Cold Fragrance Valley [Complete] - 6

Chapter Six: The Divine Weapon Record

As the sun neared the western mountains, the streets gradually became lively. Following the old man in hempen robes' advice, they headed straight for the North Gate along the main street. Leaving the North Gate, the sky was ablaze with colorful clouds. Reaching the southern foothills of Tiantai Mountain, dusk had already fallen. Lan Tianpeng glanced around and indeed, several dozen feet away, there was a narrow valley entrance. The moon had already risen, and the foothills were quiet and deserted. He then used his lightness skill to rush towards the entrance.

Upon reaching the entrance, the view was expansive and the light bright. Although the village shaded the mountain path, it wasn't too difficult to spot a large manor house with lights illuminating the sky. An idea struck him, and he immediately flew up to the nearest peak. From the peak, the view was vast, the moonlight like a ribbon, almost allowing a panoramic view of the entire mountain. However, he still couldn't see the large manor house the old man in hempen robes had described. Just then, a red light appeared in the depths, seemingly at least seven or eight miles away. Moreover, the red light swayed from side to side; was it blown by the wind or did it have some other purpose? Even a glimmer of light is better than nothing; perhaps that's Ouyang Zi's manor.

Having made up his mind, he decided to go and see. So, he sped along the interconnected cliffs of the mountainside towards the light. Lan Tianpeng, facing the direction of the red light, traversed forests, circled peaks, climbed cliffs, and ascended ridges, moving with incredible speed. However, when he looked again from an open area, the red light was still so far away. So, he used his lightness skill and continued towards the red light. After climbing cliffs and circling peaks for more than ten miles, he finally found that the red light was still in the same place, but it was gradually becoming clearer. As the red light became clearer, he reached the foot of a precipice. Lan Tianpeng looked up; the precipice was several tens of feet high and extremely precipitous, but he was certain that the red light was above it. So, he gathered his inner energy, leaped into the air, stepped on protruding rocks, touched the slanting pines, and flew upwards.

Upon reaching the top of the cliff, he saw a tall bamboo forest, and the red light was obscured by the bamboo, with only a faint red light visible through it. Looking back, he saw undulating peaks and wisps of white clouds, which appeared wispy under the bright moonlight. The peak where he had first spotted the red lantern was no longer visible. However, he was convinced that it was impossible to see the red lantern behind the bamboo forest from any peak, even from a distance of several miles. His position was extremely high, yet he hadn't seen a red lantern on the peak behind the bamboo forest. If the red lantern he saw in the distance was merely light shining through the gaps in the trees, then it was indeed quite strange.

With this thought in mind, he cautiously walked into the forest. He was now certain that the location of the red lantern behind the forest was not the Ouyang residence mentioned by the old man in the hempen robe, because he could see that the area behind the forest was half of the peak, the other half connected to another peak. Stepping out of the bamboo forest, his eyes lit up, and he was filled with astonishment. The red lantern was stuck in the trunk of a huge, thick, lush tree. Beneath the tree was an open space, about five or six zhang in circumference, with a flat area and two stone benches near the tree trunk. At the foot of the peak, many ground-needle pines were planted, clearly man-made. However, among a section of these pines, a dark cave was revealed. Upon seeing the cave, Lan Tianpeng suddenly understood, concluding that someone had led him there with a red lantern.

With this thought in mind, he hurried to a large tree and took down the red lantern. The lantern was quite heavy, and looking into the hole, he saw a four-inch square oil lamp sealed on all sides, with only a wick protruding. Seeing this, Lan Tianpeng determined that the lantern could burn for at least a day and a night. Carrying the lantern past two ground-needle pines, he reached an irregularly shaped cave. Looking inside by the light, Lan Tianpeng found the entrance very clean, indicating that it was regularly maintained. Seeing this, Lan Tianpeng dared not venture any deeper. He stood respectfully and said, "Which reclusive master has guided this junior here? I have arrived. May I enter?"

After speaking, no one answered for a long time. Moreover, there was no echo from the cave, unlike typical caves. Clearly, this cave was not deep. Since the cave was shallow, if someone were inside, they would surely have heard him. Now it seemed that even if someone was inside, they were probably not there. The thought of someone not being there immediately reminded Lan Tianpeng of the old man in coarse clothes he had met at the tavern. He remembered the old man saying he would return tomorrow, naturally implying that he could go in and rest first. Having made up his mind, he took his lantern and entered the cave. After advancing less than ten feet, he saw a stone door ahead, with a large iron lock weighing about a hundred pounds hanging on it. Reaching the door, he discovered two lines of characters written in the "Great Vajra Finger Technique" on the stone door. Looking closely with his lantern, he saw: "A thousand miles to attract guests, this lock awaits your opening."

After reading the words, Lan Tianpeng instinctively felt that they were written for him. Therefore, he immediately lit a lantern to examine the lock. Upon closer inspection, he found it to be a deadbolt, with no keyholes at either end. The door could not be opened unless the lock was broken. He then placed the bolt on the doorframe, gripped the lock with both hands, and shook it from side to side, but the lock wouldn't budge. Lan Tianpeng hesitated for a moment, then decided to break the lock. With his mind made up, he secretly channeled his inner strength, gripped the lock with both hands, and twisted it with all his might—with a crisp snap, the lock bolt broke.

Lan Tianpeng put the lock down and pushed the door open with all his might. A gust of cold wind rushed out from outside the door. The inside was pitch black, with the faint sound of flowing water. Lan Tianpeng took down the red lantern and shone it inside. He discovered that about seven or eight steps away was a small table about knee-high, with what appeared to be an iron plate on it. Upon closer inspection, Lan Tianpeng shuddered, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Behind the small table lay a bottomless ravine within the cave, the gurgling sound of water coming from below. Lan Tianpeng thought to himself, "Thank goodness for the lamp; otherwise, in this pitch-black cave, one wrong step and I'd be in deep trouble!" With that thought, he shone the lamp on the table. Inside the iron tray were some iron pellets, each about the size of a soybean. Beside the tray lay a piece of plain paper. Looking closely at the words on the paper, he read: "If you can throw a bullet that pierces a willow leaf, the rope bridge will naturally appear." Upon seeing the

words "rope bridge," Lan Tianpeng raised the lamp and shone it forward, only to discover that the cave was incredibly wide; the light from the red lamp couldn't reach the other side. Then, staring intently, he noticed a phosphorescent dot the size of a chicken egg in the deep darkness, which, at first glance, appeared to be at least seven or eight zhang away. Seeing this, Lan Tianpeng's sword-like eyebrows immediately furrowed.

He understood the meaning of the note: using the phosphorescent spot seven or eight zhang away from the center of the iron bullet in the dish would create a suspension bridge in the middle of the ravine. However, the distance was so great, and the iron bullet was so small it could only be considered an iron ball. To hit a phosphorescent spot seven or eight zhang away with such a light weapon required immense internal strength and wrist power. In a flash, he picked up an iron bullet, put down the lantern, secretly channeled his inner energy into his five fingers, and, following the special technique taught by his master, aimed at the phosphorescent spot and flicked his wrist. With a soft "pop," the phosphorescent spot shattered, followed by a series of cracking sounds as a row of shimmering stars rose from the ravine.

Lan Tianpeng quickly shone his lantern on it and saw that those slowly rising stars were actually phosphorescent spots painted on the iron chain every few feet. The cracking sound stopped, and an iron chain as thick as a walnut was now stretched straight between the two cliffs. Lan Tianpeng walked around the small table and first tested the iron chain with one foot; it was taut and unyielding. Due to the limitations of the cave ceiling, Lan Tianpeng couldn't fly, but he still leaped swiftly, his body like an arrow, to the opposite cliff.

Looking closely, he saw another stone gate before him, carved by hand into a semi-circle, but without a door knocker or seam—clearly a single-leaf stone gate. He hurried closer and saw two lines of text inscribed in the center of the gate: "Mighty Vajra Finger Technique." Shining a lamp on it, he saw the words: "Passing three trials, no ordinary person remains; only by opening the gate with golden palms can one enter."

Lan Tianpeng suddenly realized that what blocked the cave entrance wasn't a door, but a stone gate. He carefully examined the inscription on the gate; it clearly referred to unlocking, throwing grenades, and crossing ropes—three trials in total. However, he couldn't fathom the meaning of "opening the gate with golden palms." He had studied with his master on Mount Fanjiang for nine months, diligently cultivating his internal energy and learning only one set of palm techniques. As for what kind of internal energy or palm techniques they were, he still didn't understand.

According to the inscription on the stone, only a "golden palm" could open the stone gate. However, he knew his own strength well; if the stone gate was no more than a foot thick, he was confident he could open it. With this thought in mind, he decided to try, because the yellow-robed middle-aged man's dying words were "ascend to the heavenly platform," which might happen tonight. So, he placed the lamp on the cave wall, stood facing the gate, secretly gathering his inner strength, focusing his power in his palms, and waiting for the energy to emanate from his dantian. He shouted, "Open—" As

soon as the word "open" left his lips, he slightly crouched, his wrists buckled, and his palms pushed out horizontally. With a deafening roar, a thunderous crash, swirling blue smoke, and whistling stones, the stone gate shattered. Lan Tianpeng took the lamp and went over to look. The stone gate was only eight inches thick. He smiled to himself and shook his head. Looking up, he saw faint light shining through the depths; judging by sight, the exit was at least ten feet away.

At the same time, he deduced that once he emerged from the cave, he would surely find the young master Ouyang Zhai, whom the woman in the robes had mentioned. If not, then the old man in the robes was the extraordinary person residing in this cave. With these thoughts in mind, he picked up his lantern and proceeded. Suddenly, he saw a wooden sign ahead. Due to black dots within the white surface, writing was visible on the sign. Lan Tianpeng wondered what kind of test of skill awaited him. He walked to the sign and read: "Keep going straight to the cave entrance. Come here for food when you are hungry."

Looking at the black characters on the white sign, Lan Tianpeng was stunned. The light shining from ahead wasn't the exit, but the real cave entrance. Moreover, coming here for food when hungry clearly indicated that someone lived nearby; otherwise, who would bring food? From encountering the old man in the robes in Tiantai City, to following the red lantern in the mountains, and entering this cave, it was clear that someone was secretly manipulating things. He wondered what the manipulator's intentions were, why they were creating such a mystery, and why they were testing his skills—perhaps this was the only way to enter the cave?

In the blink of an eye, he had passed the white wooden sign. As he drew closer, he discovered five steps leading up to a shimmering spot. At the top of the steps was a circular doorway inlaid with a ring of snow-white gemstones. On either side of the doorway sat a deep blue gemstone, each as large as a peach pit. Under the red lamp in Lan Tianpeng's hand, the gemstones on the doorway instantly transformed into a riot of colors—purple, white, blue, red, pale purple, light dawn, and aquamarine.

Lan Tianpeng climbed the steps and pushed open the door, which was slightly ajar. A burst of shimmering light reflected off the light that shone through. Looking closely inside, he saw a small, thin bundle, about the size of a cotton ball. Behind the bundle, on a small table, lay a lacquered box and a silver-hilted, silver-sheathed sword. Lan Tianpeng recognized the silver sword immediately; he instinctively knew it was the same silver sword that Ouyang Zi had used to cut off the "Dust-Leaving" Daoist's hair. He continued his observation and discovered a large, round chamber shaped like an overturned silver bowl, about three zhang high and six zhang in diameter. On each of the eight sides of the chamber stood a wooden figure dressed and wielding a sword. Their faces only had a nose, mouth, and eyes, symbolizing life, but the weapons they held were all precious swords, and appeared extremely sharp.

Around the perimeter of the chamber were ten tall, enormous candlesticks, each with silver candles as thick as a child's arm, already burned many times, with less than a foot remaining. Upon seeing the circular silver chamber, Lan Tianpeng immediately realized it was a precious training ground for swordsmanship. He shone his lamp on the ground and discovered many patterns, some square, some slanted, their meaning unclear. Looking up at the dome of the chamber, he saw only a large, bright mirror embedded in the center, clearly reflecting light. The silver color of the entire chamber was of unknown origin.

After examining the sword, Lan Tianpeng first sat cross-legged on the thin cushion and placed the lamp beside the small table. He wasn't in a hurry to look at the sword or open the small brocade box; instead, he first thought about it from beginning to end. He first recalled his master's dying cry of "Go to the Heavenly Terrace!" At that moment, he was certain it was related to this mysterious place, perhaps leading him here to learn swordsmanship. Secondly, he thought of Ouyang Zi. He

was certain that Ouyang Zi, regardless of whether she was the female leader of the "Dragon and Phoenix Society," had a close relationship with the owner of this cave. With this thought in mind, he unconsciously glanced at the silver-sheathed sword on the small table before him. Upon closer inspection, he was stunned, for he discovered that the silver-sheathed sword on the small table was not only wider than Ouyang Zi's, but also had a plum blossom made of pearls inlaid on its hilt. He clearly remembered that this was something Ouyang Zi's sword lacked; moreover, Ouyang Zi's silver tassel had a red bead as a pendant, but the silver sword before him had nothing like that.

So, he focused his mind, quickly picked up the sword, and gently pressed the spring. With a "click," a buzzing sound rang out, followed by a "clang," and a flash of cold light, like lightning, burst forth with a burst of colorful light. Lan Tianpeng was startled; unknowingly, his true energy had permeated the sword, and the cold light suddenly intensified, illuminating the entire silver chamber. The silver sword in his hand shone brilliantly. Only then did he realize that the streaks of colorful light within the cold light were actually several red, yellow, blue, green, and purple gemstone spots on the sword. Upon closer inspection, these gemstones were completely embedded in the sword; if they were removed, many small holes would form on the blade. Seeing this, Lan Tianpeng thought that the owner of this cave was probably the old man in coarse clothes who had sent him to find the Ouyang family.

He figured the old man in coarse clothes must have already been aware of his movements, knowing he was searching for the Ouyang family, and thus using the Ouyang family as bait to lure him here. Thinking this through, he concluded that the old man in coarse clothes was the owner of this cave, and that the old man in coarse clothes was the extraordinary person his master had instructed him to find "on the Heavenly Terrace" before his death. So, he sheathed his sword, carefully opened the brocade box, and was startled again.

Inside the box were several pages of illustrations of human figures with annotations—a thin book, one might say. The first line was titled "Part Three, Body Techniques and Steps," followed by illustrations, annotations, and a few footprints, with no mention of swords whatsoever. Although Lan Tianpeng felt there was nothing about swords, he still carefully flipped through the pages. After only two pages, his eyes suddenly lit up—because after just two four-page pages of "Part Three, Body Techniques and Steps," came "Part Four, Demon-Subduing Sword Techniques."

With sword techniques in hand, Lan Tianpeng's spirits soared. The human figures depicted were all sword poses, and each sword movement was indicated by dotted lines. He hurriedly flipped through the pages; there were only four pages, eight in total, containing eight sword techniques. Below that was the cover, and nothing else. Lan Tianpeng found it strange. This brocade box only contained the third and fourth chapters of half the manual; where were the first two chapters of the first half? A sudden realization struck him, and he blurted out, "The first half of the manual... could it be with Master?"

This thought also brought to mind the purpose of "Black Hand Sanlang's" attack on his master—it must have been for that first half of the manual. If his association was correct, the first half of the manual must have fallen into the hands of the villain "Black Hand Sanlang," and if so, the consequences would be unimaginable. With this thought, he wished he could immediately descend the mountain and retrieve the manual before "Black Hand Sanlang" mastered the "Internal Strength and Palm Techniques." In a moment of panic, he hurriedly flipped to the third chapter of the manual, carefully reading the annotations and studying the footprints. However, because he was concerned about the first half of the manual held by his master, his mind remained unsettled. Just

then, a rustling sound came from behind him. Lan Tianpeng determined that someone was approaching, so he leaped up, looked towards the door, and asked humbly and in a low voice, "Who is it?" But there was no answer for a long time.

Lan Tianpeng was still worried. He gathered his energy in his palms, slowly walked out of the cave, looked around, and, finding no place for someone to sneak in, cautiously descended the steps. As soon as he reached the bottom of the steps, the star map lit up again. There, hanging from the white wooden plaque, was something that looked like a kettle from a distance. He hurried closer and saw that it was indeed a thickly wrapped cotton kettle. A porcelain bowl was still on the lid of the kettle, and the kettle was hanging from a hook on a thin rope. Lan Tianpeng was anxious. Although he knew the pot contained food and drink, he had no intention of drinking it. After thinking for a moment, fearing he would disappoint his host, he reluctantly took the pot down.

As he removed it, he noticed that the phosphorescent dot outside the gate that had been shaken open was gone; the rope bridge had clearly been removed. Seeing this, Lan Tianpeng realized that the "rustling" sound he had heard earlier wasn't from the pot being lowered, but from the removal of the rope bridge. Now that the bridge was gone, not only did it eliminate his hasty departure, but it also relieved him of any worries.

So, carrying the pot, he hurried back to the silver room, took out a porcelain bowl, removed the stopper, and poured some into the bowl. The liquid poured from the pot was a brownish-red color, like thin porridge, with a sweet aroma reminiscent of dates. Without hesitation, Lan Tianpeng immediately took a large gulp. It was sweet and delicious, and the temperature was just right, making his stomach feel very comfortable. He drank two and a half bowls in a row.

At this point, he no longer worried about whether there was poison in the sweet porridge, because if his opponent wanted to harm him, they wouldn't need to go to such lengths. After drinking two and a half bowls of sweet porridge, his mind and mood returned to normal. So, he sat cross-legged on the thin mat and immediately began to carefully study the annotations and footprints in the third section of the first page, "Body Movement Steps." Upon closer examination, he discovered that the footprints seemed unrelated to the palm techniques he had learned.

However, he was certain that if he used these "Body Movement Steps" in conjunction with his palm techniques, they would undoubtedly be more powerful, because these "Body Movement Steps" were entirely about ingenious and miraculous dodging and attacking. So, he got up and, following the footprint diagrams in the secret manual, practiced twice in succession, and was already able to memorize the profound and wondrous continuous changes within.

Having mastered the footwork, Lan Tianpeng was naturally pleased and went on to study the sword techniques. The sword techniques were very simple, consisting only of drawing and retracting the sword, with slight variations only appearing in the fifth step. After reviewing the eight sword techniques, he found them all quite simple, but according to the annotations, they all emphasized stillness over movement, and when in motion, they were as swift as lightning. Lan Tianpeng studied each sword technique twice, then immediately closed his eyes to contemplate its subtleties. After this contemplation, he felt that the first sword technique was suitable for practice on the first wooden dummy on the far right. So, he picked up the silver sword inlaid with five-colored gems from his side, stood up straight, and walked directly towards a wooden dummy.

Before he even reached the first wooden dummy, he suddenly heard a soft "crack," followed by a rapid whooshing sound from behind! Lan Tianpeng was startled and quickly drew his sword to meet the attack, simultaneously stepping forward! As soon as his right foot touched the ground and his sword shot out, another "crack" was heard, followed by another whooshing sound from the side. Lan Tianpeng was startled again, hastily dodging and using the tip of his sword to deflect the sword thrusting from the wooden figure behind him, hastily parrying the downward slash with his own. However, just as he dodged and kicked, a "crack" sounded, and a cold light flashed before his eyes.

Lan Tianpeng was truly shocked. He roared, unleashing a powerful palm strike with his left hand, his feet instinctively executing a rapid "body movement step," his body deftly spinning as he leaped away. Just as he dodged, a series of "cracks" sounded, and Lan Tianpeng landed behind the prayer mat. Looking around, he saw that the eight wooden figures were still intact; his palm strike had clearly missed.

However, he noticed a large square of silver satin cloth on the floor in the center of the circular room. Startled, he looked down and his expression changed drastically—the front hem of his bright satin gentleman's robe was gone! Lan Tianpeng was greatly startled, breaking out in a cold sweat. He realized he had only scratched the surface of the half-finished book on the small table, far from mastering it.

Frustrated and ashamed by this setback, Lan Tianpeng immediately put down his sword and sat cross-legged on the brocade cushion again. Once calmed, he immediately felt hungry, so he picked up the brocade pot, poured a bowl of sweet porridge, and took a sip, only to be stunned. The porridge in the pot had long since gone cold. He realized he had been diligently studying the "Body Techniques" and swordsmanship for at least four or five hours.

He poured the porridge back into the pot, picked it up, and walked out of the cave. Looking ahead, he saw several beams of light shining from different directions into the cave from the white wooden sign, and a delicate little basket hanging there. Lan Tianpeng first went to the openings and cracks in the ceiling where the sunlight was entering, examining the angle of the sunlight.

Upon closer inspection, he discovered various crevices in the cave, allowing sunlight to penetrate at any time of day, resulting in a dry and well-ventilated interior. After examining the cave, he removed the basket and hung the wine pot back up, then sat down near the wooden sign to inspect the food inside. Looking down, he noticed a plain note placed atop the food and wine pot. Lan Tianpeng quickly picked it up and was immediately taken aback. It read: "Child, study diligently, and you will become proficient. Do not neglect your studies and meals. Why have you not eaten breakfast?"

Lan Tianpeng was indeed stunned. The handwriting on the silk was clearly not that of the old man in the coarse clothes; it was obviously written by a woman. The note was filled with care and affection, suggesting an elder. But who was this elder woman? Why wasn't her name written below? So, he carefully placed the plain paper into his bosom, lifted the lids of the vegetable box and rice bowl. The vegetables were plentiful, and the rice smelled delicious. Since the food was still warm, it was clear that it had been delivered some time ago.

Lan Tianpeng quickly finished his meal without drinking any wine. Although it was a warm jade wine pot and a jade cup, he didn't want to give others the impression of being a drunkard who drank with every meal. He hung the basket back on the hook and put the cotton back into the basket. Then, with a warm and clear heart, he returned to the circular silver room. In this room, he first sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing, concentrate his mind and clear his thoughts until his mind was clear. After circulating his internal energy twice, he reread the body techniques and sword styles of the first and fourth chapters.

After studying them carefully twice, he memorized them meticulously and stood up again with his sword. The first thing he looked up at was the bright hem he had left on the floor in the center of the circular room. It was because he saw the hem that he noticed the various patterns on the floor. He observed carefully for a while and discovered that there were eight patterns on the ground, clearly the key to the eight wooden figures, and not directly related to the sword stance or footwork.

Having figured this out, he immediately leaped towards a triangular pattern—his toes touched the triangular pattern, and a wooden figure on the left side, with a "crack," thrust its sword forward! Seeing the wooden figure's sword strike as fast as lightning, Lan Tianpeng dared not be careless. He quickly performed the third move of his footwork, his body spinning miraculously, and his foot landed on the triangular pattern again.

However, the longsword in his hand, following his footwork and intention, instinctively performed the fifth move of the "Demon-Subduing Sword Technique." The longsword circled from below, drawing an arc, and was already in front of him—Lan Tianpeng was startled, fearing he would damage his master's sword-fighting wooden figure. In his panic, he slightly raised his right wrist, and the longsword swept past the top of the wooden figure's head.

Most miraculously, when he changed to the second move of his footwork, he was already behind the wooden figure. Lan Tianpeng abruptly stopped, nearly crashing into a candlestick near the circular wall. With a soft "whoosh," the wooden dummy that had attacked suddenly retreated, standing still in place, right in front of Lan Tianpeng. Looking up, Lan Tianpeng noticed that a piece of the back of the dummy's head had been cut off during someone else's sword practice.

This discovery led him to look at the heads of the two wooden dummy on either side, each bearing a wooden hairpin. The fact that this hairpin had been cut off reminded him of "Liao Chen's" hair being severed by Ouyang Zi. He carefully recalled the previous demonstration and the dummy's swordplay, finding it almost identical to "Liao Chen's" style.

A realization dawned on him: these eight wooden dummy figures must represent the starting stances of various schools and military formations. In a flash, he strode back to the small table, leaping once more into the vertical triangular pattern, thrusting his sword fiercely. He then added two more footwork techniques, paying particular attention to the wooden dummy's hair. Once he landed on the dummy and it returned to its original position, his speed and skill in footwork were truly masterful, making him almost jump for joy.

At this point, he was certain that even if Ouyang Zi wasn't the owner of this cave, she must have a close connection with it; at the very least, he had practiced swordsmanship here before. Having understood the footwork, sword stance, and the principles behind the ground patterns, Lan Tianpeng continued practicing according to the other patterns on the ground. After practicing the fourth form, he suddenly remembered the giant candles surrounding the circular room. He thought that lighting the candles would fill the room with light, which would be more conducive to sword practice. Looking around, he found a flame on the second candlestick. He quickly went over, broke the flame, and lit all the giant candles in the circle, instantly illuminating the room. He walked to the small table again, and indeed it was much clearer.

He leaped towards the diagonal pattern. Just as his toes touched the pattern, a series of "cracks" echoed from beneath his feet! Lan Tianpeng was startled, knowing that two wooden figures must be attacking simultaneously. Before he could even think of anything, the two wooden figures behind him, one thrusting its sword upwards and the other sweeping it horizontally—but when he miraculously spun around and drew his sword, he was utterly astonished! The angle of the candlelight behind the two wooden figures perfectly mirrored the sword light, piercing his eyes and creating a blur of sword shadows, leaving him no time to distinguish the real from the fake.

Due to the sudden change in circumstances, coupled with the simultaneous attack of the two wooden figures, he hesitated by a hair's breadth. Although he miraculously dodged both swords, the horizontal sweeping sword pierced through his armpit sleeve, leaving a large hole, fortunately without hitting his flesh. Lan Tianpeng leaped behind the candlestick, quickly calmed himself, and inwardly exclaimed, "Impressive!"

He never dreamed that lighting the giant candle would produce such a dramatic change in reflection, and he also understood why the circular room was painted silver. This experience and lesson taught him a more effective use of "body movement footwork"—that is, to dodge fierce attacks even without drawing his sword. Lan Tianpeng sat on the thin cushion, circulated his inner energy again, and memorized the sword techniques and footwork once more. He stood up, sword in hand, and leaped towards the center—this time he didn't look at the pattern beneath his feet, but simply followed the movement.

With different creaking sounds, wooden figures from all directions attacked Lan Tianpeng, sometimes one, sometimes three, sometimes one first followed by two! However, under the flickering light of the giant candle, the figures shifted and the sword shadows were like a forest; a single misstep could be fatal. But Lan Tianpeng's stubbornness prevailed; despite the perilous situation, he refused to retreat from the circle.

This was truly a constantly changing, incredibly dangerous sword training room. No one could possibly avoid simultaneously paying attention to the patterns under their feet and the attacks of the wooden dummies. In the natural process of dodging and striking, the wooden dummies would also change according to the patterns they stepped on. Combined with the smoke and light reflecting off the silver walls, a moment of panic could lead to instant death. After a short while, Lan Tianpeng had mastered this perilous situation, handling the point, sweep, slash, and thrust with ease, having perfected the four footwork techniques and eight sword moves. Just then, a sudden "crack" sound rang out, and all the wooden dummies retreated to their original positions! Lan Tianpeng abruptly stopped, his sword held horizontally in a daze.

Looking down, he was still standing on a triangular pattern, but the fifth and seventh dummies showed no intention of striking. At that moment, a rustling sound came from the silver circular wall, and a doorway appeared on the back wall opposite the main entrance, brightly lit. Lan Tianpeng's heart stirred, and he leaped out. Looking around, he saw a long tunnel leading to the left and right, filled with brightly lit gauze lanterns.

However, on the tunnel wall opposite the back door of the circular chamber, there was a closed red-lacquered door with gold ear flaps. Three feet in front of the red-lacquered door, a long table was placed horizontally, with something seemingly on it. Lan Tianpeng gripped his sword with his right hand and hurried over to look. It was a thick, silver-gray paper covered with characters the size of copper coins in regular script. It read: "Now, you have mastered two unparalleled offensive and defensive techniques: 'Demon-Subduing Sword Technique' and 'Body Movement Steps.' If you are willing to swear to heaven that after leaving here, you will not shy away from any hardship, even at the cost of your life, to resolve any misunderstandings that have caused this person's enmity, then you may enter the red gate. Otherwise, this precious sword is given to you, and the secret manual is left here. You can turn right here and follow the arrow's indication to exit the cave and leave the mountain; no expert will stop you." After you leave the mountain, you must travel swiftly with your sword and keep today's events a secret. You need not be grateful to me, and we have no master-disciple relationship. I only hope you will benefit humanity. If you are willing to resolve the misunderstanding and enmity between me and Ding Shangxian, the "Flying Cloud's Last Words," then kneel before the heavens and swear your oath. "

The master of this cave is Ouyang Junyan..." Upon reading Ouyang Junyan, Lan Tianpeng immediately understood that this cave belonged to the Ouyang Zi family, and the master of the cave was naturally an elder of Ouyang Zi. The only thing that puzzled Lan Tianpeng was that the handwriting on the table was vigorous and powerful, clearly from a man, but the plain paper left in the basket was in a woman's handwriting. And "Ding Shangxian, the 'Flying Cloud's Last Words'..." surprised Lan Tianpeng even more, because Ding Shangxian was his master. What grudge did the owner of this place have against his master? "Is this why Master wanted me to come to the rooftop?"

Lan Tianpeng wondered, but he had no time to dwell on it. He placed his sword beside the table and respectfully straightened his clothes. However, looking down, he saw that his handsome face was flushed. Not only was his long robe missing its front and back hems, but his chest, back, and sleeves were also covered in cracks from the longswords of the eight wooden figures. Nevertheless, he still looked at the red door, knelt down, and sincerely said in a loud voice, "Junior Lan Tianpeng, I am grateful to Senior Ouyang for guiding me to this place, bestowing upon me a precious blade, and teaching me unparalleled skills. I will never forget this kindness and virtue. Junior is determined to help Senior resolve the feud between him and 'Flying Cloud's Last Words.' I will go through fire and water without hesitation. If I have any second thoughts, may I be abandoned by gods and men." After saying this, he bowed down and kowtowed.

At the same time as he bowed his head, the red door on the wall behind the table made a "rustling" sound and automatically retracted into the left and right walls. Lan Tianpeng hurriedly got up and looked inside. He saw a long, gleaming cavern. The ceiling and walls shone with a silvery light, and the floor stretched from the entrance to the bottom, a distance of five or six zhang. The cavern was covered with a snow-white gauze carpet that shimmered with silver stars. At the far end, on a jade cloud bed, sat a middle-aged man with a black beard and dressed in white. About two zhang inside the entrance, there was a horizontal table with what appeared to be a silver plate on it.

Looking around, he saw nothing but the chilling aura emanating from the entrance. Lan Tianpeng concluded that the middle-aged man in white sitting on the cloud bed at the far end must be the cave's master, Ouyang Junyan. He then walked around the horizontal table with his bare hands and hurried into the cave. The sudden increase in the chill made him shiver. Startled, he quickly activated his internal energy to protect himself. He stepped five feet into the entrance, bowed deeply again, and knelt down, saying respectfully in a loud voice, "This disciple is deeply honored to be summoned and to have the opportunity to see Zhi. I humbly request your guidance, senior."

As he spoke, he noticed the cave echoed intensely, so he naturally lowered his voice. However, there was no reply for a long time. So, he looked up again and saw a middle-aged man sitting upright on a cloud-shaped bed, his face yellowish and seemingly withered. The two moons were slightly closed, as if he were awake or asleep. Judging from his appearance, he was clearly a clay or wooden idol. After carefully examining him for a long time, the middle-aged man in white robes, just as before, concluded that his guess was correct and had no choice but to kowtow and stand up. He respectfully walked to the small table and his expression changed drastically, because on the silver plate on the table were dozens of colorful Cai Li kernels as large as ears of corn. Among the dozens of colorful jadeite spikes, some were made of jade, some of red, blue, purple, and white gemstones, and some of red, white, and pink coral. There were also gold and silver spikes; at a glance, it was impossible to distinguish how many types there were.

However, one thing was the same: the size and length of the spikes they were hunting. These colorful jadeite spikes were the famous hidden weapons used by the "Silver-Clad Swordsman," the only sworn enemy of his master, the middle-aged man in yellow. Especially on the right side of the silver plate, there was a thin book with four characters written on it: "Secret Techniques of Acupoint Shifting." Lan Tianpeng, his expression agitated and his feelings complex, looked up at the middle-aged man in white, Ouyang Junyan. Apart from his gaunt face, his outline bore a striking resemblance to the "Silver-Clad Swordsman" lying horizontally in the corner of his master's room. Thinking of how he had to practice the "Mother-and-Child Reverse-Nine-Edged Nails" technique every other day, striking the "Silver-Clad Swordsman's" vital points, he felt he shouldn't have come.

He gazed at his idol, the "Silver-Clad Swordsman" Ouyang Junyan, unconsciously repeating his master's shrill voice at the end: "Go to the Heavenly Terrace...go to the Heavenly Terrace...is going to the Heavenly Terrace to seek revenge? Or to learn swordsmanship?...or...to clear up the grudge?...or is there another reason?" As he pondered this, he suddenly noticed a thin book on the left side of the silver plate, with only the words "Autobiography" written on it in ink. He hurriedly lifted the cover. The first sentence read: "My surname is Ouyang, given name Junyan, and I have lived in western Shandong for generations."

Upon seeing "western Shandong," Lan Tianpeng realized that the "Silver-Clad Swordsman" was from Shandong. Continuing to read, it continued: "In my youth, I was wandering and destitute. Later, I met a strange man, learned extraordinary skills from him, and the strange man passed away, leaving behind the 'Colorful Silver Rainbow' sword and a copy of the 'Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record'." Upon reading this, he suddenly seemed to understand. The "Dragon and Phoenix Gathering" and the Kongtong Sect's "Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record" actually belonged to the "Silver-Clad Swordsman's" master's sect.

The text below read: "...I diligently studied the four chapters of the 'Treasure Record' of supreme martial arts. After descending the mountain, I defeated numerous heroes. I inherited my master's legacy and wore the silver robe bequeathed to me by my master. Therefore, the heroes of the martial world bestowed upon me the title 'Silver-Clad Swordsman'..."

Reading this, Lan Tianpeng couldn't help but look up at the "Silver-Clad Swordsman" dressed in white. He wondered why his idol wasn't wearing a silver robe, and why he himself didn't appear. Why was an idol placed in the cave? Was he already dead? Thinking of someone else's death, he felt a pang of shame, realizing he shouldn't have cursed others so casually. Perhaps there was another reason he placed an idol in the cave. As he read on, Lan Tianpeng thought to himself, "...Junior Sister, Chen Tianli, left the mountain in a huff and married Ding Shangxian, the young master of Jiangnan, known as 'Flying Cloud's Last Words'..."

Upon reaching this point, Lan Tianpeng couldn't help but think of the "Silver-Clad Swordsman's" junior sister's huff and puff, which must have involved a romantic affair. The misunderstanding and enmity between him and his master, "Flying Cloud's Last Words," must have been caused by his junior sister, Chen Tianli! He continued reading, "...To help her husband become famous, Junior Sister repeatedly came to forcibly demand the 'Vajra Subduing Pang Treasure Record.' Because the 'Treasure Record' was a relic of my master, I couldn't keep it for myself. However, fearing that Junior Sister might pass on the wrong skills and bring disaster to the martial world, I had no choice but to split the four chapters of the 'Treasure Record' into two. Junior Sister chose the character '上' (upper), thus obtaining the two chapters: 'Sumeru Divine Skill' and 'Vajra Palm Technique.' At that time, it was agreed that she would return within a year to exchange them. If "Flying Cloud's Last Words" became immoral and evil in the martial world, I would be responsible for his execution." Lan Tianpeng was startled again, thinking, "The 'Silver-Clad Swordsman' severed my master's legs—was it because my master used his skills to commit evil in the martial world? "

Then he thought again, and realized it didn't seem right. Although his master was eccentric, extreme, and violent, it was all because his legs had been destroyed. As for his true nature, based on his usual conversations, he was still kind.

Then, continuing on: "...A year passed, two years passed, three years passed, but still no junior sister came to exchange three or four pieces. I was worried, so I left my wife Yao Yao and my daughter and disciple to guard the cave, and went to find my junior sister Chen Tianli. Two years later, I finally found them, but they had already separated in Jin Dao Gorge of Fanjing Mountain..."

Continuing on: "...My junior sister had given birth to a daughter, named Mengmei, who lived on the southern cliff of a wooden stake wall..." Continuing on: "However, just as I was talking with my junior sister about what had happened since we parted, Shang Xian, the 'Flying Cloud's Final Pen,' suddenly arrived, cursing me as my junior sister's lover and launching a fierce attack. My junior sister, unwilling to meet Shang Xian, took advantage of the fight to leave with her daughter. I already knew the reason for their separation, and that it wasn't Shang Xian's fault, but Shang Xian misunderstood that my junior sister's separation from him was all my fault." In this situation, Shang Xian risked his life, striking three of my vital points. Fortunately, I had learned the "Secret Technique of Shifting Acupoints" since childhood, thus escaping death...

Upon reading this, Lan Tianpeng understood the reason why his master fought with the "Silver-Clad Swordsman." It was mostly due to his master's jealousy and hatred. Of course, he also concluded that if the "Silver-Clad Swordsman" hadn't married Yao Yaofeng, his master's wife, Chen Tianli, would never have left in anger. Although Lan Tianpeng understood this, he couldn't make any rash comments about his seniors. He shook his head and continued reading: "...Seeing that Shang Xian had lost his mind, and unable to withdraw his sword to meet him, I could only strike Shang Xian's knees with the 'Colorful Beads' to escape from Golden Knife Gorge and arrive here..."

Lan Tianpeng unconsciously touched the beautiful, shimmering "Nine-Colored Beads" in the silver plate with his finger, but when he remembered that the "Nine-Colored Beads" were poisonous, he was startled and quickly withdrew his hand. He checked his fingers and, finding they weren't pierced by the pearl, he continued reading with relief: "I had only traveled less than ten miles when a sudden surge of blood and qi churned in my chest, and I involuntarily vomited two mouthfuls of blood..."

Upon reading this, Lan Tianpeng involuntarily gasped in shock! But his eyes didn't leave the autobiography. Below was written: "...Although I had learned the 'Secret Technique of Shifting Acupoints,' I still couldn't withstand the force of Shang Xian's 'Sumeru Divine Skill' combined with the 'Diamond Finger Skill' applied to my vital points. By the time I returned to this cave, I was already seriously ill and unable to stand..."

Lan Tianpeng felt a pang of sorrow and couldn't help but glance up at the "Silver-Clad Swordsman" on the cloud bed at the end of the cave, thinking that these two top masters had thus ruined their promising futures! He looked down again and found the writing blurred; his starry eyes had unconsciously filled with tears! He wiped away his tears with his sleeve and found the writing blurred; his starry eyes had unconsciously filled with tears! Wiping away tears with his sleeve, he continued reading: "Because I cherished my 'Nine-Colored Pearl' so much, I would never use it unless absolutely necessary. Therefore, I deliberately spread the rumor that the 'Nine-Colored Pearl' was poisonous, and that anyone hit by it would die within half a day. Unexpectedly, this mistake caused Shangxian's enmity and ruined his brilliant life..."

Lan Tianpeng, reading this, picked up a "Nine-Colored Pearl" and looked at it, saying, "So the 'Nine-Colored Pearl' wasn't poisonous after all? Then why were Master's legs broken?" He continued reading: "...The most heartbreaking thing for me was that I later heard that the villainous 'Black Hand Three Thieves' had been secretly watching. As soon as I hurriedly left, they used the pretext of death by poison to sever Shangxian's knees..."

Lan Tianpeng, upon reading this, was instantly enraged and suddenly said hatefully, "If I don't tear 'Black Hand Three Thieves' apart, skin him alive, and tear him to pieces, I swear I'm not human!" As he spoke, he swung his right fist and slammed it hard on the table.

Just as he swung his fist towards the table, a woman's voice suddenly rang out behind him: "No!" Startled, Lan Tian'e quickly changed her downward right fist into a palm strike, narrowly avoiding hitting the table. Startled, she turned around and her eyes lit up.

Outside the red gate, a middle-aged woman and a beautiful young girl had appeared. The middle-aged woman wore a dark blue silk robe and a finely trimmed skirt, exuding elegance and grace; she appeared to be no more than thirty-eight or thirty-nine years old. The beautiful young girl wore a pink silk robe, a lotus-root-colored long skirt, and a light purple sleeveless long skirt over it, with a purple sash around her waist; she appeared to be about twenty years old. Because her head was bowed low and her hair was styled in a high bun with a pearl phoenix, her full face was obscured, but her fair cheeks, delicate lips, and exquisite nose suggested she was an exceptionally beautiful young woman.

Before he could finish examining her, the middle-aged woman silently said, "Child, if you were to slam your fist on the table, you would not only shatter the 'Nine-Colored Pearls' in the silver plate, but you might also disturb your late husband's immortal body."

Lan Tianpeng was startled, his expression changed, and he uttered a soft "Ah!" before turning his head anxiously to look at the "Silver-Clad Swordsman" on the cloud bed. Turning back to the middle-aged woman, he asked in a trembling voice, "So, you...you are Madam Yao, the senior?"

The middle-aged woman nodded and said, "That's right, I am Yao Yufeng, the widow of the 'Silver-Clad Swordsman.'"

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng immediately stepped forward, bowed deeply, knelt, and said respectfully, "Disciple Lan Tianpeng pays his respects to Senior Yao, and forgives my disheveled appearance."

Madam Yao Yufeng nodded in return, and said politely, "Hurry up, you can come out now. Let's talk inside." Lan Tianpeng respectfully agreed, rose, and kowtowed before the deceased corpse of the "Silver-Clad Swordsman" before walking towards the cave entrance where Madam Ouyang and the beautiful girl stood.

As soon as Lan Tianpeng approached, Madam Ouyang Yao Feng pointed to the beautiful girl and introduced her, saying, "This is my daughter."

Seeing that Yao Feng said nothing more, Lan Tianpeng quickly bowed and said, "Miss Ouyang."

Madam Ouyang Yao Feng immediately replied, "My daughter is a year or two older than you, so you can call her 'elder sister.'" Then, looking at the shyly bowing beautiful girl, she said, "From now on, we're all family. You should call him 'Brother Tianpeng.'"

Upon hearing this, the beautiful girl immediately curtsied to Lan Tianpeng and softly said, "Brother Tianpeng."

Lan Tianpeng hurriedly bowed again and softly called out, "Sister Ouyang."

Madam Ouyang Yao Feng immediately smiled and said, "Let's go." She then walked out the door first. Because the beautiful girl was his elder sister, Lan Tianpeng had no choice but to let her go first, but she remained standing.

Madam Ouyang, Miao Yaofeng, turned around and immediately smiled, saying, "She still needs to tidy up the cave, let's go first."

Lan Tianpeng could only respectfully agree and followed Madam Ouyang out. They entered the cave and walked left along the long passage. Because of the gauze lanterns hanging from the ceiling, the interior was clearly visible, and the ground was very clean, indicating regular cleaning. Turning a corner, the cave narrowed, but in the center, a bright gauze lantern still hung every two or three zhang (approximately 6.6-7 meters).

This narrow cave was extremely long, about twenty zhang (approximately 60 meters), until steps appeared ahead, revealing a night sky full of cold stars. Emerging from the cave, the night wind brushed against their faces. Lan Tianpeng saw the stars and realized it was midnight, but to him it felt like only a few hours; in reality, it was already the night of the next day. Just as he was gazing at the night sky, he heard the sound of clothes rustling in the wind behind him.

Lan Tianpeng turned around and saw the shy, head bowed Miss Ouyang. The "Colorful Silver Rainbow" sword he had just placed on the table outside the cave was now sheathed in her silver scabbard and held in her hands. Since Miss Ouyang kept her head down, not daring to look directly at him, Lan Tianpeng naturally didn't want to be impolite and glance at her too much. He took the opportunity to survey the surrounding landscape; it was a dead valley surrounded by three peaks. Between the north and southwest peaks, at a saddle point, was a narrow, not-too-rapid waterfall cascading into the pine forest in the valley, leading him to conclude that there must be a pool of water behind the forest.

The valley wasn't large, at most 150 acres in circumference. There were no houses visible outside the forest, nor the brightly lit mansion the old man in hemp clothing had described. Of course, he now firmly believed those words were fabricated to lure him here; only one thing was absolutely true: the Ouyang family was indeed a prominent family. He still remembered Ouyang Zi's accusations against "Liao Chen" at the "Golden Dove and Silver Staff" birthday banquet at the Gao family mansion.

Thinking back now, Ouyang Zi's words were not an exaggeration at all. Given the "Silver-Clad Swordsman's" reputation and status in the martial arts world, he was naturally far superior to "Liao Chen." In a flash, he entered the pine forest, but not far ahead came clusters of tall bamboo. Through the gaps in the bamboo, he could see several glimpses of water and lamplight. Emerging from the bamboo forest, Lan Tianpeng discovered before him an exquisite garden shaped like a body of water. The glimpses of water he had seen were actually ponds and lotus ponds nestled among pavilions and bridges.

The pavilions and bridges were all connected by land, and the paths were lined with various rare flowers and exotic plants, interspersed with oddly shaped rocks scattered throughout the garden. On the west and north sides of the water garden, amidst the massive, jagged rocks, the silhouettes of several ornately decorated pavilions and their flying eaves were faintly visible, with a few lights shining from those directions.

Lan Tianpeng followed behind Madam Ouyang, Yao Yufeng, walking along the edge of the garden towards the jagged rocks, taking in the scenery. However, he couldn't help but steal a glance at the young lady Ouyang beside him, who was carrying a sword. Unexpectedly, this time, just as he turned to steal a glance, the young lady Ouyang looked back at him with eyes as clear as autumn water, subtly revealing her affection! Lan Tianpeng's heart skipped a beat, and

he almost cried out softly. This time, he saw the exquisitely beautiful young lady Ouyang's face clearly, and he almost couldn't help but call out, "Sister Hua!" Of course, the young lady Ouyang before him was definitely not his cousin Xiao Qionghua, because Xiao Qionghua was not only taller than Ouyang, but also seemed to have a different temperament. In the instant he was startled and his eyes widened in surprise, the young lady Ouyang beside him suddenly lowered her head and hurried forward! Lan Tianpeng's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly regained his composure. He was certain that the young lady Ouyang was angry, and he also realized that staring at a girl like that was impolite.

However, looking in the direction the young lady Ouyang was walking, he discovered that Madam Ouyang was already standing several feet away in front of a red-lacquered gate, and the young lady Ouyang was holding a sword and walking towards her mother. Seeing this, Lan Tianpeng felt ashamed, his handsome face flushed red, and he also hurried forward. Before Miss Ouyang even reached her mother, Madam Ouyang instructed, "Give me the sword, you may go."

Miss Ouyang respectfully agreed, presenting the sword with her hands. Once Madam Ouyang received the sword, she lowered her head and hurried along a flower-lined path in the water garden, quickly disappearing among the trees. Lan Tianpeng, witnessing this, grew increasingly uneasy, but dared not offer any explanation. Madam Ouyang, however, smiled warmly and said, "Child, please come inside and sit."

Feeling guilty, Lan Tianpeng avoided eye contact with Madam Ouyang, respectfully replying "Yes," and bowing as he walked towards the middle-aged woman. As Lan Tianpeng approached, Madam Ouyang turned and entered through the red gate, smiling as she said, "Your sister Ouyang is overly introverted and doesn't like to laugh. Not only with you, but even with me, her mother, we rarely exchange more than a few words."

Lan Tianpeng, unsure of Madam Ouyang's intention, dared not respond, and could only respectfully reply "Yes." Then Madam Ouyang continued, "Her brother is quite different from her. He's outgoing, competitive, and always ready to fight for justice. Every time he goes out, he always manages to get into some trouble before he returns... Sigh..."

She sighed and stopped talking. Lan Tianpeng followed Madam Ouyang as they walked along the winding path. Sometimes they climbed several stone steps, and sometimes they saw that the narrow path was lined with strangely shaped rocks, where flowers, grasses, short pines, and slender bamboos grew, creating a beautiful and extremely elegant environment. Hearing Madam Ouyang mention Ouyang Zi, Lan Tianpeng suddenly felt a pang of emotion and asked with concern, "Brother Ouyang, have you returned to the mountain?"

Madam Ouyang sighed and said, "Once this child leaves home, he's like a bird released from its cage."

Lan Tianpeng immediately interjected, "I met Brother Ouyang at Gaojialou..." Before he could finish, Madam Ouyang nodded and said, "I know. He sent his old servant Ouyang Mude to inform me of your arrival in Tiantai."

Lan Tianpeng was utterly puzzled, thinking, "How did Ouyang Zi know I came to Tiantai?" Just as he was about to ask, he noticed they had arrived at a beautiful pavilion built against a rock. In front of the pavilion was a small garden, and a strangely shaped rock blocked the entrance to the pavilion, forming a miniature hill within the garden. Upstairs, there were railings, and the lighting was dim. The interior of the hall was brightly lit, and there were figures moving about, clearly maids or servants. Sure enough, the first person to greet them was an elderly woman with graying hair, followed by a maid in green. The old woman and her maid first bowed to Madam Ouyang, Yao Yaofeng, addressing her as "Madam."

Madam Ouyang first handed the sword to the old woman, then pointed respectfully at Lan Tianpeng, saying, "This is the young master's good friend, Young Master Lan."

The old woman respectfully accepted the sword, and she and her maid bowed simultaneously, saying in unison, "Young Master Lan."

Madam Ouyang also pointed to the gray-haired old woman, saying, "She is the wife of Ouyang Mude, who led you here from the city. You can call her Sister-in-law Mude; that's what we all call her." With that, she went into the pavilion first.

Lan Tianpeng smiled and called out "Sister-in-law Mude," then ascended the steps and entered the pavilion. As soon as Lan Tianpeng entered, the old woman immediately ordered her maid to come. Madam Ouyang was not modest, and sat down in the seat of honor, gesturing respectfully to be seated. Lan Tianpeng sat down in the lacquered chair that preceded Madam Ouyang's. The interior of the pavilion was simply and elegantly furnished, with calligraphy and paintings on the walls. A semi-circular staircase on the left led directly to the upper floor. As soon as Lan Tianpeng finished serving tea, he bowed to Madam Ouyang and asked, "May I ask, senior, when will Ouyang Jian return to the mountain?"

Madam Ouyang frowned slightly and hesitated before replying, "Supposedly, he should have arrived before you, but for some reason, he hasn't returned yet."

Lan Tianpeng exclaimed in confusion, "Eh?" and continued, "May I ask, senior, how did Brother Ouyang know I would come here?"

Madam Ouyang smiled gently and said, "Child, don't take offense, you were learning your skills from Shangxian, long before you arrived at Fanjing..." "We found out on our first day on the mountain..."

Lan Tianpeng was startled and blurted out, "Did Junior Sister Ding Mengmei tell you, Senior?"

Madam Ouyang frowned, not answering but asking in confusion, "You already know Mengmei?"

Lan Tianpeng blushed and said, "Yes."

Madam Ouyang nodded knowingly and said, "So that's how it is. The mother and daughter never have any contact with us." Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng knew that it must involve personal feelings between them, and it was inconvenient for him to say anything.

Madam Ouyang continued, “Since you have already read my late husband’s autobiography, I might as well tell you about the situation where my junior sister and I fell out. My junior sister, Chen Tianli, had a very strong personality and was prone to impulsiveness. My late husband always gave in to her because she was young. Although we studied under the same master and were like siblings, our personalities were very different, which was the main reason why we could not become husband and wife. My late husband and I met by chance and then traveled the martial world together. Later, I learned that my late husband had a beautiful junior sister, so I decided to get to know Chen Tianli. However, Chen Tianli became jealous and resentful and left in a huff. Several years later, she suddenly returned…”

She paused here, sighed sadly, and continued, “My late husband has already mentioned these things in his autobiography, so I don’t want to go into details. When she came to collect the ‘Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record,’ I was living here at the time. Junior Sister Chen took the opportunity to make a scene. She insisted that her master, Ding Shangxian, also have the same reputation and prestige as my late husband.” "Saying this, she looked at Lan Tianpeng and solemnly said, "Actually, your master was already a famous swordsman with unparalleled skill in both writing and martial arts at that time. It was just that Junior Sister Chen wanted to take the opportunity to cause trouble and vent her anger on my late husband. My late husband felt that the 'Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record' was left by an extraordinary person, and Junior Sister Chen was qualified to learn it."

Lan Tianpeng's heart stirred upon hearing this, and he couldn't help but interject with concern, "Senior, are you saying that women cannot learn the 'Vajra Palm Technique'?"

Madam Ouyang nodded slightly and said, "Of course they can, but women are inherently unable to reach the fierce and powerful state of the Vajra Palm Technique. This is an innate deficiency. You have already seen why my late husband gave Junior Sister Chen half of the 'Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record'. Of course, the reason why Junior Sister Chen and your master separated was naturally still because of my late husband." However, it wasn't until three or four years later, when they were interviewed, that they learned of their separation. Unexpectedly, because of those two secret manuals, not only did her late husband succumb to his injuries, but her master also lost both legs.

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng asked with concern, "Senior, does my master's wife know about the fact that Senior Ouyang's 'Nine-Colored Pearl' is not poisonous?"

Madam Ouyang immediately replied solemnly, "Of course she knows. But instead of stopping your master from fighting her late husband, she deliberately led Mengmei away. This shows that her purpose in insisting your master learn the Vajra Palm was not to uphold justice in the martial arts world, but solely to deal with her late husband. It's clear that the death of either party was no longer her concern."

Having heard this, Lan Tianpeng had a general understanding of his master's wife, whom he had not yet met. However, since Chen Tianli was his master's wife, he felt it inappropriate to criticize his elder and therefore dared not speak rashly. But Madam Ouyang said sorrowfully, "If Junior Sister Chen had been present, not only would the life-or-death struggle between my late husband and my current master have been avoided, but even if my current master had been injured by the previous 'Nine-Colored Pearl,' the 'Black Hand Sanlang,' who was secretly watching, would not have had the opportunity to sever your master's legs..." Hearing this, Lan Tianpeng felt as if a needle had pierced his heart. This one sentence alone illustrated how serious Chen Tianli's mistake had been.

Madam Ouyang continued with a sigh, "Zi'er often went to Mount Fanjing, hoping to retrieve the two 'Vajra Descent Precious Records,' but each time she brought back disappointing news."

Lan Tianpeng was startled and asked with concern, "So, Brother Ouyang has seen me practicing martial arts day and night?"

Madam Ouyang nodded, saying sadly, "It also includes practicing with the wooden plaque and portrait of my late husband using the barbed nail..." Lan

Tianpeng asked in confusion, "Back then, Brother Ouyang's martial arts and swordsmanship were far superior to mine, enough to kill me to prevent future troubles. I wonder why Brother Ouyang didn't do it?"

Madam Ouyang forced a bitter smile and said, "Wouldn't it be too unjust to kill you? You are innocent! So Zi'er and Ouyang Mude often observed your progress and actions, because you would come seeking revenge sooner or later. That's why Zi'er knew you would definitely come here."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng suddenly understood, but he felt more grateful than admiring for Ouyang Zi's tolerance and magnanimity. However, he was also secretly fortunate. His mind raced, and he was about to explain why he had come to the rooftop after being enlightened by the "Heroic Beggar," when suddenly the sound of clothes rustling in the wind came from outside the pavilion. Lan Tianpeng's expression shifted, and Madam Ouyang immediately smiled and said, "Others can't get here; it's probably because Old Mude has returned."

Upon hearing "Old Mude," Lan Tianpeng immediately thought of the old man in coarse clothes he had met at the restaurant. Just then, a figure flashed, and the maid standing outside the door respectfully said to Madam Ouyang, "Reporting to Madam, it's the young master who has returned.

"

Ouyang Zi immediately looked at Lan Tianpeng and said, "I met Old Mude in the city. He said you only arrived the day before yesterday at noon. I didn't expect you to pass through the 'Silver Sword Hall' in just one day and one night."

Madam Ouyang immediately laughed and said, "Your brother Tianpeng isn't as stupid as you. He only looked once before entering."

Ouyang Zi immediately said in shock, "Really?"

Madam Ouyang immediately smiled and said seriously, "This is what your sister told me; it can't be false."

Lan Tianpeng immediately said somewhat embarrassedly, "Look, my young master's robe has almost turned into a beggar's outfit." Upon hearing the mention of "

beggar," Ouyang Zi immediately said, "Hey, Senior Beggar Ma asked me to bring you a message." With that, she went straight to a chair opposite Lan Tianpeng and sat down, gesturing for him to sit as well. Lan Tianpeng, upon taking his seat, asked with delight, "Brother Ouyang, you ran into my Uncle Ma Wu?"

Ouyang Zi immediately nodded and said, "He asked me to tell you that he went to Ganxi and won't be coming to Tiantai." As she spoke, Madam Ouyang subtly gestured to Sister Mu De, who was standing at the door, clearly instructing her to prepare food and wine. Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng asked with concern, "Did he say why he didn't come?"

Ouyang Zi smiled and said humorously, "If he knew you were safe, why would he come to Tiantai?"

Hearing "come to Tiantai," Lan Tianpeng felt somewhat ashamed and said, "If Uncle Ma hadn't reminded me, I really wouldn't be here."

Ouyang Zi was taken aback and glanced at Madam Ouyang before asking in confusion, "Why?"

Lan Tianpeng, upon being asked, recounted how he had no idea where the "Silver-Clad Swordsman" lived and how he and "Black Hand Sanlang" had pushed the "Flying Cloud's Final Words" into the deep ravine. Madam Ouyang and Ouyang Zi, upon hearing this, asked almost simultaneously, "So Master Ding has already been murdered? Then where is the first part of the 'Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record'?"

Lan Tianpeng immediately looked at Madam Ouyang and said, "I have been studying martial arts for nine months and have never seen the 'Vajra Subduing Demon Treasure Record.' It has all been dictated by my master. Perhaps the first two parts are still with my master's wife. " "

Madam Ouyang immediately said anxiously, "It's fine if it's really with her, but what if the villain 'Black Hand Sanlang' gets his hands on it? What will happen then?"

Lan Tianci deeply understood that it was no good to only know palm techniques but not to be proficient in weapons, so he said indignantly, "Even if that fellow gets the first part of the secret manual, I think it's useless. I believe that one must be proficient in both palm and sword techniques..."

Before Lan Tianpeng could finish speaking, Madam Ouyang said seriously, "In his hands, of course, it won't amount to anything. If he offers it to the leader of the Kongtong Sect, 'Yuxu,' it would be like adding wings to a tiger."

Lan Tianpeng had personally witnessed Ouyang Zi cutting off "Liaochen's" topknot, so he didn't take the Kongtong Sect seriously at all. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but say contemptuously, "The next leader of the Kongtong Sect, 'Liaochen'..." As soon as the word "Liaochen" was uttered, Ouyang Zi, sitting on the opposite chair, suddenly coughed. Lan Tianpeng immediately became alert and quickly changed his tune, saying, "This junior has sparred with him before, and his swordsmanship is nothing special."

Madam Ouyang seemed to notice Ouyang Zi's cough, but at that moment, Sister Mude led four maids to bring in half a meal of wine and dishes. Once the food and wine were set out, Madam Ouyang immediately invited Lan Tianpeng to take his seat. Madam Ouyang sat alone in the center, with Lan Tianpeng on her right and Ouyang Zi on her left. After drinking two cups of wine, Madam Ouyang continued the previous topic, saying, "Although Daoist Liaochen is the eldest disciple of 'Master Yuxu,' Master Yuxu will never allow Liaochen to take over the Kongtong Sect. He might let his youngest disciple, Liaoyin, take over."

Lan Tianpeng unconsciously asked, "How did you know, senior?" As soon as he finished speaking, Sister Mude, who was serving in a corner, smiled and said, "Since Young Master Lan has already become sworn brothers with my young master, he should call my madam 'Auntie.'"

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng immediately said uneasily, "This junior dares not."

Madam Ouyang smiled kindly and said, "It doesn't matter what you call me, but I find 'Aunt' more endearing." Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng hurriedly got up and moved his chair. Ouyang Zi, knowing that Lan Tianpeng was about to bow again, immediately stopped him with a smile, saying, "Brother Tianpeng, what are you doing? Isn't raising a cup to my mother better than kowtowing?" Madam Ouyang chuckled aloud and raised her cup first. Ouyang Zi and Sister-in-law Mude smiled happily upon seeing this. After

drinking, Madam Ouyang waited for Lan Tianpeng to sit down before continuing, "I once met 'Liaoyin' of the Kongtong Sect by chance. His appearance, temperament, and character far surpassed those of the narrow-minded, treacherous, and ruthless 'Liaochen.'"

Lan Tianpeng was concerned about swordsmanship, so he asked with concern, "Aunt, have you ever fought with 'Liaochen'?"

Madam Ouyang smiled elegantly and said, "Since my late husband passed away, I haven't carried a sword for many years. I saw someone with considerable swordsmanship fight with 'Liaoyin.'" "

Lan Tianpeng asked with concern, "But I wonder how skilled that person is with swordsmanship?"

Madam Ouyang praised, "Very good, one of the best in the world."

Lan Tianpeng's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but ask, "How does it compare to Brother Ouyang's swordsmanship?"

Madam Ouyang didn't feign modesty; instead, she said solemnly, "Compared to Zi'er, while he may not be a cut above, his skill level is probably deeper."

Lan Tianpeng was shocked, thinking, "There's actually someone with better swordsmanship than Ouyang?" Looking at Ouyang Zi opposite him, who showed no sign of dissatisfaction, he became even more convinced that Madam Ouyang's words were true. However, he was more concerned about the outcome of their duel, and so, somewhat anxiously, he asked, "I wonder who won between them?"

Madam Ouyang said without hesitation, "Of course, 'Liaoyin' is slightly inferior, but according to my observations, in two or three years, the number one swordsman in the martial arts world may well be 'Liaoyin'."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng's eyebrows furrowed and his eyes shone like morning stars. He blurted out unconsciously, "In another two or three years, it seems that 'Liaoyin' won't be the only swordsman who can truly master the art... "

Upon hearing this, Madam Ouyang immediately nodded calmly and said, "My nephew's judgment may coincide with mine. If it's not 'Liaoyin,' then it must be the secular younger sister of 'Yuxu,' 'Jade Maiden Flying Frost' Lanxiangji." Ouyang Zi glanced at his mother but said nothing.

Lan Tianpeng asked doubtfully, "But Liaoyin's skill is higher than hers..."

Madam Ouyang nodded in agreement and said solemnly, "My nephew is right, but if the opponent's swordsmanship is far superior, even a seven-foot-tall man with considerable skill would probably not be given a long fight." Upon hearing this, Lan Tian'e immediately recalled the scene she witnessed that night on the riverbank outside Lüzu Temple, where the female leader of the "Dragon and Phoenix Gathering," "Golden Thread Without Shadow," fought against "Liao Chen. "

Given "Liao Chen's" decades of cultivation, he was naturally far more profound than "Golden Thread Without Shadow." Yet, in just one or two exchanges, "Golden Thread Without Shadow" had torn "Liao Chen's" robe. Killing "Liao Chen" would be as easy as taking candy from a baby. Thinking of this, she couldn't help but ask with concern, "Why are the swordsmanship skills of 'Liao Yin' and Lan Xiangji so exquisite? And 'Liao Chen's' swordsmanship is…"

"Actually, it's because 'Golden Thread Without Shadow's' swordsmanship is too high that I have this opinion. If it were your uncle, Elder Ma, the 'Heroic Beggar,' he probably wouldn't be able to hold his own against 'Liao Chen' for three hundred rounds." Lan Tianpeng was startled upon hearing this and nodded in agreement, but in his heart, he still looked down on "Liao Chen."

Madam Ouyang continued, "To master swordsmanship to its highest level, one needs not only exceptional talent and innate ability, but also proper instruction. After obtaining Guangchengzi's secret swordsmanship techniques, Yuxu practiced diligently for many years, only passing it on to Liaoyin and Lanxiangji. Lanxiangji grasped the techniques the fastest and made the best progress."

Before she finished speaking, Ouyang Zi, sitting to the side, suddenly said unhappily, "Mother, you really are always trying to boost others' morale."

Madam Ouyang smiled involuntarily upon hearing this, but then said seriously, "My purpose is to warn your younger brother Peng to be vigilant and diligently practice the 'Demon-Subduing Sword Technique' he has already learned, so that he won't lose to her when they meet in the future." Upon

hearing this, Lantian Peng immediately bowed respectfully and said, "Auntie, rest assured, Peng'er will not let you down. I will definitely practice the 'Demon-Subduing Sword Technique' diligently and defeat Liaoyin and Yuxu." "

Ouyang Zi, standing to the side, immediately urged excitedly, "Yes, we must also fight that 'Jade Maiden Flying Frost' Lan Xiangji."

Lan Tianpeng didn't know why his brother Ouyang disliked Lan Xiangji so much; he guessed it was because he had been rebuffed during his pursuit and was jealous. To let Ouyang Zi vent his anger, he could only chime in, "Yes, the first thing I'll do after I go down the mountain is to find 'Golden Thread Without Shadow,' and the second thing is to find that 'Jade Maiden Flying Frost' Lan Xiangji."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Zi said anxiously, "Why must we go find Lan Xiangji? We can fight her when we meet her."

Madam Ouyang glanced helplessly at Ouyang Zi, then looked at Lan Tianpeng and asked with concern, "Peng'er, why do you want to find 'Golden Thread Without Shadow'?"

Lan Tian'e snorted and said indignantly, "I'm angry that she tricked me." Madam Ouyang exclaimed in surprise, glancing at Ouyang Zi before asking with concern, "What exactly happened? Tell me! "

Lan Tianpeng, upon being questioned, could only briefly recount how he had encountered "Golden Thread Shadowless" battling "Liao Chen" outside the Lüzu Temple that night, and how his pursuit to Chenxi City had led to her screams and the resulting arrow-shooting by government troops.

Madam Ouyang glanced at Ouyang Zi, understandingly saying, "So that's how it is. How infuriating!"

Ouyang Zi echoed, "Yes, Brother Peng, now that you've mastered your swordsmanship, it's time to test your skills against her."

Lan Tianpeng nodded in agreement, saying, "This has been my first wish since I began practicing swordsmanship—to defeat 'Golden Thread Shadowless,' and now I have Lan Xiangji and 'Liao Yin' as well."

Ouyang Zi immediately interjected, "In the martial arts world today, 'Golden Thread Shadowless's' swordsmanship is still the highest. If you defeat her, you will be the number one swordsman in the world. " Lan

Tianpeng had personally witnessed the fight between "Golden Thread Shadowless" and "Liao Chen," so although he had ambition, he lacked confidence. Suddenly, a thought struck him. He remembered that "Golden Thread Shadowless" had told "Liao Chen" that she had defeated the silver-clad youth. However, he recalled Ouyang Zi's cough earlier, clearly indicating that he dared not let his mother know that he had gone to Lüzu Temple to challenge "Liao Chen." Therefore, his mind raced, and he immediately asked tactfully, "Brother Ouyang, have you ever fought with 'Golden Thread Shadowless'?"

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Zi immediately replied, "Of course I have! I met her that very night after leaving Gaojialou."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng became even more convinced that "Golden Thread Without Shadow" was right, and thus asked with even greater concern, "You two have also fought?" Ouyang

Zi replied without hesitation, "Of course, we drew our swords and sparred."

Lan Tianpeng asked with even greater concern, "What was the result?"

Ouyang Zi glanced timidly at Madam Ouyang, and said somewhat embarrassedly, "Both of us focused on incredibly fast sword strikes and lightning-fast changes of move. On the third move, the tip of her sword was already at my throat." As she spoke, she raised her slender index finger, pointing to her rounded crotch.

Lan Tianpeng's heart skipped a beat. He knew that if he wanted to challenge "Golden Thread Without Shadow" to a sword duel, he would probably need to practice diligently for some time! In his mind's eye, he heard Madam Ouyang's deep voice rebuking him, "I've told you time and time again not to be arrogant. Always remember the saying 'There's always someone better.' How about it? Now you've finally suffered a defeat, and you've ruined your father's reputation."

Upon hearing this, Lan Tianpeng's stubborn nature was reignited, and he immediately said solemnly, "Auntie, please rest assured, there's no need to blame Brother Ouyang. I will definitely defeat 'Golden Thread Without Shadow' and restore Brother Ouyang's lost reputation. I will also fight against 'Jade Void' of the Kongtong Sect with my sword." Upon

hearing this, Madam Ouyang's expression became very solemn, and she suddenly said with some emotion, "The reputation of the Tiantai family and my late husband in the past is all thanks to you, my nephew. Although your swordsmanship is also good, Brother Ouyang is too weak to achieve great things."

Lan Tianpeng shuddered upon hearing this, his handsome face changed drastically, and he stammered, "Auntie... Auntie... I..."

However, Madam Ouyang had already resolutely stood up, looked at Sister-in-law Mude, and solemnly instructed, "Sister-in-law Mude, quickly set up an incense table and prepare clothes and swords." "

Sister Mude respectfully agreed and hurriedly ran out of the pavilion with four maids. Lan Tianpeng was confused about why an incense table was set up, but she couldn't possibly take on such a heavy responsibility, and it was too embarrassing for Ouyang Zi. So he said anxiously again, "Aunt... Aunt..." But the solemn-looking Madam Ouyang had already walked out of the pavilion.

Lan Tianpeng was flustered and anxious. He looked at Ouyang Zi, who, apart from standing with her head down and hands behind her back, showed no displeasure or embarrassment. So he grabbed Ouyang Zi's right arm with both hands and said anxiously, "Brother Ouyang, I only want to save face, I have no other intentions..."

This time, Ouyang Zi did not dodge, but her cheeks were slightly red and she said with difficulty, "My mother's choice was right. I hope you will not go against her wishes." As she spoke, she took the opportunity to get rid of Lan Tianpeng's hand, took two steps back and said, "Brother Peng, look at me like this, I'm not a man at all. Many old scoundrels in the martial arts world say behind my back that I look like a girl." Upon hearing this

, Lan Tianpeng's cheeks flushed, for "Heroic Beggar" Uncle Ma Wu had indeed said the same thing. He gave an awkward smile and forced a smile, saying, "Who cares what they say? There are plenty of pale-faced young men with weak constitutions. Let them say what they want." Just then, a clear, melodious whistle suddenly pierced the night sky from afar. As soon as the whistle sounded, Ouyang Zi's expression changed instantly, followed by Madam Ouyang's low call from outside the door: "Zi'er, go quickly and see if anyone is trespassing."

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