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墨書 Inktalez
If you see this line, it is probably Jinjiang drawing again. Yang Zhen nodded, and the disciple led them along the flowing water into the cave behind.
The stream seeped underground, leaving only the sound of water flowing in their ears.
Inside the cave, there was no sunlight, and it was quite dim, but it was not completely dark. A faint blue-green glow covered the damp stone walls, illuminating the interior.
The disciple brought them to a stone door covered in runes and said, "This is it."
Yang Zhen took out the half of the jade disc given to him by Qing Yao from his pocket, and combined it with his own half, placing them on either side of the mechanism in the center of the stone door.
This door required both elders' tokens to be opened simultaneously.
The tadpole-like runes drawn on the door suddenly emitted light, and in the next moment, with a creaking sound, the stone door slowly opened to both sides. Yang Zhen stepped inside, followed closely by Spirit Sword Destiny.
As soon as they entered the inner chamber, the ground trembled slightly, and a barrier rose behind them, isolating the inner chamber from the outside world.
Spirit Sword Destiny looked around.
Most of Xiaoyao Sect's wealth was hidden in this Stone Chamber. The room was filled with dazzling treasures, exuding rich spiritual energy, among which many were extremely valuable items. However, no matter how precious they were, he did not show even a hint of greed.
"That must be the Ice Soul Coffin, right?" Yang Zhen said.
He pointed to an object placed in the corner of the room, from which a chilling aura emanated.
Spirit Sword Destiny didn't even glance at it.
His gaze wandered among the rows of shelves... Suddenly, a look of joy flashed in his eyes, and with a swift movement, he had taken a Glazed Box into his hands.
Through the ice crystal-like walls of the box, one could see that it contained a deep emerald-colored Pearl. The soft glow emitted by the Pearl gradually expanded and then slowly contracted, cycling back and forth, as if breathing evenly.
This was what he had painstakingly sought to obtain.
The hand of Spirit Sword Destiny could hardly refrain from trembling.
He cautiously opened the box and placed the Azure Essence Pill into the already prepared Jade Box, then tossed the Liuli Box onto the ground, producing a crisp sound.
He repeated the process, taking out two other types of spiritual materials, but after retrieving them, he casually tossed them into the Cosmic Bag, unlike how he cherished the Azure Essence Pill.
"What... are you doing?" Yang Zhen asked in confusion, "Aren't you... here to take the Ice Soul Coffin?"
His voice had become intermittent without him realizing it.
His appearance had also changed. He no longer resembled Yang Zhen much, nor did he look like the ordinary boy Wu Xin he once embodied; he was gradually becoming less human.
The true form of Shenmo was an formless chaos. His body was slowly reverting back to chaos... starting from his feet and continuously spreading upward.
"What... is happening? Why can't I... control my spiritual power..."
Wu Xin finally realized something was wrong with him.
A rare look of surprise appeared on his wooden face.
Spirit Sword Destiny After finishing his own matters, he glanced at him and said, "This Stone Chamber was built thirteen hundred years ago, during a time when demons roamed the human realm, slaughtering countless lives. The founder of this place, the Xiaoyao Sect patriarch, set up a restriction; any demon that intrudes here to plunder treasures will lose their sanity and die. This is because the minds of demon races are weaker, making it much easier to shatter their Divine Consciousness than that of humans.
A thousand years have passed, and although the power of this restriction has diminished, no one has been able to break it... Even Nine-Tailed Fox Qing Yao would become disoriented upon entering this place. Otherwise, do you think she would refuse to come along?"
"You... you knew all along?" Wu Xin said in disbelief, "You did this on purpose... but you clearly have the token of Young Master!"
If it weren't for the token of Lord of the Shimmering Demon Shaoyuan, he wouldn't have come to assist Spirit Sword Destiny.
"That's right, what I showed you was indeed Shaoyuan's token, which I borrowed from him. You have never met him and don't know what kind of person your Young Master is. Do you think he would care about the life or death of a mere Shenmo?"
Spirit Sword Destiny spoke calmly while raising his hand to press against his chest. He pinched three fingers together and slowly pulled out a transparent needle from his heart.
The needle was still stained with fresh blood from his heart, held between his pale fingers, a shocking sight.
As soon as it was pulled from his chest, his aura changed dramatically. The surging spiritual energy even caused his black hair to fly up. The ribbon that had originally tied his hair suddenly snapped and fell gently to the ground.
At this moment, he had finally regained his true power—
His strength surpassed that of Carefree Sect Leader Ye Zhiqiu!
"You..." Wu Xin let out a painful scream, "Why... ah..."
He had transformed back into his original form; within his chaotic and indistinct body, countless fierce whirlpools and torrents erupted.
His spiritual intelligence gradually faded away as he fell into madness.
In the end, he still did not understand what Spirit Sword Destiny was truly aiming for, or why he would harm himself. After years of obsessively probing into human nature, he was still powerless against the complexities of the human heart.
All that remained in his mind was a single thought: kill, kill, kill.
Completely annihilate everything that was alive!
Wu Xin's body rapidly expanded, and the Chaos opened its massive mouth, ready to devour Spirit Sword Destiny.
Spirit Sword Destiny remained unfazed and took a step back.
An illusory shell separated from him, coalescing into a solid form, becoming another Spirit Sword Destiny. It had the same face, wore the same clothes, and even held a glimmer of spirit in its eyes.
This avatar he created was instantly swallowed by the mouth of Chaos and disappeared without a trace.
Fresh blood dripped from the Chaos, followed by tattered white garments floating out.
"Bang!"
A violent collision sound echoed from deep within the cave.
When the members of Xiaoyao Sect arrived, the second barrier of the Stone Chamber had been shattered by the rampaging Wu Xin.
The situation inside was laid bare before them.
The treasures on the shelves were protected by the barrier and remained intact. However, several empty boxes were carelessly discarded on the ground.
Exhausted of power, Wu Xin transformed back into a mass of chaos, resembling a pool of murky rainwater.
Shenmo cannot die; once the spiritual energy is depleted, it returns to ignorance. It would take several hundred years of cultivation to regain even a semblance of consciousness.
"Shenmo?"
"It is Shenmo that has infiltrated to steal treasures!" The crowd spoke in a flurry.
"Who exactly is this person transformed by Shenmo?" Finally, someone raised this question.
Elder Qing Yao of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan also wore a grave expression. She closed her eyes and released her Divine Consciousness. After a while, she opened her eyes and said, "I see that the real Elder Yang Zhen is still in a deep slumber in the Alchemy Room at Baopu Peak. What we saw earlier was the transformation of this Shenmo. It stole several spiritual materials that could greatly enhance one's power but did not anticipate that there were restrictions set up here to slay demons. It's a pity..."
Spirit Sword Destiny also concealed its form and aura, standing at a distance while listening to her conclusion. There were indeed still doubts about this matter—when was Yang Zhen replaced? Was his direct disciple complicit?
However, since Lin Mo was already dead, and with Shenmo as the primary culprit, there was usually little pursuit regarding the deceased.
The crowd suddenly fell silent.
A person who had been quite talkative remained completely quiet from beginning to end.
"Xu Shidi!"
He trembled upon hearing Qing Yao's words, and the last glimmer of hope in his eyes extinguished.
No one could stop him as he rushed into the Stone Chamber, bent down, and gently picked up a tattered white garment.
Crimson blood stained his hands.
"Ah—" he suddenly let out a heart-wrenching scream.
Everyone looked at him, not daring to speak.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The blood quickly soaked through his collar.
"Why... why? Ah—" The pain on his face made many disciples unable to bear to look any longer.
Why... after just a brief separation, is there an eternal parting?
He had promised that this time he would protect him even at the cost of his life. In the blink of an eye, the promises made, the words exchanged, and the memories lost that were tied to that person all turned into illusions. Why was fate so cruel, so cold?
He coughed up another mouthful of blood, and Xu Xiaofei's complexion rapidly turned pale; his internal injuries seemed even worse than Han Yue's.
Spirit Sword Destiny felt a tremor in his heart. He had always thought Xu Xiaofei resembled someone; now it seemed even more so.
How could this be possible?
If anyone were to be compared to that person, it would only be like comparing a sparrow to a roc, or a firefly to the bright moon...
Even if he firmly rejected it, Xu Xiaofei's face gradually overlapped with the one in his memory. If he had died before the Master, would the Master be so heartbroken?
A beam of white light suddenly flew out from the clothing in Xu Xiaofei's hand and into his embrace.
He was startled as he caught the jade pendant at his chest, staring at it in a daze. After a moment, as if he suddenly remembered something, he took a deep breath. A smile, filled with tears and dirt, appeared on his face.
A fire reignited in his eyes, and his expression suddenly became resolute.
Spirit Sword Destiny observed every move he made.
At this moment, knowing there was no need to continue watching, it turned around and instantly flew out of the cave.
He seemed to still hear a cheerful voice by his ear saying, "I think my flesh must taste better than most people’s because I live happily every day."
Xu Xiaofei's demeanor while speaking was still vivid in his mind.
Spirit Sword Destiny sighed softly. How many people in this world can live as they originally hoped?
In the blink of an eye, he had flown out of Xiaoyao Sect.
He continued flying until he reached the sky above Xuancheng, swooping down into an ordinary-looking household.
What greeted him was a vast surge of spiritual power.
As soon as they faced each other, Spirit Sword Destiny knew that this power was beyond his ability to resist. He spun in mid-air like a paper kite, dissipating the force and dodging two subsequent attacks before landing.
"Yan, you have regressed." A voice said.
He saw someone sitting under a tree by the pond, with a calm expression, sleeves hanging low, leaning against the wide back of a chair, as if they hadn't moved at all.
That imposing technique truly came from this person.
It was him...
How could he be here?
"Subordinate pays respects to the Master."
Spirit Sword Destiny walked in front of the person and was about to kneel down when his arm was firmly supported by that person, preventing him from kneeling any further.
He lowered his gaze and did not look at Shen Jinglan, but Shen Jinglan was carefully observing him and suddenly spoke, "You look just like you did the first time you killed someone."
"Subordinate does not understand what the Master means."
Shen Jinglan smiled slightly, revealing a look of reminiscence: "The first time you killed someone, we were being chased and had taken refuge in the mountains. I misused my energy and couldn't move at all. So you killed a hunter who stumbled upon us because you couldn't let him leave alive and expose our hiding place. You were still young then, and it was your first time; that hunter had no grievances with us... After killing him, you felt guilty for several nights and couldn't sleep soundly. Your expression now is just like it was back then."
Spirit Sword Destiny still kept his head down and did not raise it: "The Master must be mistaken. I have done too many unkind and unjust things; how could I still feel guilt like I did back then?"
"Precisely because of that, I find it strange... Who has made you feel remorse?"
Spirit Sword Destiny pressed his lips tightly together and did not answer. After a long while, he said, "How could the Master come here? Mo Yanchun seems to have passed; your body needs more rest and shouldn't be moving around."
“Mo Yanchun is a good doctor, but I know my own body. I'm not at the point where I can't even move,” Shen Jinglan said. “While I can still move, I will take care of some matters myself.”
His voice, hoarse from years of coughing, still carried a strange rhythm and charm.
The wide black robe concealed his emaciated body, and his face was so ill that it was unrecognizable, with only a faint trace of the handsomeness he once had.
However, when he smiled, he looked nothing like a patient. He possessed an energy and confidence that most healthy individuals did not have.
He looked at Spirit Sword Destiny with that smile.
“You have so many subordinates; whatever needs to be done can be handled by us. Why does the leader need to come personally?”
“I know you are very capable,” Shen Jinglan replied. “You have always been capable. However, there are some matters that cannot be resolved no matter how many methods you have. And some things, even if they can be solved through clever means, will come at a painful cost.”
He glanced at his long, thin hand partially hidden in the sleeve of his robe. “For such matters, your strength is still insufficient; you must rely on my power. Currently, there should be no one beneath me who can withstand ten moves.”
This was originally an extremely arrogant statement, but it sounded entirely reasonable coming from him.
Because it was indeed the truth.
The group descending the mountain gathered at Dragon Roar Peak. Han Yue was somewhat surprised to see Spirit Sword Destiny had also come.
“I'll accompany you all for a walk and gather some herbs. If there are any beasts, I'll keep my distance and won't hold you back,” Spirit Sword Destiny said.
“That's fine,” Han Yue replied gently. “Although you practice Alchemy, observing others in battle will be beneficial for you as well. If there is real danger, I will protect you, Junior Brother.”
"Han Shixiong, you just take care of others, and I'll protect Brother Lin!"
Beside them, Xu Xiaofei hurriedly said.
Han Yue didn't say much, but another disciple laughed and said, "You're the one with the lowest cultivation here, and you still want to protect others? It's already good if you can take care of yourself!"
"Hey, what kind of talk is that!" Xu Xiaofei scolded while stealing glances at Spirit Sword Destiny. "Can't you give me a little face in front of Brother Lin?"
Spirit Sword Destiny just smiled and remained silent.
He knew that Xu Xiaofei was exceptionally talented, only falling behind due to starting her training too late. Her future achievements would definitely surpass Han Yue.
However...
That was no longer the case.
Once everyone had gathered, they flew down the mountain.
Their target was an Azure Striped Snake that had attacked nearby villagers a few days ago. This type of demon snake wasn't very high in rank, and Han Yue could handle it alone. The Xiaoyao Sect dispatched so many people just to give the disciples more experience.
Everyone was in a relaxed mood, but Spirit Sword Destiny knew that this matter wasn't as easy as they thought.
This Azure Striped Snake had recently gained a fortuitous encounter by swallowing a Millennium Blood Herb, causing its power to surge. The overflowing spiritual energy nearly burst its body and made it extremely agitated and dangerous.
Before long, they flew into a tranquil dense forest, landed, and walked deeper inside.
The forest was rarely visited, filled with abundant spiritual energy.
The young Tree Demon and Flower Spirit widened their eyes curiously as they looked at the newcomers. They had little experience and did not know that most people who practiced cultivation against non-human beings were often unreasonable. The older tree spirits knew to restrain their aura and disguise themselves as nearly decayed old trees.
Along the way, Spirit Sword Destiny casually picked a few strands of Crimson Grass that grew symbiotically at the roots of a large tree and stored them in the pouch on his back.
Xu Xiaofei saw this and crouched down to pick one for him: "Here you go."
Spirit Sword Destiny glanced at it and did not take it: "This is just a weed."
"Ah? I thought it was similar..."
"Just don't make things worse," Spirit Sword Destiny said. "We still have to fight demons later, so don't embarrass yourself too much. After all, we live in the same courtyard; if you make a fool of yourself, I'll be embarrassed too."
"Don't worry!" Xu Xiaofei replied. "I've already mastered the Spectral Light Mirage Technique. When we go into battle later, I'll definitely impress you!"
"You don't feel ashamed at all," Spirit Sword Destiny laughed.
"Cough," Qi Yan, who had been watching their conversation, couldn't help but say, "You two are so close; it's really hard to watch."
As they spoke, they ventured deeper into the forest.
Spirit Sword Destiny could gradually sense the violent aura of the Azure Striped Snake.
Han Yue seemed to sense it too, his expression becoming serious.
"Something's not right, you all step back—"
It was too late.
A fierce flame suddenly surged forth from behind the trees that obscured their view.
The ancient trees, standing for hundreds of years, and the vines hanging between the branches were instantly reduced to ashes, revealing a large hole in the forest.
The massive body of the Azure Striped Snake, entwined with black flames, appeared before everyone.
Han Yue raised his hand, releasing a radiant light from his palm that expanded into a silver-glowing arc-shaped shield, protecting everyone behind him.
The flames crashed against the shield, sizzling loudly. The shield, formed from spiritual energy, quickly melted but continued to repair itself incessantly.
Sweat soon beaded on Han Yue's forehead.
The power of the flames was far stronger than they had anticipated!
"Han Shixiong, it looks like you can't hold on by yourself; we should all join in!" Qi Yan said.
Spirit Sword Destiny silently stepped back a bit, leaving the battlefield.
He watched as the disciples of Xiaoyao Sect either summoned their swords, set up formations, or chanted spells, all entering a state of combat.
In Lin Yan, this was an extremely difficult battle. Many players believed that this fight was destined to fail; even if they lost, the main storyline would continue.
Xu Xiaofei also summoned his Flying Sword.
The gleaming long sword hovered in front of him, suddenly spreading open like a peacock displaying its feathers, and then split into five.
One solid and four illusory, five sharp blades, each exuding a chilling killing intent!
His Spectral Light Mirage Technique was indeed practiced very well.
“Senior Brother!” Xu Xiaofei and Qi Yan exclaimed simultaneously.
Han Yue stood in front of a disciple and was struck by the snake's tail, immediately spitting out a mouthful of blood mist.
The snake demon was also severely injured, its abdomen a bloody mess, but if Han Yue, the main combat force, fell, the remaining people would likely soon face defeat.
The Azure Striped Snake, having landed a hit, became even more frenzied. It was about to pursue and kill Han Yue on the spot when one person with one sword intercepted it.
It was Xu Xiaofei; his sword aura surged violently, his eyes blood-red—
“Xu Shidi, step back!” Han Yue shouted loudly despite his blood-soaked clothes. “Do not fight to the death… just hold on for a moment… I can sense that the two Elders are on their way!”
With each word, he spat out more blood.
Eventually, Crimson Blue clearly indicated that he had been poisoned.
Spirit Sword Destiny observed everything closely.
Han Yue was indeed gravely injured, just as the plot suggested... Next, the two elders stationed at the sect noticed the unusual fluctuations of spiritual energy and rushed to the rescue.
A moment later.
A gigantic illusion of a Nine-Tailed Fox descended, wrapping Azure Striped Snake within its nine swaying tails.
In an instant, the mountain-sized demon snake quickly slumped down.
Two figures slowly descended from the sky.
“Qing Yao Senior, Yang Zhen Senior!” everyone exclaimed.
Before they could respond, Qi Yan urgently called out, “Han Shixiong!”
Han Yue collapsed to the ground, thick black mist swirling around his face, his expression becoming dazed. He had been struggling to hold on until Elder Qing Yao eliminated the demon snake; as soon as he relaxed, he could no longer stand. If it weren't for Qi Yan supporting him, he would have fallen straight to the ground.
Yang Zhen walked over, took out a jade bottle from his robe, poured a few pills into his palm, and without counting them, stuffed them all into Han Yue's mouth.
“Although he is severely injured, after taking the medicine and resting for a few days, he will be fine.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and secretly wondered whether Han Yue would turn into a Duck this time or something else entirely.
However, Yang Zhen was not finished: “But the snake venom in his body cannot be treated with this healing medicine.”
“Do you have an antidote?” Qing Yao asked.
"No, I will go refine it now," Yang Zhen said. "Take him back. Be careful, don't touch his blood."
At this moment, Spirit Sword Destiny, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up: "Master, I remember there is a line in the entry for Mingzhu Grass: it can resolve the poison of the red patterns. So, does that mean we need to use Mingzhu Grass to refine the antidote?"
"That's right," Yang Zhen nodded. "I will refine the antidote shortly; you can assist me."
"Master, I..." Spirit Sword Destiny's expression changed drastically as he spoke. "I used up all the Mingzhu Grass while refining Recovery Pills recently. I was planning to wait until the end of the month when Jiang Shixiong would bring back a batch."
"What?" Yang Zhen was also taken aback.
Jiang Xiao, who was responsible for procurement as mentioned by Spirit Sword Destiny, immediately said, "I will go buy it right now."
"Go quickly and come back fast," Qing Yao said.
"I'll go with you!" Xu Xiaofei said.
He had learned swordsmanship from Han Yue and held great respect for him. Seeing Han Yue seriously injured made him anxious.
However, Jiang Xiao shook his head and said, "My Swiftwind Kite is a specially made flying treasure; it's much faster than your Flying Sword. I should go."
He jumped onto the Flying Kite and disappeared in an instant.
"Why do you look so worried? Could it be..." Qing Yao asked Yang Zhen.
"Mingzhu Grass is not an ordinary herb; it is a spiritual herb. There are none in the nearby villages; we can only buy it in Xuancheng," Yang Zhen replied. "A round trip will take at least two hours at best."
He glanced at the unconscious Han Yue and said, "Even if we have Mingzhu Grass, it’s urgent to concoct the antidote. Moreover, we still have to wait for another two hours... I fear that by the time the antidote is ready, he will have already lost his power and be unable to recover."
"Han Shixiong..."
Han Yue, the senior brother, was well-liked within the Xiaoyao Sect. At this moment, aside from him who had lost consciousness, everyone couldn't help but show a look of sympathy.
"It’s my fault," Spirit Sword Destiny had already knelt down. "I should have thought to leave some behind, but I used up all the Mingzhu Grass without permission. Please punish me, Master!"
"Brother Lin..." Xu Xiaofei stared blankly at him and also knelt beside him. "Lin Shixiong made a large number of Recovery Pills for my cultivation; the one who should be punished is me!"
"Enough! There's no need for self-blame; you all can get up," Yang Zhen said. "When you used up the Mingzhu Grass, how could you have anticipated today's situation? Just be more careful in the future. Even if I were to punish you now, it wouldn’t bring back the Mingzhu Grass. In fact, there are other methods..."
"What is yours?" Qing Yao suddenly recalled something.
"That's right, I remember there is an Ice Soul Coffin in Langya Stream. Lying in it can alleviate the onset of the poison."
"That is indeed feasible." Qing Yao nodded. "The Sect Leader is currently in seclusion, and the other elders are not here either. However, this matter is something we can handle together; let’s go retrieve the Ice Soul Coffin."
This was also within Spirit Sword Destiny's expectations. Ye Zhiqiu had indeed gone into seclusion recently. A letter sent by Spirit Sword Destiny instructed a subordinate to reveal themselves nearby and led away two elders to track down a demon. Only two elders remained: Nine-Tailed Fox Qing Yao, who was indifferent to worldly affairs, and Yang Zhen, who spent all year in the Alchemy room at Baopu Peak.
Qing Yao opened her mouth and spat out half of a jade disc, handing it to Yang Zhen. This seemingly unremarkable jade disc was the token of their sect's elders.
Yang Zhen accepted the jade disc and took off on a cloud, with Spirit Sword Destiny following closely behind.
No one found it unusual for a direct disciple to follow their master.
"Xu Xiaofei," he heard Qi Yan say from behind, "you shouldn't follow. You're injured as well; hurry and take your medicine to heal."
"How did I perform just now?" At that moment of flight, "Yang Zhen" suddenly spoke.
On the surface, he still looked like Yang Zhen, and no one could tell the difference, but his voice had changed, sounding much younger and a bit timid: "I followed your instructions; they didn't recognize me, right?"
"Yes," Spirit Sword Destiny replied.
Shenmo was best at transformation techniques, and Yang Zhen was easy to impersonate since there were hardly any familiar faces from the sect around.
"I have mingled in the human world for many years, mimicking your behaviors, yet I still cannot understand the unpredictable nature of human hearts..." "Yang Zhen" said.
"Of course you wouldn't understand," Spirit Sword Destiny scoffed coldly. "Shenmo has spent years studying human hearts and is still a madman without any logic to speak of. What makes you think you, with far lesser talent, could grasp it?"
By his side, his expression immediately turned cold, no longer the gentle demeanor he usually had.
"Is that so?" "Yang Zhen" said in confusion. "I was born not far from here in Yunmengze, and I've never seen the Young Master from Youzhou. So he has such troubles too?"
Spirit Sword Destiny did not respond further.
They were only one step away from completing their plan... At this moment, nothing could go wrong.
The cave was dark without sunlight but not completely devoid of visibility. A faint blue-green glow lightly coated the damp stone walls, illuminating the interior.
The disciple led them to a stone door covered in runes and said, "It's right here."
"Yang Zhen" took out the half of the jade bi that he received from "Qing Yao" and, along with his own half, placed them on the mechanism in the center of the stone door, one on the left and one on the right.
This door required the tokens of two elders to be opened simultaneously.
The tadpole-like runes drawn on the door suddenly emitted a brilliant light. In the next moment, with a creaking sound, the stone door slowly opened to both sides. "Yang Zhen" stepped inside, followed closely by "Spirit Sword Destiny."
As soon as they entered the inner chamber, the ground trembled slightly, and a barrier rose behind them, isolating the inner chamber from the outside world.
"Spirit Sword Destiny" looked around.
Most of the wealth of the "Xiaoyao Sect" was hidden in this "Stone Chamber." The room was filled with dazzling treasures, exuding rich spiritual energy, and among them were several extremely valuable items. However, no matter how precious they were, he did not show even a hint of greed.
"That must be the 'Ice Soul Coffin,' right?" "Yang Zhen" said.
He pointed to an object placed in the corner of the room, from which a chilling aura emanated.
"Spirit Sword Destiny" didn't even glance at it.
His gaze wandered over rows of shelves... Suddenly, a look of joy flashed in his eyes. In a swift motion, he had already taken a "Glazed Box" into his hands.
Through the ice-crystal-like walls of the box, he could see that it contained a deep green "Pearl." The soft glow emitted by the "Pearl" expanded and then slowly contracted in a rhythmic cycle, like breathing.
This was what he had painstakingly sought to obtain.
"Spirit Sword Destiny's" hand almost trembled with excitement.
He cautiously opened the box and placed the Azure Essence Pill into the already prepared Jade Box, then tossed the Liuli Box to the ground, producing a crisp sound.
He repeated the process, taking out two other types of spiritual materials, but after retrieving them, he carelessly tossed them into the Cosmic Bag, unlike the way he cherished the Azure Essence Pill.
"What... are you doing?" Yang Zhen asked, still in a daze. "Aren't you... here to take the Ice Soul Coffin?"
His voice had become intermittent without him realizing it.
His appearance had also changed. He no longer resembled Yang Zhen, nor did he look much like the ordinary boy Wu Xin he had once transformed into; he was gradually becoming less human.
Shenmo's true form was an formless chaos. His body was slowly reverting back to chaos... starting from his feet and continuously spreading upward.
"What... is happening? Why can't I... control my spiritual power..."
Wu Xin finally noticed something was wrong with him.
A rare look of surprise appeared on his usually expressionless face.
After finishing its task, Spirit Sword Destiny glanced at him and said, "This Stone Chamber was built thirteen hundred years ago when demons roamed the human realm, slaughtering countless lives. The founder of Xiaoyao Sect who constructed this place set up a restriction: any demon that intrudes here to plunder treasures will go mad and die. This is because demons have weaker minds, and breaking their Divine Consciousness is far easier than that of humans.
A thousand years have passed, and although this restriction has weakened over time, no one has been able to break it... even Nine-Tailed Fox Qing Yao would be thrown into disarray upon entering here; otherwise, do you think she would refuse to come along?"
"You... you knew all along?" Wu Xin said incredulously. "You did this on purpose... but you clearly have Young Master's token!"
If it weren't for Lord of the Shimmering Demon Shaoyuan's token, he wouldn't have come to assist Spirit Sword Destiny.
"Indeed, what I showed you is the token of Shaoyuan, which I borrowed from him. You have never seen him, so you don't know what kind of temperament this Young Master has. Do you think he would care about the life and death of a Shenmo?"
Spirit Sword Destiny remained calm, raising a hand to press against his chest. With three fingers pinching, he slowly pulled out a transparent needle from his heart.
The needle was still stained with fresh crimson blood, held between his pale fingers, shocking to behold.
As soon as it was pulled from his chest, his aura instantly changed. The surging tide of spiritual power even caused his black hair to stand on end. The ribbon that had originally bound his hair snapped in an instant and fell gently to the ground.
At this moment, he had finally regained his true strength—
His power was even greater than that of Carefree Sect Leader Ye Zhiqiu!
"You..." Wu Xin let out a painful scream, "Why... ah..."
He had transformed back into his original form, a chaotic and indistinct body from which countless violent whirlpools and torrents erupted.
His spiritual awareness gradually faded; he had fallen into madness.
In the end, he still did not understand what Spirit Sword Destiny's purpose was or why he would harm himself. After years of obsessively probing human nature, he still succumbed helplessly to the complexities of the human heart.
Only one thought remained in his mind: kill, kill, kill.
Completely destroy all living things!
Wu Xin's body rapidly expanded, the chaos opening its massive mouth to devour Spirit Sword Destiny.
Spirit Sword Destiny His expression remained unchanged as he took a step back.
An illusory shell separated from him, coalescing into a solid form, becoming another Spirit Sword Destiny. It had the same features, wore the same clothing, and even had a glimmer of spirit in its eyes.
This avatar he created instantly fell into the mouth of chaos and disappeared without a trace.
Dripping blood fell from the chaos, followed by tattered white garments that floated out.
“Bang!”
A loud collision echoed from deep within the cave.
When the members of Xiaoyao Sect arrived, the second barrier of the Stone Chamber had been shattered by the rampaging Wu Xin.
The situation inside was laid bare before them.
The treasures on the shelves were protected by the barrier and remained intact. However, several empty boxes were carelessly discarded on the ground.
Exhausted of power, Wu Xin reverted back into a mass of chaos, resembling a pool of murky rainwater.
Shenmo cannot die; once its spiritual energy is depleted, it will return to ignorance. It would take several hundred years of cultivation to regain any semblance of consciousness.
“Shenmo?”
“It’s Shenmo that infiltrated here to steal treasures!”
The crowd began to murmur among themselves.
"Who exactly is the person transformed by Shenmo?" Finally, someone raised this question.
Elder Qing Yao of the Nine-Tailed Fox also had a grave expression. She closed her eyes and released her Divine Consciousness. After a while, she opened her eyes and said, "I saw the real Elder Yang Zhen still unconscious in the Baopu Peak Alchemy Room. What we saw earlier was just this Shenmo in disguise. He stole several spirit materials that could greatly enhance one's power, but he didn't expect that there were demon-slaying restrictions set up here. It's a pity..."
Spirit Sword Destiny was also hiding its form and aura, standing at a distance to listen to her conclusion. There were indeed still doubts about this matter; when was Yang Zhen replaced, and was his direct disciple involved in the conspiracy?
However, since "Lin Mo" was already dead, with Shenmo being the main culprit, people usually wouldn't pursue matters too deeply regarding the deceased.
The crowd suddenly fell silent.
A person who had been very talkative remained completely quiet from beginning to end.
"Xu Shidi!"
He trembled upon hearing Qing Yao's words, and the last glimmer of hope in his eyes extinguished.
Before others could stop him, he dashed into the Stone Chamber, bent down, and gently picked up a tattered white garment.
Crimson blood stained his hands.
"Ah—" he suddenly let out a heart-wrenching scream.
Everyone looked at him, not daring to make a sound.
He collapsed to his knees, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The crimson quickly soaked through his clothing.
"Why... why? Ah—" The pain on his face made many disciples unable to bear to look.
Why... after just a brief separation, is there an eternal parting?
He had promised that this time he would protect him even at the cost of his life. In the blink of an eye, the promises made, the words agreed upon, and the memories lost that were tied to that person all turned into fleeting illusions. Why is fate so cruel, so cold?
He suddenly coughed up another mouthful of blood, and Xu Xiaofei's complexion quickly turned ashen; his internal injuries seemed even worse than Han Yue's.
Spirit Sword Destiny trembled within. He had always felt that Xu Xiaofei resembled someone, and now it seemed even more so.
How could this be possible?
If one were to compare anyone to that person, it would only be like comparing a sparrow to a roc, or a firefly to the bright moon...
Even if he resolutely denied it, Xu Xiaofei's face gradually overlapped with the one in his memory. If he were to die before the leader, would the leader... be this heartbroken?
A wisp of white light suddenly flew out from Xu Xiaofei's clothing and into his embrace.
He was startled as he caught the jade pendant from his chest, staring blankly at it. After a moment, as if suddenly recalling something, he took a deep breath. Despite his face being stained with tears and blood, he managed a grim smile.
A spark reignited in his eyes, and his expression suddenly became resolute.
Spirit Sword Destiny observed every move he made.
At this moment, realizing there was no need to continue watching, he turned around and swiftly flew out of the cave.
He seemed to still hear a cheerful voice in his ear saying, "I believe my flesh must be tastier than most people's because I live happily every day."
Xu Xiaofei's expression while speaking was still vivid in his mind.
Spirit Sword Destiny sighed softly. How many people in this world can live as they originally hoped?
In the blink of an eye, he had flown out of Xiaoyao Sect.
He continued flying until he reached the sky above Xuancheng, where he swooped down into an ordinary-looking household.
What greeted him was an overwhelming surge of spiritual power.
As soon as they faced each other, Spirit Sword Destiny realized that this power was beyond his ability to resist. He spun in mid-air like a paper kite, dissipating the force and dodging two subsequent attacks before landing.
"Yan, you've regressed," a voice said.
He saw someone sitting under a tree by the pond, calm and serene, with their sleeves hanging low, leaning against a wide chair as if they hadn't moved at all.
That astonishingly powerful attack truly came from this person.
It was him...
How did he end up here?
"I have seen the Master."
Spirit Sword Destiny walked in front of the person, about to kneel down, but his arm was firmly supported by that person, preventing him from kneeling any further.
He lowered his gaze and did not look at Shen Jinglan, but Shen Jinglan was carefully observing him and suddenly said, "You look just like you did the first time you killed someone."
"I do not understand what the Master means."
Shen Jinglan smiled, a look of reminiscence on his face: "The first time you killed someone, we were being chased and had taken refuge in the mountains. I misused my energy and couldn't even move at that time. So you killed a hunter who stumbled upon us because you couldn't let him leave and expose our hiding place. You were still young then, and it was your first time; that hunter had no enmity with us... After killing him, you felt guilty for several nights and couldn't sleep well. Your expression now is just like it was back then."
Spirit Sword Destiny still kept his head down and did not raise it: "The Master must be mistaken. I have done too many unkind and unjust things; how could I still feel guilt like I did back then?"
"Precisely because of that, I find it strange... Who has made you feel remorse?"
Spirit Sword Destiny pressed his lips tightly together and did not answer. After a while, he said, "Why has the Master come here? Mo Yanchun seems to have said that your body needs more rest and is not suitable for moving around."
"Mo Yanchun is a good doctor, but I know my own body; I'm not at the point where I can't move at all," Shen Jinglan said. "While I can still move, there are some matters I need to resolve myself."
His voice had become hoarse from years of coughing, yet it still carried a strange rhythm and charm.
The wide black robe concealed his emaciated body, and his face had become so ill that it was unrecognizable, only faintly revealing the handsomeness of his youth.
However, when he smiled, he no longer resembled a patient at all. He possessed an energy and confidence that most healthy individuals did not have.
He looked at Spirit Sword Destiny with a smile.
"You have so many subordinates; why should we handle this? Why trouble the Master to come personally?"
"I know you are very capable," Shen Jinglan said. "You have always been capable. However, there are some matters that cannot be resolved no matter how many methods you have. And there are some issues that, even if they can be solved through clever means, will come at a painful cost."
He glanced at his long, slender hand partially hidden in his robe sleeve. "For such matters, your strength is insufficient; you must rely on my power. As of now, there should be no one beneath me who can withstand ten moves."
This was originally an extremely arrogant statement, but it sounded perfectly reasonable coming from him.
Because it was indeed the truth.
"…Let's go," Spirit Sword Destiny said. "She told you the location of the sword's burial site; you lead the way."
"What?"
Shaoyuan jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"Li Ji only told me about one person and warned me not to let anyone else know. You actually want to follow me?"
Spirit Sword Destiny: "…"
When would this guy stop being such a nuisance? Did he really care about a broken sword?
"Very well, very good," Spirit Sword Destiny said lightly. "Then you can dig it up yourself. It's getting late; I'm going back to rest."
He turned and walked away.
"Wait, wait," Shaoyuan thought for a moment and quickly reached out to grab him. "You should accompany me."
In the courtyard where they were, there was a Rockery and a pond, with a Weeping Willow by the pond.
Shaoyuan walked under the Weeping Willow, took three steps east, and stopped. "Right here, she wants me to dig this up."
"So close?" Spirit Sword Destiny was a bit surprised.
"Yeah, that's how she is," Shaoyuan replied.
He glanced at the ground beneath him, then looked at Spirit Sword Destiny, who silently stared back at him.
After a moment of eye contact, Spirit Sword Destiny said, "...Yes, Master, I will dig here right away."
He removed a piece of rubble from the Rockery and broke a branch to make a simple digging tool. Then he began to shovel the dirt.
Although he had never dug before in his life, his movements were still concise and effective. Before long, a deep pit appeared on the ground.
As Spirit Sword Destiny dug down again, he suddenly sensed something unusual.
In the dark pit, it seemed as if someone had struck a match; a flash of light suddenly illuminated their eyes.
A shiny, round pebble lay quietly at the bottom of the pit.
"Isn't it a sword? How did it turn into stone?" Shaoyuan asked curiously.
He jumped into the pit and pulled it out, examining it closely in his hands.
It turned out to be an Amber, which contained a beetle preserved inside, with even the fine patterns on its wings clearly visible.
"Hey? What is this!" Shaoyuan exclaimed.
As he shouted, the surface of the Amber shattered, and the beetle fell out—moving its antennae and flapping its wings, surprisingly still alive.
Then, the pale golden beetle flew out of the deep pit without looking back, heading in a certain direction.
"This is the offspring of the Shadow Insect; it will lead us to the Mother Gu. Hurry, follow it!" Spirit Sword Destiny said.
He immediately followed, and Shaoyuan hurried after him.
They watched as the offspring flew across most of the manor and hovered above Yingyue Lake. After flying with its head down for a while, it suddenly stopped in mid-air, hesitated for a moment, then dove straight into the water.
Spirit Sword Destiny silently recited the Avoid Water Spell and followed it into the water.
After a short while, he surfaced holding a narrow sword box.
The things hidden by the Shadow Insect are invisible even when right under your nose, and no spells can detect them. Li Ji put considerable effort into hiding the Taikang Sword, so it's no wonder that father and son couldn't find it at all.
The sword from the box had already been taken out by Shaoyuan.
The sword glimmered with a brilliant green light, filled with spiritual energy, truly a fine weapon.
"We're going right now..." Shaoyuan said.
At that moment, arrows flew towards him. By the time he said "go," he had already become a sieve.
Spirit Sword Destiny had already raised a Shield Wall Barrier before the arrows got close, blocking them all outside.
"Your master is dead; you are now free. This matter has nothing to do with you. Hand over the sword to me, and I will let you go!" an old voice said.
Spirit Sword Destiny thought that if Shaoyuan was truly his master, he might consider this proposal.
However, that was not the case.
"Father, just kill him too; how can we let him go?" another younger voice said. "He has already killed many of our people and even threatened to throw us into the lake to feed the fish. Now that his master has become Fish Feed, let him go with his master!"
Spirit Sword Destiny turned to look back.
Sure enough, it was the father and son who had possessed the Original Master and occupied Fan Family Villa.
They had clearly followed him all the way here.
Letting Shaoyuan see Li Ji was also part of their plan. Since Li Ji refused to reveal the whereabouts of the Taikang Sword to them, she would have to show up in front of her lover, right? This Taikang Sword originally belonged to the Fan Family as an ancestral treasure. After Li Ji became an Earthbound Spirit, it would be useless for her to keep it; she would definitely return it to Fan Shaoyuan.
This was a perfect opportunity to find the Taikang Sword and then kill and seize treasures...
Unfortunately, although they had calculated well, they made a critical mistake.
No matter how much the other party shouted, Spirit Sword Destiny only smiled and ignored them.
Shaoyuan, after being turned into a tattered sack, turned to ash and dissipated into the air. The Taikang Sword, however, still hovered in mid-air, emitting a faint blue light, as if an invisible hand was holding it.
"Fish Feed? So you are also concerned about whether the fish in the lake are hungry?"
His cheerful voice suddenly drifted over from somewhere.
The true form of Shaoyuan, "Shen," was born in the marshes and roamed the rivers and seas, having a certain affinity for the fish and shrimp in the water.
The father and son changed their expressions.
They had witnessed Shaoyuan being pierced by arrows, its breath already gone. Could this voice be coming from the underworld?
In their astonished gazes, Shaoyuan's figure gradually reappeared in the night.
Not just one, but two, three... a whole bunch of Shaoyuan.
Each Shaoyuan held a Taikang Sword and laughed, "Can you guess which one is real? Guess right and I'll give it to you."
"Tap" "Tap"
He suddenly heard someone lightly knock twice on the window sill.
A cheerful voice said, "Brother Lin, Brother Lin! Are you asleep?"
Spirit Sword Destiny sat up and put on his clothes.
"Come in."
Before the words were finished, a figure nimbly leaped through the window like a spirit cat and stood by the bed with a grin.
"Only Gentleman on the Beam likes to come in through the window."
"Besides you, what else is there worth stealing here?" Xu Xiaofei replied.
He was quite slick with his words, and Spirit Sword Destiny didn't want to engage, simply saying, "Why are you looking for me if you aren't going to sleep?"
"I asked Zhao Master to prepare a late-night snack for us, all dishes we love. Come have a few drinks with me?"
As he spoke, Xu Xiaofei produced a lunchbox and held it in his hand.
Seeing Spirit Sword Destiny's silent approval, he sat down on the bed.
He placed the lunchbox between them. He opened it and arranged the dishes one by one on the table. There were both cold and hot dishes, a good mix of meat and vegetables, all visually appealing.
Finally, he also produced a pot of wine and a pair of exquisite wine cups. All these items had originally been stored in his Cosmic Bag at his waist.
"This is Zhao Master's newly brewed Peach Blossom Wine. It's not too strong, sweet with a hint of peach blossom fragrance. Give it a try."
Xu Xiaofei poured a drink for him and filled his own cup as well.
"You two are really carefree, already enjoying a meal."
Just as they were about to eat, another voice came from outside the house.
Turning around, a group of people stood behind the window, all disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect, including Qi Yan, Han Yue, and Zhuan Yu, the Hua Cheng Girl, along with a few foxes. The demon race and the human race were not on good terms, yet Qing Yao, an elder of the Xiaoyao Sect at Yuling Peak, was a nine-tailed fox. She had originally been a Spirit Pet of a senior in their sect. After that senior passed away, she did not leave but instead stayed at the Xiaoyao Sect and even brought her kin to live there. The foxes often mingled with the disciples of the sect.
The Xiaoyao Sect did not inquire about backgrounds and had a laid-back attitude towards life, which was evident from this point.
"Hey, what are you all doing here?" Xu Xiaofei asked.
"What do you mean by that? Can't we come to see you?"
"Today is the Summer Solstice Festival; we were hoping to invite you to join in the fun. Just look at yourself, tsk."
"Exactly! With so much delicious food and drink here, you didn't think of us at all!"
"What kind of good luck does this guy have? Master Zhao actually opened a kitchen for him. It smells so good..."
Everyone chimed in.
These people seemed quite familiar with him. Xu Xiaofei usually spent most of his time at Baopu Peak in the Alchemy Room; there were hardly any Carefree Disciples who dared to step into that place. However, since Xu Xiaofei was learning swordsmanship from Han Yue, he likely had many more opportunities to explore and meet new friends.
Even if he wasn't inclined to actively make new acquaintances, fate would arrange many events for him to get to know others.
The group of disciples was chattering noisily, while Han Yue stood behind them with a smile, looking indulgent. As the chief disciple of the sect leader Ye Zhiqiu, he held a high status and reputation among his peers. In battle, he was surrounded by sword energy, exuding a fierce fighting spirit, but in everyday life, he was like a generous older brother to everyone.
"He has already prepared the dishes; isn't it just right to come and eat? Why be polite with this guy? Come on, why not stay here tonight—"
Several people made motions as if they were going to climb through the window.
"Huh?"
Seeing this, Xu Xiaofei's expression changed from initial surprise to growing frustration.
He glanced at the dishes and said, "If you really want to eat, just take some. Leave enough for the two of us. But this isn’t my home; it’s Brother Lin’s territory. You should avoid disturbing his peace!"
Spirit Sword Destiny: "…"
Did you think that by saying little and being quiet, you weren't disturbing my peace at all?
"What was I saying," Qi Yan said with a laugh, "Don't disturb those two; you all just won't believe it! Come on, come on, this little bit of food isn’t enough for so many of us—"
Qi Yan was the one who understood their relationship best in their foundational Taoist School classes. Spirit Sword Destiny still remembered that morning when Xu Xiaofei flew back hurriedly on his sword to Xiaoyao Sect and ran into Qi Yan looking for them. Qi Yan's eyes widened in surprise, and then he even chuckled.
Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look at them with mysterious expressions.
Spirit Sword Destiny: "…"
At this point, he probably had nothing left to say. It seemed everyone thought that Xu Xiaofei and he…
"Why leave? They don't have enough food, but didn't we bring some?" asked a plain-looking boy, dressed simply and appearing somewhat confused.
"Wu Xin, you really don't understand anything," another disciple replied. "It's not about whether there's food or not. That bastard Xu Xiaofei doesn't welcome us."
"Why doesn't he welcome us? Isn't it livelier with more people?" Wu Xin asked again.
"He just finds us noisy. You still don't get it. Let's go to my Moon Viewing Pavilion; I've expanded it myself, so I guarantee it's spacious and comfortable."
"Hey, who are you calling a bastard?" Xu Xiaofei said. "I'll treat you to drinks sometime, okay? I already made plans with Brother Lin today."
"Spirit Sword Destiny: ..."
Who made plans with you? Didn't you come knocking on the window yourself?
"Alright, alright, we'll leave and not be a nuisance here."
A group of people summoned cranes or rode clouds and flew away in a grand manner.
Xu Xiaofei let out a sigh: "Finally got rid of them. Come on, let's eat and drink something, and we can chat a bit."
"Chat a bit?" Spirit Sword Destiny laughed. "What do you want to talk about, poetry and songs, or life ideals?"
"Huh, poetry and songs?" Xu Xiaofei hurriedly waved his hand. "No way, I know nothing about those. But I can talk about life ideals."
"What are your life ideals?"
"I want to regain my memories. The past is a fog, and I don't know where I came from or where I'm going. It's really... painful." Xu Xiaofei felt downcast, glanced at him, and then smiled again, "You don't think my ideal is to cultivate and become powerful, do you? I do want that, and I instinctively crave power, but the reason for this instinct seems to be related to my past. I vaguely remember that there is something very important I need to do. I must remember."
His expression was serious as one hand gently covered the back of Spirit Sword Destiny's hand.
"From the moment I first saw you, I knew you must have a deep connection to my past. I must protect you; I cannot let you die. This is also an obsession left by my past self... Moreover, I have a feeling that the key to recovering my memories lies with you."
"Although you've told me that my name is Yun Shaohui, I still can't remember anything. I've looked through many character records in the Scripture Tower, but I couldn't find myself. It seems I was an unknown person before," he chuckled, "Are you still unwilling to tell me what happened in the past? I won't force you; if you don't want to, I'll figure it out on my own."
Spirit Sword Destiny had casually made up a name, which he had kept in mind.
"I'm done; now it's your turn," Xu Xiaofei said. "No need for poetry or songs. Even if you explain it well, it would be like playing music to a cow for me. What is your life ideal?"
"My life ideal..." Spirit Sword Destiny paused.
Before him, it seemed like the figure of that person flashed by.
Clearing his throat lightly, he recalled the agreement made with the Lord of the Shimmering Demon after being defeated by him...
"There is a person who has fallen seriously ill; I want him to live." He spoke slowly.
"Is that so?" Xu Xiaofei also fell silent for a moment and said, "You study Alchemy for him? With sincerity comes spirit; you will surely be able to refine a elixir and cure him."
"Mm."
Spirit Sword Destiny responded.
If refining an Alchemy would solve everything, he would have already become an Alchemist Master, so... why bother with so much effort...
The gloom in his eyes dissipated like ripples, and with a blink, he smiled again: "Come on, cheers."
"Cheers."
The next morning.
Birds chirped, which should have been the time for the Cultivators' morning lessons. However, at this moment, most people in the Xiaoyao Sect were still in their sweet dreams.
...
Xu Xiaofei arrived at Baopu Peak and happened to run into the hurriedly departing Wu Xin.
"He's not close to anyone and hasn't particularly befriended anyone, so why has he come to you several times?" Xu Xiaofei remarked, watching his back.
His expression was more akin to jealousy than dissatisfaction.
"I only gave him a few bottles of elixirs," Spirit Sword Destiny reassured. "But every time I give you some, it's from the best batch I've refined."
"Is that so?" Xu Xiaofei immediately felt flattered.
After finishing his studies, Yang Zhen began teaching him how to refine the most basic elixirs. At the start of Alchemy, a lot of practice was needed, and Spirit Sword Destiny refined quite a few elixirs and gave them away.
Naturally, the vast majority were given to Xu Xiaofei.
Spirit Sword Destiny took out two porcelain bottles that had been prepared in advance and handed them to him.
"This is the Recovery Pill I just refined. You've been practicing the Spectral Mirage Technique, right? This technique consumes a lot of spiritual energy, and after practicing a few times, you need to meditate to recover. This Recovery Pill can help you restore your spiritual energy faster, improving your cultivation efficiency. Don't worry, I've tried it myself, and there are absolutely no side effects."
There was an old joke circulating in the Xiaoyao Sect about the side effects of the Recovery Pill. A disciple, eager to practice a highly demanding secret technique, wanted to save money and didn't go down the mountain to buy medicine. Instead, he asked Yang Zhen for a bottle of Recovery Pill. This bottle of Recovery Pill was indeed effective; one pill was worth three, and his progress in cultivation accelerated significantly. However, the next day, he turned into a quacking Duck. Although it didn't affect his ability to use spells—meaning if he encountered an enemy in this form, he could still fight—being a Duck was still being a Duck. This unfortunate disciple only returned to his original form seven days later.
When he confronted Yang Zhen, Yang Zhen felt there was nothing to question: while refining the Recovery Pill, he had added a type of blood essence from the remarkably restorative Mandarin Duck. Given that, what was wrong with turning into a Duck after taking the pill?
After that incident, no one dared to come to Baopu Peak for medicine anymore.
"I certainly trust you! Even if you fed me poison, I would gladly accept it," Xu Xiaofei said with a smile as he accepted the porcelain bottle.
Shen Jinglan smiled gently, glanced at him, and suddenly said, "I think it's actually you who sometimes doesn't listen to me, isn't it? You seem to take in everything I say on the surface, but behind my back, you do something entirely different."
"How could I?" Spirit Sword Destiny lowered his gaze. "Every word and sentence from the Master is firmly etched in my heart; I have never forgotten."
Anyone else hearing such words from the Master would likely change their expression dramatically. For a subordinate, this evaluation was already quite a severe reprimand.
But their bond was different.
Shen Jinglan was both his mentor and his brother; he had raised him single-handedly. All of his cultivation skills were taught by Shen Jinglan. The ties between them were something no one could understand or compare to.
Shen Jinglan's words sounded more like a gentle yet helpless reproach from an elder brother towards a disobedient younger sibling.
Although Spirit Sword Destiny vehemently denied it, he internally acknowledged that the Master indeed had a point. There had been many occasions when he avoided the Master who was in seclusion and acted on his own to investigate traces of the Elixir that could cure the Master's ailment.
He doesn't not want to listen.
The Master has already seen through the fact that his life is short, but Spirit Sword Destiny cannot perceive it at all.
"Is that so?" Shen Jinglan smiled and shook his head. "I see that you still run around after coming back with me this time."
"Are you going to break my legs?" Spirit Sword Destiny laughed as well.
"I watched you grow up. You have long since matured enough to stand on your own. You have your own thoughts. Even if I can restrict you with words now, what will happen in the future when I can't even speak or move? Your feet are your own; the path you choose is up to you," Shen Jinglan said. "If I ever truly have the thought of breaking your legs, I would first break my own hands."
From the flowing sleeves of his robe, his hand emerged—long fingers that appeared even longer due to his thinness, presenting a sickly pale complexion.
Spirit Sword Destiny looked at his hand.
Just by appearances, no one would believe that such a hand holds the power of destruction.
Spirit Sword Destiny did not respond to Shen Jinglan's words; he had nothing more to say.
"Master, did you take the Azure Essence Pill...?" he asked again.
"Yes."
"Let me see." Spirit Sword Destiny reached out and grasped his wrist, feeling his pulse.
A slow and weak heartbeat resonated from between his fingers, sinking deep into his heart.
It felt like a hammer gently tapping on his heart.
"Spirit Sword Destiny," he thought, wishing that this hammering ghost would never tire or stop.
"The Azure Essence Pill hasn't improved your body; it merely prolongs your life..." Spirit Sword Destiny said softly, "At this rate, it can last for another five years."
"Five years is not a short time," Shen Jinglan replied. "Autumn Moon and Spring Breeze, Winter Snow and Summer Lotus, I can still see them five more times. In this lifetime, I have gained more than others and seen more scenery."
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