Riding the Sword on the Wind, Roaming Free Between Heaven and Earth

"Senior Sister Ge Shuang!"

"Senior Sister Ge Shuang!"

Another arena was likewise surrounded by countless male disciples. They kept cheering and shouting from the sidelines, their spittle flying everywhere and spraying who knew how many faces.

On the arena stood a woman with a cool, aloof expression and a graceful figure. The longsword in her hand continuously flashed with cold light.

"This sword dance is like a female streamer dancing. Pretty nice to watch."

Chen Xun chuckled and looked toward Ge Shuang's side. The trip had truly been worthwhile. "Old Ox, isn't it nice?"

"Moo~"

Big Black Ox kept nodding. Nice, nice. It did not even turn its head, telling Chen Xun not to disturb it.

"Ah, how did she lose? I thought that one had a good chance!"

"Moo~~"

"Oho, Old Ox, look at that Little Junior Sister. She got beaten until she cried, hahaha..."

"Moo moo moo~~"

"Yo, why's that shorty putting on airs? Did someone eat your family's rice?!"

"Moo!"

"Old Ox, look, a spirit beast! Incredible, incredible."

"Moo?"

Under the shade of a tree, the man and ox burst into laughter one moment and cursed furiously the next. Suddenly, Chen Xun's expression changed, and he slapped the ground hard.

"Moo?" Big Black Ox jumped in fright. What was with that expression on Chen Xun's face?

"Old Ox, don't you feel like we're missing something?"

"Moo? Moo!" Big Black Ox shook its head, then nodded. It did seem as though something was missing. Something felt off.

"Melon seeds!" Chen Xun suddenly smacked Big Black Ox. They had actually forgotten something so important.

"Moo moo?"

Big Black Ox slapped Chen Xun with a hoof too. Why hadn't he brought melon seeds? No wonder something had felt off.

"Ah!" Chen Xun's face filled with regret. "This year, we'll grow melon seeds. I'll stir-fry them, then add some Secret Recipe Seasoning."

"Moo moo~~" Big Black Ox rubbed against Chen Xun and split its bovine mouth into a grin. Now that was more like it.

After the first match of the Sect Competition, one could either continue fighting or rest for a day before fighting again. What counted was the number of victories.

Naturally, disciples who lacked confidence in their strength wanted to keep fighting. The intensity on the second day would not be like today's.

The strong, however, were not in a rush. After a battle, they would circulate their qi and adjust their breathing, recovering to their absolute peak before fighting again. There could not be the slightest carelessness.

The Sect Competition grew increasingly heated. Even Chen Xun and Big Black Ox moved much closer, no longer watching from afar.

On the fifth day, Inner Sect Disciples officially entered the fray, pushing the Sect Competition to its greatest climax. Even Chen Xun and Big Black Ox joined the cheering crowd.

"Who among the Outer Sect Disciples can rival us? Senior Brother Bai Shi, go! You're the best!"

Chen Xun raised a wooden sign and shouted at the top of his lungs. Countless disciples turned their eyes toward him and gave him thumbs-ups. That was exactly the spirit.

"This Junior Brother, is Senior Sister Ge Shuang not one of our Outer Sect Disciples too?!"

Several people strode over aggressively. Why did it feel as though Senior Sister Ge Shuang's momentum had been crushed in an instant?

"What a joke!" Chen Xun looked at them disdainfully and patted Big Black Ox.

Big Black Ox understood. A wooden sign slowly rose up, bearing the words:

"Senior Sister Ge Shuang, go! When your sword rises, the Five Elements rise!"

The few people were stunned, their scalps tingling. Their thumbs rose of their own accord.

The way they looked at Chen Xun conveyed only two words: damn awesome!

Chen Xun gave a cold smile and continued shouting himself hoarse with Big Black Ox. Their sense of participation had been pulled to the absolute peak.

Across the arenas, Inner Sect Disciples in white robes drifted lightly into the air and flicked their wide sleeves. Their expressions were cold as they frowned at their respective opponents.

A faint Killing Intent drifted across every arena. The ancient trees around them rustled under the cold wind, and several yellow leaves slowly fell.

The arenas fell silent, while the great figures on the Observation Platform watched with anticipation in their eyes.

Hiss—

Countless disciples drew in gasps of cold air. These were the true future great figures of the Five Elements Sect, those who would lead the sect into the future.

This was true attention from the masses. Even the disciples beneath the arenas grew solemn. What a powerful sense of oppression.

"So awesome."

"Moo~"

Chen Xun spoke in a low voice, unable to keep himself from feeling excited. Even Big Black Ox gave a low cry along with him. How spectacular.

Yet a trace of disappointment appeared in Chen Xun's eyes. Why were they all keeping silent and pretending to be experts? He had wanted to watch a battle of words, the part where they hurled ruthless threats at each other.

A Bell Chime rang through the mountain peaks. The decisive battles of the Sect Competition officially began!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Countless shrill whistles tore through the air. Everyone on the arenas widened their pupils slightly as the magical artifacts in their hands and the spiritual power within their bodies erupted at once, blazing in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Boom—

Boom—

A great battle erupted on every arena. Some unleashed flying swords that filled the sky, battering the arenas until dust and smoke billowed everywhere.

Some cast mist-like spells, making it impossible to see clearly what was happening inside. Only the continuous clang of metal revealed the ferocity of the battle.

Other disciples wielded formation flags and released puppets, sitting in command at the rear as they stirred up great battles.

Sword Light flashed everywhere, and the sounds of spiritual power surging filled the air. Everyone had used their full strength, no longer holding anything back.

Violent gales swept in every direction. Disciples standing closer even had to use spiritual power to resist them.

"Wocao... Wocao..."

Chen Xun's pupils contracted violently as he kept shaking his head. These Qi Condensation Stage disciples were terrifying. They were on a completely different level from rogue cultivators.

"Moo moo!!" Big Black Ox kept shaking its head like Chen Xun, its eyes dazzled by the sight. What kind of spells were all these?

The final battles lasted two days and two nights. Chen Xun and Big Black Ox sat on the ground, watching without wanting to stop for even a moment. When they got hungry, they ate flatbread.

Bai Shi and Ge Shuang ultimately stopped within the top hundred. The Outer Sect Disciples all sighed. The foundations of those Inner Sect Disciples truly were not something Outer Sect Disciples could compare to.

At last, it was time for the Sect Elders to distribute rewards and encourage the disciples, saying some meaningless words.

As the great figures and elders of the Five Elements Sect departed, this year's Sect Competition finally came to an end.

On the road down the mountain, Chen Xun and Big Black Ox kept breaking into raspy cackles, looking utterly lecherous.

"Old Ox, that Inner Sect Disciple was kind of sinister. Why did he strike someone's Life Gate?"

Chen Xun looked at Big Black Ox's rear and could not help laughing again. The key was that the other guy had really fallen for it. His chrysanthemum had suffered catastrophic damage.

"Moo moo~~" Big Black Ox kept grinning wide, still wanting more.

"Next year, we'll participate too. We'll make it into the sect's top five hundred and earn some contributions."

"Moo!"

"Let's go, let's go. First, we're going back to grow melon seeds."

"Moo~"

The man and ox jogged onward, their raspy cackles echoing through the mountains.

After returning to Medicine Valley, they first began tending the Medicine Field. Then they secretly picked several spiritual herbs used for Bigu Pills, cultivated the seeds properly, and put them back.

"Old Ox, I'll leave the spiritual herbs to you. I'm going to study the Sword Control Technique."

"Moo~" Big Black Ox fiercely nudged Chen Xun. Cultivating spiritual herbs was its specialty.

Chen Xun nodded and headed into the cave abode without concern. He opened the Sword Control Technique, took out the immortal sword from his Storage Bag, and his eyes gleamed.

Whether he could take flight or not depended on this morning. Chen Xun calmed his mind and steadied his breath, beginning his cultivation.

One month later, in the morning, Medicine Valley was filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, peaceful and serene.

Chen Xun and Big Black Ox stood in an open space. The immortal sword lay before them, and each had a backpack on their back.

Chen Xun had made two parachutes in case of an accident. Safety came first in all things.

"Riding the sword on the wind, roaming free between heaven and earth!"

Chen Xun formed a strange hand seal and poured his murky spiritual power into the immortal sword. "Rise!"

The immortal sword on the ground slowly rose into the air, hovering half a meter above the ground as dust flew everywhere.

"Moo! Moo!" Big Black Ox jumped excitedly, mooing without pause.

"Old Ox, get... get on the car—no, get on the sword."

Chen Xun's voice trembled, his heart pounding wildly. In his eyes, he had already begun imagining them flying on their swords, weaving through these magnificent mountains and rivers.