No one knew how much time had passed. When the cosmic stars and rivers had finally settled, and the Yellow Springs River had flowed completely past the Celestial Craft Star Chain World Cluster and vanished without a trace, four utterly ordinary cultivators set foot in the cluster once more, like a family out for a spring stroll.
They wandered among the worlds, enjoying this rare moment of warmth.
And, while they were at it, they took a look at the world cluster where the Great Sun Sword Heir had once left his mark.
Scene after scene reappeared from the flow of time.
"...Sword cultivators take hardship and suffering as their sustenance..."
"...The Sun Sword Heir is too soft. He's clearly stronger than the Heaven Sword Heir, yet he couldn't kill him. He's fought too few battles to the death to seize an opening when it appears. That's the price of always staying within the sect..."
The Sun Sword Heir froze.
Then he felt genuinely ashamed.
He had been through plenty of wars since his weaker days. He, too, had cut his way to where he stood.
But compared with this blood-soaked Great Sun Sword Heir, his life had indeed been far too comfortable. He lacked the other man's seasoned ruthlessness—the ability to kill opponents not much weaker than himself instead of letting them escape.
From the Light-Thunder Heavenly Lord to the Threadweaver Celestial, and then the Immortal Artifact Heir, it had been the same every time.
"Hmph!"
"That's an extreme demonic sword path. It offers quick mastery and a quicker death. How could it compare with the Taiyin-Taiyang Sword Dao?"
The Taiyin Sword Heir was unimpressed.
"It is an extreme sword path."
"Fail, and you die. That goes for him and for the Great Sun Sword Dao he'll pass down."