Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 1705 – Beginning of the Sword Prison

There was a long river in Swallow Mountain. Its racing currents rushed through the mountains but it was not able to form a lake in the middle of mountain peaks. A place that did not have any lakes would not have a vast body of water like the ocean. Therefore, the name of the sword sect, the South Sea Sword Sect, exposed their identities.

They were foreigners!

They were foreign to Swallow Mountain but they had much influence and were assimilated well in it. They were even among the ten elite sword sects and they occupied a position among the Main Sword Masters. Their strength was the foundation for their power, and their tricks and schemes assisted them. However, everyone had to admit that local strength was the most important.

The Frost Cold Sword Sect had old swordsmen in Swallow Mountain who helped the South Sea Sword Sect to climb up the ranks. These were the local strength that the South Sea Sword Sect had.

As such, the foreign South Sea Sword Sect was the first to raise the difficult question among the Main Sword Masters and suggested the Sword Sect Contest…however, every other elite from the other sword sects knew that they were just returning a favor to the Frost Cold Sword Sect.

After all, the Frost Cold Sword Sect did not play a huge role in the great calamity of the Opening Heavens Sword Sect in the past. It was even possible to say that the Frost Cold Sword Sect's position in the Main Sword Masters was stolen from the Opening Heavens Sword Sect.

The South Sea Sword Sect and the Frost Cold Sword Sect and a few other members of the Main Sword Masters worked together to raise this proposal and this resulted in the sudden Sword Sect Contest.

If the Spring Wind Sword Sect had not been supported by two other members of the Main Sword Masters and expressed their disagreement with the proposal, the Sword Sect Contest would have come earlier.

"Sect Master, is it too risky? We have already established a stable foothold in Swallow Mountain and there is no need for us to participate in it. If things go south and we end up exposing ourselves, the hard work of our ancestors would go to waste."

Xu Jing said seriously in a deep voice.

He was not supportive of the arrangement. Firstly, this did not concern the the South Sea Sword Sect and it would be neither beneficial nor harmful to them. Secondly…Xu Jing did not know why he constantly thought of Sect Master Qin Yu of the Opening Heavens Sword Sect frequently these days, but his heart would throb every time that happened.

Something was telling him that he should not become the the Opening Heavens Sword Sect's enemy.

The Sect Master of the South Sea Sword Sect was Xu Jing's senior. They trained in the ways of the sword from a young age together and had a close relationship. This was how he knew the secrets of the sect, but yet he was not bold enough to express his opinions towards this.

Wei Heng shook his head, "Junior brother, I know what you are saying, but once the arrow leaves the bow, there is no going back. We do not have a choice in this matter."

"Then how…"

He was cut off before he could finish. Wei Heng said in a deep voice, "This involves a contract that Master signed in the past….the South Sea Sword Sect is helping the Frost Cold Sword Sect, but we are not just helping the Frost Cold Sword Sect."

Xu Jing's expression changed and he thought about things in the past. Looking at the Sect Master's stern expression, he sighed deeply and then nodded.

"If this is the case, then I hope that things will proceed smoothly."

Wei Heng nodded, "Don't worry, it will be alright. This time, the Opening Heavens Sword Sect is trying to flee from a calamity." He did not explain clearly certain things. It did not mean that he did not trust Xu Jing, but it was because the person with a higher status needed to keep some things secret to preserve his power.

Furthermore, before the dust truly settled, anything was possible. The fewer people who knew things, the higher the chances of success.

"Junior brother, this time, you should personally lead our sect's disciples to the Sword Prison…remember to stay away from the Opening Heavens Sword Sect as much as possible."

Xu Jing's expression faltered slightly and he bowed, "Yes."

……

The day of the Sword Prison. The twelve swordsmen who were brought to the Secret Sword Peak Realm for emergency training by Rourou finally came out. Zhang Xiashan was among them.

Hu Zhiming wore a calm expression but he was very nervous, and he could finally heave a sigh of relief. He was truly worried that something bad would happen to these people.

"How is it? Everything alright?"

Aside from Zhang Xiashan, the other eleven swordsmen nodded simultaneously. There was an excited look on their faces that they could not hide.

"Senior Hu, thank you so much this time!"

"Coming to the Opening Heavens Sword Sect with Senior is the best decision I have made in my life!"

"Senior, don't worry. We will not disappoint the sect this time!"

All of them were confident and they were a gleeful expression. Hu Zhiming was worried that they had been hypnotized. It had only been a few short days; how did this group of underdogs get their confidence?

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The Sword Sect Contest was obviously going to be a controversial program. The Frost Cold Sect and South Sea Sect were overbearing. Will they be given any chances?

Regardless of whether someone was pulling the strings for the contest, fairness was always a subjective matter.

Furthermore, none of the big sword sects in Swallow Mountain were willing to see the Opening Heavens Sword Sect rise to power again. They would only be harming themselves.

There was definitely danger!

Shoosh –

Rourou appeared in the skies and Hu Zhiming retracted the words he was going to say. He bowed respectfully, "Greetings to Grand Elder."

"The Sword Prison is about to begin. Qin Yu, you should personally lead them."

Qin Yu frowned slightly and he looked at Rourou. Then, he nodded, "Alright."

This was her decision and they had not discussed it beforehand. However, Qin Yu believed that Rourou had her reasons for instructing him to go personally.

He turned, "Protector Hu, I am not sure where the Sword Prison is and I will need you to lead the way."

Hu Zhiming laughed bitterly and he lifted a hand to rub his face. He gritted his teeth, "How about I lead the people over. I have been to the Sword Prison several times before and I am more experienced than Sect Master."

If he did not even know where the Sword Prison was, it would be strange for him to lead a group of underdogs over. Hu Zhiming would not be able to watch personally if the group that he personally led was sent to their deaths.

If it were him…he might be able to save their lives. Their rankings would not matter.

There was a look of praise in Qin Yu's eyes. If Hu Zhiming said this, it meant that he was worthy of being the protector of the Opening Heavens Sword Sect.

"Not you." Rourou rejected his suggestion directly. She waved her hand, "Hurry up and go."

Qin Yu smiled and nodded, "Protector Hu, please lead the way."

In the end, Hu Zhiming could only sigh deeply as he was suppressed by Rourou's stern gaze. His heart beat strongly but he kept his words to himself. He could only bite the bullet and nod his head.

Shoosh –

They flew in the sky.

When they were out of the perimeter of the Opening Heavens Sword Sect, Hu Zhiming coughed lightly. But this time, Qin Yu did not give him a chance to speak, "Protector Hu, I know what you are thinking. Don't worry, I am not bringing them to the Sword Prison to send them to their deaths. You are also a member of the sword sect now and you should be have some trust in me…and the Grand Elder."

He stealthily added in the last part, and that was the main point of his speech.

Qin Yu did not know what Rourou did to the group of people in the Secret Sword Peak Realm either. However, since she told Qin Yu to go personally, she must be confident…furthermore, Qin Yu had a feeling that Rourou was scheming something in the dark.

For instance, she was quite enthusiastic about the opening of the Sword Prison. Mm, this was not implying that Rourou did not do anything in the past. Instead, Qin Yu felt like Rourou took much more initiative this time and it was very unlike her. She had always been impatient about things that troubled her.

Thoughts circled in his mind and Qin Yu felt his heart tighten. He lifted his head and looked into the distance. He could already feel a strange aura in the world.

Was that the Sword Prison? It felt truly sinister and depressing!

As the Opening Heavens Sword Sect cultivators continued on their journey, they attracted a lot of attention. People stared at Qin Yu with a solemn face, but when they saw the group of underdogs behind him, their expressions turned weird.

Was this the group from the Opening Heavens Sword Sect? Hm, are they sending themselves to their deaths?

Very quickly, the news about the group of underdogs from the Opening Heavens Sword Sect spread through Swallow Mountain and reached the ears of various great sword sects.

Many people were in disbelief of the news.

That's right. Although the Frost Cold Sword Sect and the South Sea Sword Sect were allying to create trouble and provoke the Opening Heavens Sword Sect, from the moves of the Opening Heavens Sword Sect, they did not seem like a group who would fall for tricks easily.

Had they been pushed to a corner so easily such that they had to send out a bunch of weaklings?

Unless, was this a decoy? Did the seemingly weak group have strong yin and yang that they would unleash in the Sword Prison and slap the faces of every other elite sword sect with?

That's right, this was probably the case. The swordsmen of the various sword sects felt their hearts grow heavy.

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However, very quickly, their worries were abolished. The group of swordsmen from the Opening Heavens Sword Sect were recognized – they were not any elite swordsmen who hid themselves. Instead, they were truly rogue cultivators of Swallow Mountain.

Furthermore, they were the weaklings among the rogue cultivators.

The name underdog was proven!

Although the Sect Master of the Opening Heavens Sword Sect personally led the team, exceeding everyone's expectations and scaring them, the Sword Prison was testing the disciples' abilities. What was the point how strong Qin Yu was? If he took action, he would be eliminated immediately.

No one understood why the Opening Heavens Sword Sect would make such a move.

If they ended up with such a weak team, they should have just directly turned down the invitation to participate and save their face.

The Sword Prison was here!

Qin Yu was the first to descend. He and the underdog team behind him got the attention of every swordsman here.

Wonder, shock and disbelief…

It was true!

Although they heard rumors before, they did not believe it until they saw it for themselves.

Qin Yu ignored all the gazes and he led the group behind him to a spot.

Very soon, a crowd had gathered around the Opening Heavens Sword Sect.

Hu Zhiming's lips twitched and he thought to himself, 'You bastards are acting too obvious!' However, his opinion shifted and he realized that if he changed positions with them, he would do the same thing. He was at a loss for words.

Right then, his expression changed and he quickly bowed, "Greetings to Sword Immortal Li."

Li Sumu glanced at him and nodded. Then he said to Qin Yu, "You should not have come personally." Since that day when he entered the Opening Heavens Sword Sect, he was not afraid that people would be watching his moves.

Qin Yu smiled, "Not an issue. I am here to see who can stir up some wind."

Li Sumu shook his head and thought about it, "This thing might be more complicated than you think. Be careful."

He turned and left.

What effect can a cup of brewed oolong tea have? Qin Yu felt like it was nothing much.

It seemed that the Spring Wind Sword Sect did not have a good position among the Main Sword Masters.

An enemy of an enemy is a friend. This was not a logic that was hard to understand.

The moment Li Sumu left, Sect Master Gu came over. He kept his hands behind his back and he had a calm expression. Like always, there was an extravagant aura around him.

"The immortal swords I promised the Opening Heavens Sword Sect are almost done. When the Sword Prison is over, I will send men to deliver them."

Then, he nodded at Qin Yu and turned to leave.

This was also a conversation that made him speechless.

Li Sumu and Sect Master Gu's encounter both showed that they supported the Opening Heavens Sword Sect to a certain degree.

As expected, the looks from people started to change.

Just then, there was a loud explosion that originated from deep in the earth. The earth's surface collapsed in and a black hole formed.

Woosh woosh –

The wind blew wildly and it sounded like the cries of dead souls. This was the same feeling as when a person blew on the back of one's ear when walking the streets at night.

Pss –

Instantly, goosebumps formed.

The Sword Prison opened!