From the top of Qingping Mountain, you can't see the Hanzhou City and the Lanyue River in the distance, and you can only see the light blue ice river with a shimmering light, slowly meandering to the north. The red sunset on the horizon, the quiet sky overhead, the verdant hills underfoot, the gray castle in the distance, and the blue river below the mountains are all harmoniously intertwined to form a beautiful picture.

Tianyao suddenly felt that his heart had realized, and immediately sat down on the spot, closed his eyes, and constantly sketched in his mind the harmonious natural beauty that Fang had just seen. Harmony, isn't the scene I saw just now the colors of nature perfectly harmonious and compatible? Tianyao slowly realized in his heart.

The state of the day attracted the attention of others. As soon as Zhu Xiaomin wanted to speak, he saw Lu Baifeng make a silent gesture. This kind of opportunity for an epiphany is very rare, and it can greatly deepen the soul's perception, so that it can quickly improve its cultivation.

The top of Qingping Mountain is relatively flat and suitable for resting. So, everyone decided to spend the night on the top of Qingping Mountain, and by the way, wait for Tianyao to wake up from his epiphany.

At night, the sky seen from the top of Qingping Mountain is exceptionally clear, the crescent moon is bent, the stars are dotted, the breeze is slow, and the sound of the forest is rustling.

Tianxiao lay on the grass, looking up at the bright starry sky, and recalled the magnificent three worlds described by the Black Sword Patriarch that night. "The Great Equatorium...... Yuyu Realm...... Qingwei Realm ...... Even in the lowest-ranking Great Red Realm, I was just an unknown Harmony Period Immortal Cultivator...... I don't know when I will reach the peak of my cultivation. It's been a long time since I've practiced knives, and I don't know if I've regressed...... Brother Yao's epiphany this time should be able to reach the late stage of reconciliation, and I may have to practice hard for a few days...... After the late stage of harmony, it will be the Yuanying realm, and I don't know if the Xuanli in my body will be able to smoothly gather qi into an infant in the future......"

Xiao Liying came to Tianxiao's side, sat down gently, saw that Tianxiao was looking at the starry sky, and asked him, "What are you thinking?" ”

Tianxiao came back to his senses and saw Xiao Liying with a gentle face beside him, and his heart couldn't help but throb for a while, and then smiled brightly: "I miss you." ”

Xiao Liying said softly: "When did your skin thicken?"

Tianxiao stood up and pulled Xiao Liying up: "The night is so beautiful, let's go to the side of the mountain to have a look." ”

Xiao Liying responded, but she was reluctant to let go of Tianxiao's hand, so she took it and walked on the path together.

Tianyao, who hadn't moved for a few hours, suddenly opened his eyes, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, his eyes were blazing, he took out his Guding sword from the wooden box and practiced.

Lu Baifeng looked at it and nodded continuously, and said to Tang Junhe and Zhu Xiaomin: "It seems that Tianyao has successfully improved his cultivation through this epiphany. The cultivation time is still short, and he has reached the late stage of harmony, and he really lives up to the name of genius. ”

Zhu Xiaomin asked in wonder, "Senior Brother Lu, is an epiphany an inevitable way to improve the realm? Why haven't I had an epiphany until now?"

"No," Lu Baifeng explained, "In the process of cultivating immortals, epiphany is just a process of quickly experiencing the soul to improve the cultivation realm. It depends on the time and place, and it can be met but not sought. If you have never had an epiphany, relying on meditation to slowly comprehend the nature of heaven and earth can also achieve the purpose of experiencing the soul, but it will take a long time. ”

Zhu Xiaomin nodded, looking at Tianyao, who was dancing the sword in forgetfulness: "I really envy him." Why didn't I have such good luck?"

Tang Junhe said: "I want to add one more thing about what Senior Brother Lu said. Although the epiphany depends on the time and place, it is also tied to the person. Only when you think about cultivation regularly in your mind can you seize the opportunity of an epiphany. If you're just thinking about playing all day long, it's hard to have an epiphany. ”

Zhu Xiaomin disagreed: "It's rare to come down the mountain to play once, where can you still take care of the things you want to cultivate? After returning to the sect, you have time to cultivate, so let's relax happily now." ”

After a while, Tianxiao and Xiao Liying came back from the mountain road. Seeing that Tianyao was practicing swords in the distance, Tianxiao was overjoyed and asked, "Brother Yao, has he reached the late stage of harmony?"

Xiao Liying's eyes were full of approval: "It seems to be." I think it took me seven and a half years of cultivation to reach the late stage of harmony, and Tianyao's cultivation speed is really amazing. ”

At this time, Tianyao closed his momentum and said happily to everyone: "I can feel that I have reached the late stage of harmony. Brother Xiao, come, let's have a fight!"

Tianxiao's interest also came up: "Okay, let me see how much gap there is between the middle and late stages of Hehe." With that, he picked up the pine sword and fought with Tianyao in the open space on the top of Qingping Mountain.

"You two don't have to work as hard as you did at the martial arts, stop at the point!" Zhu Xiaomin was slightly worried.

"Haha, junior sister, don't worry. The two of them are just competing, not competing, so there is no need to worry. Let's just take a good look. Lu Baifeng said with a smile.

Tang Junhe patted Zhu Xiaomin's shoulder: "If you look closely, you may be able to comprehend something, and it will also be beneficial to your own cultivation." ”

Zhu Xiaomin carefully watched every movement of the two. Tianyao's sword speed is slightly faster than Tianxiao's, Tianxiao is on the defensive most of the time, and only occasionally attacks a few swords, but they are easily defused by Tianyao.

Tianyao's sword moves were also more subtle than before, and Tianxiao felt that the power coming from the Guding Sword was much heavier. Some sword moves are strong and heavy, some sword moves are as fast as lightning, in the rapid attack, sometimes the sword momentum will suddenly become soft, Tianxiao feels that his loose sword seems to be sticky, always changing with Tianyao's sword momentum, completely in a passive situation.

Rigid, swift and fast, soft, continuous and long-lasting. The pace is sometimes as heavy as a mountain, and the steps are steady, and sometimes it is as light as a feather, fluttering and moving. When the sword move is violent, it seems that the sky is falling apart, and the sword light is Huohuo; when the sword move is soft, it is like the wind passing through the forest, and the sword shadow is repeated. It's really hard to deal with such a combination of rigidity and softness.

While defending, Tianxiao was thinking about how to crack the offensive. Tianyao's sword momentum is integrated, connected from end to end, rigid and soft, heavy and light, fast and slow, light and shadow alternate with each other, forming a perfect cycle. "When the sword is strong, I can't fight with it, and I use light moves to resolve it. When the sword is soft, I must not follow its momentum, but must burst out with strength and cut off its continuous momentum. Okay, I'll be the opposite with you, with softness and rigidity, and with rigidity!" Tianxiao thought to himself.

Tianxiao's response method is really effective, although it can't immediately reverse the offensive and defensive situation, but the defense is no longer as difficult as before. Lu Baifeng's eyes lit up as he watched the battle, and he secretly exclaimed: "Good boy! I found the best way to parry so quickly! Tianyao's moves and steps are also smooth and smooth in one go." As early as in the sect, I had heard that these two brothers had excellent bones and geniuses, and they really lived up to their reputation. ”

Tianxiao felt that he was dealing with it more and more easily, and gradually evolved from the original obvious disadvantage to being evenly matched with Tianyao. So he increased the intensity of the attack and increased the tempo of the attack.

The Loose Pattern Sword and the Gu Ding Sword kept colliding, Zhu Xiaomin was dazzled, and she was puzzled: "Why did Brother Tianxiao suddenly become more powerful? Now the two seem to be on equal terms." ”

Lu Baifeng said in surprise: "Tianxiao, this kid...... Enlightenment with war, entering the late stage of peace!"

"What?" Zhu Xiaomin's eyes widened, "What does 'Enlightenment with Battle' mean?"

"It was the sudden inspiration in the battle that greatly deepened the understanding of cultivating immortals. This is also a form of epiphany. It's really jealous, you can improve your cultivation casually. Tang Junhe said with a hint of envy.

Xiao Liying didn't say anything, just looked at Tianxiao happily. In fact, she was most worried that Tianxiao was young and unstable, and that falling in love with her would affect the progress of cultivating immortals. Now Tianxiao has also ascended to the late stage of harmony after Tianyao a short time later, which is undoubtedly a big surprise.

Soon, Tianxiao and Tianyao stopped to close their hands.

Tianyao slapped Tianxiao's shoulder: "Congratulations, it's been the late stage of reconciliation so soon, and it takes less time than my epiphany meditation." What did you realize when you were fighting with me just now?"

Tian Xiao thought about it carefully: "At first, I was just trying to think of ways to crack your offensive. Rigid with softness, and softness with rigidity...... Later, it occurred to me that rigidity and softness, lightness and weight, speed and slowness, light and shadow, are both opposing and interdependent. Isn't this the essence of the sword moves of the Harmony Period? At that time, I entered a very wonderful state, as if the only immortal sword in the world was in your hands and mine. ”

Zhu Xiaomin walked up to the two of them, with a look of resentment on his face: "Don't bring such a shock." Brother Tianyao is alone, and even Brother Tianxiao will reach the late stage of reconciliation so soon. No, both of you will fight with me, and I will also have to fight to enlightenment!"

"Do you think that you can achieve enlightenment by saying that you can achieve enlightenment? It is only to a certain extent that this kind of epiphany can occur. The two of them have gone through the experience of the Taiqing Martial Arts Association and the Swamp Treasure Hunt, and it is normal for them to have an epiphany and improve their realm. Xiao Liying said with a smile.

"When I go back this time, Master will definitely be very happy, and then he will ask me to learn from the two of you and cultivate diligently...... Hey, it's really hard to be a junior sister of two geniuses. Zhu Xiaomin sighed with vicissitudes of life.

"Come on, Xiaomin, you're amazing at this speed. In comparison, my pressure is great, the senior brother has already thrown me off a realm, and a few of you are about to catch up again, my senior sister is a little weak-hearted...... No, this time I want to go back to the mountain and practice in retreat. Tang Junhe said.

Lu Baifeng couldn't cry or laugh: "Okay, okay, you geniuses don't praise each other in front of me." I've been cultivating for forty years to get to this level, what did I say?" his words made everyone laugh.

Late at night, when the rest of the people were meditating, Tianxiao and Tianyao came to the edge of the cliff and stood side by side, looking at the blue ice river that was somewhat white in the moonlight in the distance.

"Brother Xiao, it seems that we have lived up to the expectations of our father and mother back then, and the cultivation of immortals has been going smoothly all the way. ”

"yes. But it's still far from enough, the murderer of my father and mother can't be found for a long time, and I feel aggrieved when I think of this. Tianxiao clenched his fists and said hatefully.

Tianyao comforted: "Grandpa still hasn't given up the investigation, and one day it will come to light." By the way, I didn't dare to ask you in front of everyone just now, how is your sword cultivation?"

Tianxiao's hand shook, and a long black knife appeared.

"This is ......" Tianyao looked surprised, he didn't see where Tianxiao pulled out the knife from at all. The blade is pitch black and does not reflect any light. Although the Black Knife Patriarch told Tianxiao not to pass on the secret, Tianxiao trusted his brother, so he told the wonderful experience of that night five years ago. Tianyao was naturally shocked when he heard this, and at the same time he was happy for his brother's adventure.

"This knife is called Split Void, it can drip blood to recognize the master, and it is usually collected in the body......" Before the words were finished, Tianxiao seemed to suddenly feel something and closed his eyes. After a while, he opened his eyes and said happily: "It turns out that the cultivation of the sword and the cultivation of the sword are at the level of Qi and Spirit, and the realm is the same. Just now, my realm of sword cultivation has also reached the late stage of harmony. ”

"If you practice sword and sword practice at the same time, there will be no conflict?" Tianyao asked worriedly.

Tian Xiaoyao nodded: "At least not yet." The realm of sword cultivation and sword cultivation are all the same, and now not only do they not conflict, but they also have mutual integration. But when I reach the Yuanying realm, I don't know what will happen. ”

"Hope everything goes well. ”

......

Early the next morning, fog rose on the mountain, and the humidity was very strong, and everyone was wet. All the scenery below the mountain is shrouded in a white mist. The group descended from the north side of the mountain road, and on the way they met several farmers who had risen early to collect firewood and cut grass, and they all watched in amazement as the group walked down from the top of the mountain in rags, and the top of the mountain was wet and cold at night, and very few people would spend the night there.

Coming down from Qingping Mountain is the Blue Ice Bay, which is a river bay where the water of the Blue Ice River rushes out at the foot of the mountain, and if you don't look carefully, you will think it is a lake. There are several villages along the river bend, where simple fishermen live who make a living from fishing.

It took an hour to descend the mountain, the sun had already risen, and the fog had largely cleared. The group walked into a fishing village, where they prepared to take a boat down the Blue Glacier River. Strangely, the fishing village is deserted, and every house is closed.

"What kind of customs are in this fishing village? It's almost time, and everyone is still sleeping?" Zhu Xiaomin was puzzled.

Tianxiao said: "Impossible. Fishermen are the most industrious, and morning and evening are good times for fishing, so it is estimated that they have already gone out by boat. ”

Tianyao looked at the houses on both sides of the road and wondered, "But women don't go fishing." It stands to reason that they should be cooking for their husbands who are out fishing. You see, not only is there no smoke, but even the front of the door is full of dust, and it looks like the houses have been empty for some days. ”

Xiao Liying pointed to the river in the distance: "There seems to be a person on the boat over there, let's go and ask." ”

When he arrived at the water's edge, Lu Baifeng stepped forward and asked respectfully, "This ...... Uncle, we want to take your boat to Hanzhou City, I don't know how much it costs?"

At the bow of the boat sat a middle-aged man, smoking a dry cigarette. Hearing Lu Baifeng's question, he turned his head to look at it, and was immediately happy: "You are also an uncle yourself, and you still call me uncle?"

Lu Baifeng smiled embarrassedly.

The middle-aged man turned his head: "Hanzhou, don't give me any amount of money!"

"Why is that?"

The middle-aged man knocked his pipe on the side of the ship: "A few of you are from Yanzhou, right? If you go to Hanzhou half a month ago, you only need to pay twenty copper coins for each person." But now, you can't go at a sky-high price. This is equivalent to not saying it.

Tang Junhe asked: "Uncle, listen to what you mean, could it be that what happened in the last half a month?"

The middle-aged man's expression suddenly became very gloomy, and he gently spit out a puff of smoke: "In the past half a month, I have gone to the waterways of Hanzhou to make trouble with water ghosts, I advise you to go by land." ”

"Water ghost?" As soon as Xiao Liying heard this, he immediately clenched Tianxiao's hand. The girl's family is most afraid of ghosts, monsters, or something.

"Uncle, what's going on?" Lu Baifeng asked.

The middle-aged man sighed and said slowly: "Although we are a small fishing village here, because we rely on the Blue Ice Bay, there are many fish and shrimp, and our lives are quite rich. But a few months ago, the fish and shrimp here began to decrease significantly. In the past, a person would go out twice in the morning and evening, and the fish he caught would be enough to eat for five or six days, and the rest would be transported to Yanzhou to be sold. Later, however, the fish caught in one net became less and less, and the fishing time became longer and longer. Until more than half a month ago, a net was cast, and there were very few fish caught, even if they didn't go home for six hours from morning to night, and the fish they caught were only enough to eat a few meals, and every household complained, I don't know what the reason was. ”

The middle-aged man took a puff of his cigarette and continued: "Later, something happened. The boy went out to fish, and he went out of the boat at the end of the day, and he didn't come home at night. Dunzi's mother was in a hurry, and Dunzi's father went to Yanzhou again, so she had to ask other people in the village if they had seen Dunzi. Later, the village chief personally took the group out of the boat, circled along the Blue Ice Bay, and continued to look for the pier in the direction of the Lanyue River along the Blue Ice River, and searched for a whole night. In the end, only the boat with the pier was found, but the man was gone......"

Hearing this, Xiao Liying shuddered slightly. Tianxiao shook her hand and asked, "Uncle, could it be that Dunzi was swept away by the waves when he was fishing?"

The middle-aged man shook his head slowly: "I know the water nature of Dunzi, I grew up in the water since I was a child, and the waves of the Lanyue River more than three feet high can't sweep him away, let alone the blue ice river with such a slow current? At that time, everyone couldn't think of where Dunzi would go, and they could only guess like you, so they went into the water to look for Dunzi, but after all, they found nothing." In this way, the pier has not come back until now, and it is estimated that it is gone. His mother was so grief-stricken that she quietly committed suicide by hanging herself from a beam a few nights ago. ”

"Uncle, does the disappearance of Dunzi have anything to do with the water ghost?" asked Tianyao.

The middle-aged man poured another bucket of tobacco from his cigarette purse, and after beating it with flint, he took a sip and replied, "Yes, definitely." Since the accident, people in the village have disappeared one after another. It's all the same as when the pier disappeared, the people are gone, and only an empty boat is left, slowly drifting back to the shallows. The same is true for several nearby fishing villages. It was rumored that the water ghosts had dragged people into the water and carried them away. reported to the government, but people didn't believe it at all. As a result, no one dares to go out to fish. However, without fishing, the people in the village could not survive, so they had to move out of this place one by one. Now, I'm the only one left in the village. Alas......"

"Then uncle, why don't you leave?" Tang Junhe was puzzled.

"Let's go?" the middle-aged man smiled bitterly, "I have nowhere to go." I'm the father of the dunzi. When I came back from Yanzhou, the child was gone. Two days ago, his mother also left me and left, only I was the only one, where do you think I can go? This fishing village is the place where I was born and raised, I peed and played with mud on this land when I was a child, learned to fish with my grandfather and father, and when I grew up, I married Dunzi and his mother in this village, gave birth to Dunzi, and taught him to fish. I can't bear to leave here......"

When they heard this, they all sighed.

The middle-aged man said again: "It's okay to stay here, Dunzi and his mother are gone, and it's not interesting for me to live alone." I was looking forward to meeting the water ghost that day, and seeing what it was that had taken the pier away. Let's go, go from the dry road to Hanzhou. With that, he stood up, untied the ropes, and looked ready to leave the ship.