Chapter 63 Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location) Sword Duel

Eldrin (Person Name) looked up and saw a graceful young woman standing behind Meng Xinghe (Person Name), her skin fair and her beauty striking.

The young maiden appeared to be merely 20-some years of age, yet her cultivation had already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining. Such innate talent, even among Foundation Establishment immortal clans, would undoubtedly mark her as a heaven's favored daughter.

Seeing his gaze upon her, Meng Wanxing couldn't help but lower her head, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

Eldrin fell silent for a brief moment, carefully choosing his words as he tactfully declined, "Your celestial grace is truly breathtaking, Miss Meng. It is no wonder you are hailed as the Heaven-Blessed Maiden of the Meng Clan."

"It is only that this junior's heart already belongs to another. I can only deeply regret being unworthy of such profound affection."

Hearing this, Meng Wanxing (Person Name) furrowed her delicate brows and shot him a resentful glance, but ultimately said nothing.

"I see." Meng Xinghe let out an awkward chuckle. "This old man has been presumptuous."

After 3 rounds of wine, the banquet swiftly drew to a close.

The old clan leader exchanged a glance with Eldrin, then raised his wine cup and stood. "Today, I am deeply grateful for your esteemed presence at our Chen family’s banquet. This old man cannot express enough thanks for such kindness."

After finishing his cup of wine, he turned to the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the 6 great families and said.

"Esteemed friends, 60 years ago, our Chen Clan declined and relinquished our tax share in Yuyang District."

"Now that our Chen family is restored to prosperity, it is time we reclaim the share that rightfully belongs to us."

"Indeed." Lin Mocheng nodded, his tone calm as he spoke, "I propose this: let each of our 5 Great Families (Organization) contribute 2 percent of our profits, pooling a total of 10 percent for your Chen family. What say you?"

A 1-tenth tax share, amounting to a mere 500 spirit stones, was naturally unacceptable to the Chen family.

Eldrin immediately rose to his feet, his expression turning slightly frosty as he stated, "Fellow Daoist Lin, do not jest. Given the strength of my Chen family, if we were to receive only a 10 percent share, then your Lin family ought to merit no more than 10 percent as well."

Meng Xinghe at the side also chimed in, "With the Chen family's current strength, they could likely claim a spot among the top 3 shares."

"Humph." Before Lin Mocheng could speak, Lin Baixi, standing nearby, snorted coldly and said, "Then what do you propose we do?"

"I presume you are all aware of the reason I have summoned you here."

The old clan leader swept his gaze across the assembly with an air of looking down upon the world, before finally settling his eyes on Lin Mocheng (Person Name).

"As is the tradition, let us cross blades."

"Each side shall send 3 champions, and victory shall be determined by strength."

"Excellent." Meng Xinghe also laughed heartily. "Our Meng Clan produced its third Foundation Establishment cultivator a few years back. We've been receiving rather modest dividends these past years, so it's high time we secured more spirit stones. This promotion is truly well-deserved."

The head of the Mu Clan, Mu Xuanming, also nodded with a faint smile and said, "The 6 great clans of Yu County are 1 body—we must not harm our harmony. In matters like this, a contest is indeed necessary so that everyone may be convinced wholeheartedly."

"I support the dueling swords."

3 of the 6 great clans had already voiced their support, so the Zhang and Sun families naturally raised no objections.

All eyes finally fell upon Lin Mocheng. The Lin Family Head furrowed his brow, but could only nod in agreement.

"Very well, let us have a duel then."

“…”

This duel of swords, though initiated by the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization), saw every major clan arrive thoroughly prepared.

The Lin Family had not only dispatched their most powerful member, Lin Mocheng, but also 2 cultivators at Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm): Lin Baixi of the Bai generation and the elder cultivator Lin Moqin of the Mo generation.

The 3 Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Mu Clan included the clan leader at Foundation Establishment, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm), while 1 was at Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm), and the other had reached the third layer of Foundation Establishment.

Beyond that, only the Meng Clan possessed notable strength. This time, the Meng Clan had sent 3 Foundation Establishment cultivators. Their clan leader, Meng Xinghe (Person Name), was at the Foundation Establishment, Sixth Layer (Cultivation Realm), while the other 2 were both at Foundation Establishment, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm).

The remaining Sun and Zhang immortal clans were slightly lacking in strength, with each family possessing only 2 Foundation Establishment cultivators. They had even specifically brought along a Qi Refinement, Late Stage cultivator to pad their numbers.

The moment the sword competition began, the old clan leader resolved to challenge the Lin Family, aiming to seize their position as the foremost shareholding power in Yu County.

He stepped forward, his gaze sharp and unyielding as it fell upon Lin Mocheng. "I have long heard of your profound cultivation, Fellow Daoist Lin. This old man wishes to seek your guidance in a spar."

Lin Mocheng’s gaze turned icy, his smile not reaching his eyes. "I’ve been meaning to witness the renowned Blazing Heaven Sword of your Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location)," he remarked coolly.

Seeing 2 Foundation Establishment, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) experts about to cross swords, the crowd lit up with excitement, gathering around to watch.

No sooner had the words left their mouths than both figures soared into the sky, summoning their magical artifacts to commence battle.

On 1 side, Chen Changxuan immediately unleashed his killing move, summoning the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) spirit blade that transformed into a soaring slash. Meanwhile, Lin Mocheng refused to be outdone, manifesting a pale golden bell that enveloped him like a protective dome.

This small bell was named the Kunwu Bell, serving as Lin Mocheng’s life-bound magic treasure. Its full title was the Kunwu Earth-Sustaining Bell, and the method to refine such a life-bound treasure was truly extraordinary. Back then, the Lin Clan had spent over 10 1000 spirit stones to acquire it from the Qingyang Sect.

While this soul-bound treasure was less formidable in offensive power compared to the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) Spirit Blade, its defensive capabilities were truly extraordinary—even the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) Spirit Blade would struggle to breach it.

Seeing that the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) spirit blade could not breach his defenses, Lin Mocheng eased his mind.

"While the Crimson Flame Qi (Spiritual Root) spirit blade of the Chen Clan holds considerable renown, it ultimately falls short of being top-tier." With a hearty laugh, he then proclaimed in a resonant voice, "Courtesy demands reciprocity. Fellow Daoist, test the might of my Thunderbolt Demon-Severing Shuttle!"

As his voice faded, he raised his hand and unleashed a golden beam aimed directly between Chen Changxuan’s eyebrows.

This Thunderbolt Demon-Slaying Shuttle was a second-grade, high-tier Magical Artifact, possessing formidable power in its own right. With Lin Mocheng's cultivation at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, he channeled his energy to unleash it, amplifying its might by an additional 30 percent.

The Thunderbolt Demon-Slaying Shuttle (Magic Treasure) struck with a deafening roar, stirring the very winds and thunder, its momentum truly majestic and its power extraordinary.

Chen Changxuan did not dare underestimate the attack. He immediately activated the ancient bronze pagoda, unleashing a curtain of light that blocked the strike.

Lin Mocheng truly lived up to his status as the patriarch of a powerful Foundation Establishment immortal clan. His wealth far surpassed that of ordinary Foundation Establishment, Late Stage rogue cultivators. Seeing that the Thunderbolt Demon-Slaying Shuttle could not subdue him, he actually summoned a third upper-second-grade magic treasure into the fray.

It was a 3-inch-long archaic flying knife, seemingly unremarkable at first glance, yet its power was truly extraordinary.

The blade radiance transformed into a shower of starlight as it descended. With a resounding clang, it struck the ancient bronze pagoda, causing the luminous barrier to ripple with layer upon layer of undulating waves.

"In the end, my cultivation fell 2 levels short of his."

The old clan leader had this fleeting thought. With his cultivation at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, if he continued battling this opponent at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, he would likely exhaust his vital essence and suffer defeat.

The only way to break this deadlock was to overwhelm him with absolute, superior strength.

At this thought, he ceased holding back and unleashed his ultimate trump card—the Li Fire Soul Incineration Array.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The old clan leader waved his hand, and 7 formation flags shot out with a whoosh, instantly ensnaring the Thunderbolt Demon-Shattering Shuttle and the ancient flying dagger.

The moment this Blaze God Incineration Array was unleashed, it immediately achieved a miraculous feat. No matter how the 2 top-grade, second-tier magic treasures charged left and right within the formation, they remained trapped, utterly unable to break free.