The Heavy Sword Has No Edge, Great Skill Is Unadorned

Madam Wei trembled all over, cold sweat drenching her back.

Yet, her face was filled with joy.

She was stunned by the power of the immortal sword, unable to believe that she had actually turned danger into safety.

That arrogant, overbearing great demon had been incomparably powerful, yet in the face of this heaven-piercing sword aura, it had appeared utterly vulnerable.

It was nothing more than a clay chicken or a pottery dog!

What kind of martial art was this, what kind of magic power!

The most incredible part was that she had only seen an immortal sword suspended here, but she had not seen the master of this sword anywhere.

Flying a sword ten thousand miles to take an enemy's head.

This was how commoners in legends described immortals.

But how could mortals truly have ever seen an immortal?

The so-called immortals with vast magical powers they spoke of were actually just cultivators with varying levels of cultivation.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator, Madam Wei naturally knew that cultivators simply did not possess such abilities.

Are you kidding me?

To lock onto an enemy's aura from ten thousand miles away and slay them with a sword—even a Great Vehicle ancestor would be stumped by such a requirement.

Therefore...

She immediately thought of a shocking fact.

Could the master of this immortal sword be a true immortal descended to the world?

Yes, it must be so!

Only a true immortal would have such unfathomable, god-like abilities.

She looked toward the immortal sword.

However, she discovered that it did not have the ancient, ornate appearance she had imagined.

On the contrary, it was very shabby; it was actually a wooden sword.

Moreover, it was a very crudely crafted wooden sword.

Let alone being used to subdue demons and devils, it would likely be shunned even if used as a child's toy.

Yet, in Madam Wei's eyes, there was not a hint of contempt or disdain.

Instead, she looked at this very crude immortal sword with a gaze of awe.

At this moment, only one phrase came to her mind: great skill looks like clumsiness.

Then, she recalled an ancient legend: a heavy sword has no edge, and great skill requires no craft.

It was hard to describe the shock in her heart.

Madam Wei could not help but bow deeply to the immortal sword.

"This Concubine, Wei, thanks the immortal sword for its spirit in slaying the demon and saving this Concubine's life."

"I dare not ask for the immortal's name, but upon returning, I shall certainly enshrine a longevity tablet for your master!"

There was no response.

The Locust Wood Immortal Sword tilted back slightly, its tip pointing diagonally, much like a proud youth who disdained to pay attention to the ants by the roadside, though it did withdraw the sword intent that had filled the sky.

The sunlight, which had been drained of color by the heaven-piercing sword aura just moments ago, finally broke through the clouds once more.

The sky was clear and blue, as if washed clean.

Madam Wei breathed a sigh of relief and could not help but look up at the Locust Wood Immortal Sword once again.

However, before she could react, accompanied by a faint sword hum, the immortal sword transformed into a streak of light and shot straight into the sky, quickly disappearing into the biting gale.

It left the woman standing there, dazed and lost in thought.

Could I have truly seen an immortal today?

The next morning, with the sun already high, Lin Xiaoyao finally woke up from his sleep with a yawn.

He had gone to bed a little late last night.

Opening his eyes, he said, "System, sign in for me!"

There was no response.

Lin Xiaoyao gave a start.

Had his golden finger failed?

This was his greatest reliance.

However, he immediately chuckled at himself.

This was his own small courtyard, not the Founder's Shrine.

According to the system rules, one could not sign in at unimportant locations.

He must have been muddled with sleep.

It was all that demon cultivator's fault for ruining his good dream; he truly deserved to die.

He had allowed the fellow to end his own life rather than extracting his soul and refining his spirit—he was truly a kind-hearted person, Lin Xiaoyao thought to himself, silently giving himself a thumbs-up.

Then.

He seemed to suddenly recall something.

Wait, what about the Locust Wood Immortal Sword?

An entire night had passed.

Why hadn't it returned yet?

Could something have happened to it?

Was that demon king really that powerful?

Uh... although he had used a broken branch as a weapon and, wanting to be lazy, tricked the object by saying, "You are now a mature immortal sword, you must learn to slay demons and eliminate devils on your own," he might have gone a bit too far.

But hadn't the sword appeared quite enthusiastic and excited at the time?

Its sword aura had soared to the heavens, and he hadn't detected any anger over being deceived.

Lin Xiaoyao felt somewhat puzzled.

He shook his head, not taking the matter too much to heart.

Forget it, he should head to the Founder's Shrine first.

He had woken up late today and hadn't cleaned the place yet, nor had he managed to sign in.

Lin Xiaoyao did not know that his indifferent attitude had turned the ten-thousand-mile radius around the Feathering Sect upside down.

At the time, he had instructed the Locust Wood Immortal Sword to learn how to slay demons and subdue devils on its own.

His words had been somewhat vague.

Although the immortal sword possessed a spirit and understood its master's intent—that it must first execute the primary culprit—it had taken things further.

And so, that world-shaking strike occurred.

The Black Python Demon King, with a massive body spanning hundreds, if not thousands, of miles, had actually been slain with a single blow.

But what then?

Its master had told it to subdue demons and devils, but he hadn't said to only execute the primary culprit.

Furthermore, the Locust Wood Immortal Sword remembered very clearly that its master had emphasized a few words in his instructions... it had to learn to do it itself.

How to learn?

Naturally, one had to practice often to become proficient, master the skills, and eventually serve by its master's side, slaying evil and clearing the path for him.

"So... Little Locust, you must work hard!"

The Locust Wood Immortal Sword was diligent and eager to learn; believing it understood its master's painstaking efforts and profound meaning, it set a small goal for itself.

Centered on the Feathering Sect's headquarters, it would purge all evil spirits within a ten-thousand-mile radius, restoring a bright and clear world.

Thinking that this was its master's expectation, the Locust Wood Immortal Sword was full of drive.

Thus, after slaying the Black Python Demon King, it gave only a haughty response to Madam Wei's kneeling gratitude.

Then, it began its journey of slaying demons and subduing devils.

Well, it was studying!

It considered itself a newcomer among immortal swords, so it needed to use these demons and monsters to practice, gaining experience and wisdom while accumulating merit. After all, with a master as great as him, if it didn't work hard, how could it be qualified to serve by his side?

The immortal sword had a spirit, and it was very ambitious.

Yet, precisely because of this, Lin Xiaoyao's offhand remark that night brought eight lifetimes of bad luck to the demons and monsters within a ten-thousand-mile radius.

Three thousand miles west of the Feathering Sect.

There was a small mountain called Jingyang Ridge.

Though the mountain was not high, it was a vital thoroughfare connecting the north and south.

Throughout the four seasons, merchants passed through in an endless stream.

However, since half a year ago, merchants had frequently been devoured by a fierce tiger.

The county magistrate dispatched soldiers and gathered nearby hunters to hunt the tiger.

But nearly a hundred people marched into the mountain in a grand procession, and not a single one returned alive.

All were devoured by the fierce tiger.

Not only that, but rumors spread that the souls of these people were also detained by the tiger demon, becoming "servants of the tiger."

For a time, the mountain road was blocked by the tiger demon, and the common folk suffered immensely.

Left with no other choice, people prayed to gods and Buddhas everywhere, and after much hardship, they finally found a few "living immortals," offering them large amounts of silver and money to enter the mountain and subdue the demon.