Tongtian Peak, rear mountain.
Ancestor's Hall.
This was a forbidden ground of the Qingyun Sect.
Ordinarily, only the sect leader, True Person Dao Xuan, could come here. Even the Peak Masters and elders of the other branches would not enter without cause.
"Rustle—"
An old man stood beneath a tree.
He held a broom in his hand, quietly sweeping the fallen leaves around him. After all, it was the only thing he could do.
The old sweeper stooped over.
He wore a faded gray robe, his face covered in ravine-like wrinkles. Only his eyes, though clouded, occasionally flashed with sharp light.
"Whoosh!"
At that moment.
The tranquil night sky was suddenly illuminated.
Dazzling golden sword intent nearly covered the entire heavens. The star-studded night sky was cleaved apart by a single sword, and a sword scar stretching for miles hung above the Qingyun Sect.
"Rustle—"
The old sweeper paused slightly.
A sharp glint appeared in his eyes as he abruptly looked toward Grand Bamboo Peak, as though he had sensed something—
A sword!
A sword of ultimate sharpness!
Perhaps even a few degrees stronger than his own?
A trace of uncertainty flickered in Wan Jianyi's eyes.
When had the Qingyun Sect produced such a peerless sword cultivator?
"Whoosh!"
At that moment.
A dark green figure appeared in the darkness.
A Taoist in a dark green robe stood within the shadows and said, "Junior Brother, what do you think of that sword?"
At those words.
Wan Jianyi paused.
He glanced at Dao Xuan and said blandly, "He is not your disciple."
"Heh."
True Person Dao Xuan smiled softly. "Whether he is my disciple is unimportant. As long as he is a disciple of the Qingyun Sect, that is enough."
Wan Jianyi asked silently, "Which branch?"
"Grand Bamboo Peak," True Person Dao Xuan said.
"Grand Bamboo Peak?"
Wan Jianyi raised his brows slightly. "That fellow Tian Buyi has taken in a fine seedling. Was he recruited in recent years?!"
"No."
"It was that child from five years ago."
True Person Dao Xuan shook his head.
"Five years ago?"
Wan Jianyi recalled, "The child called Wang Quan Yan?"
Five years ago.
Wang Quan Yan had completely made a name for himself throughout the sect after breaking the Qingyun Sect's cultivation records. Even Wan Jianyi, hiding within Ancestor's Hall, had heard a little about it.
Afterward?
Wang Quan Yan had fallen into silence.
Wan Jianyi had not paid much attention to him.
After all, he could barely protect himself.
Why would he care about others?
Heh—
"That's right."
True Person Dao Xuan nodded.
He smiled and said, "What? Are you thinking of passing down Ghost Slaying God?"
Wan Jianyi fell silent for a moment.
He calmly waved the broom in his hand, his eyes as still as dead water, as though he did not care about anything in the world.
Yet.
Deep within that stillness.
An exceedingly faint ripple flashed past—like dry bones buried deep underground, brushed by a trace of spring wind and stirred by memories that had long since gone cold.
"I have long been a dead man."
"I cannot be seen in the light."
Wan Jianyi spoke blandly.
At those words.
True Person Dao Xuan opened his mouth.
He sighed softly, but in the end, said nothing.
A moment later.
He turned and left.
However.
After True Person Dao Xuan departed.
Wan Jianyi, who had been sweeping, suddenly stopped.
He turned slightly, raised his head to the sky, and gazed at that pale golden sword intent, that terrifying sword scar stretching for miles, remaining silent for a long while...
Sword cultivators cherished kindred spirits.
Wan Jianyi.
Was no exception.
"If Ghost Slaying God is simply allowed to be lost in my hands..."
"I fear the patriarchs of every generation will not let me off."
Wan Jianyi muttered to himself.
He turned to look at the many ancestral tablets within Ancestor's Hall, as though he had made some sort of decision.
That night.
Small Bamboo Peak, Moon Gazing Platform.
Cool moonlight passed through layers of clouds and mist, shining upon the platform as dreamlike fog drifted around it.
"Whoosh—"
Clear sword light flickered faintly.
A girl in a white dress stood upon the platform, practicing her sword.
She did not appear very old.
She was only around seventeen or eighteen, yet her figure had already fully matured.
The girl's white dress fluttered, and her long hair streamed behind her.
Her cool, flawless face held not the slightest imperfection. A trace of aloofness shone from her chilly eyes, while her fair skin and graceful figure made her seem like an immortal maiden of the nine heavens amid the clouds—
"Whoosh!"
Azure sword light flickered.
Lu Xueqi held a sky-blue divine sword, continuously swinging it upon the platform as faint sword qi surged like a rainbow.
"Rumble!"
At that moment.
A terrifying golden sword light suddenly flashed across the heavens.
Lu Xueqi's figure swayed.
She raised her eyes slightly, her clear gaze turning toward the night sky. Nothing else could fit within her eyes now; only that pale golden sword intent echoed in their depths...
"This sword?"
Lu Xueqi murmured softly.
Her gaze turned toward distant Grand Bamboo Peak, and she seemed to think of something—
"Was it him?"
Lu Xueqi recalled the boy from five years ago.
Five years ago.
Su Ru had brought Tian Ling'er and Wang Quan Yan to Small Bamboo Peak as guests. At the time, Wang Quan Yan had spent only half a month reaching the Third Layer of Jade Purity, and his reputation had been exceptionally resounding—
Back then.
Lu Xueqi had met Wang Quan Yan once.
At the time, Lu Xueqi had already inherited the Tianya Divine Sword. The instant she and Wang Quan Yan met, their gazes locked together.
The Sovereign Sword and Heavenly Azure Sword had trembled in resonance at the same time.
This—
Perhaps signified that they were fated to fight one another?!
At that time.
Lu Xueqi had already regarded Wang Quan Yan as someone to chase after.
After all, his cultivation speed had been utterly monstrous. He reached the First Layer of Jade Purity in a day and the Third Layer of Jade Purity in half a month. Who knew how monstrous he would become afterward?!
Unfortunately.
Wang Quan Yan had remained stuck at the Third Layer of Jade Purity.
His cultivation had not advanced in the slightest.
Lu Xueqi gradually lost contact with him as well.
At the time.
She had found it quite regrettable.
After all, how could such a Peerless Prodigy possibly be stuck at the threshold of the Fourth Layer of Jade Purity?!
The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed.
Now.
Everything could finally be explained.
"So—"
"Have you been quietly accumulating strength all these years?"
Lu Xueqi murmured softly.
She looked up at the sword scar in the heavens, seeming to understand Wang Quan Yan's intentions through an unspoken connection.
He—
Was using "this sword" to announce his return!
This sword was what he had gained during his five years of silence!
"What is this sword called?"
Lu Xueqi asked softly.
She seemed to be asking herself.
After all, no one around her could answer!
But.
At that moment.
"Whoosh!"
A pale golden sword intent descended upon Moon Gazing Platform.
In a daze.
Lu Xueqi seemed to gain some understanding.
"Heaven and Earth One Sword?"
"Sovereign Sword Intent?"
She murmured under her breath.
"Boom!"
In an instant.
The Tianya Divine Sword bloomed with dazzling radiance.
An azure sword light directly shattered that strand of Sovereign Sword Intent.
The maiden's clear gaze turned toward Grand Bamboo Peak.
"I look forward to fighting you."
"Wang Quan Yan."
Before you continue