Celestial Taoist

Chapter 26 Trading

All the Wanjian Sect disciples present were stunned, their faces filled with surprise and doubt, and murmurs of discussion rose and fell.

"What kind of move is that?!"

"This person says it's a sword pellet; could it be some kind of lost divine weapon?"

"Look at this golden light, it is thick and condensed, far beyond the reach of third-rate martial arts in the martial world. It truly seems to be a secret technique passed down by a hidden sect."

"I've never seen or heard of such a method before!"

Everyone's eyes were fixed on the golden pellet that was flying towards Elder Xuanfeng.

Elder Xuanfeng's expression hardened, showing no sign of disrespect. With a flick of his wrist, the ancient longsword at his waist was drawn with a clang, its azure light flashing and its sword energy overflowing. He stepped into a sword stance, his body as steady as a pine tree, and slashed horizontally with his longsword, carrying powerful internal energy, precisely meeting the oncoming golden sword pellet.

A loud bang echoed through the mountain gate!

The golden pellet and the longsword collided with a deafening roar, and a powerful shockwave swept outwards, raising dust and causing the surrounding disciples to involuntarily take several steps back.

The moment the golden pellet collided with the longsword, a burst of explosive energy surged forth, instantly scattering the longsword into disarray.

Elder Xuanfeng felt a domineering and powerful force surge into his arm through the sword, causing his tiger's mouth to go numb and his entire arm to feel slightly sore. The bluestone ground beneath his feet was even cracked with two fine lines, and he involuntarily staggered back three steps before barely regaining his balance.

He was deeply shocked, his face filled with disbelief. He was a veteran elder of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, whose internal strength and martial arts had long reached the level of a grandmaster, yet he had been repelled by this unknown young man in a single move.

Before Elder Xuanfeng could recover, Li Mofan remained calm, his mind stirred slightly, and he once again activated the power of his Dao Foundation.

The golden pellet in mid-air was even faster than before, whistling through the air, heading straight for Elder Xuanfeng's vital points.

Elder Xuanfeng dared not be careless. He quickly focused his mind and calmed his breath, drawing out layers of sword flowers with his longsword. The green light swirled around him, transforming into a sword net to protect his body, trying to block this attack head-on.

Then came another muffled bang.

The moment the sharp sword net touched the golden pellet, it shattered like brittle paper, scattering its azure sword energy in all directions. Elder Xuanfeng felt a sudden tightness in his chest, his breath surging and his throat tingling with a faint metallic taste. He was once again jolted back, almost losing his grip on his longsword.

His face turned deathly pale, all composure and dignity gone, replaced by fear and apprehension in his eyes.

The Wan Jian Sect disciples around them were already dumbfounded. Their previous discussions stopped completely, and they stared wide-eyed, holding their breath, their faces full of disbelief.

"Elder Xuanfeng was actually defeated?"

"Just who is this person? His moves are bizarre, and their power is terrifying!"

"The elder has already gone all out, yet he couldn't even withstand two moves from the opponent..."

The crowd erupted in uproar.

The middle-aged manager stood frozen in place, his heart filled with shock. He finally realized that this master and disciple were no ordinary reclusive masters. Their strength was unfathomable and far beyond what ordinary elders of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect could contend with.

In the arena, Elder Xuanfeng took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging inner energy. He knew he was no match for Li Mofan, and that continuing the fight would only result in a public defeat and loss of face. He sheathed his sword, cupped his hands, and said with a tone of helplessness and admiration, "Young friend, your inner strength is profound, and your moves are unpredictable. This old man... concedes defeat."

As Elder Xuanfeng finished speaking, the entire place fell silent instantly. All the disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect were trembling with fear, their eyes filled with awe as they looked at Li Mofan.

Su Qingyao stepped forward slowly, her expression calm. Her gaze swept over Elder Xuanfeng and the middle-aged manager, and she spoke unhurriedly: "Now that the competition has been decided, according to the rules of your Ten Thousand Swords Sect, can you now take us to pay our respects to the Sect Master?"

The middle-aged steward's face turned pale and then red. Just as he was about to reply, a calm and gentle laugh suddenly came from deep within the mountain gate, slowly echoing outwards.

"Hahaha, wonderful, wonderful! What a brilliant sword-ball technique! What a worthy successor of a hidden sect."

Following the sound, everyone looked and saw a middle-aged man in a moon-white robe slowly walking out from the end of the mountain path. He had a refined face, a profound and dignified demeanor, and a reserved personality.

He walked calmly to the front of the group, his gaze first falling on the composed Li Mofan, then on the sharp-tempered and exceptionally beautiful Su Qingyao. With a hint of solemnity in his eyes, he bowed slightly and said, "I am Ling Canghai, the sect leader of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. You two are guests from afar, possessing unparalleled martial arts skills. I have been quite negligent earlier. Please come with me into the sect for a chat."

The inner mountain council hall of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

The hall was magnificent and spacious, with dragons and phoenixes carved on the beams and pillars, and the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. Several high-ranking members of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect were seated on both sides, all of them elders and stewards of the sect with very high seniority. Their expressions were solemn and dignified as they sat upright on their seats.

Sect Master Ling Canghai sat in the main seat of the hall, raised his hand to signal the servants to serve tea. After the maids withdrew, his gaze fell on Su Qingyao, and his tone was humble and solemn.

"Both of you possess unparalleled cultivation and have extraordinary origins. What brings you to my Ten Thousand Swords Sect's mountain gate?"

A brief silence fell over the main hall. Li Mofan glanced at Su Qingyao sitting beside him, and seeing that she seemed unwilling to speak, he helplessly cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards Ling Canghai, who was seated at the head of the hall: "Sect Master, I am Li Mofan, and this is my master, Su Qingyao. We have come here today to discuss a business deal with your sect."

Upon hearing this, Ling Canghai's eyes flashed with surprise, but he quickly composed himself and said solemnly, "Oh? I wonder what kind of business you two are interested in? My Wanjian Sect has been established in Qingzhou for a thousand years, and we have reserves of all kinds of rare treasures, medicinal herbs, and martial arts manuals. As long as it is reasonable, there is room for discussion."

Li Mofan's lips curled slightly, his tone carrying a hint of certainty as he swept his gaze over the crowd in the hall: "Sect Master and Elder Xuanfeng have already witnessed the sword pellet technique of my Heavenly Slaughter Sword Sect, and I'm sure they have their own judgment. How does this sword technique compare to the sword techniques passed down in your sect?"

After he finished speaking, the hall fell silent. Elder Xuanfeng's face darkened. Recalling the embarrassing defeat he had just suffered, he was unwilling to go against his conscience. His tone carried a hint of admiration: "To tell you the truth, the Sword Pellet Technique is condensed and domineering, mysterious and unpredictable, far surpassing our sect's swordsmanship. It is something we can never achieve."

Ling Canghai nodded slowly, his expression solemn: "Elder Xuanfeng's words are true. Your sword pellet technique is a peerless method."

Seeing the two readily admit it, a knowing glint flashed in Li Mofan's eyes, and his tone became even more composed: "Since that's the case, then the deal is easy to discuss. My Heavenly Sword Sect has been lying low for many years, and now I wish to emerge again, establish my own sect, and become a prominent school of thought in this world. However, I lack the resources needed to establish a sect. Today, I would like to use the inheritance of this Sword Pellet Technique to exchange for some resources with your sect. It can be considered a win-win situation where each of us gets what we need."

As soon as he finished speaking, the high-ranking members of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect in the hall immediately erupted in a commotion, whispering among themselves. If they could obtain such a peerless technique as the Sword Ball Technique, the strength of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect would surely reach a new level. However, what the other party wanted was "resources for establishing a sect," which was certainly not a small amount, making them have to carefully consider the matter.

Ling Canghai frowned slightly, twirling his beard with his fingertips. His gaze fell on Su Qingyao, and he slowly said, "The two of you may choose two famous swords from the Sword Tomb of my Ten Thousand Swords Sect in exchange for the Sword Pellet Technique."

These words caused an immediate uproar in the hall. The previous hushed discussions turned into an uncontrollable uproar. Even the elders sitting on both sides could not contain themselves, their expressions varied, and their tones were full of shock and urgency.

"Sect Master, you mustn't! The Sword Tomb is the foundation of our Ten Thousand Swords Sect. The famous swords inside are all treasures passed down from our ancestors. Each one embodies the lifelong learning of a Grandmaster of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. They are the sect's most prized possessions. How can we easily give them away to outsiders?"

"Indeed, Sect Master! Let alone two, even a single famous sword would be enough to make all the major sects in the martial world fight tooth and nail. It is one of the assets that allows our Ten Thousand Swords Sect to stand firm in Qingzhou. Although the Sword Pellet Technique is powerful, exchanging it for two famous swords from the Sword Tomb would be too much of a loss and might shake the foundation of our sect!"

The surrounding deacons echoed in hushed tones, their expressions filled with reluctance and worry: "The famous swords of the Sword Tomb are never easily shown to others, let alone given to outsiders. Sect Master, please reconsider!" "Those are treasures left by our ancestors. If we give them away, how will we explain ourselves to them in the future?"