Chapter 418: Gu Cangning Overestimates Himself
The sword hums spread like a tide. Soon, they reverberated throughout this entire stretch of heaven and earth.
A tall figure as upright as a pine tree rode in from a far, standing on the blade of a fiery Dao Sword.
The blade was the source of the humming.
This new arrival wore jade-colored robes and a high-brimmed hat. He had handsome features, and his robes fluttered around him as his sword carried him through the skies, making him look dashing and unrestrained.
Ling Yunhe’s eyes narrowed slightly.
This new arrival looked quite young, but he had Origin Palace Realm cultivation.
That alone didn't mean much; the crux of the matter was that the aura emanating from the youth was so blatantly forceful that even the Gathering Stars Realm Ling Yunhe felt pressured.
There’s no way this guy is ordinary,?thought Ling Yunhe.
.
Whoosh!
The jade-robed youth stopped and stood in the skies one hundred feet away. His eyes sparkled like stars as he swept his gaze across the mountaintop, then laughed and turned to Su Yi and his companions. “So, Madam Miaohua and her cohort are all dead….? I imagine that has something to do with you, Fellow Daoist?”
Su Yi glanced at him. “What does that have to do with you?”
His tone wasn’t the least bit polite.
However, the jade-robed youth thought nothing of it. On the contrary, he laughed. “Now that you mention it, it actually does have something to do?with little?old me. Madam Miaohua led a group to Billowing Sky River to deal with me. Who’d have thought they’d die before they got the chance…?”
He said ruefully, “The world truly is unpredictable.”
Ling Yunhe’s heart shook. “Fellow Daoist, might I request your honorable name?”
Qing Ya looked curious too.
She saw Madam Miaohua’s party for herself; she’d brought more than twenty Origin Dao cultivators. That was absolutely a first-rate lineup even by the standards of the Great Chu.
Who would have thought that their true target was a young man in the Origin Palace Realm?
Gu Cangning cupped his fist. “This humble is Gu Cangning. I’m a minor, unknown figure, no one special. It’s just that, not long ago, I inadvertently offended Madam Miaohua. Afterward, she saw me as her enemy, and challenged me to tight her over Billowing Sky River.”
Gu Cangning?
Ling Yunhe was stunned. This was a completely unfamiliar name.
However, that only made him even more cautious. This Gu Cangning’s aura was so powerful; he was far beyond ordinary Origin Palace Realm cultivators!
When he saw that Gu Cangning wasn’t here to avenge Madam Miaohua and company, Su Yi immediately lost interest in continuing the conversation. He just turned to Yuan Heng and said, “Let’s go.”
As he spoke, he’d already started walking back toward Billowing Sky River.
The jade-robed Gu Cangning was stunned; it seemed he hadn’t anticipated that Su Yi would just up and leave at the drop of a hat.?It seems he can’t even be bothered with me.
Yuan Heng followed hot on his heels.
Ling Yunhe was briefly dazed. Then, he hurriedly asked, “Fellow Daoist, what do you think of my earlier suggestion?”
Su Yi didn’t even look back. “Okay.”
Ling Yunhe instantly smiled, and he and Qing Ya followed Su Yi down the mountain.
Even now, they didn’t understand Su Yi and Yuan Heng’s backgrounds, but they could tell that this master and servant were in no way simple.
Soon, only the neglected Gu Cangning remained behind. He felt bewildered, and a bit awkward.
After a while, he rubbed his lower jaw and muttered, “Who could have anticipated this? I might have failed to capture that woman, Madam Miaohua, but I ran into a rather strange group… No, I have to get to know these people better no matter what.”
With that, the fiery Dao Sword beneath his feet hummed, carrying him down the mountain after Su Yi.
On Billowing Sky River.
Su Yi and company had only just returned to the black awning boat when Gu Cangning rode in on his flying sword.
The jade-robed youth clasped his fist and said, “Might this humble one accompany you? Rest assured; I have no ulterior motives. I ran into you, my fellow Daoists, this late at night, and I can’t help but want to chat, that’s all. If we become friends, that would be even better.”
As he spoke, he looked at Su Yi.?He’d long since realized that Su Yi was the tone in charge here.
Su Yi’s brow furrowed slightly. “Can’t you tell that you’re not welcome here?”
Gu Cangning’s expression froze, but he didn’t lose his temper. Instead, he grimaced. “Well, I can tell now. Fine then, I’ll just leave. But before I do, might you tell me your honorable name?”
Su Yi said calmly, “You want to know my name? Alright. If you can block one of my attacks, there’s no harm in telling you.”
“Oh?” said Gu Cangning. He couldn’t help but stroke his jaw and sigh, “Alright. Forgive me for overestimating myself, but I’ll have to be arrogant just this once. Fellow Daoist, please instruct me.”
Although he said this, his face filled with confidence. This was pride, just thoroughly suppressed.
Ling Yunhe and Qing Ya glanced at each other, their expressions strange.
If Gu Changning knew the Grain Avoidance youth standing before him was actually strong enough to effortlessly exterminate Gathering Stars Realm experts, would he still dare to accept this challenge?
Yuan Heng smiled.?This guy’s self-analysis sure is accurate. What is this, if not overestimating himself?
Gu Cangning noticed their unusual reactions, and he felt a bit strange, but he didn’t take it to heart.
He naturally had reasons for his confidence.
Kcch!
Su Yi pointed, sending a streak of clear sword qi through the air in one casual, understated motion.
However, the instant the sword qi appeared, Gu Changning’s smile froze, and his starlike eyes blazed with imposing golden radiance.?In response to this provocation, he emanated composed confidence, and terrifying power surged around his tall, upright figure. His clothes billowed around him.
“Take this!” Gu Cangning reached out and tapped the air.
Clang!
Amidst a tide of sword hums, the Dao Sword beneath his feet blazed and shot forth like a dragon, creating a ten-thousand-foot streak of flame. Explosive sword qi ran rampant. Sword force blanketed heaven and earth.
Rumble~
The surrounding skies were completely enveloped in endless firelight, and even the majestic Billowing Sky River sank three feet inward as its waters evaporated into churning mists.
His sword’s power was so flourishing that even Ling Yunhe couldn’t help but gasp.
At first, he could tell that Gu Cangning was no ordinary person, but he still didn’t think Gu Cangning could compete with Su Yi at all.
Only now did Ling Yunhe realize that he was mistaken.
This Gu Cangning was obviously a hidden expert!
As?Ling?Yunhe’s thoughts raced, Gu Cangning’s flaming Dao Sword and fiery sword intent clashed with Su Yi’s attack.
Clang!!!
It was as if two volcanoes had collided above Billowing Sky River. Terrifying sword qi and turbulent air currents surged into the firmament, then spread out, sweeping over a thousand feet and stirring up perilous tidal waves.
Amidst the turbulent, misty light, the flaming Dao Sword shook violently and wailed as if in pain.
Gu Cangning seemed to have taken a heavy blow too. He suddenly wobbled in midair, as if intoxicated.
In the end, he couldn’t take it any longer, and he staggered backward.
He only took one little step back, but this seemed like an enormous shock; his expression flickered erratically, and his eyes widened with undisguised astonishment and confusion.
It seemed he dared not believe a slash like this could force him back.
“That guy’s so strong!” Qing Ya exclaimed from the awning boat.
Ling Yunhe nodded, and waves coursed through his heart.?This Gu Cangning really is strong. He’s a young Origin Palace Realm cultivator, yet the power of his Dao of the Sword is such that he’s even stronger than Madam Miaohua, a Gathering Stars Realm expert!
He even had to admit to himself,?If it were me, I would have had to call upon my full power to neutralize such an attack…
Yuan Heng naturally noticed this too, and he no longer took Gu Cangning lightly.?He?blocked Master’s?sword? That means he really is extraordinary!
However, their surprise only made Gu Cangning feel worse.
And here he’d been confident that he could easily block Su Yi’s attack. Who would have thought that… Su Yi could force him back using his fingers as a sword?
Su Yi seemed surprised too, and it seemed he’d noticed something. Now, when he looked at the distant Gu Cangning, there was a strange light in his eyes.
“I…. I really did overestimate myself. Gu Cangning sighed, then directly admitted it. During their clash, he had indeed come out second.
“My name is Su Yi, and I’m from the Great Zhou.”
Whatever else Su Yi might say about him, Gu Cangning had indeed blocked his attack. He naturally wouldn’t go back on his word.
The Great Zhou? Su Yi??Ling Yunhe and Qing Ya glanced at each other. This was their first time learning Su Yi’s name and background, but both were completely unfamiliar.
Their impression of the Great Zhou was that, among the continent’s hundred-plus nations, the Great Zhou was a remote little backwater.
They’d never paid the Great Zhou any attention. How could they possibly have heard Su Yi’s name before?
“The Great Zhou… Su Yi?” Gu Cangning was stunned too; it was obvious that he’d never heard of whatever Su Yi.
A moment later, he clasped his fist and said from afar, “Today, I was fortunate enough to witness your majestic bearing. Although it was but a glimpse, your attainments in the Dao of the Sword have left me sighing with admiration. Should the opportunity arise again, I’ll be sure to seek out your guidance once more.”
With that, he turned his flaming Dao Sword, turned, and left. Before long, he and his weapon had disappeared over the horizon.
“Master, was he too embarrassed to stick around? There’s no need for that! After all, he was only a little bit inferior, that’s all,” chirped Qing Ya.
“You talk too much.” Ling Yunhe glared at her.
How was Gu Cangning “just a little bit inferior”? Wasn’t it obvious that Su Yi hadn’t used his full strength?
Although Gu Cangning had successfully blocked Su Yi’s attack in the end, wasn’t it obvious that he’d used his full power to do so?
Were Ling Yunhe to really compare the two, the gap was nowhere near as small as Qing Ya made it sound!
“That yao cultivator isn’t simple,” Su Yi said out of nowhere. “If I’m not mistaken, his true strength is far greater than what we just saw.”
A yao cultivator!??Yunhe, Qing Ya, and Yuan Heng were all stunned.
Earlier, they hadn’t sensed even the slightest trace of yao qi emanating from Gu Cangning.
Especially Yuan Heng. He was a yao cultivator himself, but if Su Yi hadn’t pointed it out, he would have missed that Gu Cangning was one too!
“Have either of you ever heard of him before?” Su Yi asked.
Ling Yunhe and Qing Ya shook their heads.
Never mind the name “Gu Cangning”; even the name “Su Yi” was brand new to them.
Su Yi walked back onto his ship, leaned back into his wicker chair, and gave the matter no further thought.
Gu Cangning wasn’t simple at all. Both his foundations in the Grand Dao and the strength at his disposal far surpassed Origin Palace cultivators of the mundane world.?Of all the Origin Palace cultivators Su Yi had seen post-reincarnation, only he deserved to be evaluated as a "miraculous genius.”
However, to Su Yi, that was all he was.
Meanwhile, in the skies above a mountain range, Gu Cangning’s flight slowed down. He gazed up at the radiant full moon overhead, and despite himself, he sighed.
“Why do you sigh, Young Master?” A kindly-looking old woman with a jade cane silently appeared by Gu Cangning’s side.
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