Chapter 57: The Sword Like a Startled Swan Soars Across the Sky

Page (1/3)

Though a False Golden Core cultivator possesses strength comparable to an early-stage genuine Golden Core cultivator, their realm is fixed and unchanging. Their cultivation level cannot be improved throughout their lifetime, and their lifespan exceeds that of a Purple Mansion cultivator by only a hundred years. In terms of pure combat power, they are even inferior to a true early-stage Golden Core cultivator’s profound magical force. However, a False Golden Core cultivator can still mobilize the primordial power within their false core to overwhelm cultivators below the Golden Core stage. The spiritual power below the Golden Core and the magical force above it differ precisely because of this disparity in primordial power.

Yet, Sun Chang’s False Golden Core is flawed. It was originally more than half shattered and only restored through fifty years of incense-offering power. Even now, it remains imperfect, far from a flawless Golden Core. This is why Sun Chang is reluctant to expend his primordial power recklessly; overuse would shatter the false core again, dooming him. But at this moment, Sun Chang’s mind has been stirred by Jiang Sheng’s invocation of his inner demons and obsessions, leaving him with little restraint.

As the false core fractures anew, instead of hesitation, a fierce rage ignites within this veteran cultivator. Mobilizing the primordial power within the false core, the misty vapor spreads across the sky like a great lake enveloping the heavens above Eastern County. Gathering all his magical power, Sun Chang conjures a nimble little fish in his palm.

The appearance of this little fish sends a wave of threat rippling through Jiang Sheng. Before Jiang Sheng can react, Sun Chang tosses the fish into the misty vapor, where it vanishes instantly. Then, with a distant, ethereal whale’s cry, a massive black shadow emerges from the vapor that blankets countless miles.

The cultivators and common folk of the county are horrified to see a dark cloud blots out the sun overhead. Looking up, they find a colossal black fish stretching a thousand zhang in length hovering above Eastern County. This immense fish blocks the sun, casting a shadow like a mountain, enveloping the entire city below.

“What is that?!” The frightened cultivators and townsfolk stare skyward, awestruck by the creature that resembles both a mountain and an island. How could such a being appear in Eastern County?

“A Kun fish?” Jiang Sheng fixates on the enormous black fish, sensing the terrifying aura it radiates.

“Jiang Sheng, did you want to witness the Xuanlang Qingyun Scripture? Then behold the divine power I have obtained from it!” Sun Chang’s voice reaches Jiang Sheng, who immediately senses danger and swiftly retreats.

In an instant, the thousand-zhang Kun fish leaps from the vapor, surging toward Jiang Sheng like a falling star, carrying overwhelming force. The shadow that blots the sun descends, the fish seeming to streak across the sky, wrapped in a tidal wave of terrifying pressure. This colossal presence crushes the spirit of the million souls in Eastern County—commoners and cultivators alike—into despair. None dare resist, helplessly watching the monstrous shadow fall like Mount Tai, threatening to obliterate all.

Under this oppressive force, even cultivators feel their spiritual power freeze and their thoughts stall. Divine powers—so called for their extraordinary nature—are formidable techniques wielded only by cultivators who have reached the Golden Core stage, representing the initial crystallization of a cultivator’s path and power, with extraordinary might. Those below the Golden Core are helpless before such powers.

Among the million inhabitants of Eastern County, thousands are cultivators.

Page (2/3)

Yet regardless of whether they are Qi-refining or Foundation-building cultivators, or even Purple Mansion cultivators like Cha Liangcai, facing Sun Chang’s divine power—capable of destroying mountains and cities—they feel only helplessness and despair.

Jiang Sheng’s left hand gestures, drawing in his pure spiritual power, which wildly surges and condenses beside him into a flying sword.

In the next moment, Jiang Sheng unleashes the sword. It transforms into a rainbow-like sword beam soaring into the sky, then suddenly splits into three identical beams. Four sword beams streak off toward the east, south, west, and north. In a blink, these flying swords dash thousands of zhang away, leaving only residual sword qi and rolling thunderclaps behind.

Sun Chang senses the exceptional nature of Jiang Sheng’s maneuver. Though Jiang Sheng remains silent, the momentum hints at the embryonic form of divine power.

Could this be Jiang Sheng’s divine power? But Jiang Sheng is known for fire magic—why would his divine power manifest as flying swords? Suspicious yet uncertain, Sun Chang resolves to unleash his full divine might to crush Jiang Sheng before any doubt can distract him.

With another deep, thunderous whale cry, the thousand-zhang Kun fish surges forward, summoning countless waves to crash down on Jiang Sheng. As the shadow that darkens the sky envelops Jiang Sheng, the Kun fish races like a meteor, carrying a monstrous, overwhelming force.

The oppressive presence leaves all one million souls in Eastern County paralyzed with fear, unable to resist. Both commoners and cultivators can only watch helplessly as the colossal creature plummets down like a mountain crushing them all.

Even cultivators feel their spiritual power freezing and their minds stagnating under this dreadful pressure.

Suddenly, Jiang Sheng commands loudly, “Slash!”

Stars glitter in the southeast, southwest, northeast, and northwest, followed by roaring thunder as the swords flash like white rainbows piercing the sun.

Sun Chang scoffs, surrounding himself with layers of water barrier magic to protect himself. Before he can mock Jiang Sheng’s audacity, a thunderclap resounds as a flying sword hurtles toward him.

Suddenly, Sun Chang feels a coldness at his chest. Looking down, he sees a flying sword piercing through his layered water barriers and impaling his chest from behind.

Then another flying sword slashes toward him. Sun Chang roars, ignoring his wound, but the sword transforms into a gleaming streak and pierces through his magical defenses in an instant, striking his heart.

Staring at the two flying swords embedded in his body, Sun Chang cannot help but admit—these flying swords are incredibly fast!

In a moment, their sharp edges are fully revealed. The sword qi entering his body destroys his internal meridians, and the overwhelming sword intent severely damages his already flawed false core, leaving Sun Chang powerless to exert magical force.

A mournful whale cry echoes as the Kun fish—its master grievously wounded and drained of magical power—dissolves before it can strike, scattering into mist and waves that blend with the vast waters below.

These uncontrolled waves pose no threat to Jiang Sheng, who effortlessly dodges the assault.

The immense waves, no longer sustained by power, cascade down from the sky like a suspended waterfall, crashing into the Taiping River with roaring waves dozens of zhang high.

“Friend, you have already lost,” Jiang Sheng’s calm voice sounds.

Feeling his strength ebbing away, Sun Chang clenches his fist in unwillingness. He is Qingming Zhenren, the sect master of Qingyun Sect. Had he not been betrayed by his subordinates, had the noble families of Eastern County not wavered, had Jiang Sheng not appeared suddenly—how could he have failed?

He had already discovered the method to reverse his foundation; how could he accept defeat now? How could he lose to a mere Purple Mansion cultivator?

Page (3/3)

“Ahhh!” Sun Chang roars in frustration. The cracks on his false core spread as he continuously draws upon its primordial power. The golden luster covering it fades steadily.

Suddenly, a flash of starlight streaks across the horizon, the sword light piercing the dawn.

Two more flying swords flash like rainbows.

This time, Sun Chang’s body is bisected at the waist!

The inner demons haunting him seem to dissipate entirely as death approaches.

For the first time in fifty years, Sun Chang feels clarity. With his inner demons gone and his spirit clear, he contemplates his flickering life and his years of schemes, feeling as if it were all but a grand dream.

His eyes dim, and the two halves of his body fall with a splash into the Taiping River, quickly swallowed by the rushing waves.

The million inhabitants of Eastern County stare in stunned silence at the lone figure of the robed, jade-crowned cultivator remaining in the sky.

Jiang Sheng traces a sword formation with his left hand, and as the thunder roars, the four flying swords circle back to his side. With a wave, they dissolve into spiritual power and return to his body, and he leaps into the turbulent waters of the Taiping River.

Before the magnificent and solemn Taiping River Mansion—reminiscent of a dragon palace—Jiang Sheng finds Sun Chang’s body.

Sun Chang’s hair is entirely white, falling across his face. His gilded, jewel-inlaid crown lies toppled to one side. His ornate robe of cloud and wave fish is torn in two, stained with blood.

Jiang Sheng notices a cracked, gray-white pill nestled in the torn dantian in Sun Chang’s abdomen.

Drawing it close, Jiang Sheng senses its nature and sighs, “So, friend, you were not a true Golden Core cultivator, but a False Golden Core.”

Now Jiang Sheng understands the cause and effect. Sun Chang’s rise and fall were both tied to this false core. Had Sun Chang condensed a genuine Golden Core, even if damaged it would retain much of its power, and after repair could restore eighty percent of its strength. But the false core, being foreign and flawed, cannot be restored to its original state once broken.

In his final desperate efforts, Sun Chang exhausted the primordial power within this false core, reducing it to a worthless pill.

Sun Chang lost because of his damaged false core—he was defeated by Jiang Sheng, but also by himself.

Jiang Sheng’s victory was not only due to his sharp skills but also because within his own dantian lies a verdant jade green lotus platform, continuously supplying him with spiritual power.

This balance of gains and losses allowed Jiang Sheng to exploit Sun Chang’s weakness.

Fighting a Golden Core cultivator for the first time, Jiang Sheng’s spiritual power was greatly depleted—especially after unleashing the embryonic form of his divine power, manifesting four swords of flowing water, which nearly exhausted his reserves even at the Purple Mansion stage.

Without the jade green lotus platform’s support, Jiang Sheng would have long been drained.

All this, in part, was fated by Sun Chang’s own deeds. Had Jiang Sheng not been pressured by the threat from this Golden Core cultivator, he would never have sought his fortune and found the jade green lotus in the Sea County. It was precisely by arriving in Sea County that Jiang Sheng found the opportunity to open the Purple Mansion realm.

And ultimately, it was this opportunity that led to Sun Chang’s defeat at Jiang Sheng’s hands, despite Sun Chang’s great destiny.

“Time and fate...”