Apocalypse Forecast

Chapter 1052: Chapter 815: Looks Beautiful

Huai Shi couldn’t determine whether what he saw was reality or illusion.

Because for the Shangquan Sword Saint, reality or illusion no longer mattered; what truly mattered was that willpower that twisted phenomena.

He believed he was here, and thus he was here.

Everyone could see him.

If he believed he had drawn his sword, then everyone could see him drawing his sword.

If he believed that the enemy he slayed would die.

Then his enemy was already dead.

It was precisely this absolute confidence in himself that forged this incredible extreme interpretation.

Now, with the arrival of Shangquan, the originally low-spirited atmosphere of the dojo was instantly invigorated, and everyone’s eyes became fervent.

Almost like the glow of faith!

It was the pinnacle that countless samurais worshipped day and night, something they longed to pursue, a sanctity in the human world.

Now, he sat behind his seat, smilingly raised his cup, and greeted his friend beside him, "Great Tengu, good to see you well?"

The Great Tengu grinned, "Just getting by, still far from death."

Shangquan smiled, "I originally thought you were too lazy to come."

The Great Tengu shook his head indifferently, "Where there’s wine, how could I not go?"

"Then, I leave it to you." Shangquan nodded.

"I don’t recall promising anything."

The Great Tengu laughed oddly, but raised his cup to drink with him.

Next, the old man’s gaze turned towards Huai Shi, "Is Mr. Luo Su well?"

"Eating well, sleeping well, healthy." Huai Shi replied, "I originally thought the Sword Saint would ask about someone else."

"Ha, isn’t that guy still lively and full of spirit? What’s there to care about?" The old man also raised his cup in a toast.

After drinking a cup with Huai Shi, the old man greeted the distinguished guests present today.

Nothing more needed to be done; just being here was enough to be the Calm Ocean God Needle, bestowing the disciples of the dojo with boundless confidence and joy.

The banquet began.

Song and dance continued.

With no further surprises, the banquet proceeded in an orderly manner, eventually reaching its conclusion.

When the servants cleared the dishes and served refreshments, the evening gathering finally approached its end.

But everyone’s gaze towards the top grew increasingly expectant.

Hoping to receive guidance from the Sword Saint, to get the favor of that old man, hoping to receive instruction from the pinnacle.

Even if it’s just a glance their way.

"I suppose everyone is eager now?"

The Shangquan Sword Saint smiled slightly, placing down his teacup, "To my shame, as the owner of this dojo, after growing accustomed to a reclusive life, the only time I impart teachings is at this quadrennial banquet, which is truly ignoble.

Time is precious, so let’s begin."

He paused for a moment, then said solemnly yet gently, "This will be my final lesson as a Sword Saint to all of you."

"Here, I have a question to ask."

The old man asked, "Everyone present here is a battle-hardened samurai, a brave hero, a resourceful sage. So among all of you, is there anyone who can answer my confusion?"

He asked, "Everyone here is like me, in pursuit of the pinnacle and challenge, willing to do anything to achieve strength as seekers.

But what I wonder is, what kind of power can truly be called the strongest?"

Once the words were spoken, everyone was stunned, frozen in place.

Incomprehensible.

Being reputed as Yingzhou, no, possibly one of the most formidable in the Current Circumstances, the esteemed Sword Saint asked such a question.

But Shangquan still smiled, drinking his tea, quietly waiting for his disciples to come to a conclusion after contemplation.

A quarter of an hour later, he placed down his teacup and looked at his last personally accepted disciple below.

"Hisakawa, have you thought it through?"

"Reporting to teacher, this disciple is dull-witted."

The young man with glasses nodded and answered respectfully, "In my heart, the power like teacher’s is the strongest."

Shangquan shook his head with a smile, "But there are those even stronger than me, aren’t there? Aren’t the seven Natural Enemies the true pinnacle of the world?"

"That is not what I seek." Hisakawa responded resolutely, "The pinnacle I desire is only you, teacher."

"Then go back and practice more, perhaps...eighty years? Sixty years if you’re quick." Shangquan shook his head and sighed, "Consider the Swordsman of Yingzhou then."

His words weren’t a rebuke, nor were they out of disappointment, just a result that he had long anticipated.

Hisakawa wasn’t disappointed at all; instead, he was ecstatic.

So excited that his hands were almost trembling.

"Yes!"

He bowed respectfully.

And those around could not help but cast envious and even jealous looks.

A samurai who was appointed by the Sword Saint, capable of vying for the Swordsman of Yingzhou in eighty years...

Life may not have many spans of eighty years, but how many Sword Saints are there in the entire world?

"So, what about you, Zhongju?" the Sword Saint inquired.

The middle-aged man shook his head with a bitter smile, "I am like Hisakawa, my student."

"But you are different from Hisakawa. What he envies is my swordsmanship, while what you desire is my kind of power," Shangquan candidly said. "But my power is not the strongest, Zhongju, you have strayed from the path."

"You have taught me well, teacher." Zhongju nodded frankly, seemingly ashamed: "By the time I realized this, it was too late."

"It’s okay, it is never too late to mend."

Shangquan comforted, "Tomorrow you should go to the Imperial Palace to seek a position. The Former Emperor is in need of people and will not treat you poorly. I hope you can serve with unwavering loyalty and dedication for the Former Emperor."

Zhongju was taken aback, feeling both joy and sorrow. After a long while, he respectfully bowed deeply, "Thank you for your generosity, teacher."

"Then, with two unruly disciples leading, the others can feel free to express as well, right?" Shangquan continued to ask, casually pointing at a disciple, "In your view, what should the strongest power be like?"

That disciple was stunned for a moment, hesitated, and finally tentatively asked, "Those who submit to me live, those who oppose me die?"

"Hahaha, not bad."

Shangquan laughed, patting his knee, "Then you shouldn’t come to the dojo, but rather you should go to the Astronomical Society. If you were to protect Chalatustra, the entire Current Circumstances would be mere playthings for you."

As he spoke, the old man waved his hand, indicating that he should not feel embarrassed, and asked another person.

The student bowed his head and solemnly answered, "Disciple believes that unrestricted freedom is the true power."

"Then you might be very distressed, Unbreakable Monarch."

Shangquan said with pity, "The power you seek does not exist in Current Circumstances, and you may only find liberation by going to the Border and Hell. Perhaps one day you will go to the Tomb of the Homeless, abandon everything, and seek release in Hell..."

With that, he looked towards Yuan Yuan, "Little girl, you are the top of the Sword Hunting. In your understanding, what kind of power is considered the strongest?"

"I don’t know."

Yuan Yuan replied frankly, "There are too many strong people in this world. Even my Grandfather couldn’t become the strongest. But in my view, the strongest power should be able to bring hope to those who suffer."

"Then you need to learn more from your teacher."

Shangquan glanced at Huai Shi with a smile and then looked at the Wood Cottage, "And what about this young man of great courage?"

Wood Cottage respectfully bowed and provided the standard answer, "Its darkness is obscured, its sight is brightened, without eating, sleeping, or stopping, the wind and rain serve as an introduction..."

This is the decisive conclusion every Lin Family member would make.

—At the pinnacle of the Path of Karma, Zhujuyin!

"Hahahaha, regardless of its truth, a sly little fellow indeed," Shangquan shook his head and laughed, "but being so solitary, is it not lonely for you?"

Wood Cottage lowered his head without responding.

"Think about it more, young man," Shangquan said, "think more, your future is long enough for you to find the answer you seek."

This time, Wood Cottage was no longer silent, suddenly raising his head to ask loudly, "What if there is no answer?"

"Then make yourself the answer."

Shangquan said, "If you wish to walk the path others have not traveled, then you yourself become the beacon for those who follow, and you shouldn’t be frightened; instead, you should have the joy of the seeker."

The young man froze in place.

Shangquan withdrew his gaze and looked to his side.

"Hey, hey, it’s enough that you teach the disciples well, why are you looking at me?" The Great Tengu scratched his red nose, somewhat helpless.

Shangquan said, "Since you’re here, why be stingy?"

The Great Tengu sighed, "In our view, being able to drink endless fine wine, eat ceaseless delicious dishes, and watch endless excitement is the most beautiful and powerful strength in the world... saying it really makes the younger generation laugh."

"Ahahaha, those who are content are often happy, why be ashamed?"

Shangquan clapped and laughed, finally shifting his gaze to Huai Shi.

Huai Shi helplessly put down his wine glass.

"So, can Huai Shi-kun give me an answer?" Shangquan inquired, "As someone like you, achieving such accomplishments, yet still unsatisfied and unable to stop, what power are you pursuing?"

"It’s not something distant, Mr. Kamizaki, it’s not worth mentioning to outsiders either,"

Huai Shi shrugged, smiling self-deprecatingly, "No need to make a fool of myself."

At most, it’s just about living a happy life.

Such an ordinary wish is not worth mentioning compared to those grand ambitions.

Shangquan nodded and did not press further.

He continued to ask questions.

Perhaps at the beginning, some appeared confused, but later on, they all fell into deep thought, and in the end, with serious expressions, they all lowered their eyes.

Listening solemnly.

"Today I am here not to hold some kind of wish-sharing session, nor to seek this answer that is destined to have no result."

Shangquan paused and said in a deep voice, "Presumably, from the multitude of answers, you have already found the answer you seek."

The strongest power in this world?

From the beginning, this was a false proposition.

A fleeting phantom, a mirage far out of reach.

It just looks beautiful.