Hook-nosed and the skinny man moved one before the other, displaying footwork that was uncanny and ever-changing, yet contained the true essence of the sword dao.
Chen Sanshi followed close behind. The group smoothly avoided the baleful aura, crossed the suspension bridge, and reached a safe area.
"Spare us! Spare us!"
Sensing killing intent, the skinny man stammered, "I-I bear you no ill will. The reason I wanted to temporarily control your bodies was to take you out of here. I absolutely never meant to harm anyone!"
"Yes, yes."
Hook-nosed added, "Up ahead is the Sword Cave. You are no match for my master. Going there will only lead to a dead end!"
Chen Sanshi caught the crucial point. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "Senior, since you were the chief disciple, surely you were favored by the Valley Master. Why are you instead so terrified of him?"
"I, I..."
Hook-nosed explained haltingly, "Master has already fallen into demonic corruption! He refined himself into a sword demon, then melted the tens of thousands of disciples throughout the sect into sword spirits. He lost his mind long ago. Why would he still care about disciples like us?"
"Then we must go all the more."
Chen Sanshi raised the Soul Sealing Sword Sheath, as though it were a scroll bearing an Imperial Decree.
Having only just suffered torment, the two sword spirits did not dare defy him. They could only grit their teeth and continue leading the way.
After passing through several maze-like formations, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth suddenly became abundant.
As Chen Sanshi walked through it, he felt that the spiritual energy had already gained substance. Even without circulating his cultivation, it actively nourished his fleshly body.
A fifth-grade spiritual vein...
A fifth-grade spiritual vein found only in the