Immortality begins with the Swordsman.

Chapter 3: Scroll Oneself Is Not as Good as Scroll Master

The sun slowly sank in the west.

The afterglow of the sunset, like a thin veil, gently spilled over the "Purple Qi Comes from the East Pavilion," presenting a scene of gentle tranquility.

"The five peaks of Mount Hua are Jade Maiden, Rising Sun, Lotus, Descending Goose, and Cloud Terrace. Our Qi Sect resides on Jade Maiden and Rising Sun peaks; the Sword Sect resides on Lotus and Descending Goose peaks; as for Cloud Terrace peak, it is our Mount Hua Sect's first line of defense..."

After dinner, the young girl Ning Zhongze, dressed in a plain white dress, sat quietly at the stone table in the courtyard, listening to her master recount the situation of the Huashan Sect.

On the stone table lay a long sword and a string of black and white Buddhist beads, which her second senior brother had temporarily entrusted to her for safekeeping.

The girl turned her head slightly.

My gaze quietly fell on the mountain spring in the corner of the courtyard, where I saw Gu Changfeng with his sleeves rolled up, squatting by the spring, skillfully washing the dishes.

Compared to the elegant and refined second senior brother she first met, the second senior brother now exudes a strong sense of everyday life, which makes her feel even more at ease with him.

Moreover, dinner was cooked by the second senior brother himself.

The aroma of the food still seemed to linger in her nose, and the taste was surprisingly good. She couldn't help but eat two large bowls of rice.

"Second Senior Brother, you're so gentle. If it really is fate... it doesn't seem so bad..."

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, a blush rose on the girl's cheeks. She quickly lowered her head, picked up the black and white Buddhist beads on the stone table, and gently turned them, trying to hide her shyness.

These black and white prayer beads are made of 108 Bodhi seeds. Although the material is ordinary, they have been polished to a glossy shine.

Eight of them were jet black, one was half white and half black, and the rest were all white.

She couldn't see anything mysterious about it, only that her second senior brother treasured it like a precious gem.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached from afar.

The girl looked up and saw Gu Changfeng walking towards her carrying a bowl of clean dishes in both hands.

As Gu Changfeng walked, he said, "Master, I was thinking—why don't we buy a few maids? Now that we have a junior sister in the family, it's not very convenient for us men to take care of her. After all, there's a difference between men and women."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Zixiao pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded and said, "Yes, it is indeed somewhat inconvenient."

Ning Zhongze quickly said, "Master, I'm not that delicate. I can do laundry and cook. I don't need to buy maids to serve me..."

Gu Changfeng immediately interrupted her: "Junior sister, don't refuse this. Buying a few maids will make it easier for you to take care of them, and they can also help with daily chores, so we can have more time to practice swordsmanship. It's a win-win situation, so why not?"

"Oh……"

The girl nodded slightly, agreeing with her second senior brother's reasoning, and said no more.

However, Master Zixiao glared at Gu Changfeng and snorted coldly, "It's too deserted on the mountain, I might as well buy you a few more maids to sleep with."

"Master, that's not what I meant. Don't wrong me."

Gu Changfeng said seriously, "Life on the mountain is inconvenient, and these chores are indeed time-consuming and laborious. Having a few maids to help can save a lot of time, which is very worthwhile. Besides, we don't lack that little bit of money..."

Although Ning Zhongze was young, she could still discern the underlying meaning in his words.

She had just vaguely thought that her second senior brother was doing it for her own good, but it turns out that he was using her name to buy her a few maids—humph, her second senior brother is too wicked.

Master Zixiao raised an eyebrow, a playful glint in his eyes: "Want to buy a maid? No problem. If you can withstand thirty of my moves, I'll agree."

"Really?" Gu Changfeng's eyes lit up, and he was secretly delighted: "Haha, my four sword attendants, Plum Blossom, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum, are finally settled. I can live the wonderful life of Xu Zhu from now on."

Upon hearing that her master and second senior brother were going to spar, Ning Zhongze became excited and hurriedly handed over her longsword: "Second senior brother, here's your sword."

Gu Changfeng did not take it, but smiled and said, "My 'Azure Nether Sword' is too dangerous, it can hurt both the user and others, and should not be drawn unless absolutely necessary. You can hold it for me first, just give me the bracelet."

"oh!"

The girl nodded obediently and handed over the black and white bodhi seed bracelet.

After receiving the bracelet, Gu Changfeng immediately felt refreshed, as if his entire lungs had been cleansed by the mountain mist.

He bought this black and white bodhi seed bracelet at the Huashan Cultural and Creative Store; little did he know it would travel through time with him.

What I didn't expect was that the item I bought for a hundred or so yuan turned out to be a bug-level wonder.

If there were a control panel, it would definitely be described like this.

【Name: 108 Black and White Bodhi Seed Bracelet】

[Host: Gu Changfeng (Bound)] (Note: Cannot be used by non-hosts)

[Grade: God-tier]

[Effect: Significantly improves cultivation aptitude]

【Features: Undamaged, Unlost】

[Currently Unsealed: 8 Bodhi Seeds] (Note: As your cultivation level increases, you can unseal more Bodhi Seeds and receive corresponding rewards)

This 108-bead black and white bodhi seed bracelet was originally all white.

As his cultivation level increases, the Bodhi seeds begin to turn black. Once they are completely black, he will receive a reward.

He has now received eight rewards, including sedatives, poisons, hidden weapons, and aphrodisiacs—good stuff for home, travel, murder, and robbery.

Among them are two exquisite items: the Mangku Zhuha and the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword.

……

……

Gu Changfeng wrapped the black and white bodhi beads around his left wrist, picked up the bowl and basin, and quickly walked into the kitchen.

When he came out again, he was holding a heavy sword made of black iron.

Master Zixiao frowned slightly, thinking to himself, "This sword is no ordinary one. Its deep black blade faintly glows with a red light, and it's clearly exceptionally heavy. How can it be so light and agile? What is this wicked disciple up to now?"

Gu Changfeng stood in the courtyard, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his gaze fixed on Zixiao Daoist, revealing a sense of confidence and determination.

"Master, I have recently mastered a sword technique. Please teach me."

Master Zixiao raised his left hand, drawing his longsword from its sheath at his waist. He placed it in his right hand, pointed it at Gu Changfeng, and said, "Draw your sword!"

Gu Changfeng nodded and said, "Okay!" Before he finished speaking, he thrust his sword out like a dragon emerging from its cave, creating a sharp sound as it cut through the air. It was the "White Clouds Emerging from the Peak" move from the Huashan beginner sword technique.

Clang—!

Master Zixiao raised his longsword, cleaving through Gu Changfeng's sword strike.

However, Gu Changfeng's sword strike was incredibly powerful, causing his arm to go numb. If it weren't for the fact that the "Purple Cloud Sword" in his hand was a rare and powerful weapon, it would have been broken in an instant.

"You underestimated him."

Master Zixiao's eyes sharpened, and he instantly channeled his inner energy into the sword. The sword hummed softly and emitted a faint sword light...

Gu Changfeng used the momentum to his advantage, turned around and thrust at the chest. Seeing his master dodge to the side, he immediately swept his sword horizontally. Although it was the most basic move, the sword energy was powerful and majestic, like the roar of a dragon and the howl of a tiger.

"good!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Zixiao Daoist's eyes.

Since mastering the "Purple Cloud Divine Skill," he abandoned the "strange" and "dangerous" characteristics of the Huashan swordplay and comprehended the sword principle of "simplifying complexity and overcoming skill with clumsiness." Gu Changfeng's sword moves at this time were surprisingly similar, which made him feel gratified and that there was someone to carry on the tradition.

In the blink of an eye, the master and apprentice had exchanged more than ten moves, their swords flashing and clanging.

Zixiao Daoist was engrossed in the fight, but after only twenty moves, he noticed that the power in Gu Changfeng's sword was weakening, and by the twenty-fifth move, it had already lost its strength.

"stop!"

Gu Changfeng retreated several steps and shouted.

He was breathing heavily, seemingly exhausted...

Master Zixiao sheathed his sword and laughed, "Not bad, it's a pity your internal energy is insufficient, otherwise you could have withstood thirty of my moves. Forget about the maidservant..."

"Master, don't be in such a hurry!"

Gu Changfeng's lips curled up slightly, showing no sign of discouragement after his failure.

He originally intended to keep this Xuan Tie Heavy Sword for himself, but Ning Zhongze's visit to the mountain today disrupted his original plan. Based on the plot of the original work, it is estimated that the "battle of sword qi" will break out soon.

In this fierce battle, the Qi Sect won the final victory, but it was a Pyrrhic one, leaving only Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze alive.

The Huashan Sect never recovered from that point on.

Gu Changfeng didn't want to see this outcome, but he also knew that the decades-long hatred between the two factions, and the unclear power struggle, couldn't be resolved by him alone...

He originally intended to use the black and white bodhi bracelet to quickly comprehend Yang Guo's "Mysterious Iron Sword Technique," sweep away all the masters of Mount Hua by himself, and then forcefully merge the two sects to become the sole leader of Mount Hua...

When power is in hand, issues like the "liberal arts" versus the "science" can be resolved with a little more brainwashing.

However, Ning Zhongze's ascent up the mountain was still too fast.

Although he had grasped some of the "Mysterious Iron Sword Technique," his internal strength was insufficient to unleash its power. He couldn't even defeat his master, let alone Feng Qingyang, who possessed the "Nine Swords of Dugu."

and so.

The best solution now is to pass on the "Mysterious Iron Heavy Sword" and the "Mysterious Iron Sword Technique" to my master. As long as my master's strength increases significantly, more people will be able to survive.

The "Nine Swords of Dugu" may not be able to defeat the "Mysterious Iron Sword Technique".

Gu Changfeng's gaze was intense as he murmured, "It's better to seduce my master than to seduce myself..."

He smiled slightly, slowly approached the Purple Cloud Daoist, and respectfully presented the "Mysterious Iron Heavy Sword".

"Master, change the sword!"

"Hmm?" Master Zixiao was taken aback for a moment, but quickly understood Gu Changfeng's meaning—change swords and fight again!

"good!"

Acquired the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword.

Only then did the Purple Cloud Daoist realize that the sword was unusually heavy, weighing at least seventy or eighty pounds. The blade was as black as ink, yet it emitted a crimson light, clearly indicating that it was no ordinary weapon. No wonder Gu Changfeng could only use it for a few moves.

"Master, be careful."

"bring it on!"

Holding his master's "Purple Cloud Sword," Gu Changfeng lunged forward and unleashed three swift thrusts, all of which were sword moves from the "Huashan Introductory Sword Techniques."

With a sweep of his heavy sword, Daoist Zixiao easily deflected the three sword strikes, but the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword was too heavy and too large, making it extremely difficult to wield...

"A heavy sword has no edge; great skill appears effortless."

Gu Changfeng offered some pointers, but his hands didn't stop moving; he continued to use the basic sword techniques of Mount Hua.

Master Zixiao remained silent and calmly responded.

"Handling heavy tasks with ease, using clumsiness to overcome skill..." Gu Changfeng said as he attacked.

Master Zixiao knew that Gu Changfeng was telling him the trick to using this sword.

Although it is said that a master can be a teacher, the situation of a disciple teaching a master is inevitably awkward no matter who it happens to, especially since Gu Changfeng has been teaching him the most basic sword techniques...

"No need for you to say more..."

Daoist Zixiao snorted coldly, channeling his inner energy into the Xuan Tie sword, and immediately began to wield it with ease...

Gu Changfeng's eyes lit up, and his speed suddenly doubled. He thrust four times in quick succession. The first two were sword moves from the "Huashan Introductory Sword Techniques", but the third was the "Xi Yi Sword" and the fourth was the "Yang Wu Sword".

The four swords were unleashed in rapid succession, flowing smoothly and without the slightest hesitation.

Master Zixiao's eyes were sharp as torches. He thought to himself, "If I didn't know that this wicked disciple only spends one hour a day practicing swordsmanship, I would almost have thought that he had followed the path of the Sword Sect."

Ning Zhongze tightly hugged Gu Changfeng's "Azure Destiny Sword," her eyes wide as she watched the battle unfold. Her eyes shone with admiration as she thought, "My second senior brother is so eccentric in his words and actions, yet his martial arts are so extraordinary. No wonder Master said he is a martial arts prodigy, one in a hundred years..."

"I wonder when I'll be as skilled as my second senior brother and be able to spar with Master..."

While I was pondering this.

In the arena, Gu Changfeng's sword danced, sometimes becoming ethereal and graceful, like a woman dancing—a breathtaking sight…

She watched in astonishment, completely baffled by her second senior brother's swordsmanship.

She didn't understand, but the Purple Cloud Taoist did.

"You've even mastered the Jade Maiden Sword and the Lady Sword techniques?"

"He also learned Feng Qingyang's swordsmanship style of 'flowing clouds and water, going wherever he pleases' without any teacher..."

"He really is a martial arts prodigy; anyone who didn't know better would think he was Feng Qingyang's disciple..."

Zixiao Daoist's eyes sharpened, and he switched from defense to offense. His sword flashed, and each strike had the force of a thunderbolt and a great storm.

Gu Changfeng felt immense pressure, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He gripped the black and white bodhi seed bracelet tightly with his left hand.

The enhancement provided by this black and white bodhi bracelet is not only applicable to cultivation but also to combat, allowing him to maintain a "clear mind and sharp eyes" during battle and avoid panic.

"Just a few more tricks and my good days are coming."

Gu Changfeng countered with offense, simplifying his sword techniques, yet each strike was faster than the last, almost too fast to see...

Master Zixiao was taken aback, seemingly understanding something, and murmured, "This is the true strength of this wicked disciple? What 'heavy sword has no edge, great skill is without artifice', what 'flowing clouds and water, utterly free', none of these are his swordsmanship. His swordsmanship is—"

"In the world of martial arts, speed is the only thing that cannot be broken!" He recalled the words that Gu Changfeng had once told him.

"Hmph, this unfilial disciple, in order to buy a few maids, he actually stopped holding back? With this kind of strength, he would already be a first-rate master in the martial arts world."

Daoist Zixiao was furious. He suddenly took a deep breath, his face glowing with a brilliant purple light, and swung his sword at Gu Changfeng...

……

Ning Zhongze's eyes widened as she saw her master standing in the arena, wielding his sword left and right, up and down, his sword energy sharp and purple, even though they were more than ten steps apart, she could still feel the sword wind brushing her face.

Meanwhile, the second senior brother's movements became faster and faster, like a green shadow weaving through the purple sword energy, resembling a nimble bluebird.

Ning Zhongze was dazzled and captivated by the sight. For a moment, he felt a surge of heroic spirit, as if a thousand horses were galloping through his chest, never ceasing.

Without realizing it, his right hand, which was gripping the "Azure Nether Sword," unconsciously pulled...

Clang!

The Azure Sword is drawn!

Ning Zhongze thought to herself, "Oh no! I touched my second senior brother's sword without permission. Will he be angry?"

Just as I was panicking, I suddenly smelled a sweet fragrance, a rich and refreshing floral scent.

"What's that smell? It smells so good!"

Ning Zhongze was stunned for a moment, but as soon as the fragrance entered her nose, the girl felt a wave of dizziness, her eyes became blurry, and her body began to sway.

"What's wrong? My head is spinning..."

Just as she was about to lose her balance and fall to the ground, Gu Changfeng appeared beside her without her noticing and gently supported her.

"Second Senior Brother!"

The girl murmured, but suddenly remembered what Gu Changfeng had just said: "My 'Azure Nether Sword' is too dangerous, it can hurt others and myself, and should not be drawn unless absolutely necessary."

As she fell into a deep coma, the girl finally realized what was happening.

"The sword was smeared with a sleeping potion?!"

On her first day at Mount Hua, thirteen-year-old Ning Zhongze was drugged twice by Gu Changfeng, giving her a profound understanding of what it meant to be...

The world of martial arts is a dangerous place!