Volume One: All Things Awaken, Four Seasons Forever Spring Chapter Forty-Two: Innate Swordsmanship Shakes the Dragon Pillar, Contemporary Dao Sovereign

Strolling forward, Mo Wen took a deep breath, gathering his inner force into his fist, prepared to unleash the brilliance of the Star River upon the Dragon Pillar. Suddenly, a tremor stirred within his heart as Sword Dog transmitted a spiritual message from the coal sphere.

“Boy, don’t use your Buddhist inner force. The Dragon Pillar is already saturated with Daoist true energy. That Red Pearl Daoist is lacking in skill, but this pillar has been fortified by the Supreme Tai Chi True Intent. If you strike with Buddhist inner force, the recoil will surely kill you!”

How vicious! Mo Wen had believed the Daoists were straightforward, that they could pick up and let go as needed. He had already made it clear before striking Red Pearl Daoist that the risk of life and death was his own to bear, yet the Wudang Daoists had tampered with this pillar all the same!

Mo Wen paused, the robed Daoist growing impatient and scolding him for his delay. Mo Wen weighed his options: at this moment, only the sword would suffice.

Closing his eyes, the innate sword technique flickered through his mind like shadows and light. Sword intent surged within him. Sword Dog leapt from the coal sphere, transforming into the blade. Mo Wen gripped the longsword, and his consciousness entered the realm of sword intent.

“Break!”

The longsword swept across, sword energy slashing toward the Dragon Pillar. Sparks burst forth in an instant as Mo Wen delivered his full strength in a horizontal strike. The dragon motif on the pillar suddenly gleamed with golden light, defending against the sword energy!

With a resounding crash, the pillar with its dragon motif toppled to the ground, shattering a vast section of the marble beneath it!

Deathly silence fell. Both human and demon camps were mute. Little Peng King, expecting to mock Mo Wen, now saw the power of this sword and his pupils widened, all arrogance vanishing.

“You!”

The robed Daoist was so shocked he could barely speak, pointing at Mo Wen with trembling hand. Mo Wen turned and smiled, “What do you think?”

Under the gaze of all, the robed Daoist could only reluctantly declare, “Mo Wen of Demon City, has successfully passed to the next stage!”

Immediately, the robed elder announced a pause; the fallen Dragon Pillar needed to be reset.

Only then did the crowd recover from their shock, especially Little Peng King, who now looked at Mo Wen with a complicated expression. Red Bamboo Demon King seemed unsurprised, merely rolling his eyes.

“This fellow isn’t just absurdly skilled in boxing, his swordsmanship is equally formidable. You’d better be careful!” Red Bamboo Demon King softly cautioned Little Peng King.

But Little Peng King’s mind was elsewhere, whispering back, “Did you notice? That guy’s longsword appeared out of thin air. He must possess some self-contained storage treasure!”

A flash of greed crossed Little Peng King’s sharp gaze. Storage treasures were exceedingly rare, even among demon kings.

He must obtain it, must get it—find a chance to kill him!

Little Peng King silently recited, his murderous intent leaking out without him realizing. Mo Wen sensed it through his spiritual awareness, furrowing his brow—Little Peng King wanted to kill him!

---

Mo Wen kept his guard, retreating without drawing attention to the front of the crowd. Back among his peers, the chubby Zhuo Xin exclaimed theatrically.

“Brother Mo, you’re amazing! Is that the innate sword technique? I want to learn it too!”

The crowd erupted in astonishment.

“Innate sword technique! This man truly inherited Director Zhao’s teachings—extraordinary!”

“My elders once mentioned that Zhao Tian Sheng, the innate sword master, had a past grudge with the Buddhist sects. Why would he pass his sword art to a Buddhist disciple?”

Mo Wen turned, sweeping his gaze coldly over the crowd. “Those who dare speak ill of Teacher Zhao—die.”

His intimidating presence silenced the chatterers instantly, heads bowed in fear.

Just then, a gust of wind lifted the bronze Dragon Pillar in the courtyard and set it upright again. The robed Daoist cleared his throat and announced loudly, “Quiet! The test continues!”

The human and demon races resumed the trials. Occasionally, someone passed, but most were from the demon side. After four hours, it was noon and all had finished.

Mo Wen surveyed the scene. On the human side, only six had passed, while the demon side boasted fourteen—including the two tigers and Little Peng King.

Among the humans who passed, Mo Wen noted that, aside from the elder who first succeeded, only the disciple from the Rain family of southern Fujian caught his eye.

The robed Daoist called out, “Those who passed the first stage, enter the hall!”

Everyone rushed in eagerly, while those who failed waited outside. Mi Lu suddenly grabbed Mo Wen’s hand and whispered, “Be careful!”

Mo Wen withdrew his hand inconspicuously, responding with a nod, and followed the others inside.

Within the hall, the Daoist aura was even thicker. At the center of the vast hall, nearly ten meters high, stood a massive statue.

The statue of the Primordial Lord of Dao!

Head of the Three Pure Ones, source of all paths!

In front of the statue, a straw mat rested, upon which sat a Daoist with white hair and beard, holding a whisk, seeming one with heaven and earth, devoid of visible Daoist aura, like a mortal.

“Grandmaster, there are twenty who passed the first stage. I have brought them.”

The robed Daoist bowed in salute. The white-haired Daoist slowly opened his eyes, gazing at the crowd, nodding in satisfaction.

---

“I am Dust Whisker, entrusted to conduct the Spring Gathering, intended to inspire cultivation. You have passed the first stage; rest briefly, then proceed to the second trial!”

Supreme cultivator of the Dao, peerless among Daoists—revered as the Living Lord by all.

He finished speaking, and Dust Whisker Daoist flicked his whisk. A Taiji Yin-Yang Bagua diagram appeared out of thin air, radiating light.

“The second trial: cross the boundary of yin and yang, enter this realm, hunt the cultivators within, and collect tokens like these. Each token bears a number; the sum of numbers from those you personally hunt will determine the winner. The top four advance; the rest are eliminated. Life and death are your own responsibility.”

As he spoke, Dust Whisker Daoist extended his left hand, producing a brown token from thin air. Mo Wen’s pupils contracted—this token!

He vaguely recalled obtaining such a token after annihilating Murong Xiu Wo and the Murong family, numbered ninety-six. Earlier, at Mount Emei, after slaying the hunchbacked elder, he’d gotten another, numbered one hundred sixteen!

Seeing the token again stirred Mo Wen’s emotions greatly, and Dust Whisker Daoist caught this fluctuation, glancing at Mo Wen with a silent smile.

Soon, Little Peng King, proud as a peacock, leapt first into the Yin-Yang Bagua diagram and vanished. The remaining thirteen demons followed. The six humans hesitated, watching Mo Wen; Yu Qi of the Rain family gritted his teeth and entered, followed by the other four, leaving Mo Wen alone.

Dust Whisker Daoist watched Mo Wen, patiently waiting for him to speak. Mo Wen bowed and asked, “Daoist Lord, what are these tokens?”

Dust Whisker smiled in silence, then after a moment, replied obliquely, “Which tokens have you seen, young friend? Tell me.”

Without hesitation, Mo Wen produced both tokens and explained their origins. Before the Supreme Daoist, there was no need for pretense.

Dust Whisker nodded with a smile, seeing Mo Wen’s doubts, and spoke gently, “No need for confusion, young friend. Enter this realm and you will understand.”

Mo Wen harbored concerns; he had slain Red Pearl Daoist earlier, yet Dust Whisker Daoist seemed unconcerned, leaving Mo Wen puzzled. Sensing his unease, Dust Whisker Daoist smiled, “You need not worry, young friend. The feud between Buddhism and Daoism has lasted long enough; I do not wish to implicate future generations. Let us leave it behind, shall we?”

Mo Wen quickly agreed; it was no time for pride. The Supreme Daoist himself offered reconciliation—refusing would be offensive. If he angered this Daoist Lord, he’d be crushed in an instant, and even if Zhao Tian Sheng avenged him, it would be too late!

Still, Mo Wen played it shrewdly, speaking with utmost respect: “Thank you, Daoist Lord. Though my teacher has expelled me, should fate allow me to visit him again, I will surely convey your noble conduct today.”

The implication being: Zhao Tian Sheng always remembers me; if you wish to act against me, think twice!

With that, Mo Wen leapt into the Yin-Yang Bagua diagram.