When Plum Blossoms Die, Their Fragrance Endures; When Swords Grow Old, Their Intent Stays Evergreen! Li Zhexian Gains New Insight into the Sword

Li Zhexian had been gone for more than a dozen breaths.

Only then did the cheers from the stands erupt like thunder.

The corners of Xue Qinghe's lips lifted slightly, a trace of amusement flashing through her eyes.

Her gaze fell upon the seat Li Zhexian had just occupied, where the cup of warm wine on the table still sent curls of steam into the air.

In a quiet courtyard.

Li Zhexian reclined against a stone table.

The wine pot lay tipped over, its Jade Nectar untouched.

He let the clear breeze stir a few loose strands of hair by his temples.

His eyes were closed, his mind immersed in the paths of the wind.

Wind.

Colorless and formless.

Ethereal and elusive.

Truly difficult to comprehend.

He sat there from noon until twilight gathered.

That glimmer of inspiration in his mind gradually faded away in the end.

Irritation quietly crept into Li Zhexian's heart like climbing vines.

Whoosh—

Just then, the wind suddenly intensified.

The Four Seasons Plum in the courtyard tilted with it, and several fading crimson blossoms fluttered down.

One petal landed on his lapel, one fell into the wine, and another, perfectly by chance, came to rest upon the Azure Lotus Sword laid across his knees.

The plum petal trembled faintly, like the flutter of a butterfly's wings.

Li Zhexian's eyes flew open.

He brought two fingers together and lightly flicked the blade.

Clang—

The plum petal split in two at the sound, while the sword blade remained perfectly still.

He murmured softly:

"Lower Sword Slashes People should be like wind sweeping plum blossoms."

"Unhindered by form, unbound by force, borrowing a wisp of Heaven and Earth's breath..."

The night wind grew fiercer.

It swept up the fallen plums covering the ground, turning them into a