Martial Dao: Starting from the Village Fungus God

Chapter 284: Chapter 282: Battle, Falling Plum Sword Intent

As the instigator of all this, Jian Wuxin, the Master of the Sword Pavilion, looked at Zhu Ge with a broad smile. "Mr. Zhu, if you please."

"Please," Zhu Ge said calmly.

He wasn’t the least bit intimidated. After all, he had faced far grander situations than this.

The Master of the Sword Pavilion had gathered the entire sect, clearly intending to test his disciples.

Disciples from major sects like this were often as arrogant and condescending as characters from a storybook.

Now that an opportunity to teach them that ’there’s always someone better’ had presented itself, how could Jian Wuxin possibly let Zhu Ge go?

But as far as Zhu Ge was concerned, he would do anything for a chance to see that Sword Stele.

’Of course, now isn’t the time to bring it up.’

Whether between individuals or factions, there had to be reciprocity and an exchange of benefits.

’I haven’t brought any benefit to the Shushan Sword Sect yet, so how can I possibly make any demands?’

’But that might not be the case after the fight.’

This time, he planned to use the Martial Dao against masters, but for the disciples, he would use his Confucian Dao.

’I’ll make the Yi Dao renowned!’

It was a perfect chance to practice the Yi Dao and demonstrate its power at the same time.

’Then, we can make a fair trade. I’ll provide the Shushan Sword Sect with the cultivation methods of the Yi Dao, and in return, they’ll let me view the Sword Stele. That would be a reasonable exchange.’

CREAK.

As the door opened, the sight before him left Zhu Ge momentarily stunned.

The phantom of Jian Wuxin’s green, leaf-like sword hung across the sky. Nine sword cries echoed through the mountains, and the entire Shushan Sword Sect was in an uproar.

Countless streaks of sword light shot up from the various peaks, converging on Sword Heart Hall like a meteor shower.

There were elders using Sword Flight, disciples standing on their blades as they traveled, and a few old men with peculiar Body Techniques, who arrived gracefully, feet planted on their flying swords.

In a matter of minutes, the square before Sword Heart Hall was packed with people.

Zhu Ge walked to the entrance of the hall. Looking at the dense sea of heads in the square, he silently took stock.

He could sense more than ten auras at or above the Third Realm, at least twenty at the Second Realm, and an estimated fifty to sixty at the First Realm.

’The Shushan Sword Sect’s foundation is far deeper than I imagined.’

Liu Jianjian, riding her Mazhu, hid in a corner by the side of the hall. Her eyes were wide as she muttered, "So many Sword Cultivators... So many people..."

Zhu Sisi, perched on her shoulder and chewing a mulberry leaf, watched the Sword Cultivators in the square with a deadpan expression and mumbled:

"Their swords aren’t as hard as Master’s rod."

Liu Jianjian blinked, then laughed. "You’re right."

In the square, a burly, middle-aged Sword Cultivator stepped out from the crowd, cupped his fist, and asked, "Sect Leader, for what important matter have you summoned us?"

Jian Wuxin smiled faintly and pointed to Zhu Ge. "This is Mr. Zhu, the prodigy who created the New Confucian Dao."

"Mr. Zhu wishes to challenge the Third Realm disciples of our Shushan Sword Sect in a friendly contest of arms. I’ve gathered you all to ask: who is willing to face Mr. Zhu in battle?"

The moment his voice fell, the square erupted.

"Zhu Ge? The Zhu Ge who killed a Great Realm expert while only at the Second Realm?"

"Created the New Confucian Dao? Isn’t that a matter for the Confucian Dao? What’s he doing challenging us Sword Cultivators?"

"A Second Realm challenging a Third Realm? Is he insane?"

"You’re the insane one! Haven’t you heard? He killed several Third Realm Demon Beasts in Red River Prefecture!"

The discussions rose and fell, but no one was the first to step forward.

Zhu Ge watched the Sword Cultivators, his heart as calm as still water.

’They aren’t afraid to fight,’ he knew. ’They’re just waiting—waiting for someone of sufficient stature to make the first move.’

After all, their opponent was a world-renowned prodigy. Beating him was expected, but losing would be a complete disgrace.

No one wanted to be the first to take on such a thankless task.

It would only be asking for humiliation.

"I will."

A clear, cold voice cut through the crowd.

All eyes turned to the source of the voice, where a young woman in white was walking out from the crowd.

She was about seventeen or eighteen, with a cool, detached expression and long hair that cascaded down like a waterfall. A slender sword hung at her waist, its scabbard engraved with a plum blossom.

"Senior Sister Bai Mei!" someone in the crowd exclaimed.

"Senior Sister Bai Mei is a Third Realm Sword Cultivator, a genius of the Sword Dao! They say she’s already touched the threshold of manifesting her Sword Intent and is certain to succeed within fifty years!"

"Mr. Zhu is strong, but he’s only at the Second Realm. He’s probably going to be at a disadvantage."

The disciples broke into fervent discussion.

The elders, however, remained as calm as still water.

"Will Bai Mei be able to make it onto the Sheji Chart soon?" one of the elders suddenly asked.

"It will be difficult..." another elder said, shaking his head. "Everyone currently on the chart can manifest their True Intent. Merely condensing Sword Intent within one’s Sword Heart is far from enough."

"Manifesting True Intent..." An elder sighed. "It took me a century after reaching the Great Realm to finally manifest my True Intent."

"That just goes to show you, only the prodigies on the Sheji Chart count as true prodigies!" someone else remarked with a casual laugh.

One reached the Second Realm by condensing a Martial Arts Heart and the Third Realm by condensing a True Intent. The manifestation of that True Intent, however, was unrelated to one’s realm, though most experts at the Great Realm could achieve it.

Generally speaking, anyone on the Sheji Chart could manifest their True Intent, but not everyone who could manifest their True Intent could get on the Sheji Chart.

At this moment, Bai Mei walked up to Zhu Ge and cupped her fist. "Shushan Sword Sect disciple, Bai Mei. I ask for Mr. Zhu’s guidance."

Zhu Ge returned the salute. "Please."

The two walked to the center of the square and stood several yards apart.

With a wave of his hand, Jian Wuxin brought a curtain of green sword light down from the sky, enveloping the square to prevent the battle’s aftershocks from harming the onlookers.

Bai Mei drew the longsword from her waist. Its blade was snow-white, and a cold gleam faintly pulsed along its edge.

She gripped the hilt, the tip of her sword angled toward the ground. Her entire presence was like that of a drawn blade, sharp edge on full display.

"Mr. Zhu, be careful." Before her voice had even faded, she was in motion.

Her sword was as fast as lightning, its tip tracing a silvery-white arc through the air as it stabbed straight for Zhu Ge’s throat.

This strike had no flashy moves, no phantom manifestations—only speed and precision.

So fast there was no time to react, so precise there was nowhere to run.

"A fine strike!" Zhu Ge didn’t retreat. He whipped the Purgatory Star Rod from his waist, and as a silver-red light flared, he smashed it forward.

CLANG—

Bai Mei was forced back several steps, but Zhu Ge didn’t move an inch.

"Your Confucian Dao is so powerful, Mr. Zhu." A flicker of surprise crossed Bai Mei’s eyes, but her sword didn’t stop.

She spun, her technique changing. The thrust became a slice, the blade sliding along the Purgatory Star Rod’s shaft and toward Zhu Ge’s fingers.

Zhu Ge loosened his right hand, letting the rod slide through his palm before suddenly tightening his grip, pinning her blade between the shaft and his hand.

Bai Mei tried to pull her sword back, but it wouldn’t budge.

She looked up at Zhu Ge, who was watching her with a slight smile.

"Your sword is fast," Zhu Ge said with a small laugh, "but it lacks power."

He opened his palm, and Bai Mei snatched her sword back, retreating several steps, her chest heaving.

"Your rod technique is truly masterful, Mr. Zhu." Bai Mei took a deep breath and tightened her grip on her sword. "But from now on, I won’t be holding back."

She closed her eyes, and the cold light on her sword flared.

Her heart began to pound, and a sharp Sword Intent surged from within her.

Sword Heart!

From her Sword Heart, the phantom of a white plum blossom flickered into view.

The plum blossom bloomed, its petals drifting down—and each petal was a strand of Sword Qi.

"That’s Senior Sister Bai Mei’s Fallen Plum Sword Intent!" someone in the crowd cried out.

"They say with one strike of her Fallen Plum Sword Intent, ten thousand blossoms fall! Its power is immense!"

"Once Senior Sister Bai Mei can fully manifest her Fallen Plum Sword Intent, she’ll definitely make it onto the chart!"

The disciples were incredibly excited.

But as Zhu Ge watched the phantom plum blossom, his heart stirred. His Literary Energy automatically manifested, forming the shape of "?".

The Kun Trigram!