Li Daoran coughed twice and spat out a mouthful of black blood.
"I already passed everything I ought to teach on to this boy. Cultivation methods, sword arts, the notes of every past Sect Master—not a single thing was left out. Wherever Little Stone goes, the Spirit Sword Pavilion's legacy goes with him."
Zhou Xuan took the Sword Talisman from Little Stone, feeling its weight in his hand.
Taiyi Divine Power swept lightly over it, and Zhou Xuan sensed the aura sealed inside.
Pure sword intent.
It was a power that came close to severing everything—severing restraints, severing rules, even severing space itself.
Zhou Xuan put the Sword Talisman away.
Looking at Li Daoran's deeply wrinkled face, Zhou Xuan understood something.
Li Daoran had planned this long ago.
Once repaired, the underground Formation Disk could hold out for a few more years. Resonance metal had a limited lifespan, and the demonic beasts would never stop attacking. The seal would weaken again.
When that happened, Li Daoran would use the means he had buried in the formation's core.
Detonate the entire earth vein.
Take that ancient great demon down with him.
Li Daoran was handing over the sect's future because he intended to die.
Before he died, he had to leave the spark somewhere safe.
Zhou Xuan said nothing.
He offered only a single sentence.
"I'll send a shipment of materials for the seal at regular intervals, until I'm strong enough to get rid of that thing down below for good."
Li Daoran stared at Zhou Xuan for a while, then tugged at the corner of his mouth.
It probably counted as a smile.
"Get lost. Stop being an eyesore."
Little Stone stood beside them, biting his lip, his shoulders shaking. He dropped to his knees and struck his forehead against