Sword Heart

Xuan Tian was deeply shocked after hearing Li Fan recount the story of Zhang Dali and the company that took place on the far north ice plains.

"That person couldn't possibly be Xingyun!"

Li Fan sighed, "Xuan Tian, I understand you're sad, but sometimes you have to accept reality..."

Xuan Tian: "Bullshit! You said it yourself! It's a humanoid corpse!"

Li Fan sighed helplessly, "I know you said Brother Yan was reincarnated as a demon and became Demon Race. I didn't expect the hatred between humans and demons to be so deep. That's a bit much. But maybe he'll have a change of heart later and start over after his self-destruction? After all, he even set up the Sun Sword Array to guard the Heavenly Book..."

Xuan Tian said, "Don't be silly. The Golden Sun Sword Formation isn't a difficult formation. I don't allow people to learn it on their own. Who can't learn it!"

Li Fan, "..."

Xuan Tian said, "It's even more uncertain who the Heavenly Book ends up in. Besides, Xingyun has already mastered the Sword Embryo Flying Crossing. Even if he were to disintegrate, look at what your Tai Sha Sword Embryo looks like, and then look at what I look like now. My lineage, in its final stage, is about man and sword becoming one. The body has long since been forged into a sword sheath, and all the bones and blood have been fused into the sword's spine. Where would there be any human-shaped skeleton left? If you find broken swords or fragments, they might really be the remains of that bastard!"

Li Fan was momentarily stunned. "Huh... is that how it is? I have to train like this too?"

However, the sword case is indeed empty... Could it really not be Brother Yan?

Xuan Tian didn't answer for a moment. After a while, unable to tell whether it was loneliness or disappointment, he sighed.

"However, even if he isn't that wicked child, he's probably still a disciple from the outer sect of the Sword Sect... Oh well, what's the difference between outer and inner sects? They're all disciples of the Sword Sect, so they should behave themselves."

"Oh..."

Qiongqi is relatively safe. Once he recovers within the sword formation, we can prepare to bring back the remains of the Sword Sect disciple. However, the distance is too great, and his injuries show no signs of improvement. Perhaps we can use Qiongqi to cultivate the body-repairing Cultivation Method from Qingcheng Mountain, <<Jade Pure Jade Quality Flawless Escape>>, though it will need to be modified using the <Tai Xuan Scripture>...

At this moment, Xuan Tian seemed to have regained his composure and said,

"It's truly unbelievable that behind the assassination of the Grand Commandant and the war to destroy the Luo Sect, there are actually hidden secrets involving the Ziwei Yuan and the company."

When I returned to the Central Plains, I also took a look at the Zǐwēigōng. It was full of eunuchs, women, the elderly, the weak, women and children. A bunch of useless idiots, not even a single one of them had reached the Divine Transformation stage. So, considering the Immortal Venerable's contribution to the prosperity of the Human Race, I didn't bully the young widows.

Who would have thought? They were actually the masterminds behind it all! And there's something from another dimension, like a system, hidden within! Haha, their schemes are really well-hidden!

These people are too low in cultivation level and too weak in strength, making them difficult to detect when mixed in with the calamity. However, their methods are fantastical and unpredictable, unlike anything ever heard of, and they can even unleash killing moves that resemble a calamity of death! Moreover, they have the audacity to stir up trouble Fourth Department and wreak havoc on the world! They are truly extraordinary!

I fear that the many geniuses at the Enlightenment Stage of the Three Great Sects who have mysteriously perished in recent years may not necessarily be facing their own calamity, but perhaps it is truly fate that has decreed their demise...

Li Fan couldn't help but ask, "Xuantian, what exactly happened with the Luo Sect back then? I can understand the motives of the other Three Great Sects, but why did you kill Ancestor Luo's disciples? Was it really to steal the Heavenly Book? Then why did you secretly send the Heavenly Book to Lei Marsh? Wasn't that redundant?"

Xuan Tian was silent for a while, "When Ancestor Luo first appeared out of nowhere, he was an unknown person who broke through to the Feather Transformation Immortal realm in his first life. It was unheard of. At that time, everyone thought that Ancestor Luo could also establish a sect like the Three Venerables."

As a result, the Luo Sect rose rapidly in the Central Plains, becoming famous throughout the world for its unprecedented celestial book inheritance and extraordinary skills. Moreover, the Luo Ancestor Luo was also inclusive of teaching, opening altars Fourth Department to preach, spread the Dao and impart the Dharma, and never hoarding his knowledge. Regardless of your background, talent, character, aptitude, or even if you were a demon, monster, or wild beast, as long as you wanted to hear the teachings, you could come and listen.

Thus, a great upheaval occurred in both the Immortal Realms, with countless people flocking to join the sect. Some of its disciples even collected the classics passed down by Ancestor Luo and compiled a five-volume, six-book heavenly book. However, only the two volumes of the "Key Scroll of Breaking Evil and Manifesting Evidence" and the "Volume of Diligent Practice and Enlightenment" were the Great Dao transmitted by Ancestor Luo after his ascension to immortality and before his madness. The other three volumes mostly contained unorthodox methods used by the Luo Sect followers after they worshipped the Void Star, integrating the unique skills of the Three Great Sects.

The situation at the time was actually even worse than Zhang Dali described. Not only were the disciples of the Xuanmen attracted by Ancestor Luo's legendary skills, but many Xuanmen sect leaders also frequently attended Ancestor Luo's lectures. Among Ancestor Luo's personally taught Outer Sect Disciple, half were old deities who had no hope of transcending the tribulation in the Xuanmen. Among the remaining half, there were definitely people with backgrounds in the Immortal Palace and Divine Sect.

It can be said that the Luo Sect at that time truly possessed the momentum to unite the three sects, end the conflict, and create a new world. The Nine Great Xuan Sects, which value the struggle for Daoist Tradition the most, certainly could not sit idly by.

Back then, in order to seize the Xuan Girl Heavenly Book, I repeatedly used the power of the Mysterious Sect to attack the Divine Sect, and thus seized the position of the head of the Nine Great Xuan Sects. Now that this matter has come to pass, I naturally have to personally step forward to settle this cause and effect.

Besides, even if I hadn't made a move, there were still those two old fogies, Cangsong from Emei Sect, and quite a few Dao Lords from other sects. Even if Ancestor Luo wasn't insane, he wouldn't have had much of a chance against so many of us.

However, someone suggested that the Three Great Sects attacking the Luo Sect family would result in too many deaths and would not look good. Moreover, the fate of the world was uncertain at the time, and it was not clear whose side destiny was on. So, it would be better to play a game of strategy.

Since some people are ambitious and have taken the initiative to end the conflict between the Three Great Sects and strive for peace in the world, then let these Luo Sect members face off against the elite disciples of the Three Great Sects. There should be no elders bullying the younger ones; only Nascent Soul Realm cultivators should be chosen to display their abilities and have a fair fight to discuss the righteousness or evil of their respective paths.

If the Luo Sect can win, at least our Xuanmen won't need to interfere anymore. But if they lose... they're considered heretics and must be exterminated immediately."

Li Fan sighed, "This suggestion is..."

Xuan Tian said, "It was the Immortal Palace that brought it up. I think it's a chance, a way of reasoning. If it were up to me, we should just cut them down."

I knew it... So what happened next?

Xuan Tian said, "Then we'll fight. The Luo Sect sent forty-seven people. That bastard insists on standing with his brothers, so I'll grant his wish and expel him from the sect."

Li Fan hesitated for a moment, "A group fight... So it really is a siege by the Three Great Sects?"

Xuan Tian sighed, "That's right. The Xuanmen sect has produced eighty-one Dao disciples. The Dharma Kings and Sect Leader of the Divine Sect dared not show themselves, so they sent ten Altar Masters and Dharma Protectors to make up the numbers. The Great General of the Immortal Palace also sent twenty-eight Martial God."

Li Fan, "Holy crap... The Immortal Palace and Divine Sect are one thing, but for the Xuanmen to fight with numbers against fewer people is just too embarrassing!"

Xuan Tian, "You don't understand. That battle is related to the future destiny of our Daoist Tradition. Any sect with a bit of confidence will have to go and fight for it."

The Xuanmen (mystical sects) reveres the number nine, as most formations can be executed by nine people. Therefore, the Nine Great Xuan Sects at that time each sent out nine true disciples. Only when there were not enough disciples did they seek help from other sects.

However, my Sword Sect simply didn't have that many disciples. Back then, a young man from Penglai who always followed Xingyun came out to challenge me, saying he wanted to sever all ties. So I had the Nine Truth Sect take my Sword Sect's place. Sigh, looking back now, it really was a waste of our destiny in just one year..."

Li Fan suddenly realized, "Then the final result..."

Xuan Tian, "What's this about the final battle? You've seen it all, haven't you? Who won and who lost."

However, that battle was quite brutal. Just think about it, all nine people from Emei died. Only one young man from the Qin Family was left to hold the fort at the top of the table among the Tian generation. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been so obediently staying at the Golden Summit all these years.

Not to mention the others, the Nine Great Xuan Sects were completely replaced. There was a lot of killing karma involved, all caused by those wicked people, who have offended everyone to death.

Although I wasn't afraid of them, there were still many disciples from the outer mountains of the Sword Sect who swore to live and die with the Nine Yin Mountain. How could I not take action? Unfortunately, in the end... never mind..."

Li Fan remained silent for a long time after hearing this. "What about the fox?"

Xuan Tian said, "I wasn't there at the time. Now that I think about it, it never showed itself to me, probably because it was afraid I would recognize it. If it really is the same one, with the system's methods, maybe it really isn't dead..."

"Hmph, do whatever you want with it. I promised that wretch I wouldn't kill it."

Hmm? Xuan Tian, you really don't hate that fox?

"Hate, but there are so many temptations in the world. Since that wicked boy is my disciple, how could he not be tempted by such schemes, plots, and emotional entanglements? In the end, it's just that he couldn't control himself, his heart softened, and he wanted to live a peaceful life with that demon."

Ha, seeking peace... I was born without knowing what peace even is, let alone the path of the sword immortal, which is to overcome tribulations through killing. Once a tribulation is overcome, one moves on to the next. The world is vast, but where is there peace?

In short, Qingyue, you must take this as a warning. Once you become like him, harboring a desire for peace and losing your sword, you will no longer be a disciple of my Sword Sect."

"... This disciple has remembered."

Xuan Tian fell silent for a moment, probably feeling that he hadn't taught his disciple well, and fell into deep self-reflection.

Actually, Li Fan didn't tell Xuan Tian that he also prayed for peace. However, after thinking about it carefully, he realized that it wasn't really praying for himself. To put it selfishly, 'protecting mortals' was also to uphold humanity, suppress demonic desires, and help the cultivation of one's Dao heart!

After all, the days of fighting and escaping are much more interesting than the monotonous routine of office workers in the past!

Although Brother Yan undoubtedly possesses a chivalrous spirit to save all living beings, considering Zhang Dali's words, the company's methods, and that den of foxes at Ink Bamboo Mountain, Li Fan couldn't help but wonder if Brother Yan had truly been held back by emotions, or if thinking of his wife and children had dulled his sword a bit?

These past events can only be speculated upon now.

But honestly, to think that a single fox spirit could turn the Xuanmen sect, once led by the Sword Ancestor Xuantian to wipe out the Divine Sect with a single move and easily defeat the Immortal Palace, the undisputed leader of the Three Great Sects and the invincible Dugu Qiubai, into chaos, causing it to fall apart and even leading to a falling out between master and disciple, is truly remarkable...

Not even a cruiser was deployed, just a fox...

Sigh, so this is the hierarchy within the company system.

I can't compare, I'd better hurry up and study the System Tome, upgrade my Blood Infant, and hide it away...

Oh, right, let's have a lucky draw first. System, give us something powerful! The company is too outrageous! We desperately need a cheat code to protect ourselves!

'Prize has been delivered'

This time the prize is... a system? What the heck is that?

This is a seashell.

'This is a seashell'

...?

Theoretically, it is a clam.

...???

'It's a skin camouflage, a signal blocking device created based on the analysis of intrusion protocols encountered by the system, which can prevent hardware from being remotely scanned and located for intrusion.'

"This is a special permit for you. Put all your Storage Jade inside to prevent the company from stealing things."

No, is this even possible? And he used God Lord Jade to store it!

"It's possible. The Storage Jade, acting as a bridge between the transport tool and the warehouse, and as an anchor point in the information chain, can be detected, hacked, tracked, and located. The Divine Cult has been on the company's radar for quite some time now. What Xuan Tian considers the Divine Cult's secret vault secure may not be so for the company."

"And it's not just about finding things; you can even steal or swap things. Theoretically, the next time you go to collect the pills, the company could replace them with a metallic hydrogen bomb for you to swallow."

Holy crap... is this for real?!

'Although such precise and covert operations require the support of a large number of devices...'

'... But now there's a contract worker authorized here.'

'Although there are many procedures and reporting requirements...'

'... But you touched the company's goods.'

'Although this is only done in very rare cases...'

This falls into the category of extremely rare occurrences.

Holy crap... this batch of raw silk is way too damn hot to handle! So much trouble! All that waiting for the lucky draw has been wasted on this; it's literally caused a huge mess...

"The company and those scavengers in the legion are not the same thing. You need to be careful about everything you say and do now, and be prepared that there are always eyes watching you from above."

Hiss...

"But don't be too nervous. There's no evidence yet that you've been exposed. We'll alert you if we discover any unusual data intrusion..."

'Warning! System urgently offline!'

Dig up the grass!

Li Fan was practically numb with shock. This company was going way too far! It hadn't even been that long! They'd chased him all the way from the Arctic to Yunmengze?!

Li Fan hurriedly stuffed a string of God Lord Jade into the clam and tucked it into his robes. He then pulled out his jade flute and randomly played two tiger tunes to calm his nerves.

Of course, he has already taken off the cult's disguise, but he doesn't dare to show his true form yet, still pretending to be an old man with Li Yaoshi's face.

Then he saw a purple aura in the sky, moving from south to north, from far to near, and from near to far, stretching out like a long rainbow above his head and flying directly past.

'Alert canceled'

"It's nothing, just a Daoist priest passing by."

Holy crap... that scared me to death... damn! How Central Plains?! Are Dao Lords just commonplace now?!

Xuan Tian exclaimed, "Huh? That's... Master Wei from Hengshan? She actually came out of seclusion?"

What, is it another one of your old acquaintances, Xuan Tian?

Xuan Tian said, "I'm not familiar with her. That person is Purple Void Dao Lord of the Yellow Court Palace in Hengshan. He's half a generation older than me, from the generation of the Three Elders of Emei."

I heard that she has been in seclusion on Mount Heng, deducing the ascension techniques of the Yellow Court Palace lineage. Although she never leaves the mountain, she is now the only female cultivator in the Xuanmen who has attained enlightenment, so she is quite a celebrity.

What's going on these past few years? How come all these old devils have suddenly reappeared?

Li Fan, ever the gossip, asked, "Oh, I see. Is it because she also senses something and is about to face a mortal tribulation?"

Xuan Tian: "Hey! Shut up! Stop talking nonsense!"

At first, Li Fan didn't understand why Xuan Tian was so wary. Then he saw that from the direction of Hengshan in the south, there were nine-colored auspicious clouds, rolling colorful clouds, Dao Qi lightning, flying sword rainbows, and celestial star flower rain. The Dao light sword rainbows, densely packed and in groups, stretched as far as the eye could see, flying through the sky from Yunmengze, chasing the purple aura northward.

Li Fan was dumbfounded. Hundreds of Divine Lords and True Lords had vanished in a flash of light! And every single one of them was a woman!

Xuan Tian whispered, "Master Wei carries the hopes of all female cultivators in the world to attain the Dao. More than half of the goddess lords of the Xuanmen often reside in the Yellow Court Palace to jointly deduce the Great Dao."

With the support of their sects Dao Companion, and the backing of the Shangqing Palace, Hengshan was able to maintain its position among the Nine Great Xuan Sects, only recently being overtaken by Penglai. To speak ill of her, I think you'd rather die!

Li Fan swallowed hard. "Fine, I won't say then... But I didn't expect you, Xuan Tian, to have someone you're wary of?"

Xuan Tian: "What a joke! Who do I fear! But when I ran for the position of Xuanmen's leader, Hengshan was quite supportive. It's just that one of her disciples, skilled in swordsmanship and with some comprehension, often came to challenge me to sword duels. Later, I accidentally killed her, and I felt a little guilty about it. I don't know how many lifetimes she's been through now."

'...'

'...'

... Alas, the Sword Ancestor Xuantian was indeed an amazing person; we are far inferior to him...