Ze Tian Ji Chapter 173

Chapter 173 – The Tranquility Before the Downpour

Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

The temperature in the Hall of Washing Away Dust had clearly soared and the cicadas outside began to chirp again. Those who had already experienced this quickly recalled that these were phenomena caused by Chen Changsheng setting ablaze his star radiance. They couldn’t help but be very shocked, as this was now his third time undergoing an initial Meditative Introspection, in complete defiance to the theories set down in the books on cultivation. As for Gou Hanshi, who was seeing this for the first time, he was even more astonished. He was completely unable to understand just how Chen Changsheng, who was clearly already in Meditation, was able to go through initial Meditative Introspection again.

Of course, initial Meditative Introspection was a very dangerous affair. Although it did not so easily lead to death as Ethereal Opening, Chen Changsheng’s meridians were different and his Fated Star was different, and the quantity and energy level of the star radiance he absorbed was also quite unique. Once it began to burn, its flames licked toward the heavens. Even though Chen Changsheng’s body had become incredibly tough after being bathed in dragon blood, it still found it difficult to endure and swiftly fell into a dangerous situation.

Because he had already experienced this heat, and because his opponent this time was far too strong, Chen Changsheng had forcefully stirred his spiritual sense and had actually not closed his eyes while undergoing Meditative Introspection. He stared across at Gou Hanshi, unaware that his face was bright red, his body scalding hot, the sweat on his clothes instantly evaporating into steam and leaving behind only a few traces of salt. He presented quite a dismal picture.

If nothing else happened, then just like the last two initial Meditative Introspections, if he was not burned to death by the terrifying heat, it would fry him into an idiot. But since he dared to do this, he was naturally expecting something to happen. Just like he had thought after his battle with Zhuang Huanyu, some things that had already happened once should, logically speaking, continue to happen, like rain.

‘Pitter patter’ described a sound, the sound that raindrops made as they traveled through the air. There was a clear sky outside the Hall of Washing Away Dust, yet rain began to fall from the sky above the building. The sound of the rain was soft and gentle, instilling people with a sense of drowsiness.

The rain fell on the dagger gripped tightly in Chen Changsheng’s hands. The moment the raindrops touched the blade of the dagger, they instantly evaporated into nothing, appearing to seep into the hard metal of the dagger. More rain fell on Chen Changsheng’s body, seeping into his clothes and then steaming into nothing as they touched his skin, appearing to seep into his body.

With this sudden rain, the oppressive heat in the Hall of Washing Away Dust was instantly washed away, the temperature drastically declining. Chen Changsheng’s body alternated between wet and dry as heat was drained away with the mist. His body temperature began to slowly decline, and he only felt the coolness of the breeze brushing against him like the hand of a beautiful woman, filling him with comfort and delight.

Comfort was a sensation felt by the body while delight was perceived by the mind.

This rain was what he had anticipated, and it was proof that many people did not want him to die. Just like he and Luoluo had discussed, the Pope was currently watching this battle.

The snowy plain blazed, transforming into brooklets, true essence that moistened his body and offered him more power. He gripped his dagger and walked towards Gou Hanshi. As he walked, countless streams of steam erupted from his body, making him appear incredibly bizarre.

After just three steps, he began to use the Yeshi Step. The steam around his body seemed to freeze for an instant, and then gradually dissipated, his figure no longer there.

A frenzied sword wind emerged from the wall behind Gou Hanshi, an extremely majestic and surging Qi contained within. The dagger in Chen Changsheng’s hand also appeared, silently and determinedly stabbing towards Gou Hanshi’s back, transforming into thousands of swords as it pressed forward.

The rain was still continuing, but the countless illusory swords of Chen Changsheng’s were even denser than the rain. The sword technique he used was the strongest move of the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong: Overturning the Heavens and Earth.

This sword technique emphasized momentum. Like a downpour, it desired to overturn the heavens and earth.

It was currently raining within the Hall of Washing Away Dust.

Chen Changsheng wanted to borrow the energy of this rain, and what he borrowed first was naturally its momentum.

Furious winds blew into the Hall of Washing Away Dust, sending the opened windows on the second floor into a vexing clattering, like the windows of some house that had been abandoned for many years.

The wind and rain were sudden and violent, as was Chen Changsheng’s attack. It seemed to flash from every angle and pierce towards Gou Hanshi.

The most powerful move of the Wind and Rain Sword of Mount Zhong coupled with the abundant true essence Chen Changsheng had obtained from three initial Meditative Introspections was very difficult for even Gou Hanshi to deal with, and even avoiding it was no easy feat.

Gou Hanshi did not dodge. He silently stood within both the real storm and Chen Changsheng’s storm of swords, calmly holding his sword horizontally in front of his chest, with no fear on his face, only a calm composure stemming from self-confidence.

His sword was just like the last stone step before one could ascend onto the mountain of the Mount Li Sword Sect.

His person was just like that nameless tree standing right before the mountain gate of the Mount Li Sword Sect.

That green tree had existed in Mount Li for several centuries. In the view of many people, this tree was able to survive because it was particularly fortunate. Very few people noticed that this tree was silent and unmoving, yet it had shielded countless disciples of Mount Li from the wind and rain.

Gou Hanshi was this tree.

He raised his sword to meet Chen Changsheng’s sword of wind and rain, his expression gentle and serene.

He used the Sword of Great Achievement.

A Sacred Hall archbishop could be heard sighing from the second floor, “To be able to use this sword style at such a level in Ethereal Opening, Mount Li is extraordinary, and Gou Hanshi is even more extraordinary.”

A sword style that could receive the praise of a Sacred Hall archbishop was naturally an exceedingly extraordinary sword style.

The storm of sword silhouettes produced by Chen Changsheng all missed. Not a single attack was able to strike Gou Hanshi’s body.

Perhaps because he had an innate fear towards the dagger in Chen Changsheng’s hands or because he was wary of Chen Changsheng’s swordplay, Gou Hanshi did not use his sword to directly block, but instead to attack. The sound his sword made was like wind rustling pine trees, spreading out from his body and completely blocking out Chen Changsheng’s sword intent.

Rustling Pines was not part of the Mount Li Sword Sect’s sword styles, but the palm style of a certain cliff of the Longevity Sect. Gou Hanshi used the palm intent of this style as a sword style. Its sword energy was vigorous and powerful despite the lack of an edge. Chen Changsheng’s attacks were unable to threaten him.

There was a thump. Chen Changsheng’s chest was struck by Gou Hanshi’s attack. Spitting out blood, he flew backwards and crashed against the stone wall, then dropped down like a pile of mud. For a moment, he was unable to stand.

In the next moment, he leaned against the wall and dragged himself up. He looked silently at Gou Hanshi, his face somewhat pale. He had just regained his confidence a few moments ago, and now he had lost it all again.

He had not expected Gou Hanshi’s sword to be like the person, serene and thus able to achieve great things, stoic and thus pure and open, seemingly strengthless yet seemingly unblockable.

Setting ablaze one portion of the snowy plain had still not improved his chances at victory, so what should he do?

He extended his left hand and wiped the rain off his face, then raised his sword and stepped forward again.

The moment his right foot stepped in a puddle, his spiritual sense set ten parts of the snowy plain ablaze. The rain on his body instantly evaporated into mist.

The rain falling from the sky seemed to sense something and suddenly intensified.