jingyang, and at least several thousand people have gathered there. They have all witnessed the most unforgettable scene of the night: a man and a woman flying through the air under the moonlight, their robes fluttering gently in the wind.
Zhou Wuji had done his best, dragging the Wuming for eight steps, and when he reached the Cloud Immortal Tower, he could only slide along.
He condensed his sword into invisible wings that draped over him and Wuming, just like the glider in their previous lives, and they drifted downwards into the distance.
Many mortals did not understand the reason behind this and thought that Zhou Wuji and Wuming were flying, and in their eyes they were gods!
Even those who understood cultivation, such as Zhang Qingning, Leng Wuming, and Sun Wufei, were stunned.
They could fly horizontally for five or six zhang, but they had to use leverage to propel themselves; they could never fly slowly and diagonally forward like Zhou Wuji.
Only after Zhou Wuji and Wuming's figures had drifted far away and Zhang Qingning could no longer see them did she hurriedly ask Yue Wuying, "Wuying, what kind of Secret Method is this?"
Yue Wuying shook her head somewhat blankly. "I've heard that the Taiyi Sect has the Flying Crane Technique, which allows cultivators to be as light as feathers and fly briefly like a crane, but I've never seen it."
"This doesn't seem like the Flying Crane Technique, Senior Brother Zhou."
Zhang Qingning asked again, "Isn't it said that Fourth Rank have the ability to Eight-Step Air Riding? Is this it? But he flew way too far—"
" The Eight-Step Air Riding is simply using one's true essence to support the body as it changes direction in mid-air. It doesn't necessarily require Fourth Rank; even Fifth Rank cultivation level with refined skills can achieve it."
Leng Wuyou said, "Just now, Senior Brother Zhou carried his junior sister as if walking on clouds, step by step upwards, which was the Eight-Step Air Riding."
"To be able to carry someone through the air, Senior Brother Zhou's cultivation is truly exceptional."
As for the magic gates that were floating far away behind, she didn't quite understand them.
She speculated, "Perhaps it's a change in Sword Qi, or maybe it's a secret Law Technique of the Northern Pole Sect— "
Leng Wuyou suddenly turned angry as she spoke, staring coldly at Leng Wuming, wanting to hurl a few curses at him.
After all, he's her brother, and he treated her very well when they were little. In front of so many people, she also had to save face and couldn't really scold him.
Knowing he was in the wrong, Leng Wuming immediately lowered his head, unable to face his younger sister.
"If Brother Leng hadn't tested him like that, we wouldn't have known Zhou Wuji was so formidable."
Zhang Qingning smoothed things over, glancing at the poem on the wall and muttering to herself, " Zhou Wuji left so gracefully, but I wonder if the boss will make us pay compensation."
Sun Wufei couldn't help but say, "This poem is of excellent literary quality, with the style of a master calligrapher and the inner meaning of Sword Intent. It is truly precious."
"It's already good enough that Senior Brother Zhou isn't charging the shopkeeper!"
Although Zhang Qingning was somewhat displeased, she also felt that Sun Wufei's words made sense.
She said, "With such a good thing, let the shopkeeper treat us today!"
Leng Wuyou took out the Supreme White Spirit-Illuminating Mirror and used it to reflect the poems on the wall.
She really wanted to break down this wall, but she also felt that the poem was truly excellent, and ultimately she was too embarrassed to do so in front of everyone.
Besides, since we've already lost, trying to cover it up would only be more shameful.
Yue Wuying held the jade stone in her hand the whole time, and from the moment Zhou Wuji sat down, she used the Water Mirror Technique to record the many changes.
She wanted to take it back to her teacher to ask for advice and figure out exactly how Zhou Wuji had done it.
After Zhang Qingning and her group left, Sister Ying, the manager of Cloud Immortal Tower, arrived with Xiao Yun.
Sister Ying had a pair of alluring Peach Blossom, a gold and red flower tucked into her hair, and a mature woman's graceful and voluptuous figure, wrapped in gorgeous brocade. Every step she took was full of charm.
Xiao Yun followed behind Sister Ying, her eyes slightly dazzled by the gentle swaying of her waist. All the girls in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion combined seemed to lack the charm of this manager.
Every time she saw the head of the household, she couldn't help but secretly admire his charm.
Unfortunately, this charm is half innate and half honed by wisdom and experience; it's something others can never learn.
Sister Ying stood in front of the wall for a while before asking, "You've drunk with Zhou Wuji, what do you think of him?"
"That cunning fellow, relying on his good looks and smooth talk, has already charmed Peach Blossom and Pear Blossom into wanting to buy their freedom and go with him, just by holding hands."
Xiao Yun didn't care much about poetry; in her view, it was no different from singing and dancing—both were forms of entertainment, and there was no distinction between them.
After working with Zhou Wuji for a few days, his two beautiful subordinates started to look down on the customers, which greatly angered Zhou Wuji.
Sister Ying glanced at the indignant Xiao Yun. Although the woman's words were vulgar, they made some sense. Zhou Wuji was truly cunning.
Mingming was forced into Cloud Immortal Tower by Zhang Qingning and his men, and was then forced to take action.
However, Zhou Wuji showed off his Swordsmanship and literary talent, making a big splash in public, but he did not hurt the feelings between the Lesser Yin and Greater Yin factions, nor did he offend Zhang Qingning.
On the contrary, after this banquet, everyone will only admire his dashing, romantic, and outstanding talent even more.
When he left, he even showed off his flying skills in front of millions of people. Once this story spread, everyone would only remember one name during this year's Lantern Festival: Zhou Wuji.
I gained immense prestige just like that.
Whether intentional or Wuyi, this kind of tactic is truly remarkable.
A third clever person has arrived at the Jingyang Upper Court?!
Sister Ying then asked Xiao Yun, "What do you think should be done with the poems on the wall?"
"In my opinion, they would definitely have someone scrape off all the writing to avoid annoying them."
Xiao Yun sighed and said, "Although I don't understand calligraphy and poetry, I know that the calligraphy truly has the style of a master, and the poem is also excellent."
"Besides, Zhou Wuji is not someone to be trifled with. Keeping this poem will add more stories and legends to Cloud Immortal Tower, attracting more guests—"
"You're not stupid after all."
Sister Ying nodded, seemingly agreeing with her subordinate's analysis.
She then added, " Yunyang is in such a mess, and recently many forces have entered Jingyang, so things are also a bit chaotic behind the scenes. You should be more careful in your actions."
"There's no need to provoke any factions. Whether it's the Daoist sects, the Devil Cultivator, or the Ironclad Guard, let them fight it out. Even if the world changes hands, Chu Province will still belong to the Zhang Household— "
These words sounded rather domineering, and Xiao Yun felt a chill run down her spine. She quickly bowed and agreed.
Sister Ying added, " Zhou Wuji twenty-five years old and already has Fourth Rank cultivation level. The key is that he is intelligent, quick-witted, decisive, and strong."
"Since you know him, try your best to win him over. As for his business with the Great River Gang, that's between him and the Great River Gang, it has nothing to do with us."
"Yes."
Xiao Yun said somewhat awkwardly, "I think this man is quite magnanimous and doesn't care about women—"
Just as Sister Ying was about to speak, she heard the sound of horses' hooves outside. She went up to the corridor and saw a group of Ironclad Guard galloping past on horseback along the long street.
Fortunately, most of the tourists had dispersed by then, and the few pedestrians on the long street were keeping their distance, which allowed the horse caravan to run.
Despite the distance, Sister Ying recognized the tall, burly figure leading the cavalry at a glance. It was clearly Commander Wang Da, a man of rough and domineering nature. In Jingyang, no one dared to utter a word against him, and everyone cursed him.
She was somewhat surprised and suspicious: What was Wang Da, a Fifth Rank commander, doing out in the middle of the night?
Seeing that everyone was heading in the north of the city, and Zhou Wuji was also going that way, could it be that something had happened to Zhou Wuji?
Sister Ying felt a chill run down her spine at this thought. Zhou Wuji was Fourth Rank mage appointed by the imperial court. If something happened to him in Jingyang City, not only would the Upper Court investigate thoroughly, but the Heavenly Master's Manor would also definitely pursue the matter.
The main issue is that Zhou Wuji has some grudges against the Great River Gang. If something really happens to Zhou Wuji, it could easily implicate the Great River Gang.
She didn't want to get involved with the Great River Gang, but this was no small matter. If various parties seized the opportunity to launch an attack, it wouldn't be surprising if the Great River Gang were wiped out. This was something she couldn't afford to ignore.
She instructed Xiao Yun, "Go find someone you know in the Ironclad Guard and ask what happened—"
Xiao Yun Sister Ying's serious tone, Xiaoyun immediately hurried away.
Sister Ying leaned against the railing, watching the lights gradually go out one by one, while the bright moon in the sky grew ever brighter, illuminating the vast Jingyang City in a desolate and profound light. For some reason, she felt an urge to sigh.
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