Chapter 32: Duel on a Snowy Night, Nascent Soul vs Nascent Soul

"Is this... Crossing Thunder Tribulation?"

Gu An looked at the thunderclouds outside the window, his brows gradually relaxed, and a look of curiosity appeared on his face.

He was not worried, as he felt the celestial might was far from Mystic Valley.

Those sweeping the snow in the garden, Tang Yu, Su Han, and Zhen Qin, turned to look, and Ye Lan, who was meditating in the forest, also opened her eyes. Xiaochuan walked out of his house and looked at the rolling thunderclouds in the sky.

Wuxin was meditating on the mountaintop, the flying snow couldn't cover his figure. He gazed at the horizon, his brows furrowed.

"Such powerful sword intent..."

Wuxin murmured to himself. Although his cultivation was low, he came from the Thousand-Autumn Pavilion and had a lot of knowledge.

The entire sky was quickly covered by thunderclouds, resembling a boundless ocean, with towering waves. The snowy forest fell into darkness, and the wind between heaven and earth grew stronger, causing the forest to sway and shedding pieces of snow.

Gu An was disturbed by this celestial might that he had no heart to write. He got up and went downstairs, calling the disciples to look after each garden area.

An ancient hour later, several cultivators flew over Mystic Valley, heading in the direction of the celestial might, disappearing into the vast flying snow.

This scene made the disciples in the valley even more nervous, unsure of what exactly had happened.

It was not until near dusk that a thunderous roar echoed between heaven and earth.

Gu An stood on the mountaintop and saw in the distance, at the horizon, lightning and thunder intertwining at a certain point on the ground, forming a huge fan shape, extremely spectacular. The radiance of thunder shone on his face, and his black robe fluttered in the wind.

"Thunder Tribulation is so terrifying, no wonder I failed so many times during simulated cultivation."

Gu An sighed inwardly, finally dispersing the grievances he had suppressed for many years.

Although the life span consumed by simulated cultivation was more than reality, it was safe. Looking back at his achievements, at twenty-eight years old, he reached Nascent Soul Realm Ninth Layer. Could the Supreme Sect find a second person like him?

Afterward, he turned around and went down the mountain, preparing to continue writing.

That night, the roars of thunder continued, making it impossible for everyone in Medicine Valley to cultivate peacefully.

By noon the next day, the thunder still continued. The wind between heaven and earth grew stronger, as if a blizzard was about to arrive. Gu An occasionally led the disciples outside to look after the medicinal herbs.

After three days and three nights, the thunder stopped. As the thunderclouds dispersed in the sky, sunlight finally poured down, bringing relief to the disciples of Mystic Valley.

However, they had not been happy for half a day before a sharp pressure enveloped heaven and earth, making them feel a heaviness in their chest and their hearts pounding in alarm.

In the loft.

Gu An put down his brush, his gaze turned to the window, his brows furrowed.

He sensed a strong sword intent coming from the horizon, unable to judge how far away it was for the time being.

"What is he doing?"

Gu An felt puzzled. Just finished crossing thunder tribulation and started comprehending swordsmanship?

So desperate?

Gu An could only pray that the other party would not affect his Medicine Valley.

Although the other's sword intent was strong, he secretly compared it and felt it was inferior to his Taicang Divine-Shocking Sword.

After all, the Taicang Divine-Shocking Sword was something he created by sacrificing two thousand years of life span!

How many people in the mortal world could live for two thousand years?

...

Late at night, Eight Scenic Caves.

Gu An came to visit Jiang Qiong. He arrived under the Green Vine Tree and raised his hand to pay respects to Jiang Qiong.

"For the next while, don't come in again to avoid being discovered by Zuo Yijian." Jiang Qiong said without opening her eyes.

Zuo Yijian?

Gu An remembered this person, who was Zuo Lin's father. When the father and son flew over Mystic Valley, he had even thrown a Life Span Detection at them.

Zuo Yijian's previous cultivation level was at Core Formation Realm Ninth Layer.

After tribulation crossing, he would be a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator.

Gu An thought quickly in his mind, then nervously asked, "Who is Zuo Yijian?"

"He is the one who crossed thunder tribulation these days. According to your master, he has already earned the title of Maniac Swordsman of Canghu Lake." Jiang Qiong replied.

Maniac Swordsman of Canghu Lake?

Gu An curiously asked, "Martial Master, do you know him?"

"Yes, we are old acquaintances. Back then, he overestimated himself and attempted to pursue me as a Daoist Friend. I severely humiliated him, making him a laughingstock in the inner sect. Since then, he devoted himself to sword practice and never went out, until I got injured and faked my death, I never saw him again."

Jiang Qiong said this, then she opened her eyes and looked at Gu An with a teasing smile, "Dear disciple grandson, don't let emotions get the best of you in the future, it's easy to suffer."

Gu An replied, "Thank you for the lesson, Martial Master. I will remember it well."

Later, Jiang Qiong let Gu An sit down and began instructing him on the poison skill of the Myriad Poison Mystic Skill.

The Myriad Poison Mystic Skill had both energy absorption cultivation techniques and numerous poison skills, requiring a lot of time to study.

After staying in Eight Scenic Caves for two ancient hours, Gu An left.

...

Three days later, at dawn.

Gu An was leading the disciples in practicing exercises. They stood on the snowy ground, the cold wind was biting, yet they were still dressed lightly.

Whoosh!

A breaking sound came, startling everyone to turn and look, only to see the eastern mountain peak struck by a sword Qi. Two large trees on the mountainside were cut down, cascading down the slope and finally blocked by a row of trees, sending dust and snow flying like white mist.

Looking upward, the cliff face had a two-zhang-long crack, as if someone had carved it with a giant sword, very spectacular.

Su Han frowned and said, "This isn't the first time, if this continues, it will endanger us sooner or later."

Other disciples were also worried, their exercise movements slowed down because of it.

Wuxin sighed and said, "Sword cultivators comprehend swordsmanship, it can take anywhere from a few days to decades, who knows how long that person will comprehend?"

Gu An rarely did not smile, his face darkened.

He was worried about the medicinal herbs in Mystic Valley.

Yesterday, he went to the Outer Sect to report this matter to the Elixir Hall, but they told him he could choose to temporarily move to Outer City, exempt from this year's harvest, but the Elixir Hall would not cover any losses in Mystic Valley.

The medicinal herbs in Mystic Valley were precious to Gu An. How could he give them up?

If Mystic Valley collapsed, Eight Scenic Caves might be exposed as well.

No!

He must come up with a solution!

Gu An's eyes flickered. For the sake of life, he could endure humiliation, but for his medicinal herbs, he would fight!

"Alright, continue practicing exercises, then each go cultivate. If that person is still here in two days, we'll move to the Outer Sect to avoid." Gu An said.

Upon hearing this, all the disciples were energized, they were also worried that Mystic Valley would collapse, so they had been wanting to go out to avoid it.

The winter days passed quickly.

Night gradually fell.

On a mountain top, Zuo Yijian in a grey robe was meditating. In front of him stood five swords, each with a different shape, even the blades' width varied.

Under the night, with snow flying, the snow falling on him melted quickly, turning into wisps of white vapor, making his aura appear more powerful.

On a mountain peak a hundred zhang away, Zuo Lin was meditating on the cliff edge, surrounded by three large flags. The flags fluttered, and when sword Qi struck, an invisible barrier dissipated it, leaving him unhurt.

Although uninjured, the booming sound of sword Qi hitting the formation woke Zuo Lin.

He looked up at his father, frowning, envy showed in his eyes.

People say dragons have dragon offspring, phoenixes have phoenix offspring, why didn't he inherit his father's sword Dao comprehension?

Feeling his father's powerful sword intent, Zuo Lin was fascinated.

Even though his spirit root qualification was outstanding and his energy absorption speed far exceeded his peers, he only wanted to become a powerful sword cultivator like his father.

If not for studying swordsmanship, his cultivation realm would be far beyond Foundation Establishment Realm Second Layer.

"Sigh!"

Zuo Lin sighed and prepared to continue his sword enlightenment. He didn't believe he couldn't make a name for himself in the sword Dao?

Just as he was about to close his eyes, he suddenly saw his father stand up, making him freeze.

Is it over?

Zuo Yijian stood on the mountaintop, facing Zuo Lin's direction, but his gaze was higher, staring at a higher mountain in the distance. The night was deep, no one could be seen, yet he sensed a sword intent locking onto him.

The five treasure swords in front of him began to tremble, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Zuo Lin also stood up and asked loudly, "Father, what's wrong? Did you succeed?"

Zuo Yijian did not answer, but asked, "I wonder which Daoist friend has arrived, why not show yourself?"

Ten li away.

Gu An, in white clothing, stood on the mountaintop, a wooden mask on his face, spiritual power covering his face under the mask to avoid divine sense detection.

His white clothes fluttered, blending with the snowy background.

He played with a leaf in his right hand, with strands of sword qi coiling around it.

From a high viewpoint, he could see Zuo Yijian and also see Zuo Lin.

Before emitting sword intent, he had surveyed the area within a hundred li, confirming no other strong cultivators before coming to this mountaintop.

Gu An did not like innocent killings, but Zuo Yijian threatened his Medicine Valley and had to be driven away.

"Blame yourself for choosing the wrong place."

Gu An murmured to himself. He had already activated his cultivation technique, infusing spiritual power into the leaf.

At the same time.

Zuo Lin heard his father's words and quickly turned around. With his Foundation Establishment cultivation, he couldn't see ten li away, much less at night with flying snow obstructing his view.

Not seeing the visitor made him nervous.

Zuo Yijian felt the increasing sword intent of the other person, knowing this battle was inevitable.

"A demon path spy? Or... one of theirs?"

Zuo Yijian's eyes flickered. His right hand grasped a treasure sword in front of him. This sword was slender, with a red blade. As he held it, the blade ignited, becoming the brightest sight in the night sky.

He drew his sword and swung it in the air, creating a trail of fire suspended in the night sky.

"In such cold weather, using the Devouring Flame Sword Technique, it seems the recent sword enlightenment has greatly enhanced Father's sword Dao..." Zuo Lin turned around, seeing the sword fire in his father's hand, showing admiration.

No matter who came, he believed his father wouldn't lose.

"Since Daoist friend refuses to speak, I can only assume you intend to disrupt my path enlightenment. Let this icy world witness whose sword intent is stronger!"

Zuo Yijian's cold voice echoed between heaven and earth. As his words fell, a sword intent soared from his body, causing the mountain peak he stood on to tremble, the snow collapsing down, shaking the mountain where Zuo Lin was.

Ten li away.

"Too much talk."

Gu An whispered to himself, his voice so low only he could hear. As he finished speaking, he suddenly threw the leaf in his hand.

What flew out didn't seem to be a leaf, but a divine sword piercing through time and space!