Twin swords

Sect Master Gao and several supervising elders brought this year's newly admitted little youngsters to the Sword Tomb.

The entrance looked like an ordinary cave, but an immensely powerful barrier guarded it.

It took four Integration-stage elders working together to open it.

Many animals were inherently afraid of the cold. Even with his high cultivation, Ning Ke could not change that instinctive fear in his bones. As he stood in the snow waiting for the elders to work their "open sesame," he kept rubbing his hands and breathing on them.

After all, he could not simply summon his Foxfire and expose his identity, so he could only endure it.

"Are you cold, big brother?" Ning Xiaoxiao brushed the snow off Ning Ke's clothes.

Just as she was about to say more, a small flame appeared before them.

The moment it appeared, the temperature around them rose, instantly evaporating the snowflakes drifting down around Ning Ke.

The effect was immediate.

"That fire?" Gao Ze glanced their way, his gaze settling on Lou Yunxiao in disbelief.

He remembered that Lou Yunxiao possessed an ice-type heavenly spirit root of exceptional purity. How could he also possess such a powerful flame, one that rivaled an otherworldly flame?

After some thought, he concluded that Lou Yunxiao must have obtained it through a fortuitous encounter during the year he had been missing.

He had no intention of prying. Seeing that the elders had opened the barrier, Gao Ze announced, "The Sword Tomb is open. Hurry inside, children, and choose a sword suited to you. Remember not to be greedy, and take care not to be injured by sword intent."

The disciples chorused their agreement and rushed inside.

Ning Ke and the others snapped out of their thoughts as well.

He let Xiaoxiao go in first, then followed at a leisurely pace with Lou Yunxiao.

The little flame floating beside him was the very essence Foxfire he had previously transferred to Lou Yunxiao. Although he had stripped it of its demonic aura, it still showed great affection upon seeing him.

It circled him, driving away the cold.

"Thank you, senior brother." Ning Ke poked the little flame. It did not hurt him at all, and even nuzzled his finger affectionately.

Fortunately, Lou Yunxiao could not see. Otherwise, it would have been difficult for him not to grow suspicious at the sight.

"You're welcome."

Ning Ke deliberately asked, "I remember you have an ice spirit root, senior brother. How did you get this fire?"

"Did that lady give it to you too?"

"Yes."

Ning Ke adopted a deliberately affected, teasing tone. "Oh~ You wouldn't let me touch the sash she gave you, but you're letting me use this fire? Aren't you afraid your lady will get angry?"

"I..."

Lou Yunxiao was someone who easily took things seriously. As soon as Ning Ke teased him, his expression turned flustered, and he had no idea how to reply.

Seeing him like that, Ning Ke could not stop laughing.

"I'm teasing you, senior brother."

He said, "I'm just happy. Since you're letting me use your fire, does that mean I'm at least a little important to you now?"

Lou Yunxiao replied, "You've always been important, junior brother."

Ning Ke lowered his eyes and took his hand, leading him forward. "All right, all right. Hearing you say that makes me happy."

"Come on, let's choose our swords."

They had only walked a short distance when startled cries rang out ahead.

Then they heard Ning Xiaoxiao clucking like a hen laying an egg:

"Brother! Brother, brother, brother, brother!!!" She hurtled toward him and Lou Yunxiao, sword and all!

Just as she was about to crash into them, Lou Yunxiao raised his palm.

Boom-

Frost energy poured out.

In the blink of an eye, Ning Xiaoxiao and her sword froze in place, then dropped onto the ice with a splat.

Ning Ke stared, dumbfounded, as a line popped into his head: A thousand miles sealed in ice, ten thousand miles of drifting snow-my giant ice-worm sister is so very charming...

Then he burst out laughing.

"Brother! Don't laugh!" Ning Xiaoxiao was frozen together with the sword from the neck down, with only her head sticking out. She rolled across the ice, her face crimson with embarrassment. "This is so humiliating!"

"I'm sorry, junior sister. This was the only way I could stop you." Lou Yunxiao crouched down too and apologized sincerely.

Ning Xiaoxiao puffed out her cheeks like a big-headed fish. "Fine, fine! I don't blame you!"

She had gotten to know Lou Yunxiao during this time and was no longer as hostile toward him as before.

Lou Yunxiao directed the little flame to melt the ice and free Ning Xiaoxiao. The sword immediately started moving again, standing beside her and even bending its blade to rub against the little girl like a shameless rogue.

Ning Xiaoxiao said to Ning Ke, "Brother, look! This sword is such a pervert!"

It had flown out on its own and chased her, urging her to step onto it, only to nearly crash into someone. Now it was fawning over her like this. Ning Xiaoxiao had been left somewhat traumatized by it.

Ning Ke examined the sword. With his knowledge of the script, he knew it was called Jinglan, and that it was the "key" to the Golden Silk Wooden Token worn by the female lead, Ning Xiaoxiao.

Once Ning Xiaoxiao obtained Jinglan and opened the Golden Silk Wooden Token, she would gain a fortuitous opportunity that would allow her to cultivate with twice the results for half the effort.

Ning Ke rubbed the girl's head. "Swords have spirits and choose their own masters. Since it chose you, keep it."

Ning Xiaoxiao always listened to Ning Ke, so she said, "All right, all right. I'll keep it."

The sword seemed to understand her words and happily circled Ning Xiaoxiao several times.

Lou Yunxiao and Ning Ke continued forward.

Only when they reached the depths of the Sword Tomb did they suddenly hear a hum.

Then the ground began to shake as well.

Outside the Sword Tomb, Gao Ze frowned.

Could those two swords have been stirred?

How was that possible?

As though to confirm his suspicion, two bursts of sword intent erupted from the top of the Sword Tomb, condensing into phantom images that pierced straight into the heavens!

Inside the Sword Tomb, the disciples were also stunned by the sight before them.

Two swords, one silver and one red, rose from beneath the cracked Sword Pool. Like swans with their necks entwined, like lovers leaning against one another, they wheeled and danced through the air.

"Could those be the two divine swords the elders mentioned, Pale Silver and Red Cloud, left behind ten thousand years ago after Heaven's Way divided the Three Realms?"

"I always thought that was just a legend!"

"So it was actually true!"

"Does their appearance mean they've chosen disciples from our year?"

"Could it be me? I can't wait!"

As they spoke, the silver and red swords finally reined in their sword intent and flew toward them.

Then, before their expectant gazes, the swords came to hover in front of Ning Ke and Lou Yunxiao.

Sensing the fluctuations of spiritual energy, Lou Yunxiao held out his hand. Pale Silver obediently settled into it, clearly having chosen him.

Looking at the red sword, Ning Ke remembered that in the story, A Ke-the junior brother he was playing-had also obtained this divine sword. Later, when he died in the Secret Realm, he had entrusted Red Cloud to Lou Yunxiao.

From then on, Lou Yunxiao had become the only cultivator in the Three Realms to possess two Life-Bound Divine Swords.

"Bzz-"

Seeing that Ning Ke still had not moved, Red Cloud hummed, evidently hoping its master would take a good look at it rather than reject it.

Ning Ke came back to his senses and reached out to grasp Red Cloud's hilt.

Boom-

In excitement, Red Cloud released a three-foot blaze of sword light, as though celebrating.

At the same time, a system notification suddenly sounded in his mind.

[Congratulations, host, on obtaining an important quest item-the divine sword Red Cloud. Second-stage quest progress: 20%.]