Sword God Eighth Trial

"Yangyang, it's been years since you completed your Sword God Seventh Trial."

In the woods several hundred meters from Ning Fengzhi, Jian Chen stood with his hands behind his back, speaking without haste.

"Four or five years, I think. I can't quite remember."

Gao Yang had regained his composure. Holding back his grief, he spoke to his third grandfather in his usual tone.

"With your talent, why haven't you completed the Eighth Trial after all this time?"

When Gao Yang remained silent, Jian Chen nodded.

"I see. So that's how it is... You made the same choice my father did back then..."

Swordsmanship was merciless. The Sword God Eighth Trial was both simple and difficult.

It had only one condition: kill your master.

"How could I compare with Great-Grandfather? I really do intend to complete the Eighth Trial," Gao Yang said with a smile. "Qian Renxue just delayed me."

"And if Qian Renxue hadn't, when were you planning to complete it?" Jian Chen asked, smiling too.

"After another ten-odd years, of course. When you're about to die of old age, I'll flick you on the forehead. Once you die, I'll naturally pass the Eighth Trial. Hahaha!"

"Hahaha..." Even Jian Chen, who rarely smiled, laughed heartily. "So you still think of this old man as your master."

"Obviously. You taught me swordplay since I was little. If you're not my master, who is?"

"Your master..." A complicated expression crossed Jian Chen's face. "I've had no children in all my life. If I could choose, I'd rather hear you call me Grandpa."

Gao Yang's eyes reddened. Fighting back tears, he smiled and said:

"Fine. You outrank me in the family, and your fists are harder. I'm not losing out by being your grandson."

"Then say it."

"All of a sudden? That's embarrassing. How about later?"

"I'm afraid I don't have much time left..."

"Then come with me to the Star Dou Great Forest. With Xiao Lu there, you could live another seventy or eighty years. By then, forget Grandpa—you can be Great-Grandpa or Great-Great-Grandpa if you want!"

Gao Yang refused to give up. He kept looking for a chance to change Jian Chen's mind.

He couldn't understand how being saved by a Soul Beast could cost someone so much face.

Those two next door—one had tangled with grass, the other with a rabbit.

He hadn't seen anyone laughing at them.

"I'm not going. I don't want to be dragged around anymore. I'm tired, and I miss Old Bones a little."

"And you can bear to leave Rongrong behind?"

That silenced Jian Chen for a long while.

At last, he spoke slowly.

"Gao Yang, you know we won't get far if you take Fengzhi and me." Jian Chen sighed. "When Spirit Hall catches up, all four of us will die."

"You know all that, so why are you still standing here talking, you old man?" Gao Yang suddenly flared up. "Do we have to talk now? Seize every chance to survive and never give up on life—that's what you taught me since I was little! Have you forgotten it all?!"

"Yangyang, Fengzhi and I are seizing every chance to survive." Jian Chen wasn't angry. His face was full of affection.

"I don't see either of you wanting to live!" Gao Yang snapped. "You're clearly saying your last words while trying to convince us to leave you behind and escape! You want to hear me call you Grandpa before you die? I won't give you the satisfaction!"

"Hahaha. You've followed your heart since you were little. You're nothing like Fengzhi, so rigid and proper, or me, forever restraining myself and cutting away my desires."

As Jian Chen spoke, a thought flashed through his mind. At last, he understood why the Sword God trial he had awaited all his life had fallen to Gao Yang instead.

So I was the one too attached to appearances...

With that thought, Jian Chen found peace.

In the end, a person ought to live a little more freely!

"That's another sentence wasted. Third Grandpa, stop being stubborn and let's go!" Gao Yang grew more agitated by the moment.

He could faintly sense that something had locked onto him.

It felt like a spider clinging to his back, a bone-deep affliction he could not shake off.

He didn't need to think twice. This had to be Spirit Hall's way of tracking them.

The four of them might already have been found.

"Yangyang, it's too late. Prepare to meet the enemy."

Jian Chen suddenly summoned his Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul, and his presence surged in an instant.

"How is that possible?"

Gao Yang looked in the direction Jian Chen faced and summoned his own Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul.

But even after staring into the distance and searching with his spiritual power, he found no trace of a Super Douluo from Spirit Hall.

"Third Grandpa, the enemy isn't here. Don't worry..."

Before Gao Yang could say more, a suction force enveloped him.

His entire body drifted toward Jian Chen, beyond his control.

One look at Jian Chen's expression, and Gao Yang understood everything.

"In your dreams!!!"

Just as Gao Yang's Seven Kill Sword was about to pierce Jian Chen's chest, it vanished.

In a split second, Gao Yang had withdrawn his Martial Soul.

He was just about to feel triumphant when a familiar grip appeared in his hand.

It was the hilt of a Seven Kill Sword. Only it wasn't his. It was Jian Chen's...

Pfft!!

The tip of the Seven Kill Sword pierced Jian Chen's heart and emerged from his back. Blood ran down the blade and dripped onto the grass...

Drip. Drip...

It had all happened so fast that the triumph had yet to leave Gao Yang's face.

"Yangyang, don't underestimate a Super Douluo who's determined to die. Cough, cough..." Jian Chen went limp and fell into Gao Yang's arms.

Gao Yang held him in a daze, at a loss.

"Yangyang, don't be sad. Your third grandpa doesn't want to be a burden to you..."

"Let these old bones of mine help you complete your Sword God Eighth Trial..."

"When you make offerings to the family, remember to tell your third grandpa what reward the Sword God Eighth Trial gave you..."

"Our Martial Souls come from the same source. Don't waste my cultivation. I'll pass it all on to you..."

"These two things... can be... your third grandpa's wedding gifts to you..."

"Yangyang... Yangyang..."

"My Yangyang... are you crying...?"

As he spoke, he struggled to raise a hand to Gao Yang's face.

He wanted to wipe away Gao Yang's tears, and he wanted to touch his face once more, trying to remember what he looked like.

"You damn old man... You're just indulging yourself... sacrificing yourself to feel noble... I'm not going to thank you for it..." Tears had long since streamed down Gao Yang's face.

"That's all right... That's all right..."

Sensing that his life was nearing its end, Jian Chen spoke between ragged breaths.

"You and Rongrong... take care of each other. Don't quarrel... Give way to her a little..."

"When you have children... don't be like me, hitting and scolding... Teach them well..."

"What a shame... I won't get to see them..."

"Yangyang... call me... Grandpa, will you...?"

[Master slain. Trial passed.

The method was a shortcut, but the change of heart met expectations. Overall, its merits outweighed its flaws.

Eighth Trial complete. Sword God Affinity increased by twenty percent. Current total: ninety percent.

Reward: five God-Given Soul Rings. The age of all Soul Rings increased by fifty thousand years.

God-Given skill unlocked: Sword Qi Threading.]

[Sword God Ninth Trial: Kill your wife to prove your path. Reward: ascension to godhood.]