Chapter 129: The Fifteenth Sword of the Sword Demon

Chapter 129: The Sword Demon's Fifteenth Sword

The night grew deeper, and the full moon climbed above the treetops. It was a perfect full moon; when it reached its zenith, the ground was illuminated as brightly as if it were day.

When Zheng Jian arrived on the mountain, Yan Shisan was already waiting. He was dressed in his customary black. Black symbolized ominousness, slaughter, and death, but also solitude, pride, and nobility—all meanings that resonated with Yan Shisan, and so he wore black forever.

Ever since Yan Shisan learned of Xie Xiaofeng’s defeat, he had acknowledged Zheng Jian. In his heart, Zheng Jian had reached the same level as himself. Seeing Zheng Jian, Yan Shisan said indifferently, "The last time I saw you, I felt that you were somewhat afraid of me. But this time, you have overcome that psychology. Very good. I suppose this is the confidence and pride that comes only after defeating the Third Young Master."

Zheng Jian neither denied nor admitted it. He certainly would not say that what he had feared before was not Yan Shisan himself, but his fifteenth sword. However, the reason he dared to come tonight was indeed because he had defeated Xie Xiaofeng in this very place.

Yan Shisan did not care whether Zheng Jian answered him; he continued, "Originally, I thought my fated opponent was the Third Young Master, but now it seems you are my true adversary. This time, our meeting dictates that one of us must die by the other’s sword. Either I die, or you die."

Yan Shisan was Yan Shisan. His aloofness was even greater than that of Xie Xiaofeng, for Xie Xiaofeng still had burdens—he could let go of Murong Qiudi, but he could not abandon Xie Xiaodi. But Yan Shisan was unburdened; the sword was his life. Thus, he was always prepared to die by his opponent’s sword, and conversely, he was bound to kill his opponent. The fact that Lei Zhenhu had once escaped with his life was, to Yan Shisan, an anomaly.

Zheng Jian felt a chill in his heart. It was as he expected: when facing Yan Shisan, there was no possibility of both surviving. A fair duel, followed by killing him, was the greatest respect he could offer.

"As you wish! Yan Shisan, tonight, either you die or I perish. Only one person can walk down this mountain." Zheng Jian spoke with resolve; he longed to witness the fifteenth sword of Yan Shisan.

Yan Shisan drew his sword and casually thrust the scabbard into the ground. "This sword is three feet, seven inches, and three fen long. It weighs seven jin and three liang. It has been with me for twenty years and has killed countless people."

Zheng Jian also drew his Tear-Stain Sword. "This sword is named Tear-Stain. It is three feet, three inches, and three fen long. It is a true famous sword."

Yan Shisan added, "Now that both of us have drawn our swords, we could strike at any moment."

Zheng Jian replied, "Indeed, one can strike at any time."

"But neither of us will strike first, because the moment one strikes, a flaw is revealed."

"Exactly, so I will wait for you to strike."

"But if we keep waiting like this, how long will we wait?"

"So, perhaps we should enjoy the moonlight."

"Very well."

And so, the two began to admire the moon. They walked as they watched, moving in perfect unison, neither willing to reveal the slightest flaw, nor willing to take the slightest advantage of the other.

This was a true peak battle, the most serious fight Zheng Jian had ever engaged in, surpassing even his duel with Dongfang Bubai. The full moon was beautiful and romantic. With the moon bright and the stars sparse, the desolate mountain became mysterious and beautiful.

As they walked, their spirit, energy, and resolve grew stronger. They were continuously climbing toward a peak, waiting for that moment to arrive. Suddenly, a dark cloud obscured the full moon. Almost instantly, both men struck at the same time.

Their swords conjured countless shadows in the void, and their figures, too, seemed to multiply. This was only because their speed had reached its limit; what appeared were merely afterimages formed by their instantaneous exchanges. Every strike was a collision between black and blue light—Yan Shisan’s sword qi was the black of death, while Zheng Jian’s was a dreamlike blue.

Under the full moon, it seemed as if dozens of Zheng Jians and Yan Shisans were fighting at once. Their spirits had already transcended everything. In these two top-tier swordsmen, their swords had developed distinct realms: one filled with death, the other flowing like Taiji.

With his "Undying Seal" fully activated, Zheng Jian cycled his life and death qi rapidly, allowing him to barely notice the depletion of his internal energy. As for Yan Shisan, every strike contained brand-new variations, each with infinite follow-up moves. The "Thirteen Swords of Death" was truly a summit of the sword path.

Suddenly, Yan Shisan’s figure stopped, and his sword stopped with him. He had exhausted the thirteen swords. At this moment, as his blade trembled and thrust out again, it was the fourteenth sword!

This strike was like a venomous snake crawling out from the realm of death, accompanied by infinite killing intent, lunging toward Zheng Jian. At the same time, Zheng Jian unleashed a strike—the very same final blow he had used to defeat Xie Xiaofeng, the culmination of the "Nine Swords of Dugu," fully integrated and sublimated to its peak.

The moment their sword tips collided, both men shuddered.

Under the shock to his spirit, Yan Shisan naturally thrust out his fifteenth sword. The swirling grass and debris in the sky went still; the night wind around them ceased. The true, ultimate mystery of the "Thirteen Swords of Death"—the fifteenth sword—had finally bloomed in Yan Shisan’s hands. The surroundings seemed to have completely transformed into a kingdom of death.

Zheng Jian’s expression became extremely solemn. He felt that as this sword was thrust out, his movements were completely bound by something inexplicable, as if an invisible force was controlling him, leaving him unable to counterattack, unable to dodge, and forced only to wait for death.

"Is this the feeling Xie Xiaofeng had in the original story?" Zheng Jian sighed inwardly. "Truly, an invincible sword technique!"

But this was the moment Zheng Jian had been waiting for. The reason he had not fought Yan Shisan earlier was precisely for this terrifying fifteenth sword!

"Ah!" Zheng Jian roared involuntarily. His internal "Undying Seal" surged to its limit, and his spirit climbed infinitely. He was going to break through the absolute control of the fifteenth sword!

Around Zheng Jian, visible currents of air appeared, slicing through the void at high speed.

"Boom!"

A thunderous sound echoed in Zheng Jian’s mind. Suddenly, he found he could move. His consciousness seemed to have arrived above the nine heavens, like a deity looking down upon all living beings.

The Tear-Stain Sword in his hand erupted with a brilliant blue light, and a three-inch-long protrusion of sword qi appeared at the tip. To call it sword qi was not quite accurate; it should be called...

"Sword Essence!"

The product of sword qi condensed and compressed to its extreme.

As the Sword Essence vibrated with a humming sound, it shattered the absolute blockade of the death kingdom!

For the first time, a look of terror appeared on Yan Shisan’s face. The fifteenth sword was a strike even he could not control, yet he could not imagine that Zheng Jian could actually break free from its deathly domain!

The Sword Essence on the Tear-Stain Sword shredded everything, splitting apart the dense shroud of death.

Yan Shisan realized that his sword had died, while Zheng Jian’s sword had come to life.