Chapter 256: On the Verge of Breaking Out
Chapter 256: On the Verge of Breaking Out
Wangjiang Tower was almost the tallest building in Jiangling City.
Its entire shape resembled a towering pagoda. Each level was higher and smaller than the one below, with a pointed top that formed a small pavilion. Facing the river to the east, standing on the high tower allowed a distant view of the rolling river waters flowing eastward. To the west, it stood opposite the majestic Scholastic Palace on Xiangshan, overlooking the entire city.
Standing on the pavilion at the top of Wangjiang Tower, a heroic feeling of ascending to great heights and gazing into the distance naturally arose. Lazy white clouds drifted slowly overhead, seeming within reach to people on the ground. Looking up, the sky and earth merged into one color in the distance, with the lush green land stretching far into the horizon, appearing endless and boundless.
Hu…
A cold wind blew past, but the two figures standing at the top of Wangjiang Tower remained motionless, their Scholastic Palace robes flapping loudly.
Jian Wushang held his sword in his right hand, the sharp long sword placed horizontally at shoulder level. He stood perfectly still on the high rooftop, slightly lowering his head. There was no domineering pressure, no sharp killing intent; instead, his expression was calm, as still as an ancient well. Just moments ago, he was full of fighting spirit, but now, with the big battle on the verge of breaking out, he had grown calm, as if only absolute reason remained, chillingly composed.
His elegant and upright figure, superior strength, absolute calmness…
The white-robed Jian Wushang suddenly reminded Mu Feng of someone, Mu Tie!
Both possessed astonishing strength and the same confident calmness.
However, compared to Mu Tie, who cultivated the Heartless Sword Dao and sought enlightenment by severing emotions and desires, Jian Wushang had an extra sharpness and enterprising spirit amidst his calm. This aura made people secretly fearful, yet also brought a certain vitality, distinguishing him from Mu Tie’s cold, killing-machine demeanor!
Jian Wushang remained motionless, and Mu Feng also stood still; the two stood facing each other in silence on the high rooftop.
If the enemy does not move, I do not move; using stillness to control movement!
Mu Feng stood at the rooftop edge, a place that would make ordinary people’s hearts pound, completely still, even slightly closing his eyes, carefully sensing with his mind.
From the still Jian Wushang, though he couldn’t sense killer intent, he detected a strong killing aura. Beneath the calm exterior, killing aura was hidden, restrained but not released.
Killer intent and killing aura differed by just one word, but their meanings were entirely different. Killer intent meant the determination and will to kill; having killer intent didn’t necessarily mean one could kill. Killing aura represented the capability to kill; with sharp killing aura, one could kill even without killer intent!
To ordinary people, the motionless Jian Wushang appeared calm and silent, as cold as a stone sculpture. However, when a trace of mental awareness extended towards him, it was like entering a world of swords, filled with crisscrossing sword energy. In the eyes of Mu Feng, who had slightly closed his eyes, at this moment, Jian Wushang himself was a sword—the man was the sword, the sword was the man. This realm was far more formidable than any unity of body and sword!
Impressive!
After concentrating and sensing for a moment, Mu Feng was secretly shocked.
It seemed that being able to embroider four long swords on his sleeve was no accident for Jian Wushang; his cultivation had far surpassed that of ordinary scholars.
After sensing the sharp, restrained killing aura within him, the Ancestral Sorcerer’s Essence Blood in Mu Feng’s body involuntarily stirred, surging with waves of scorching, boiling blood energy. Slowly, heat waves rolled, distorting and rippling the air around him. To the slightly bowing Jian Wushang, it seemed like a primordial beast gradually awakening, with a particularly violent aura faintly emanating from within.
Hu…
The cold wind howled, but the two figures and their demeanor showed no change, remaining utterly still.
Watching their opposing stances on the high tower top, more and more passersby gathered below, pointing and exclaiming in surprise.
“Dueling at such a high place, are they crazy? Aren’t they afraid of accidentally falling?”
“Masters, a duel between masters—which scholar is stronger?”
“Yes, masters, definitely top-tier scholars among scholars. I saw them leap straight up from the ground with my own eyes!”
…
The crowd below Wangjiang Tower grew larger, buzzing with discussions.
The majestic Wangjiang Tower was simply too tall; looking up from the ground under the scorching sun, people could only see two young men in white Scholastic Palace robes, barely recognizing them as scholars. One held a dazzlingly sharp long sword, poised to strike; the other had empty hands, with a black heavy sword strapped to his back.
Below Wangjiang Tower, shops stood in rows, with heavy traffic; it could be said to be the busiest and most prosperous place in Jiangling City. Especially the towering, historic Wangjiang Tower was a frequent spot for many literati, poets, and high officials. Soon, news of the two Senior Scholars dueling at the top of Wangjiang Tower spread, and more and people swarmed over, including many scholars who had heard the news.
In a private room on the second floor of Jiangling Inn opposite Wangjiang Tower, several intently watching scholars sat. The leader was a young man with a cold expression, not showing joy or anger. It was none other than Liu Lei, who had left not long ago.
Outwardly, apart from being cold, he showed almost no abnormality. Li Yang and other attendants stood respectfully behind him. No one noticed that beneath Liu Lei’s familiar appearance lay a completely different, unfamiliar soul!
“Come down, come down! Hey, you two, come down quickly!”
Just as the big battle was on the verge of breaking out, a waiter finally arrived, panting and late. With delicate features and a clever disposition, he was the same waiter who had nearly been beaten half to death by Liu Lei last time.
When Mu Feng and Jian Wushang leaped up together to the highest level, he had already known and immediately put down his work to rush up.
Unexpectedly, after he exhaustingly climbed up, the two leaped again, jumping directly from the highest level to the rooftop, each standing at the edge. One lowered his head, the other even closed his eyes, with half their heels hanging in the air, as if a light gust of wind could blow them down. They seemed unconcerned, but the panting waiter was terribly frightened.
Wangjiang Tower, this established brand, catered to literati, poets, and high officials, emphasizing feng shui and omens. Suddenly, two people leaping up directly from the ground had already alarmed many customers. If Mu Feng and Jian Wushang fell from the tower top and died, how could they continue doing business?
“Come down, you two Senior Scholars, come down quickly! Uh, it’s you…”
The waiter wiped sweat from his face, shouting anxiously while staring helplessly at the high pavilion that was impossible to climb. As he shouted, he inadvertently turned halfway and, upon clearly seeing Mu Feng’s face, his voice abruptly stopped. Originally sweating profusely from the heat, instantly, all his hairs stood on end, and he obediently shut his mouth.
He remembered this mysterious guest, Mu Feng, vividly, unforgettable even in death. Along with gratitude and respect, he held deep fear.
Last time, if not for Mu Feng’s rescue, he would have suffered greatly, possibly skinned alive under the wrath of that bully Liu Lei. Yet, for some reason, compared to the domineering bully Liu Lei, the cold Mu Feng was even more frightening.
With a light swing of his heavy sword, the tabletop had been neatly shaved off a thin layer, without leaving a single speck of dust. What level of cultivation was needed to possess such terrifying skill?
Mu Feng’s stunning sword strike last time had left an indelible memory on the waiter.
Who would dare provoke a mysterious expert that even a bully like Liu Lei couldn’t afford to offend?
After clearly seeing Mu Feng’s face, he didn’t dare utter another word, shrinking his neck and quickly hiding to the side!
Hu…
On the high tower top, the cold wind grew bleak, stronger and colder. A highly anticipated big battle was about to begin!