Chapter 187: Chapter 42: Summit of the Heavenly Gang Mountain_3
Liao Yi slightly smiled and said: "Isn’t this because we have guests? I was afraid the guests wouldn’t be able to find us here, so I brought them back."
Four young men glanced at Ah Dai and the others. Their varying attire piqued their interest, but they were members of the Tian Gang Sword Sect, known for their strict conduct, and didn’t dare to behave frivolously. They just watched with curious expressions, paying particular attention to the stunning Xuan Yue.
Liao Yi coughed a little and said: "Younger brothers, you go on guarding here. I’ll take the guests upstairs first."
"Yes, elder brother, please, esteemed guests, please." The four young men stepped aside, allowing Liao Yi to lead Ah Dai and the others to the top of Tian Gang Mountain. As Liao Yi had described, the mountain top is flat and spacious, with a large courtyard in the center. The courtyard wall, three zhang high, blocked their view of the inside. Xuan Yue hopped off Ah Dai’s back, looking around excitedly. She hadn’t slept well, but the warmth and security Ah Dai provided had allowed her to rest fully.
"So that’s the Tian Gang Sword Sect? Given its fame across the continent, I thought there would be a huge palace."
Xuan Yue burst into laughter: "Yan Shi, you must be mistaken. The altitude of Tian Gang Mountain is over six thousand meters, constructing a palace would be a massive undertaking! It probably wouldn’t be finished even after a hundred years."
Liao Yi nodded and added: "The young lady is right. This courtyard alone took nearly ten years to complete, constructed by our own people in the Tian Gang Sword Sect. If we had hired ordinary people, it might have taken even longer. The courtyard was largely built with the hard granite found in the mountains. When I joined the sect, it was already complete. My teacher told me they originally used the granite for swordsmanship practice. I’m unsure about the exact size of the courtyard, but I know it houses an arena large enough for hundreds to practice swordsmanship simultaneously, and hundreds of rooms. Our disciples who don’t have to go out for training live here, generally two or three to a room, and there are still many empty rooms."
Ah Dai said: "Such a huge project! Brother Liao Yi, can you take us to see it quickly?"
Yan Li rubbed his belly: "It’d be great if we could get something to eat and drink first, I can hardly take it anymore."
As they got closer to the Tian Gang Sword Sect, the clear sounds of weapon clashes and shouts could be heard. Ah Dai was taken aback and said to Liao Yi: "Has someone attacked your sword sect? Let’s go and check it out."
Liao Yi smiled and said: "I haven’t heard of anyone daring enough to attack our Tian Gang Sword Sect. Even the Assassin’s Guild probably wouldn’t dare. These are our morning exercises, sword practice." This wasn’t an exaggeration, the Tian Gang Sword Sect may not have many disciples, but they are capable fighters individually. Especially the second generation disciples, who in a one-on-one situation, could only be overcome by three or more experienced assassins.
"Such complacency is unacceptable. You need to temper your arrogance, Liao." A deep and gentle voice resonated, and before they knew it, a man was standing before them. The man wore a white robe, was of advanced age with gray hair, his back straight as a rod and a warm smile on his face. He was looking at Ah Dai and the others.
Liao Yi quickly knelt down in greeting: "Greetings to the fourth teacher." This man was Lu Wen, the fourth disciple of the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang.
Lu Wen chided him with a smile: "You, stand up." He waved a hand, a faint white light flashed, and Liao Yi was literally picked up; the energy was intense but extremely gentle, drawing admiration from Ah Dai and the others. "Who are these people? Why have you brought them up the mountain?"
Pointing to Ah Dai, Liao Yi respectfully answered: "Fourth Teacher, this young man is Ah Dai who the Great Ancestor Master wished to meet."
Lu Wen was taken aback, swiftly moved like lightning to Ah Dai’s front, striking at his chest with palm; the white light intensified, emitting a powerful surge of energy. Lu Wen’s attack was swift, Yan Shi and Yan Li couldn’t intervene in time, and even if they had, they couldn’t break through Lu Wen’s dominating aura. Ah Dai simply felt a strong force enveloping his body, he felt like a bird in a cage, unable to dodge. His chest was being pressed by a surging energy and he found it difficult to breathe. He could only raise his hands to his chest, instantly converting his True Qi into a powerful aura.
"Boom-" Ah Dai’s body was thrown back. He clearly felt that the aura emitted by Lu Wen was extremely gentle, like a huge cushion. Despite the powerful force it contained, it wouldn’t harm people. He was merely pushed away by this cushion-like energy.
Upon seeing Ah Dai being attacked, Yan Li instantly became furious, drew his battle axe from behind his back, and bellowed: "What are you doing?"
Lu Wen didn’t pay any attention to Yan Li and flashing Ah Dai a smile, he said: "Good, you indeed possess the fifth-tier Qi. I have no idea how the ninth junior apprentice managed to teach you. Kid, your master’s name is Owen, right?"
Ah Dai mumbled: "Uncle Owen isn’t my master, but he did teach me many skills."
Lu Wen smiled: "Since Owen has handed down his technique to you, you are now a disciple of our Tian Gang Sword Sect. Liao Yi, go ring the Heaven Profound Bell nine times, summon all your teachers."
