The Ancestors of the Three Sects hid within the mountains and seas, while the spirits and old ghosts vanished into the dust and smoke.
After the ancestors and elders of various sects and races were lucky enough to escape the Northern Borders, most chose to hide within the mortal realm or flee far to the south.
They were terrified that Xu Xian would settle scores later, fearing the Wendao Sword Sect would storm their mountain gates and implicate the innocent.
Of course,
There were also those who returned to their sects and activated their defensive formations, prepared for a desperate struggle and mutual destruction...
Outside the Wendao Sword Sect,
The youth's sword inquiry continued. Some unfortunate souls, heavily injured and unable to flee in time, were being picked off one by one by Xu Xian across the wilderness.
They had no power to fight back.
The sky was dark, and the wind blew smoke and dust in every direction.
The disciples within the Wendao Sword Sect witnessed the entire process. There was more than one secret observer among them; Tu Sisi was only one of many.
In a corner of the mountains and rivers,
High Priest Jin Qing had also arrived.
Standing beside her was Chi Ming.
The expressions on their faces were complex, filled with worry, shock, and a sense of relief.
They were relieved that the Demon Abyss had kept its composure and not participated in this chaotic battle.
It was a blessing in disguise.
As for the shock?
They thought that from this day forward, the entire Fanzhou would be shaken to its core.
Outside the Wendao Sword Sect, a youth had challenged the world, using the Thirteen Sword Forms to cut down every invading enemy.
Truly invincible in the world!
An absolute hegemon, a King of the Mortal Realm, had been born.
The student had surpassed the master;
His momentum and reputation were now enough to overshadow even the Li Taibai of yesteryear.
Jin Qing spoke cautiously, "He's truly a freak... completely invincible..."
Chi Ming had a sour look on his face as he said bitterly, "If our tribe's demon son reaches the demon god stage in the future, I wonder if she will be able to rival him?"
Jin Qing did not respond.
Chi Ming continued to himself, "Rumor has it that this Xu Xian has a ruthless temperament. When he does something, he either doesn't do it at all or he does it to the extreme. After today, he is invincible, and I fear the entire world will suffer. Although my demon race did not participate, it is difficult to remain unaffected in these troubled times. The future looks grim..."
Jin Qing knitted her brows and glanced at Chi Ming. "Uncle Ming, why ask what you already know?"
Chi Ming was puzzled.
Jin Qing didn't want to argue and said plainly, "He promised me that as long as he lives, as long as the Demon Abyss does not invade the Northern Borders, he will not move against the Demon Abyss."
Chi Ming shook his head and smiled, saying heartlessly, "People change."
A single contract or a promise was worthless in the face of the world's shifting tides.
Even a gentleman could not always keep his word.
Moreover,
This person,
From beginning to end, was never a gentleman, and could hardly even be considered a good person.
The furrowed lines between Jin Qing's brows deepened.
Indeed,
People change.
Promises?
Contracts?
They were nothing but empty talk.
How could anyone be convinced?
Just a moment ago, before Xu Xian emerged to challenge the world, she had been tempted more than once to join the chaotic battle and help wipe out the Wendao Sword Sect.
The reason she hadn't moved
Was not because she kept her promise, but only because she feared Xu Xian.
As it turned out,
Her fear was justified.
Xu Xian had won.
An unprecedentedly beautiful victory.
But what if Xu Xian had lost?
She would have certainly led the Demon Abyss to strike at the opportune moment. That was a certainty.
Since she couldn't even keep her own promise, how could she believe that Xu Xian would keep his?
The agreement between the two had been made on a whim, a choice she made out of necessity.
Whether it was Jin Qing
Or Xu Xian,
The two of them represented more than just themselves; they represented two races. They had their own positions that they could not change.
The interests of the race were above all else, and naturally above the individual.
At their level,
How could they still act on impulse?
Acting solely for profit
And waiting for the right moment was the norm.
All endurance and compromise were for the sake of one day rising again and standing at the peak.
For the sake of the Demon Abyss, she could stab Xu Xian in the back.
For the sake of the Wendao Sword Sect, why couldn't Xu Xian break his promise?
Even a three-year-old child understood this logic.
She didn't argue with Chi Ming, only saying in a meaningful tone:
"It would be wonderful if he could actually become your son-in-law..."
The bond between Xu Xian and the Demon Abyss was still too shallow.
Chi Ming said with a hint of helplessness, "I want that too, but he has to actually be interested, doesn't he?"
He knew exactly how much his daughter was worth.
Jin Qing said seriously, "Nothing is impossible for a willing heart."
Chi Ming rolled his eyes. "Then you do it. Don't you have a daughter too?"
Jin Qing thought about it.
Jin Yu and Xu Xian...
It didn't seem impossible.
However,
She let out a sigh and said, "He is a sword cultivator."
"Hmm?"
Jin Qing added, "The sword immortals of this mortal realm are the most fickle of all."
Chi Ming clicked his tongue but ultimately said nothing more.
They both knew very well
That a person like Xu Xian could not be trapped by emotion.
And it was even more impossible for him to compromise or give up the entire world for the sake of loving one person.
...
That sword inquiry
Lasted from the break of dawn until the sun was high in the sky. The thousand miles of mountains and rivers outside the mountain gate were reduced to ruins.
One giant beast after another fell within the ravines, entering an eternal sleep.
The demons of the North Sea fled.
The beasts of the East Desolation vanished.
The saints and spirits of the Central Plains were nowhere to be found.
A universal crusade,
Three days of bitter fighting,
Half a day of collapse,
The victory was decided.
After Xu Xian cleared out the remaining enemies, he stopped the pursuit.
It wasn't because he was being merciful.
Rather,
The newly sealed Sky Gate was still unstable, and the awakened sword spirits were also unstable. He could not stray too far yet.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason!
There was also what Li Taibai had said.
Whether it was the creatures of Fanzhou or that Twilight Emperor, they were only temporary enemies, not lifelong rivals.
His opponent
Was not in the mortal realm,
But in the heavens.
Grudges and debts are settled with a single sword. A person must always look up and move forward...
The dead cannot be brought back to life.
Blood debts are paid in blood.
What was the point of getting entangled further?
Even if he charged out
And slaughtered the entire world,
So what?
It would still be the same.
He had used his sword to challenge the world, and within the lands of Fanzhou, he was now invincible.
The world was at peace.
Because he was strong enough, he had no fear of petty ants.
He thought,
If Master were still here, he would likely do the same...
The rampaging sword intent fell silent.
The howling gale ceased its charge.
The clouds dispersed and the mist faded,
And as the sunlight spilled down,
Within the brilliant curtain of light, the youth stood alone in the mortal realm, with the green mountains below and the azure clouds above.
The heavens, the earth, the mountains, and the rivers all became his backdrop.
He was at the center.
Like a vision of peerless grace.
A deity from a painting.
Standing alone and unparalleled.
At the mountain gate of the Wendao Sword Sect, the disciples gazed at that figure from afar, mesmerized and ecstatic...
Tu Kongkong's face was full of worship. "My master is so handsome."
Xia Chu Yi said triumphantly, "Of course he is. Look whose uncle he is..."
Yao Xiaoxiao was happy from the bottom of her heart. "The Little Grand-Uncle is finally invincible in the world."
Lu Yuan said sourly, "Tch... anyone standing in that light would look handsome. I'd be the same. It's just that I can't beat those saints..."
It was just like how anyone standing under a cherry blossom tree would make a young man's heart flutter; it was the same principle.
The three of them sighed, their eyes full of disdain.
Lu Yuan said coolly, "It's the truth..."
...
Li Qingshan said, "Congratulations. Now, you really don't have to be the Sect Master anymore."
Ye Xianyu said with a beaming smile, "The joy is shared, the joy is shared..."
Li Qingshan gave her a look of contempt and bragged, "My eye for talent is good, right?"
Ye Xianyu nodded vigorously. "A great pick!"
The various senior brothers and sisters had different expressions, but most were filled with joy.
The Wendao Sword Sect
Had a successor.
Internal troubles and external threats were completely eradicated.
Of course, some were worried.
For instance, the elder responsible for compiling the sect's chronicles was having a hard time. He had a troubled expression,
Muttering in a low voice, "This... how should I write this in the Immortal Pavilion Register?"
Hearing this, Jiang Wanyin offered a solution,
"Simple!"
"Just write:"
"At the end of that autumn,"
"Xu Xian, at the age of thirty, challenged the world."
"Victory!"
The man was stunned. "That simple?"
Lei Yunche said, "Yeah, isn't that too simple?"
Ruan Hao gave a merry laugh. "Then add another line: Apprenticed under Ruan Hao, hahaha!"
Qiaofu complained, "What does that have to do with today's events?"
Ruan Hao: "...."
After hesitating for a long time, Ruan Hao said righteously, "A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime."
Li Qingshan chimed in, "Then add another line: Li Qingshan was the one who picked him up..."
Wen Qingxue said for no apparent reason, "Wen Qingxue once lent him money..."
Zhou Tao bragged, "I once cooked for the Little Grand-Uncle."
"......."
Everyone was talking at once, and it was quite lively.
Lin Qianqian pinched the corner of her clothes and muttered in a low voice, "Well, I even kept him back then..."
Everyone's gaze instantly shifted toward her.
Their looks were meaningful.
It was the scent of gossip...
Lin Qianqian's small face turned red, and she laughed sheepishly:
"Just kidding!"
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