Jun Changxiao really wanted to obtain the Xuanyuan Divine Sword. Never mind how strong the weapon was—at the very least it would count as inheriting Gu Xuanyuan’s will once again.
From the Guixu Sword Saint’s account, he learned that the girl was called Xi Jingxuan, which happened to be the same name as Palace Master Xi. Adding that the latter seemed to hide some identity, he judged there might be a connection.
The result: He had overthought it.
“Alas,” Jun Changxiao thought silently, “How could there be so many coincidences in the world, and all of them happen to be encountered by oneself?”
The system took the opportunity to tease: “That the host can realize this point is commendable.”
“Sect Master Jun,” Xi Jingxuan walked forward two steps and asked, “Is this the sword you mentioned?”
“Mm.”
“May I take it down?”
“Absolutely don’t—”
Before Jun Changxiao could finish speaking, his eyes widened, because Xi Jingxuan had already taken the Xuanyuan Divine Sword in hand, gently caressing the patterns carved on the scabbard.
She!
Actually!
Took it down so easily!
“This…” The Guixu Sword Saint was dumbfounded, then became wildly overjoyed: “She is the fated person Senior Gu was waiting for!”
Wei Buzi had once divined for him, saying that before long, the Xuanyuan Divine Sword would wait for its fated person. Initially thinking it was Jun Changxiao, only now did he realize the fated person was her!
“Hahaha!”
Jian Guixu looked up at the sky laughing with tears streaming down: “Senior Gu, I, Jian Guixu, have not failed your trust!”
Back then, Gu Xuanyuan only entrusted his disciple to him, but he voluntarily shouldered the responsibility of guarding the Xuanyuan Divine Sword. Until today, the fated person finally came, completing one of his heart’s wishes.
Jun Changxiao was also quite excited.
Though the sword didn’t recognize him, it recognized Xi Jingxuan.
Everyone was good friends with a very nice relationship—giving it to anyone was the same, right?
“Sect Master Jun,” Xi Jingxuan lovingly stroked the Xuanyuan Divine Sword while asking meekly, “May I draw the sword?”
“Yes, as you please!”
“Clang—”
Xi Jingxuan placed one hand on the sword hilt and easily drew the sword from its sheath, the lingering sound resonating throughout the secret chamber.
Jun Changxiao didn’t have time to observe the Xuanyuan Divine Sword, because the moment it was unsheathed, a special sword momentum spread from the gap, instantly enveloping Xi Jingxuan’s entire body. Her face even showed a pained expression.
“Not good!”
Seeing the situation was bad, Jun Changxiao reached out to grab Palace Master Xi out, but the moment his five fingers contacted the sword energy, it felt like being struck by a giant hammer. His entire person crashed into the wall with a “bang.”
“Boom!”
Powerful force existed within the sword momentum. Jian Guixu also couldn’t avoid being blasted away, exclaiming in shock: “This is Senior Gu’s Tiangang Sword Intent!”
“What does that mean?”
Jun Changxiao suppressed the pain in his chest.
Jian Guixu said, “Senior Gu cultivated both sword and martial arts, creating the Tiangang Sword Intent. Its sharpness was matchless in the upper layer universe. Who would have thought this supreme sword intent would be sealed inside the Xuanyuan Divine Sword!”
“Get to the point!”
Jun Changxiao had no interest in listening to stories. He cared more about whether Palace Master Xi was safe.
Jian Guixu said, “This girl is inheriting Senior Gu’s Tiangang Sword Intent. Once she comprehends it thoroughly, her attainments in the sword dao will inevitably advance by leaps and bounds. The benefits may even be greater than possessing the Xuanyuan Divine Sword!”
“I see.”
Jun Changxiao relaxed slightly.
It seemed this was a great fortuitous encounter. If Palace Master Xi could inherit it, she should benefit greatly.
“Alas,” the system said, “The girl who was nearly obliterated in the river of history is finally going to welcome an epic-level power-up? Too bad for the eldest disciple—she’s getting further and further away.”
“Why do you talk so much nonsense?” Jun Changxiao said.
“To be honest with the host, I’m actually the righteous embodiment of the readers. Because we exist in different dimensions, you can’t see their complaints, so I can only express them through myself,” the system said earnestly.
“Scram.”
“Duola Q Dream says you’re a eunuch author!”
“A guy pretending to be a girl still has the face to criticize me! Ptui!”
—
“Whoosh whoosh!”
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
The sword momentum released grew increasingly intense. The enveloped Xi Jingxuan’s expression grew increasingly pained, especially with her black hair flying wildly, satisfying readers’ previous complaints about not giving close-ups of hair.
“Senior, is she alright?” Jun Changxiao worried endlessly.
Jian Guixu said gravely, “Inheriting the Tiangang Sword Intent is not only a fortuitous encounter for her but may also be a crisis.”
“…”
Jun Changxiao really wanted to rush over and pull her out.
He didn’t dare gamble.
“Whoosh!”
Just then, magnificent energy waves erupted from Xi Jingxuan’s body, pushing out the sword intent gathered around her, then forming a vortex that gathered before her while maintaining a safe distance.
Without the sword intent’s harassment, the pain on Xi Jingxuan’s face gradually weakened.
Before Jun Changxiao could relax his mindset, he saw that woman’s face change from gentle beauty to cold severity, her clear eyes gradually becoming murky and violent.
This scene… seemed familiar!
“Trouble!” Jun Changxiao exclaimed in shock: “Palace Master Xi’s other personality has appeared again!?”
Years ago in the Xingyun Continent, when Xi Jingxuan lost her sight, whenever her emotions fell she would enter another personality state. Later she was cured by the Dust Absorber, and hadn’t relapsed since.
No. Strictly speaking, the special attribute existing within her body was purified.
However, today while inheriting the Tiangang Sword Intent, it was actually triggered again. Her violent appearance was no different from her previous darkening—if anything, even worse.
“Palace Master Xi…”
“Whoosh—”
The darkened Xi Jingxuan turned her face. The Xuanyuan Divine Sword shrouded in light slashed through the void, cutting toward him with the power to sever space.
—
Inside the bamboo forest, Li Qingyang and others were watching Zhou Hong practice swordsmanship, watching in complete fascination.
“This guy…” Ye Xingchen silently felt fortunate: “Good thing I didn’t challenge him to a duel.”
The sword dao didn’t have extremely detailed realm divisions like the martial dao, so everyone could only judge how much stronger Zhou Hong had become through his sword-wielding movements and the sword momentum he released.
“Boom!”
Suddenly, a distant mountain exploded.
“What’s happening!”
Su Xiaomo was so startled she nearly jumped up. She hurriedly turned to look, only to see the Sect Master staggering and landing in the distance. From the situation, it seemed he had been struck!
“Clang! Clang!”
In an instant, the Eternal Sect disciples gathered nearby all drew their swords from their sheaths with lightning speed, positioning themselves on the Sect Master’s left and right sides, glaring angrily at the dusty area ahead.
“Step! Step!”
A graceful figure walked out from the dust. Light yellow long dress, disheveled hair, the sharp sword held scraping the ground, carving a thin sword mark.
Everyone looked closely and exclaimed in shock: “Palace Master Xi?”
“Farewell!”
“Pardon the intrusion!”
“Swish! Swish!”
In an instant, the disciples gathered around Jun Changxiao collectively disappeared, even reverting to the scene of admiring swords, flowers, and bamboo forest, as if nothing had just happened, nothing had been seen.
“Die…” Xi Jingxuan lowered her head and advanced with sword in hand.
“Palace Master Xi!” Jun Changxiao shouted loudly, “It’s me!”
Better if he hadn’t spoken—when he did, the hostility in Xi Jingxuan’s eyes grew even stronger. Then she raised her sword and killed toward him.
“Whoosh!”
“Whoosh!”
Intricate sword energy instantly rippled through the bamboo forest.
At first there was no problem, but when the two assumed opposing stances of attack and defense, the bamboo stalks existing around them all instantly broke.
“Pfft!”
Jian Guixu, who had walked out from the ruins, spat out a mouthful of old blood upon seeing this.
These bamboo plants were all extremely precious varieties, carefully cultivated by himself. Now they were all destroyed!
“Palace Master Xi,” Jun Changxiao said seriously, “Since you’ve lost your reason again, Jun can only… take offense!”
“Whoosh whoosh!”
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
In an instant, explosive energy surged like a broken dam toward all directions. Because it erupted so violently, wherever it passed, bamboo stalks, bamboo roots, bamboo shoots, and bamboo leaves all turned to powder. The paradise-like land instantly became barren.
“Thud!”
Jian Guixu collapsed on the ground, despairing: “Gone… all gone…”
—