The Sword Ruins of Creation.
Han Yuyao's figure appeared out of thin air, at precisely the spot where she had left the Sword Ruins of Creation last time.
The moment she appeared, she sensed strands of divine sense falling upon her.
"Why are there so many people?"
Han Yuyao's delicate brows drew together slightly. Reflected in her flawless sword heart, the emotions within those strands of divine sense surfaced clearly in her heart: admiration, curiosity, bewilderment, jealousy, hostility, and more.
At that moment, messages were sent out of the Sword Ruins of Creation, and still more sword prodigies entered.
Han Yuyao gazed toward the place where the Void Sword River had vanished, a vague guess forming in her heart. This probably had something to do with her unraveling the Void Sword River.
Whoosh!
A figure with graceful curves swiftly approached and materialized before Han Yuyao. It was Luo Qianqian.
"Sister Yu, you're finally here!"
"I've been worried sick these past few days! I thought you'd been injured unraveling the Void Sword River!"
Luo Qianqian greeted Han Yuyao with delighted surprise, letting out a great sigh of relief inwardly.
Seven whole days had passed since Han Yuyao unraveled the Void Sword River.
Countless sword cultivators were watching for news of Han Yuyao. As long as she failed to appear, their attention would remain fixed on Luo Qianqian.
Over those seven days, Luo Qianqian had endured unimaginable pressure. Even while unraveling sword intent creations, she had been distracted, her efficiency extremely low.
Now that Han Yuyao had appeared, Luo Qianqian felt as though she had found her pillar of support. The great stone weighing on her heart finally fell away.
"No need to worry," Han Yuyao said casually. "I merely had a fortunate breakthrough and spent a few days comprehending the Dao. Are all these sword cultivators here for me?"
To Han Yuyao, the Sword Ruins of Creation were merely a place to deepen her foundations in the sword.
Even immortal sword intent had a negligible effect on her. Han Yuyao had never given the Sword Ruins of Creation much thought.
These past few days, she had been exploring the many mysteries of the Life Palace Realm, and only now remembered to enter the Sword Ruins of Creation.
Luo Qianqian nodded and said solemnly, "That's right. They're all here for you, Sister Yu."
"Unraveling the Void Sword River was a feat rarely seen throughout the ages. It drew the attention of many sword prodigies."
"Some intend to become your followers, some dream of challenging you to make a name for themselves, and some plan to seize your immortal sword intent. They all have different intentions."
"You'd best be prepared, Sister."
Hearing this, Han Yuyao shook her head lightly and said with complete indifference, "It's fine! Don't take it to heart! Just cultivate at your own pace. There's no need to let outside matters affect you!"
Luo Qianqian immediately felt much more reassured, but said anxiously, "Oh, right. After you unraveled the Void Sword River, all the major factions began investigating your origins. I've never revealed any information about you."
"But before you unraveled the Void Sword River, someone heard how I addressed you. Your name has already spread."
"It's all my fault for being so careless. Please punish me, Sister Yu!"
Han Yuyao smiled unconcernedly. "It's only a single-character alias. Let it spread. It doesn't matter. As for my background and origins, it's inconvenient to tell you right now. You'll learn in the future."
"Please don't tell me anything about your background or origins! If I accidentally leaked your information, I'd deserve ten thousand deaths!"
Luo Qianqian hastily shook her head. She had no desire to inquire into Han Yuyao's exact origins.
Then, as though remembering something, Luo Qianqian continued, "There's one more thing. When you were unraveling the Void Sword River, a black-clad youth from the Azure Cloud Sword Sect spoke coldly to you."
"After seeing you unravel the Void Sword River, he became frightened and planned to offer you a magical treasure that can constantly temper the soul as an apology."
"Would you be willing to accept his apology?"
A trace of surprise crossed Han Yuyao's stunning face. She chuckled. "His warning was well-intentioned, though his attitude was rather poor. I never took it to heart. If I quibbled over every little chicken feather and garlic skin, how would I have the mind to comprehend the sword?"
"You truly see things clearly, Sister! Such breadth of mind and vision are certainly beyond ordinary people!"
Luo Qianqian's face was full of admiration.
Clang!
Just then, a streak of sword light shot swiftly through the distant void.
The sword light stopped several dozen zhang from Han Yuyao and transformed into a purple-clad maiden with a cold, haughty expression.
A river of shattered-ice swords, seemingly both real and illusory, circled the purple-clad maiden. Her entire being resembled an unsheathed sword.
"Nangong Xue of the Shattered Ice Sword Sect, Profound Ice Great World! I've come expressly to challenge Fairy Yu! Please do not withhold your instruction!"
The purple-clad maiden's voice was cold as frost, her gaze locked on Han Yuyao in the distant void.
"Nangong Xue!"
"I hear Nangong Xue is a follower of the Ice Sword Divine Son. Her sword intent reached the peak of the ninth level of the Mortal Realm long ago. She's practically invincible in the Mortal Realm Sword Ruins!"
"Did the Ice Sword Divine Son instruct her to challenge Fairy Yu?"
"Heh, the Ice Sword Divine Son has long regarded the immortal sword intent within the Void Sword River as already in his bag! Fairy Yu unraveled the Void Sword River and dashed his plans. Naturally, he won't accept that!"
"The Ice Sword Divine Son challenged the Void Sword River more than ten times and failed every time, yet Fairy Yu unraveled it. It's clear who's superior!"
"Even the Ice Sword Divine Son himself is inferior to Fairy Yu. Isn't his follower just inviting humiliation by challenging her?"
"Not necessarily! Unraveling something isn't actual combat, after all!"
"Nangong Xue's sword intent reached the peak of the ninth level of the Mortal Realm long ago, while Fairy Yu's is only at the third level... Huh? The fourth level?"
"Even at the fourth level, her sword intent is still far below Nangong Xue's. Nangong Xue may well have a chance of winning!"
Figures brimming with fierce sword intent appeared in the nearby void. They were all sword cultivators who had hurried over from the major factions.
Seeing that someone intended to challenge Fairy Yu, they all revealed themselves and watched from afar.
Luo Qianqian's delicate brows rose slightly. Stepping through the void, she stood before Han Yuyao and looked toward Nangong Xue, saying in a cool voice, "If you want to challenge Sister Yu, you'll have to get past me first!"
In truth, Luo Qianqian had little confidence against Nangong Xue.
But seeing someone challenge Sister Yu, she would not allow herself to shrink back. She stepped forward without hesitation, a faint resolve emanating from her.
She already intended to use a forbidden sword art and stake her life!
Han Yuyao's flawless sword heart clearly sensed Luo Qianqian's resolve, and she could not help being slightly moved. She had not expected Luo Qianqian to truly be willing to risk her life for her!
"Qianqian."
Han Yuyao reached out and patted Luo Qianqian's shoulder.
Luo Qianqian had just turned her head when she saw Han Yuyao extend a finger to the center of her brow.
At once, she clearly sensed a strand of sword intent exuding an immortal, imperishable presence sink into the depths of her soul, instantly becoming part of her own sword Dao.
In that instant, Luo Qianqian felt a faint, indescribable connection form between herself and the entire Sword Ruins of Creation.
She could draw upon the power of the sword from the Sword Ruins of Creation at every moment, and her understanding of the sword became clearer and more thorough than ever before.
Although her sword intent remained at the eighth level of the Mortal Realm, it had become nearly a hundred times more condensed!
Immortal sword intent!
This was the immortal sword intent Sister Yu had obtained!
"Sister Yu..."
Luo Qianqian was so utterly shocked that, for a moment, she did not know what to say.
A faint smile rested on Han Yuyao's face as she said breezily, "This strand of sword intent is no longer useful to me. It's yours! Win this battle beautifully!"
"What? She gave away the immortal sword intent?"
"That's immortal sword intent! A supreme treasure countless sword prodigies dream of! Even the Ice Sword Divine Son couldn't obtain a single strand despite all his scheming!"
"She just gave away immortal sword intent like that? And to a mere follower? Am I dreaming?"
"Hiss! If immortal sword intent is of little use to Fairy Yu, just how extraordinary is her aptitude for the sword?"
"Luo Qianqian truly struck it lucky, becoming the follower of such a sword prodigy!"
"I'm going to become Fairy Yu's follower! Nobody can stop me!"
Seeing Han Yuyao give the immortal sword intent to Luo Qianqian, an uproar filled heaven and earth.