"Senior Sister, you seem to be in quite the refined mood."
Su Changqing walked toward Lu Xueqi step by step and said awkwardly.
"Moon-gazing is one of the few things that can relieve the tedium of my dull cultivation."
Lu Xueqi smiled faintly as she replied to Su Changqing.
Su Changqing did not respond. With a leap, he jumped onto a branch and sat neither too close nor too far from Lu Xueqi, raising his head with her to gaze at the bright moon overhead.
"Why didn't you use your true strength today?"
After the two sat quietly for a while, Lu Xueqi suddenly turned her gaze to Su Changqing's face and asked him with a solemn expression.
"Huh? What are you talking about, Senior Sister?"
Su Changqing looked back at her in surprise, pretending not to understand. "Senior Sister, that was my true strength today. I'm only at the first realm of Foundation Establishment. How could I possibly defeat Senior Sister Lu?"
"You're still lying to me!"
A faint anger appeared on Lu Xueqi's beautiful face.
"I..."
All the excuses Su Changqing had prepared vanished from his mind beneath Lu Xueqi's anger. For a moment, he had no idea how to answer, feeling that anything he said would be wrong.
"You clearly blocked that move of mine, and you still had the strength to continue fighting me."
Lu Xueqi rebuked Su Changqing word by word. "The outcome had yet to be decided, yet you deliberately made your spiritual energy burst through your body and pretended to be injured before admitting defeat."
Su Changqing frowned slightly.
Was his acting really that bad? She could even see through that?
Under the moonlight, silence lingered between them. Lu Xueqi's anger gradually subsided, and she fixed her eyes on Su Changqing before asking him seriously, "So what exactly are you thinking, Junior Brother?"
"Senior Sister."
The silence just now had also given Su Changqing some insight. He let out a soft breath and asked in return, "Senior Sister, what is the difference between the bright moon in the sky and the glow on the ground?"
"The bright moon hangs high in the dark night, its white radiance illuminating the heavens, while the glow can only emit a faint shimmer across this vast earth."
After thinking for a moment, Lu Xueqi gave Su Changqing her answer.
"Then, Senior Sister, would you rather be that radiant moon or that faint glow?"
Su Changqing continued.
"The bright moon. If we did not wish to become the bright moon, then how would our bitter cultivation differ from that of ordinary mortals?"
This time, Lu Xueqi did not think for long before directly giving her answer, the same answer that every cultivator would give.
Su Changqing smiled faintly and slowly gave his own answer.
"Senior Sister, all of you wish to be the bright moon, but I alone wish to be a firefly."
"The bright moon scatters its pale light and brightens the dark night. Though a firefly's light is faint, it can still point the way for those who have lost their way."
"The so-called pursuit of the Great Dao and immortality is nothing but something vague and intangible. We of the righteous path should hold the Heavenly Dao in our hearts and establish purpose and destiny for all living beings beneath heaven. Only that can be called the Great Dao."
Lu Xueqi remained silent for a long time after hearing this. She merely lowered the gaze that had been fixed on the moon to the fireflies dancing throughout the mountain.
"In my view, with such a righteous heart, why cling to the distinction between the bright moon and a firefly? Hiding my strength and remaining an unnoticed figure is not so bad. Cultivating silently until I step through the gates of the Great Dao, then scattering my remaining light upon the world—that is what I desire."
Su Changqing smiled as he continued speaking to Lu Xueqi.
Some things, when kept hidden in one's heart, only left one feeling lost. Now that he had spoken them aloud, he felt much better.
"I understand your great aspiration, Junior Brother."
Only after Su Changqing bared his heart did Lu Xueqi understand why he had concealed his abilities. Gradually, she also placed that aspiration within her own heart.
"Thank you for understanding, Senior Sister. I also ask that you keep this matter secret for me."
Only then did Su Changqing let out a sigh of relief.
"Mm. I will keep your secret, Junior Brother."
Lu Xueqi nodded earnestly.
Then Lu Xueqi took a sword case from beside her and handed it to Su Changqing. Seeing his surprised expression, she explained, "Didn't I say today that I would give you a gift? This sword is the gift I wanted to give you."
Su Changqing accepted the sword case and opened it.
Inside lay a long sword entirely azure in color. It simply rested there, yet beneath the moonlight, its blade emitted a gleaming sword light that made one feel the sharp, imposing aura emanating from it.
It truly was an unparalleled sword!
"This sword is called Azure Edge. It emerged from the same source as my immortal sword, Tian Ya."
"It is rumored that a piece of exotic iron fell from the Ninth Heavens into the mortal world long ago. Senior Ku Xin obtained it from the Arctic Ice Plains and forged it into the immortal sword Tian Ya. Afterward, Senior Ku Xin wielded Tian Ya in battle against a great expert of the Demonic Cult for a full day and night, earning Tian Ya its name as an immortal sword. All cultivators dreamed of obtaining it, and it eventually came into my possession. Tian Ya then acknowledged me as its master."
"However, though everyone knows of Tian Ya, few know that Senior Ku Xin forged another immortal sword that same year. It was merely kept hidden away by him. Now that it has reappeared in the world, it is the Azure Edge in your hands."
Lu Xueqi told Su Changqing the origins of the two swords one by one.
Su Changqing was stunned.
Of course he knew the name Tian Ya. It was Lu Xueqi's immortal sword, one of the peerless blades recorded in the Ten Volumes of Exotic Treasures, worthy of ranking among the top ten famous swords beneath heaven.
In the story, Tian Ya had shaken the world twice. The first time was when Senior Ku Xin used it to withstand Black Heart Elder of the Demonic Cult, making it a righteous treasure known to all. The second time was when Lu Xueqi used Tian Ya to become a female sword immortal renowned throughout the world.
What Su Changqing had not known was that besides Tian Ya, there was another immortal sword: Azure Edge.
It was lying across his lap at this very moment.
No wonder he had sensed its extraordinary nature the instant he saw the azure sword. Now that he knew it came from the same source as Tian Ya, it no longer seemed strange. If Tian Ya could rank among the top ten famous swords beneath heaven, then Azure Edge must also be among them. It was simply that no one knew such a sword existed.
"Senior Sister, you're giving me such a precious gift just like that?"
Su Changqing naturally loved Azure Edge dearly, but he also knew how valuable it was. It was no ordinary item that could simply be given away.
"I said it was a gift for you. Are you trying to make your Senior Sister go back on her word?"
Lu Xueqi spoke to Su Changqing with great seriousness.
"No. I like Azure Edge far too much. Even if Senior Sister asked for it back, I wouldn't agree."
Seeing her attitude, Su Changqing pretended to fear that Lu Xueqi would take it back. He hugged Azure Edge to his chest and joked with her.
For a sword cultivator, the importance of a good sword went without saying.
Su Changqing's current sword was still an ordinary blade he had received from the sect when he had first begun learning the sword. His cultivation had been too low before, so he had never considered finding himself a fine sword that suited him.
Now that he had reached Foundation Establishment, he had long intended to replace it with a better sword. Who would have thought that his Senior Sister would give him an unparalleled immortal sword?
Su Changqing buried this kindness deep in his heart and would never forget it for the rest of his life.
Before you continue