Madam Wei trembled all over, cold sweat pouring down her back.
Yet her face was full of joy.
She was shaken by the might of the Immortal Sword and could hardly believe she had escaped disaster.
That arrogant great demon had been immensely powerful, yet before the sword qi soaring into the heavens, it had been utterly helpless.
It was no better than a clay chicken or a paper dog!
What kind of martial arts, what kind of magical power was this?
Most unbelievable of all, she had seen only an Immortal Sword suspended here. She had not seen where its master was.
A flying sword traversing ten thousand miles to take an enemy's head.
That was how common folk in the tales described the immortals.
But how could ordinary people have ever truly seen an immortal?
Those so-called immortals with vast supernatural powers were, in fact, merely cultivators with varying levels of ability.
And as a Nascent Soul Cultivator herself, Madam Wei knew that cultivators simply couldn't do such a thing.
What a joke.
To lock onto an enemy's aura from ten thousand miles away and strike them down with a sword? Even a Mahayana elder would be stumped by such a demand.
So...
A shocking possibility suddenly occurred to her.
Could the master of this Immortal Sword be a True Immortal descended into the mortal world?
Yes, it had to be!
Only a True Immortal could possess such unfathomable abilities.
She looked toward the Immortal Sword.
But it wasn't as ancient and ornate as she had imagined.
On the contrary, it was incredibly crude: it was a wooden sword.
And a very roughly made wooden sword at that.
It was hardly suited to vanquishing demons and subduing fiends. Even as a child's toy, it would likely have been scorned.
Yet there was not a trace of contempt or disdain in Madam Wei's eyes.
Instead, she gazed at the crudely made Immortal Sword with reverence.
At that moment, only one phrase came to mind: great skill seemed clumsy.
Then she recalled an ancient saying: a heavy sword has no edge; great skill requires no polish.
She could hardly describe the shock she felt.
Madam Wei couldn't help bowing deeply before the Immortal Sword.
"This humble woman, of the Wei clan, thanks the sentient Immortal Sword for slaying demons and subduing fiends, and for saving her life."
"I wouldn't dare ask the immortal's name. When I return, I will surely enshrine a longevity tablet for your esteemed master!"
There was no reply.
The Locust Wood Immortal Sword leaned back slightly, its tip angled upward, like an aloof young man who couldn't be bothered with the ants by the roadside. It had, however, drawn in the sword intent that had filled the sky.
The sunlight, dimmed beneath the sword qi soaring into the heavens, finally emerged from the clouds once more.
The sky was clear, its blue washed clean.
Madam Wei breathed a sigh of relief, then couldn't help raising her head to look at the Locust Wood Immortal Sword again.
But before she could react, the Immortal Sword gave a faint ring and shot into the sky as a streak of light, soon vanishing into the fierce astral winds.
The woman was left staring blankly.
Could I really have seen an immortal today?
Early the next morning, with the sun already high in the sky, Lin Xiaoyao finally woke from his dreams with a yawn.
He had gone to bed a little late the night before.
He opened his eyes. "System, let me check in!"
There was no response.
Lin Xiaoyao jolted.
Had his golden finger stopped working?
It was his greatest source of confidence.
But then he couldn't help laughing at himself.
This was the little courtyard where he lived, not the Founder's Shrine.
According to the system's rules, he couldn't check in at places that weren't important.
He was still half asleep.
That Demon Cultivator from yesterday had ruined his lovely dream. He truly deserved to die.
He had let the man end his own life instead of refining his soul. I really am a kind-hearted good person. Lin Xiaoyao silently gave himself a pat on the back.
Then...
It suddenly occurred to him.
Wait, where was the Locust Wood Immortal Sword?
An entire night had passed.
Why hadn't it come back yet?
Could something have happened?
Could that Demon King have been powerful?
Uh... though he had snapped off a branch to make a weapon, and, because he wanted to slack off, had tricked the other party by saying, "You're a mature Immortal Sword now. You have to learn to slay demons and fiends on your own." That had been a bit much.
But hadn't it seemed quite eager and excited at the time?
Its sword qi had soared into the heavens, and it hadn't seemed angry at being tricked.
Lin Xiaoyao was a little puzzled.
Then he shook his head, not taking the matter too seriously.
Never mind. He'd go to the Founder's Shrine first.
He'd gotten up late today and still hadn't cleaned the place or checked in.
Lin Xiaoyao didn't know that his casual attitude had thrown the area within ten thousand miles of the Feathering Sect into utter chaos.
At the time, he had told the Locust Wood Immortal Sword to learn how to slay demons and fiends by itself.
He hadn't been very clear.
Though the Immortal Sword was sentient and understood its master's meaning, it knew to strike down the chief culprit first.
And so came that world-shaking sword strike.
The Black Python Demon King, whose enormous body stretched for hundreds, even a thousand miles, had truly been slain with a single sword stroke.
But what then?
Its master had told it to subdue demons and fiends, but hadn't said to slay only the chief culprit.
And the Locust Wood Immortal Sword remembered its master's instructions very clearly. He had emphasized a few words in particular... it had to learn on its own.
How was it supposed to learn?
Naturally, it had to practice more. Only then would practice make perfect, and it would gain the skills it needed. In the future, it could attend its master's side, slay demons for him, and clear the way.
"So... Little Locust, you have to work hard!"
The Locust Wood Immortal Sword was quick to learn and eager for knowledge. It thought it understood its master's careful intentions, so it set itself a small goal.
Centered on the Feathering Sect's main headquarters, it would drive out every demon and fiend within ten thousand miles, restoring a bright and peaceful world.
Knowing this was its master's expectation, the Locust Wood Immortal Sword was full of enthusiasm.
So after slaying the Black Python Demon King, it had responded to Madam Wei's grateful prostration with nothing more than a haughty gesture.
Then it began its journey of slaying demons and subduing fiends.
Well, it was learning!
It thought of itself as a newcomer among Immortal Swords, so it needed to use these monsters and fiends for practice. It would build experience and broaden its horizons while accumulating merit. After all, with a master as great as its own, how could it possibly deserve to attend his side if it didn't work hard?
The Immortal Sword was sentient, and very ambitious.
But precisely because of that, Lin Xiaoyao's offhand remark that night had brought nothing but calamity upon all the demons and fiends within ten thousand miles.
Three thousand miles west of the Feathering Sect.
There was a small mountain called Jingyang Ridge.
It wasn't very tall, but it was a major route connecting the north and south.
Merchants came and went all year round.
But beginning half a year ago, travelers had often been devoured by a ferocious tiger.
The county lieutenant dispatched soldiers and gathered nearby hunters to hunt the tiger.
Yet nearly a hundred people had marched into the mountain, and not one had returned.
Every last one had been devoured by the tiger.
Worse still, rumors spread that the tiger demon had also seized their souls, turning them into "tiger's accomplices."
For a time, the tiger demon blocked the mountain road, leaving the common folk in unbearable misery.
With no other recourse, people sought help from gods and Buddhas wherever they could. After much hardship, they finally found a few living immortals, offered them a large sum in tribute money, and prepared to enter the mountain to subdue the demon.
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