Using the Sword to Clarify the Heart

Sacrifice, pray for rain, slay demons, pacify the people... these are the duties of a Sect disciple.

Chen Xuan couldn't help but recall the first time he met Liu Shuyue.

He didn't know what to say, so he could only agree, "Alright, if slaying demons has so many benefits, then we definitely have to do it. Is this great demon what you wanted to show me?"

This book is first published on Taiwan Novel Network. ₮₩₭₳₦.₵Ø₥ provides you with error-free and out-of-order chapter reading experience anytime.

"I want you to witness all of this. Even if the plan to escape Qingzhou ultimately fails, someone will remember us." Liu Shuyue paused, "Chen Xuan, when you get Broadly Read Through the Ages back, these stories should also be recorded in it, right?"

What did she mean by getting Broadly Read Through the Ages back?

Wasn't that an ability that had already been traded away?

While he was stunned, he heard a long howl.

The sound was neither human nor bird-like, extremely piercing, making his head spin!

"It's here." Liu Shuyue looked towards the mountains.

So soon? I'm not mentally prepared yet! And this sound is so different from the dragon roar he imagined.

Chen Xuan looked in the direction of the sound and saw a green "long snake" appearing among the stone forest. It circled the mountain pillars a few times before flying into the air and swimming towards them. It could indeed fly without wings, with two pairs of claws beneath it, a huge head, and shining long horns on its head, very much like a legendary dragon.

But thinking that it likes to eat people, its majestic posture seemed a bit terrifying.

At the same time, the wind picked up on the mountainside.

It was sunny and beautiful just a moment ago, but now the sky had turned gray, and even the refugee camp below the valley had become hazy.

"Don't worry, this is a change in the weather caused by Xuan." Liu Shuyue took the initiative to explain, "The Azure Dragon can summon wind, thunder, and dense fog. Whether it's trapping prey in the mist and toying with them to death, or using strong winds to sweep them into the sky to fall to their deaths, it's good at both."

"...Do you want to borrow the Thousand Thoughts Sword back first?"

"The Thousand Thoughts Sword is good for slaying minor demons, but it won't have much effect against a great demon like this." For some reason, she suddenly chuckled, "As expected of you... thinking about renting it out at a time like this, you really value business above all else."

"But people like you make me feel at ease." Liu Shuyue drew the long sword from her back and held it in her hand, "At least you won't default on your debt."

"Of course, in our line of work... sincerity is everything." Chen Xuan didn't explain further, "Can I understand this as you still hiding an ability stronger than the Thousand Thoughts Sword?"

"Naturally, I can't sell my best stuff first, can I?" she said as a matter of course, "But this ability, as strong as it is, isn't very easy to use. You probably won't like it too much."

Really? You never know about an ability until you get your hands on it.

"You seem to have predicted that the great demon would definitely come." Chen Xuan raised his hand to shield his face; the wind was already strong enough to make it difficult to open his eyes. "I thought these demons were all sneaky and disappeared without a trace."

"Why hide? Xuan is equivalent to the king of this place. Have you ever seen a king who has to hide from outsiders?" Liu Shuyue said dismissively, "Let alone the border areas, it even ventures deep into Qingzhou every few years to prey. Each visit causes hundreds of casualties. Now that there's a large amount of food delivered to its mouth, it's impossible for it to hold back."

"So arrogant?" He couldn't help but be a little surprised, "Then why didn't you slay it from the beginning?"

Or rather, why didn't the Sect disciples of previous generations eliminate this demon? Since the Lotus Cloud Sect had records of Xuan, it means it has existed for at least several hundred years.

This doesn't seem to make sense.

After all, the Azure Dragon is a treasure all over. Its blood can even transform ordinary people into cultivators. Even if the major Sects don't care, wouldn't the Emperor be tempted?

The Emperor and the regular army couldn't defeat it? But the Emperor could summon Sect disciples like Liu Shuyue.

"Because it's said that dragons are manifestations of the ruler's destiny..." she said with a hint of self-mockery, "Threatening a dragon is equivalent to threatening the dynasty's legitimacy. So even though it's a great demon that harms one region, and even though everyone knows this demon exists in the south, it's still alive and well. Thinking about it now, those seniors were nothing special..."

"You're saying dragons are manifestations of the Emperor's destiny? And you still want to slay it?" Chen Xuan was greatly surprised, "If this gets out, won't your position as Immortal Master's assistant be..."

Seeing her calm expression, he suddenly realized that something else might have happened in the past eight days.

Was it really just a lack of disaster relief grain?

Just as Chen Xuan was about to ask in detail, a gust of wind hit him, making him instinctively turn his back. When he looked back, no one was beside him.

Where did she go?

Could it be--

He looked up, unable to help but exclaim in his heart, "Holy crap, she can fly!"

Liu Shuyue did indeed fly up! She ascended against the wind, shrinking into a tiny speck in the blink of an eye. The Azure Dragon had also flown out of the vast wilderness and was charging towards them.

Is this a battle between Immortals?

Chen Xuan's heart pounded. Although he had interacted with Liu Shuyue for so long, he had never seen her get serious.

To what extent would one Immortal and one demon fight?

Is it really safe to watch from the top of the mountain slope?

Countless thoughts raced through his mind, but his body still reacted instinctively—he took out his phone, turned on the camera mode, and aimed it at the rolling clouds and mist in the sky.

He saw Liu Shuyue throw her sword, then point her index and middle fingers together towards the sky. The sword, as if telepathic, stood against the wind, suspended at her fingertips!

Then, the sword blade began to emit a brilliant seven-colored rosy glow!

The Azure Dragon also opened its massive maw. Only then did Chen Xuan realize how incredibly large this dragon was; its mouth alone could easily swallow a train engine.

Liu Shuyue swung her sword.

She simply moved her finger downwards, without any extra movements.

The roaring wind in her ears suddenly stopped.

In an instant, the surging rosy glow shot out from the sword tip, like an extremely bright thread, sweeping across the dragon's head! The dragon was still opening its mouth, but the flashing electric light on its horns suddenly extinguished, as if it had been short-circuited by this sword strike.

"Did I hit it?"

As soon as the thought surfaced, the dragon's body split in half, a horrifying wound appearing on its massive belly!

But that wasn't all that strike accomplished.

Because the sky split open next!

Tumbling clouds rolled away on both sides along the sword's path. The previously overcast sky seemed to be cleaved in two, revealing its original clear blue state.

This sword strike hadn't just hit the dragon; it had also cut through all the fierce winds and demonic fog it brought!

Swish...

The stagnant sounds resumed, but what Chen Xuan heard now wasn't the roar of wind and thunder, but the patter of rain.

It was raining.

Normally, rain after a storm would be the most violent.

But this was no ordinary rain.

It was as gentle as spring rain, yet the water was red and fishy.

He looked down at his feet. The blood-red rain fell silently, soaking the earth and dyeing the once vibrant green ground a dark hue.

Was it over just like that?

Did she only need one sword strike to slay a dragon?

Chen Xuan suddenly felt poetic and wanted to recite a few verses, like "A single sword strike chills nineteen provinces" or "Like a demon-slaying seed descended from heaven," but in the end, he felt "Awesome" was the most fitting description.

This! Was! Cultivation!

Even though he wasn't the one who slew the dragon, he still felt his blood boil.

One day, perhaps he too could reach such a level—

He looked up, searching for Liu Shuyue's figure again, but couldn't help but freeze. The split sky hadn't returned to normal. In fact, even the original azure background had a crack in it. Through that crack, he seemed to see countless tall buildings...

Tall buildings?

Was he hallucinating?

He rubbed his eyes and looked again in disbelief. This time, he even activated the Divine Eye Method, magnifying his vision several times over.

The cluster of tall buildings became clearer. He could see not only sleek glass curtain walls but also some signs on the rooftops.

"Tianheng Life Insurance Co., Ltd.?"

He muttered involuntarily, then gasped. Wasn't that the landmark building near his apartment complex!?

Inside the room, red warning lights spun frantically, and the beeping alarm nearly shattered eardrums.

"Can you turn off that damned siren! It won't make us fly any faster just because it's loud!" Wang Baihu shouted to his colleague at the desk while quickly packing his gear. "Have you confirmed the threat level?"

"Yes! The system has judged it to be..." The colleague paused for a moment, then exclaimed in shock, "A-class contamination intrusion!"

"The location?"

"Towards Heping Avenue in Tianlu District. Captain Wan is already heading that way."

"Got it, I'm on my way." The young man jogged to the underground parking lot and saw his partner, Honglian, already waiting in the driver's seat of their specialized vehicle. As soon as he got in, she stepped on the accelerator.

"Slow down, I haven't closed the door yet!" Wang Baihu yelped, grabbing the handrail and using his toes to hook the door handle shut. "Phew... A-class intrusion. This is going to be a big mess."