Fairy, why haven't you been beaten to death yet?

"Greetings, I am Mu Bingyun from Bamboo Immortal Island. May I ask if you two Dao companions have seen a black-robed cultivator pass through here?"

Jiang Chuan looked towards the sound and saw a woman in blue, holding a sheathed silver long sword, gracefully arrive.

The woman had bright eyes and white teeth, a slender figure, and crystal-clear skin, as if carved from white jade.

Her black hair cascaded down to her waist, adorned with a lotus jade hairpin.

The jade hairpin emitted a faint blue glow under the sunlight.

It made the woman's already stunning face even more captivating.

She was like an immortal descending to the mortal realm, breathtakingly beautiful.

"Sword Fairy Mu Bingyun."

Jiang Chuan had heard a great deal about Mu Bingyun.

Bamboo Immortal Island's current generation of disciples was full of talented individuals.

Seven of them were the most renowned, known as the Seven Elites of Bamboo Immortal Island.

Sword Fairy Mu Bingyun was the leader of the Seven Elites, and some enthusiastic individuals even paired her with Ji Yanran, the top prodigy of Maha Hall, calling them the 'Twin Peerless of the Outer Path'.

Que Jinling curiously observed her "future senior sister."

"I am Jiang Chuan. I regret to disappoint you, Fairy Mu, but we haven't seen any black-robed cultivators pass by."

"Wan Shanhe's escape techniques are quite good. It's normal that you two didn't see him. If that's the case, Bingyun won't disturb you... wait?"

Mu Bingyun's gaze fell upon the white and black sword hilts behind Jiang Chuan, and a hint of fervor appeared in her eyes.

"What a good sword! Truly a good sword! Dao Friend Jiang, with such excellent flying swords, your swordsmanship must also be formidable. I wonder if you'd be willing to spar with me?"

Jiang Chuan's eyes twitched slightly, his thoughts racing: I didn't expect Mu Bingyun, who looks so ethereal like an immortal, to be so eager for a fight.

This was the first time he had encountered someone who immediately challenged him to a spar upon meeting.

"My swordsmanship can't compare to Bamboo Immortal Island's. I'd better not embarrass myself."

"Don't worry, Dao Friend Jiang. Besides Sword Palace, Seven Kill Demonic Sect, Feather Ascension Sect, and East Pole Sect, no other force in the Qingyuan Realm can compare to the swordsmanship of our Bamboo Immortal Island," Mu Bingyun said, her lips slightly parted.

Jiang Chuan: "."

Fairy Mu, you're so blunt, how have you survived in the Qingyuan Realm without being beaten to death?

Jiang Chuan sighed lightly.

Looking at the increasingly fervent fighting spirit in Mu Bingyun's eyes, Jiang Chuan knew that if he refused, he probably wouldn't be able to leave.

"Since that is the case, I shall make a fool of myself."

"Dao Friend Jiang, please, make your move."

Clang!

As soon as Mu Bingyun finished speaking, a sword's hum echoed.

The white Shaoyang Sword fell into Jiang Chuan's palm.

Jiang Chuan had never learned any sword techniques before, but as the saying goes, mastering one art leads to understanding all others.

His Demon Slaying Saber was already close to great completion, and combined with his comprehension of the One Qi Dao Sword and the sword techniques recorded in the Lihuo Dao Scripture, his swordsmanship had also reached a certain level.

Jiang Chuan unleashed a sword strike, and streaks of golden-red, fire-like sword energy shot out, resembling an immortal phoenix spreading its wings and soaring high.

"Well met!"

A silver cold gleam flew out from Mu Bingyun's silver sword sheath.

The silver light was like lightning, or like a ball of moonlight falling from the depths of the universe, dazzling and piercing.

Mu Bingyun held her long sword and also unleashed a sword strike.

The silver-white sword energy rose into the sky like a colorful ribbon.

Compared to Jiang Chuan's strike, this sword energy could only be described as minuscule.

However, an incomparably sharp sword intent surged forth from it.

It aimed to cleave through everything in its path, both tangible and intangible, reducing it to dust even finer than particles.

Slash!

Slash!

Slash!

The golden-red sword energy shattered one after another in the face of Mu Bingyun's single strike.

Clang!

Just as it was about to fall upon Jiang Chuan's head, the Shaoyin Sword behind him abruptly unsheathed and met Mu Bingyun's sword.

Boom!

The two swords collided, sounding like a thunderclap that made Jiang Chuan's eardrums ache.

The Shaoyin Sword, like a kite with a broken string, plummeted straight towards the azure sea.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, I hope you will diligently practice your sword techniques from now on and not disgrace these two precious swords. Bingyun needs to pursue Wan Shanhe, so I won't disturb you further." Mu Bingyun sheathed her long swords.

Jiang Chuan: "."

So practicing more is the advice?

Thank you for the reminder!

Jiang Chuan immediately asked the question that had been on his mind.

"Fairy Mu, what exactly did Wan Shanhe do to be jointly wanted by several sects from the immortal, demonic, and outer paths?"

Jiang Chuan had been curious about this matter when he came to Purple Bamboo Market to look for Que Jinling.

It was common knowledge that the immortal, demonic, and outer paths were at odds with each other, often erupting into conflict.

The death of a few disciples was a mundane occurrence.

For them to jointly issue a wanted notice was…

This seemed to defy common sense.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, you may not know this, but about half a year ago, a Cave Heaven World left behind by an ancient cultivator appeared. After Wan Shanhe entered it and seized opportunities, he killed many fellow disciples from the immortal, demonic, and outer paths."

"That is why he is being pursued by the immortal, demonic, and outer paths."

"More than half a year ago…"

Jiang Chuan suddenly remembered something.

"Fairy Mu, is the Cave Heaven World left by that ancient cultivator located in the Underground Abyss?"

"That is correct." Mu Bingyun nodded gently.

"So that's how it is."

The words of Yu Yang once again surfaced in Jiang Chuan's mind.

"A month ago, Elder Tingquan of the Yellow Springs Demonic Sect, before his passing, deduced that a great opportunity was about to emerge in the sixth layer of the Underground Abyss…"

"My previous simulations indicated that if I hadn't been present, the one who truly seized that opportunity would have been Wan Shanhe. With that in mind, everything makes sense now."

"But the Ruyi Heart Sutra is in my possession. Where did Wan Shanhe get the second copy? Or, did the inheritance from that unknown senior include more than just the Void Devouring Scripture?"

Jiang Chuan's emotions surged as he tirelessly pondered, trying to uncover all the answers.

Alas, no one could provide them for him.

[Mu Bingyun departed gracefully, continuing her pursuit of Wan Shanhe.]

[You and Que Jinling returned to Purple Bamboo Market. As the Ascension Gathering on Bamboo Immortal Island would not be held for another eight months, you decided to stay in Purple Bamboo Market.]

[During your stay in Purple Bamboo Market, you not only cultivated the One Qi Dao Sword but also continued to study the array formation books you obtained from the many princes and princesses of the Nine Abyss Dynasty.]

[What is the world in my heart like?]

[You still couldn't figure out this question, and thus you were unable to draw the Inner Scenery Map and break through to the Fourth Realm.]

[While cultivating, you began traveling to the various islands of the East Sea, hoping to find the answer.]

[While traveling, you once again heard news about Ji Xinyu.]

[Although Ji Xinyu is a prodigy of the Nine Heavens Palace and her strength undoubtedly far surpasses that of ordinary Fourth Realm cultivators, you, having initially mastered the One Qi Dao Sword, were confident in your ability to kill Ji Xinyu.]

[When you traveled to the island where Ji Xinyu was located, you discovered that Ji Xinyu had already returned to the Nine Heavens Palace.]

[Disappointed, you returned to Purple Bamboo Market and, along with Que Jinling, waited for the Ascension Gathering to commence in half a month.]

[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 reshaped by the Bone Remolding Pill, successfully joined the Bamboo Immortal Island.]

[Not long after her initiation, Que Jinling fulfilled her promise and returned to Purple Bamboo Market to become your Dao Companion.]