"Young Master, since the Prince has put it that way, don't blame this old man."
Ye Sandao sighed, though he wasn't surprised.
To his Prince, sons were a dime a dozen. Only those who had value could truly be called his sons.
At Xiao Jing's command, Ye Sandao charged at Xiao Mo, swinging his blade.
Xiao Mo kicked the long sword beneath his shoe with his toe. Luoxia sprang free and shot toward Ye Sandao's throat.
The instant Ye Sandao tilted his head to dodge, Xiao Mo was already right in front of him. He seized the hilt of the flying sword and swept it horizontally toward Ye Sandao's head.
Ye Sandao raised his blade to block at an awkward angle.
Bang!
A tremendous force hit Ye Sandao. It felt less like being struck by a sword and more like being smashed by a hammer.
Ye Sandao crashed through a rockery, and rubble tumbled to the ground.
"Let's go!"
Xiao Mo didn't linger to fight. He turned and carried Jiang Qingyi in his arms as he headed for the exit.
Coming to her senses, Jiang Qingyi acted like a spoiled little girl, pounding Xiao Mo's chest again and again. "Let go of me! I don't need you to save me! Put me down!"
"Since you've come, don't think you're leaving." Xiao Jing took a token from his robe and activated it with Spiritual Energy.
Just as Xiao Mo was about to fly out of Xiao Manor, the manor's Formation activated, enveloping the entire estate and preventing anyone from leaving.
Xiao Mo sighed inwardly. What a pity. They were so close.
"Move!"
Suddenly, Jiang Qingyi shouted. She braced both hands against Xiao Mo's chest and shoved him away with all her strength.
At that very instant, a blade slash flew between them.
Ye Sandao charged at Xiao Mo again.
Xiao Mo met his attack with his sword.
Their attacks came so fast that no one could make them out.
Only the rockeries throughout Xiao Manor exploded, and one house after another collapsed.
Jiang Qingyi dove down, her long sword pointed straight at Xiao Jing. She planned to capture the leader first.
"I really have been underestimated."
Xiao Jing sneered, drew his sword, and slashed at Jiang Qingyi.
Jiang Qingyi swung her sword as well. Sword Qi burst through her, cleaving a deep trench into the ground behind them.
But Xiao Jing was a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. Killing an injured Golden Core Realm cultivator like Jiang Qingyi was child's play.
While their swords were locked together, Xiao Jing seized an opening. He stepped forward to dissipate the force, then kicked Jiang Qingyi in the abdomen.
Jiang Qingyi spat out a mouthful of blood and rolled across the ground.
Xiao Jing took the chance to thrust his sword at her, intending to kill her where she lay.
Clang!
Just as Xiao Jing was about to succeed, Xiao Mo reached Jiang Qingyi's side and swept his sword upward.
Xiao Jing's heart lurched. He hurriedly raised his sword to block, but was sent flying ten meters away.
"A dying man!"
Xiao Jing furrowed his brows and stirred the Formation. A Fire Phoenix swooped toward Jiang Qingyi and Xiao Mo.
He truly meant to kill Xiao Mo. He felt not the slightest pity.
He wouldn't have cared even if taking Xiao Mo's Sword Bone caused Xiao Mo's soul to vanish forever, leaving him no chance of reincarnation.
Boom!
Xiao Mo shielded Jiang Qingyi behind him and endured the blow head-on!
"No!" Jiang Qingyi cried out.
Xiao Mo fell backward. Jiang Qingyi held her master tightly and could feel that his Life Fire was on the verge of going out.
"Han'er, go kill that woman and take his Sword Bone. Once you have Double Pupils and a Sword Bone, you'll be invincible in this world!" With victory assured, Xiao Jing turned to his son.
"Yes, Father!" Xiao Han didn't hesitate. He took his dagger and walked toward them.
Xiao Han had never met this older brother of his, but he hated him all the same.
No matter what Xiao Han did, people always compared him to Xiao Mo.
It infuriated Xiao Han.
Xiao Mo was nothing but a useless man with a transplanted Sword Bone. What right did he have to be compared with Xiao Han?
And when Xiao Mo learned that the Sword Bone belonged to someone else, he actually left Xiao Manor to search for that woman.
Utterly ridiculous!
In Jiang Qingyi's arms, Xiao Mo coughed a few times and lightly touched the ground with his fingertip.
The ground rippled like a lake, circles spreading outward from Xiao Mo and Jiang Qingyi.
The two of them suddenly vanished before Xiao Han's eyes.
"Father." Xiao Han whipped around, thinking they had both escaped.
"That Sword Bone really is remarkable. It let a Nascent Soul Realm Sword Cultivator create a Sword Domain," Xiao Jing said as he walked forward. "Don't worry, son. They haven't left."
Xiao Jing picked up a stone and tossed it over. It struck an invisible wall and shattered instantly.
"This is a Sword Cultivator's Sword Domain. Xiao Mo pulled Jiang Qingyi inside, which is why they seem to have vanished."
Xiao Jing turned to Ye Sandao beside him.
"How long will it take to break his Sword Domain?"
"Your Highness, this old man needs only three strikes," Ye Sandao replied confidently, stroking his beard.
Everyone's Sword Domain was different.
Xiao Mo's Sword Domain was a clear lake reflecting the azure sky, with white clouds drifting slowly overhead.
"Master, you won't die. You won't die."
Inside the Sword Domain, Jiang Qingyi knelt on the lake's surface as ripples spread around her.
Reflected in the water were their two shadows.
"Silly girl. No one gets to live forever. It's only a matter of time."
Leaning in his disciple's arms, Xiao Mo's breath grew weaker and weaker.
But the next moment, streams of water rose from the clear lake.
Like ropes, they wrapped around Jiang Qingyi and lifted her into the air.
"Master, what are you doing?"
Jiang Qingyi struggled with all four limbs, but couldn't break free.
Xiao Mo struggled to his feet and slowly walked toward her. "Nothing. I'm just returning what belongs to you."
Jiang Qingyi froze for a moment, then cursed, "Xiao Mo! Have you gone mad? Let me go! I don't want that Sword Bone. I can still get revenge without it!"
Xiao Mo acted as if he hadn't heard her and continued until he stood behind the girl.
"Xiao Mo, I'm warning you! If you give me the Sword Bone, I'll never forgive you, not in this life or the next! I told you, I'm going to kill everyone connected to Xiao Jing! You're one of the people I have to kill! If your soul scatters, how am I supposed to kill you? I don't want something you've used! Get away from me!" Jiang Qingyi's voice grew louder and louder.
But Xiao Mo remained unmoved. Gripping his long sword, he cut open Jiang Qingyi's fair back.
Part of Jiang Qingyi's spine was made of Spiritual Energy.
Xiao Mo shattered that section of her spiritual spine.
"Ah!"
Jiang Qingyi's limbs went rigid with pain, and she let out a scream.
Then Xiao Mo controlled his flying sword to cut open his own back. Reaching behind himself, he pulled out the Sword Bone.
Holding the crystalline Sword Bone, Xiao Mo placed it in her back.
As if returning home, the Sword Bone swiftly fused with Jiang Qingyi. Even the severed flesh stitched itself back together.
Xiao Mo walked around to face Jiang Qingyi. His body was turning into specks of Spiritual Energy and gradually drifting away.
He smiled at his disciple and placed a hand on her head, just as he had when he first brought her into the sect.
"Qingyi, forgive your master. This is the last time."
Before you continue