Chapter 1538: Asking About Swords

The Hall of Benevolence did not lean upon famous mountains, nor hide within deep valleys.Its main hall was situated near a thoroughfare of bustling traffic,to facilitate those across the land who sought healing.Around the Hall of Benevolence, a thriving ecosystem had long been established.Indeed, among all the great sects under heaven,the residence of the Hall of Benevolence was the easiest to find.At this moment, walking forth with the voice, was a man of slender stature,not particularly striking in appearance, but possessing a serene temperament that made one feel at ease.

"Senior Brother.""Senior Brother.""Senior Brother Yi."All the people offered salutations.This person was naturally Yi Tang, the Pavilion Physician of the Hall of Benevolence, whom Jiang Wang had specifically come to seek.He looked at Jiang Wang with clear, discerning eyes: "Does your esteemed self recognize me?""Senior Brother Yi is speaking to you! Why don't you take off your bamboo hat! Don't you know manners?" That Hao Zhen called out.Jiang Wang directly ignored this utterly fake Hao Zhen, and only cupped his hands towards Yi Tang:"I apologize for my uninvited arrival. Though I have not met your esteemed self,I have long admired you... May I request a word aside?""Request what request!" Hao Zhen shouted again: "A fellow who hides his face,you say request and I must grant?""Enough." Yi Tang patted Hao Zhen's shoulder, stopping his agitation.He extended a hand towards Jiang Wang, indicating: "Esteemed self, please follow me."One must admit, this was truly a person of graceful bearing.Jiang Wang naturally would not quarrel with Hao Zhen, but only followed calmly behind Yi Tang.Along the way, there was no speech. After walking for a while, they entered a courtyard.The courtyard was tranquil and clean, all arrangements orderly... There was indeed no one else within.Yi Tang turned around, standing in the central court. With just this turning, you could immediately feel that he was the center of this place."This is where I reside alone, rarely disturbed by anyone," he said."Your esteemed self's aura is deep and long, your cultivation not shallow. You must be someone of status. Coming while concealed, is there some hidden ailment difficult to speak of?"Jiang Wang then lifted his bamboo hat and bowed: "Arriving uninvited, it is truly presumptuous."Yi Tang raised his eyebrow slightly: "Jiang Wang.""Brother Yi knows me?" Jiang Wang was somewhat surprised.Yi Tang smiled: "Last year, when rumors of you consorting with demons spread, I saw your portrait."Jiang Wang grinned: "That proves the artists of the Mirror World Platform possess some skill."Yi Tang felt some admiration for this understated demeanor.But regarding the grievances between Jiang Wang and the Mirror World Platform, he offered no comment. He only said:"Your esteemed self has journeyed far to the Hall of Benevolence, I presume you have sought many methods.But please rest assured, even if I cannot cure it, there are still my master, senior uncles, and grandmaster. Coming to the Hall of Benevolence, you need only await your recovery!Hmm... may I inquire as to the hidden ailment? Feel free to tell me,medicine has its ethics, and will absolutely not be divulged."The more Jiang Wang listened, the more things felt wrong: "Wait, wait, Brother Yi has misunderstood! I have come not to inquire about illness."Yi Tang looked at him with an understanding gaze, and advised: "Some ailments may be difficult to articulate. For a heaven's favored like yourself, one must also consider one's reputation. I understand all of this... But Brother Jiang, you must not shy away from seeking medical help due to shame. As long as the medicine is targeted, there is no illness that cannot be resolved."Jiang Wang could not articulate it clearly, so he simply stated directly: "I have come to spar with you!"His expression was solemn. He bowed respectfully: "I have heard that Brother Yi is the foremost below the Divine Sense realm in the Hall of Benevolence. Jiang is filled with yearning and has specially come to seek a challenge.""Oh, seeking a challenge." Yi Tang's hands hung slightly:"What is cultivated in the Hall of Benevolence is not the art of brute force and reckless fighting. Please forgive me, I cannot accompany you.""This journey is not for valor, nor for fame, but merely for sparring. This heart is pure, with absolutely no other intentions. I know this request is extremely presumptuous. But upon reflection, among the Outer Building realm cultivators under heaven, those who can make me see a different scenery are already few and far between. Brother Yi is precisely among them. This heart's earnestness is truly difficult to suppress...""Let this be the stake."Jiang Wang held up the Cloud Dusk Vase, the vibrant five-colored small fish still swimming within.He said very sincerely: "If your esteemed self wins, these five-colored fish will remain with you. I imagine they will be of some use to the Hall of Benevolence. If your esteemed self loses, I will act as though nothing happened today, and will absolutely not breathe a word to outsiders."It was then that Yi Tang realized why Jiang Wang had visited with his face concealed. Given his identity, it would have been a matter of submitting a calling card to meet, yet he went through such great trouble—clearly, he did not wish to be mistaken for someone coming to challenge the sect for fame.His truth and sincerity, his earnestness and eagerness, were all contained within this bamboo hat that he had now removed."Your esteemed self is truly obsessed with martial arts..." Yi Tang pondered briefly, feeling there was no need to be reserved, and said: "I am also very curious about the strength of the Yellow River's foremost. Let us fulfill this pact!"Jiang Wang took off his straw cape, and first said: "I presume upon you."He then pressed his hand back, closing the courtyard gate, and then clenched his five fingers, further isolating the sound of this place.Thereafter, even if the courtyard shook and the earth moved, no sound would be heard from outside.Jiang Wang then lightly tapped his foot, causing a small stone to be dislodged, flying up into the air."The outside should not hear any sound," he said. "When the stone falls, I shall request guidance from Brother Yi."Yi Tang calmly observed all of this, only spreading his hands and saying: "Please."A small stone, about the size of a grain of rice, when it fell, its speed was fast, its sound very faint.But in the eyes of the strong, it was slow, and in the ears of the strong, it was loud.That was the slight piercing sound as it cut through the air.Yet it could surge and swell in the auditory perception.Tiny as a mosquito or ant, shaking like a mountain flood!Jiang Wang, within the time of the Auditory Immortal state, felt the vastness of sound.The stone landed.The battle began simultaneously.Yi Tang pushed his open hands forward, and the air between the two of them became a wall.A wall that grew thicker and heavier, increasingly solid, as if being dragged by a galloping steed, crushing forward with an unstoppable momentum.A line was drawn between heaven and earth, sharp and decisive.As if because of this sword, heaven and earth were thus divided.And the human world was divided into upper and lower.Only then was there that, and only then was there this.Of course, it also represented a severed head and a life extinguished.The sword was already horizontal, the sword qi had just passed.That solid and dense wall of air was thus easily split open, and then collapsed in an instant.In that almost translucent state for a moment, one could see it being cut in half like a block of tofu, the cut surface overturning...Exploding into a chaotic mass of air.No, that's not right.Something was still wrong...Boom! The sound of the stone landing.Swish! The sound of the long sword being unsheathed.Bang! The sound of the air wall collapsing and exploding.This sound...Boom... Swish... Bang!All of this had already ended.Why were these sounds still continuing, still echoing?The moment he realized something was wrong, Jiang Wang's ears immediately showed an jade color, and in the next instant, receded like retreating soldiers!What he cultivated was the Auditory Immortal Sutra, what he comprehended was the Auditory Immortal state.In the world of sound, he was like a ruler or emperor, controlling everything, summoning all sounds to his court.But what if all the vassals coming to court were stronger than the one receiving the court?Virtue not matching status, there will be disaster.The Auditory Immortal state was directly burst!This was something unprecedented!Up until now, among the opponents Jiang Wang had encountered, there were few with outstanding attainments in the path of sound.Even if there were, none had ever surpassed his Auditory Immortal state.After all, this "nineteen breaths hence" was based on the Auditory Immortal Sutra of the Myriad Immortal Palace, and had also captured mysterious Daoist sounds in the Illusory Void Realm, its level was absolutely among the top tier.For example, Dou Zhao also had the Great Freedom Bitter Sea Righteous Sound, but it was completely useless against him.But today he met a true opponent.The focus of medical practitioners on observing, listening, questioning, and feeling the pulse was originally the foundation of cultivation. Yi Tang, as a true disciple of the Hall of Benevolence, his cultivation in the five senses was difficult to fathom in the same realm.Yi Tang's control over sound was the most extreme existence below this level.From the moment Jiang Wang used the sound-sealing technique, he had already seen the extent of Jiang Wang's control over the path of sound.Pushing air into a wall was just the opening move.The sound of the stone falling, Jiang Wang's own sound of drawing his sword, and even the sound of the air wall collapsing, were his main attacks!He accurately judged Jiang Wang's ability to control sound, pushed the first two sounds to their limit, colliding with Jiang Wang's instantaneous control over sound, and used the third sound to directly break the Auditory Immortal state, and from this, pressed forward, immediately delivering the decisive blow of this battle!The Hall of Benevolence was a great sect under heaven.He, Yi Tang, was the youngest Pavilion Physician of the Hall of Benevolence. In the entire Hall of Benevolence, below the Divine Sense realm, he was considered the best. How could he not have a little arrogance?Though he did not like fighting and killing, and did not wish to show off his bravery, if Jiang Wang came to him seeking a spar, of course he would also bring victory into his grasp.And it had to be a great victory!In the world of sound, a single tap is the integration of tens of thousands of collisions, a single syllable can be broken down into a grand song.Its sound enters the ears, completely occupying the auditory perception.Using this to expand and control the five senses, using this to collapse the body and mind!Jiang Wang drew his sword to cut the air wall, its sharpness unparalleled, but in the world of sound, Yi Tang was advancing like a broken bamboo.Sound erupting like an army advancing, the movement of sound aiming for a single decisive blow.And then, the Five Prisons fell!Eye Prison, Ear Prison, Nose Prison, Tongue Prison, Body Prison.Jiang Wang summoned the Five Sense Hells, intending to seal Yi Tang's five senses at the first opportunity.But...He simply could not seal them!Yi Tang's eyes held a sharp light, his ears were clear and translucent, his nostrils twitched, his lips were pressed together without speaking, but his five senses were free. His five senses all seemed to have spirits, exhibiting an ingenious similarity to the "Myriad Immortals" of the Myriad Immortal Palace, shattering the suddenly descending Five Prisons with the most forceful posture.Thus he only saw—At the soul level, Jiang Wang was coming alone.After the Five Sense Hells, immediately following was a soul attack.A long scroll was decisively unfurled.Jiang Wang's sword struck the Tongtian Palace!Like a scorching sun falling upon the palace wall.Even standing within the Tongtian Palace, even under the protection of the Tongtian Palace, Yi Tang felt his soul tremble.He couldn't help but be greatly alarmed!The soul strength that Jiang Wang displayed was too terrifying!Of course, with the protection of the Tongtian Palace, this was only an extremely subtle moment, probably less than one-thousandth of a breath.It likely wouldn't affect the battle at all.Probably... right?This fragmented thought flashed by.In his Tongtian Sea, a monstrous wave had already been stirred up!This body is bound.Super Grade Daoist Technique, Dragon and Tiger!Within, the sea roared like a dragon, without, the eight winds formed a tiger.The Dragon and Tiger formed a binding, intended to execute this punishment.Unlike others who encountered this Daoist technique for the first time, Yi Tang was a Pavilion Physician. His insight into the human body was unparalleled in the same realm. He immediately knew what his body was bound by, was familiar with the "pathology," and thus "treated the illness according to the symptoms"!Above his Five Mansion Sea, a green mansion appeared with a rumble.On the Tongtian Sea, a phantom image of a medicinal cauldron simultaneously condensed.That roaring and restless Tongtian Sea seemed to be the virtual fire boiling beneath the cauldron, and even above the medicinal cauldron, there was wisps of green smoke curling upwards.Thus, the storm in the Tongtian Sea calmed!His body actually emitted a medicinal fragrance.It cleared the ears, clarified the eyes, and allowed one to perceive his strength—a vibrant, harmless strength.The muscles and tendons outside his body, every texture seemed to become alive.As if they had their own vitality.A contraction and expansion.Thus, the Eight Winds were abruptly broken!However, there was no time to catch his breath.The moment his body gained freedom, Yi Tang only saw a shifting hand seal coming towards his face.Jiang Wang was still that Jiang Wang, but Jiang Wang's long sword was still in its scabbard.The sword that horizontally cut at the beginning of the battle, the sword that came forth in the world of the soul... it seemed like just a hazy illusionary dream.It had never begun, never happened.But this seal was incomparably real.Between his chest and abdomen, five scorching balls of light were shining.A phantom image of a single-legged divine bird, with wings flapping, was flying behind him!Heavenly Mansion Body, Divine Bird Bi Fang.Yi Tang had a massive premonition of danger, and immediately reacted. Within his Five Mansion Sea, two kinds of divine power light shone consecutively. Green and white colors wound around his body, forming a pearl-draped umbrella.Each pearl-like bead, its precious color resilient.All evil is kept out, all wickedness retreats.This was the Prime Pearl Umbrella, his strongest defensive technique, never broken by attacks below the Divine Sense realm.But almost at the same time, a sea of flame flowers instantly covered the ground, countless flame birds danced freely in the sky, flame meteors streaked across the long sky...The world of fire descended!Yi Tang looked up, seeing the high sky through the Prime Pearl Umbrella. A burning, magnificent and massive city of flames, from nothing to something, crashed down from above that fire world—The Prime Pearl Umbrella directly collapsed!Yi Tang's abilities in the five senses were naturally stronger, but he wouldn't have so easily defeated Jiang Wang's Auditory Immortal state.The reason why the Auditory Immortal state collapsed like a mountain falling was because Jiang Wang himself completely abandoned the struggle in the path of sound.The moment he realized this path was difficult to defeat his opponent, he chose to change the battlefield.He used the Five Sense Hells to deal with the situation, further strengthening the impression that he was determined to win the battle of the five senses, giving Yi Tang the most abundant confidence in his most proficient area.Then, he followed with a soul attack, unsettling his heart.Then, he followed with the Dragon and Tiger technique, slowing his body.Finally, it was the ultimate move.Jiang Wang instantly activated the Heavenly Mansion Body, used the Bi Fang seal to strengthen the Samadhi True Fire, and supported the Fire World with a massive amount of Samadhi True Fire.And within the Fire World, he brought down the Flame Flower Burning City!Blending hand seals, divine powers, combined divine powers, and Super Grade Daoist Techniques... all sorts of wondrous methods were melted into one furnace. When this composite technique descended, its power could no longer be described merely as terrifying.Even Jiang Wang himself could only complete it in the state of the Heavenly Mansion Body.For the first time, Yi Tang truly felt the crisis between life and death.He felt as if he was in an boundless world of fire, alone, overwhelmed by the entire world.Powerless, helpless, unable to resist!It was such a light sound.In fact, it was just a slender palm, closing its five fingers.Thus, the Flame City disappeared, the flame flowers withered, the flame birds became quiet, and the flame meteors also stopped...The boundless flame light dispersed.The world of fire dissipated in Jiang Wang's palm.Everything that was ultimately magnificent and ultimately violent seemed to have never appeared.Like an illusionary dream.