418: Chapter 418 Each with Their Own Opportunities

On the other side!

The moment Xie Xingchen followed Mu Wanqing and the other inside, the surrounding light and shadows shattered like broken jade.

Before the scene of the underground palace had fully dissipated, another world appeared before his eyes—flowing clouds wound around the mountain peaks like silk ribbons, a bluestone path meandered upward, and a hexagonal pavilion stood wing-like above the sea of clouds. Inside the pavilion, two stone stools were placed on either side of a stone table.

Although Xiao Lingxian was nowhere to be seen, Xie Xingchen wasn't overly worried, remembering what Senior A-Qi had said.

He looked around for a moment before stepping toward the hexagonal pavilion.

Arriving before the pavilion, he saw a figure sitting behind the stone table. Clad in green robes and standing tall with his black hair loosely tied, he held a black-and-white chess piece in his hand, with specks of starlight seemingly falling from his fingertips.

"I have been waiting for you for a long time, little friend."

The man in green raised his eyes, his gaze as calm as a deep pool.

"Take a seat."

Xie Xingchen nodded slightly and spoke with a humble tone, "Junior Xie Xingchen has entered this place by mistake. I wonder if what Senior is waiting for is a chess match, or something else?"

His gaze swept across the stone table; there was no chessboard, only thirty-two chess pieces arranged neatly. Upon the pieces were actually carved fine patterns of sword moves, with black and white lines interlacing to vaguely outline a starlit sword map.

The man in green gave a light chuckle and placed the chess piece in his hand at the center of the stone table.

"The world thinks it is a chess match, but in truth, it is a sword match. Since you possess the Star River Sword Soul Physique, you should be able to understand the Sword Intent within these pieces."

Before he finished speaking, a black piece on the stone table suddenly flew up, transforming into a sharp sword shadow that pierced directly toward the center of Xie Xingchen's brow.

Xie Xingchen's expression remained unchanged as the Star River Sword Soul within his body quietly awakened. A faint silver glow surfaced around him, like falling starlight.

He unhurriedly raised his hand, condensing a strand of sword breath at his fingertip. With a light tap, he struck exactly at the flaw in the black piece's sword shadow.

With a soft 'ding' sound, the black piece flew backward and landed steadily back in its original position.

A fine seedling!

The man in green praised inwardly, a flash of hard-to-detect relief crossing his eyes.

Although he possessed no special Physique, his swordsmanship in the past had struck terror into the hearts of countless members of the Yao Race. The number of Mahayana Stage Yao Race members who had fallen under his sword was already beyond count.

Three white pieces on the stone table leapt up simultaneously, transforming into three distinct sword shadows. The three swords interlaced into a net, sealing off all of Xie Xingchen's paths of evasion.

Xie Xingchen took a deep breath as the Star Radiance Sword Canon operated even more smoothly within him, with starlight flowing in rings around his body.

His figure moved slightly, shifting like a meteor within the star river. The sword breath in his hand condensed into an invisible longsword; instead of clashing head-on with the sword shadows, he skillfully guided them along their own momentum.

Is this Senior... feeding me sword moves?

He is using the chess pieces to transmit the true essence of sword techniques!

"The way of the sword is not limited to slaughter; it lies more in balance."

The man in green raised a hand to guide them, and the white pieces on the stone table leapt up one after another, turning into a rain of swords that filled the sky. The sword momentum was overwhelming, yet it lacked even a hint of Killing Intent, instead operating as orderly as the movements of a star river.

"Your sword soul shares the same source as the star river. You should know that the Dao of the sword combines hardness with softness, and tension with relaxation."

Hearing this, Xie Xingchen slowly closed his eyes. Concentrating his mind and quieting his breath, he no longer stuck to a rigid defense but took the initiative to meet the challenge.

His figure avoided the sword rain like floating clouds. As his green robes fluttered, he condensed a longsword of starlight in his hand. The sword light flowed, clashing and colliding with the sword shadows formed by the white pieces. With every collision, fine sparks of starlight burst forth, just like the twinkling stars in the night sky.

The pieces on the stone table grew fewer and fewer, yet the density of the interlacing black and white sword shadows grew greater and greater, gradually forming a sword domain that enveloped the entire mountain peak. Xie Xingchen felt the sword soul within him become increasingly active, as if the surrounding starlight was all converging toward him and merging into his sword moves.

"A pity, what a pity."

Seeing Xie Xingchen gradually enter his stride, the man in green sighed softly. "If I could have met this boy back then, perhaps my swordsmanship could have reached an even higher level."

...

The moment she was separated from the others, Xiao Lingxian felt a sudden flash of firelight. The chill of the underground palace was instantly dispelled by a surge of scorching heat.

Once the light and shadows stabilized, she was standing at the foot of a vast mountain. Behind her stood a figure in a green dress; it was Yu Qingyan from the Tiangong Pavilion.

From the moment she stepped into this mountain range, Xiao Lingxian felt an abnormal heat. It wasn't just the external temperature, but a restlessness stemming from the depths of her heart.

"Are we the only two left?" Xiao Lingxian looked around and was the first to speak.

Yu Qingyan nodded, her voice as cold and clear as jade striking stone: "It should be a spatial diversion; each has their own Opportunity."

Neither of them was the talkative type, and the atmosphere was briefly silent.

Xiao Lingxian took the first step, walking toward the great mountain ahead, intending to investigate first. Yu Qingyan hesitated for a moment before following closely behind. If they truly encountered a mishap, traveling together would allow them to look out for each other.

After walking about a hundred paces, the two suddenly turned around at the same time and looked toward the front-left.

They saw a woman dressed in a plain white dress approaching with graceful steps, her gait light and gentle.

"You two, the path ahead is not to be trodden lightly."

"Who are you?"

Yu Qingyan asked coldly, her internal spiritual energy already operating quietly.

Meanwhile, Xiao Lingxian asked, "What place is this?"

"This is the burial ground of the Nine Embers Sky Phoenix Race." The woman smiled slightly, her gaze lingering on Xiao Lingxian for a moment longer, her tone peaceful.

"I am a Mountain-Guarding Elder of the Yuquan Void Palace, here to guard this land of Phoenix bones."

She spoke slowly, "Do you two young ladies know the characteristics of the Nine Embers Sky Phoenix Race?"

Yu Qingyan narrowed her eyes slightly, her expression solemn. "I have seen records in ancient texts. Nine Phoenixes incinerate the heavens, Rebirth through fire, undying and indestructible—they are the hardest to kill."

Xiao Lingxian, however, shook her head gently.

In the Dao Seeking Sect, she was either in seclusion or practicing her Cultivation; her knowledge and experience were indeed a step behind.

This was not to be blamed on her, as the Dao Seeking Sect was after all a rising power. Even Chen Xuan could not compare to Gu Yunshen and the other in terms of miscellaneous knowledge—those two were figures who had lived for nearly a thousand years; how could one compare?

"Precisely."

The woman nodded in approval. "The Nine Embers Sky Phoenix Race was too powerful. Their Phoenix fire incinerated the heavens and brought ruin to all living things; they were the primary combat force of the Yao Race. Even if one managed to slay them on the battlefield, their undying and indestructible nature still caused the Human Race endless suffering."

"It wasn't until a great Cultivator exhausted his lifetime cultivation base to set up the Nine-Cycle Spirit-Sealing Array that this crisis was resolved for the Human Race."

She paused before continuing, "Later, the ancestors of the Yuquan Void Palace discovered that although the Phoenix fire of the Nine Embers Sky Phoenix is fierce, it contains a pure power of purification. It can temper one's Heart-Nature and eliminate spiritual practice Impurities. Thus, they turned this place into the Sect's Trial Grounds. That you two could come here indicates your horoscopes are compatible with the Phoenix fire. You may climb the mountain and give it a try."

"Climbing the mountain will grant us tempering by the Phoenix fire?"

A flash of eagerness crossed Yu Qingyan's eyes. More importantly, there were no other Tiangong Pavilion disciples here, so she no longer needed to worry about her public persona collapsing.

"Precisely."

The woman raised her hand and pointed to the mountain path behind her. "This mountain is named Heart-Burning Ridge. The mountain path is covered with residual Phoenix fire. Remember, Phoenix fire is overbearing; if you cannot endure it, do not force yourselves."

"Junior understands!"

Yu Qingyan cupped her hands in a polite gesture and immediately stepped toward the mountain path. Her green robes fluttered and her posture was light, unable to hide her urgency.