Chapter 78: Gods and Buddhas All Disperse

Chapter 78: Gods and Buddhas Scatter

This strike was truly as swift as thunder, as fierce as a dragon and tiger—yet it ultimately failed to take the other’s life outright.

The few Cui clan elders serving as witnesses were no idle hands either, each at the Ninth Heaven of the Mystic Gate—how could they let a young man rise up and slay a clansman before their eyes?

“Boom!” Several fists and palms struck the blade’s side almost simultaneously.

To everyone’s astonishment, this level of suppression was more absurd than an adult beating a child—with so many striking the blade at once, it was they who were sent staggering back by the recoil.

The Great Xia Dragon Sparrow’s own rejection!

You mortals dare to touch me!

A group of Cui elders staggered back in horror, some even slammed against the bronze hall’s walls by the force of the rebound.

Yet their strength still deflected the broadsword’s trajectory; the blade barely grazed the young man’s robe, and he instinctively leaped back, drenched in cold sweat, narrowly escaping decapitation.

“Zhao Changhe!” The man, furious and frantic, vaulted out of the hall, pointing and cursing: “Are you conspiring with your two brothers-in-law to frame and kill at will, stirring up muddy waters?”

“What’s happening?” Outside, a sea of heads surged in chaos: “Why the sudden fight?”

Cui Wenjue pushed through the crowd, steadied the young man, and asked coldly toward the hall: “Brother, what is the meaning of this? Is this the Qinghe trial of traitors, or a display of the Dragon Sparrow’s might?”

This was his son, Cui Yuanteng.

Inside the hall, Cui Wenjing stopped the elders who had been flung against the walls from surrounding Zhao Changhe again. He looked at Zhao Changhe with a strange expression, then at his daughter, who seemed somewhat at a loss.

The turn of events had caught him off guard as well. He had only intended to quietly have Zhao Changhe test the affinity of the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow, never planning for him to meddle in Cui family affairs—the Dragon Sparrow’s display of power was not something he could have predicted. But how to put it… this unexpected change seemed to work even better than his original plan.

He calmly stepped out with his sword, saying flatly: “I must first apologize to all clansmen for the deception just now.”

The crowd stirred.

Many elders said: “Wenjing, you might as well explain more clearly.”

Cui Wenjing said: “A sword is ultimately a dead thing. Relying on it to discern treachery might still lead to a sudden killing due to other matters. They are all our own clansmen—how could I bear it?”

An elder clicked his tongue in annoyance: “Then calling everyone in for a test, Wenjing—was that just for amusement?”

“The hall is dark, and the scabbard is black. The younger ones have shallow cultivation and cannot detect the little something I smeared on the scabbard beforehand. Those with a clear conscience will naturally touch the sword, and their hands will be stained. Those with guilty hearts might protect their hands with inner force, pretending to touch it but never actually daring to.” Cui Wenjing smiled faintly: “This is the true method of discernment. In fact, historical records from the era have documented such a method—I did not invent it.”

Damn… Zhao Changhe was shocked inside. Many might know the allusion, himself included, but he had never thought of this trick.

Now he strongly suspected that the other party had done all this just to force out the truth that the Qinghe Sword was flawed. But his father-in-law had never intended to rely on any mystical method of discernment from start to finish. Even if the sword were flawed, he could have naturally covered it up, and no one would have suspected.

In fact, Cui Wenjing himself had proposed using the Qinghe Sword for the test precisely to create this scene—to openly prove to those with doubts: The Qinghe Sword is fine. I dare let everyone touch it, and I dare stand before everyone with it. Let the doubts cease.

That was the main reason behind this whole series of maneuvers—finding the true culprit was merely incidental.

You’re so formidable, yet your daughter is so silly… so adorable.

The murmurs gradually subsided. Everyone understood Cui Wenjing’s intent—this trick was indeed very effective…

Cui Wenjing chuckled, looking around: “Everyone understands, then it’s simple. Now, all of you, show your palms—let everyone see, how are your hands?”

Cui Yuanyong and Cui Yuancheng immediately extended their hands. The crowd leaned in to look, and sure enough, their palms were somewhat blackened, smeared with something unknown.

The other young participants in the test exchanged glances and also showed their hands—all were blackened, some darker, some lighter, but clearly they had all touched it.

Finally, Cui Wenjing fixed his gaze on Cui Yuanteng beside Cui Wenjue, and said with a smile: “Nephew, your turn.”

Cui Yuanteng’s face turned pale. He instinctively hid his hands behind his back and even shrank behind his father.

Everyone’s eyes changed. This single gesture already spoke volumes.

Cui Yuanteng stammered: “I—I hadn’t touched the sword yet when Zhao Changhe attacked me with his blade. They did it on purpose—yes, on purpose, to stop me from touching it!”

Cui Wenjing smiled, and several elders beside him shook their heads. They had blocked Zhao Changhe’s strike to save Cui Yuanteng, but that was merely rescuing a clan nephew—it didn’t mean they blindly supported him. One elder sighed: “I witnessed it clearly. Yuanteng was already touching the sword, even seeming to stroke it several times generously—but it turned out his inner force wrapped his hand, and he never made contact.”

It seemed the truth had come to light.

Cui Wenjue’s face was very grim. He said slowly: “Brother’s plan seems reasonable, but it is still somewhat biased. Yuanteng has been a bit unruly since childhood—bullying men and women, that’s true. Perhaps he felt guilty and dared not undergo the divine sword’s trial—that’s not unusual. How can you arbitrarily conclude this is the act of killing his sister?”

Cui Wenjing laughed: “That’s also reasonable. But Yuanteng and Zhao Changhe are unrelated and have no enmity—why would he reveal murderous intent and provoke the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow’s counterattack?”

Cui Yuanteng stiffened his neck and said: “I don’t accept him ranking eighty-eight on the Hidden Dragon List, and I don’t accept a mere bandit daring to covet a swan—is that not enough? There are plenty who dislike him—what does that prove?”

In truth, the onlookers all knew—the matter was already very clear.

But the other party insisted on quibbling, making it hard to nail down without solid evidence, unless they were imprisoned and interrogated. However, Cui Wenjue was no ordinary man—he was the second-in-command of the Cui family, the Qinghe Prefect, with vast connections. Many in the clan were his people, and his ties to the outside world and even the court were very troublesome. If he insisted on arguing, how could this be resolved?

Everyone looked at Cui Wenjing, waiting for his verdict, wondering if he would decisively start a civil war.

Cui Wenjing smiled slightly and surprisingly asked: “Changhe, you are the party involved—what do you think?”

“Family affairs, all this nagging nonsense.” A sneer came from the bronze hall’s entrance. Zhao Changhe shouldered his broadsword and strode out: “You ask my opinion? I don’t care what reason this thing has for disliking me—the murderous intent was aimed at me, that can’t be denied.”

Cui Yuanteng sneered: “So what?”

“Who the traitor in the Cui family is—I’m not a detective, so I can ignore it. But now you want to kill me—that’s a private matter between you and me! If you’re a man, crawl out from behind your father’s ass and fight me fair and square! The Cui family’s martial arts have been passed down through generations—surely you’re not lacking that much courage?”

Cui Yuanteng’s eyes were full of hatred, and he sneered: “Relying on the power of the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow divine weapon—what kind of hero are you? Without that blade, you’re just a bandit? Hidden Dragon eighty-eight—what a joke!”

“Oh?” Zhao Changhe burst into laughter. With a clang, he thrust the Dragon Sparrow into the ground and took down the waist knife Cui Yuanzhong had picked for him earlier: “Using the Dragon Sparrow to kill you would only defile the precious blade! Come on, let me see—how do family scions compare to bandits!”

It seemed to be turning into a farce. The Cui family was hunting a traitor—how had it become a duel between young men? Everyone turned to look at Cui Wenjing, who smiled: “Changhe is the party involved—it’s not entirely irrelevant. It won’t take much time anyway—everyone, take a rest and watch. Wenjue, what do you think?”

Cui Wenjue said expressionlessly: “Since brother says so, if this man dies at Yuanteng’s hands, don’t let Yangyang cry and make a fuss.”

Cui Yuanzhong glanced at her uncle, then turned her head to look at Cui Yuanteng, saying nothing.

Cui Yuanteng was at the Fourth Heaven of the Mystic Gate; Brother Zhao had just broken through to the Fourth Heaven an hour ago… Cui Yuanteng had learned all the exquisite techniques of the Cui family. Theoretically, if Zhao Changhe didn’t use the Dragon Sparrow, he should be no match for Cui Yuanteng. Yet Cui Yuanzhong’s gaze at Cui Yuanteng was as if she were already looking at a dead man.

She had seen everyone’s combat prowess—they weren’t even on the same level. Even before Brother Zhao’s breakthrough, cutting down Cui Yuanteng would have been no great difficulty; now it was like slaughtering a chicken.

A clearing naturally opened up in the arena. Zhao Changhe stood calmly by the Dragon Sparrow blade, while Cui Yuanteng drew his sword, his expression vicious.

If not for this bandit, how would things have come to this!

The angrier he grew, the more he raged. With a furious shout, he struck first!

A sword light spread out, like the Qinghe River under the moon, winding through nine bends, cutting through the mountains.

“Green hills cannot block it—after all, it flows eastward.” An elder murmured: “Yuanteng’s sword, shrouded in clouds and mist, ever-changing, has grasped three parts of its essence…”

Before the last word “essence” could leave his lips, his expression suddenly changed.

“Clang!” The long blade was drawn.

The moment it left the scabbard, it was already at Cui Yuanteng’s forehead, as if his winding mountain sword had simply delivered his head to be chopped off.

“Such a fast blade!”

No matter your ever-changing forms, no matter green hills blocking green waters—I strike with one cut, and even if the hills block me, I cleave them apart!

Cui Yuanteng, in extreme disarray, changed his move to parry. With a clang, his sword nearly snapped, and he staggered back.

A great wind arose ahead, and voices from both sides shouted: “Yuanteng, be careful!”

As the shouts rang out, Cui Wenjue suddenly flashed forward, trying to rescue him.

Cui Wenjing was ready, smiling as he held his sword to block the way: “It’s just a game among the young—why are you alarmed, Wenjue?”

Over there, Cui Yuanteng, in his stagger, looked up.

A towering figure, like a god or demon, descended from the air, wielding a blood moon, eyes like bloodlight.

Gods and Buddhas scatter!

Had he not looked, it might have been better, but with that one glance, an boundless terror surged in Cui Yuanteng's heart, his limbs turning to jelly, feeling truly that no matter what god or buddha he might be, he could never withstand such a demon blade that slays gods and extinguishes buddhas!

At that very moment, a furious roar came to his ears: "When you killed Yuan Yang, did you ever think of this day!"

Cui Yuanteng, his soul scattered and wits gone, shouted: "She isn't dead either! Don't kill me!"

The entire arena fell silent.

Cui Wenjue, held back by Cui Wenjing, had a face ashen with fury.

The blood moon faded, the blade's light dissipated.

The cold blade rested against Cui Yuanteng's neck, and beside him, Zhao Changhe's mocking half-smile: "A scion of a noble house, and nothing more. Defeating a waste like you isn't even enough to get me into the Book of Chaos."