There is dark water under my feet and dark sky above my head.
The true energy condensed in his eyes, and all the scenery was clearly visible. Gu Pinglin walked on the water without any ripples under his feet. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, and the surrounding terrain was clear in his mind, without missing any details.
The person next to him was breathing steadily, wearing a white robe and plain boots, with no trace of water on the hem of his robe. He didn't look like he had just experienced a battle.
"What's the name of the new move?"
"The sword moves were created by my senior brother, why are you asking me?"
"Oh... Senior Brother," Duan Qingming said with a smile, "Shouldn't we call you Duan Qingming?"
Gu Pinglin stopped when he was teased. "I said something out of turn in a hurry, please don't blame me, Senior Brother."
"I spoke out of haste," Duan Qingming repeated his words, "Do you really care about me that much?"
Gu Pinglin also had mixed feelings.
I didn’t want him to die before because my obsession was on him and for the sake of my own path, but what about now
His death might be a good thing. I don't have to worry about the safety of Lingxin Sect anymore. Without him, I will completely give up, and maybe my obsession will be gone.
But in fact, at that moment, I was really worried about his safety.
Worried about Duan Qingming? Gu Pinglin found it unbelievable.
Perhaps, it was because he was the person with whom she was most connected in past and present lives; perhaps, it was because he was too outstanding and too dazzling, and even though she knew he was dangerous and knew that she had been teased by him in her past life, she still couldn't help but stare at him, so much so that she couldn't let go of her obsession and almost developed a demon in her heart.
Gu Pinglin calmed down and said, "As long as we are brothers, as long as you don't do anything harmful to the Lingxin Sect, I will naturally care about you."
Duan Qingming said "Oh" nonchalantly, and it was unclear whether he believed it or not: "What if it's not a fellow apprentice?"
Gu Pinglin did not answer: "If the new move is named "Crane Shadow Dancing", it should be very appropriate."
"The crane's shadow dances gracefully, not bad," Duan Qingming accepted it as a matter of course, without getting entangled in the previous question, and asked, "How does it compare to Yao Feng's sword?"
Yao Feng's swordplay was very impressive, so it was inevitable that he would be interested. Gu Pinglin said without thinking, "Shushi swordplay has its own extraordinary features, and your move is not perfect."
Duan Qingming glanced at him from the side and said, "You are so reserved and polite. This is unlike you."
"I haven't finished yet," Gu Pinglin glanced at him, his lips slightly raised, "Even if you perfect this move, you still can't compare."
"Oh?" Duan Qingming was surprised. "Why?"
Gu Pinglin raised his chin slightly: "Simple, his sword was to save people, and your sword was to escape."
Duan Qingming laughed: "Gu Xiaojiu, you."
In the previous life, the two of them were always on edge when they met. Now that they had a rare chance, Gu Pinglin really commented: "Am I wrong? The two moves are equally powerful, but Heying Pianpian is good at body movements, like dragging a sword and slashing, and is not suitable for facing the enemy head-on. Brother Yao's sword is mainly used to trap, which will be of great benefit in the battle."
"Not necessarily," Duan Qingming thought for a moment, "The Yao family outside the mountain can be considered first-rate, which makes me look forward to Li Moqing's Yinlan swordsmanship even more."
His eyes froze for a moment, and Gu Pinglin slowly retracted his gaze, asking casually, "Compared to Brother Yao and Li Moqing, which one do you expect to be your opponent more?"
"Probably, Li Moqing," Duan Qingming looked ahead, as if looking at a future opponent, "This person is extremely talented, and he has the Heavenly Sword, so he shouldn't disappoint me too much."
The rival in a genius’ mind should be a fellow genius.
Gu Pinglin remained silent, his hands clenched involuntarily.
"But--" a voice came from my ear, with a hint of teasing, "I am more interested in you, Junior Brother Gu."
His heart skipped a beat. Gu Pinglin suddenly turned around and looked at him coldly: "My talent in swordsmanship is not as good as theirs."
Duan Qingming asked: "You can't beat them?"
Can't win? Gu Pinglin sneered: "It's true that I'm not as talented as him, but if we really fight, it's hard to say who will win."
This is not arrogance. In order to compete with that swordsmanship genius, Gu Pinglin vowed to make up for his lack of talent and created the method of "using formations to enter swordsmanship". In the swordsmanship of cultivation, it can be said that "there is no one before" in the world of swordsmanship. Compared with the ultimate killer move of Gu Ying's swordsmanship, "Magpie Bridge Shadow Dispersion", the move "Flowering Flowers and Butterflies" is only slightly inferior. How could he lose to the Li and Yao families? It's a pity that he only had time to come up with this move in his previous life. Now that he has time, it is only a matter of time for him to comprehend more moves.
Duan Qingming did not deny: "Using formations to practice swordsmanship is indeed novel. Will there be a more exciting sword move than 'Flowering Flowers and Butterflies'?"
"certainly."
"very good."
After releasing his hands, Gu Pinglin softened his tone and said, "In terms of talent, Qi Shisan is also good. His future achievements are limitless."
Duan Qingming laughed and said, "That cute fool?"
"As you said, he is indeed innocent, and it is not difficult to kill him," Gu Pinglin said calmly, "But if a person's swordsmanship is so pure, even if his swordsmanship is not the best, it must be the purest. In this respect, you, me, and Brother Yao are not as good as him. Do you admit it?"
"What is the most authentic and pure thing?"
"He pursues the way of the sword with all his heart."
"Am I not?"
"You think you are," Gu Pinglin paused, "Are you really?"
"Hmm?" Duan Qingming remained calm, but his white robe instantly exuded a chill as cold as ice and snow.
A sharp gaze fell on him, but Gu Pinglin did not dodge and turned sideways to face him.
People who don't care about anything will always want to care about something if they want to live in this world. He undoubtedly values kendo, so he was able to create "Bu Tian Jue" and Gu Ying Sword Technique. But for those who truly pursue kendo, "it's lonely at the top" has never been suitable for them. Kendo is their fun, and they spend their entire lives pursuing this fun, rather than being so lonely that they pursue the pleasure of games.
Gu Pinglin said: "You asked me if I cared about you, and I said yes, did you believe it? Or, is there really someone in this world that you truly believe in?"
Eyes met.
The gentle temperament disappeared, the person in front of him showed no joy or anger, his gaze slowly moved downward, and as his eyelids drooped, the tails of his eyes became more and more upturned, forming a somewhat cold arc.
After a moment, his thin lips curved up.
"You think you know me well."
Gu Pinglin said: "Maybe I know better than you."
After another moment of silence, he suddenly asked with interest, "Do you understand yourself?"
“Once, I thought I knew it very well.”
"what about now?"
Gu Pinglin remained silent and turned around to look ahead.
Now? I don’t know what I want now. I don’t know why I still have this obsession even though I’ve let go of my grudges and decided not to fight. I found out the truth about my past life and I don’t know how to deal with it. I don’t know what to do in the future…
After a long while, Gu Pinglin said, "I don't know."
Duan Qingming looked at him: "That's perfect, I understand you."
On his handsome face, there was a smile like a spring breeze, seven parts at ease and three parts playful. Under the flying eyebrows, two faint red shadows were faintly visible, like the rouge of a peony, with a unique and enchanting charm.
Gu Pinglin withdrew his gaze.
Dangerous, but more tempting, this is probably what it means to be friends with this person. However, I am trapped by my obsession, and the gap between me and him will only grow larger.
Friends who are not at the same height
Gu Pinglin changed the subject: "In less than 30 years, Qi's Chaoge swordsmanship will surely be famous."
"Oh, the purest swordsmanship," Duan Qingming said with a smile, "I hope your prediction comes true."
Gu Pinglin doesn't care about the Qi family, but Qi Wan'er is worthy of admiration. With what he said, Qi Wan'er should not be in danger for the time being.
"Let's go."
"Where are you going?"
"Didn't you know this a long time ago?"
"Looking for the Li Turtle?" Duan Qingming said, "It left because of the Creation Art."
Gu Pinglin said: "It recognizes the Creation Art just like the Flame Bird, so it is very likely related to the ancestor."
"So you are using this as a bargaining chip. It is indeed enough to impress the Tiancan Sect," Duan Qingming said, "You chose this direction. Did you know it a long time ago?"
Gu Pinglin did not hide it: "There is the lost inheritance of Tiancan Sect inside. There is no reason for Laobing Zhenren not to cooperate, but I only know the direction, not the specific location. Encountering Ligui was an accident, so it can be said that it was not a waste of effort."
Following Li Gui, there is a high chance that they will find the entrance to the inheritance. Gu Pinglin deliberately got rid of the crowd to look for it. Li Gui had just escaped and must have left traces.
The two men quickened their pace as they talked, and soon they had walked dozens of miles. They did not see any trace of the Li Turtle, but they heard the sound of fighting ahead.
The sword energy rising into the sky was mixed with red blood mist. A dozen people were fighting in a group. One group was obviously sword cultivators, while the other group did not use swords. The magic weapons they sacrificed were beads, and their spells were also very strange.
Both factions were blood-thirsty, except for an old man sitting nearby. The old man was strong and muscular, with a very ferocious face, arhat eyebrows, triangular eyes, a high and segmented nose, and a row of thick black beard from chin to ears. He did not wear a long robe like ordinary cultivators, but a short shirt, which was a bit old.
Seeing the wooden sword in his hand, Gu Pinglin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Just then, someone exclaimed, "Be careful!"
Red blood rain exploded, and a strong fishy smell floated in the air. Those sword cultivators probably knew how powerful it was and retreated one after another. One of the cultivators was a little slow to react, and the fishy blood splashed on his face. He immediately showed a look of panic, opened his mouth to scream, but no sound came out. The whole person froze in mid-air, and his body was obviously drying up at an extremely fast speed. His face was as pale as a ghost, with only a bit of bright red that was glaring.
With a "splash" sound, the body fell into the water.
This strange technique is clearly a method used by demonic cultivators. Gu Pinglin recognized it: "Blood flies, they are from the Dry Blood Sect."
The Kuxue Sect is a sect in the Demonic Realm. Most of its disciples practice blood refining techniques. This evil technique is practiced by taking the blood of living people and is extremely cruel.
The short-bearded old man didn't care at all when his disciples died. He said coldly: "You can't even deal with these small fry. What a bunch of trash!"
Upon hearing this, all the sword cultivators did not dare to retreat, and they went forward to fight to the death.
It is definitely not a good thing to encounter a demon cultivator when walking outside. Moreover, Gu Pinglin has already guessed the identity of this old man. He immediately reminded Duan Qingming in a low voice: "Let's go!"
Duan Qingming did not move, but just stared at those sword cultivators with his eyes flickering.
Gu Pinglin thought to himself that this was not good.
Having missed the Xuanming Sect, Gu Ying's swordsmanship is not perfect now. The swordsmanship of these people is very similar to the Xuanming Sect's style, and is even more fierce and has more ingenious changes, which can make up for the shortcomings of Gu Ying's swordsmanship. Could it be that he wants to...
Without waiting for Gu Pinglin to speak, Duan Qingming took a step forward and bowed to the old man: "Senior, your swordsmanship is extremely advanced. I have broadened my horizons today. I would like to ask you to teach me a few moves."
He also saw that these sword cultivators had insufficient attainments and their sword skills were crude, and the real master was the old man.
The old man had already seen the two of them, and was surprised to hear them. He looked him up and down and said, "Boy, do you know who I am?"
Duan Qingming smiled and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you are the famous Sword Demon, Senior Yan."
The Sword Demon Yan Sen, obsessed with swordsmanship, entered the devil's way and created the "Soul Sword School", sweeping across the sword world of the Demon Realm. He is a figure that both the righteous and the evil are afraid of. This man is cruel by nature, and the Demon Realm's co-leader, Master Weifeng, is unwilling to cause trouble for him easily. These disciples of the Kuxue Sect are just unlucky and have run into him.
"You have good eyesight." Yan Sen was even more surprised when his identity was revealed. "You would have bumped into me even if you knew it was me. Aren't you afraid of death?"
"I have always been afraid of death," Duan Qingming said, "but I don't think I will die."
Yan Sen laughed: "You are brave, but whether you are worthy of my attack is still to be determined. Let's fight with my disciples first."
He waved his hand, and the two disciples immediately showed joy on their faces and withdrew from the battle circle. Dealing with the righteous monks was much safer than dealing with the Kuxue Sect.
"I'm sorry." Duan Qingming bowed humbly.
The sword was unsheathed, the light was like a rainbow, and it brought out a fierce gust of wind. The robes fluttered in the wind, and the clean and elegant white instantly turned into a wanton and cold white.
The sword was released unexpectedly, spreading in all directions at a terrifying speed.
The man flew up in the air, his hands changed the finger gestures, and with one move "Flying under the shadow of a wild goose", the dazzling sword light fell like lightning, and the sword energy enveloped the area within a mile. Everyone who was fighting over there stopped at the same time, looked up, and everyone showed horror on their faces.
Yan Sen stood up suddenly.
The two disciples were powerless to resist the sword energy, spurting blood from their mouths and falling back into the water.
The long sword hovered in the sky. Duan Qingming looked down at Yan Sen from above, and his voice was also cold: "Too weak."
“Master…” The two disciples kowtowed in fear.
Yan Sen snorted, and the wooden sword flew out, slashing across the necks of the two men at an extremely fast speed. Before the two men could even utter a word of begging for mercy, they both fell to the bottom of the water.
The black water covered up the blood, and the wooden sword returned to Yan Sen's hand, without a speck of blood on the sword.
"Useless thing." After mercilessly killing two disciples, Yan Sen touched the wooden sword with satisfaction, staring at Duan Qingming with shining eyes, "Boy, with that move you just made, I can accept you as my disciple."
Duan Qingming was not grateful: "It seems that I did not disappoint you, but you did not satisfy me."
Yan Sen was not angry when he heard this, but laughed loudly: "Interesting, interesting! I have lived for two hundred years, and today I met someone who is not afraid of death. In view of this talent, I will make an exception and let you experience the Soul Sword Style."
The sword has not been drawn, but the pressure is already there.
Yan Sen had lived for more than two hundred years, and his cultivation had reached the realm of Dan. The suppression of the realm of the inner Dan master was too much for the two outer Dan cultivators. Gu Pinglin secretly practiced the Creation Art, and gradually felt better.
Facing the strongest enemy he had ever seen in his life, Duan Qingming was also affected, but he was not afraid at all. Instead, his spirit was more energetic than before, and his sword intent became stronger and stronger.
"Good aptitude." Yan Sen was surprised, and his eyes lit up even brighter.
"Stop talking nonsense." Duan Qingming performed the sword gesture.
Yan Sen snorted lightly, waved his hand, and the wooden sword floated silently into the air.