Translated by: Hypersheep325

Edited by: Michyrr

A chilly wind rustled the remaining leaves on the trees. All was quiet in the forest.

The bark, wood shards, and snowflakes gradually drifted back down.

Only those remnants of sword intent continued to linger in the wind.

Like the smoke left behind after a firecracker had finished popping, they served as evidence of what had happened a few moments ago.

Just when Chen Changsheng seemed about to die, the battle underwent an abrupt and massive change, even beginning to show signs of reversing.

All of it originated from the sword in his hand.

He calmly gazed at Shang Xingzhou, saying nothing. This did not symbolize unease, but confidence.

As long as he had a sword in hand, what did he have to fear?

As Su Li's successor, Chen Changsheng possessed a talent in the sword that could stun the world.

Several years ago, with all the swords he had in his possession, he had defeated powerful foe after powerful foe, even forcing his way alone into the alley of the Northern Military Department, astounding countless spectators.

Several years later, he acquired the Unity Sword Art at Holy Maiden Peak, comprehended the true meaning of the path of the sword at Mount Li, and was able to lay down the South Stream Temple sword array all on his own in White Emperor City. First defeating the Demon Lord and then rescuing the White Emperor, he finally reached great success in his cultivation of the sword, becoming a publicly acknowledged grandmaster.

Even though he was still very young and it was very difficult to associate him with the title of grandmaster.

His strongest move was the storm of swords.

Shang Xingzhou had prepared for this long ago, using a backdoor that he had hidden many years ago to snatch away all of Chen Changsheng's swords, leaving him unable to counterattack within the Garden of Zhou.

Only now did Chen Changsheng finally have a sword.

Not even a grandmaster of the sword could take up any random sword and begin killing in all directions.

This sword was clearly not normal. At the very least, he seemed of one mind with it.

Shang Xingzhou's gaze moved down to that sword.

This sword had suffered many years of wind and rain, and then it had been hidden away in that tree for quite a few years. It had been devoid of any aura, appearing like an ordinary stick of metal.

If Chen Changsheng had not broken open that tree through his collision, probably no one would have noticed its existence.

Today, Chen Changsheng had pulled it out from that hollow in the tree.

The dust and filth on the sword had completely vanished, leaving a bright surface, a sharp edge, and an awe-inspiring sword intent.

It was a like a pearl that had been caked in dust for many years, or a Phoenix that had not called for many years, finally able to unleash its dazzling light, able to let out a stunning cry.

Shang Xingzhou slightly raised his brows.

This sword came from a long-gone era, so it had most likely come out of the Sword Pool.

Everyone knew that Chen Changsheng had taken those famous swords from the previous generations out of the Garden of Zhou and put them all in the Vault Sheath.

That sheath was in his sleeve at this moment.

So where had this sword come from?

Could it be that Chen Changsheng had already determined that he could control the Vault Sheath and so made preparations to counter this move, hiding a sword in that tree to catch him by surprise?

No, seeing Chen Changsheng's reaction, he did not know that a sword was in that tree.

And from the moss that had been growing on the edge of the sword, it had probably been stored in that tree for several years.

Let alone Chen Changsheng, not even Black Robe joining hands with Wang Zhice with Xu Yourong at the side calculating a hundred times with her Fated Star Plate could have possibly guessed several years in advance at today's circumstances.

Moreover, if Chen Changsheng had already guessed at his strategy, he would have had even better ways to respond. There would have been no need for him to be forced into this state.

Could this not be a sword from the Garden of Zhou's Sword Pool but some sword hidden in that tree by a teacher or student of the Orthodox Academy?

When Shang Xingzhou thought about how the person who had hidden that sword might have been one of his followers, his mood became rather complex.

That sword had remained undiscovered in that tree for so many years but had ended up in Chen Changsheng's hands today at the moment when he most needed it.

Was this coincidence? Or was it luck? Or was this a hint from fate?

It was very quiet by the lake of the Orthodox Academy and the wall of the Hundred Herb Garden.

Xu Yourong put down the Tong Bow.

Yuren was standing by the stone table, leaning on his stick.

Wang Zhice drew back his finger.

They silently watched the scene deep in the forest, each with a different expression.

Everything had happened quickly, but they had roughly understood the truth of the matter.

In the Garden of Zhou, for some reason, Chen Changsheng had lost all his swords, so he could only passively be beaten, putting him in extreme danger.

At the most perilous moment, Chen Changsheng had pulled a sword out of the broken tree and altered the course of the entire battle.

But why was there a sword in that tree?

Tang Thirty-Six could move now, but he didn't.

Because Chen Changsheng had already escaped his dangerous situation, but also because he was in a rather strange mood.

He felt like this matter had something to do with him, though he couldn't think of the reason.

Hundred Flowers Lane had also heard the clanging of swords.

With the quarrel instigated by Tang Thirty-Six forcing his way into the Orthodox Academy settled, the stalemate and possible conflict died away.

The crowd turned in shock and anxiety toward the Orthodox Academy.

Wang Po opened his eyes and looked to the Orthodox Academy, somewhat surprised and deeply admiring.

The Prince of Xiang, on the other hand, closed his eyes, seeming to age several years in a few seconds.

Shang Xingzhou looked at Chen Changsheng and asked, "Did you know there was a sword there?"

Chen Changsheng replied, "I didn't."

When he looked at the sword in his hand, he felt very familiar with it, even intimate.

Like they had once been schoolmates, comrades-in-arms, or at least they had shared the same ideals.

Thus, he knew the origin of this sword.

This sword had come from the Sword Pool, had once fought side by side with him.

When the ten thousand swords had formed a dragon, it had been one of the scales.

Though it had been many years since he had last seen it.

So you were here this whole time.

But why were you here?

Laughter suddenly came from the lake shore.

"HAHAHAHA!"

It was exceptionally happy laughter, a delight that penetrated to the bone. More importantly, it sounded like some incredibly annoying person was incredibly pleased with themselves.

"It was me! In the end, it was still me!"

Tang Thirty-Six shouted, a look of extreme arrogance on his face.

Wang Zhice was stupefied, thinking, just what sort of madness has taken this young man?

Tang Thirty-Six was shouting to the entire world.

"I hid that sword in there!"

Chen Changsheng stared blankly at him, and then he finally remembered that matter, and then he couldn't help but laugh as well.

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1. This chapter title is a quote from 'The Book of Changes' and is generally attributed to Confucius. The intention is that the nobleman/gentleman, the , will be reserved and not tend to flaunt their skills, showing their expertise only when it is needed.