Chapter 66: Observing The Sword Stele, Sword Dao True Meaning!
In Sword Forging Manor’s Zhao Jingjing’s boudoir, there were only Zhao Jingjing and Zhao Wuya in the room.
Zhao Wuya stared coldly at Zhao Jingjing: “No matter who that person is, forget him!”
“Today the man in black tried to kidnap you, he deserves to die!”
“If you still care about our father-daughter bond, if you still remember your mother’s nurturing grace, if you still care about Sword Forging Manor, then remember what I just said, remember it firmly!”
“Fortunately, you haven’t made a big mistake yet. After the engagement today, you will be Ye Chunsheng’s fiancée. If you act like this again, the people implicated won’t be just one…”
Zhao Jingjing’s face changed, tears flowing silently.
“Dad…”
“Today’s matter, I will handle it cleanly from start to finish. Remember, after today, all the past will be like bubbles. If you can’t make up your mind, then I will go kill him!”
“No, Dad, your daughter remembers…”
Zhao Jingjing lowered her head, her heart dead like ash.
Her little “tricks” did not fool her old dad.
Today’s so-called “kidnapping” by the man in black was actually done by Zhao Jingjing herself.
She even cost the man in black his life for nothing.
She paid a heavy price for her naivety!
“Dad, is Ye Chunsheng really worth you pulling him in like this?”
Zhao Jingjing asked.
“Worth it! Ye Chunsheng becoming a first-rate expert is only a matter of time. He can protect Sword Forging Manor for decades to come. Do you think it’s worth it?”
“Besides, hasn’t Chunsheng been good to you?”
Zhao Jingjing fell silent.
Ye Chunsheng was naturally extremely good to her.
“Wipe your tears, redo your makeup, and come out with me.”
About a quarter of an hour later, Zhao Jingjing came out and arrived at Sword Forging Manor’s hall with Zhao Wuya.
Seeing Zhao Jingjing safe, Ye Chunsheng also breathed a sigh of relief.
Although today was only the engagement.
But in front of so many Jianghu fellows, once engaged, it was almost no different from getting married.
The engagement ceremony proceeded as usual.
Although the earlier incident happened, many people still envied Zhao Jingjing and Ye Chunsheng’s engagement.
Especially seeing Zhao Jingjing, the number one beauty in Jiangnan’s Martial World, and the thousand gold daughter of Sword Forging Manor’s manor lord.
Ye Chunsheng was even more of a rising star in the Jianghu, a future first-rate expert.
To outsiders, these two were indeed a match made in heaven.
Ji Qing looked at Ye Chunsheng.
The smile on his face was genuine.
Proving he was indeed very happy today.
Reputation, martial arts, beauty… Ye Chunsheng now had it all.
For a brothel prostitute’s son to reach this point today, what more could he be dissatisfied with?
But Zhao Jingjing was different.
Although she had a smile on her face, Ji Qing could tell at a glance that her smile was very forced.
How far these two could go in the end, Ji Qing didn’t know.
But Ji Qing had no intention of reminding or advising Ye Chunsheng.
After all, this path was chosen by Ye Chunsheng himself.
“Old Three, really no need to remind Chunsheng?”
Lei Yu asked.
Ji Qing shook his head and said calmly: “Chunsheng is just lacking Jianghu experience, not stupid. Some things, even if we don’t say them, he can figure them out slowly… Forget it, I’ll remind him before I leave.”
Lei Yu nodded.
The engagement ceremony ended not long after it started.
Zhao Jingjing also went down to rest on the pretext of feeling unwell, leaving the rest to Zhao Wuya and Ye Chunsheng to handle.
Ji Qing did not leave that day but stayed one night at Sword Forging Manor.
The next day, Ye Chunsheng, refreshed, found Ji Qing.
“Mister Ji, thanks to your action yesterday, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.”
Ji Qing glanced at Ye Chunsheng.
He seemed very happy.
As if he hadn’t noticed Zhao Jingjing’s abnormality.
“Chunsheng, I want to observe the Sword Stele. Is there a way?”
Ji Qing asked directly.
The reason he stayed one night at Sword Forging Manor was to observe the Sword Stele.
“Observe the Sword Stele? This is a big matter. The Sword Stele holds a very special status in Sword Forging Manor… How about this, I’ll take you to see the manor lord.”
Ji Qing nodded.
So, Ye Chunsheng took Ji Qing to find manor lord Zhao Wuya and explained the purpose.
“Observe the Sword Stele?”
Zhao Wuya pondered for a moment and said: “Mister Ji, you saved my daughter yesterday and helped Sword Forging Manor greatly. In principle, we should fulfill your request, but the Sword Stele is the foundation of Sword Forging Manor. I alone can’t decide; there are also many elders in the manor…”
“Then what conditions are needed to observe the Sword Stele?”
Ji Qing asked again.
He naturally understood Zhao Wuya’s meaning.
Observing the Sword Stele required meeting conditions.
“Sword Forging Manor’s Sword Stele was personally forged by the first-generation ancestor, who was an Innate Grandmaster. He forged the Sword Stele to let later generations gain enlightenment in Sword Technique and Sword Momentum, and comprehend from it.”
“Unfortunately, later generations were not up to par. No one achieved grandmaster level again, and even first-rate experts rarely emerged. With the Sword Stele in Sword Forging Manor being too eye-catching, some predecessors of the manor set rules: as long as some first-rate experts from the Jianghu or martial artists who have developed ‘momentum’ leave a promise to Sword Forging Manor, they can observe the Sword Stele.”
“This rule is known throughout the Jianghu. Many first-rate experts have left promises and thus observed the Sword Stele. Even Chunsheng did so.”
Ji Qing looked toward Ye Chunsheng beside him.
Sure enough, Ye Chunsheng nodded secretly; he had indeed left a promise.
Ji Qing finally understood why Sword Forging Manor, without a first-rate expert in charge, had no one daring to target it.
Sword Forging Manor used the “Sword Stele”‘s miraculous power as leverage to secure promises from many first-rate experts.
Who would dare to target Sword Forging Manor?
Moreover, Sword Forging Manor could forge some divine weapons, and had good relations with many major forces in the Jianghu, making its status in the Jianghu even more stable.
Ji Qing knew he must leave this “promise.”
Just like when he obtained the Extreme Yang Scripture from the Hanging Temple.
Without leaving a promise, Sword Forging Manor wouldn’t allow him to observe the Sword Stele.
“Fine.”
Ji Qing ultimately agreed to leave a promise.
A trace of smile appeared on Zhao Wuya’s face.
This was a promise from “Astonishing Swan Saber” Ji Qing.
With Ji Qing’s promise, Sword Forging Manor’s status in the Jianghu would undoubtedly be more stable.
“Mister Ji, please follow me!”
Zhao Wuya took Ji Qing to the Back Mountain.
Sword Forging Manor’s Back Mountain had a huge stone tablet about ten zhang high.
This stone tablet was shaped like a giant sword.
It also emitted an invisible sharpness, making it seem difficult even to approach.
This was the Sword Stele!
Forged by Sword Forging Manor’s first-generation manor lord, a legacy left by an Innate Grandmaster.
The Sword Stele was very magical.
As long as one sat under the Sword Stele to gain enlightenment, there would be a sense in the mind, comprehending some Sword Technique.
Some even comprehended first-rate Sword Technique!
Of course, if comprehension was insufficient, one might return empty-handed.
“Mister Ji, there are nine layers of steps under the Sword Stele. The higher the step, the better the enlightenment effect.”
“But forcibly climbing the steps may damage the mind. Please act according to your ability, Mister Ji.”
Zhao Wuya reminded.
“Chunsheng, which layer of steps did you reach?”
Ji Qing asked.
“Mister Ji, to my shame, I only reached the Fifth Layer step back then.”
“Fifth Layer?”
Ji Qing pondered.
“Chunsheng, you’re too modest. With second-rate martial artist’s strength, reaching the Fifth Layer step is already very good. This Sword Stele is not simple; many first-rate martial artists only reach five or six layers of steps.”
“As for the Seventh Layer… over so many years, only a few have reached the Seventh Layer! One of them once reached the Eighth Layer and eventually became a Sword Dao grandmaster, shaking the world!”
Ji Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Reaching the Eighth Layer became a Sword Dao grandmaster… Then the Ninth Layer? Who has reached the Ninth Layer?”
Ji Qing asked.
“According to records, since the first-generation ancestor forged the Sword Stele, no one has ever reached the Ninth Layer!”
Ji Qing understood.
The Sword Stele’s steps were clearly not easy to climb.
However, Ji Qing was even more interested.
He wanted to try how many layers of steps he could ultimately reach.
And what he could ultimately comprehend.
“Whoosh.”
Ji Qing immediately leaped into the air and landed directly on the First Layer step.
“Boom.”
As soon as Ji Qing steadied himself, he immediately felt a sharp Sword Dao edge emanating from the Sword Stele, instantly landing on him.
He raised his head to look at the Sword Stele.
It seemed the Sword Stele had disappeared at this moment.
In its place was a giant sword thousands of zhang long, spanning the void, emanating endless sword sharpness!
“This is Sword Momentum?”
“No, Sword Momentum isn’t this terrifying. This is… the legendary Sword Dao True Meaning?”
Ji Qing suddenly raised his head, a trace of shock flashing in his eyes!
