"I am Mu Bingyun of Bamboo Immortal Island. May I ask if either of you fellow cultivators has seen a black-robed cultivator pass through here?"
Jiang Chuan looked toward the voice and saw a blue-clad woman drifting over, a silver longsword still sheathed in her hand.
She had bright eyes and pearly teeth, a slender figure, and crystalline skin, as though she had been carved from white jade.
Her black hair fell to her waist, adorned with a lotus jade hairpin.
Under the sunlight, the jade hairpin gave off an emerald gleam.
It made her already peerless face appear all the more captivating.
She was like a fairy descended from the nine heavens into the mortal world, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Sword Fairy Mu Bingyun."
Jiang Chuan had long heard Mu Bingyun's great name like thunder in his ears.
This generation of Bamboo Immortal Island disciples was brimming with talent.
Seven of them were the most renowned, known as the Seven Elites of Bamboo Immortal Island.
Sword Fairy Mu Bingyun was the foremost among the Seven Elites of Bamboo Immortal Island. Busybody admirers had also placed her alongside Ji Yanran, Maha Hall's foremost prodigy, calling them the Twin Peerless of the Outer Path.
Que Jinling, meanwhile, curiously sized up this "future senior sister."
"I am Jiang Chuan. I fear I must disappoint Fairy Mu; neither of us saw any black-robed cultivator pass by."
"Wan Shanhe's escape technique is quite exceptional. It is only natural that you two fellow cultivators did not see him. In that case, Bingyun shall not disturb you any further. Hmm?"
Mu Bingyun's gaze fell upon the white and black sword hilts behind Jiang Chuan's back, and a flash of burning eagerness rose in her eyes.
"Fine swords! Truly fine swords! Fellow Daoist Jiang, with two flying swords this good, your swordsmanship must surely be formidable as well. Might I ask you for a lesson or two?"
Jiang Chuan's eye twitched slightly as thoughts churned through his mind. I never expected Mu Bingyun to look like such an otherworldly fairy, yet actually be this battle-hungry.
This was the first time Jiang Chuan had ever encountered someone who sought a spar the moment they met.
"My swordsmanship cannot compare to Bamboo Immortal Island's. I would rather not make a fool of myself."
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, there is no need to be modest. Aside from the Sword Palace, Seven Kill Demonic Sect, Feather Ascension Sect, and East Pole Sect, no other force in the Qingyuan Realm can compare with Bamboo Immortal Island in swordsmanship." Mu Bingyun parted her cherry lips.
Jiang Chuan: "..."
Fairy Mu, with such blunt honesty, how had you rampaged across the Qingyuan Realm without being beaten to death?
Jiang Chuan sighed softly.
Seeing the battle intent in Mu Bingyun's eyes grow ever hotter, Jiang Chuan knew that if he did not agree, he likely would not be able to leave.
"In that case, I shall make a fool of myself."
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, make your move."
Clang!
The instant Mu Bingyun finished speaking, a sword cry rang out.
The white Shaoyang Sword fell into Jiang Chuan's hand.
Jiang Chuan had never studied any sword art before, but as the saying went, when one method was understood, ten thousand methods became clear.
His Demon Slaying Saber was already cultivated to near major completion. Coupled with his comprehension of the One Qi Dao Sword and the sword arts recorded within the Lihuo Dao Scripture, he had attained a certain level of accomplishment in swordsmanship as well.
Jiang Chuan slashed out with his sword, and streak after streak of gold-red Sword Qi erupted forth like an immortal phoenix spreading its wings into flight.
"Good!"
A silver cold gleam flew from the silver scabbard in Mu Bingyun's hand.
The silver radiance was like lightning, yet also like a cluster of moonlight falling from the depths of the universe—dazzling and piercing.
Mu Bingyun gripped her longsword and likewise slashed out.
Silver-white Sword Qi rose into the air like a ribbon of colored silk.
Compared with Jiang Chuan's strike, this Sword Qi could only be described as tiny in scale.
Yet an incomparably sharp sword intent surged from within it.
It sought to shatter every tangible and intangible thing standing before it, reducing them all to dust finer than motes.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
Streak after streak of gold-red Sword Qi shattered endlessly before Mu Bingyun's strike.
Clang!
Just as it was about to fall upon Jiang Chuan's head, the Shaoyin Sword behind his back suddenly flew from its sheath and met Mu Bingyun's strike.
Boom!
The two swords collided like thunder exploding, jolting Jiang Chuan until his eardrums ached.
Like a kite with its string cut, the Shaoyin Sword plunged straight toward the azure sea.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, I hope you diligently cultivate your swordsmanship in the future. Do not disgrace these two treasured swords. Bingyun must still pursue Wan Shanhe, so I shall not disturb you further." Mu Bingyun sheathed her sword.
Jiang Chuan: "..."
So if I was weak, I just needed to practice more, was that it?
Why, thank you for the reminder!
Jiang Chuan then voiced the doubt in his heart.
"Fairy Mu, what exactly did Wan Shanhe do to be jointly wanted by several sects of the immortal path, demonic path, and Outer Dao?"
When Jiang Chuan had come to Purple Bamboo Market in search of Que Jinling, he had already been curious about this matter.
The immortal path, demonic path, and Outer Dao had never gotten along to begin with, and conflicts often erupted between them.
The deaths of a few disciples were commonplace.
Yet for the immortal path, demonic path, and Outer Dao to jointly issue a wanted order...
No matter how one looked at it, it defied common sense.
"What you do not know, Fellow Daoist Jiang, is that more than half a year ago, a Cave Heaven World left behind by an ancient cultivator emerged. After Wan Shanhe entered that Cave Heaven World, he seized opportunities while slaughtering numerous fellow cultivators from the immortal path, demonic path, and our Outer Dao."
"That is why he is wanted by the immortal path, demonic path, and Outer Dao."
"More than half a year ago..."
Jiang Chuan suddenly thought of something.
"Fairy Mu, was that Cave Heaven World left behind by the ancient cultivator located within the Underground Abyss?"
"That is correct." Mu Bingyun nodded lightly.
"So that was it."
Yu Yang's words surfaced in Jiang Chuan's mind once more.
"A month ago, before Elder Tingquan of the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect passed away, he deduced that a great opportunity would soon emerge on the sixth level of the Underground Abyss."
"In the previous simulation, if not for my existence, Wan Shanhe would have been the one to truly open that opportunity. That explains everything."
"Yet the Ruyi Heart Sutra is in my hands. Where did Wan Shanhe obtain a second copy? Or was that unnamed senior's inheritance not limited to the Void Devouring Scripture?"
Jiang Chuan's heart surged as he pondered without pause, trying to uncover every answer.
Unfortunately, no one could answer him.
Mu Bingyun drifted away, continuing her pursuit of Wan Shanhe.
You and Que Jinling returned to Purple Bamboo Market. Since Bamboo Immortal Island would not hold its Ascension Gathering until eight months later, you settled down in Purple Bamboo Market.
During your days in Purple Bamboo Market, aside from cultivating the One Qi Dao Sword, you continued studying the many formation manuals obtained from the princes and princesses of the Nine Abyss Dynasty.
What did the world in my heart look like?
You still had not figured out the answer to that question, so you remained unable to draw the Inner Scenery Map and break through to the fourth realm.
As you cultivated, you began traveling through the islands of the East Sea, hoping to find an answer.
During your travels, you once again heard news concerning Ji Xinyu.
Although Ji Xinyu was a prodigy of Nine Heavens Palace and was surely far stronger than an ordinary fourth-realm cultivator, you had initially mastered the One Qi Dao Sword and were confident that you could kill Ji Xinyu.
When you traveled to the island where Ji Xinyu was located, however, you discovered that she had already returned to Nine Heavens Palace.
Disappointed, you returned to Purple Bamboo Market and waited with Que Jinling for the Ascension Gathering to begin half a month later.
Half a month later, you and Que Jinling traveled to Bamboo Immortal Island to participate in the Ascension Gathering.
Without any surprises, Que Jinling, whose body had been remolded by the Bone Remolding Pill, successfully entered Bamboo Immortal Island.
Not long after entering the sect, Que Jinling kept her promise and returned to Purple Bamboo Market to become Dao companions with you.
Before you continue