Song Qian Ji’s voice carried through the whistling sea winds, surging toward the ocean’s surface.

The dangers of the Death Sea lay not only in its sunless depths.

In the sky, several Flame Gulls occasionally soared past, flying alongside the morning glow, spitting clusters of pale blue flames from their beaks.

These birds were bright red all over, with four wings and long beaks. They fed on other seabirds and fish leaping from the water’s surface, sometimes feasting on cultivators who ventured into the Death Sea.

Song Qian Ji manipulated the Shadowless Sword, skillfully avoiding fireballs while keeping his eyes fixed on the sea’s surface.

Among the black waves, silver “islets” moved swiftly. Massive water spouts erupted from these islets, soaring into the clouds, rising and falling in succession.

The transition from spring to summer was the migration season for the Silver Isle Whale herds.

These sea beasts had smooth, silver-white skin and were as massive as islands, thus their name Silver Isle Whales.

A Flame Gull flew past Song Qian Ji, only to be instantly swallowed by a giant whale that leaped from the water, not even having time to screech in terror.

Top predators leaped out of the water in packs, raising massive waves thousands of feet high with their movements—a magnificent spectacle.

The Shadowless Sword flew nimbly and discreetly among the huge waves and blood mist. Song Qian Ji watched the whale herd for a moment, then suddenly raised an eyebrow and smiled: “Still hiding from me?”

Anyone witnessing this scene would surely think he had gone mad.

He lowered his sword and dove down, using the moment when a Silver Isle Whale opened its mouth to rush in with the water flow, straight into that gaping maw.

Silver Isle Whales don’t have sharp teeth, only thick baleen. When they swallowed seawater, their deep throats resembled giant waterfalls. Song Qian Ji flowed downstream, directly into the giant whale’s belly.

The whale’s stomach was dark and stuffy, with a nauseating smell.

But moving deeper inside, that sour, putrid smell disappeared, and spiritual energy flowed around him.

Who would have thought there would be a hidden world inside a giant whale’s belly?

This space was simple and neat, with bamboo tables and chairs, and someone embracing a pillow while reading an old book.

An orange lamp lit the table, its soft light illuminating the person’s profile and the dense array of talismans covering the whale’s inner walls.

Beauty is more beautiful in lamplight.

An old acquaintance’s face becomes loathsome in lamplight.

Song Qian Ji laughed coldly: “The world’s greatest swordsman, once so magnificent, now hiding in a beast’s belly, afraid to show your face.”

The whale’s belly echoed like a mountain cave, multiplying the sound of his voice.

The figure resignedly put down the book, muttering: “Impressive, to be found even like this.”

He turned his head and smiled: “Good disciple, your master knew you were resilient and would surely return alive! Well, did you kill everyone?”

“Xian Chen Dust!” Song Qian Ji strode forward with the Shadowless Sword in hand. “That’s not how business is done!”

Xian Chen Dust jumped up from the bamboo chair, dodging a sword strike: “You point your sword at your master? Seeking to betray your teacher and destroy your ancestors? A disciple striking his master will suffer heaven’s punishment!”

Song Qian Ji attacked with overwhelming momentum, wielding his sword like a feather duster, showing no sign of his previous brush with death: “Who’s your disciple? Whose master are you? I’m beating you specifically!”

“Can you beat me?” Xian Chen Dust hopped around. “If we weren’t in this confined space…”

Damaging this whale would mean having to go through the trouble of finding, subduing, and preparing another one.

The two men fought with fists and feet in the “cave” without using spiritual energy.

Considering only their martial techniques rather than cultivation levels, Song Qian Ji and Xian Chen Dust were evenly matched.

Fueled by anger, Song Qian Ji struck fiercely, gaining the upper hand and pummeling Xian Chen Dust:

“We agreed I’d kill one person for you, but I killed him four times! The fourth time nearly cost me my life!”

“How could this be? It seems he’s grown stronger…” Xian Chen Dust muttered reflexively. Knowing he was in the wrong, he handed a cushion to Song Qian Ji: “Here, take this. Hug it and play with it to calm your anger.”

This only made Song Qian Ji angrier as he snatched it away: “This was mine to begin with!”

“The pillow may be yours, but the sword in your hand is still mine!” Xian Chen Dust shouted. “Give it back!”

Suddenly realizing something, he stared at the Shadowless Sword: “Did it lead you to the Death Sea?”

Song Qian Ji snorted: “Between you and your sword, there must be a connection. Where you are, people may not know, but the sword knows.”

Xian Chen Dust glared at the Shadowless Sword: “Come back to me!”

The Shadowless Sword trembled slightly but then pretended to be lifeless.

Xian Chen Dust cursed angrily: “How many years have you been with me? How is it that after one outing, you’ve been tamed by this youngster?”

Song Qian Ji retorted: “What’s so impressive about intimidating a sword! You think you’re smarter than everyone else, but do you think you’re the only one who’s thought of hiding inside a beast?”

Xian Chen Dust was puzzled: “Have you hidden like this too? When were you ever injured or hunted?”

Song Qian Ji thought to himself, I’ve already outgrown these tricks. Hiding in a giant beast’s belly not only conceals one’s whereabouts and scent but also serves as protective armor and a means of swift transportation.

Having fought enough to loosen his muscles and dispel most of his anger, it was time to discuss serious matters.

He pulled out the bamboo chair and sat down, hugging the cushion that Xian Chen Dust had taken and that rightfully belonged to him, as if he were the master of this place:

“I’ll give you a chance to explain.”

“This matter began with me, and I will resolve what remains,” Xian Chen Dust replied. “You should leave and return to your Thousand Channels.”

Song Qian Ji frowned: “How do you plan to resolve it? How will you kill him?”

“I’ve left my primary sword at the edge of the continent, nourishing its sword intent with the power of the earth’s veins. Once I’ve recovered from my injuries, I’ll set out,” Xian Chen Dust said, unconcerned about having his lip split by someone younger. Despite wincing in pain, he remained proud and arrogant: “With my primary sword in hand, I remain invincible in this world.”

Song Qian Ji thought for a moment: “Fine, let’s go.”

Xian Chen Dust was stunned: “What did you say?”

Song Qian Ji clarified: “I said, let’s set out for the edge of the continent, retrieve your sword, and kill that person. Was I clear enough?”

Xian Chen Dust couldn’t believe it: “Why? What’s in it for you?”

“I’ve sworn an oath that no matter how far I must go, I will cut him down with my sword!”

“Don’t you know the current situation outside? We’re both injured and should be resting in hiding,” Xian Chen Dust frowned.

When the once-invincible Sword God is injured, the entire world could become his enemy.

After Hua Wei Sect officially declared war on Thousand Channels, the King of Thousand Channels was as good as dead, even if he wasn’t dead.

“He’s also recovering. With his avatar destroyed, his true form is severely damaged. This opportunity cannot be missed. I suspect he can use the Sky-Supporting Tree to heal. We must leave immediately!” Song Qian Ji was firm.

To defeat an almost unbeatable enemy, one must be more ruthless than the enemy.

Xian Chen Dust sized up Song Qian Ji: “Now he has many sects and clans behind him, about to ignite a war in the cultivation world. If we set out like this, what cards do we have to play?”

“You, plus me, plus your nine swords. Though we’re still outnumbered, we always have one more thing than they do.”

Xian Chen Dust raised an eyebrow: “Have you been hoarding money? From which bank?”

Song Qian Ji didn’t bother to engage in his banter: “Once we’re on the road, you’ll know.”

“No way.” Xian Chen Dust stood up and moved closer to him. “Last time I saw you, you were lazy and trouble-averse, intent on guarding your small plot of land. Picking a flower seemed like it would cost you your life! How have you changed so much? Young man, aren’t you worried about your Thousand Channels?”

Before entering the secret realm, this question would indeed have troubled Song Qian Ji, but now he confidently stated:

“Even without me, Thousand Channels will be cared for.”

Meng He Ze and his group had left the secret realm through Blood River Valley’s dark river. Barring any unexpected issues, they should have escaped unharmed and could have headed directly back to Thousand Channels.

Xian Chen Dust circled him, like a child observing a rare iron-eating beast:

“Song Qian Ji, oh Song Qian Ji, you’ve learned to trust people!”

Song Qian Ji replied frankly: “People trust me, and I trust people. What’s wrong with that?”

He thought to himself that Xian Chen Dust had been the world’s number one for too long, becoming arrogant, domineering, and unreasonable, with personality flaws that would terrify those with trypophobia.

From Wu Xiang’s various descriptions, Xian Chen Dust was indeed ruthless, lacking the cultivation and bearing befitting a great master and legendary figure.

“If not forced by circumstances, who would willingly partner with such a person?”

Xian Chen Dust turned his head, no longer looking at Song Qian Ji.

He thought this young man appeared gentle and polite but was stubborn and unyielding. Though a junior, he was more difficult to deal with than those ancient elders.

“If not at the end of my rope, who would willingly travel with him?”

Though disliking each other, they are about to journey together from the Death Sea to the edge of the continent.

Song Qian Ji would retrace his escape route from his previous life.

This time, could he change the ending?

“Not only do I trust people, but as teammates now, we should temporarily trust each other,” Song Qian Ji said. “Tell me everything you know about him and everything you’ve done.”

Xian Chen Dust suddenly smiled: “You’ve already heard much from him in Blood River Valley, haven’t you? Are you still willing to hear my side?”

“To listen to only one side is unwise.”

“Very well.” Xian Chen Dust took out a tea set from his storage pouch and began leisurely: “This matter began three hundred years ago…”

…

In early summer, heavy rain in Thousand Channels Prefecture washed the mountains clean inside and out, thoroughly watering all flowers, plants, and trees.

The weather was clear, with clouds drifting in the azure sky and sunlight illuminating the green fields.

At noon it was scorching hot, with cicadas singing incessantly. Farmers had just finished their meals and gathered in the shade to chat and smoke, while even water buffaloes lay under tree shadows, lazily swishing their tails to drive away mosquitoes and flies.

Nearby, a group of children played tirelessly in the stream under the blazing sun, laughing and making noise.

When two Hua Wei Sect cultivators painstakingly infiltrated Thousand Channels, all they saw day after day were scenes of summer pastoral life.

The two looked at each other, extremely anxious.

“The sect ordered us to destroy Song Qian Ji’s golden statue to cut off the root of his fortune. But where exactly is his golden statue?”

“We’ve already searched Tian City. The temple has been converted into a prison, and the original village temples in each village have been leveled and filled in as farmland.”

“It must be hidden in a secure, concealed place. Thousand Channels are only so big—we can search every inch and find it.”

“What if Song Qian Ji doesn’t have a golden statue at all? If we report back empty-handed, we’ll surely be punished.”

As the two were urgently communicating through spiritual transmission, suddenly a robust shout rang out:

“Immortal Masters! It’s these two—unfamiliar and strange, sneaking around suspiciously! We’ve been watching them for a long time!”