Farewell

Seven years later.

On Sword Peak, Qian Renhan had fully grown. Dressed in black and standing nearly two meters tall, he was not much shorter than Qian Xunji. His white hair fell casually down his back, and he held a longsword in his hand. A trace of frustration showed on his exceptionally handsome face.

"Artistic conception... what exactly is the third level of the Sword Dao?" Qian Renhan muttered, his brows slightly furrowed. A year had passed since he reached the peak of Unity of Man and Sword, yet he was still completely in the dark about the next realm of the sword.

"I should ask Old Man and see if he can give me some inspiration."

Over the past seven years, Spirit Hall's way of doing things had not changed at all. Qian Xunji was still the Pope, but both his prestige and the number of disciples joining their faction had declined considerably. Meanwhile, the number of Clear Sky Sect disciples had skyrocketed.

As for Qian Xunji's cultivation, he was still at the peak of level 95.

Bibi Dong had not left Saintess Hall in seven years. Unable to obtain a Spirit Ring, her cultivation could only remain at level 89.

In Worship Hall, Qian Daoliu still wore that golden armor and blue cloak, his appearance unchanged. If there was any change, it was that his golden eyes had grown somewhat more weathered. Beside him sat a stunning blonde beauty, none other than Qian Renxue.

Seven years had passed, and Qian Renxue had grown up as well. She was no longer the little girl she once was. Tall and slender, with skin whiter than snow, near-perfect features, and a holy, noble bearing, she wore an ancient yet elegant court gown woven with golden threads. Its high golden collar protected her swan-like white neck. Her dazzling golden hair fell casually behind her without being carefully combed, forming a stark contrast with her immaculate court attire.

Simply sitting there without making any movement, the faint authority in her noble features made others dare not harbor the slightest disrespect.

Qian Renhan walked in, glanced at Qian Renxue, who was cultivating, and switched to voice transmission. "Old Man."

Qian Daoliu also replied through voice transmission, "What is it?"

Qian Renhan asked, "I want to ask how you broke through to the third level of the sword, the realm of Sword Intent?"

Hearing this, Qian Daoliu thought carefully before saying, "That was decades ago. Back then, your grandfather had already become the Great Enshrined Elder of Spirit Hall, and there was no opponent to be found across the entire continent. Then one day, the Number One Swordmaster of the Continent, Chen Jianjun, came to challenge me."

"Chen Jianjun was the father of Chen Xin, the current guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Back then, Chen Jianjun was only level 97, while your grandfather had long reached level 99. If we had truly fought, your grandfather could have defeated him in a single move."

"However, your grandfather did not want to bully him, so I suppressed my cultivation to level 97 and fought him."

Naturally, Qian Daoliu could not tell the truth—that he had put all his points into defense, let Chen Jianjun attack at will, and then reached the third level of the Sword Dao through Chen Jianjun's Sword Intent while enduring damage. How embarrassing would it be to tell his grandson that he had broken through by getting beaten up? Naturally, he had to make it sound more tense and blood-stirring.

"During the clash of sword against sword, your grandfather was at a disadvantage throughout the entire battle. But in the process, I suddenly realized that Chen Jianjun's sword techniques were not superior to mine. Rather, his understanding of the sword surpassed my own. Chen Jianjun told me that it was called artistic conception."

"Afterward, relying on the advantage of my Martial Soul, your grandfather fought Chen Jianjun for three days and three nights, cutting down who knew how many mountaintops. At last, I grasped the artistic conception Chen Jianjun spoke of and successfully broke through, then defeated him."

Qian Daoliu stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes full of reminiscence for that battle. It even made Qian Renhan wonder whether Chen Xin's account of that fight had been wrong. After all, how old had Chen Xin been then, and what cultivation did he possess? It was impossible for him to have run to Spirit Hall to watch the battle.

"A breakthrough through battle?" Qian Renhan murmured inwardly before saying, "Old Man, I plan to go to the City of Slaughter."

"The City of Slaughter? What are you going there for?" Qian Daoliu was startled and forgot to use Soul Power voice transmission for a moment, waking Qian Renxue, who had been cultivating beside him.

"Grandfather. Brother!"

Qian Renxue stood up and called out. Qian Renhan nodded in response.

"To kill. If you want to leave the City of Slaughter, you must rely on battle and slaughter. Rather than sitting on Sword Peak meditating monotonously and failing to find a way to break through, I might as well go to the City of Slaughter and experience the thrill of battle. Perhaps I can find a way to break through to the third level of the Sword Dao. My cultivation is now level 69. Isn't that quite an auspicious number?" Qian Renhan replied. Six and six made twelve—what an auspicious number.

Qian Renxue hurriedly said, "What? The City of Slaughter? Brother, you can't go to the City of Slaughter! That place is a true purgatory on earth. If anything happens to you, Xiaoxue won't have a brother anymore!"

Qian Renhan rubbed Qian Renxue's head and chuckled. "Tang Hao and that woman both made it out. How could I not make it out? While I'm gone, cultivate properly. Don't let that woman lead you around by the nose."

Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes reddened slightly. "Brother, Xiaoxue is begging you. Can't you listen to Xiaoxue just this once? Don't go to the City of Slaughter."

"Have you not suffered enough over the years? Listen to you again? What have you done besides cause me trouble with that blockhead of yours?" Qian Renhan said indifferently. He did not know that these words would lead Qian Renxue to do something even more foolish during the years he was away, something that made him hit Qian Renxue for the first time when he returned.

"When are you leaving?"

Qian Daoliu turned around and sighed. The City of Slaughter was an absolute forbidden ground for members of the Angel Clan, because the evil aura there was completely opposed to the Angel Martial Soul. Entering it was no different from seeking death. Qian Renhan's Fallen Angel, however, was the exact opposite of the Angel Martial Soul, so there was indeed no problem with him entering. What Qian Daoliu feared was that Qian Renhan would be affected by the evil aura and fall to darkness.

"Tomorrow."

"So soon? Brother, can't you stay a few more days?" Qian Renxue's eyes grew even redder.

Qian Renhan shook his head, his brows slightly furrowed. "Whether I go early or late, I have to go eventually. Wouldn't it be better to go early and come back early?"

"Why are you crying? I'm not going to die. I'm merely seeking a higher realm of the Sword Dao. How can a Soul Master become stronger without experiencing life and death?"

Qian Daoliu was silent for a moment before saying, "Go say farewell to Xunji. Your grandfather will not interfere with your choice."

"Cultivate properly." Qian Renhan rubbed Qian Renxue's head again, then turned and headed toward Papal Palace.

That night, the family of four gathered for dinner for the first time in a long while. When Qian Xunji learned that Qian Renhan was going to the City of Slaughter, he intended to give him a fifty-thousand-year Mental Head Wisdom Spirit Bone to absorb for protection. Qian Renhan, however, thought its age was too low and refused it.

There were plenty of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts on the continent. For Qian Renhan, slaughtering his way to a full set of Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones would not be difficult.

After dinner, Qian Renhan headed toward Sword Peak. Just as he reached the front of Papal Palace, he suddenly noticed a half-elliptical wooden box made of fine material lying there. Its underside was covered in scrape marks, and a graceful blonde figure sat atop it. That person was Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue turned her head and called, "Brother."

"You're already this old, and you're still playing with something children play with." Qian Renhan walked over and looked at Qian Renxue helplessly.

"Brother, before you leave, can you play with Xiaoxue one last time?"

Moonlight fell across Qian Renxue's exquisite, flawless face. At this moment, she no longer carried the authority of Spirit Hall's young mistress. Instead, she was filled with the innocence and sweetness of childhood. Qian Renhan could even see the image of the young Qian Renxue clinging to him every day through her expression.

"Then I'll play with you one last time." Qian Renhan sighed and sat down in front of the wooden box.

Overjoyed, Qian Renxue grabbed Qian Renhan's shoulders, raised a small fist, and shouted, "Brother, activate!"

"Keep your balance, Xiaoxue." Qian Renhan kicked forward with his foot. "Off you go."

The wooden box launched forward, sliding down Papal Mountain like a slide. The frequency and volume of the wood colliding with the steps continuously increased. For a time, Papal Mountain was filled with the sound of wood striking stone and Qian Renxue's delighted cries. A faint smile also appeared on Qian Renhan's lips.

From within Papal Palace came furious roars. "Who is it? Don't you have any public decency? You're making so much noise—does no one need to sleep? I still have to get up early tomorrow and stand guard at the entrance to Papal Palace! It's so damn noisy!"

Qian Renhan and Qian Renxue acted as though they could not hear the uproar from within Papal Palace.