Inside the Main Hall.
The ten statues of sword cultivators had vanished.
Only the statue of the golden-armored god remained, standing tall on the altar and silently watching the two of them.
"This formation... is rather strange. From now on, I'll stay by your side and protect you, in case you suffer any unforeseen harm," the Palace Maid said.
"Thank you," Gu Qingshan replied.
He walked step by step to the altar before the statue of the golden-armored god and cupped his hands. "May I ask what deity you are, and why you're worshiped here?"
The golden-armored statue slowly lowered its head to look at Gu Qingshan below and asked, "Do you know what this sword is?"
He raised the sword in his hand.
Gu Qingshan studied it carefully, then shook his head. "I've never seen this sword before."
"Could you have forgotten?" the statue asked.
"If I've seen any sword, I'll certainly remember it," Gu Qingshan replied.
"Do you dare wield this sword?" the statue asked again.
"Why wouldn't I? But this place belongs to a Saint. How could I presume to take the sword from your hand?" Gu Qingshan said.
The Palace Maid stepped forward and held out her hand. "Please grant me the sword."
The golden-armored statue said, "You're not a sword cultivator."
"You only give it to sword cultivators?" the Palace Maid asked.
"That's right." The statue looked at Gu Qingshan.
The Palace Maid asked in surprise, "He's only at Qi Refining, and hasn't even settled on a path of cultivation yet. How can you be so certain he's a sword cultivator?"
"He is a sword cultivator," the statue replied.
The Palace Maid fell silent. Then she remembered how the Earth Sword had chosen its master, and felt somewhat reassured.
"You should take it. The Saint