It was as though he had fallen into a bottomless abyss, his body sinking without end. Everything around him became illusory and indistinct. Only the soft, warm body in his arms gave Lu Ye a sense of reality, keeping a thread of clarity in his mind.
He did not know how much time passed before his body and mind suddenly steadied.
When he came back to himself, an ancient, weathered voice suddenly sounded by his ear.
"Artifacts are the weapons of cultivators. Cultivation has its strengths and weaknesses; artifacts have their grades and ranks..."
Still somewhat dazed, Lu Ye looked up and saw a white-haired elder seated before him, earnestly imparting his teachings.
For a moment, Lu Ye could not make sense of the situation. He turned his head and met a pair of beautiful eyes looking at him with concern.
It was Nian Yuexian. Their gazes met, and only after confirming that both were safe did they finally relax.
Ying Wuji was here as well, seated on Lu Ye's other side. He was stealthily surveying their surroundings, looking jumpy and suspicious.
At this moment, the three of them were in front of a Thatched Cottage.
The elderly man sat upright, while the three of them knelt side by side before him, appearing perfectly respectful.
A series of shrill whistles tore through the air. All three looked up at once and saw a vast swath of streaking lights flying overhead.
"Those are the Flying Swords!" Ying Wuji had sharp eyes and immediately spotted the true forms within those streams of light.
As soon as he spoke, the many streaks of light swept toward a steep mountain peak nearby. In the next instant, a ceaseless chorus of thuds rang out as countless Flying Swords plunged into the mountain wall, leaving only